Wheat gluten imported from China contaminated with "aminopterin", a rodenticide so potent it was once used for abortions, has killed 14 family pets so far. Fox reports that more than 1,700 pets have actually died. We have no idea how many pets are sick and may yet die. Hubby and I have three dogs and would be crushed had they died from some contaminated food that should have been taken off the shelves, and apparently was not. The very curious part of this is that the company, Menu Foods located in Canada, could be purchasing their wheat from North America, but chose to purchase from China. Pets are now paying the price. Luckily our dogs don't eat moist packets or canned food, they eat bagged dry food.
How is it possible that a corporation in a Canada known worldwide for its wheat is relying on wheat gluten from China? Could lit be that Chinese wheat is cheaper than its Canadian counterpart?How long has Menu Foods been importing its pet food ingredients from dog-killing China?
As recently as last summer, authorities in the Peoples' Republic of China culled and put to death some 50,000 dogs in one region and left the dog population a mere 10% of what it once was in another province. This was all carried out for what worldwide vets said was an inhumane means to deal with an outbreak of rabies. This was not the first time. Chinese pet owners have had their beloved animals literally torn out of their arms. During the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic back in mid-2003, unfounded fears that dogs might be carriers of the virus led to hundreds of animals being rounded up off the streets, dragged from heartbroken peoples' homes, and put to death.
Why does Menu Foods rely on dog-cruel China for the wheat gluten necessary for its pet food brands? (source)
One family's beloved pet Reina, a three-year-old AKC Newfoundland dog is fighting for her life due to kidney failure, the result as of contamination in Nutro Ultra food and pouches. The family is hoping Menu Foods of Mississauga, Ontario, who makes the dog food will help save their dog. Vets have told the family that the only alternative to save Reina's life would be dialysis to flush the toxins out of her body, but the estimated cost of $10,000 is beyond their reach.
Menu Foods did not recall the contaminated foods, but left it up to individual store to remove the products. At least that is my understanding. I think steps need to be taken so this does not happen in the future, whether it be dog food, people food, medications, whatever.
Hot off the press: Menu Foods is asking retailers to be sure they have removed all of the recalled pet food it manufactures under a dizzying variety of brands ... and then some.
There are 53 different brand names under which this tainted dog food was/is sold. See the list here. Check the list for cat food and other information here.
UPDATE: Now we are talking about 95 brands of "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food:
The federal Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation into the pet deaths was focused on wheat gluten. [snip]Aminopterin, a derivative of folic acid, can cause cancer and birth defects in humans and can cause kidney damage in dogs and cats. Its use as a rodent poison is banned in the United States. (USToday)
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