Tainted pet food causes concern
by Katie Rogers
Issue date: 4/17/07 Section: News
Tyler Goralski fills his 10-year-old dog, Suede's, food bowl with caution.
"I'm becoming concerned as more and more foods gets recalled because it could all of a sudden be one of the foods that I feed my dog," he said.
This fear is not uncommon today after Menu Foods, manufacturers of wet and dry pet food, pulled more than 100 brands off of store shelves. According to a Menu Foods press release, the recall was issued when a small number of cats and dogs experienced kidney failure after eating certain types of Menu Foods products. The kidney failure was marked with signs such as loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting.
The pet foods were removed from the shelves of mass corporations such as Wal-Mart and PetSmart. Marisa Bluestone, Wal-Mart spokeswoman, said her company took the recall seriously.
"We don't take chances," Bluestone said. "We changed manufacturers and removed all Menu Foods from our shelves to protect our customers."
She said as an extra precaution, Wal-Mart also placed an electronic recall on these brands so they are unable to scan at registers in stores.
Michelle Friedman, spokeswoman for PetSmart, said the company took the same precautions to protect consumers in more than 900 of its stores nationwide.
"Obviously a lot of brands have been affected, but we are doing everything we can to assure the foods on our shelves are safe for our pet parents," Friedman said.
She said many brands were removed from the stores and the brands that will be sold again in PetSmart are to be determined.
According to a press release from the Food and Drug Administration, the problem was discovered during routine taste testing done by Menu Foods. Nine cats died during the testing. Pet owners outside of the taste test reported the deaths of four cats and one dog. Although the number of pet deaths are relatively low, Menu Foods has issued a recall on all "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food.
The FDA is currently working with Menu Foods in testing the safety of wet and dry pet food.
"I'm becoming concerned as more and more foods gets recalled because it could all of a sudden be one of the foods that I feed my dog," he said.
This fear is not uncommon today after Menu Foods, manufacturers of wet and dry pet food, pulled more than 100 brands off of store shelves. According to a Menu Foods press release, the recall was issued when a small number of cats and dogs experienced kidney failure after eating certain types of Menu Foods products. The kidney failure was marked with signs such as loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting.
The pet foods were removed from the shelves of mass corporations such as Wal-Mart and PetSmart. Marisa Bluestone, Wal-Mart spokeswoman, said her company took the recall seriously.
"We don't take chances," Bluestone said. "We changed manufacturers and removed all Menu Foods from our shelves to protect our customers."
She said as an extra precaution, Wal-Mart also placed an electronic recall on these brands so they are unable to scan at registers in stores.
Michelle Friedman, spokeswoman for PetSmart, said the company took the same precautions to protect consumers in more than 900 of its stores nationwide.
"Obviously a lot of brands have been affected, but we are doing everything we can to assure the foods on our shelves are safe for our pet parents," Friedman said.
She said many brands were removed from the stores and the brands that will be sold again in PetSmart are to be determined.
According to a press release from the Food and Drug Administration, the problem was discovered during routine taste testing done by Menu Foods. Nine cats died during the testing. Pet owners outside of the taste test reported the deaths of four cats and one dog. Although the number of pet deaths are relatively low, Menu Foods has issued a recall on all "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food.
The FDA is currently working with Menu Foods in testing the safety of wet and dry pet food.
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