By ANDREW BRIDGES, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 3 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - A major manufacturer of dog and cat food sold under Wal-Mart, Safeway, Kroger and other store brands recalled 60 million containers of wet pet food Friday after reports of kidney failure and deaths.

An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, Menu Foods said in announcing the North American recall. Product testing has not revealed a link explaining the reported cases of illness and death, the company said.

"At this juncture, we're not 100 percent sure what's happened," said Paul Henderson, the company's president and chief executive officer. However, the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, since dropped for another source, spokeswoman Sarah Tuite said. Wheat gluten is a source of protein.

The recall covers the company's "cuts and gravy" style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches between Dec. 3 and March 6 throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The pet food was sold by stores operated by the Kroger Company, Safeway Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and PetSmart Inc., among others, Henderson said.

Menu Foods did not immediately provide a full list of brand names and lot numbers covered by the recall, saying they would be posted on its Web site — http://www.menufoods.com/recall — early Saturday. Consumers with questions can call (866) 463-6738.

The company said it manufacturers for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies, including Procter & Gamble Co.

P&G announced Friday the recall of specific 3 oz., 5.5 oz., 6 oz. and 13.2 oz. canned and 3 oz. and 5.3 oz. foil pouch cat and dog wet food products made by Menu Foods but sold under the Iams and Eukanuba brands. The recalled products bear the code dates of 6339 through 7073 followed by the plant code 4197, P&G said.
Menu Foods' three U.S. and one Canadian factory produce more than 1 billion containers of wet pet food a year. The recall covers pet food made at company plants in Emporia, Kan., and Pennsauken, N.J., Henderson said.

Henderson said the company received an undisclosed number of owner complaints of vomiting and kidney failure in dogs and cats after they had been fed its products. It has tested its products but not found a cause for the sickness.

"To date, the tests have not indicated any problems with the product," Henderson said.

The company alerted the Food and Drug Administration, which already has inspectors in one of the two plants, Henderson said. The FDA was working to nail down brand names covered by the recall, agency spokesman Mike Herndon said.

Menu Foods is majority owned by the Menu Foods Income Fund, based in Ontario, Canada.

Henderson said the recall would cost the company the Canadian equivalent of $26 million to $34 million.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070316/...et_food_recall

Oh no!! My doggy loves that kind of food. Thanks for the info.

anything on the dry cat food?? We only buy IAMS and for some reason i could not open the file. My computer is a little pokey tonight

From what I seen on the news its only the wet food.That may change once they look into it more .Hopefully not

Only the Iams and Eukanuba wet foods.

Some of the NutroMax pouches were included too - guess I am glad I haven't bought any of those lately although I did for a while around Christmas. Lokks liek mostly private labels though. Guess it's good my zoo likes Purina.

Miss Molly? how cute

She's the most gorgeous little Calico Siamese ever born! She came to me from a pet adoption place last June. She had been abused, and needed a special home with no other pets, no kids, and preferably no men! IOW, she's PERFECT for an old widow lady. It's just "us girls" around here, and we were just made for each other!!!

I feel this is important to all owners of animals! So i am bumping for new comers etc

Purina added Mighty Dog pouches..Spent alot of time today checking products our store only had 12 bad cans of Iams dog food 5 oz size..And spent the rest of the day checking customers cans of foods, answering the phone..etc.. Hope all your pets are happy and healthy..Oh we also had a customer threaten to torch our store if his dog got sick..I told ya working with the public is not easy..