Pet Food Recalls Rock the Nation

WASHINGTON - Both pet owners and pet food sellers across the continent were rocked over the weekend by news of a major product recall by a large national and store brand manufacturer, tied to as many as 10 reported incidents of kidney failure in pets.

The Food and Drug Administration said Saturday that Menu Foods, Inc., a private-label pet food manufacturer based in Statesville, Ontario, Canada, told the agency it was recalling all its "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food produced at a facility in Emporia, Kansas between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. The products were sold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

As news spread of the manufacturers recall and reports of 10 deaths, one dog and nine cats, from kidney failure, supermarket chains and national brand marketers hurried to launch recalls of their own.

"The firm has undertaken extensive testing of the pet food products in question, but to date has been unable to find the source of the problem," said FDA of Menu Foods actions so far.

The products were packaged in cans and pouches under dozens of brand names, and marketed nationwide by many of the nation's largest pet food retailers including Ahold USA Inc., Kroger Company, Safeway, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., PetSmart, Inc., and Pet Valu, Inc.

Menu Foods, Inc. quickly identified the potentially contaminated products and posted the information on the Internet at www.menufoods.com/recall.

Meanwhile the FDA said, "Consumers who have any of these products should immediately stop feeding them to their pets. Dogs or cats who have consumed the suspect feed and show signs of kidney failure (such as loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting) should consult with their veterinarian. Menu Foods, Inc. is notifying retailers by telephone and mail and is arranging for the return of all recalled products."

The agency also said it is conducting an investigation and working with Menu Foods "to ensure the effectiveness of the recall."

The Pet Food Institute trade group issued a statement emphasizing that the affected products were only wet pet food products labeled "Cuts in Gravy" and manufactured by Menu Foods. Dry pet foods of any brand were not affected, the trade group said.

According to Menu Foods, the store and national brand pet foods affected by the recall include:
1. Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
2. Authority
3. Award
4. Best Choice
5. Big Bet
6. Big Red
7. Bloom
8. Bruiser
9. Cadillac
10. Companion
11. Demoulas Market Basket
12. Fine Feline Cat, Shep Dog
13. Food Lion
14. Giant Companion
15. Great Choice
16. Hannaford
17. Hill Country Fare
18. Hy-Vee
19. Key Food
20. Laura Lynn
21. Loving Meals
22. Main Choice
23. Mixables
24. Nutriplan
25. Nutro Max
26. Nutro Natural Choice
27. Nutro
28. Ol'Roy
29. Paws
30. Pet Essentials
31. Pet Pride
32. Presidents Choice
33. Price Chopper
34. Priority
35. Publix
36. Roche Bros
37. Save-A-Lot
38. Schnucks
39. Springfield Pride
40. Sprout
41. Stater Bros
42. Total Pet, My True Friend
43. Western Family
44. White Rose
45. Winn Dixie
46. Your Pet
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