As widely reported in the media, a number of cat and dog foods were recalled in the US after a common supplier decided there was a problem with their new wheat gluten supplier (a common additive).
10 animals (9 cats apparently) are known to have died, probably many more undiagnosed.
Cause of death is kidney failure - symptoms include large frequent urination, vomiting, lethargy and weight loss.
MenuFoods apparently switched suppliers (to a low bidder?) just before christmas '06, and food from early dec '06 to early '07 is liable.
Reports are that tests on animals with known contaminated foods led to one in six dying.
itchmo.com seems to be on top of the details.
(h/t no quarter).
Most plausible causes (which are still undetermined) are glycol contamination, or mycotoxin contamination.
These things happen, unfortunately, although this case seems to have been poorly handled by the companies and may be worse than reported.
But, wheat gluten is also used as a people food additive. And they still won't say what company provided the material.
Of course stuff toxic to cats or dogs need not be so to humans, and they might be slacker in handling food product known to be destined for animals, but this is still not good.
Also, a lot of animal feed goes to farm animals, and they then are fed to us.
We never learn.
- Log in to post comments