HHS Bans Certain Glandulars

WASHINGTON--The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Jan. 27 it intends to ban bovine-derived material in order to protect Americans from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, also known as mad cow disease). This measure will affect the food, dietary supplement and cosmetic industries.

HHS, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been putting measures in place since 1989 to control the presence of BSE in the United States, including banning mammalian protein feed to cattle herds.

Although the current animal feed rule provides a strong barrier against the further spread of BSE the science and our own experience and knowledge in this area are constantly evolving," said HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson. "Small as the risk may already be, this is the time to make sure the public is protected to the greatest extent possible.

According to HHS, the new safeguards are science-based and further bolster the governments standing safeguards. In particular, FDA will publish interim final rules that will take effect immediately upon publication which ban certain animal by-products from human food. These materials include those from downer cattle (lame animals), dead cattle and materials from the brain, skull, eyes and spinal cord of cattle 30 months and older. These body parts are known to harbor the highest concentrations of the agent that causes BSE.

The impact on the supplement industry is expected to be negligible. For example, American Laboratories, an Omaha, Neb., supplier of glandular products, once bought bovine-derived brains and eyes for use in supplements. Now, it continues to offer porcine alternatives. The overall business of bovine brains and eyes is miniscule compared to our core competency, enzymes," said Kenny Soejoto, executive vice president of American Labs. "Actually, one of the most popular glandular products is liver, which isnt one of the ingredients HHS has said is banned. In fact, the ingredients listed in the HHS press release make up a minimal part of the glandular industry.

Softgels are another area where animal by-products are used, but gelatin--garnered from cartilage, which is not an SRM--is used to make these casings.

More information on the ban can be found at www.hhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20040126.html.