Rat Poison Found in Recalled Pet Food

Rat poison was found on the imported wheat in the recalled pet foods and is the likely culprit of reported animal deaths & illnesses, according to the Department of Agriculture and the EPA. ABC News reports:

A source close to the investigation tells ABC News that the rodenticide, which the source says is illegal to use in the United States, was on wheat that was imported from China and used by Menu Foods in nearly 100 brands of dog and cat food.

What investigators can’t say so far is whether this is the only contaminant in all of the recalled food. There is some good news according to the source. Knowing the chemical should aid veterinarians who are treating animals that have been sickened by the pet food.

The chemical is used in the United States in, of all things, a cancer drug, according to the source.

Rat poison? Are you kidding? If ever there was a time to think of buying locally, buying organically, it is now. But that is a paltry consolation for those who've lost their beloved pets.

While official reports still list the death toll as 16 (15 cats, 1 dog), Pet Connection has been tracking this through their Register a Sick Pet database. Their count, as of this moment, is 1,103 deceased pets (654 cats/449 dogs). Heartbreaking. And infuriating.

Menu Foods stated in a press conference today that they are only at the beginning of their investigation into what contaminated the food, but wanted to share these early findings with the public so that local vets could begin treating sick animals in the hopes of saving them.

Previously: Pet Food Recall

Photo by puck90 via Flickr