Counter Punch - By Martha Rosenberg

Why Has the FDA Allowed a Drug Marked 'Not Safe for Use in Humans' to Be Fed to Livestock Right Before Slaughter?

There's a good chance you may be eating a livestock drug banned in 160 nations.

February 2, 2010

While researchers and scientists investigate the cause of our diabetes, obesity, asthma and ADHD epidemics, they should ask why the FDA approved a livestock drug banned in 160 nations and responsible for hyperactivity, muscle breakdown and 10 percent mortality in pigs, according to angry farmers who phoned the manufacturer.



The beta agonist ractopamine, a repartitioning agent that increases protein synthesis, was recruited for livestock use when researchers found the drug, used in asthma, made mice more muscular says Beef magazine.



But unlike the growth promoting antibiotics and hormones used in livestock which are withdrawn as the animal nears slaughter, ractopamine is started as the animal nears slaughter.



As much as twenty percent of Paylean, given to pigs for their last 28 days, Optaflexx, given to cattle their last 28 to 42 days and Tomax, given to turkeys their last 7 to 14 days, remains in consumer meat says author and well known veterinarian Michael W. Fox.



Though banned in Europe, Taiwan and China--more than 1,700 people were "poisoned" from eating Paylean-fed pigs since 1998 says the Sichuan Pork Trade Chamber of Commerce-- ractopamine is used in 45 percent of US pigs and 30 percent of ration-fed cattle says Elanco Animal Health which manufactures all three products.



How does a drug marked, "Not for use in humans. Individuals with cardiovascular disease should exercise special caution to avoid exposure. Use protective clothing, impervious gloves, protective eye wear, and a NIOSH-approved dust mask" become "safe" in human food? With no washout period?



The same way Elanco's other two blockbusters, Stilbosol (diethylstilbestrol or DES), now withdrawn, and Posilac or bovine growth hormone (rBST), bought from Monsanto in 2008, became part of the nation's food supply: shameless corporate lobbying. A third of meetings on the Food Safety and Inspection Service's public calendar in January 2009 were with Elanco, a division of Eli Lilly--or about ractopamine.



In fact, in 2002, three years after Paylean's approval, the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine's Office of Surveillance and Compliance accused Elanco of withholding information about "safety and effectiveness" and "adverse animal drug experiences" upon which ractopamine was approved, in a 14-page warning letter.



"Our representatives requested a complete and accurate list of all your GLP [Good Laboratory Practices] studies involving Paylean® (Ractopamine hydrochloride), including their current status as well as the names of the respective study monitors. In response, your firm supplied to our representatives multiple lists which differed in the names of the studies and their status. In addition, your firm could not locate or identify documents pertaining to some of the studies. This situation was somewhat confusing and created unneeded delays for our representatives," wrote Gloria J. Dunnavan, Director Division of Compliance.

Where was mention of the farmer phone calls to Elanco reporting, "hyperactivity," "dying animals," "downer pigs" and "tying up" and "stress" syndromes, asks the FDA letter. Where was the log of phone calls that included farmers saying, "animals are down and shaking," and "pig vomiting after eating feed with Paylean"?



But, not to worry. Despite ractopamine's dangers and the falsified approval documents, the FDA approved ractopamine the following year for cattle--and last year for turkeys.



According to Temple Grandin, Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University, the "indiscriminant use of Paylean (ractopamine) has contributed to an increase in downer non-ambulatory pigs," and pigs that "are extremely difficult to move and drive." In Holsteins, ractopamine is known for causing hoof problems, says Grandin and feedlot managers report the "outer shell of the hoof fell off" on a related beta agonist drug, zilpateral.



An article in the 2003 Journal of Animal Science confirms that "ractopamine does affect the behavior, heart rate and catecholamine profile of finishing pigs and making them more difficult to handle and potentially more susceptible to handling and transport stress."


Nor can we overlook the effects of "adding these drugs to waterways or well water supplies--via contaminated animal feed and manure runoff-- when this class of drugs is so important in treating children with asthma," says David Wallinga, MD of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.



The FDA's approval of a drug for food that requires impervious gloves and a mask just to handle is reminiscent of the bovine growth hormone debacle.



Like rBST, ractopamine increases profits despite greater livestock death and disability because a treated animal does the work of two in a macabre version of economies of scale.



Like rBST, food consumers are metabolic, neurological and carcinogen guinea pigs so that agribusiness can make a profit.

And like rBST, "Mothers Of Growing Children" was not marked as a visiting group on the Food Safety and Inspection Service's public calendar next to the ag lobbyists.

Martha Rosenberg is a columnist and cartoonist who frequently writes about the impact of the pharmaceutical, food and gun industries on public health. A former medical copywriter, her work has appeared in the Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, as well as on the BBC and in the original National Lampoon

When and How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth

Dental health is just as important for dogs as it is for humans. Healthy dog teeth are an important part of having a healthy dog. Bacteria in the mouth can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious infections, just like they can in humans. That’s why, ideally, you should be brushing your dog’s teeth once a day, just like you would your own.

Make certain you are using a toothpaste or cleaning product that is designed for dogs. Human toothpastes have chemicals in them that can be toxic to a dog if swallowed. Since there’s no good way to keep your dog from swallowing the things you put in his mouth (Have you ever seen a dog spit? Me neither.)You should only use special toothpaste for dogs that you find in the pet supply aisle.

• Take your time. Before you even start using a toothbrush, allow your dog to get used to having your hands near his mouth. While the two of you are nice and relaxed, use your fingers to stroke his cheek like you would when you start brushing his teeth. You should also let him taste the special toothpaste for dogs, which he will discover is a tasty treat.
• Introduce the tooth brush. The first few times you introduce the tooth brush, you’ll probably only end up brushing a few dog teeth at a time. Eventually, you can slowly work up to brushing all of your dog’s teeth, especially the ones at the back. Don’t worry about the insides. If you only brush dog teeth on the outside, you’ll still get most of the plaque.
• Stop while it’s still fun. Whatever you do, you don’t want to make your dog afraid of the tooth brush. If you always stop brushing your dog’s teeth while he’s still enjoying it, and praise him and snuggle him for the time he’s spent with you, then tooth-brushing time will be a fun time for both of you to look forward to. That way you’ll be able to happily brush dog teeth without a struggle.

One of the biggest advantages of brushing your dog’s teeth regularly, and starting from an early age, is that if you can keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy then you may be able to avoid having to take your dog for a professional dog teeth cleaning. Since a professional dog teeth cleaning involves placing your dog under anesthesia, it’s something most pet parents would probably prefer to avoid.
Quick Tip: When confronted by dog bad breath, don’t just pick up a tooth brush—talk to your vet. Although bad oral hygiene is most often the cause of a dog’s bad breath, it could reflect other health problems.

http://petid.homeagain.com/2010Newsletters/March/when-and-how-to-brush-dog-teeth.aspx?utm_source=HomeAgain_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=FS_lead1&utm_campaign=Mar10_HA_Newsletter

Bad Economy Hasn’t Hurt Pet-Related Spending, Says APPA Study

Americans show loyalty toward a wide range of things, from political parties to sports teams to lipsticks. But there’s one area of devotion that most folks can agree on: their pets.
Some pet owners will stop at almost nothing to keep their pets happy and healthy, according to an August 2009 survey by the American Pet Products Association (Greenwich, Conn.).
When APPA asked 21,000 American pet owners about ways the economic downturn has influenced their pet ownership, here’s what they found:

• More than 80 percent have continued to spend the same amount on their pet.
• 70 percent said the current economic situation has had little negative impact on their decision to own a pet.
• 62 percent of horse owners, whose pets are among the costliest to maintain, said the economy hasn’t influenced their pet ownership. Five percent of horse owners actually reported spending more on their pets.
• 57 percent of households with income levels under $25,000 and 67 percent of households with incomes of $25,000 to $50,000 said their pet ownership levels have remained largely unchanged.

“This information further demonstrates that pet owners will continue to cut back in their personal lives before scaling back on their four-legged friends,” said Bob Vetere, APPA’s president. “This goes to show the strength of the human-animal bond and the joys that can be realized through responsible pet ownership. This is the primary reason that the pet industry continues to remain strong.”
While the pet sector enjoyed a steady stream of spending, Vetere said, American pet owners compensated by reducing spending on other household and leisure items. Across-the-board declines in spending on activities such as movies, plays, museums, sporting events, travel, dining and shopping suggest that Americans will readily reallocate money to maintain their pets’ quality of life. [March 2010 PET AGE]

http://www.petage.com/news031001.asp