Another chemical identified in pet food scam

A second industrial chemical has been identified by the American regulators as a pet food contaminant. Chances are that it may have been intentionally added to the animal feed by producers for larger profits. Three chemical makers have told the American regulators that Chinese animal feed producers often purchased cyanuric acid to blend into their feed. Cyanuric acid helps in increasing protein content and also comes cheap. Cyanuric acid is also used as a chemical stabilizer in swimming pool but isn't too toxic alone.

Until now, the investigation was strongly focused on a chemical called melamine. Chinese animal feed producers recently acknowledged that they have been using melamine for the profit motive. Whether cyanuric acid is a by product of melamine or was it placed independently in the feed is still a question. The quality control officials of China have accused officials of two companies for their roles in shipping the tainted goods.

However, scientists are still finding it difficult to tell the exact cause of the deaths, as neither melamine nor cyanuric acid is too toxic alone.

Source: NYtimes