Pet Food Recall Expands

A Quick update...

From the Post Chronicle:

Pet Food Recall Summary Update 3: The Post Chronicle has painstakingly tracked the recent pet food recall involving both dog and cat pet food products. tPC takes the threat very seriously and has done its best to report the most up-to-date information to its readers, as it is received.

The following information is not new, but rather an opportunity to summarize the information we have reported to date. By providing this summation, we seek to reach those of you who may have missed an article and/or wish to see all the recalls in one reporting.

March 16, 2007

P & G Pet Care announced a voluntary recall for specific Iams and Eukanuba 3 oz., 5.5 oz., 6 oz. and 13.2 oz. canned and 3 oz. and 5.3 oz. foil pouch "wet" cat and dog products manufactured by Menu Foods Inc. Emporia, Kansas plant with the code dates of 6339 through 7073 followed by the plant code 4197.

All other canned and small foil wet pouch products produced at other plants are not affected by this issue. Iams and Eukanuba "dry" products are not manufactured at Menu Foods and not affected by this issue. Iams and Eukanuba biscuits, treats and sauces are not affected by this issue.

For more information, consumers can contact the company at 1-800-882-1591 or visit www.Iams.com and www.Eukanuba.com for details.
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Hill's® Pet Nutrition, Inc. announced a voluntary recall for the following products: Science Diet® Kitten Savory Cuts® Ocean Fish 3 oz. and 5.5 oz., Science Diet® Feline Adult Savory Cuts® Beef 5.5 oz., Science Diet® Feline Adult Savory Cuts® Chicken 5.5 oz., Science Diet® Feline Adult Savory Cuts® Ocean Fish 5.5 oz. and Science Diet® Feline Senior Savory Cuts® Chicken 5.5 oz.

For more information, consumers can contact the company at 1-800-445-5777 or visit www.HillsPet.com for details.
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Nestlé Purina PetCare Company voluntarily withdraws its 5.3 oz. Mighty Dog® brand pouch products that were produced by Menu Foods, Inc. from December 3, 2006 through March 14, 2007.

The Mighty Dog® pouch products and pouches in multi-pack cartons have code dates of 6337 through 7073, followed by the plant code 1798

Importantly, no Mighty Dog® canned products, or any other Purina products are affected by Menu's recall.

Consumers may contact the company by calling 1-800-551-7392.

March 17, 2007

Menu Foods, Inc. based in Streetsville, Ontario, Canada is recalling all its "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food produced in its facility in Emporia, Kansas between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007.

The products are packaged in cans and pouches under numerous brand names and are marketed nationwide by many pet food retailers including Ahold USA Inc., Kroger Company, Safeway, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., PetSmart, Inc., and Pet Valu, Inc.

Menu Foods, Inc. has identified the potentially contaminated products on the Internet at www.menufoods.com/recall. The product listing was expanded and updated as of March 23, 2007. Consumers may also contact the company at 1-866-895-2708.

March 30, 2007

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company today announced it is voluntarily recalling all sizes and varieties of its ALPO® Prime Cuts in Gravy wet dog food with specific date codes.

The recalled 13.2-ounce and 22-ounce ALPO Prime Cuts cans and 6-, 8-, 12- and 24-can ALPO Prime Cuts Variety Packs have four-digit code dates of 7037 through 7053, followed by the plant code 1159. Those codes follow a "Best Before Feb. 2009" date.

Also, due to a product name change in early 2007, this voluntary recall also covers one item with the same date code labeled as ALPO® Prime Entrees in Gravy with Chicken, Rotini Pasta & Vegetables.

No other Purina brand dry pet foods are affected by the recall - including ALPO Prime Cuts dry. In addition, no other Purina dog food products, no Purina cat food products, Purina treat products or Purina Veterinary Diet products are included in this recall.

March 30, 2007

A release from Del Monte reveals that the company will voluntarily be recalling select product codes from the its pet treat products sold under the Jerky Treats, Gravy Train Beef Sticks and Pounce Meaty Morsels brands. Del Monte also supplies select products sold under private label brands.

Consumers may contact the DelMonte at delmonte.com

April 1, 2007

Is there a possible Human link?

Consumers may contact the company at www.purina.com or call 1-800-218-5898.
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Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. recalls Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food from the market. This product is sold in a 4 lb. bag size # 52742 42770 (all lot numbers) and a 10 lb. bag size # 52742 42790 (all lot numbers).

Please check with your veterinarian for an alternative Prescription Diet until m/d Feline dry is reformulated and made available again.

