Just did my daily check of the Menu Foods recall web site and see that yesterday afternoon they posted two new press releases, the most urgent being the following:

MARCH 24, 2007 – 14:09 ET

Menu Foods Initiates Market Withdrawal of All Varieties of Recalled Wet Pet Food to Ensure Consumer Protection

TORONTO, ONTARIO–(CCNMatthews – March 24, 2007) – As a result of reports from the FDA and various media outlets that some recalled lots of “cuts and gravy” style wet pet food remain on store shelves, Menu Foods has asked all retail outlets to immediately remove all impacted varieties of wet pet food posted at www.menufoods.com , regardless of the date code. Menu Foods remains concerned that consumers are able to purchase recalled items. There is no known risk from items not listed on the recall list but an abundance of caution is called for in this situation. FDA has been apprised of this action.

So they “say” they are calling for the removal of ALL impacted varieties of wet pet food because some of the tainted food is apparently still on the shelves, but I have to wonder if it isn’t them just trying (belatedly) to cover their fannies since they still do NOT know how the aminopterin (rat poison) got into the tainted food in the first place. And since they are STILL using the two plants in question to manufacture food, how can they be sure it might not happen again? Maybe they need to read the title of their own press release and realize that if they truly are trying to “ensure consumer protection” they’d reconsider continuing to manufacture anything at all until they’ve solved their first horrible mystery/mistake. Oh well, the bottom line is that ALL of Menu Foods impacted wet pet food SHOULD be off the shelves soon, so that will be good…I guess.

Here is their other press release which is pretty much just them trying to use sound bites from their press conference on Friday to sound like they are “on the case” and “concerned”:

Menu Foods Income Fund TSX: MEW.UN INDUSTRY: Financial Services – Personal Finance, Retail – Consumer Interest

MARCH 24, 2007 – 12:17 ET Menu Foods Income Fund: Progress in Search for Cause of Pet Illnesses TORONTO, ONTARIO–(CCNMatthews – March 24, 2007) - NOT FOR RELEASE OVER US NEWSWIRE SERVICES Menu Foods Income Fund (the “Fund”) (TSX:MEW.UN) has provided an update on its March 16 pet food recall, which represents an important step forward on identifying the issue’s cause. On March 23, the New York State Agriculture Commissioner and Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine announced that scientists at the New York State Food Laboratory identified Aminopterin as a toxin present in recalled pet food samples supplied by the Fund. The Food Laboratory received the pet food samples from a toxicologist at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University, where testing has been underway to try to determine the cause of renal failure in dogs and cats. At Cornell’s request, the Food Laboratory tested the samples for poisons and toxins, and identified Aminopterin in the pet food samples. “We are happy and relieved that the experts from the New York State Department of Agriculture and from Cornell University have discovered the root of the issue that has harmed North American cats and dogs” said Paul K. Henderson, President and CEO, Menu Foods. “This important discovery caps an unprecedented search by top experts. Dedicated and knowledgeable researchers at universities, independent laboratories, and our own veterinary consultants worked tirelessly to defend and protect our cats and dogs.” On March 16, 2007, Menu Foods announced the precautionary recall of a portion of the dog and cat food it manufactured between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. The recall was limited to “cuts and gravy” style pet food in cans and pouches manufactured at two of the Fund’s United States facilities. These products are both manufactured and sold under private-label and are contract-manufactured for some national brands. “Our immediate next steps will be to begin testing of all suspect raw materials with the goal of quickly identifying the means through which this substance entered our supply chain,” Henderson told a news conference Friday. “We have a strong, sustainable business, and we’re confident about the future,” Henderson added. “Our customers and partners have been understanding, supportive and loyal.” Menu is the leading North American private-label/contract manufacturer of wet pet food products sold by supermarket retailers, mass merchandisers, pet specialty retailers and other retail and wholesale outlets. In 2006, the Fund produced more than one billion containers.   CONTACT INFORMATION   Menu Foods Income Fund Consumers 1-866-895-2708 Website: www.menufoods.com

Recall Information 1-866-895-2708

Variety or Multi-Packs:

If you are in possession of a variety or multi-pack, please be sure to check the individual can or pouch rather than relying solely on the date coding on the side of the carton.

Recalled Dog Product

1. Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
2. Authority
3. Award
4. Best Choice
5. Big Bet
6. Big Red
7. Bloom
8. Cadillac
9. Companion
10. Demoulas Market Basket
11. Eukanuba
12. Food Lion
13. Giant Companion
14. Great Choice
15. Hannaford
16. Hill Country Fare
17. Hy-Vee
18. Iams
19. Laura Lynn
20. Loving Meals
21. Meijers Main Choice
22. Mighty Dog Pouch
23. Mixables
24. Nutriplan
25. Nutro Max
26. Nutro Natural Choice
27. Nutro Ultra
28. Nutro
29. Ol’Roy Canada
30. Ol’Roy US
31. Paws
32. Pet Essentials
33. Pet Pride – Good n Meaty
34. Presidents Choice
35. Price Chopper
36. Priority Canada
37. Priority US
38. Publix
39. Roche Brothers
40. Save-A-Lot Choice Morsels
41. Schnucks
42. Shep Dog
43. Springsfield Prize
44. Sprout
45. Stater Brothers
46. Stop & Shop Companion
47. Tops Companion
48. Wegmans Bruiser
49. Weis Total Pet
50. Western Family US
51. White Rose
52. Winn Dixie
53. Your Pet

Recalled Cat Product Information

1. Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
2. Authority
3. Best Choice
4. Companion
5. Compliments
6. Demoulas Market Basket
7. Eukanuba
8. Fine Feline Cat
9. Food Lion
10. Foodtown
11. Giant Companion
12. Hannaford
13. Hill Country Fare
14. Hy-Vee
15. Iams
16. Laura Lynn
17. Li’l Red
18. Loving Meals
19. Meijer’s Main Choice
20. Nutriplan
21. Nutro Max Gourmet Classics
22. Nutro Natural Choice
23. Paws
24. Pet Pride
25. Presidents Choice
26. Price Chopper
27. Priority US
28. Save-A-Lot Special Blend
29. Schnucks
30. Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans
31. Sophistacat
32. Special Kitty Canada
33. Special Kitty US
34. Springfield Prize
35. Sprout
36. Stop & Shop Companion
37. Tops Companion
38. Wegmans
39. Weis Total Pet
40. Western Family US
41. White Rose
42. Winn Dixie

***My initial pet food recall post with links***