Mass recall of dog and cat food after pets die

American company Menu Foods – a major manufacturer of dog and cat food sold by Wal-Mart, Safeway, Kroger and other store brands – recalled 60 mio containers of wet pet food after reports of kidney failure and deaths. An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, the company said in announcing the North American recall. Product testing has not revealed a link explaining the reported cases of illness and death. “At this juncture, we’re not 100 per cent sure what’s happened,” said Paul Henderson, company president and chief executive officer. The recall covers the company’s “cuts and gravy” style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches between December 3rd and March 6th throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Menu Foods said it makes pet foods for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies, including Procter & Gamble. Procter & Gamble announced the recall of foil pouch cat and dog wet food products made by Menu Foods but sold under the Iams and Eukanuba brands. The list of recalled cat and dog foods also includes “Best Choice”, “Nutro Max Gourmet Classics”, “Nutro Natural Choice” and “Sophistacat”. Paul Henderson said the recall would cost the company the Canadian equivalent of $26 million to $34 million.