Last Update: April 03, 2007 6pm
At Pets Vets and You, Inc. we are commited to giving you the latest information using our Veterinarian Resources. Please keep checking for updates periodically.

Pets Vets & You, Inc. has acquired a list of all the foods that have been affected by the Menu Foods recall. This list includes, date, product description, UPC & brand.

This list now expands beyond the Menu Food Recall. Click Here

Story Courtesy of FoxsNews.com

WASHINGTON —  The U.S. is blocking imports of wheat gluten from a company in China, acting after an investigation implicated the contaminated ingredient in the recent pet-food deaths of cats and dogs.

The Food and Drug Administration took action against wheat gluten from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. in Wangdien, China, after the U.S. recall of nearly 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.

Wheat gluten from China has been suspected in the outbreak since the first of multiple recalls was announced in mid-March. Even more pet food could be recalled in the next few days, though there probably has been no contamination of human food, FDA officials said Monday.

The FDA reported last week that it had found melamine in samples of the vegetable protein source used in the recalled wet and dry pet foods and treats, as well as in cats that died after eating contaminated food.

"The wheat gluten that is positive for melamine all has come from this manufacturer," Neal Bataller, director of the division of compliance with the FDA's veterinary medicine office, told reporters. Melamine is used in plastics, countertops, glue, fire retardants and other products. Its toxicity to dogs and cats is unknown, but it is not allowed in food in any quantity.

Geng Xiujuan, Xuzhou Anying's sales manager, said the company was aware of the FDA's import alert and was looking into it. However, Geng said the company, based in the eastern province of Jiangsu, had not manufactured the wheat gluten but had instead bought it from companies in neighboring provinces. She said Xuzhou Anying sold it onward to another Jiangsu company, Suzhou Textile Import and Export Co.

"There are many other exporters and I don't see why they would just blame us," said Geng, adding that the company was undertaking an inspection but that it was too early to announce results.

The FDA still doesn't know where all the contaminated imported wheat gluten ended up, though it appears unlikely any made it into human food.

"At this time, we can say that there is no evidence to suggest that any of the imported, suspect wheat gluten formed positive lots that made it into the human food supply," said Michael Rogers, who oversees field investigations for the FDA's office of regulatory affairs.

The imported product was only minimally labeled but apparently went only to pet food producers. The FDA considers the contamination an aberration since wheat gluten generally is not considered a product at risk for contamination.

"This should not be viewed as suddenly our food supply is unsafe, because I don't believe that to be the case. In fact, the opposite is true," agency chief Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach said.

FDA officials said its nationwide investigation could turn up more pet food manufacturers that used the tainted ingredient, prompting even more products to be recalled.

"It is impossible for us to say at this time that there won't be additional recalls. We're continuing to follow the trail," said David Elder, who oversees enforcement in the FDA's office of regulatory affairs. Menu Foods, a major manufacturer of nearly 100 store- and major-brand pet foods, announced the first recall March 16. Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., Del Monte Pet Products and Nestle Purina PetCare Co. all have since recalled some of their products as well.

The FDA's import alert, disclosed Monday but posted on its Web site Friday, notifies its field offices to detain any wheat gluten offered for import from the Chinese company.

The order also recommends inspectors screen all wheat gluten from China as well as from the Netherlands, a country through which transshipping of Chinese products can occur.

The FDA could not immediately say how much wheat gluten was exported to the U.S. by Xuzhou Anying. The FDA also was working to determine whether it shipped any other food products to the U.S., said Ellen Morrison, director of FDA's office of crisis management.

The FDA has received in recent weeks more than 9,400 pet food-related complaints from consumers — nearly twice what the agency receives in a full year for all the products it regulates, von Eschenbach said.

"The sheer volume of this is extraordinary," he added.

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

Also Monday, Eight In One Inc., a division of United Pet Group Inc., announced the unrelated recall of all Dingo brand Chick'n Jerky treats for dogs, cats and ferrets. The treats are being recalled because they may be contaminated with salmonella, the company said. They were sold at Target, PetSmart and other stores.

