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CMEC DOES NOT USE ANTIBIOTICS The following is in reponse by Kerry Nixon, General Manager of CMEC to an article published in the St. Cloud Times on April 4, 2009. 10/01/09 11:15:33 AM The article you published in the paper last Saturday about antibiotic residue in distiller's grains comes short of the whole story. The article as issued from the U of M is true but I would like to add to this articles slant that shows another negative on the ethanol industry. The use of antibiotics to control bacteria in the process is needed since lactic acids form especially when corn is either immature, not completely dried and depending how it is stored, could help form molds that tend to grow bacteria. When fines or an inordinate amount of cracked corn is present, that added open surface area is subject to bacterial growth. Up until recently antibiotics had to be used to lower the lactic acid so the yeast and enzymes could do their conversion from starch to ethanol. Central MN Ethanol Co-op in Little Falls and representatives of DuPont tested a product that is a stabilized chlorine dioxide to prove that the bacteria could be controlled. This product immediately was a success and antibiotics have not been used at CMEC now since Noverber of 2007. In fact the chlorine dioxide has only been administered twice in the last year an a half. This is the same product that is used in water treatment facilities to eliminate bacteria. The Federal Drug Administration inspector inspected the plant and took samples of our dried distillers grains and wet cake and even sampled the dust in the load out area with no residue found. I understand that the FDA will come out with their recommendations later this year after they have decided on what course of action to take. I understand that they have found residue but we have not heard if the residue is even active, since it may not survive the temperatures that it is subjected to in the ethanol distillation process. If that is the case the residue would be of no consequence. The ethanol industry is constantly looking at new processes and improvements to ensure that the plants and its products are safe for their employees and the public. Kerry J. Nixon General Manager Central MN Ethanol Co-op |
