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Updated Information
Steve takes you to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine Press Conference, answers questions and offers resources to contact to report a pet affected by eating the recalled pet food. 
Taking You To the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine Press Conference
March 23, 2007. In a teleconference at 4:30 (ET) with the Food and Drug Administration, officials confirmed that the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell and the New York State Food Laboratory identified aminopterin (a folic acid inhibitor used both as a rodenticide and at one time as a cancer treatment in humans) in the recalled pet food. Although, they say they don’t know how it this could have gotten into the pet food supply.
They added they have also not ruled out other additional causes for the deaths and illness in cats and dogs, which they say they are continuing to rule out.
The panelists answering reporter questions were Dr. Stephen Sundlof, director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the FDA; Dr. Daniel McChesney, director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance for the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the FDA and Michael Rogers, supervisory consumer safety office at the office regulatory affairs at the FDA. Sundlof did most of the talking.
The conference began with an opening statement from Sundlof before he took questions for reporters.
In that statement he pointed out the recall has been expanded. Menu Foods has recalled all the products on the list, regardless of the date. It’s the same exact list of products but for all dates. The message is, for now, not to buy the products listed in the recall – no matter what the date on the package says.
Sundlof said he does not know the number of pets affected, but later indicated that 14 pets that have died as a result of the tainted foods. There’s no comment on the number of animals who were ill and recovered, or who are now sick. He conceded many reports indicate many more have died, but he said he can only confirm 14.
One point of major confusion is simply where to report if you believe your pet is ill or if your pet has succumbed as a result of eating contaminated food. I asked Sundlof, exactly where people should email or phone. Sundlof said the only place to report is through the state FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. He said there’s been some degradation of service because the lines have been overwhelmed with over 4,400 calls. “If you keep trying you’ll get through,” he said. In some places, staff has been added to handle the extra volume of calls. No other website, or reporting procedure is appropriate other than contacting the FDA.
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html
Sundlof said if you make a report to the FDA offer whatever information you can. and the more the better. He said, be prepared to answer ‘what food your pet consumed, and when.’ Also, what the veterinarian reports as the cause of death.’ He suggests to help clarify, pet owners who suspect their pet died as a result of eating the contaminated food should consider, “A post mortem examination including microscopic pathology so we can look at specific lesions. Then we can put all the information together and come up with whether it was likely the food or not. This takes time and follow-up with veterinarians. A part of the reason we don’t have good numbers (of fatalities) at this time.”
He repeated he did not know how the contamination occurred in the first place, though he agreed with previous printed reports that wheat gluten is suspect. “Still, we have not limited our investigation to wheat gluten,” he added.
Interestingly when one reporter asked about sabotage, he did not discount the question. He simply said, “We have not ruled out sabotage. We have no leads, and not even theories.”
About wheat gluten. Sundlof said he wasn’t sure of the source (providing the ingredient), and was “checking into it.” He said the source may be outside the country, or there may be multiple sources. But then later when another reporter inquired, he did indicate “We know the broker (of the wheat gluten).” But he wouldn’t answer when a reporter asked who that broker is. He added, “We can confirm that (the wheat gluten used in these pet foods) has not made it into the human food supply. We believe there’s no risk to public health. Still, we can’t rule out that possibility entirely, so we’ve contacted our colleagues at the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) to monitor for increased signals. We have no reason to believe whatsoever that this chemical has entered the human food supply.”
That contaminant again, aminopterin, is pretty potent stuff, and not approved by the EPA in the US to control rodents. Interestingly a drug very closely aligned to aminopterin (methotrexate) is used to treat cancer patients.
Not discussed at the press conference, but later veterinary toxicologist Dr. Steve Hansen, director of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center told me that one potential adverse reaction (side effect) methotrexate is acute renal failure, the same illness that is affecting the pets who get sick as a result of eating the tainted food. (Methotrexate also inhibits DNA/RNA synthesis by inhibiting folate synthesis. From current evidence, it appears that aminopterin toxicity is analogous to methotrexate toxicity).
Sundlof said “It’s very potent,” pointing out 3 milligrams per kilogram of aminopterin is toxic to rodents. He guessed that perhaps cats are more sensitive to the toxicity occurring in pet foods than dogs, hence explaining why reportedly more cats than dogs have been affected.
Rogers said Menu Foods (the manufacturer responsible for these products, at their Kansas and New Jersey plants) is cooperating with the investigation. He also seemed to indicate that the reported deaths are all from products manufactured at the Kansas plant, but did not say or hint products manufactured in New Jersey would then be safe. No one from the press asked why Menu Foods has not returned press calls, and has a hotline number which never seems to operate.
Sundlof conceded that his office has taken reports of pets being affected by dry foods, but he maintained none of those instances are confirmed. He insisted, “Dry pet food is safe.”
