Reuters AlertNet Lite - Menu Foods says has stopped using Chinese supplier

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Menu Foods says has stopped using Chinese supplier

30 Mar 2007 19:23:06 GMT
Source: Reuters

TORONTO, March 30 (Reuters) - Menu Foods Income Fund <MEW_u.TO> said it is no longer using the Chinese company that supplied tainted wheat gluten after the chemical melamine was detected on Friday in the pet food at the center of a massive recall.

The company discontinued using the supplier on Mar. 6, and food manufactured after that date is safe, Paul Henderson, Menu Foods' president and chief executive, told reporters at a press conference in Toronto.

"Let me be clear on this: we have removed the problem from our system," he said. "Our recall is well under way and products produced today are being made with known quality and tested raw materials."

Earlier on Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that melamine, a chemical found in fertilizers in Asia and which should not be in pet food in any amounts, had been detected in wheat gluten used by Menu Foods in its "cuts-and-gravy" style of wet pet food.

The Mississauga, Ontario-based company recalled 60 million cans and pouches of the food after it was blamed for the deaths of at least 14 animals.

The FDA said the wheat gluten came from a company in China. It is not known to be used in human food, officials said.

Last week, New York state officials said aminopterin, a substance used in rat poison, was found in the pet food. However, the FDA has not confirmed the presence of that toxin in the recalled pet food.

Henderson said he could not confirm the number of deaths related to the pet food recall, noting the company has fielded some 300,000 calls from across North America.

The company makes pet foods that are sold under a variety of labels such as Iams, Eukanuba and President's Choice, as well as store brands sold by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. <WMT.N> and Safeway Inc. <SWY.N>, and at specialty pet stores including Petsmart Inc. <PETM.O>.

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Last updated:Fri Mar 30 19:24:34 2007