Lovely and Funny Pets: More Than 100 Pet Food Brands Recalled Due To Chemically Contaminated Ingredient

The Food and Drug Administration has taken action against wheat gluten from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. in Wangdien, China, after the recall of more than 100 brands of pet food made with the chemically contaminated ingredient. The pet food, tainted with the chemical melamine, apparently has resulted in kidney failure in an unknown number of animals across the country. A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates is available here (http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html). Here are answers to consumer questions regarding the recall.

Recall began when alot of cases of pet poisoning were reported to the media, resulting from tainted wheat from Chinese growers. The resulting incident sent shock waves through the american food industry, from pet food makers to providers of canned food products for human consumption. And, it has shaken the confidence of pet owners in the food they buy for their pets.
This event should have sounded a wakeup call to the american public on several fronts...from the loss of domestic farming to forigen compitition, to the lack of governmental oversight into food product inspections, to the high possibility of a terrorist attack on our food sources.

On March 30th, the FDA announced that melamine, a chemical used as a fertilizer and in the production of plastics, was found in tested samples of recalled pet food from Menu Foods. The substance was also identified in urine and tissue samples taken from sickened cats and from the kidney of one cat that had eaten the recalled food. According to the FDA, Melamine is primarily used in Asia as a fertilizer but is not approved for that use in the United States. It is used in plastic kitchenware in this country.They believe melamine was contaminated in the wheat gluten which was distributed to both the U.S. and Canada.

How many animals have been affected?
The number of confirmed pet deaths remains at roughly 15, although anecdotal reports suggest hundreds of pets may have died. Cats appear to have been especially susceptible to the contamination.

Are humans at risk?
The ingredient's importer says none of the contaminated wheat gluten went to manufacturers of food for humans.

What should I do if I already gave some of this food to my pet? Do I need to take my pet to a doctor?
It's best to seek advice from a veterinarian in such situations, according to the FDA.

http://www.menufoods.com/recall/

Dr. Linda Isaacson is one of the most distinguished and well-reputed veterinarians in the world. She discusses the latest national pet food recall in a high-profile interview on Fox News.