Feb 7, 2008 8:05 pm US/Central
Additive In Chicken Feed Could Harm Humans
PITTSBURGH (CBS) ―
-
-
The additive Roxarsone is put in chicken feed to control an internal parasite and to make the birds plumper. (File)
AP
Researchers in Pittsburgh have found a potential health risk linked to an arsenic additive in chicken feed.
In the 1960's, commerical producers started adding a compound called Roxarsone to chicken feed to control a nasty intestinal parasite. Roxarsone is still being used today.
Among other things, Roxarsone contains arsenic and also makes the birds pinker and plumper.
But a new study raises concerns the additive may pose a serious health risk to humans, reports KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh.
Aside from possibly encourage cancerous tumors to grow Dr. Partha Basu, a researcher at Duquesne University, and Dr. Aaron Barchowsky of Pitt's Graduate School of Public Health, found that most of the Roxarsone is eliminated in chicken waste, posing yet another hazard.
"That Roxarsone is going out into the environment, it's contributing to background arsenic levels - the chicken litter is being used for lawn fertilizer," Barchowsky said.
While Roxarsone has FDA approval to use in chicken feed, the doctors think the watchdog agency may want to take another look.
"Why would FDA approve it? - that's something that they need to think about and come up with the regulation," Dr. Basu said.
The McGinnis Sisters Market in Brentwood, Pa., sells 2,000 pounds of chicken weekly. It's raised by the Amish and no chemicals of any kind are used from egg to counter.
The demand for unadulterated food is growing.
"It's a groundswell of concern by the population in America especially the younger people - they want to know what they're eating," Sharon McGinnis said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
