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"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." (Source: CNN.com)
Menu Foods
The manufacturer is Menu Foods. They make numerous brands of dog and cat food, including store brands as well as higher end brand like IAMs and Eukanuba. The following links have a list of recalled products. Be sure to click on the name of the brand to see the specific products that are being recalled. They also have a phone number: 1-866-895-2708
Cat Recall Products
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_cat.html
Dog Recall Products
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_dog.html
Here's a press release from the FDA.
Recall of Pet Foods Manufactured by Menu Foods, Inc.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been informed that Menu Foods, Inc., a private-label pet food manufacturer based in Streetsville, Ontario, Canada, is recalling all its "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food produced at its facility in Emporia, Kansas between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. The products are sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The recall was prompted by consumer complaints received by the manufacturer and by tasting trials conducted by the manufacturer. There has been a small number of reported instances of cats and dogs in the United States that developed kidney failure after eating the affected product. Ten deaths, one dog and nine cats, have reported at this time. The firm has undertaken extensive testing of the pet food products in question, but to date has been unable to find the source of the problem. 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. Consumers who have any of these products should immediately stop feeding them to their pets. Dogs or cats who have consumed the suspect feed and show signs of kidney failure (such as loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting) should consult with their veterinarian. Menu Foods, Inc. is notifying retailers by telephone and mail and is arranging for the return of all recalled products.
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.
By Annette Cherry (Guest Post)
04/16/2007
Two weeks ago, I purchased Purina Friskies Canned Cat Food, the case of 48 cans like I always do at Costco. I finally ran out of the previous purchased cans & started using the new cans just last week. One of my cat's is at the veterinary as of today. He quit eating the cat food on Friday, April 13th & my second cat also quit eating it. The cat at the vet's started vomitting Friday night, April 13th and as of Sunday started having diarrhea but the other cat hasn't been. My third cat barely eats the canned food. I saw Purina's name on the list on tv but I missed what brands were contaminated. I am going to return the unused cans of Friskies back to Costco for reimbursement and then I am switching all my pets over to Nature's Recipes. This brand doesn't use corn or wheat gluten in it. I am very upset that my cat is sick and the fact that I may have been feeding them poisoned food. Where are the inspectors that are supposed to be watching out for our pets health?
By
03/29/2007
I heard a radio program discussing the pet food recall and someone asked the same question about whether the premium food was different than the store brand food. The expert said that places like Menu Foods produce foods via recipes given by the specific companies, like Iams. Even though they are manufactured in the same place, the ingredients could be very different.
Still, it is hard to trust that you aren't just paying for the fancy name and packaging when you buy the premium brands. I know this happens with lots of packaged food for people.
Jess
By Judy (Guest Post)
03/29/2007
I have a 16 year old male cat that was on the Iams Variety Pack foil packaging food since Oct 2006 up to the recall. I fed him only this 2 times a day. My cat became very ill with all the symptoms mentioned. I was so frustrated I almost brought him to the doctor to put him to sleep. Finally, he just stopped eating this food in Feb 2007 and only ate the gravy. He may have physically knew he couldn't eat it anymore and maybe the packets I gave him previously to the recall were tanted. They are all at the dump now, except for the last box I have not fed him. I called Iams recall number and they said the date was not correct, but manufacture was correct (Menu Foods) . FDA called me today and wanted all the information and everything that happened to my cat during the time he was eating Iams packets...that was since October of 2006 up to March recall. They too said they couldn't help since the date was incorrect on the packets. I wish I knew someone that would help me get these packages I have tested for free or a minimum charge. I force fed cat water/food for a week with a different brand, Precise can cat food and he is doing well and back to his self again as he was before I switched to Iams Foil packets. If anyone has any information that would help me please email me at littledove2015 AT gmail.com.
By
03/25/2007
This is such a sad deal. So many people have already lost their dear friends. Is nothing safe for us anymore? Both human and now our dear pets are not safe. One thing, besides the poison in the pet foods is that when I buy a premium product, I expect that food to be made by the company I am buying from. Notice that over 90 brands are affected? So, we are paying premium prices for foods that are coming from one manufacturing place- menu foods. Is this saying that there is no difference between store brands and the premium brands. I am paying top dollar to feed my dogs what I perceive as being better for my pet, when maybe the store brand is just as good? They must all taste about the same no matter what brand I buy.
I still am not sure about the safety of dry food. raspet
By
03/24/2007
It is a form of rat poison that is killing the pets, as well as making them sick.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070324 ... ll;_ylt=Ai5ViavTSdfK_YBKL02KTaXMWM0F
By Jeanne (Guest Post)
03/20/2007
Please be aware that between this weekend when I sent this information to my sister and yesterday morning when I printed one of the lists out for a friend, two brands of dog food had been added. I plan to do periodic checks for at least the next week.
By
03/18/2007
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_cat.html. I found this website which lists the brands affected by the recall. It also has a link to dog food brands.
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