(For Immediate Release – March  20, 2007)

— The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), in response to a national pet food recall, offers the following information and advice to concerned pet owners:

Menu Foods, Inc., a Canadian private-label pet food manufacturer based in Statesville, Ontario, has issued a recall on all its "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food products produced at its facility in Emporium, Kansas, between December 3, 2006, and March 6, 2007. This recall includes 90 brands across the entire manufacturing spectrum. A complete list of affected foods including date and product information codes is available through the AVMA Web site at: http://www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/070318.asp. If you have any of the products identified on these lists, immediately stop feeding them to your pet.

If you suspect that your pet has been affected by a recalled food, do the following three steps to help your veterinarian with your pet's diagnosis:

• Retain food samples for analysis.
    - Retain 4 cans or 1 kg of dry food, when possible.
    - Freeze when possible or store at room temperature in airtight bags.
  
  
• Document product name, type of product and manufacturing information.
    - Retain all packaging.
    - Identify date codes or production lot numbers.
    - Retain purchase receipts.
  
  
• Document product consumption.
    - Dates products or products were fed.
    - Consumption and palatability history.
    - Time of onset of clinical signs.
    - Detailed dietary history (ie, all products fed and feeding methods).

Although the exact cause is not currently known, animals that have become ill after consuming these products have shown signs of acute kidney failure.

Dr. Sandra Willis, DVM, a board certified diplomate and communications chair with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) and member of the AVMA Council on Communications, advises that signs of kidney failure include loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in water consumption and also changes in urination. Anybody who has a pet that exhibits these signs should take the animal to a veterinarian.

"Owners shouldn't panic, because there can be a wide variety of reasons a pet might exhibit these symptoms," Dr. Willis explained. "But it's always prudent that, when a pet is exhibiting any signs of illness, the pet owner should contact their veterinarian immediately."

A veterinarian may call for a urinalysis and blood work, and might also perform additional tests, such as an x-ray or ultrasound, to rule out other possible problems such as bladder and kidney stones. If it has been determined that the cat or dog has been affected by consumption of the recalled pet food, a veterinarian could decided to treat the illness with medications and/or intravenous fluids.

"If the kidney disease is severe, such as the animal is not urinating at all, the veterinarian can refer or consult with a specialist from the ACVIM for more specialized care," Dr. Willis explained.

Owners of pets affected by the recalled pet foods who wish to report the incident should contact the FDA, by going to the FDA Web site at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html to find the FDA complaint coordinator in their state.

(FVMA Orlando- For Immediate Release – March  19, 2007)

Menu Foods of Ontario, Canada, has recalled dog food sold throughoutNorth America under 48 brands and cat food sold under 40 brands, including Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba.

Major retailers such as Wal-Mart and pet stores including Petsmart and Petland carried the affected pet food. Menu Foods said an unknown number of cats and dogs had suffered kidney failure and at least 10 died after eating the food.

The recall covers the company's "cuts and gravy" style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches from Dec. 3 to March 6 throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Two other companies -- Nestle Purina PetCare Co. and Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. -- said Saturday, March 17, that as a precaution they had decided to voluntarily recall some products made by Menu Foods.

The FVMA is advisingsaid pet owners should look out for loss of appetite, listlessness, vomiting, diarrhea or unusual thirst in pets that have eaten the affected food.  If these symptoms occur they should contact their family veterinarian.  They should also report the adverse reaction to the FDA at (866) 337-6272.

Menu Foods' chief executive and president, Paul Henderson, told The Associated Press on Friday, March 16, that the company was still trying to determine what had happened.  He said Menu Foods had received an undisclosed number of owner complaints that dogs and cats were vomiting and suffering kidney failure after eating its products.  He also estimated that the recall would cost an estimated $26 million to $34 million.

Sarah Tuite, a Menu Foods spokeswoman, has said the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, which has since been dropped for another source. Wheat gluten is a source of protein.

Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Julie Zawisza said it is too early to determine what could have affected the food. Zawisza added that even if wheat gluten is the source "it doesn't necessarily mean the wheat gluten, per se. It could be another substance associated with the wheat gluten."

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ONLINE

1. For details on which products are affected by the recall go to www.menufoods.com/recall
2. Consumers who wish to report adverse reactions or other problems can go to www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html

Information from The Associated Press March 18 Release was used in this report.
Courtesy of The Florida Veterinary Medical Association