China Probes Link To Pet Food Deaths

(AP)  China is investigating U.S. claims that a Chinese company exported contaminated wheat gluten implicated in pet deaths in the United States, a Chinese official said Friday, the first time the government has weighed in on the issue.

"We are investigating this," Zeng Xing, an official with the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, told The Associated Press. The administration monitors the export of food, animals and farm products.

It is the first recent high-profile incident of a tainted product being exported. In domestic cases — such as one involving the drug regulators who took bribes to approve shoddy drugs — the government has stepped in and promised investigations.

Xia Wenjun, another administration official, was cited by the state-run Xinhua News Agency as saying that "sampling and examination" of wheat gluten were under way nationwide but did not elaborate.

The probe will center around melamine, Xia said, and the administration will stay in touch with the U.S. Embassy in China. Further measures will be taken "based on developments in the United States," Xia said.

Chinese veterinarians and animal rights activists said they were not aware of any reports of deaths in China due to tainted pet food.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has identified a Chinese company in the eastern city of Xuzhou as the supplier of the tainted gluten. The FDA last week blocked wheat gluten imports from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co., saying they contained melamine, a chemical found in plastics and pesticides.

The FDA has confirmed about 15 pet deaths, while anecdotal reports suggest hundreds of cats and dogs may have died of kidney failure from the tainted food.

More than 100 brands of pet foods and treats have been recalled in one of the largest pet food recalls in history, said Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine.

Zeng said a report posted to the administration's official newspaper earlier this week led some to believe China denied exporting any wheat gluten to the United States. She said that the administration meant that it had never exported any wheat gluten containing a rat poison, aminopterin.

The New York State Food Laboratory last month identified aminopterin as the likely culprit in the pet food, a finding the FDA later rejected.

Zeng confirmed that China is looking into the claim that it exported wheat gluten containing melamine but declined to give any other details.

The company has also said it is investigating the matter.

Las Vegas-based ChemNutra Inc., which imported the wheat gluten and shipped it to companies that make pet food, said Tuesday that Xuzhou Anying had never reported the presence of melamine in the content analysis it provided.

Earlier this week, Geng Xiujuan, Xuzhou Anying's sales manager, said the gluten was not manufactured by the privately-owned firm, but was bought from companies in neighboring provinces.

Xuzhou Anying produces and exports more than 10,000 tons of wheat gluten a year, according to its Web site. But only 873 tons were linked to tainted U.S. pet food, raising the possibility that more of the contaminated product could still be on the market in China, or abroad.

Mary Peng, a manager of the International Center for Veterinary Services in Beijing, said she's been receiving four to five queries a day from worried pet owners in China asking which food brands are safe. However, there have been no reports of animals sickened by pet food.

"We have not had any reports so far of any animals sickened with these particular symptoms," she said.

Zu Shuxian, an animal rights activist and lecturer at the Anhui Medical University in eastern China, said he also has not heard of any domestic cases.

Melamine is used to make plastic kitchenware, glues, countertops, fabrics, fertilizers and flame retardants. It also is both a contaminant and byproduct of several pesticides, including cyromazine, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

[missodi]

It's sad that we all have to be skeptical of what we feed or dogs. I just lost my litte pregnant chihuahua a week ago after i've had her almost 7yrs, due to the ol'roy product. I would have never thought her cause of death was due to the ol'roy dog food-dog food period, till I watched the morning news the following friday after her death. Be careful and keep a close eye on how your pet acts.

[zootallures2]

These people sell their children and organs. I doubt they care about your cats and dogs.

[zootallures2]

Which ofcourse the Japanese learned from an American little boy.

[zootallures2]

Now I'm sure you are all away of the bottom line, selfish, thoughtless sort of American attitude...

Multiply it by about 1.4 billion and you've got the Chinese. These people would graze over the world like cows worry about grass.

I doubt there is a Chinese word for empathy or sympathy. The only time they use such a word, is when they are speaking Japanese.

[zootallures2]

No! China no do. You do! Now buy and shut up! Is only stupid dog and cat. You make deal, now you buy.

Yes, boys and girls that is Chinese attitude.
I GAROOOONTEEEEEE!

[cantshutup]

"Chinese veterinarians and animal rights activists said they were not aware of any reports of deaths in China due to tainted pet food."

this is laughable since the Chinese started bludgeoning their dogs to death in the streets rather than implement a rabies vaccine program!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dirty chinese

[erasmus6]

"Chinese veterinarians and animal rights activists said they were not aware of any reports of deaths in China due to tainted food."
- - - - - - - - - - -
OH PLEASE!!! Do they have any living animals left over there? I don't know how they could have, it wasn't that long ago the government was doing a mass killing of dogs and/or cats because they were afraid they had rabies. They were AFRAID they had rabies, they didn't know if they had rabies. Have they heard of giving their animals rabies shots?
And if animals were dying, do you think they would really care? They probably wouldn't even look into it. The only reason they say they are looking into it is because they are forced to. Excuse me if I don't trust what they say. These are people that are putting lead in childrens jewelry and dishes and are using rat poison and malamine around food for heavens sake!

[zootallures2]

China no make bad. You put in. Shut up and buy.

[ravenchow]

Do a search on raw or BARF if you want ideas on how to feed your dog naturally. No cooking required. I have been reading about it recently, but haven't tried it. My kids are all on Innova so we're all good, but some people are switching to raw due to concerns. There are Yahoo groups you can join as well.

:)

[sclaires]

Does anyone know where I can find recipes to make my dog home made food instead of relying on store brought?? I have been buying her a name brand but am still worried that it might be contaminated some how. I was in Wal-Mart the other day grocery shopping and the man ahead of me in line said that he had to make his poodle it's food as it was allergic to beef and pork. He had several packages of chicken which is the only thing he can feed his dog.


So, please tell me where I can get recipes to make my dog her food. I think she would do better on it and I might even be able to lower or stop the phenobarbital I have to give her for seizures. Thanks in advance for any help.