150
—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 13,1979
Early PCB detection
proposed by USDA
NEW YORK - Over 50,000
pounds of egg products,
399,000 pounds of chicken
and 15,000 pounds of fresh
pork, potentially con
taminated by
polychlorinated biphenyl
(PCB), were withheld from
consumer channels by the
U.S. Department of
Agriculture after its residue
monitoring program
revealed the contamination,
Assistant Secretary of
Agriculture Carol Tucker
Foreman said.
In testimony before the
Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations of the
House Interstate and
Foreign Commerce Com
mittee, Foreman said the
chronology of events after
the discovery of the con
tamination “demonstrates
both the strengths and
weaknesses in the ad
ministration of our
monitoring programs.
“Our system detected the
residue, enabled us to alert
other agencies and aided in
identifying the source of
contamination.
“The industry has the
responsibility for offering
safe products to the con
sumer. Since accidents like
this do occur, the govern
ment monitors the food
channels to insure the safety
of the food supply,” she said.
Foreman said there are
certain weaknesses within
the government system.
“We are taking steps to
correct the shortcomings,”
she said.
Among changes Foreman
proposed as a result of the
incident are:
-Developing a rapid test
method for residues,
-Implementing more
effect've and efficient in
spect on techniques, m
cludi i plant-operated
qualit control systems,
-Expanding research to
find more suitable test
methods for drug chemical
residues.
--dairying joint
| DESIGN I
■ EFFICIENT EFFICIENT A ggSSl e Moß,uw |
5 Encloaed Air System Vaporizer * Aux Auger Hook-up 5
■ Waalher Shielded , Duil Fuel ( LP * nd NG > I
| ,n,er,ock Safety Controls Drymg |
| mfs Equipment Available |
M Augar* Sloraga oms Wtl Holding Sirs Logs 0m »
H • Of*eoa< RX3O imm Loading and Unloading Eqmpman! Aaration Equtpmant I
j""::" 1
I ponalp e. uchtenwalner a son I
I R.D.2, Macun*ie, Pa. I
■ Phone 215/965-5214 |
jurisdictions between FSQS
and the Food and Drug
Administration, and the
Environmental Protection
Agency.
—lmproving internal
communication within the
department, and
-Intensifying sampling of
retail products to determine
any potential contamination.
“In light of this incident, it
is clear that the department
must give special attention
to environmental con
taminants in the food supply.
We should have far more
sensitivity to the potential
gravity of this type of con
tamination,” Foreman said.
A July 6 chicken tissue
sample taken under the
department’s national
program showed
high levels of PCB. In
following up on the scope of
contamination, investigators
with the department’s Food
Safety and Quality Service
(FSQS) traced the con
taminated poultry and egg
products to nine states.
The source of con
tamination was a leaking
transformer in a storage
Seethe
compact
B-Series Kubota
diesel tractors!
12 hp Kubota 85100
-vith two wheel drive
turf tires and rotary tiller
—'
FARMERSVILLE
EQUIPMENT
—INC. —
RD4 EPHRATA, PA
717-354-4271
*1
shed at the Pierce Packing
Co., Billings, Mont., where
an unknown amount of PCB,
used as a coolant liquid in
the transformer, leaked into
the plant’s waste water
system. Pierce dredges the
waste water for inedible
byproducts to be used in
meat meal, an animal feed
ingredient.
Foreman said the value of
an industry-run quality
control program was clearly
illustrated in the recent PCB
contamination incident.
“It was through such a
voluntary program that one
of tbe plants discovered the
presence of PCB con
tamination in poultry,” she
said. “The company
voluntarily held the con
taminated product that
would otherwise have en
tered the marketplace.” The
firm reported the results to
FSQS which condemned the
product after confirmatory
'ests, she said.
Foreman said the
lepartment is considering
isking for legislative
luthority to help it more
ffectively contain residues
t the source of con
unination.
Shop
make winter
Mr. Wesch says: Last year at this time
I purchased a Morton Shop with their special
Energy Performer insulation package for
the following reasons Ist I wanted quality
construction and a strong
warranty for my money 2nd the
insulation package allows me
to heat the building
Serving Central Pa
and Maryland
RD4, Box 34A
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Ph: 717-334-2168
Serving North Central Pa. Area
P.O Box 937
State College, PA 16801
Ph: 814-383-4355
PSU judging team
wins top honors
UNIVERSITY PARK -
Penn State won top honors in
the Intercollegiate Livestock
Contest held
recently at the Eastern
States Exposition, West
Springfield, Mass.
The Penn State team
consisted of Signe Edvar,
State College; Phil
Welhausen, New Castle;
Mary Fazio, Pittsburgh;
Don Wilson, Summerhill;
and Kathy Listwak, New
Kensington.
Contestants evaluated 12
classes of beef cattle, swine
and sheep and presented
oral reasons for placing six
classes of livestock.
High scoring individual in
the contest was Bruce Foster
of Michigan State. From the
Penn State team, Phil
Welhausen placed sixth
overall and Mary Fazio was
ninth. Mary also was fifth in
sheep judging. Signe Edvar
placed fourth in swine
judging, helping the team to
a 36 point first place in swine
competition.
Other team members
competiting for individual
honors were: Gregg Bard,
Lewistown; Jeannie Bucher,
Ridely Park; Ben Stem,
Chester Springs; C.H.
MORTON BUILDINGS
/NO. 1 CHOICE OF FARMERS
#
Serving Eastern Pa
and New Jersey
Box 126,
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
Ph: 201-454-7900
McCutcheon,
Wilmington; and Janet
Kauffman, Harrisburg.
The team competed at the
Eastern National Livestocl
Show, Timomum, Marylam
' T ' w ,
to
profitable
at low-cost 3rd it enables me to
use the wintertime for equipment inspection,
cleaning and general maintenance
which eliminates unnecessary downtime
Now s the time to buy for
profitable seasons ahead Contact the
nearest Morton Sales Office
listed below today l
□ Send information on MORTON BUILDINGS
□ Have your salesman phone for an appointment
□ Insulated Shops □ Hog Confinement
□ Machine Sheds □ Garages
□ Horse Barns □ Free Stall Barns
□ Gram Storage □ Livestock Barns
■ Name
| Address
{ Telephone No
on October 6. They ar
coached by Dr. Erskme H
Cash and graduat
assistants Daniel D. Lay o
Roseville, HI., and Robert W
Grove of Somerville, Va.
New
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