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uncontaminated com. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

 has permitted blending on a case by case basis when the 

 grain is intended for feed for mature livestock within a 

 state's borders. Likewise, as a general rule, FDA prohibits 

 treating com for livestock feed use, but the practice is 

 allowed in a few states. These prohibitions and exemptions 

 lead to confusion for farmers and first purchasers of grain. 

 What we need is a responsible and consistent approach that 

 reduces risk. 



Com processors carefully monitor com that will 

 directly enter the human food chain. Federal law requires 

 the Federal Grain Inspection Service to test all com 

 exports for aflatoxin unless the buyers and sellers waive 

 such tests. But the majority of com grown in the United 

 States is used for livestock feed, and with proper 

 treatment, this use is still appropriate for 

 aflatoxin-contaminated corn. 



The most common treatment available for aflatoxin is 

 ammoniation. This process is safe and effective for feed 

 use, but has not received FDA approval. The Agricultural 

 Research Service conducts a grant program for research to 

 eliminate aflatoxin in com, peanuts, cottonseed and tree 

 nuts. I served as the com growers' representative on the 

 Technical Advisory Committee that reviewed grant proposals. 

 During the two years I served on the committee, I had the 

 opportunity to ask scientists from all over the nation 

 whether detoxification with anhydrous ammonia was effective. 

 They all said it worked. 



Three states — Texas, Georgia and North Carolina — 

 allow com with aflatoxin to be decontaminated by 

 ammoniation. I suggest if this process was approved 

 nationwide, it would encourage the best use of the com. It 

 could be treated and fed without any harm to livestock which 

 would eliminate concerns of aflatoxin in our food and export 

 chain. The news media would have no reason to 

 sensationalize every outbreak of a naturally-occurring toxin. 



This would economically help the individual farmer, the 

 commercial handlers, the export business, and, as a result, 

 the entire nation. 



