WASHINGTON — U.S. officials placed a hold on 20 million chickens raised for market in several states because their feed was mixed with pet food containing an industrial chemical.
Three government agencies — the Agriculture Department, the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency — are determining whether the chickens would pose a threat to human health if eaten, USDA spokesman Keith Williams said. The assessment may be completed as early as Monday.
The 20 million chickens represent a tiny fraction of the 9 billion chickens raised each year in the United States. Meat from the birds cannot go into commercial use without the USDA's inspection seal, which is being withheld until the
risk assessment is completed, Williams said.
The states with chicken producers affected by the hold will be announced later, Williams said.
Since March 16, more than 100 brands of pet food have been recalled because they were contaminated with melamine. An unknown number of dogs and cats have been sickened or died after eating pet food tainted with the chemical, which contaminated wheat gluten in the food imported from China.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,270150,00.html
Obviously if they don't allow these chickens this could really raise the cost of food
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