The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is reporting this morning that the FDA has found a different chemical responsible for the hundreds, likely thousands of deaths from this month's Menu Foods recall of more than 90 dog- and cat-food brands.
The substance, melamine, is used in plastics and is not an ingredient of rat poison.
Earlier tests by the New York State laboratory claimed that aminopterin, a powerful chemotherapy drug used for rat control in some Asian countries, accounted for the deaths.
The FDA will make a formal announcement later this morning.
Comments (26)
Malamine is used for cabinets in kitchen & other bathrooms. How does it get into the food suppl.
Mike says when you work with this stuff you have to wear a respirator, His uncle used to own a cabinet shop...
It's even weirder than finding rat poison in it. You wear a respirator when you cut it for the dust it creates- it's like Formica when it is in that finished state but must start out as a combination of chemicals. This story seem be just barely beginning.
I keep thinking about that 70's story (I posted a link to it) about the cattle poisoned in Michigan- that was a fire retardent put in the wrong bags- feed bags- because they ran out of the right ones and relabeled. Then they were loaded on trucks and mixed in a giant grain storage unit with cattle feed and fed to thousands of cattle.
I wonder if they were doing any construction on the site in the plant in canada . But we will never know..
The dust particles go all over the place..
I understand that Melamine is used as a fertilizer in Asia and has several commercial and industrial uses.
The following is a great website dedicated to those pets that have been lost due to this tragic situation. http://thelastmeow.blogspot.com/
This pet food recall is now hitting a little too close to home. A picture of a shih tzu has his face plastered on the front page of our local newspaper. The dog got sick from eating tainted dog food from the recall list. It was purchased at our local Walmart 3 days before the recall was announced.
girls - can we please stay here and post please? i just cannot look at the picture of the pitbull. i cried again this morning just coming on here.
That's why I went over here. That face was killing me.
I so agree Darlene. I can't get that little guy out of my mind. let's stay here. I saw the FDA news conference and I'm going to start feeding Harry home cooked. Since he is my only dog I'm in a different position than those of you who have multiple dogs. My friend who is a Bedlington breeder is emailing me a home cooked diet tonite but in the meantime I've cooked chicken tenders, brown rice some string beans and added plain lowfat yogurt and cottage cheese. Will keep you all posted.
How are we supposed to protect our pets? According to the news report suppossedly some of that contaminated wheat gluten was also shipped to a company that manufactures dry petfood but it won't release the name of the company.
Hi True Vivi Bloggers!!
I hope your furry kids (pets, both cats and dogs alike) are all in a great health and stay healthy!!
My cat, Cloudy and my golden Sadie are both in good health, no illnesses!!
Bless the poor animals out there and pray for the pet owners whose pets are lost, sick or died and heal the sick pets.
Bless you all.
Happy Spring!!
Well, lookie who's here..Paulaaaaaaa, you changed your mind! You haven't missed a lot...haaaaaaaaaaa the blog is still sucky at times, but it's getting better!
ROOOOOBY - whatcha doing???? how's the zoo today? ready for your nap yet? hee...
Reposting on this post since we have moved over here - didn't know we had moved - been watching a little filly be born - what a good feeling.
Hi Friends - thank you to all who are faxing or making calls - there will be no official call list today - I am copying this correspondence regarding the anti-horse slaughter bill:
There will be no Call In List today. Due to recent developments, we have been advised to put our efforts into trying to gain co-sponsors. The recent court ruling in Illinois has given our cause a great deal of media attention and now is the time to strike. Although there are currently no horses being slaughtered in this country, without this legislation it is still legal to transport horses to slaughter for human consumption (to Canada and Mexico). However, the ceasing of slaughter here in the United States may serve to accelerate the movement of the Bills and that is the reason for the big push for co-sponsors.
We are happy to inform you that we have four new representatives on board bringing the total to 136. And we've been assured that there are several others in the process of doing their paperwork.
There is also a wonderful new program being implemented in California that was started by one of our FOB's (Friends of Barbaro). This has proven so successful that we are hoping to expand it to other states. Details will follow in the next few days.
Please use today to contact your OWN representative and two senators. Also, this is "Pick Your Target" Friday! A day you can use to go back over this weeks lists and see if there is anyone that you think may be helped along by another call.
Please remember when making your calls to be polite and respectful even if you are not happy with the response. Our group must maintain a certain integrity in order to be taken seriously. Let us not be confused with those that have been labeled the "emotionally misguided".
Posted by: Kathy in Colorado | March 30, 2007 at 10:04 AM
HI RUBY!! Yeah but I haven't left the blog yet until Vivi is found!!
I do read on and off when someone is/are acting so nasty I will scroooolll by! :-)
Anyway, I hope your pets are OK so far!
I didn't read much of the food recalls, they depressed me!
Cloudy and Sadie are fine as far as I know!!
Thanks for saying "Hi!"
Kathy - my fax machine is going through withdrawls.
resting up for next week, my friend!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Darlin'....
Darlene,
No nap for me today...I was up at 1 a.m. and I'm blaiming it on my doggies...Why oh why did I listen to them and take a L O N Ggggg nap yesterday? Poor dogs get blamed for a lot don't they? They never complain tho..
i heard you also blame them for your "intestional problems"
hee....
you got it, Colorado Horse Queen - anything for the babies!!!
sweetie - if you can get it on your computer - go to http://wefoal.com/_2007/30373634/cam.htm and check out this sweet baby - only about 3 hours old
Darlene, bite me sweetie........I'm thinking of a letter between A and double D....haaaaaaa
I just got a message from Gina, and Madison is remaining stable and better. They have even decided to move her to a regular pediatric floor room today and out of ICU.
Please keep the prayers and candles going, ladies. They are definitely working. Ruby, thanks for the reminder to lite a candle for my little Princess also.
I have been very busy starting a campaign to collect letters and apply to Extreme Makeovers to help this family. They live in a very small home, and now have all this medical equipment and stuff for Madison in addition. Also, we feel a therapy room to help Madison do her therapy at home and a special airflow system to help keep the home more germ-free (since Madison has so many respiratory infections) would really help her as well. For those not familiar with these airflow systems, they are used widely in hospitals to exchange air quickly and HEPA filter the air in patient areas to prevent the germs and other infectious diseases that can harm the patients. They are a crucial factor for the treatment of our patients at St. Jude.
Gina was very excited that someone may be either donating or selling at a reasonable cost a hyperbaric chamber for the treatment for Madison as well. These seem to be very effective for comatose patients.
God keeps answering our prayers for this little girl, so I would like to see us provide the best possible situation for her recovery we can provide.
Thanks again everyone, love Kathleen!
Kathleen - Extreme Makeovers is a GREYt idea....I sure hope it gets accepted - I love that show and I love Ty - MOVE THAT BUS
CNN is taking a vote of those who have been affected by the pet food recall. If you have, please take a momemt to vote
http://www.cnn.com/exchange/blogs/quickthoughts/
Hi Kat, so glad Madison is doing a little better
Great idea about Extreme home Makeover, we could
bombard them with emails. - MOVE THAT BUS !!!
I cry every week watching this show
When will all this end? Too many pet food recall for my liking! Poor pets.