On March 16, 2007, Canada-based pet food manufacturer Menu Foods, Inc. issued a precautionary recall of "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food sold in both cans and pouches manufactured at the company's Kansas and New Jersey plants between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. Later, it was announced that the factory in Streetsville, Ontario was also contaminated, something the company did not know until early in April. The recall followed reports of cats and dogs falling ill as a result of kidney failure, with some even dying. The company immediately began testing its raw materials and finished products, while working with the FDA and other regulators to find the source of the contamination. (For more information on the recall, check the FDA website.)

Source of Contamination Discovered

Two weeks later, on March 30th, the FDA and Cornell University researchers announced that the wheat gluten used in the pet food was contaminated with melamine, a chemical substance used in the manufacture of plastics and fertilizers. Details on how the melamine found its way into the food are still not known. What is known is that the tainted wheat gluten was imported from China, possibly through ChemNutra, an American-based supply company.

Widespread Contamination

The real difficulty lies in the fact that Menu Foods makes product for many well-known brands of dog and cat food, resulting in widespread contamination. To date, the company has recalled more than forty brands of cat food and over fifty brands of dog food. National chains and big name brands alike are affected, including IAMS, Paws, President’s Choice brands, Purina, Big Red, Pet Pride, Winn Dixie, Del Monte, Wal-Mart, Kroger, Publix, and Alpo. Some estimates put the contaminated brands at 130.

Symptoms of Problems

Symptoms of kidney failure in pets include a change in urination patterns, an increase in water consumption, loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, disorientation, and possibly bad breath. Contact with a veterinarian should be made if you have any concerns or if you think recalled pet food was given to your pet. Any remaining food should be saved for testing.

Fall-Out

With continued reports that contaminated pet food may still be on store shelves and the recent news of contaminated rice protein showing up in dog food have increased the level of public concern. As a result, some pet owners have turned to organic pet food as an alternative to buying the more popular brand names. Others have decided to make their own at home.

What Can You Do?

The FDA suggests contaminated pet food be returned for a refund. If you think that your cat or dog has suffered an illness or died as a result of this recall, you can seek legal advice from an experienced attorney by filling out the form below. Your lawyer will work with you to determine if a lawsuit is the best way to proceed and whether you should seek compensation for veterinary bills and other expenses.