For more information, consumers can contact the company at 1-800-445-5777 or visit www.HillsPet.com for details.
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All of the products listed above contain wheat gluten, which may contain melamine. Consumers should stop using affected products immediately! We can not reintegrate enough the importance of seeking immediate medical care for your pet if they exhibit any of the following symptoms…loss of appetite, lethargy and/or vomiting. These symptoms may be signs of kidney / renal illness, which may be fatal.

This stuff just keeps getting worse and we can only blame the government for allowing the food to come from outside our country. The countries, like china, responsible for this do not have our safe guards and regulation on food production.

Previous:
Chemical Used to Make Plastics Found in Recalled Pet Food Linked to Deaths
Rat Poison Found in Killer Pet Food That Sparked Nationwide Recall
Pet Food Recall!!

Chemical Used to Make Plastics Found in Recalled Pet Food Linked to Deaths

I previously reported about menu foods wet pet food recall, here is an update...

From FNC:

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, sometimes 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.

Click Here For a List of Pet Food Brand Names Subject to Recall.

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 in the pet food. 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.

New York remained confident in its aminopterin finding, said Patrick Hooker, commissioner of the New York state Department of Agriculture and Markets. Hooker added that neither aminopterin nor melamine should be in pet food, but that it was unclear why the latter substance would be poisonous to the cats in which it was found.

"While we have no doubt that melamine is present in the recalled pet food, there is not enough known data on the mammalian toxicity levels of melamine to conclude it could cause illness and deaths in cats. With little existing data, many questions still remain as to the connection between the illnesses and what has caused them," Hooker said.

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. There is no risk to human food, he told reporters.

Now they tell us an "unnamed" dry food might be contaminated as well? Even if it is just suspected they should be telling us before animals start dying!

DA is conducting an investigation and working with Menu Foods, Inc. to ensure the effectiveness of the recall. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-866-895-2708. Consumers who wish to report adverse actions or other problems can go to http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html to contact the FDA complaint coordinator in their state.

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Menu Foods, Inc. Press Release

P&G Pet Care Press Release

Recall Information

Press Release

1. Menu Foods Recall
   March 16, 2007

Product Information

1. Recalled Cat Product Information
   March 16, 2007
2. Recalled Dog Product Information
   March 16, 2007

Phone Number

1-866-895-2708

Previous:
Rat Poison Found in Killer Pet Food That Sparked Nationwide Recall
Pet Food Recall!!

Rat Poison Found in Killer Pet Food That Sparked Nationwide Recall

I previously reported about a pet food recall, here is an update

From FNC:

Tests turned up rat poison in the pet food suspected of causing kidney failure in dogs and cats across the country and killing at least 16, state officials and scientists announced Friday.

The toxin was identified as aminopterin, which is used to kill rats in some countries, state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said. Aminopterin is not registered for killing rodents in the United States, though it is used as a cancer drug, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

State officials did not say how they believe Aminopterin got into the now-recalled pet food, though they said no criminal investigations had been launched.

The Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation was focusing on wheat gluten in the pet food. Wheat gluten itself would not cause kidney failure, but the common ingredient could have been contaminated, the FDA said.

The pet deaths led to a recall of 60 million cans and pouches of pet food produced by Menu Foods and sold throughout North America under 95 brand names. There have been several reports of kidney failure in pets that ate the recalled brands, and the company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog.

I just heard on FNC that the source of the rat poison is wheat grown in CHINA. It is grown specifically fgor pet food and was sprayed with the poison. They did not say why it was sprayed.

FDA is conducting an investigation and working with Menu Foods, Inc. to ensure the effectiveness of the recall. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-866-895-2708. Consumers who wish to report adverse actions or other problems can go to http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html to contact the FDA complaint coordinator in their state.

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Menu Foods, Inc. Press Release

P&G Pet Care Press Release

Recall Information

Press Release

1. Menu Foods Recall
   March 16, 2007

Product Information

1. Recalled Cat Product Information
   March 16, 2007
2. Recalled Dog Product Information
   March 16, 2007

Phone Number

1-866-895-2708

Pet Food Recall!!

I am very sorry to report...

From the AP:

• • Recall of wet pet food made by Menu Foods for Wal-Mart, Kroger, PetsMart, others
• • Undisclosed number of cats and dogs suffered vomiting, kidney failure; 10 died
• • Recall affects specific sizes of Iams and Eukanuba brands of dog, cat food
• • See lists of recalled brands at bottom of story

A major manufacturer of dog and cat food sold under Wal-Mart, Safeway, Kroger and other store brands recalled 60 million containers of wet pet food Friday after reports of kidney failure and deaths.

