FDA Finds Chemical in Recalled Pet Food

The recalled pet food linked to the deaths of more than a dozen dogs and cats contained a chemical used to make plastics, U.S. health officials said Friday.

Scientists at the Food and Drug Administration were not sure whether the chemical melamine was what killed the dogs and cats that died after eating the Menu Foods pet food, Stephen F. Sundlof, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, said at a news conference.

The FDA found the chemical in samples of Menu Foods pet food and in wheat gluten used to make the food. The agency said it was investigating whether any of the contaminated gluten could have made it into human food.

The questionable gluten, which was imported from China, was also shipped to a company that makes dry pet food, Sundlof said. The FDA would not identify the company and was investigating whether it had used any of the gluten.

Canadian-based Menu Foods has recalled more than 90 brands of wet pet food.

The FDA announcement came a week after New York state scientists said rat poison was likely behind the pet food problem. FDA officials said Friday they could not confirm that finding.