Pet food recall - extends to our shores
One Australian product has been included in the US pet food recall.
Updated 04/07
After the death of 15 cats and one dog in the US, 60 million units of pet food manufactured by Menu Foods, Canada have been recalled. One Australian product - Hill's Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food is included in the recall.
The recall includes "cuts and gravy" style pet food in cans and foil pouches, produced on specific dates and specific times between November 8, 2006 and March 6, 2007, in two of Menu's plants.
Kidney failure was found to be the cause of death and the US Food and Drug Administration said that it has found melamine in samples of Menu Foods pet food, as well as in wheat gluten used in wet-style products. Melamine is used to produce plastics and kitchen wares and is also used as a fertiliser in China. Other manufacturers have now also been involved in the recall due to the contaminated wheat gluten.
Over 95 brands have been involved in the recall in North America, some of which (Eukanuba, Iams, Purina, Hill's Pet Nutrition) are available in Australia. Despite earlier reports that there were no Australian products affected, Hills Pet Nutrition has since pulled one product from Australian shelves.
Hill's Pet Nutrition claims that products imported into Australia from the US are not made by Menu Foods, but one product: Prescription Diet m/d Feline Dry food has now been recalled as a precautionary action, as during a two-month period in early 2007, wheat gluten for this product was provided by a company that also supplied wheat gluten to Menu Foods.
If you have purchased this product, return it to the place of purchase or call Hill's Helpline at 1800 679 932
Eukanuba says that Eukanuba and Iams-labelled brands are safe.
Purina says that their Australian pet foods are not affected.
For a full list of recalled products, visit:
www.menufoods.com/recall
www.eukanuba.com
www.hillspet.com
www.purina.com