On March 16, Menu Foods, Inc. recalled dog and cat foods produced at two of its facilities.  The products were being sold under a number of different brand names. Since then, Menu Foods has expanded its recall and several other companies also have voluntarily withdrawn products from the market. See the links below for complete listings.  An ongoing investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined that affected products were manufactured using one of two ingredients contaminated with an industrial chemical called melamine, and some related compounds.

The investigation has also revealed that the ingredients sold to pet food manufacturers were misrepresented as wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate.  In fact, the ingredients were actually wheat flour that only appeared to be wheat gluten or rice protein concentrates because it was combined with melamine or related compounds.  These nitrogen-rich compounds falsely cause the lower protein wheat flour to appear to have the same levels of protein expected in the wheat gluten or rice protein concentrates.

If you believe your pet has become ill or died because of contaminated pet food, and you suspect it involves any of the pet foods recalled due to melamine contamination, contact your veterinarian and the FDA consumer complaint coordinators for your state. For Michigan, the FDA coordinator is located in the agency’s Detroit District office at (313) 393-8100. You may also want to contact the manufacturer.

• Single, combined list of pet food included in the melamine recall
• Comprehensive FDA Pet Food Recall Page (Includes: searchable combined list of recalled products, company recall notices, and FDA recall activities.)
• MDA Recall Updates and Resources
• MDA Animal Products Recalls page