Pet Food Scares

In the US over the past year there have been a lot of of scare stories regarding contaminated ingredients being used in pet food, causing illness and in extreme cases the death of pets.

Wheat gluten, corn gluten, cornmeal, rice bran and rice protein were among the imported ingredients under suspicion.

It is important to say that pet food produced in the UK does not seem to have been affected by any of these scares.

Almost a dozen US companies found that they used melamine-contaminated ingredients from China in their animal foods, either wheat gluten, corn gluten or rice protein concentrate. As a result, more than 60 million containers of cat and dog food were pulled from the market.

The scare also affected Menu Foods, Inc., a private-label pet food manufacturer based in Streetsville, Ontario, Canada prompted by consumer complaints received by the manufacturer and by tasting trials conducted by the manufacturer. Menu Foods, Inc. reported 14 animal deaths to the FDA. Nine cats died during routine taste trials conducted by the company. Consumers reported deaths of four cats and one dog.

Recalls were also ordered by big name companies such as Hills, Purina and Iams.

China has pledged to clean up its tainted food and drug industry after a series of safety scares that have aroused global concern. The announcement came as two company managers were detained, accused of adding melamine to food additives.

China's State Council, or Cabinet, said the nationwide crackdown on woefully corrupt practices in the country's drug and food industry would compel companies to adopt "standards used in food-importing countries". They also pledged to test products made in animal feed and food for humans, including cooking oil, flour, beverages and baby food.

Melamine has no nutritional value but because it is rich in nitrogen, it makes food that uses it an ingredient appear to have more protein than it actually does and so meet required contractual obligations.

This is not the only case of contaminated pet foods to have shocked pet owners internationally. A USA company producing veterinary prescription diets was recently the subject of an FDA warning as a result of the inclusion of chromium in their diets. Chromium is unlicensed for use in pet foods in the UK, and has been linked with acute renal failure in humans.

A manufacturing error recently in the production of feeds for a large US corporation resulted in excessive amounts of Vitamin D3 in the food. This can cause an abnormally high level of calcium in the blood causing animals’ kidneys to malfunction.

There is no currently no evidence that pet foods in the UK have been affected by these problems. However, if you find a batch of your favourite pet food seems to be causing your pet an upset then contact the manufacturers and ask why that might be (it could be due to formulation change/different ingredients being used)

Click links for the best online offers