NCJ Number
129276
Journal
Journal of the Forensic Science Society Volume: 30 Issue: 6 Dated: (November/December 1990) Pages: 363-370
Date Published
1990
Length
8 pages
Annotation
An investigation is described into the allegation that metamphetamines and their precursors are being extracted from chicken laying meal for illicit drug manufacture.
Abstract
The investigation involved three phases: checking with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); determining the history of production of feeds and current formulation of laying meal from several manufacturers; and following the procedures on a sample of the laying meal and chemically examining the extract for phenethylamine compound of precursors. A poll of employees of the FDA involved in approving feed formulations between the late 1960s and 1970s showed that stimulants, specifically phenetylamines had never been FDA-approved for uses in laying meal or any other type of feed products. Nutrena, Ralston-Purina, and Manna Pro Corporation all indicated that no stimulants had been added to the feed, although occasionally an antibiotic or sedative had been added. The procedures for the extraction of the chicken laying meal that were examined for each company were similar in content, except for two of them which required gentle heat to remove the solvent. Similarly, the chemical examination did not reveal the presence of stimulants or their precursors. All three areas of this investigation disproved the myth of stimulants in chicken laying meal. 2 tables and 2 references (Author abstract modified)