WASHINGTON -- Imported ingredients used in recalled pet food may have been intentionally spiked with an industrial chemical to boost their apparent
protein content, federal officials said Thursday.
That's one theory being pursued by the Food and Drug Administration as it investigates how the chemical, melamine, contaminated two ingredients used
to make more than 100 brands of dog and cat foods.
So far, melamine's been found in both wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate imported from China. Media reports from South Africa suggest a third
pet food ingredient, corn gluten, also was contaminated with melamine. That tainted ingredient has not been found in the United States, the FDA said.
''Melamine was found in all three of those -- it would certainly lend credibility to the theory that it may be intentional,'' said Stephen Sundlof,
chief FDA veterinarian.
Chinese authorities have said the wheat gluten was an industrial product not meant for pet food, Sundlof said. Still, melamine can skew test results
to make a product appear more protein-rich than it really is, he added. That raises the possibility the contamination was deliberateDianaT - 4-20-2007 at 04:16 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Diane ----
Can I add an Ensenada restaurant to this list?
Yes--I love to hear which ones to stay away from!
Oh, it is only the venison products from Natural Balance. A local pet store owners's dog is one who is sick (getting better, we hope) and she has
been talking to the owner of Natural Balance----they are paying ALL vet bills.
None of their foods have wheat, but they added a rice protein concentrate to their venison products recently and it was contaminated. Their products
with brown and or white rice are OK.
DianeCaboRon - 6-6-2007 at 12:20 PM
This is incredable..... now I've heard that certain types of toothpaste from China have been found to contain anti-freeze. Do you think this
is Chinese Nationalist Policy ? CaboRon backninedan - 6-6-2007 at 01:13 PM
At least I don't have to worry about brushing on cold days now.Cypress - 6-6-2007 at 01:17 PM
And I was just beginning to develop a taste for it!Jack Swords - 6-7-2007 at 07:13 AM
Here's another contamination and other dog/cat food producers.
