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