Newly released test results have revealed much more of a toxic chemical in tainted animal feed than previously thought.
The tests at the plant in northern Germany where the contamination happened revealed levels of dioxin at 77 times the permitted level. The plant produces fats to be used in industrial processes like paper-making as well as to enrich feeds for animals. The dioxin-laden industrial substance went into the animal feed ingredient.
(Dioxin is the name generally given to a class of super-toxic chemicals, the chlorinated dioxins and furans, formed as a by-product of the manufacture, molding, or burning of organic chemicals and plastics that contain chlorine. It is the nastiest, most toxic man-made organic chemical; its toxicity is second only to radioactive waste.)
(Dioxin is the name generally given to a class of super-toxic chemicals, the chlorinated dioxins and furans, formed as a by-product of the manufacture, molding, or burning of organic chemicals and plastics that contain chlorine. It is the nastiest, most toxic man-made organic chemical; its toxicity is second only to radioactive waste.)
The contamination in Germany is very widespread with 4,700 German farms have been banned from making deliveries after tests at the Harles und Jentzsch plant in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The firm was found to have supplied 25 animal feed makers with 3,000 tonnes of contaminated fat. German officials say the farm measures are only a precaution.
The contaminated fats contained 58 nanograms of dioxin per kilogram. The acceptable limit is actually 0.75 nanograms of dioxin per kilogram - this according to Schleswig-Holstein's agriculture ministry.
It appears that tests done as far back as March 2010 showed high levels of dioxins but the results were not brought to the attention of the Ministry until late last month. These results have now been seized as evidence on behalf of the prosecutors.
"The first indications point to a high level of illegal activity," said a spokesman for German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner on Friday. "There are indications that the company was not even officially registered, in order not to expose itself to official controls".
German agriculture officials will brief their European Union counterparts next week and the incident could lead to new rules on animal feed.
Food Standards Agency in Britain says there is no danger to people's health.
It appears that tests done as far back as March 2010 showed high levels of dioxins but the results were not brought to the attention of the Ministry until late last month. These results have now been seized as evidence on behalf of the prosecutors.
"The first indications point to a high level of illegal activity," said a spokesman for German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner on Friday. "There are indications that the company was not even officially registered, in order not to expose itself to official controls".
German agriculture officials will brief their European Union counterparts next week and the incident could lead to new rules on animal feed.
Food Standards Agency in Britain says there is no danger to people's health.
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