[The animal by-products used in Grow Joe are manufactured by Faesy & Besthoff, Inc. Faesy & Besthoff wrote the following letter.]





November 9, 1990


Charles ____________
Agriculture Canada
Feed & Fertilizer Division
Room 1077
960 Carling Avenue
Ottowa, Ontario
K-1A0C6 Canada

Dear Mr. ___________

I am writing...as regards the manner in which our [animal products are] sterilized.

Specifically, our process differs from the "steaming" process and produces a product which is not only higher in nitrogen but also much more dependable sterility. This is particularly advisable when dealing with the possibility of anthrax since the spores have been known to survive temperatures in excess of 340 degrees F, temperatures which are not necessarily achieved in the time-honored steam process.

Below please find a synopsis of our manufacturing process form which you will see that our [animal products] are brought from ambient temperature through a system where the temperature may reach well in excess of 1000 degrees F and product is held in that system for several hours.

Immediately after grinding the the raw Meat and Bone [which we derive from USA beef cattle] it is heated to 180 degrees F in a tank with live steam injection. It is then pumped to the Adible Rendering System where it is heated to 200-210 degrees F with Live Steam Injention. The product then is centrifuged to separate the liquids...from the solids... During the live steam heating described above, the product is exposed to 180 degrees F for about 30 minutes and to 200-210 degrees F for about 60 minutes.

After being centrifuged, the product is conveyed directly into a dryer. This is a gas fired, direct heated unit. The product is fed into the dryer at the outlet of the furnace. At this point, it is almost in contact with the flame. We have thermocoupled in this area and it allows the temperature to run from 1300-2000 degrees F...It takes about 2 hours for the [animal products] to travel through the dryer. As it does, the temperature decreases and it leaves the dryer at about 210-230 degrees F...

We are comfortable as are the USDA pathologists who certify that our [products] are thoroughly and completely sterilized and pathogen free.

We believe that it should be considered by you and yours to be a safe and dependable method of sterilization, equal to or superior to steaming and we should welcome further comments,

Very sincerely

FAESY & BESTHOFF, INC.