FDA charges safety lapse in sale of pigs

WASHINGTON — The government has determined the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign failed to comply with safety laws when it allowed offspring of animals used in a genetic experiment to be sold as food.

The Food and Drug Administration discovered in February that 386 pigs born from pigs used in a study might have entered the food supply. The pigs in the experiment had genes from different species, but the university said the offspring didn’t. The FDA determined there was no health risk.

In two similar letters sent last week to university officials, FDA emphasized that it has never allowed genetically engineered animals into the food supply. "Nevertheless, you released at least 386 pigs from (testing) for sale for slaughter as human food," FDA wrote.

The university has 15 days to respond. FDA officials warned that if a response isn’t received, the agency could take further action, such as imposing fines.

Melanie Loots, the university’s associate vice chancellor for research, said the school is working to ensure a similar incident doesn’t happen.

Consumer groups say the incident revealed gaps in government oversight. They are calling for penalties.

"Granted, they didn’t put human health at risk, but FDA needs to send a strong message to the regulated community that if you release these animals into the food supply — whether or not they cause any serious health risk — you’ve got to pay some fine or face a penalty for it," said Gregory Jaffe, director of biotechnology at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.