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University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, March 24, 1992
Relabeling error misidentifies cat food as tuna for humans
The Associated Press
NEWARK, N.J. — Imagine opening a can of tuna and finding yourself in seventheaven—"7th Heaven" brand cat food.
Federal agents yesterday seized 38,640 cans of cat food — decomposed fish product, according to federal officials — that were relabeled as tuna for human consumption.
The 6 1/2 oz. cans were labeled "Ocean King Chunk Light Tuna in Water" and contained decomposed tuna fish intended for cats, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.
Some of the cans were sold. All canned foods are sterilized during processing so they are not dangerous to humans.
"But who wants to eat decomposed cat food?" asked Lillian Aveta, an FDA compliance monitor in New York.
Aveta said the cans were part of an original lot of 25 million to 50 million produced in 1985 at a caninery in St. Andrews, Canada. The Canadian government closed the canery because of unsanitary conditions.
The product was to be sold in the United States as 7th Heaven cat food, a pet food.
"But at some point, some cans were relabeled as tuna," she said. "We don't know yet how many, or when or by whom."
U. S. marshals seal the cans at a Teterboro warehouse. The owner was listed as Ocean King Foods of New York. M. Chu, president of Ocean King in New York City, did not return phone calls yesterday.
The decomposed tuna was relabeled as four different brands — Ocean King, IGA, Blue Bay and National. Some tuna labels were pasted on top of
"The they were pretty lazy," said George Troublefield, an FDA compliance officer in West Orange. "But that's good for us."
catfoodlabels.
One complaint came from Darlene La Musga of St. Paul, Minn., who opened a can, took a bite, then prepared to make tuna salad.
A recall ordered after consumers in Minnesota and Wisconsin complained in July wasn't effective, so the FDA decided to seize the cans, Avaed said.
"I went to pull off the label and I saw there was another label underneath," she said last July. The label underneath was for 7th heaven cat food.
"It gagged me and I threw up in the wastebasket," she said.
FDA officials said they didn't know how many of the cans were sold or what other states they were sold in.
Thousands of plants face extinction
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - World population growth, environmental destruction and modern farming practices threaten thousands of native plant species with extinction, a United Nations agency stated in a report yesterday.
Saouma, FAO director general.
The loss of diversity in the world's plant species has implications for global agriculture and other industries that rely on plant materials, such as medicine, said officials of the food and Agriculture Organization.
"The earth's plant genetic resources are a limited and perishable natural resource, and their loss constitutes a grave threat to our world food security," said Edouard
As many as 40,000 plant species, out of many millions on the globe, could be extinct by the middle of the 21st century unless conservation measures are immediately increased, an FAO representative said.
An FAO representative said today's disruption of the plants' ecological equilibrium is taking place so quickly, and the population growth is so massive, that nature does not have time to cope biologically.
Industrialized nations have the resources to protect their own plant genetics, an FAO representative said, but world experts believe developing nations need at least $300 million to $500 million a year to help their efforts. The world's genetic
diversity is concentrated in tropical and subtropical areas where most developing countries are located.
"New breeds of plants and animals will be needed to adapt to climatic and technological changes." Saouma said. "Today's desirable gene pool may not be the ideal gene pool that can support intensified efforts in the area of genetic resources conservation and utilization."
The Rome-based agency's representative said the reduction of the Earth's plant genetic diversity can be traced to deforestation, the expanding range of deserts around the Earth and the transformation of global eating habits, which have cut the demand for native, genetically diverse plants.
Yesterday's On Campus calendar incorrectly stated that the KU Coalition of the Lawrence Alliance would meet today. It will meet at 8:30 p.m. March 31.
CORRECTION
ON CAMPUS
The Office of Study Abroad will sponsor an information session about studying in French-speaking countries at 4 p.m. today at the French Department Library.
Students Against Hunger will meet at 6 p.m. today at the Oread Room in the Kansas Union.
The University of Kansas ANIME will meet at 6p.m. today at Room 315 in the Art and design Building.
Amnesty International will meet at e.p.m. today at Alcove B in the Kitchener Square
Hispanic American Leadership
President will meet on 6:30 tonight
of Preservation
The Dr. Seuss Club will meet at 7:30 tonight at the Governor's Room in the Kansas Union.
KU Libertarians will sponsor a speech by Jeanne Bojanski, candidate for the U.S. Senate from Missouri, at 8 tonight at the Kansas Room in the Kansas Union.
WEATHER
Forecast by Andy Kula, KU Weather Service: 864-3300
Operators heat up Wolf Creek plant
The Associated Press
loud noises that occurred on Feb. 28 and March 16 as the plant temperature was raised.
BURLINGTON - Operators brought the Wolf Creek nuclear power plant up to operating temperature yesterday without a repeat of the mysterious rumble that shook the plant during two earlier tries, plant officials said.
Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp. officials said they planned to keep the plant at or near normal temperature and pressure for the next several days.
Meanwhile, plant and federal regulators continue an investigation into
A meeting with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to review Wolf Creek's technical analysis was scheduled for today in Washington.
Wolf Creek officials said they would hold a public meeting at or near Wolf Creek to discuss the issue with concerned residents, but they did not say when.
Bart Withers, president and chief executive officer at Wolf Creek, said workers increased the clearance on pipe restraints in the reactor coolant system piping.
Withers was quoted in a news release as saying that during inspections it was found that pipe restraints were contacting their support structures before the plant reached normal operating temperature.
The plant will be ready to resume production after getting approval from the NRC,plant officials said.
"This interference was the cause, or at least a major contributor, to the noise heard in our containment building," the release said.
The University Daily Kansan (USPS 650-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 119 Stuart Finst-Hall Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 66045, daily during the regular school year, excluding Saturday, Sunday, holidays and final periods, and Wednesday during the summer session. Second-class postage is paid in Lawrence, Kan. 66044 Annual subscriptions by mail are $60 Student subscriptions are paid through the student activity fee.
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Turning Signs of Death into Signs of Life A remembrance of Oscar Romero on the 12th anniversary of his assassination. 7:30 Tonight ECM, 1204 Oread Central America Week 1992:
KU BLOOD DRIVE TODAY 9:00 am to 4:00 pm KANSAS UNION
Summer in Boother, Colorado. Who can describe it? You won't want to miss it.
Here's your chance to make the summer of '92 one you'll always remember.
Think community. The Boulder campus takes on a special quality in the summer. Faculty come to class in shorts. Small discussion groups meet under the trees on campus and in libraries—a comfortable learning community—who work, study, or just relax together.
Think challenge. Choose from over 500 courses, including archaeological field study in Steamboat Springs, production with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, an intensive Spanish institute, a biology field course on plants of Colorado, performance with the Colorado Lyric Theatre festival, and much more.
Think money. 'Tuition in the summer is lower than during the following academic year.'
Think outdoors. Colorado has more than 1,000 spectacular peaks soaring above 10,000 feet and 53 peaks over 14,000 feet. Boulder has parks, open space, and hiking and biking trails galore. Boulder is *the place to be outdoors*
Term A: June 8-July 10
Term B: July 14-August 14
Term C: June 8-July 31
Term D: June 8-August 14
Shorter; intensive courses also
Call or email the coupon for a free CU-Boulder Summer Session Catalog, which contains everything you need to know about special courses, registration, housing, tuition and fees, financial aid, student services, and class schedules.
For information, call (303) 492-2456.