Since learning, thanks to Susan Hu's diary yesterday, that melamine had been identified in three types of canned cat food not previously recalled, I've been expecting another big recall. It's here, and involves canned cat foods containing wheat gluten. A complete list is below the fold.
I'd like to know why these products were not recalled earlier, when contaminated wheat gluten was identified as the most likely cause of pet illnesses and deaths. Did it really take Menu Foods this long to realize it had made an "interplant transfer" of wheat gluten obtained from Chem Nutra, and then manufactured cat food with it?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- TORONTO, April 10, 2007 -- Prompted by reports from the US Food and Drug Administration as to the presence of melamine in cans of cuts and gravy pet food produced in Menu Foods' Canadian production facility, Menu Foods undertook an accounting of all recalled wheat gluten supplied by ChemNutra Inc. to Menu Foods in the United States. As the result of that review, Menu Foods has identified a single interplant transfer of the ChemNutra supplied wheat gluten, shipped from Menu Foods' plant in Emporia, Kansas, to its plant in Streetsville, Ontario. This wheat gluten was subsequently used in the production of pet food in December, 2006 and January, 2007, which is being recalled by Menu Foods. The new varieties in the United States and Canada have been added to the recall list.
Recalled cat foods are all canned, not pouched:
Americas Choice, Preferred Pet -- Flaked Tuna
Laura Lynn -- Flaked Tuna
Laura Lynn -- Sliced Beef/Gravy
Nutriplan -- Sliced Beef/Gravy
Nutro -- Chicken Cacciator
Nutro -- Orleans Seafood Jambalaya
Nutro -- Beef Ragout
Nutro -- Alaskan Halibut/Rice
Nutro -- Kitten Chicken/Lamb
Nutro -- California Chicken
Nutro -- Lamb/Turkey Cutlets
Nutro -- Salmon/Whitefish
Nutro -- Beef/Egg
Nutro -- Turkey/Chicken Liver
Nutro -- Seafood/Tomato/Bisque
Nutro -- Hunters Stew with Duck
Nutro -- Hunters Stew with Venison
Pet Pride -- Sliced Beef/Gravy
Pet Pride -- Sliced Variety Pack
Price chopper -- Sliced Beef/Gravy
Publix -- Flaked Tuna
Publix -- Sliced Beef/Gravy
Stop & Shop Companion -- Flaked Tuna
Winn Dixie -- Sliced Beef/Gravy
Your Pet -- Sliced Beef/Gravy
Your Pet -- Sliced Variety Pack
If I don't respond to comments, please understand it's due to a hand injury, not to lack of interest. I will read all the comments.
Take care, pet owners.