60 million containers of pet food recalled

[Reptscue]

60 million containers of pet food recalled
Store brands sold at Wal-Mart and Safeway tied to kidney failure, deaths

Updated: 1 hour, 50 minutes ago
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. 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 — 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. Its 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. Guide Pet nutrition

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.


60 million containers of pet food recalled - Pet Health - MSNBC.com

[luker3232]

60 freakin million!

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The company said it manufacturers for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers.

[luker3232]

60 mill is like ~ around 100 gagillion in texas

[TheBoaGuy]

Not to be rude but what do you expect from the cheapest dog food you can buy. The saying is true you get what you pay for. If you care for your pets buy them good food.

[diggy415]

i just fed the safeway brand to my dog tonight and now i see it, great, all will be pulled until further notice. irronically, my 9yr old rott had blood tests done and no show of any cancer and yet he passed over a year ago, while feeding him these kinds of foods, so was my best friends GSD no blood test showed any reason of illness, both are deceased, now i wonder..........

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Originally Posted by TheBoaGuy

Not to be rude but what do you expect from the cheapest dog food you can buy. The saying is true you get what you pay for. If you care for your pets buy them good food.

Nutro is a good food that is affected...

[Reptscue]

This was taken from John White's post about this...
Thanks John!!!!!!!!

http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Pres...l_03162007.pdf

For more info see: Menu Foods Income Fund - Annual General Meeting

[Bangswitch]

Looks like all the dog food comes from the same place but we pay high prices for the name on the bag. Am i understanding this right?