Is aminopterin contaminated Chinese wheat being eaten by Americans?

Question

I hate the recent dog/cat food contamination reports, but this brings up a bigger question, are we humans eating this stuff too? Is this a case of canaries in the coal mine?

Answer 1

Indirectly, yes. China imports wheat from the US, Canada, Australia, etc. and processes it into a variety of secondary products. The aminopterin is alleged to be added to control rodents at Chinese grain storage facilities. There is a possibility that secondary products such as noodles, bread, and of course animal feeds from China will contain traces of aminopterin. In addition, aminopterin contaminated feed may be fed to livestock and thus enter the human food chain. I don't know whether herbivores metabolize (no risk to humans) or accumulate (amplify risk to humans) aminopterin because that is not my field of research. The risk is certainly much higher for people in China than for people in the US because food imports from China comprise a tiny fraction of the US diet.

Answer 2

The poison, aminopterin, had to have been added in amounts of hundreds of pounds. To be that widespread in all that pet food. Aminopterin is an anti cancer drug. It also has been used to cause abortions in humans. This drug is a highly specialized poison. It hardly seems possible that it was an 'accident'. Added to human food, what better way to kill millions of people.

Answer 3

Good question...a star for you. I don't know the answer but have more questions.
I do question as to why the American Pet Food company is purchasing wheat from China in the first place where there are no safety inspections. It could be loaded with rodent droppings for all we know. We have plenty of our own wheat.
Personnally, I will never buy canned pet food again...It takes a little more time but they are worth it to me. Beside they like the food I cook, in fact love it. Beside the stews I make for them with added rice or oatmeal, they like raw carrots, potatoes and brocolli stalks to munch on. This tragedy proves to me one thing... Money is more important to them than our beloved pets.

Answer 4

You know what else it brings up?? We outsource certain jobs to foreign countries which don't have the same standards we would have it were made in the U.S. For instance, I bough dish towels made in Pakistan. I broke out in a rash and started sneezing. Plus they smelled. I found out instead of using our "sizing" or starch they used a cheaper formaldihyde. I have used soaps from Africa and again broke out in a rash. I don't think the Chinese even have pets - they eat them don't they??? So why would they know how to make dog food?

Answer 5

After learning that the Chinese torture animals by skinning them alive for fur or burning them alive for meat I dont care much for anything from there and now the pet food thing. Why are we buying from them? Dont we have ample wheat stored in the U.S.A.? Dont we have our own pet food factories? Why are we buying from them?

Answer 6

Here's the scoop. Don't eat any bread for the next two and one-half weeks. Everything will turn out fine.

Answer 7

The metaphor you have used relating to our condition as a species, has been a valid one already for some time now.

Answer 8

I think there should be a criminal investigation. Its a possibility, anyway people have lost their beloved innocent pets, its not like it doesn't matter.

Answer 9

I never thought of that, fascinating. We have been eating MSG for years now.

Answer 10

Only if they buy thier food at WALMART