Melamine in Animal Feed and Pet Food
Singapore’s Agri—Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) is going to expand its testing to check for melamine in animal feed and pet food once they are done with testing food samples for traces of melamine. My son read the news with glee telling me that his initial thoughts about cows milk tainted with melamine may have come from what they ate are not that far fetched anymore…
Some pet owners may not be aware but pet food such as doggie treats contain milk with some ingredients used are from China. It is estimated that China produces about 5 per cent of total market share for pet food.
In March last year, something similar happened. There was a massive recall of China—made pet food in the US. Thousands of cats and dogs were reportedly ill, and hundreds more were said to have died from eating the tainted food.
Not to be too worried though, according to experts, even if you eat eggs, meat or milk from animals that have consumed melamine tainted feed, you should be ok. The man made chemical cannot be broken down to “spread” into the muscles or fat of animals and melamine will pass out through the animals’ urine or form up as potentially lethal kidney stones. Melamine also theoretically should not enter the milk of cows, goats or humans according to doctors, although there is little scientific evidence available.
With these assurance that melamine in animal feed and pet food is not going to affect us in anyway, looks like we have to nothing to worry about. Or do we?
How about those that are rearing live stock or have pets under their care???
