FDA Recalls Feed Made With Tainted Binders

In the latest twist of a saga that began unraveling in March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says a pair of companies are voluntarily recalling melamine-tainted ingredients used livestock and fish feed. Unlike recent recalls involving pet food, this particular case involves companies operating in the United States: the Canadian-based Tembec BTLSR, which operates a chemical plant in Toledo, Ohio, and Johnstown, Colo.-based Uniscope. The recall involves finished feed made with binding agents called Aquabond and Aqua-Tec II, both used in fish feed, as well as a product named Xtra-Bond, which is used in livestock feed. Tembec manufactures the Aquabond and Aquatec products at its Toledo facility, and distributes them overseas for Uniscope. Tembec also supplies Uniscope with ingredients used to make Xtra-Bond. FDA food-safety czar Dr. Davis Acheson told reporters Wednesday that the three binding agents are used to make pelleted feed for cattle, sheep, goats, or fish and shrimp. Tembec allegedly added the melamine to enhance binding. Uniscope, presumably on heightened alert after numerous melamine-related recalls, tested product and reported its discovery to FDA....