FDA finds new chemical in pet food.

FDA finds new chemical in pet food.

• NEW: FDA finds new chemical in tainted pet food, sick animals
• FDA says chemical used in plastics found in food, sick animals
• NEW: Scientists not sure melamine was cause of pets' deaths
• PETA to call Friday for recall of dry pet food it says has sickened dogs, cats

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/30/pet.food.recall.ap/index.html

FDA finds new chemical in tainted pet food, sick animals
Story Highlights
• NEW: FDA says chemical used in plastics found in food, sick animals
• NEW: Scientists not sure melamine was cause of pets' deaths
• PETA to call Friday for recall of dry pet food it says has sickened dogs, cats
• Manufacturer recalled 100 brands of food after dogs, cats suffered kidney failure

RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) -- Recalled pet foods contained a chemical used to make plastics, but government tests failed to confirm the presence of rat poison, federal officials said Friday.

The Food and Drug Administration said it found melamine in samples of the Menu Foods pet food, as well as in wheat gluten used as an ingredient.

Cornell University scientists also have found the chemical, also used as a fertilizer, in the urine of sick cats, as well as in the kidney of one cat that died after eating the company's wet food.

Menu Foods recalled 60 million containers of cat and dog food earlier this month after animals died of kidney failure after eating the Canadian company's products.

It is not clear how many pets may have been poisoned by the apparently contaminated food, although anecdotal reports suggest hundreds if not thousands have died. The FDA alone has received more than 8,000 complaints.

The new finding comes a week after scientists at the New York State Food Laboratory identified a rat poison and cancer drug called aminopterin as the likely culprit. The FDA said it could not confirm that finding.

New York officials have detected melamine as well, though it's not clear how that chemical would have poisoned pets. It's typically used to produce plastic kitchen wares, though it's apparently used as a fertilizer in Asia, said Stephen F. Sundlof, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine.

The recall involved nearly 100 brands of "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food made by Menu Foods. The recall covered products carrying names of major brand-name and private-label products sold throughout North America. (Menu Foods recall informationexternal link)

The apparently melamine-contaminated wheat gluten also was shipped to an unnamed company that manufactures dry pet food. The FDA is attempting to determine if that product, imported from China, was used to make any pet food, Sundlof said.

Menu Foods used wheat gluten, a source of vegetable protein, to thicken the gravy of its pet foods, FDA officials have said.

Meanwhile, animal rights advocates called on federal food safety regulators and pet food companies to expand a nationwide recall of dog and cat food to include dry varieties, claiming they make pets sick.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals plans to make the appeal Friday in Washington after it said it received complaints from pet owners who claim their animals suffered kidney failure after eating dry pet food.

Norfolk, Virginia-based PETA wants the FDA and the companies to extend the recall to foods that have received complaints, chemically test it and perform necropsies on the animals involved. It also wants companies prosecuted if the FDA's probe turns up wrongdoing.

FDA spokeswoman Julie Zawisza said she did not know how many of the complaints the agency has received have concerned dry pet food. Officials at Ontario, Canada-based Menu Foods, which made the recalled pet food, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Veterinarians aren't seeing a trend of pets getting sick off dry food, said Paul Pion, founder of the Veterinarian Information Network. He said since so many people use dry food, you would expect to see many more ill pets if the food was tainted.

The Veterinary Information Network reported Tuesday that at least 471 cases of pet kidney failure have been reported since the recall, and more than 100 pets have died. (Full story) Menu Foods has confirmed 16 pet deaths.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/30/pet.food.recall.ap/index.html

471 Cases Reported from Pet Food Recall

From NY Times

At least 471 cases of pet kidney failure have been reported in the 10 days since a nationwide recall of dog and cat food and 104 of those pets have died, a veterinarians’ information service said. Paul Pion, founder of the Veterinary Information Network, which counts 30,000 veterinarians and veterinary students as members, said the number of reported kidney failure cases had already grown even higher but said he would not have an updated tally for a few days. The maker of the recalled pet food has confirmed the deaths of 16 pets.

What's really in that can of pet food on your shelf?

Here's a guide to some ingredients listed on the label and what they really are, according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials:

Chicken, beef or fish: clean flesh from these animals.

Meat byproducts: blood, bone and organs such as lungs, spleen, kidney, brains, liver, stomachs and intestines from slaughterhouses.

Poultry byproducts: necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, lungs, intestines. Not feathers.

