March 17, 2007
Dear Small Pawsers,
Last night we sent this out. It was regarding
a major and very urgent dog food recall.
Pet Deaths Prompt Recall of Pet Food
We have more information including more news
stories and a list of what is being recalled.
This recall does include some foods made by Eukanuba, Nutro, Science
Diet, Mighty Dog, and IAMS. (See news story below)
This is the list of recalled foods.
And these are some more news stories.
(IAMS) P&G Pet Care Announces Voluntary
Participation in Menu Foods’ Nationwide U.S.
and Canadian Recall of Specific Canned and
Small Foil Pouch ‘Wet’ Cat and Dog Foods
(http://us.iams.com/iams/en_US/jsp/IAMS_Page.jsp?pageID=PCA&articleID=300003)
Company Recalls 60 Million Cans Of Pet Food
10 Animals Have Died
(http://www.nbc11.com/news/11274902/detail.html)
NBC affiliate KXAS obtained the following
list of wet foods being taken off PetSmart
shelves due to the recall:
Sophisticat
Authority
Award
Great Choice
Iams
Eukanuba
Nutro
Science Diet
Mighty Dog
Mixables
For more information, contact Menu Foods
at 1-866-463-6738.
Purina to Voluntarily Withdraw Mighty Dog(R)
5.3 Ounce Pouch Products in Response to Menu
Foods Recall
(http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-16-2007/0004547959&EDATE)
(It says that no other Purina products are
affected)
We want to keep you informed on this most
serious issue. Robin
Pet Deaths Prompt Recall of Pet Food
By ANDREW BRIDGES, Associated Press Writer
Fri Mar 16, 6:49 PM ET
WASHINGTON - 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.
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 between Dec. 3 and
March 6 throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
The pet food was sold by stores operated
by the Kroger Company, Safeway Inc., Wal-Mart
Stores Inc. and PetSmart Inc., among others,
Henderson said.
Menu Foods did not immediately provide a
full list of brand names and lot numbers
covered by the recall, saying they would
be posted on its Web site — http://www.menufoods.com/recall — early Saturday. Consumers with questions
can call (866) 463-6738.
The company said it manufacturers for 17
of the top 20 North American retailers. It
is also a contract manufacturer for the top
branded pet food companies, including Procter
& Gamble Co.
P&G announced Friday the recall of specific
3 oz., 5.5 oz., 6 oz. and 13.2 oz. canned
and 3 oz. and 5.3 oz. foil pouch cat and
dog wet food products made by Menu Foods
but sold under the Iams and Eukanuba brands.
The recalled products bear the code dates
of 6339 through 7073 followed by the plant
code 4197, P&G said.
Menu Foods' three U.S. and one Canadian factory
produce more than 1 billion containers of
wet pet food a year. The recall covers pet
food made at company plants in Emporia, Kan.,
and Pennsauken, N.J., Henderson said.
Henderson said the company received an undisclosed
number of owner complaints of vomiting and
kidney failure in dogs and cats after they
had been fed its products. It has tested
its products but not found a cause for the
sickness.
"To date, the tests have not indicated
any problems with the product," Henderson
said.
The company alerted the Food and Drug Administration,
which already has inspectors in one of the
two plants, Henderson said. The FDA was working
to nail down brand names covered by the recall,
agency spokesman Mike Herndon said.
Menu Foods is majority owned by the Menu
Foods Income Fund, based in Ontario, Canada.
Henderson said the recall would cost the
company the Canadian equivalent of $26 million
to $34 million.
Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov/