Melamine cause of contaminated pet food
Melamine, a chemical used to make plastic has been identified as the new primary suspect in a massive North American pet food recall. It was initially thought that rat poison was the cause of the contamination.
However, it was still unclear how melamine, which is also used as a
fertilizer in Asia but banned for that purpose in the US, found its way into
wheat gluten used in the production process, said Menu Foods CEO Paul Henderson.
Nor was it clear why earlier tests identified the foreign agent as aminopterin, a
form of rat poison.
“We are angered that a source outside the company has
apparently adulterated the product, causing this regrettable loss,” Henderson
said. He said the contamination was found in Chinese wheat gluten provided by a
new US supplier and has been discontinued since.
The contamination has
led to one of
the largest consumer product recalls in North American history. Anecdotal
evidence suggests hundreds, if not thousands, of animals have been affected.
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