It was Rat Poisoning

The recent major recall of the dog and cat food that killed at least16 animals, a sum of 60 million cans and pouches of pet food were recalled about a week ago, has found its cause. Menu Foods, who sold the pet food throughout North America under 95 brand names, spokesperson Jessica Chittenden reported that they identified the chemical as rodent poison.

According to a ABC News report it was said to be aminopterin that possibly was on imported wheat used in the pet food. Aminopterin is a chemical used to kill rats in some countries but in the United States is not registered for that use, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The chemical is also used as a cancer drug and is highly toxic in high doses.

The Food and Drug Administration was reported as saying the investigation was focusing on wheat gluten in the food. The kidney failure of the animals was not caused by the wheat gluten itself, but this common ingredient could have been contaminated with heavy metals or mold toxins, according to the FDA.

New York Attorney General spokesperson Andrew Cuomo said he was not aware of any criminal investigation involving the tainted food. FBI spokesperson Paul Holstein said on Friday that he was not aware of any FBI involvement in the case and added, "I don't know where we'll go from here,"

Several reports have confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog were results of this recall. These animals had kidney failure and had ate the recalled brands.

Menu Foods' chief executive and president said the company delayed announcing the recall until it could confirm that the animals had eaten its product before dying. Two very early complaints from consumers who had cats that had died from kidney failure were about animals who lived outside or had access to a garage. He said this left open the possibility they had been poisoned by something other than contaminated food.