Melamine in Fish Feed
The Cadian Food Inspection Agency (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.
