Hills Pet Food

On April 5, 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided an update on the recall of pet food from Menu Foods. The Agency has presented its latest findings of the ongoing investigation into the recent outbreak of cat and dog illness and death associated with pet food manufactured with contaminated wheat gluten.

FDA has launched an investigation within 24 hours after being notified by Menu Foods recall and investigators arrived at the factory of the company and looking for possible sources of contamination. The same day, the coordinators of the FDA consumer complaints nationwide began taking calls from consumers and veterinarians who reported illnesses potentially associated with contaminated food for pets. The FDA has received over 12,000 reports over the past three weeks, more than twice the number of complaints typically received in a year by the consumer complaint coordinators. In an effort to find all contaminated products, the Agency has conducted numerous inspections of manufacturers and warehouses identified as recipients of the suspect product. The FDA has also worked with companies involved to help in their efforts to recall products.

FDA survey identified the distributor of the contaminated wheat gluten ChemNutra, Las Vegas, Nevada. FDA has worked with the company to trace the suspect product, and identified the Chinese source. The FDA has asked the Chinese government to help the investigation continues to determine how the melamine may be put in the wheat gluten. The FDA is currently sampling 100 percent of all wheat gluten be offered to Chinese imports. FDA field laboratories have confirmed the presence of melamine in shipments of wheat gluten sourced from China.

This was done by testing samples of finished products and raw materials. Melamine is a product used as fertilizer with other industrial and commercial uses. FDA laboratories have conducted over 400 samples analyzed, and so far have found 21 samples were positive for melamine. To date, voluntary recalls of food products for pets have been conducted by Del Monte Pet Products, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Menu Foods Nestle Purina PetCare Company, P & G Pet Care, and Sunshine Mills. On April 5, Sunshine Mills, Inc., Red Bay, Ala., has voluntarily recalled some of its branded dog biscuits made at its Red Bay, Alabama biscuit plant during part of March 2007. In addition, Menu Foods Inc., voluntarily expanded its recall of pet foods for selected pieces and gravy food for pets, made back in November 8, 2006. Both companies have issued press releases which are available on the FDA website.

Make sure you are aware of these other facts of the recall. This is an ongoing investigation. FDA conducts audit recall followed to ensure an effective recall. They continue to work with federal, provincial and local partners, veterinarians and members of the public in this investigation. At this time there is no evidence that any wheat gluten contaminated with melamine entered the human food chain.

Understanding the role of melamine in each dog and cat illnesses will require a thorough analysis of information, assistance from outside sources, and research may be more. The priority of the Food Drug Administration is now to ensure that all contaminated products are identified and removed from store shelves. All the contaminated wheat gluten has been traced, and all manufacturers of pet foods that have received contaminated ingredients have been identified and have initiated recalls. After removal of all suspect products from retailers, there is plenty of safe food and cat dog stores in the U.S.

The Food Drug Administration has a page dedicated food recall pet on its website that has all.