Meat or poultry byproduct meal: blood, bone and organs that are rendered, dried and ground up. Can include tissue from animals that died outside slaughterhouses.

Steamed bone meal: bones separated through cooking and ground up. It provides minerals, mainly calcium and phosphorus.

Taurine: an amino acid needed by cats.

Grains: labeled either as whole grains, such as corn or barley, or as ground milled products, which are what's left after flour and cereal are processed.

Vegetables: dried yams, beet pulp, carrots.

Additives: vitamins and minerals, flavorings and preservatives.

By Anita Manning, USA TODAY

Switching to a dry food diet

With the current pet food recall, veterinarians are recommending to put your pet on a dry food regiment to be safe. As it turns out, a dry food diet is typically thought of as better for your pet for the following reasons:

• Wet food and dry food have virtually the same nutrition levels, depending on brand and kind.
  
• Dry food generally costs less per serving
• Dry food stays fresh when left in a bowl all day
• Dry food requires less space to store.
• Dry food is typically better for your pets' dental hygiene, however, can hurt older animals when they chew.
  
• Dry food is better for your animal's digestive system.

If you are switching over to dry food, some things to look out for:

• If you are buying organic, be positive that it is 100% organic. If it's anything less, you can't be sure where it came from.
• The term "natural" is not necessarily safe, as the term is not regulated by the FDA.

News Broadcast

New Lab Tests

In an AP article by Mark Johnson, it's revealed that a laboratory in Albany New York has identified the poison that caused the deaths of many pets. The scientists at NY Food Laboratory named aminopterin as the chemical responsible. A derivative of folic acid, aminopterin can cause birth defects, cause cancer, and bring kidney damage to dogs and cats. Its used as a rat poison and is also banned in the United States.

read more about it here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PET_FOOD_RECALL?SITE=MELEE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-03-26-16-43-13NY

Grief Counseling Centers and Phone Numbers

Cornell University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Ithaca, New York
Hours of operation: 6 to 9 p.m. eastern time, Tuesdays through Thursdays
607-253-3932

Iowa State University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Ames, Iowa
Hours of operation: 6 to 9 p.m. central time, Monday through Friday
888-478-7574

Michigan State University
College of Veterinary Medicine
East Lansing, Michigan
Hours of operation: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. eastern time, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
517-432-2696

Tufts University
School of Veterinary Medicine
North Grafton, Massachusetts
Hours of operation: 6 to 9 p.m., eastern time, Monday though Friday
508-839-7966

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
Blacksburg, Virginia
Hours of operation: 6 to 9 p.m., eastern time, Tuesday and Thursday
540-231-8038

Washington State University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Pullman, Washington
Hours of operation: 6:30 to 9 p.m. Pacific time, Mondays through Thursdays; 1 to 3 p.m. Saturdays
509-335-5704

University of California
School of Veterinary Medicine
Davis, California
Hours of operation: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Pacific time, Mondays through Fridays; program on hiatus until April 2007
800-565-1526

University of Florida
College of Veterinary Medicine
Gainesville, Florida
Hours of operation: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., eastern time, Tuesdays through Fridays
352-392-4700, Ext. 4080

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
College of Veterinary Medicine
Urbana, Illinois
Hours of operation: 7 to 9 p.m., central time, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
217-244-2273

Pig Ears Recall

Unrelated to the Menu Foods recall, BJ's Wholesale Club has just announced a recall of pig's ears (used as dog treats.) The treats have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious infections in dogs, and, if there is cross contamination, young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

The voluntary recall includes dog treats sold by BJ's Wholesale Club in its 25-count packages of "Berkley & Jensen" Full-Cut Pig Ears dog treats with no lot number and only the expiration advisories "BEST IF USED BY 2009" (without referencing a specific month) as well as "BEST IF USED BY SEPTEMBER 2009," "BEST IF USED BY OCTOBER 2009," "BEST IF USED BY NOVEMBER 2009," and "BEST IF USED BY DECEMBER 2009."

More information can be read here.

How to Handle the recall

Though the pet food has been recalled, the battle is far from over. According to one veterinarian, 'I'm worried that there are more deaths to come from chronic renal failure over the next several months,' Langston said. 'It's not over.' If you have been affected by this negligence, we recommend you take the following steps:

1. If you believe your pet could have potentially consumed contaminated food, take him/her to the vet immediately. The symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, and frequent urination.
2. Save any cans of pet food which you believe are contaminated. Do not open them.
3. Save all records of veterinary/hospital bills regardless of your pet's outcome.
4. Contact a lawyer if you intend to pursue your legal rights.

