Today’s Update on the Pet Food Recall

Menu Foods, manufacturer of the recalled foods, has posted an updated FAQ (frequently asked questions) list on its web site.

Two cat owners in California have filed a lawsuit seeking class action status:

LOS ANGELES: Two Los Angeles residents have filed a lawsuit against Menu Foods of Ontario, Canada, alleging the cat food company is to blame for their cats’ recent health problems, according to court papers. The lawsuit, which seeks class action status, is asking for unspecified damages.

Kaye Steinsapir said she thought she was feeding her cat, Lila, one of the healthiest, most nutritious cat foods available.

“Lila was a healthy, vibrant cat without any medical conditions,” said the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. But in recent weeks, Lila began vomiting, drinking an excessive amount of water and was eventually diagnosed with acute kidney failure, the lawsuit said.

Gregory Helmer, a Los Angeles attorney retained by Steinsapir and Lois Grady of Sacramento, California, who alleges her cat, Riley, also became ill after eating tainted cat food, filed the lawsuit “on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated.”

The Veterinarians Information Network, a web organization whose membership is limited to veterinarians, reports that the number of pet deaths attributable to the tainted food is rising:

ALBANY, N.Y. — Members of a veterinarians’ Web site reported at least 471 cases of kidney failure among pets in the 10 days since a nationwide pet food recall and the founder of the site said the total could be in the tens of thousands.

Paul Pion, the founder of the Veterinary Information Network, a Web site of 30,000 veterinarians and veterinary students, said Tuesday the number of reported cases had already grown higher than the 471, but he wouldn’t have an updated tally for a few days.

Of the 471 cases reported, 104 animals died, 59 survived and the rest were still undergoing treatment, Pion said. The survey results were earlier reported by the Los Angeles Times.

VIN goes on to say that they’re attempting to do a more organized survey.

Those studying the tainted foods continue to believe that aminopterin, a substance banned in the United States, is the most likely toxin but they’re unsure how the aminopterin got into the food.  It’s suspected that contaminated wheat gluten is the culprit.

1 comment… add one

Leave a Comment