lead in cattle?

[bri276]

I was reading a natural foods book for pets and came across information from the author (Dr. Pitcairn), that beef bones aren't safe because of lead due to years of leaded gasoline contaminating the environment, and that bone meal should be bought only from certain countries (Ethiopia and I forget where else). my question is, not only about whether the bones are safe for use in stock, but if in fact all beef and even cow's milk could be contaminated with lead. I do get my milk and meat from local farms but from what I understand, this is not something regularly tested.

I haven't bee able to find much information but I did find this,
http://jvdi.org/cgi/reprint/13/5/373.pdf

[WuWei]

I was reluctant to read the article, because I didn't need one. more. thing. to. worry. about! But, I did read it and from what I understand, the likelihood of the animals consuming lead in significant quantities was due to large environmental exposures, such as eating parts of old car batteries or licking old crankcase oil. I don't believe even where leaded gasoline (prior to 1996) might have been poured onto the ground where the cow is eating (in 2008), that enough residual lead would be present to cause concern, imo.

Glad I read the article. I feel much relieved. Of course, it is *possible* that cows could eat batteries and farmers might not notice them to be lead toxic (although there are neurological symptoms of significant lead exposure), and they could become food and we might get those bones...


Pat

[bri276]

that was the only real tangible study I could come across with a quick look, but I did read other information about bone meal being well known as a source of lead.

I was reluctant to read the article, because I didn't need one. more. thing. to. worry. about!

no kidding! you can't win! I am really reluctant to make beef broth until I get this figured out, though, lead really concerns me.

[sbgrace]

The only potential problems I saw when I looked back when with lead contamination was bones and liver. I think the meat and milk should be ok. I hope.

[WuWei]

I found this, "fish and small bird bones (either of which is less likely to contain much lead or mercury than a longer-lived animal)".

And this, "Contaminated ground water travels... so... it's possible to not even know there's a lead problem."

And another argument: "If lead is a problem in chicken bones, and you can get it just from lead paint DUST, don't you think my dog would be showing signs of lead toxicity by now? I mean she practically grew up on raw chicken because the bones are soft-enough for growing puppies to eat! Nowadays she eats pork ribs too, but chicken bones are a good part of her diet."

We had bone broth tonight...


Pat