FDA Names Contaminant in Heparin

Rick Patterson

Attorney

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The United States health regulators have been able to identify the heparin contaminant. The culprit, over-sulfated chondroitin sulfate, was added during the manufacturing process in China.

As previously reported on this site, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is slow to say this contaminant caused the deaths of 19 people who were using heparin, since they were already very ill. Although, over-sulfated chondroitin sulfate has the same blood-thinning results as heparin, it is not approved by the FDA. It has been reported by the FDA that this contaminant accounted for anywhere from 2 percent to as much as 50 percent of the samples tested.

The question is, was the inclusion of this contaminant in China an accident, or was it done purposefully for profit. Over-sulfated chondroitin is chemically manipulated and is cheaper than getting raw heparin the usual way, from pig intestines.

It is no surprise that people are wondering if this product contamination was no accident. Contaminated chemical additives bring back bad memories to the pet food consumers in the United States and elsewhere. The aftermath of the deaths of more than 200 dogs and cats and the ongoing illness of many, more, is still being dealt with as a result of the chemical melamine being added in China to soon-to-be exported pet food ingredients. The Chinese maker was later indicted for fraud here in the U. S. in that matter. Only time will tell if the latest heparin fiasco has a similar explanation.

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