One Year Later .... Pet Food Recall

This past weekend marked the one year anniversary of what turned into the largest consumer recall in history. More than 150 brands of pet food were recalled. Research found two chemicals, melamine and cyanuric acid, were causing kidney failure in tens of thousands of pets. Sadly, it is estimated that thousands of those pets died from what became known as melamine-associated renal failure.

Profit was the motive behind this contamination. Melamine and cyanuric acid were added to plain wheat flour in China to falsely elevate the protein levels so it can be sold as more expensive, higher protein food ingredients.

Two Chinese businesses (Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co.,LTD. and Suzhou Textiles, Silk, Light Industrial Products, Arts, and Crafts I/E Co., LTD), their owners/presidents, an American company (ChemNutra, Inc.), and its owners were indicted last month for importing the tainted ingredients.
(Update 04/07/2008: Menu Foods announced tentative settlement of lawsuits)

Even though the FDA recently announced plans to discuss changes in regulation of pet food ingredients and labeling with representatives from the industry and veterinary medical associations, we have to accept that nothing has really changed in the past year to prevent a similar pet food recall. Congressional hearings and legislation on food safety were proposed. But ultimately, the pet food industries remain self-regulating.

We all learned how reliant we are on Chinese imports and how pervasive they are in products we use everyday. The consequences were seen in everything from lead in children’s and pet toys to toxin in toothpaste and, currently, contaminated heparin.

The 2007 Pet Food Recall re-introduced us to homemade diets and label-awareness. When faced with the empty shelves at the local pet stores, we realized how we have taken for granted the convenience and often less costly store-bought pet food. We learned the risks and price that come with the convenience and savings.

Our thoughts go out to the affected pets and the families that paid the ultimate price --- the love and companionship of a canine or feline family member.