The Pittsburgh Tribune Review and the FDA reported today that humans may be at risk of eating food contaminated with melamine. Pigs on farms in California that were fed byproducts and leftover foods purchased from 
pet food companies may have ingested the melamine tainted foods before they were slaughtered and the pork products subsequently sold for human consumption. The urine of some pigs at the 1,500-animal American Hog Farm in Ceres, Calif., tested positive for melamine. The farm has been quarantined while the FDA, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Food and Agriculture investigate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site said, "When ingested (by humans) in large amounts, the substance may have effects on the kidneys, resulting in tissue lesions."
The contaminated pet food byproducts were purchased in early April as food for animals being prepared to be slaughtered and made into human food from Diamond Pet Foods Inc., the same pet food manufacturing company that makes Natural Balance pet food. Natural Balance this week recalled its dry and canned Venison and Brown Rice dog food and its dry Venison and Green Pea cat food due to pet owners complaints of animal illness. Natural Balance voluntarily recalled the foods after the first customer complaints and tests revealed melamine in the rice protein complex. Previously, only wheat gluten from China had been found to contain melamine. Earlier this week melamine was found in rice protein complex from the same Chinese suppliers. Now there is growing concern that corn gluten from the same supplier may be affected as well, as reports from South Africa have indicated 20 incidents of pet renal failure due to tainted corn gluten. No tainted corn gluten has been identified in the US, however that could change. Companies who previously has assumed the melamine was only found in wheat gluten and rice protein complex are now starting to test any corn gluten purchased from China to find out if that also contains melamine.
Humans Face Risk of Illness from Contaminated Pet Food
The contaminated pet food byproducts were purchased in early April as food for animals being prepared to be slaughtered and made into human food from Diamond Pet Foods Inc., the same pet food manufacturing company that makes Natural Balance pet food. Natural Balance this week recalled its dry and canned Venison and Brown Rice dog food and its dry Venison and Green Pea cat food due to pet owners complaints of animal illness. Natural Balance voluntarily recalled the foods after the first customer complaints and tests revealed melamine in the rice protein complex. Previously, only wheat gluten from China had been found to contain melamine. Earlier this week melamine was found in rice protein complex from the same Chinese suppliers. Now there is growing concern that corn gluten from the same supplier may be affected as well, as reports from South Africa have indicated 20 incidents of pet renal failure due to tainted corn gluten. No tainted corn gluten has been identified in the US, however that could change. Companies who previously has assumed the melamine was only found in wheat gluten and rice protein complex are now starting to test any corn gluten purchased from China to find out if that also contains melamine.
The Menu Foods pet food recall was expanded to Canada on Monday and a new pet food brand has been added to the list of over 100 brands affected.
By Goth Diva | Published 4/11/2007 | Read more »
Last year turned out to be the worst in history for pet food recalls. While there is no way to be 100% certain that a pet food is not tainted or will be recalled, there are some important things to look for to keep your pet safe.
By Susan Thixton | Published 1/8/2008 | Read more »
To complicate the ongoing saga of tainted pet food produced by Menu Foods, three sample of cat food that were tested here in New York at Cornell University were found to contain aminopterin, a rat poison.
By Bonnie Calhoun | Published 3/23/2007 | Read more »
Pet food made by Menu Foods, a contract manufacturer that makes 95 brands of cat and dog food, has been found to contain a chemical found in rat poison.
By TheCaptain | Published 4/1/2007 | Read more »
Simple tips to keep food safe and prevent foodborne illnesses like salmonella, listeria and staphylococococcus.
By LA BYLINE | Published 7/24/2005 | Read more »
Food poisoning can be deadly, that is why it is important to know the facts about avoiding it.
By Sherri Granato | Published 4/9/2006 | Read more »
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