New dioxin find in Germany poses no danger
German authorities said this week they saw no danger to the public after an animal feed ingredient was found to contain the highly-poisonous chemical dioxin above permitted levels.
German sugar producer Pfeifer & Langen reported it had produced sugar beet pulp with dioxin levels of 1.0-1.6 nanograms, per kilo, "slightly above" permitted levels of 0.75 nanograms, a spokesman for the agriculture ministry in the state government of North Rhine Westphalia said.
"We see no danger," the spokesman said. "The sugar pulp usually makes up only 10-15% of a TMR ration in dairy feeds and the levels are not so high that the entire animal feed mixture would be pushed over the limits."
Unlisted Pfeifer & Langen had itself informed authorities.
"We see a problem in part of the process chain which is being investigated. Currently we see no necessity to issue a warning," the ministry spokesman added.
Deliveries had been made to Germany and the Netherlands, he said. They were being recalled.
Eight suppliers and 30 farmers in Rheinland-Pfalz region who received the contaminated beet pulp were locked and milk samples will be tested for dioxin levels.
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