Raleigh, N.C. — A farm in western North Carolina has been quarantined after a chemical blamed for more than a dozen pet deaths was found in its hogs, state officials said Wednesday. None of the hogs has entered the food supply.
The farm received a shipment of contaminated feed last week, said Mary Ann McBride, assistant state veterinarian for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It was the only farm in the state that received the feed.
"It is important to note that all animals that may have consumed the infected feed have been accounted for," McBride said. "We have no reason to believe that there is any risk associated with the North Carolina pork supply at this time."
State officials took urine samples from 13 hogs, and all tested positive for melamine, a chemical used to manufacture plastics and foam, McBride said. The farm, which wasn't identified, has about 1,400 hogs, she said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service has said fewer than 10 hog farms in six states received contaminated feed. The feed came from a Diamond Pet plant in Gaston, S.C., and contained a rice concentrate that has been recalled by its manufacturer in California.
Investigators found melamine in at least two imported Chinese vegetable proteins used to make pet foods. Pet food companies have recalled more than 100 brands of food since the first reports of animal deaths a little over a month ago.
Officials were trying to determine whether hogs in New York, South Carolina, Utah and Ohio also might have eaten the tainted food.
North Carolina is the nation's second-largest hog producer, with 2,300 operating farms. Most are in eastern North Carolina: Duplin and Sampson counties are the largest producers, with more than 2 million hogs each. Bladen County is the third largest, with more than 840,000 hogs.
N.C. Hog Farm Quarantined
- Reporter: Scott Mason
- Photographer: Keith Baker
- Web Editor: Kamal Wallace
53 Comments
-
- NC hospital worker tests positive for swine flu
Posted 6 minutes ago - Local NC residents form new Mini Cooper club
Posted at 11:09 a.m. - Economy slashes church program for single parents
Updated at 11:11 a.m. - NC tax overhaul still alive in budget talks
Posted at 10:53 a.m. - 3rd person dies after NC fireworks explosion
Updated at 10:45 a.m.
- NC hospital worker tests positive for swine flu
- Most Viewed Slideshows
- Ocracoke Island fireworks truck explosion
Updated at 8:59 a.m. - Summer Fun 2009
Updated at 10:50 a.m. - Your photos: Fourth of July celebrations
Updated at 10:49 a.m.
- Ocracoke Island fireworks truck explosion
-
10 questions with a Hurricane expertHurricane expert Jamie Rhome answers your questions about storm damage, naming storms and much more.
-
10 questions with Barry WilliamsActor Barry Williams answers your questions about "dating" Florence Henderson, staying in touch with Christopher Knight and much more!
-
10 questions with Durham Bulls head groundskeeperScott Strickland answers your questions about caring for the turf, removing odd things from the field and more.
-
Cityscapes of the TriangleTake a tour through the urban landscapes of the Triangle's cities and towns.
-
Michael Jackson (1958-2009)The life and death of Michael Jackson in video and photos.
-
A year of N.C. Drought MapsView a time lapse animation of drought conditions during the last year.
-
'Antiques Roadshow' in RaleighThe "Antiques Roadshow" taped Saturday, June 27, 2009, at the Raleigh Convention Center, where over 5,000 ticket holders lined up to learn what…
-
The week in entertainmentA look at the top entertainment stories this week through the lenses of Associated Press photographers.





STORIES
VIDEOS
SLIDESHOWS




Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.
You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.