It
started with a quiet call to the FDA from Menu Foods around
February 27, 2007, reporting that approximately 14 pet owners
claimed their cats and dogs became ill and died after eating
Menu Foods products. Over two weeks later, Menu Foods finally
notified the public by beginning a massive recall of certain
products.
Since March 16, 2007, Menu Foods has been joined by
Nestle Purina, Hills Nutrition, Del Monte Foods and
most recently Sunshine (See the Recall
Timeline), in notifying consumers of potentially harmful
contamination of many of their pet food products and instituting
similar nationwide recalls. Each time a company recalls a
product, they claim the contaminated wheat gluten was isolated
only to those products recalled, however, just when you thought
it was safe, new products and companies are added to the list.
Pet owners have lost trust in the pet food suppliers to protect
their pets and are turning to outside help.
The
problem is blamed on wheat gluten imported from China. The
FDA has determined that the wheat gluten used in dog and
cat food contained a chemical called melamine, a plastic
chemical, which is toxic when ingested. Now the FDA suspects
the melamine did not accidentally find its way into the
wheat gluten, but that it was purposely added to increase
the protein content making it easier to increase prices
and sell.
Initially
Menu Foods claimed the contaminated wheat gluten was not
present in products manufactured before December 3, 2006.
On April 5, 2007, it was announced that the contamination
could go back as far as November 8, 2006.
As
of April 6, 2007, the F.D.A. has received complaints from
12,000 pet owners! Grieving pet owners seek answers. Lawsuits
have been filed across the country to seek remedies for
United States' pet owners.
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