Indiana euthanizes 15 cattle with bovine tuberculosis INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (AP) — State animal health officials say 15 beef cattle have been euthanized in southeastern Indiana after testing positive for bovine tuberculosis (TB).
The State Board of Animal Health said Friday it recently completed its bovine TB testing campaign for all livestock herds linked to a herd in Dearborn County, where one cow was found during slaughter in December to have the disease.
That cow was Indiana’s first such case of the disease in more than three decades. TB causes severe coughing, fatigue, emaciation and debilitation in cattle. All 15 of the cattle that tested positive for tuberculosis were associated with the herd from which the infected cow came.
Forty-seven free-ranging deer near the herd were also tested but none tested positive for the illness. Testing will continue during the fall deer hunting season.
Ground turkey recalled because of salmonella WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — Minnesota-based Cargill, Inc. recalled more ground turkey products Sunday because a test showed salmonella in a sample from an Arkansas plant less than a month after production resumed following an earlier recall and shutdown. Cargill recalled 36 million pounds of ground turkey last month after a salmonella outbreak that federal health officials said sickened 107 people in 31 states by Aug. 11. One person died.
Federal health officials linked the outbreak to ground turkey from Cargill’s plant in Springdale, Ark., and the company shut down the plant when it announced the Aug. 3 recall. But Cargill spokesman Mike Martin said two weeks later limited production had resumed after the USDA approved additional anti-bacterial safety measures. The USDA said Sunday a sample of ground turkey collected from the plant on Aug. 24 – a week after production resumed – tested positive for salmonella. It said the company is recalling ground turkey made at the plant on Aug. 23-24. Cargill also is recalling ground turkey made on Aug. 30-31 pending a positive match, the agency said.
The latest recall covers about 185,000 pounds of ground turkey products, including trays of ground meat, patties and chubs, the USDA said. The products were distributed nationwide under the Honeysuckle White, Kroger and Fresh HEB brands. Martin and USDA representatives did not immediately return phone messages left Sunday.
Official slams corn syrup rebranding
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (AP) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cautioned the corn industry over its use of the term “corn sugar” to describe high fructose corn syrup before the proposed new name has received regulatory approval. The move comes after the processed syrup courted controversy for its role in America’s obesity crisis and diabetes epidemic. The Corn Refiners Assoc. (CRA) is seeking permission to use “corn sugar” as an alternative name for the widely used liquid sweetener currently labeled on most sodas and packaged foods as high fructose corn syrup.
In a July 12 letter obtained by The Associated Press, FDA Labeling Director Barbara Schneeman wrote to the CRA saying she was concerned with two of the group’s websites, both of which use the terms high fructose corn syrup and “corn sugar” interchangeably. As of Thursday, two months after the letter was sent, none of that wording had been changed. Audrae Erickson, spokeswoman for the CRA, said in an email to the AP the group is currently reviewing its materials and will make changes if necessary.
The FDA has no regulatory control over the advertising because the CRA is not selling a product but promoting an industry. The federal agency can prosecute companies that incorrectly label ingredients and Schneeman wrote the FDA may launch enforcement action against food companies listing high fructose corn syrup as “corn sugar.”
Beet and cane sugar producers have filed a lawsuit over claims that corn sugar is the same, saying they amount to false advertising. A federal judge is reviewing a motion to dismiss the case.
Ranchers in Colorado cutting cattle herds PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) — Ranchers in southeastern Colorado are cutting their cattle herds because of drought and high feed costs. Pueblo County Stockman’s Assoc. President Dan Henrichs said the glut of cattle on the market is starting to drive down prices for cattle, even though hamburger and steaks sell for more in the stores. Ranchers told the Pueblo Chieftain prices for hay and corn are high and there is little choice other than to reduce the size of herds.
Arizona bee attack kills huge hog, injures sow and man BISBEE, Ariz. (AP) — Killer bees attacked several farm animals and killed a 1,000-pound hog at a southern Arizona farm.
KOLD-TV reported farmers were trying to move a hive that weighed 200 pounds on Sept. 14, as an estimated 250,000 bees swarmed around like a black cloud and stung animals and farm workers. Bee expert Reed Booth said he was surprised at seeing the bees kill such a large hog, considering the animal has several layers of fat and skin. An 800-pound pregnant sow was stung so many times that she went into a coma and lost her litter.
In northern Arizona, a man was hospitalized after he was stung more than 1,000 times Sept. 11. Yavapai County authorities said DeWayne Spires, 49, disturbed bees nesting under a cattle trough.
Pilot finds marijuana growing in Monroe County
MILAN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A pilot with the Monroe County sheriff’s office spotted many marijuana plants Saturday while flying over two cornfields in Milan Township, 60 miles west of Detroit. Joe Schumacher was right: Deputies counted 55 mature plants worth at least $25,000. Federal drug agents from Toledo, Ohio, are also part of the investigation. |