What happened as a result of the Michigan plant mix-up?

What happened as a result of the Michigan plant mix-up?

• A. The mix-up was discovered in April 1974, and PBB had already entered the food chain through dairy products, beef products, and contaminated swine, sheep, chickens, and eggs.
• B. The mix-up was contained with no food contamination.
• C. Only dairy products were affected.
• D. The incident had no human exposure.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that a mistake in what goes into animal feed can contaminate a wide range of foods and expose people to the contaminant through multiple channels. In the Michigan incident, PBB, a flame retardant, was accidentally added to cattle feed instead of the intended additive. This meant that livestock—dairy cows, hogs, and others—produced milk and meat contaminated with PBB, and the contamination spread into the food supply. The mix-up was discovered in April 1974, by which time PBB had already entered dairy products, beef, and contaminated swine, sheep, chickens, and eggs. This answer captures the broad scope of contamination and human exposure, rather than a limited or contained event.

The main idea is that a mistake in what goes into animal feed can contaminate a wide range of foods and expose people to the contaminant through multiple channels. In the Michigan incident, PBB, a flame retardant, was accidentally added to cattle feed instead of the intended additive. This meant that livestock—dairy cows, hogs, and others—produced milk and meat contaminated with PBB, and the contamination spread into the food supply. The mix-up was discovered in April 1974, by which time PBB had already entered dairy products, beef, and contaminated swine, sheep, chickens, and eggs. This answer captures the broad scope of contamination and human exposure, rather than a limited or contained event.