An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, Menu Foods said in announcing the North American recall. Product testing has not revealed a link explaining the reported cases of illness and death, the company said.

"At this juncture, we're not 100 percent sure what's happened," said Paul Henderson, the company's president and chief executive officer. However, the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, since dropped for another source, spokeswoman Sarah Tuite said. Wheat gluten is a source of protein.
'Cuts and gravy' food sold in cans, pouches recalled

The recall covers the company's "cuts and gravy" style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches between December 3 and March 6 throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The pet food was sold by stores operated by the Kroger Co., Safeway Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and PetSmart Inc., among others, Henderson said.

Menu Foods said it makes pet foods for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies, including Procter & Gamble Co.

Proctor & Gamble announced Friday the recall of specific 3 oz., 5.5 oz., 6 oz. and 13.2 oz. canned and 3 oz. and 5.3 oz. foil pouch cat and dog wet food products made by Menu Foods but sold under the Iams and Eukanuba brands. The recalled products bear the code dates of 6339 through 7073 followed by the plant code 4197, P&G said.

Menu Foods' three U.S. and one Canadian factory produce more than 1 billion containers of wet pet food a year. The recall covers pet food made at company plants in Emporia, Kansas, and Pennsauken, New Jersey, Henderson said.

Henderson said the company received an undisclosed number of owner complaints of vomiting and kidney failure in dogs and cats after they had been fed its products. It has tested its products but not found a cause for the sickness.

"To date, the tests have not indicated any problems with the product," Henderson said.
FDA also working to target brands

The company alerted the Food and Drug Administration, which already has inspectors in one of the two plants, Henderson said. The FDA was working to nail down brand names covered by the recall, agency spokesman Mike Herndon said.

Menu Foods is majority-owned by the Menu Foods Income Fund, based in Ontario, Canada.

Henderson said the recall would cost the company the Canadian equivalent of $26 million to $34 million.

Below are lists of specific brands recalled by Menu Foods, in addition to Proctor & Gamble's recall of certain Iams and Eukanuba products. Menu Brands lists the brands on its Web site, www.menufoods.com, and advises consumers to call 1-866-895-2708 for more information.
Recalled cat foods

Americas Choice; Preferred Pets; Authority; Best Choice; Companion; Compliments; Demoulas Market Basket; Fine Feline Cat, Shep Dog; Food Lion; Foodtown; Giant Companion; Good n Meaty; Hannaford; Hill Country Fare; Hy-Vee; Key Food; Laura Lynn; Li'l Red; Loving Meals; Main Choice; Nutriplan; Nutro Max Gourmet Classics; Nutro Natural Choice; Paws; Presidents Choice; Price Chopper; Priority; Save-A-Lot; Schnucks; Sophistacat; Special Kitty; Springfield Pride; Sprout; Total Pet; My True Friend; Wegmans; Western Family; White Rose; and Winn Dixie.
Recalled dog foods

America's Choice; Preferred Pets; Authority; Award; Best Choice; Big Bet; Big Red; Bloom; Bruiser; Cadillac; Companion; Demoulas Market Basket; Fine Feline Cat; Shep Dog; Food Lion; Giant Companion; Great Choice; Hannaford; Hill Country Fare; Hy-Vee; Key Food; Laura Lynn; Loving Meals; Main Choice; Mixables; Nutriplan; Nutro Max; Nutro Natural Choice; Nutro; Ol'Roy; Paws; Pet Essentials; Pet Pride; President's Choice; Price Chopper; Priority; Publix; Roche Bros; Save-A-Lot; Schnucks; Springsfield Pride; Sprout; Stater Bros; Total Pet; My True Friend; Western Family; White Rose; Winn Dixie and Your Pet.

FDA is conducting an investigation and working with Menu Foods, Inc. to ensure the effectiveness of the recall. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-866-895-2708. Consumers who wish to report adverse actions or other problems can go to http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html to contact the FDA complaint coordinator in their state.

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Menu Foods, Inc. Press Release

P&G Pet Care Press Release

Recall Information

Press Release

1. Menu Foods Recall
   March 16, 2007

Product Information

1. Recalled Cat Product Information
   March 16, 2007
2. Recalled Dog Product Information
   March 16, 2007

Phone Number

1-866-895-2708