GTA Company Execs Admit They Don’t Know How Rat Poison Got Into Their Pet Food

The question pet owners around North American are asking now is how did it get into food designed for dogs and cats?

It’s a mystery officials will be trying answer, after revealing the poison was discovered in some of the cat and dog chow that was pulled off the shelves last week after 16 animals died in the U.S.

Menu Foods, the manufacturer of the products, is also anxious to have an answer.

“At this stage, we don’t know,” admits company President Paul Henderson. “Our immediate next steps will be to begin testing all of the suspect raw materials with the goal of quickly identifying the mechanism through which this substance entered our supply chain. Which products contain the substance? Again, we don’t know with certainty.”

There are suspicions that wheat gluten imported from China may have been contaminated when it was put in the food, but Menu officials assert they’re still looking into that.

The New York State Department of Agriculture performed the tests on the nourishment made by the Mississauga-based firm.

The brands are sold under 95 different brand names – including Iams, Nutro, and Eukanuba – at stores across North America.

“This is one step in a long process that will lead all of us to know what has happened and how it has happened,” suggests New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker.

“I think a word of caution to all of us to listen carefully to what we know and what is yet to be studied and learned as we move through this.”

Henderson makes it clear that whatever else happens, you shouldn’t use any of the suspect foods.

“We want to reinforce our view that consumers should immediately stop using the recalled product. If your pets are showing any signs of illness after consuming any recalled pet food, see a veterinarian immediately.”

Owners are advised to watch for signs of excessive thirst and urination, as well as animals that have suddenly become lethargic.

The company’s actions have already been under scrutiny after it was revealed it delayed its decision on issuing a recall until getting confirmation the animals that had died had actually consumed its food.

Two customer complaints involving cats that had died couldn’t be linked to the food because the animals were outdoor creatures that could have gotten into something else poisonous.

Aminopterin is also used as a cancer drug and is highly toxic in high doses. It inhibits the growth of malignant cells and suppresses the immune system. 

Some 60 million cans of well known and big selling brands have been recalled, and veterinary clinics have been swamped with calls after the revelations that many dogs and cats were suffering from a mysterious form of renal failure after consuming the food.

Canadian pet owners launched a class action lawsuit this week against Menu Foods, asking for compensation on behalf of anyone who purchased the affected brands between Dec. 3, 2006, and Mar. 7, 2007.

The suit claims the company didn’t properly test its products before sending them to market.

Asked if the company was liable for the deaths, Henderson was ready with a quick answer. “No,” he assured.

But he does admit that if it can be proven his company’s products were the cause of an animal’s illness or death, his firm will provide compensation for vet bills rung up to treat sickened dogs or cats. But that won’t be worked out until after the crisis is over.

The lack of an explanation and the offer of compensation does little to soothe the broken hearts of the Pimentals. They lost two cats to kidney failure during the last month. And now they think they know why.

“They were like my children before I had children,” laments Lisa Pimental. “Jules, the older cat would lie with me at night after the kids went to bed. And I would wake up in the morning and Molly was at my feet everyday.”

Her daughter misses Molly and Jules with a sadness that only a child can feel.

“It makes me really sad,” little Megan explains. “Every day you think about them and it’s sadder and sadder.”

The Pimentals still have the suspected contaminated food in their house. 

“You trust the foods you buy your animals and your animals trust you to care for them,” Lisa sighs.

None of the allegations against Menu Foods has been proven in court and so far no animals in Canada are known to have died from the food.

But Megan believes there are a lot of other grieving pet owners out there who beg to differ with that conclusion, and predicts the 16 known cases are just the tip of the iceberg.

“I’m going to guess the number must be in the thousands,” she contends. “It has to be. You know, I have two cats and both of them died after eating the food.”

The company believes it can survive this emergency, which is more than a public relations disaster, and that its customers will return once the source of the outbreak is loctated.

A complete list of recalled product information was made available on the Menu Foods website here.

And for more information, the company set up two hotlines pet owners can call: (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708.

To see unedited video of the Menu Foods press conference, click here.

To see unedited video of the New York State press conference confirming the posion find, click here.