# So, how the heck does copper get into beef? (Interesting article linked) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 15, 2010, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-the-heck-does-copper-get-into-beef-interesting-article-linked/536181 "2010-04-15T07:13:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-the-heck-does-copper-get-into-beef-interesting-article-linked/536181/1 "2010-04-15T07:13:44Z")
And why is it so bad for us? Apparently Mexico rejected a shipment of American beef because of Cu levels. [link](http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-04-12-tainted-meat_N.htm?csp=usat.me) I find it shocking that Mexico, of all places, which laces their children’s candy with lead, would have stricter standards than we do for metals in meat! So, what’s up? Are the cows licking copper pipes? Is our land contaminated with tailings from copper mines? Bizarre! ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-the-heck-does-copper-get-into-beef-interesting-article-linked/536181/2 "2010-04-15T11:51:02Z")
> [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > So, how the heck does copper get into beef? Could be as simple as this: > [@](#): > > [The Michigan PBB contamination incident](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybrominated_biphenyl#The_Michigan_PBB_contamination_incident) > In 1973, several thousand pounds of FireMaster BP-6 were accidentally mixed with livestock feed that was distributed to farms in Michigan, USA.[10] Some 1.5 million chickens, 30,000 cattle, 5,900 pigs, and 1,470 sheep then consumed this feed, and became contaminated with PBBs before the error was discovered. These events were dramatized in the 1981 film Bitter Harvest. These events were also dramatized in the book “The Poisoning of Michigan”. One year elapsed before the animals were culled.[10] A study was undertaken on 4,545 people to determine the effects of PBBs on human beings. These include three exposure groups – all people who lived on the quarantined farms, people who received food from these farms and workers (and their families) engaged in PBB manufacture – as well as 725 people with low-level PBB exposure. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-the-heck-does-copper-get-into-beef-interesting-article-linked/536181/3 "2010-04-15T11:57:59Z")
From the feed. Copper IS a required mineral, after all. It HAS to be in the diet, unlike some of the other things mentioned that are not required for nutrition (antibiotics, pesticides). What I am interested in knowing is the toxic levels of copper in humans, and if anybody has done a study on how to relate copper toxicity in humans with beef consumption. For example, how much beef with X amount of trace copper is needed to cause health problems in humans. Too little copper and the animal can get paralysis, won’t thrive, and may die. Too much copper and you shot the liver down. Usually sheep are more susceptible than cattle. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-the-heck-does-copper-get-into-beef-interesting-article-linked/536181/4 "2010-04-15T14:39:32Z")
> [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > I find it shocking that Mexico, of all places, which laces their children’s candy with lead, I was about to ask for a cite on this statement, but found these easily: [http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/candy.htm](http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/candy.htm) [http://www.leadinmexicancandy.com/](http://www.leadinmexicancandy.com/) Wow. Now, back to copper. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-the-heck-does-copper-get-into-beef-interesting-article-linked/536181/5 "2010-04-15T14:51:51Z")
> [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > I find it shocking that Mexico, of all places, which laces their children’s candy with lead, would have stricter standards than we do for metals in meat! No one laces the candy with lead. That is absurd. Why do so many people on this board need to post such false and inflamatory statements about México? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-the-heck-does-copper-get-into-beef-interesting-article-linked/536181/6 "2010-04-15T15:36:02Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#): > > No one laces the candy with lead. That is absurd. Not intentionally, certainly, but there have been some cases of candy imported from Mexico contaminated with dangerous levels of lead. Apparently a product in 2004-5 called “Chaca Chaca” and a product in 2009 called “Hola Pop”. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-the-heck-does-copper-get-into-beef-interesting-article-linked/536181/7 "2010-04-15T15:42:04Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Not intentionally, certainly, but there have been some cases of candy imported from Mexico contaminated with dangerous levels of lead. Apparently a product in 2004-5 called “Chaca Chaca” and a product in 2009 called “Hola Pop”. Accidental contamination is quite different from the absurd and offensive remark made in the OP. Yes, we are heathens that purposely poison our children. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-the-heck-does-copper-get-into-beef-interesting-article-linked/536181/8 "2010-04-15T15:45:01Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#): > > No one laces the candy with lead. That is absurd. > > Why do so many people on this board need to post such false and inflamatory statements about México? I can’t answer your question, but that indeed was a ridiculously absurd remark. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-the-heck-does-copper-get-into-beef-interesting-article-linked/536181/9 "2010-04-15T15:47:57Z")
there could be intentionally 1. i want to put this toxin in my product 2. i will put this toxin in my product because i bought some contaminated feedstock and i don’t want to be out the cost of not using it ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-the-heck-does-copper-get-into-beef-interesting-article-linked/536181/10 "2010-04-15T15:49:38Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#): > > Yes, we are heathens that purposely poison our children. Clearly not. I think the whole thing, both the lead in the candy and the copper in the beef, goes to show that contamination can happen, and that it’s important for food safety and customs agents to be vigilant to make sure that tainted products don’t become available to the public.