Toxins possibly discovered in dry pet food
--- NY Times ---
F.D.A. officials said at a news conference today that they have linked the chemical melamine, which they said is used as a fertilizer in Asia, to the kidneys of the affected cats. Thousands of owners of both cats and dogs who feed their pets wet or dry food have complained that their pets have become ill, but the F.D.A. has not yet determined if those illnesses are linked to pet food.
The agency has recalled a batch of contaminated Chinese wheat gluten that was sent to many pet food manufacturers, including one that makes dry dog food.
F.D.A officials have not yet released the name of the dry pet food company that received the contaminated wheat gluten, saying it was not clear if any of that gluten had yet been made into dog food.
“We are in the plant right now,” said Michael Rogers, director of the division of field investigations in the office of regulatory affairs for the F.D.A. “At this time, we’re not certain any dry food was made with that wheat gluten. As soon as we find out what dry food, if any, was manufactured, we will announce it publicly.”
Also Found:
New toxin discovered in pet food
By Sandra Eckstein
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/30/07
The Food and Drug Administration said Friday that it has discovered a new toxin in pet foods linked to the poisoning of dogs and cats, and they are investigating if some dry dog food may be contaminated.
During a news conference, the FDA said it has discovered melamine, a chemical used to make plastics, in wheat imported from China. Officials said they are still tracing where the shipments of wheat were delivered, but they believe at least one went to a company that makes dry dog food. Dr. Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, said inspectors are in the plant, trying to find out if the wheat gluten was used in food produced at the plant and if so, what batches, so they can issue a recall.
He refused to name the plant until they verify if they produced food with the poisoned gluten, which means food contaminated with melamine might still be on store shelves. He said as soon as they have confirmation, the public will be alerted.
It is the first time the FDA has said a dry pet food might be involved in the recall. On March 16 the agency first announced a recall of wet "gravy style" dog and cat foods made by Menu Foods of Toronto, Canada.
On March 23, Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine said it had identified the toxin as Aminopterin, a rat poison. But Sundlof said no other lab found the toxin. He said the metamine was discovered by one of the companies that sold the foods.
Officials then found melamine in recalled foods, wheat gelatin and in the urine and kidney of a dead cat. The company has recalled 95 brands of dog and cat foods.