Contaminated food crisis expands

From the doggy dish to the dinner table

By SANDY LONG

UNITED STATES — What started as a pet food crisis with one suspected contaminant from a single source, has expanded to include livestock feed, an additional source and a growing list of potential carriers contaminated with the industrial chemical, melamine.

Since March 16, 2007, more than 100 brands of cat and dog food have been recalled after pets that consumed the food developed kidney failure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported receiving over 14,000 accounts of the illness during the first four weeks, more than twice the number of complaints normally received in a year.

The FDA has currently identified melamine, sourced from China, as the most likely contaminant. Involved in the manufacture of plastics, melamine is also commonly used in some pesticides and fertilizers and is not approved for use in human or animal food in the U.S. It was initially found in wheat gluten, an ingredient used to thicken pet food gravy.

Following initial findings, a second carrier, imported rice protein concentrate, was also found to contain melamine. A different Chinese supplier was identified and the contaminated agricultural product was fed to swine in the states of California, Kansas, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina and Utah as well as to some chickens in Indiana.

The FDA has currently concluded, “At this time, we have no evidence of harm to humans associated with the processed pork product.” However, pigs and chickens that were fed the contaminated feed will not be approved to enter the human food supply.

Caution required

On April 27, the FDA began subjecting all vegetable proteins imported from China and intended for human or animal consumption, “to detention without physical examination,” including wheat gluten, rice gluten and protein, corn gluten and meal, corn by-products, soy protein and gluten and mung bean protein.

And in recent developments, there is uncertainty that melamine is the sole contaminant involved. A new theory described in a press release from the American Veterinary Medical Association states, “A chemical reaction between melamine and cyanuric acid is suspected of forming crystals and blocking kidney function… It is now believed that cyanuric acid, as well as melamine, has been found in urine samples from animals that died.” The organization also points out that two other melamine- related substances—ammelide and ammeline—may also be involved and are being investigated.

As the FDA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) continue their ongoing investigation, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has been asked to monitor for signs of human illness indicating contamination of the human food supply.

On May 7, two days following the announcement that federal officials placed a hold on 20 million chickens that consumed feed contaminated with melamine, the FDA and USDA issued a press release stating that, “There is very low risk to human health from consuming meat from hogs and chickens known to have been fed animal feed supplemented with pet food scraps that contained melamine and melamine-related compounds, according to an assessment conducted by scientists from five federal agencies.”

A local perspective

Veterinarian Richard Schwalb, of Jeffersonville Animal Hospital, Jeffersonville, NY has recently seen young dogs with elevated creatinine levels, a sign of kidney disease. However, none of the dogs had eaten foods on the recall list.

Due to the continuing uncertainty regarding pet food safety, Schwalb advises pet owners to prepare homemade foods for their pets until more information is available. “It’s difficult to provide a complete diet with homemade foods, but it’s a good strategy to get through this crisis period.”

Schwalb cautions that a home-prepared diet should only be followed for one to two months and that cat diets are more difficult to prepare, requiring special ingredients like taurine. For copies of recipes for dog food, call Schwalb at 845/482-5500. Schwalb also advises checking the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website at www.avma.org for the latest recall information.

Schwalb also advised exercising caution about drawing conclusions, since new information is emerging daily. “Under normal circumstances, one in six animals will develop kidney disease during their life,” he said. If a pet begins to exhibit symptoms of kidney dysfunction, a veterinarian can assess their condition with blood tests and begin supportive therapy.

Resources for homemade pet food

•See “Home-prepared dog and cat diets: the Healthful Alternative,” by Dr. Donald Strombeck.

•In its April issue, “The Whole Dog Journal” recently began a series of articles on preparing balanced homemade diets for dogs. The series will continue through the July issue and will cover cooked and raw diets as well as grain-based and grain-free diets. Visit www.whole-dog-journal.com or call 800/829-9165.

Checking manufactured pet food

Check all ingredients listed on the bag in fine print. Avoid products containing wheat gluten or rice protein and keep apprised of ongoing developments by regularly checking the following resources: www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html, www.thepetfoodlist.com, www.petconnection.com, www.petfoodtracker.com, www.avma.org, www.itchmo.com.

What to watch for:

The primary impact of consuming contaminated pet food is kidney disease. Watch pets for loss of appetite, weakness or lack of energy, depression, vomiting, changes in water consumption or frequency or amount of urination. If observed, stop feeding the food and contact your veterinarian immediately.

Report a reaction:

Call the FDA consumer complaint coordinator for your state. Provide the following information: Brand name, lot numbers, UPC code, veterinarian’s name, address and phone number, date the illness was first noticed and a description of symptoms.

In New York the number is 718/340-7000, extension 5588.

In Pennsylvania the number is: 215-597-9064.

•Help your local animal shelter through this crisis by contributing money or gift cards for pet food. Avoid contributing food at this time, as contaminated brands continue to be added to the recall list. Shelter personnel are monitoring which foods are safe for pets and they can purchase only those that are not likely to harm the animals in their shelter.