Document kD35JKvzQZ7kXR2rBO65eN5oO

I /\v.1 . ; t ; j ' THESUN BALTIMORE, MD,, (MORNING) P, 100,855 SUN, 347,039 __ AUG 16 1971 ; i1 .1 i i... i ' ' v : i ' ' '\ i Sick-Chicken Crisis Sir; Your editorial, "Sick Chick ens" paraphrases recent stale* moils of Congressman Ryan of New York with respect to our himdtlnf of the recent PCB prob lem in broilers. Included are alto- gallons that chickens were sold after we knew of the situation, that our investigatory procedures were too slow, and that we showed un due casualness toward the con sumer. The facts are these. A North Car olina broiler producing firm in* formed us on Monday, July 19, that U had experienced a decline in hatchabilUy of its eggs. Investi gated the matter, and had altrib* utad it to fish meal purchased from a Wilmington (N.C.) firm. (This firm, which is not under our juris diction, had closed Us doors the preceding Friday.) We immediate* Iy dispatched one of our top men to Nor;h Carolina lo coordinate U>e residue testing of all the producer's birds. Testing has continued since that date and all tola of birds show* ing residues above acceptable lev els have been destroyed. On July 22, we received from the Food and Drug Adminslratton1 a listing of all firms to whom the suspect plant had delivered fish meal tinea the PCB leakage began. Wa Immediately took steps to no tify each of these firms of the problem, and Immediately began an accelerated residue collection problem In all federally Inspected poultry slaughter plants in the af* footed 10-slate area. Samples from all such plants were on their way to our laboratories on July 23, with* In hours after we received the FDA listing. This accelerated testing program continues today, end will be continued as tong as necessary. In nay judgment, our meat and poultry Inspection personnel re sponded in commendable fashion to a problem which was in no way of their making. They carried out a plan of action quickly but deliber ately, with fairness to all con and all as a result of tests per cerned, and with protection for the formed before the birds were even consumer. leaded for market. No other sam * The easy response would have been io recall all poultry products from all supermarket shelves throughout the United States. But this was unnecessary, and would have resulted In a tremendous loss of wholesome food, an unreasonable indictment of the entire poultry In dustry, and devastating financial losses from which many persons and firms could never have re* covered. So far, 88,000 birds have been de stroyed--all from one producer, ples from the approximately 200 slaughter plants being tested have shown unacceptable residues. This was a tragic situation, but it would have been even more tragic had our personnel not re* , acted in a responsible way. Contra ry to the allegations, they reacted quickly, but with duo concern for everyone Involved. The immediate clamor was that we condemn poul try everywhere. Had we done so, we could have avoided charges of being "casual toward consumers." In fact, we would have been praised. That would have been Die - 1 easy and popular response, and it ' would have avoided critical com* . monts from Congressman Ryan. and others. But it would also have ; been wrong, for how could we have * justified such action today, two ! weeks later, when laboratory tests ' have called fOT the condemnation; of only a fraction of one per cent of; all the birds being marketed? We chose to make the hard dec!- ston, but 1 believe it was also the . right decision. Clayton Yeuttar, . Administrator, Consumer and ; j f. Marketing Service, Depart- j: ment of Agriculture. Washington, HONS 032654