Ferret Food Recalled; USDA Releases all Chickens to Slaughter

Tom McPheron
Phone: 847-285-6781
Cell: 773-494-5419
e-mail: tmcpheron@avma.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 18, 2007

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.

—Chenango Valley Pet Foods has expanded its pet food recall to include eight new pet foods, including the first ferret food to be recalled in connection to contaminated pet food ingredients. Previously, the list of hundreds of recalled pet foods had included dog and cat foods, and some livestock and fish feeds.

Chenango Valley had previously recalled pet food produced with a shipment of rice protein concentrate supplied by Wilbur-Ellis that is suspected of containing melamine and other contaminants. These latest recalled foods do not contain this ingredient, but were manufactured during the time that the Wilbur-Ellis rice protein concentrate formulas were produced, raising the possibility of cross-contamination.

The recalled foods are: 8 in 1 Ferret Ultra-Blend Advanced Nutrition Diet; Doctors Foster & Smith Lamb & Brown Rice Formula Adult Dog Food; Shop Rite Redi-Mixt Dog Food for Dogs; Lick Your Chops Kitten & Cat Food; Shep chunk style dog food; Bulk Lamb & Brown Rice Formula Dog Food, sold to one consignee SmartPak; Health Diet Cat Food Chicken & Rice Dinner; and Evolve Kitten Formula.

For more information see the FDA press release at http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/chenango05_07.html.

USDA Clears All Chickens Exposed to Melamine for Slaughter

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it has cleared 80,000 chickens previously on hold on farms in Indiana for exposure to melamine contaminated feed to approval for slaughter after testing the meat on the birds. These chickens, all breeding hens, were the last of the chickens on hold in Indiana or anywhere in the nation for melamine exposure.

The USDA announced that testing results indicate that the melamine in the chicken feed did not accumulate in birds in high quantities and was eliminated from the body quickly. These breeding hens had been given feed that was attenuated with discarded pet food that was later discovered to be contaminated with melamine and other chemicals. For more information see the USDA news release at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2007/05/0147.xml.

A comprehensive AVMA Pet Food Recall List is available at http://www.avma.org/aa/petfoodrecall/default.asp. The comprehensive AVMA Pet Food Recall List contains all recall information that has come to the attention of the AVMA, but it is not guaranteed to be complete. The AVMA encourages all concerned to contact the specific manufacturer regarding the status of any particular pet food or treat.

For more information, please visit the AVMA web site at www.avma.org.

###

The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. More than 75,000 member veterinarians are engaged in a wide variety of professional activities. AVMA members are dedicated to advancing the science and art of veterinary medicine including its relationship to public health and agriculture. Visit the AVMA Web site at www.avma.org to learn more about veterinary medicine and animal care and to access up-to-date information on the association’s issues, policies and activities.