The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is disputing media reports linking the connection between dried poultry litter in dairy cattle diets and the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus on dairy farms.
Austin Therrell, executive director of AAFCO, said in a statement that while theoretically possible, it is doubtful that the illness was transmitted through animal feed, highlighting stringent food safety protocols in place.
Therrell said the AAFCO Ingredient Definition Request Process undergoes thorough scrutiny and transparency. It involves scientific evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine and requires approval from the majority of state regulators. This regulatory pathway meticulously addresses various food safety risks to guarantee that approved ingredients can be safely and efficiently utilized in animal food across the U.S.
Therrell continued that the Food Safety Modernization Act requires extensive preventive food safety measures for all animal foods.
The AAFCO Official Publication reinforces these regulations, stipulating that manufacturers of processed animal waste products must conduct testing and maintain records to ensure products like dried poultry litter are free from drugs used in feed or as therapeutic treatments, pesticides, pathogenic organisms including Salmonella and E. coli, heavy metals, parasitic larva or ova, and mycotoxins like aflatoxin.
On May 1, 2024, Constance Cullman, President and CEO of the American Feed Industry Association, reiterated that the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that wild migratory birds are likely the source of the virus in dairy cattle.
Cullman said USDA’s chief veterinary officer and deputy administrator for veterinary services confirmed in a recent call with stakeholders that infected premises of farms impacted by HPAI do not permit anything to leave, including poultry litter or waste for use as crop fertilizer or feed.
“AAFCO and its members are committed to working with the animal food industry, as well as producers across the U.S., to ensure that we continue to have the safest food supply in the world,” Therrell said. “Our vision is to be the trusted leader that safeguards animal and human health, and we will continue to do our part to make sure that hardworking American farmers do not have to worry about the safety of the products they are feeding their animals.” — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