Some of Your Questions Answered

This is a list of questions and answers provided by menufoods concerning the pet recall. For more information, go to: http://www.menufoods.com/recall/FAQ_Consumer.htm

1. What exactly is covered by the Menu Foods Recall and for what timeframe?

The recall is limited to “cuts and gravy” style pet food in cans and foil pouches produced on specific dates and times between December 3, 2006, and March 6, 2007 in two of Menu’s plants. The recall affects 42 brands of cat food and 53 brands of dog food. In order to determine whether cat and dog food that your pet consumed is subject to recall, you should refer to the list of brand names on this website.



2. What should I do if I think my pet may have consumed the recalled product?

If your pet is exhibiting any signs of kidney failure please contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Symptoms include loss of appetite, vomiting, weakness, disorientation and changes in water consumption and urination. If you suspect that you have fed the recalled pet food to your cat or dog, save any remaining pet food and the can or pouch. Open cans or pouches may be double-bagged in sealable plastic and kept in the freezer.



3. Who is going to pay my vet bills for sickness and death?

If Menu Foods product is the cause of sickness or death, Menu Foods will take responsibility. Menu has engaged a professional firm to manage your concerns and is currently contacting concerned pet owners who have reached our call center. Specific direction will be received from these individuals. Please keep copies of all your vet records and receipts for pet food purchases as well as vet bills.



4. What do I do if I have pet food that has been recalled?

Please return it to the retailer for a refund.



5. Will I be reimbursed for the food that I return to the retailer even if my pet did not get sick?

Yes, if it is a valid product that is subject to the recall.



6. How do I know if the food I bought has been recalled?

The information is contained on this website. Not all date codes are subject to recall so please fully check the information on your can or pouch. The information on the website is organized by cat or dog then by brand and description. None of the traditional “loaf” style products are subject to this recall.




7. I feed my pet dry food. Is dry pet food safe?

Menu Foods only manufactures wet pet food in cans and foil pouches. Dry pet food is not part of the Menu Foods recall.



8. Are there other ways my pet might get sick and show similar symptoms?

Yes – antifreeze ingestion, certain rodenticides and some medications. Certain lilies have been shown to cause kidney failure if consumed by cats. Grapes have been reported to cause kidney failure in dogs and may affect cats. Physical damage from trauma and cancerous conditions can also cause kidney damage.

Testimony from a Victim

This video was posted on youtube concerning the recent pet food recall. This man, had to euthanize his cat of 9 years at the beginning of March because he suffered from acute kidney failure. Watch his story.

Recalled Brands

Cat Food

* Americas Choice, Preferred Pets * Authority * Best Choice * Companion * Compliments * Demoulas Market Basket * Eukanuba * Fine Feline Cat * Food Lion * Foodtown * Giant Companion * Hannaford * Hill Country Fare * Hy-Vee * Iams * Laura Lynn * Li'l Red * Loving Meals * Meijer's Main Choice * Nutriplan * Nutro Max Gourmet Classics * Nutro Natural Choice * Paws * Pet Pride * Presidents Choice * Price Chopper * Priority * Save-A-Lot * Schnucks * Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans * Sophistacat * Special Kitty Canada * Special Kitty US * Springfield Prize * Sprout * Total Pet * Wegmans * Western Family * White Rose * Winn Dixie


Dog Food

* Americas Choice, Preferred Pets * Authority * Award * Best Choice * Big Bet * Big Red * Bloom * Bruiser * Cadillac * Companion * Demoulas Market Basket * Eukanuba * Food Lion * Giant Companion * Great Choice * Hannaford * Hill Country Fare * Hy-Vee * Iams * Laura Lynn * Loving Meals * Meijers Main Choice * Mighty Dog Pouch * Mixables * Nutriplan * Nutro Max * Nutro Natural Choice * Nutro Ultra * Nutro * Ol'Roy Canada * Ol'Roy US * Paws * Pet Essentials * Pet Pride - Good n Meaty * Presidents Choice * Price Chopper * Priority * Publix * Roche Bros * Save-A-Lot * Schnucks * Shep Dog * Springsfield Prize * Sprout * Stater Bros * Total Pet * Western Family * White Rose * Winn Dixie * Your Pet