Chinese hog producer says it never used melamine

Chinese hog producer AgFeed Industries says it has never used melamine

• Thursday October 30, 2008, 2:53 pm EDT

NEW YORK (AP) -- AgFeed Industries Inc., a commercial hog producer and premix animal feed company in China, said Thursday that it has never used melamine.

The company said its products and raw materials have been declared melamine-free, after it requested testing conducted by the Chinese government.

The practice of adding melamine, a nitrogen-rich substance used in making plastics and fertilizers, to milk supplies is blamed for killing four babies in China and sickening tens of thousands.

The babies were sickened by powdered infant formula that authorities believe was made from tainted fresh milk. Melamine has also been found in other Chinese dairy products, including yogurt, candy and cream cookies.

AgFeed is a U.S. company that has its primary operations in China, where there is a sizable market for pork. Its shares rose 3 cents to $4 in afternoon trading Thursday.