Wet pet food supplier recalls products

A major manufacturer of dog and cat food sold under Wal-Mart, Safeway, Kroger and other store brands recalled 60 million containers of wet pet food on Friday after reports of kidney failure and deaths.

An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, Menu Foods said in announcing the North American recall.

Product testing has not revealed a link explaining the reported cases of illness and death, the company said.

"At this juncture, we're not 100 percent sure what's happened," said Paul Henderson, the company's president and chief executive officer.

However, the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, since dropped for another source, spokeswoman Sarah Tuite said.

Wheat gluten is a source of protein.

Cuts and gravy

The recall covers the company's "cuts and gravy" style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches between Dec. 3 and March 6 throughout the US, Canada and Mexico.

The recall would cost the company US$26 million to US$34 million, Henderson said.

The pet food was sold by stores operated by the Kroger Co, Safeway Inc, Wal-Mart Stores Inc and PetSmart Inc, among others.

Menu Foods said it would post a full list of brand names and lot numbers covered by the recall would be posted on its Web site -- www.menufoods.com/recall -- yesterday.

The company said it manufactures for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies, including Procter & Gamble Co.

Menu Foods' three US and one Canadian factory produce more than 1 billion containers of wet pet food a year.

The recall covers pet food made at company plants in Emporia, Kansas, and Pennsauken, New Jersey, Henderson said.

Henderson said the company has tested its products but not found a cause for the sickness.

"To date, the tests have not indicated any problems with the product," he said.