What is the toxic substance causing the kidney failure in ..

External Since: Mar 19, 2007 Posts: 2

I read a few reports but none mentioned exactly what is the toxin.
Anyone know or have an idea?

TIA.

External Since: Oct 23, 2006 Posts: 331

>I read a few reports but none mentioned exactly what is the toxin.
> Anyone know or have an idea?

See the newest article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17650075/wid/11915773?GT1=9145

WASHINGTON - As many as one in six animals died in tests of suspect dog and
cat food by the manufacturer after complaints the products were poisoning
pets around the country, the government said Monday.
A federal investigation is focusing on wheat gluten as the likely source of
contamination that sparked a recall last Friday of 60 million cans and
pouches of the suspect food, said Stephen F. Sundlof, the Food and Drug
Administration's top veterinarian.

The ingredient, a protein source, is commonly used as filler.

Agency investigators are looking at other ingredients as well. The wet-style
pet food was made by Menu Foods, an Ontario, Canada-based company.

Menu Foods told the FDA it received the first complaints of kidney failure
and deaths among cats and dogs from pet owners on Feb. 20. It began new
tests on Feb. 27.

During those tests, the company fed its product to 40 to 50 dogs and cats
and some seven animals - the mix of species was not immediately known -
died, Sundlof said. The contamination appeared more deadly to cats than to
dogs, he said.

The recall now covers dog food sold throughout North America under 51 brands
and cat food sold under 40 brands, including Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba. The
food was sold under both store and major brand labels at Wal-Mart, Kroger,
Safeway and other large retailers.

The FDA has yet to tally how many reports it has received of cats and dogs
suffering kidney failure or death. The company has reported just 10 deaths,
of nine cats and a single dog.

"We are still trying to find out what the true picture is out there of
animals. We're talking about 1 percent of the pet food (supply) and it's
really just impossible to extrapolate at this point," Sundlof said.

Testing comes up short
Menu Foods spokeswoman Sarah Tuite told Associated Press Radio the company
was "still trying to figure out the cause."

"We're testing and testing, but we can't identify the problem in the
product," Tuite said.

Other companies - Nestle Purina PetCare Co., Procter & Gamble and Hill's Pet
Nutrition Inc. - said that as a precaution they were voluntarily recalling
some products made by Menu Foods.

A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes,
descriptions and production dates was available from the Menu Foods Web
site, http://www.menufoods.com/recall . The company also designated two
phone numbers that pet owners could call for information - (866) 463-6738
and (866) 895-2708. The lines have been swamped by callers.

Tuite said the company has added more people and lines to cope with the
calls. Callers who get a recording saying the line is out of order should
try again, she added.

The company became aware of a potential problem after it received an
undisclosed number of owner complaints that dogs and cats were vomiting and
suffering kidney failure after eating its products.

Wheat gluten suspected
Tuite told AP earlier the recalled products were made using wheat gluten
purchased from a new supplier, which has since been dropped.

The FDA hasn't confirmed the identity of that company, but its Web site
suggests it supplies only animal feed manufacturers, Sundlof said.

Wheat gluten itself wouldn't cause kidney failure, leading FDA investigators
to suspect contamination by other substances, including heavy metals like
cadmium and lead or fungal toxins. Aflatoxin, a corn fungus, sparked a 2005
dog food recall.

The new 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
from Dec. 3 to March 6.

The company said it makes pet food for 17 of the top 20 North American
retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food
companies.