China Probes Link To Pet Food Deaths

Beijing Says It's Investigating U.S. Claim That Ingredient In Tainted Pet Food Came From China

(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.

[randalds]

So far no problem with my two Shih-Tzus, mostly because they're still eating from a 40lb bag of Eukanuba that I know is safe because it hasn't made them sick and they started eating from it before the recall. Still that bag is almost gone and I know the new bag is not part of the recall, but I'm still thinking of switching them to people food instead for a while at least.

My dogs eat nothing but people food from now on

[shortestfuse]

If this keeps up, I'm going to have to eat my dog because it won't be safe to feed him! :P

[randalds]

I'm not worried about the dog biscuits though as I don't feed them to my dogs. They get a 1/4 of a chicken or turkey hot dog each after their morning and afternoon walks. They're cheap enough in the 99 cent store and I'm pretty sure they're safe, esp if you get the major brands there. Though at the rate they're recalling dog food I may end up feeding them mostly hot dogs for awhile anyway.

[hober_mallow]

Why do we import wheat ANYTHING from b.f. CHINA ??

Don't we grow enough friggin' WHEAT in the U.S. ??

Or are we too busy paying farmers NOT to grow wheat ??

[randalds]

Or are we too busy paying farmers NOT to grow wheat ??
Posted by hober_mallow at 04:54 PM : Apr 05, 2007

The short answer is yes. The longer answer is that after most family farms were swallowed up in the 1970's and 80' the majority of America's farms became large multi-million dollar operations and as long as they can collect subsidies not to grow some products rather then take chances on the weather or markets, the large corporate farms will keep collecting the movie.

[grammawhamma]

Did anyone try to go to the www.sunshinemills.com site listed above?? I get a message that it is unavailable for viewing.

[truthword]

USA produces so much wheat every year that we don't even know what to do with it all and these companies are importing it from commie china? They should be shut down forever.

[erasmus6]

How can the public "feel secure in purchasing pet foods that are not subject to recall" when they keep coming out with new ones that are being recalled, like purina, alpo and now the dog biscuits!
Also you people that are feeding your animals human food could be causing them just as much harm. Some of our foods are toxic to animals and it also does not have what they need nutritionally. I don't think chicken and turkey hot dogs is going to fulfill those nutritional needs.

[nothappyatall]

"How can the public "feel secure in purchasing pet foods that are not subject to recall" when they keep coming out with new ones that are being recalled, like "

YEAH that's what ID like to know! every couple of days they keep adding more *** brands to this thing and yet they STILL can't figure out what's causing all this!
Gives you a lot of confidence in the FDA doesn't it?

RandalDS - try Canidae.com

"All Canidae products are produced in the USA. We do not purchase ingredients from any suppliers outside of the US. All Canidae ingredients are grown &/or raised in the USA. In addition, we only purchase the absolute best USDA grade "A" hormone and antibiotic free meats. Our rice is also grade "A" Pesticide free. Our fish is FDA inspected and passed residual free of ethoxiquin.

Our cannery is a small facility located in IL. and able to produce the highest quality products. This small family operated facility only produces products that are of the highest quality human grade ingredients. Our formulations were created by an outside nutrionist that has been developing canned foods for over 35 years. You can feel assured by our quality and product performance that our cannery holds the highest standards in production, and is regulated by AAFCO by (NRC), USDA, FDA, IDA, EU Approved and is Organically Certified.

[nothappyatall]

Our dry foods are produced in TX. Our plant has been involved in animal nutrition for over 75 years. The original pet food extrusion mill was built in 1978. CANIDAE's involvement with the plant sparked the introduction of our own extruder in 1999. Our dry goods facility also regulated by AAFCO by (NRC), USDA, FDA, TDA and EU Approved. We are currently under production with a brand new plant at the same facility to keep up with the growth and demand of our product line.
In order to ensure the highest quality meat based biscuit ever created, we ventured into the biscuit production business in 2003. Our 100 foot oven runs our fresh biscuits daily in a building opposite our extrusion plant in TX. Our biscuits plant is also regulated by AAFCO by (NRC), USDA, FDA, TDA and EU Approved.

[ravenchow]

Coincidentally, I went out today to buy new treats for my 2 dogs. We picked up a 4 pound bag of Canidae & a bag of Evo biscuits. This is a good wake-up call to Americans to stop feeding their cats & dogs ***.

:)

[petlover4]

This link for Sunshine Mills worked for me.

http://www.sunshinemills.com/

[petlover4]

http://www.sunshinemills.com/

This link worked for me!

[petlover4]

http://www.sunshinemills.com/

[grammawhamma]

Thank you PetLover4. The link worked for me this time too.

[euelsmith]

I am so upset after I read this article. My dog did die from the Ol'Roy Dog Biscuits and I reported this several weeks ago by emailing Ol'Roy, Walmart and PETA. The article said there are no reported deaths. Never got a response from Ol'Roy. I did get a response from Walmart and PETA. I still have the bag of biscuits which I offered to send a sample for testing, but noone ever contacted me. I feel even more guilty because when he died earlier this year I thought it might be from the biscuits and never said anything until the soft dog food recall was announced.
From,
Really sad in Florida

[busyness-2009]

Euel Smith, I am so sorry to hear about your dog. Please don't feel guilty. You had no way of knowing that the biscuits were bad. In fact, perhaps your contacting the company and various organizations DID contribute to the investigation tht resulted in the discovery that the biscuits were contaminated too. That will help save other dogs. Try to take some comfort in that knowledge. You did a good thing. I wish you happiness from memories of your dog.

[gopack443]

Can't trust any of them any more. Everybody is going to have to start making there own pet food.

[gopack443]

Is there one list of all the recalled pet foods regardless of the maker?

[cgesualdo]

I finally broke down and went shopping for a brand made by a company that didn't have any part in any recall. It took a long time to find one. I couldn't find any beef jerky treats (at least any that my dogs would eat) by unaffected companies. So I too resorted to hot dogs and bologna for treats. There's nothing wrong with feeding people food to your dogs as long as you check with your vet to make sure you're not giving them toxic foods like grapes or chocolate. Or sugarless chewing gum...(no kidding!)

[ravenchow]

If you want food not affected by the recall, go to your local pet health food store. Wheat is a filler & you won't find it in any of the premium brands. Buy your treats there too.

:)

[randalds]

I couldn't find any beef jerky treats (at least any that my dogs would eat) by unaffected companies. So I too resorted to hot dogs and bologna for treats.

Posted by cgesualdo at 11:33 AM : Apr 06, 2007

I switched to hot dogs for treats a few years ago. I checked with my vet and he said they were actually a lot better then most treats on the market because they had less salt and much much more protein. I walk my dogs twice a day and after each walk they get a 1/4 of a hot dog each (they're small...Shih-Tzus) and they absolutely love them. Also if you buy them on sale or at a 99 cent store they're less then half the price of processed dog treats. Recall or no recall there's really no good reason (and lots of bad ones) to switch back.

[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.

[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.

:)

[zootallures2]

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

[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!

[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

[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!

[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]

Which ofcourse the Japanese learned from an American little boy.

[zootallures2]

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

[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.