| On April 5, 2007, the Food and Drug Administration | | | | and perhaps further research. The Food Drug |
| (FDA) provided an update on the recall on pet foods | | | | Administration's priority now is to assure that all |
| from Menu Foods. The Agency reported its latest | | | | contaminated product is identified and removed from |
| findings in the ongoing investigation into the recent | | | | store shelves. All the contaminated wheat gluten has |
| outbreak of cat and dog illness and death associated | | | | been traced, and all the pet food manufacturers who |
| with pet food manufactured with contaminated | | | | have received contaminated ingredients have been |
| wheat gluten. | | | | identified and have initiated recalls. Following the |
| FDA launched an investigation within 24 hours after | | | | removal of all suspect products from retailers, there |
| being notified by Menu Foods of a recall and | | | | remains an ample supply of safe cat and dog food |
| investigators arrived at the company's plant and | | | | available at stores throughout the U.S. |
| searched for possible sources of contamination. The | | | | The Food Drug Administration has a dedicated pet |
| same day, FDA consumer complaint coordinators | | | | food recall page on its website which has all of the |
| nationwide began taking calls from consumers and | | | | current information including all press releases issued, |
| veterinarians who reported illnesses potentially | | | | frequently asked questions, as well as contact |
| associated with the contaminated pet food. FDA has | | | | information for FDA consumer complaint coordinators. |
| received over 12,000 reports in the last three weeks | | | | FDA urges members of the media and public to visit |
| more than twice the number of complaints typically | | | | the FDA website. |
| received in a year by the consumer complaint | | | | With the food recall, What should a pet owner look |
| coordinators. In an effort to trace all of the | | | | for in their pet food. Most pet owners have heard |
| contaminated product, the Agency conducted | | | | that it is better to feed their animals specially |
| numerous inspections of manufacturers and | | | | formulated food for pets rather than table scraps. An |
| warehouses identified as recipients of the suspect | | | | occasional treat is fine, but table scraps used to |
| product. FDA has also been working with the | | | | excess may unbalance a pet's diet. Purchasing pet |
| affected firms to assist them with their product recall | | | | foods labeled as "complete and balanced" can help |
| efforts. | | | | ensure that your pet's diet is nutritionally adequate. |
| FDA's investigation identified the distributor of the | | | | Dog and cat foods labeled as "complete and |
| contaminated wheat gluten as ChemNutra, of Las | | | | balanced" must meet standards established by the |
| Vegas, Nevada. FDA worked with the firm to trace | | | | Association of American Feed Control Officials |
| the suspect product, and identified its Chinese source. | | | | (AAFCO) either by meeting a nutrient profile or by |
| FDA has asked the Chinese government to help us | | | | passing a feeding trial. The AAFCO's Canine Nutrition |
| with the investigation which continues to determine | | | | Expert (CNE) Subcommittee and Feline Nutrition |
| how the melamine may have gotten into the wheat | | | | Expert (FNE) Subcommittee have established new |
| gluten. FDA is currently sampling 100 percent of all | | | | nutrient profiles for "complete and balanced" dog and |
| Chinese wheat gluten being offered for import. FDA | | | | cat foods. Dog Food Nutrient Profiles were |
| Field laboratories confirmed the presence of melamine | | | | established in 1991 and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles |
| in shipments of wheat gluten received from a source | | | | were established in 1992. Both were updated in 1995 |
| from China. | | | | to incorporate new scientific information. |
| This was done through testing of samples of finished | | | | The new nutrient profiles replaced the |
| product and raw materials. Melamine is a product | | | | recommendations of the National Research Council |
| used as a fertilizer with other industrial and | | | | (NRC) as the AAFCO-recognized authority on canine |
| commercial uses. FDA laboratories have conducted | | | | and feline nutrition. Dog and cat foods labeled as |
| over 400 sample analyses, and to date have found | | | | "complete and balanced" based on the AAFCO Dog |
| 21 samples that were positive for melamine. To date, | | | | or Cat Food Nutrient Profile must meet all the |
| voluntary recalls of pet food products have been | | | | nutrient minimum and maximum levels as established |
| conducted by Del Monte Pet Products, Hill's Pet | | | | by the Subcommittee. The Subcommittee set these |
| Nutrition, Menu Foods, Nestle Purina PetCare | | | | levels after considering the most current information |
| Company, P&G Pet Care, and Sunshine Mills. On April | | | | on good nutrition for dogs and cats. The profiles are |
| 5, Sunshine Mills, Inc., of Red Bay, Alabama, voluntarily | | | | designed to provide practical information for |
| recalled a portion of its branded dog biscuits made at | | | | manufacturers of dog and cat foods. |
| its Red Bay, Alabama biscuit plant during part of | | | | There are now two separate nutrient profiles -- one |
| March 2007. In addition, Menu Foods, Inc., voluntarily | | | | for growth and reproduction and one for adult |
| expanded its pet food recall for selected cuts and | | | | maintenance, instead of just one for all life stages. |
| gravy pet food products, manufactured back to | | | | This allows dog and cat foods made for adult animals |
| November 8, 2006. Both firms issued press releases | | | | only to contain lower amounts of some nutrients, |
| which are accessible on the FDA website. | | | | eliminating unnecessary excesses. Also, maximum |
| Be sure you are aware of these other facts of the | | | | levels of intake of some nutrients have been |
| recall. This is an ongoing investigation. FDA is | | | | established for the first time, because of concern |
| conducting recall audit follow-ups to ensure an | | | | that over nutrition, rather than under nutrition, is a |
| effective recall. They continues to work with federal, | | | | bigger problem with many pet foods today. |
| state, and local partners, veterinarians, and members | | | | The protocols for conducting the feeding trials for |
| of the public as part of this investigation. At this time | | | | dog and cat foods have also been updated. With |
| there is no evidence that any wheat gluten | | | | these improvements, label reference to either the |
| contaminated with melamine has entered the human | | | | AAFCO nutrient profile or AAFCO feeding trials |
| food supply. | | | | better assures the consumer of the validity of a |
| Understanding the role of melamine in each of the | | | | "complete and balanced" claim. Endorsements, seals |
| dog and cat illnesses will require an extensive analysis | | | | of approval, etc., from other organizations do not |
| of the information, assistance from outside sources, | | | | add assurances of safety and may be misleading. |