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**Dildos** · 03-22-2007, 04:22 PM

Toll From Tainted Pet Food Is 14; F.D.A. Is Focusing on New Gluten

By KATIE ZEZIMA
The New York Times
Published: March 21, 2007

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that five family pets had died as a result of eating contaminated food that is the subject of a widespread recall.

Fourteen animals have died after eating the food, said Stephen F. Sundlof, director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine, which is part of the F.D.A. The agency said that included nine animals that died as a result of taste tests administered by the manufacturer, Menu Foods.

Dr. Sundlof said that to his knowledge such tests were routinely administered to make sure that pets liked the taste of the products.

He said the agency had been flooded with calls, some reporting that pets died after eating. He said he believed that the official toll would increase.

The agency says it does not know what contaminated the nearly 100 brands of wet food. It is focusing on wheat gluten, a filler that gives the cuts-and-gravy-type food in the recall its gelatinous consistency.

Menu Foods, of Ontario, said the illnesses started with the introduction of a new supplier of wheat gluten to plants in Emporia, Kan., and Pennsauken, N.J. The F.D.A. has not released the name of the supplier.
The gluten is not used in dry pet food.

“One of the things we’re looking at is that toxins produced by mold potentially contaminated the wheat gluten,” Dr. Sundlof said.

He added that chemical contamination was also being investigated.

Dr. Sundlof said the agency believed that the problem was confined to the recalled products and that other types and brands of food had not been affected.

Most of the contaminated lots originated at the Emporia plant, which is fully operational, Dr. Sundlof said. It never had an agency inspection before the recall, he said, as such plants are usually inspected only for cause.

The New Jersey plant was inspected last year under the mad cow disease program because it produces feed for zoo animals.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/21/us/21petfood.html

03-22-2007, 04:22 PM	#2
Dildos Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 458 Senior Member	Toll From Tainted Pet Food Is 14; F.D.A. Is Focusing on New Gluten By KATIE ZEZIMA The New York Times Published: March 21, 2007 The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that five family pets had died as a result of eating contaminated food that is the subject of a widespread recall. Fourteen animals have died after eating the food, said Stephen F. Sundlof, director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine, which is part of the F.D.A. The agency said that included nine animals that died as a result of taste tests administered by the manufacturer, Menu Foods. Dr. Sundlof said that to his knowledge such tests were routinely administered to make sure that pets liked the taste of the products. He said the agency had been flooded with calls, some reporting that pets died after eating. He said he believed that the official toll would increase. The agency says it does not know what contaminated the nearly 100 brands of wet food. It is focusing on wheat gluten, a filler that gives the cuts-and-gravy-type food in the recall its gelatinous consistency. Menu Foods, of Ontario, said the illnesses started with the introduction of a new supplier of wheat gluten to plants in Emporia, Kan., and Pennsauken, N.J. The F.D.A. has not released the name of the supplier. The gluten is not used in dry pet food. “One of the things we’re looking at is that toxins produced by mold potentially contaminated the wheat gluten,” Dr. Sundlof said. He added that chemical contamination was also being investigated. Dr. Sundlof said the agency believed that the problem was confined to the recalled products and that other types and brands of food had not been affected. Most of the contaminated lots originated at the Emporia plant, which is fully operational, Dr. Sundlof said. It never had an agency inspection before the recall, he said, as such plants are usually inspected only for cause. The New Jersey plant was inspected last year under the mad cow disease program because it produces feed for zoo animals. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/21/us/21petfood.html
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