Food Poisoning In Cattle?
Polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) is one of six substances, along with lead and mercury, banned by the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances. It was also behind one of the most significant agricultural disasters in the history of the US. In 1973 this manufactured chemical, used as a fire-retardant, was mistakenly put into cattle feed, sold, and fed to animals across Michigan.
Before the mistake could be discovered, thousands of cattle would be destroyed, and thousands of people would eat the PBB-contaminated milk and meat. Soon after being fed the PBB-contaminated feed, cows began to grow weak, and their hides grew thick “like an elephant,” puzzling Veterinarians.
The source of the contamination was identified nine months later, but not before 500 farms were quarantined and not allowed to sell milk, and thousands of cows were destroyed along with 1.5 million chickens and thousands of pigs, sheep, and rabbits.
