Is this canned food contaminated? fELINE NUTRA SELECTION, Poultry Dinner, 3oz cans UPC: 58157 00070. Dist by MFOLP at 8 Falconer Dr. Steetsville, ON, Canada
ChemNutra, Inc. (imported tainted wheat gluten from China)
RECALLED PRODUCT:
Melamine tainted wheat gluten imported from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. Ltd., in China.
PRESS RELEASES:
Letter from the Chairman of ChemNutra
Dear Pet Owners, Pet Food Businesses & all who love animals:
We at ChemNutra want to express our support and condolences for pet owners whose cats have fallen ill or died as the probable result of contaminated pet food produced by Menu Foods, as well as pet owners throughout North America who have become fearful about their pets’ food following news of the contamination. We also offer our empathy for the difficulties imposed on pet food businesses that were negatively impacted by this situation.
The possibility that any animal fell ill or died because of an ingredient we may have supplied to Menu Foods saddens us and also angers us because it means that ChemNutra has victimized as well, by our own supplier. In fact, news reports and congressional testimony provide increasing evidence of this possibility.
We are appalled and distressed that Menu Foods took so long to recall its products, although it clearly suspected there was a problem for weeks prior to the first recall. And it wasn’t until eight days before they issued their first recall that Menu Foods told us that wheat gluten was one of many ingredients it was investigating.
Moreover, here at ChemNutra, we are concerned that we may have been the victim of deliberate and mercenary contamination for the purpose of making the wheat gluten we purchased appear to have a higher protein content than it did, because melamine causes a false high result on protein tests. We had no idea that melamine was an issue until being notified by the FDA on March 29. In fact, we had never heard of melamine before. It’s simply not a chemical even on the radar screen for food ingredient suppliers. You can find more information on the timeline of events that occurred since late February here.
We assure you that we will never again do business with the supplier of the suspect wheat gluten, XuZhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. Ltd. XuZhou Anying had been recommended to us by a long-time reliable source in China, and presented what appeared to be legitimate proof that its product was safe. We hope that U.S. and Chinese government investigations of XuZhou Anying reveal what actually occurred.
ChemNutra has an excellent record of compliance with all applicable regulations, but please know that as additional product safety recommendations are developed by the FDA, the Pet Food Institute and our customers, we will implement them immediately.
Steve Miller
CEO
ChemNutra~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Recall — Firm Press Release
FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
All Menu Foods Pet Food with ChemNutra Wheat Gluten Voluntarily Recalled
Contact:
Menu Foods
1-866-895-2708FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –TORONTO, April 5, 2007 — In response to a news release – issued by ChemNutra Inc. during the evening of April 3, 2007 - Menu Foods today voluntarily expanded its pet food recall for selected “cuts and gravy” pet food products, manufactured back to November 8, 2006.
ChemNutra Inc., a former supplier of wheat gluten to Menu Foods, announced a recall of all wheat gluten it imported from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. in Wangdien, China. As a result, Menu Foods today announced an expansion of its recall to include all products manufactured with wheat gluten purchased from ChemNutra Inc. which Menu Foods’ records show was first used on November 8, 2006 and last used on March 6, 2007.
As a result of actions previously taken by Menu Foods, the vast majority of the products affected by this expansion are already off retailers’ shelves. No new brands have been added. A total of 20 varieties have been added to the recall list and the additional varieties are listed below. All Menu Foods products not made with the recalled wheat gluten are safe to consume.
A complete and updated list of recalled products is available at the Menu Foods website at http://www.menufoods.com.
Cat Food
Brand
Look For This Date The Bottom of Can or Back of Pouch
Variety Description
Can or Pouch
Size
UPC
Authority
Nov/20/09
Adult Sliced Chicken/Sauce Formula 3oz Can
3oz
37257-37359 Nov/21/09
Nutro Max Cat Gourmet Classics
Nov/21/08
Pouch Kitten Chicken/Tomato 3oz Pouch
3oz
79105-36263 Nov/22/08
Nov/21/08
Pouch Senior Whitefish/Crab 3oz Pouch
3oz
79105-36265 Nov/22/08
Pet Pride
Nov/21/09
Flaked Tuna 3oz Can
3oz
11110-80472 Nov/22/09
Nov/20/09
Sliced Chicken/Heart/Liver 3oz Can
3oz
11110-86261 Nov/21/09
Nov/20/09
Sliced Turkey/Gravy 3oz Can
3oz
11110-86257 Nov/21/09
Nov/20/09
Sliced Beef/Gravy 3oz Can
3oz
11110-86264 Nov/21/09
Sophistacat
Nov/21/09
Flaked Chicken/Tuna 3oz Can
3oz
37257-01287 Nov/22/09
Nov/20/09
Sliced Beef/Gravy 3oz Can
3oz
37257-01243 Nov/21/09
Nov/20/09
Sliced Chicken/Heart/Liver 3oz Can
