[Vision2020] FDA's Update on Tainted Pet Food

[Saundra Lund]

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01615.html


 

From: Press releases about FDA Recalls [mailto:FDA-RECALLS-L at LIST.NIH.GOV]
On Behalf Of FDA Recalls
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2007 6:49 AM
To: FDA-RECALLS-L at LIST.NIH.GOV
Subject: FDA's Update on Tainted Pet Food

 

FDA Update on Pet Food Recall


This listserv covers mainly Class I (life-threatening) recalls. A complete
listing of recalls can be found in the FDA Enforcement Report at:
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/Enforce.html

 

 


April 22, 2007 

Media Inquiries: 
301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries: 
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FDA's Update on Tainted Pet Food


The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating an imported
shipment of rice protein concentrate which has been found to contain
melamine. The rice protein concentrate may have been used as an ingredient
in some pet foods. FDA's investigation of the rice protein is being carried
out by specialists in FDA headquarters and in eight FDA district offices.
Thus far, the following has been established: 

*	The suspect shipment of rice protein concentrate was imported and
offloaded during the week of April 2, 2007 by Wilbur-Ellis, an importer and
distributor of agricultural products, including rice protein concentrate,
with headquarters in San Francisco, CA.  The source of the product is
identified as Binzhou Futian Biological Technology in China.   
*	The shipment consisted primarily of rice protein concentrate in
white bags, but also included one pink bag that was labeled, in part, with
the word "melamine." 
*	On April 15, Wilbur-Ellis notified FDA's Center for Veterinary
Medicine about the suspect shipment. On April 16, FDA launched a nationwide
investigation tracing eight import entries identified as being shipped from
the Chinese firm since July 2006.  FDA testing revealed melamine in both the
white and pink bags.  
*	Wilbur-Ellis has initiated a recall of all suspect rice protein
concentrate it had imported and distributed; see
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/wilburellis04_07.html. 

FDA investigators have obtained records showing distribution to five pet
food manufacturers in seven locations.  Investigators are currently
inspecting all five manufacturers and collecting additional samples, as
appropriate.

*	FDA initiated inspections at Royal Canin USA and C.J. Foods and, as
a result, both companies have voluntarily recalled certain products; see
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/royalcanin04_07.html and
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/bluebuffalo04_07.html. 
*	FDA also has confirmed the presence of melamine in finished pet food
products containing rice protein concentrate.  Those products, and others
within the same product line, are currently under recall by Natural Balance
Pet Foods and are labeled as: Venison and Brown Rice canned and bagged dog
foods; Venison and Brown Rice dog treats; and Venison and Green Pea dry cat
food; see http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/naturalbalance04_07.html. 

If FDA's investigation determines that additional pet food products have
been manufactured from the suspect rice protein concentrate, FDA will expect
manufacturers to initiate voluntary actions to remove these products from
the marketplace. FDA will continue to communicate its findings promptly. 

In a related development, the California Department of Food and Agriculture
(CDFA) issued a press release on April 19, 2007, stating that CDFA
laboratory testing had detected melamine in urine from hogs at the American
Hog Farm in Ceres, CA.  For further information, see:
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/exec/pa/pressreleases/PressRelease.asp?PRnum=CDFA07-0
38.
Due to the involvement of animal feed, FDA is working with CDFA on this
development.

FDA continues to work comprehensively to protect the nation's pet food as
well as to conduct a full investigation to determine any impact on the human
food supply.  The agency is now sampling all rice protein concentrate from
China and continues to sample all wheat gluten imported from China, and it
is ready to increase its surveillance of other products, if necessary. 

To search for the latest list of recalled products, which will be updated
when new information is received, please see:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/petfoodrecall/.

####

FDA's Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts Page:
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html 

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