Friday, Sunshine Mills of Red Bay Alabama recalled dog biscuits made
with imported Chinese wheat gluten. The dog biscuits were sold under
Sunshine brands, as well as private labels sold by grocery stores.
They were marketed at Wal-Mart under the Ol'Roy brand. Add to that
Menu Foods, a major manufacturer of brand- and private-label wet pet
foods, expanded its original recall to include a broader range of
dates and varieties. Menu Foods was the first of at least six
companies to recall the now more than 100 brands of pet foods and
treats made with the contaminated ingredient.

The recall now covers "cuts and gravy"-style products made between
Nov. 8 and March 6, Menu Foods said. Previously, it applied only to
products made beginning Dec. 3. In addition, Menu Foods said it was
expanding the recall to include more varieties, but no new
brands.......

Both the New York State Food Laboratory and the New York State Animal
Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University tested various cat food
samples listed in the Menu Foods recall. Consequently, both labs found
aminopterin present in the cat food. The toxin causes kidney failure
in dogs and cats. Aminopterin is a rat poison which is commonly
sprayed on crops in Asia, though it is illegal to use the chemical on
U.S. crops.
Melamine has also reportedly been found in the recalled pet food.
Melamine is used in China as a fertilizer.

The ingredient which Menu Foods now admits was the culprit in the
poisonous pet foods was wheat gluten. The wheat gluten they were using
had been imported from China. Why did Menu import wheat gluten from
China instead of buying it from a home-based American
manufacturer?....Because Chinese wheat gluten is cheaper of course!

The price for U.S. wheat gluten is 65-70 cents per pound. The price
for Chinese wheat gluten is 55-60 cents per pound. So for 10 cents,
hundreds of dogs and cats have suffered excruciating deaths and
undoubtedly thousands more are now fighting for their lives.

The U.S. uses 500 million pounds annually, about half of that is
imported. Wheat gluten is used in everything from pet food to candy
bars, the vast majority of the stuff is used in foods manufactured for
human consumption. The FDA just announced that none of the tainted
gluten is believed to have been used in human food. However, we have
very little reason to trust the FDA. This is the same agency which
does not allow Americans to know which of their foods have been
genetically altered!
......
Country of origin food labeling was mandated by the 2002 Farm Bill.
However, President Bush and the globalist Republican Congress gave
into pressure from lobby groups such as the American Meat Institute
and twice postponed mandatory food labeling. It still amazes me that
you can convince a U.S. Congressman to place the public at risk for
the price of a round of golf!

There is a great deal of evidence which suggests that Menu Foods knew
about the poisoning for months before the recall. Even as late as
March 20 (four days after the recall was announced), they were
conducting live animal tests in which 10 more died. Many people have
been complaining that Menu Foods will not return phone calls placed to
their 1-800 number.

This episode has brought to light another cover-up. The premium brand
pet foods have been perpetuating the lie that their foods are made
under only the most stringent guidelines and conditions. We are told
that the nutritional formulas and manufacturing processes used in
these foods are unique to their particular brands. Consumers pay hefty
prices for the assurance that they are giving their pets the best food
available. However, now we find out that premium brands such as Iams,
Eukanuba, Nutro, and even at least one prescription food from Hill's
Science Diet are made by Menu Foods.

Iams still has the audacity to display this slogan on their official
website: "All the stages of their lives are precious. Feed them
well."...Give me a break! Indeed....JG