ALBANY, N.Y. -- Rat poison was found in the pet food suspected of causing kidney failure that killed at least 16 cats and dogs, but scientists still don’t know how it got there, state officials said Friday.
The toxin was identified as aminopterin, which is used to kill rats in some countries, state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said.
Aminopterin is not registered for killing rodents in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, though it is used as a cancer drug. State officials wouldn’t speculate on how the toxin got into Menu Foods’ now-recalled pet food but said no criminal investigations had been launched.
Scientists at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell and at the New York State Food Laboratory tested three cat food samples provided by Menu Foods and found Aminopterin in two of them. Hooker said they would be testing individual components of the pet food, as well.
“Any amount of this product is too much in food,” he said.
Aminopterin, also used as a cancer drug, is highly toxic in high
doses. It inhibits the growth of malignant cells and suppresses the immune system. In dogs and cats, it can cause kidney failure, according to Donald Smith, dean of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
The Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation in the pet deaths was focusing on wheat gluten in the pet food. Wheat gluten itself would not cause kidney failure, but the common ingredient could have been contaminated, the FDA said.
The pet deaths led to a recall of 60 million cans and pouches of pet food produced by Menu Foods and sold throughout North America under 95 brand names. There have been several reports of kidney failure in pets that ate the recalled brands, and the company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog.
Menu Foods last week recalled “cuts and gravy” style dog and cat food. The recall sparked concern among pet owners across North America. It includes food sold under store brands carried by Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and other large retailers, as well as private labels such as Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba.
The company’s chief executive and president said Menu Foods delayed announcing the recall until it could confirm that the animals had eaten its product before dying. Two earlier complaints from consumers whose cats had died involved animals that lived outside or had access to a garage, which left open the possibility they had been poisoned by something other than contaminated food, he said.
Menu Foods planned a media teleconference for later Friday, a spokesman said. The company is majority owned by Menu Foods Income Fund of Streetsville. The company also makes foods for zoo cats, but those products are unaffected by the recall.
A spokesman for New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said he was not aware of any criminal investigation involving the tainted food. FBI spokesman Paul Holstein in Albany said Friday he was not aware of any FBI involvement in the case.
“I don’t know where we’ll go from here,” he said.
A complete list of the recalled products along with product
codes, descriptions and production dates was posted online by Menu Foods and is available at http://tinyurl.com/2pn6mm. The company also designated two phone numbers that pet owners could call for information: (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708.
New York State is home to two laboratories that are part of federal emergency lab networks, created after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to keep the nation’s animals and food supply safe.
The New York State Food Laboratory is part of the Federal Food
Emergency Response Network and is capable of running a number of
toxin tests on food, including the test that identified aminopterin.
Source: Associated Press
I have 3 Long Haired German Shepherds. I have had them all tested since I had been adding Iams canned food to their dry food. One of my boys has elevetated levels of creatinine which affects his kidney function. I now have to have him tested again and possibly have treatment all because I thought I was feeding him a premium food. Luckily he is not showing any symptoms right now but he has been affected by the food.
I posted on the last topic about this that my cat was very ill. He had been eating the Iams select cuts.
He has not gotten better and was admitted to the vet clinic yesterday. Today he was transferred to and Emergency Care clinic, where they did X-rays and found one enlarged kidney and tons of fluid in his chest area, compressing his lungs.
He went into cardiac arrest an hour ago and almost died. The well trained staff was able to bring him back and after draining his lungs some, he is breathing better and looks better than he has the last couple days. He is getting plasma to boost his blood clotting levels. We will know more later - but currently, no masses or oddities have been seen in my previously healthy baby.
The mystery now is the enlarged kidney, but it sure sounds like his immune system has been supressed by the poison which is why with so many antibiotics and fluids, he was still not responding. That, and many of his symptoms were the same in the one-month old foster kitten I was taking care of, that weighed barely a pound had right when he died just one week after eating the food.
Prayers and well wishes to Carrie and all others affected by this unbelievable pet food incident! I wish speedy and full recovery for your furbabies! God Bless!
My Nana's poor Martini died because of this.