An unknown number of
cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died
after eating the affected
pet
food, Menu Foods said in announcing the North American
recall.
Product testing has not revealed a link explaining
the reported cases of illness and death, the company
said. 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 Dec. 3 and
March
6. The pet food was sold by stores operated by the
Kroger Company, Safeway Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
and PetSmart
Inc., among others. Menu Foods did not immediately
provide a full list of brand names and lot numbers
covered by
the recall. Consumers with questions can call (800) 551-7392.
The
company said it manufacturers for 17 of the top 20 North
American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer
for the top branded pet food companies. Its three U.S.
and one Canadian factory produce more than 1 billion
containers of wet pet food a year. The recall covers
pet food made at company plants in Emporia, Kansas,
and Pennsauken, New Jersey. The company received an undisclosed
number of owner complaints of vomiting and kidney failure
in dogs and cats after they had been fed its products.
It has tested its products but not found a cause for
the sickness."To date, the tests have not indicated any problems with the product," said
a Menu Foods representative.
