Pet Food Wheat Gluten Recall Announced

ChemNutra Inc., Las Vegas, has recalled all wheat gluten it had imported from one of its three Chinese wheat gluten suppliersXuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. Ltd.

The wheat gluten ChemNutra recalled was all shipped from China in 25 kg. paper bags, and distributed to customers in the same unopened bags. Each ChemNutra shipment had the certificate of analysis information from the supplier, including batch number and the suppliers content analysis and test results. ChemNutra shipped from its Kansas City warehouse to three pet food manufacturers and one distributor who supplies wheat gluten only to the pet food industry. ChemNutras shipments commenced Nov. 9, 2006 and ended March 8, 2007. ChemNutra did not ship to facilities that manufacture food for human consumption, and the distributor ChemNutra shipped to supplies wheat gluten only to pet food manufacturers. The total quantity of Xuzhou Anying wheat gluten shipped was 792 metric tons.

ChemNutra learned on March 8 from one pet food manufacturer that the wheat gluten it had sold themall from the Xuzhou Anyingwas among ingredients suspected as a potential cause of pet food problems. ChemNutra immediately quarantined its entire wheat gluten inventory and assisted this customers investigation.

After that manufacturer issued a pet food recall, the FDA immediately commenced a thorough investigation of ChemNutras wheat gluten, including documentation analysis, inspection, and laboratory testing. ChemNutra cooperated fully with the FDA and immediately notified its other three wheat gluten customers about the FDAs investigation. Those customers had all purchased smaller amounts of the Xuzhou Anying wheat gluten commencing in Jan. 2007.

On Friday, March 30, the FDA announced they had found melamine in samples of the wheat gluten ChemNutra had imported from Xuzhou Anying. The FDA did not inform ChemNutra of any other impurities in the Xuzhou Anying wheat gluten, nor of any impurities in the wheat gluten from ChemNutras other two Chinese suppliers.

The toxicity of melamine is not clear. However, since melamine is not approved by the FDA for pet food, it should absolutely not have been in wheat gluten. ChemNutra is extremely concerned about the purity of all of its products. The company is particularly troubled that the certificates of analysis provided by the above-named supplier did not report the presence of melamine.

ChemNutra wants to ensure its products are safe. Consequently, in addition to its ongoing cooperation with the FDA, ChemNutra will be conducting its own independent, analytical tests of wheat gluten from all of its suppliers.

Consumers who have questions about the pet food they should go to the FDAs website. This page lists all brands of pet food involved, with links to the manufacturer who should be contacted with questions.

For complete details on ChemNutras wheat gluten recall, see the press release posted on the FDA website.