I also asked Sundloff about eroding consumer confidence in pet foods, particularly moist foods and semi-moist foods, and opting to perhaps cook their own or to purchase so-called ‘raw diets.’ He replied, “We are concerned about that, about (people purchasing) raw diets which can contain harmful bacteria and be detrimental to pets. As a veterinarian myself, I want to make sure the public understands that we have not found hard evidence that animals had had ill effects from products that are not a part of this recall. We believe pet owners should continue to buy products outside the recall list, and they can feel confident.”
Sundloff conclulded with a timeline: He said the FDA learned of the problem on March 15th. On March 16th, the FDA visited the plants. “Prior to us learning of the recall, the company had already sent samples for analysis to Cornell.”
More Information: What to do…Who to contact
Despite sensationalized reports elsewhere, the simple truth is that no one knows how many pets have become ill or died as result of the tainted pet food, while that number may be well into the hundreds, it may not be. At this time, the number of animals affected is conjecture. Enhancing confusion are the multiple websites being used to report incidents. The FDA is the only official reporting agency if you have cause to believe your pet has become ill or succumbed as a result of tainted pet food.
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html
If you believe your pet has been affected: Save all your veterinary records, save food samples and packaging (if possible). Excellent additional advice is offered by the American Veterinary Medical Association:
http://avma.org/press/releases/070319_petfoodrecall.asp
Menu Foods recall information, and list of the affected products: www.menufoods.com/recall/index.html
THIS IS IMPORTANT: Acute kidney failure appears to be the cause of death in the pets affected.: If you have reason to believe that your pet had ingested some of the tainted food, even if your dog or cat is exhibiting no symptoms, please contract your veterinarian. Some pets have extremely high kidney values – even without exhibiting symptoms at first. The prognosis is far more optimistic if your veterinarian is able to treat sooner than later. Symptoms of acute kidney failure are listed in the Q & A column below.
Menu Foods has set up a hotline (though the number doesn’t seem to operate): 866-895-2708.
Dry pet foods and prescription diets are not affected. So-called ‘Super Premium’ foods (available at boutique pet stores and online) are also not affected.
A listing of pet foods not impacted by the recall which can purchased at PETsMART locations (and also further general information): www.banfield.net.
A listing of cat foods which are safe: http://hubpages.com/hub/Cat_Food_Safe_To_Feed_After_The_Cat_Food_Recall
Websites which have credible up to date information that you can count on:
(from Steve’s recent syndicated Q & A column)
By Steve Dale
Q: How can I tell if my cat is impacted by the recall of pet foods when I’m not sure when I purchased the pet food? She seems fine, but now I’m worried. S. H., Harford, CT
Q: My cat has PKD (polycystic kidney disease), and it began around a month ago. I can’t help wonder if there’s a link to the pet food. T. C., Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Q: My dog hasn’t been feeling well. I feed Iams dry food, and I’m very concerned. I don’t have the Internet to learn more about the recall. Can you please tell me if Toby is affected? He’s a 12-year old Westie. P. M, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Q: I’ve had it with the pet food companies. I’m switching to a home made diet. At least I know my own kitchen. S. Y., San Diego, CA
A: This has been, by far, the largest pet food recall in history with over affected 90 brands, and perhaps more to come. All the recalled food was manufactured by Menu Foods, Streetsville, Ontario, Canada. Menu foods did not return my repeated phone calls. However, I can answer your questions.
First off, no dry foods and also no prescription diets (which are only available at veterinary offices) are affected by the recall. So, as long as Toby - and other pets - have not eaten moist or semi-moist food, there is no threat. A link to a complete listing of those brand names is found below. However, if your pet isn’t feeling well, contacting your vet is always suggested.
If suspect your pet has eaten tainted food, but you’re unsure, several veterinarians I contacted concur – be safe rather than sorry. Do see your veterinarian. It seems pets impacted by the food are succumbing to acute kidney failure. “At first they may have no obvious symptoms,” says Dr. Karen Faunt, an internal medicine specialist and senior director medical support at Banfield, The Pet Hospital, Portland, OR. “If your pet is affected, your best chances of effective treatment is to catch this early. Besides, running a blood and urine work-up is prudent, and will give you peace of mind.”
Polycystic kidney disease is a chronic problem (with a genetic component), and unlikely caused by the tainted food (though eating a recalled food product would no doubt potentially affect this condition adversely). Faunt describes signs of acute kidney failure, which may indeed potentially be caused by the food in question.
- Decreased appetite
- Increased water intake
- Loss of house training in dog, missing the litter box in cats.
- In cats, a greater output in the box
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
Keep in mind all these symptoms aren’t required. If you see one or two of these
symptoms, please contact your veterinarian immediately.
There are lots of pet foods unaffected, well over 90 per of all pet foods are just fine. While I understand emailers’ frustrations and eroding confidence of manufactured pet food, homemade diets may not include the right balance of protein, amino acids and other ingredients ideal for pet health. Of course, some educated pet lovers who have the time in the kitchen may pull this off, but it takes a commitment which may become burdensome over time. More on this topic at: http://avma.org/press/releases/070320_homemade_diets.asp.
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