News about pet food recall
Posted by
Staff WriterMarch 21, 2007 9:28 AMTags:
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Many pet owners are plagued with worry and concern over their cats or dogs who have been eating one of the recently recalled pet foods manufactured by Menu Foods.
As phone calls and visits are keeping veterinarians busy, some pet owners have even brought their cats or dogs to local clinics for a $90 blood test to rule out kidney damage.
Menu Foods, based in Ontario, Canada, recalled 60 million units of canned and pouched pet food described as "cuts-and-gravy style." This affects pet foods sold under a veriety of brands, including private label brands for some supermarket chains.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received information about dog and cat deaths as early as Feb. 20, and began investigating. Menu Foods reportedly tested its foods on 40 to 50 cats and dogs, of which 7 died.
An article on the pet food recall from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution states the following:
Dogs or cats that have eaten the suspect food and show signs of kidney failure should be taken to a veterinarian. According to the FDA, kidney failure in animals is characterized by loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting.The agency is also requesting that people with sick or deceased pets who believe their pet might have consumed one of the implicated products contact a state complaint coordinator. A list of coordinators can be found at the FDA Web site (http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html).
The FDA and the Humane Society advise consumers who have any of these products to stop feeding them to their pets.
Menu Foods has a consumer recall hotline at 1-866-895-2708.
The company has announced that it will compensate the owners of pets that died.