Thursday, March 29, 2007

If you have a cat or dog . . .

Thought you might want to know about this:

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=9AA80BDC-E7F2-99DF-325B0C8F34C09E95

Turns out that the recalled pet food was contaminated by something called aminopterin, used in China (among other places) as a rat poison. Possibly came from gluten obtained from China, to be used as a thickener for the gravy in recalled wet pet foods.

"The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that the lethal concentration of the chemical is three parts per million (ppm) for rats; the amount found in the contaminated [pet] food samples was 40 ppm. There is speculation that the poison got into the chow because Chinese farmers sprayed their crops, including wheat, with it to protect them from hungry rodents."

Two of my neighbors lost their cats last week during my absence to this poison. I am really grateful that we have fed our cat more healthy fare for her entire life than wet canned pet food.

Also there are reports around the Internet that canned pet food from outside the range of batches and dates specified by the manufacterer are also poisoning pets.

If somehow you did not see the news all last week about the recall, here is the main official page for you with links to the official brands, types and batches involved.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01590.html

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