Menu Foods, as of May 2, is recalling another 200-plus pet food products that may have been contaminated by melamine-tainted items made at its plants.
The additional recalled products were not made with the melamine-laced wheat gluten that prompted Menu Foods’ initial recall of 60 million cans and pouches of pet food, but testing and a consumer complaint indicate cross-contamination, the company said.
Some previously recalled items also include expanded production dates.
The expanded recall involves cat and dog food sold in the United States and Canada as well as two European varieties. The list of additional recalled items can be seen at http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/menu05_07.html.
Last week, Menu Foods said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is leading the investigation into the recall, had searched Menu’s Emporia, Kan., plant and that the company was also notified that the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Kansas was exploring whether or not the pet food manufacturer had committed any crimes.
The state of Missouri had launched a similar investigation, the company said.
“Menu Foods has been doing everything it can to cooperate with the FDA,” Menu Foods CEO Paul Henderson said.
The FDA has declined to comment on the ongoing case.
Earlier in the week, FDA officials said they were investigating at least 4,000 potential animal deaths related to the cat and dog food recall that’s dragged on for almost two months.
On May 1, FDA investigations director Michael Rogers said the agency had so far received 17,000 calls from people claiming an animal death or illness as a result of the contaminated pet food that has embroiled about 150 brands and more than 5,500 products to date.
“Of those, about 8,000 or so have been entered into our official data system and have been evaluated and roughly 50 percent of those alleged in animal death is part of a long-term project,” Rogers said.