check your pets food?

Question

Pet food maker announces major recall By ANDREW BRIDGES, Associated Press Writer
45 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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

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. 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 [phone].

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. Its 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.

Answer 1

I am devasted by this. Fortunatly dogs are not being affected as much as cats according to the FDA. Two of my four cats fell ill within two days with renal failure and then ended up having to be euthanized. This was in February. Well I saw the recall and I now KNOW in my heart this is what happened. I called a DVM and PHD from teh FDA article. My cats ate "Special Kitty" brand pouches from Wal mart everyday. The two that do not eat this are fine. I found a link on the PETA website of what foods MENU BRAND makes. These foods (including the ones i purchased) are at Wal mart, safeway and Kroger. Here are the brands Albertsons, A&Ps master choice, Authority, Award, sophistacat (pet smarts), IGA, Kroger, Loblaw, Pathmark, Safeway select, shoprite, Stop and shop and Wal marts special kitty. These brands are all manufactured by MENU BRANDS but may not all be affected. I do have two dead cats to prove that the Special Kitty was affected. Any one who has been affected i am going to attempt to file a class action lawsuit please email me at [e-mail] PLEASE no prank emails or solicitations folks, this is serious. PLEASE, i dont know how else to get affected persons together.

Answer 2

Thanks for the post; my cats don't eat this kind of food, but I suspect you've saved quite a few pets' lives with your warning.

Answer 3

thanks so much.. although my pets don't eat store brand food, its good to know if i was ever thinking about it... thanks for looking out for others well being