Melamine in Imported Products
Melamine and Cyanuric Acid Contamination in Animal Feed
Several animal feed products have recently been detained after testing
positive for melamine and/or cyanuric acid contamination.
In mid-May, one shipment of corn gluten imported from China tested positive
for melamine and cyanuric acid contamination. The contaminated corn gluten was
stopped at the Canadian border and did not enter Canada’s food or feed system.
On May 30, the CFIA
determined that imported livestock feed additives produced in the United States
were contaminated with melamine and cyanuric acid. The products have been
recalled by the manufacturer and the Canadian distributor.
On June 5, an amino acid product imported from China and destined for use in
animal feed tested positive for cyanuric acid. The CFIA
has detained the product and an investigation is underway. The importer is
voluntarily recalling all of the affected product.
Agency Steps Up Border Measures for Imported Vegetable Proteins
While the CFIA is continuing to hold and test imports from China to identify any
contaminated products and prevent their entry into Canada, as of June 4, there will be
monitoring of vegetable protein concentrates from all countries.
Testing for Melamine Contamination
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is continuing to hold and test all shipments
of wheat, rice, soy and corn gluten and protein concentrates of Chinese origin entering
Canada.
Shipments are being tested for both melamine and cyanuric acid since, although neither
substance is believed to be particularly toxic by itself, their potency appears to be
increased when they are present together. In addition, one in every five samples is
subjected to a random screen that can detect a range of other substances.
Any of these products imported from China over the past twelve months also continue to
be investigated, and products remaining in the marketplace are being tested.
To date, 32 samples have been tested. One shipment of corn gluten has tested positive
for melamine and cyanuric acid. The positive test result shows that the CFIA’s
detection program is working. The contaminated corn gluten will not enter
Canada’s food or feed system.
Products that test negative are being released from detention. These products are safe
to use.
Regardless of country of origin, if the CFIA identifies products that do not meet
regulatory requirements, enforcement action is taken. Enforcement action can take on a
number of forms, up to and including prosecution.
Melamine in Fish Feed
The CFIA has determined that wheat gluten from one of the Chinese suppliers implicated
in the ongoing U.S. investigation of melamine-contaminated ingredients was shipped to
Canada and used in fish feed. The feed was subsequently sent to aquaculture farms in
Canada and the United States. The CFIA has several measures to ensure the safety of the
Canadian food supply from potentially contaminated vegetable proteins.
The CFIA is "holding and testing "all shipments of wheat, rice, soy and corn
gluten and protein concentrates of Chinese origin entering Canada.
Any protein concentrates imported from China over the past twelve months are being
identified and any remaining product will be tested.
These investigations will guide any further border actions by potentially identifying
any other suppliers of contaminated ingredients.
The agency is working with Skretting Canada in British Columbia to verify that the fish
feed containing potentially contaminated wheat gluten is recalled from 57 farms and
hatcheries.
Melamine is not approved for use as an ingredient in human food or livestock feed in
Canada. However, a health risk assessment has been conducted by Health Canada. Based on
the information available, Health Canada has concluded that the consumption of fish fed
this feed does not pose a human health risk.
The CFIA continues to work closely with Health Canada and the U.S. food safety and
animal health authorities as this issue evolves.
In March 2007, Menu Foods began recalling potentially affected pet food products as the
result of reported pet deaths and illnesses. Soon after, the United States Food and Drug
Administration (USFDA) announced that wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate of Chinese
origin was contaminated with melamine which may be present in a range of pet foods. Since
that time, other national pet food brands have been recalled and the contamination of
gluten and protein concentrate with melamine has resulted in a border lookout by U.S. and
Canadian regulatory authorities. Most recently, the use of contaminated pet food in
livestock feed in the U.S. has generated attention from U.S. and Canadian regulators. We
have no evidence animals that may have consumed contaminated feed in the U.S. entered
Canada.
Human health and food safety authorities have described the risk to human health
associated with the consumption of animals potentially exposed to melamine as low.
The CFIA is reviewing its pet food responsibilities
In Canada, pet foods are regulated at three federal levels: the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency regulates imports of pet food for the prevention of the introduction of
a variety of animal diseases. Industry Canada administers regulations that establish basic
labelling requirements for pet foods and other consumer products not covered by other
regulations. Health
Canada's Veterinary Drugs Directorate authorises therapeutic claims for pet foods
under the Food and Drug Regulations.
In light of the recent pet food recalls, the CFIA is reviewing its pet food
responsibilities and programs to determine if room for improvement exists within the
Canadian system.
Import Control Measures in Canada
Since the announcement by the USFDA that wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate were
contaminated with melamine, and since learning that Chinese-origin corn gluten was also
implicated in pet deaths and illnesses in South Africa, the CFIA took action, as described
below.
Through investigation, the CFIA identified one shipment of vegetable protein shipped
from one of the Chinese companies implicated in the pet food recall. The shipment was used
in the manufacture of fish feed. This shipment was well in advance of the identification
of pet illnesses and was from a different lot. Risk assessment by Health Canada noted that
melamine does not accumulate in fish tissues and that any health risk associated with
consuming fish which may have eaten melamine-contaminated feed would be very low.
In addition, the CFIA issued a border lookout requiring holding and testing all
shipments of wheat, rice, soy and corn gluten and protein concentrates entering Canada of
Chinese origin. The CFIA is also tracking vegetable proteins of Chinese origin imported
prior to the implementation of the CFIA 's enhanced border controls to verify whether
these ingredients have been utilised in food production. This involves both the checking
of all import documents as well as visual inspections at feed facilities.
Mitigation of risks associated with livestock consumption of contaminated feed
Recently, U.S. authorities took precautionary measures to prevent certain hogs and
chickens that may have consumed livestock feed mixed with contaminated pet food from
entering the food supply. The CFIA prohibits the use of pet food in livestock feed.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has indicated that it will not certify animals that
have been exposed to the contaminated feed or their products. This prevents them from
being imported to Canada.
The CFIA continues to work closely with Health Canada and the U.S. food safety and
animal health authorities as the pet food and related issues evolve.
CFIA's Country Approach
The CFIA's risk-based import inspection programs are based on internationally
recognized standards and principles. The CFIA works with other governments, including the
Chinese government, to verify that food products imported to Canada meet Canadian food
safety requirements.
Regardless of country of origin, if the CFIA identifies products that do not meet
regulatory requirements, enforcement action is taken. Enforcement action can take on a
number of forms, up to and including prosecution.
Food safety standards apply to all foods sold in Canada, whether imported or domestic.
Importers are responsible for the safety of foods that they import into Canada. Canada's
food safety standards are established by Health Canada, with the CFIA responsible for
their enforcement.
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