Beef Rejected by Mexico is Found on the Plates of Americans

That was copper, What is the safe level. I did not realize that they test for copper, what about the other heavy metals such as mercury?

As far as antibiotics. or hormones. on the dairy side their is very little tolerance for antibiotics in milk, because it kills the culture to make cheese, and it is tested. Sane if you ship the cow for beef.

As far as hormones, the farmer signs that the milk or beef is hormones free.

Interest note though. Mexico returned our beef, but they will buy our used dairy processing equipment, that is outdated in this country and will not pass our sanitary standards.

p911

As per study, the safe limit of copper is 10ppm (safe dietary intake/day 0.9mg)

Lawrence, K.A., A.J. Pesce and S.C. Kazmierczak. 1993. Clinical Chemistry

Also anybody seen this report? (page 13)

A bit old, long, by NGO, but worth going through.

Hey there Jaxy.

Well, the story and the link are informative... to a degree. I had hoped to find some quantative information regarding the copper concentration found. In 2008. But, therein lies no such data, only noting "exceeded safe levels for human consumption." I would like to know, testing by what method? What levels?

Humans need some copper in their daily diet. From http://www.deq.state.id.us/inl_oversight/contamination/fact_sheets/copper.pdf "In humans, copper is necessary for overall good health. People in the United States are estimated to take in 1 to 10 milligrams (mg) or more each day in their diets. The National Academy of Sciences has recommended 2 to 3 mg of copper as a safe and adequate daily intake"

Cattle also ingest copper, even if free ranged. This copper is a necessary component of their diet, just like people.

I just do not know what to think of this type of article... do the writers simply fergit to provide supporting information?

They were writing this article based upon an article written in USA Today or at least referenced it in the article. I am sure that there are other sources of information, but I just haven't looked for it. I think the people writing the article was more concerned about why something that was deemed unsafe by officials was still allowed to be sold, even if it was in another country.

According to the USDA Report, FSIS National Residue Program for Cattle:

...Together, FSIS, FDA, and EPA have not established thresholds for many dangerous substances (e.g., copper or dioxin 3 ), which has resulted in meat with these substances being distributed in commerce. Additionally, FSIS does not attempt to recall meat, even when its tests have confirmed the excessive presence of veterinary drugs...

This still doesn't tell us what the Cu concentrations were in the suspect beef, but...I'll have a salad, please.

If you have a jones for steak, these other considerations will simply disappear off the radar screen.

Food Inc

What happened to people who ate such beef?. Are they sick or any deficiencies found in their intake of such beef?.

They became conductors.

HTRN

The same thing happens to toys shipped to the US from China. If they can't be sold in the US they are repackaged and sent to a country where the laws are less stringent.

Kinda strange. Maybe if the material was seized and destroyed this kind of thing wouldn't happen.