Pet food Recall update: (July 2007)
WASHINGTON (AP) - An industrial chemical that led to a nationwide
recall of
more than 100 brands of cat and dog foods has been found to contaminate
a
second pet food ingredient, expanding the recall further.
The chemical, melamine, is believed to have contaminated rice protein
concentrate used to make a variety of Natural Balance Pet Foods
products for
both dogs and cats, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.
Previously, the chemical was found to contaminate another ingredient,
wheat
gluten, used by at least six other pet food and treat manufacturers.
Natural Balance said it was recalling all its Venison and Brown Rice
canned
and bagged dog foods, its Venison and Brown Rice dog treats and its
Venison
and Green Pea dry cat food.
The Pacoima, Calif., company said recent laboratory tests showed the
products contain melamine. It believes the source of the contaminant
was
rice protein concentrate, which the company recently added to the dry
venison formulas. Natural Balance does not use wheat gluten, which was
associated with the previous melamine contamination, it said.
Last month, Menu Foods recalled 60 million cans of dog and cat food
after
the deaths of 16 pets, mostly cats, that ate its products. The FDA said
tests indicated the food was contaminated with melamine, used in making
plastics and other industrial processes. Five other companies later
recalled
pet products also made with wheat gluten tainted by the chemical.
The FDA has since blocked Chinese imports of wheat gluten. An FDA
spokeswoman did not immediately return messages left seeking comment.
For more specific information go here:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html