3oz
37257-01285 Nov/21/09
Nov/20/09
Sliced Salmon/Chicken 3oz Can
3oz
37257-01286 Nov/21/09
Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Can (Hill’s Pet Nutrition April 5, 2007 Comment on Industry News) Jun/19/08
Sliced Beef/Gravy 3oz Can
3oz
52742-44120 Jun/20/08
Jun/19/08
Sliced Chicken/Grvy 3oz Can
3oz
52742-44110 Jun/20/08
Jun/19/08
Sliced Oceanfish/Sauce 3oz Can
3oz
52742-44010 Jun/20/08
Jun/19/08
Sliced Senior Chicken/Gravy 3oz Can
3oz
52742-46000 Jun/20/08
Dog Food
Brand
Look For This Date The Bottom of Can or Back of Pouch
Variety Description
Can or Pouch
Size
UPC
Grreat Choice
Nov/14/09
London Grill Cuts 13.2oz Can
13.2oz
37257-37002 Nov/15/09
Pet Pride
Nov/28/08
Pouch Chicken Teriyaki/Gravy 5.3oz Pouch
5.3oz
11110-84172 Nov/29/08
Dec/01/08
Pouch With Stew 5.3oz Pouch
5.3oz
11110-88124 Dec/02/08
Springfield Prize
Nov/14/09
Chicken Cuts/Gravy 13.2oz Can
13.2oz
41380-13901 Nov/15/09
Stater Brothers
Nov/14/09
Chicken Cuts/Gravy 13.2oz Can
13.2oz
74175-12240 Nov/15/09
Recall — Firm Press Release
FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
ChemNutra Announces Nationwide Wheat Gluten Recall
Contact:
Devon Blaine/Lisa Baker
310-360-1499FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –Las Vegas, NV — April 3, 2007 — ChemNutra Inc., of Las Vegas, Nevada, yesterday recalled all wheat gluten it had imported from one of its three Chinese wheat gluten suppliers – Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. Ltd.
The wheat gluten ChemNutra recalled was all shipped from China in 25 kg. paper bags, and distributed to customers in the same unopened bags. The bags were all labeled “Wheat Gluten Batch No.: _______ Net Weight: 25 kg Gross Weight: 25.1 kg Made in China”. The batch numbers included in the recall are 20061006, 20061027, 20061101, 20061108, 20061122, 20061126, 20061201, 20061202, 20061203, 20061204, 20061205, 20061206, 20061208, 20061221, 20070106, 20070111, 20070116, and 20070126. Each ChemNutra shipment had the certificate of analysis information from the supplier, including batch number and the supplier’s content analysis and test results. ChemNutra shipped from its Kansas City warehouse to three pet food manufacturers and one distributor who supplies wheat gluten only to the pet food industry. ChemNutra’s shipments commenced November 9, 2006 and ended March 8, 2007. ChemNutra did not ship to facilities that manufacture food for human consumption, and the distributor ChemNutra shipped to supplies wheat gluten only to pet food manufacturers. The total quantity of Xuzhou Anying wheat gluten shipped was 792 metric tons.
ChemNutra learned on March 8 from one pet food manufacturer that the wheat gluten it had sold them – all from the Xuzhou Anying - was among ingredients suspected as a potential cause of pet food problems. ChemNutra immediately quarantined its entire wheat gluten inventory and assisted this customer’s investigation.
After that manufacturer issued a pet food recall, the FDA immediately commenced a thorough investigation of ChemNutra’s wheat gluten, including documentation analysis, inspection, and laboratory testing. ChemNutra cooperated fully with the FDA and immediately notified its other three wheat gluten customers about the FDA’s investigation. Those customers had all purchased smaller amounts of the Xuzhou Anying wheat gluten commencing in January, 2007.
On Friday, March 30, the FDA announced they had found melamine in samples of the wheat gluten ChemNutra had imported from Xuzhou Anying. The FDA did not inform ChemNutra of any other impurities in the Xuzhou Anying wheat gluten, nor of any impurities in the wheat gluten from ChemNutra’s other two Chinese suppliers.
The toxicity of melamine is not clear. However, since melamine is not approved by the FDA for pet food, it should absolutely not have been in wheat gluten. ChemNutra is extremely concerned about the purity of all of its products. The company is particularly troubled that the certificates of analysis provided by the above-named supplier did not report the presence of melamine.
ChemNutra wants to ensure its products are safe. Consequently, in addition to its ongoing cooperation with the FDA, ChemNutra will be conducting its own independent, analytical tests of wheat gluten from all of its suppliers.
Yesterday ChemNutra sent recall notices to all four of its direct customers. If any other company received bags of recalled wheat gluten from the lot numbers referenced above, please call ChemNutra at 702.818.5019.
Consumers who have questions about the pet food they should go to the FDA’s website at www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01590.html. This website lists all brands of petfood involved, with links to the manufacturer who should be contacted with questions.
Responses
By: Mary Stavik on April 29, 2007
at 11:39 am
Mary, I don’t know that I’d trust ANY food from Menu Foods, and I’d assume that food is manufactured by Menu Foods due to the address. I typed the info into the FDA search engine and nothing came up, but I also wouldn’t completely trust that, either. I’d steer clear of feeding the food to your pet.
By: SoCalMuchacha on April 30, 2007
at 8:15 pm
