Wal-Mart Dog Biscuits Added to Pet Food Recall


Manufacturer includes broader range of production dates, FDA reports




April 5, 2007
NBC

WASHINGTON - The recall of pet foods and treats contaminated with an industrial chemical expanded Thursday to include dog biscuits made by an Alabama company and sold by Wal-Mart under the Ol’Roy brand.

The Food and Drug Administration said the manufacturer, Sunshine Mills Inc., is recalling dog biscuits made with imported Chinese wheat gluten. Testing has revealed the wheat gluten, a protein source, was contaminated with melamine, used to make plastics and other industrial products.

Also Thursday, Menu Foods, a major manufacturer of brand- and private-label wet pet foods expanded its original recall to include a broader range of dates and varieties. Menu Foods was the first of at least six companies to recall the now more than 100 brands of pet foods and treats made with the contaminated ingredient.

The recall now covers “cuts and gravy”-style products made between Nov. 8 and March 6, Menu Foods said. Previously, it applied only to products made beginning Dec. 3. In addition, Menu Foods said it was expanding the recall to include more varieties, but no new brands.

The FDA knows of no other pet product companies planning recalls, agency officials told reporters.

“Other than that, I think, you know, the public should feel secure in purchasing pet foods that are not subject to the recall,” Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, told reporters.

Sunshine, of Red Bay, Ala., sells pet foods and treats under its own brands as well as private labels sold by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Kmart, Longs Drug Stores Corp. and Stater Bros. Markets. The recall included specific brands like Wal-Mart’s Ol’Roy, as well as a portion of Sunshine’s own Nurture, Lassie and Pet Life dog biscuit brands.

Previously, Menu Foods had recalled some wet-style dog foods it made for sale under the Stater Bros. and Ol’Roy brands as well.

Sunshine said there have been no reports of dog illnesses or deaths in connection with the recalled dog biscuits, which contain 1 percent or less wheat gluten by weight.

PLASTICS CHEMICAL SUSPECTED

The FDA continues to focus on melamine as the suspected contaminant of the pet products, though Sundlof said it could be a marker for the presence of another, not yet known substance. Melamine previously was not believed to be toxic.

The recall is one of the largest pet food recalls in history, Sundlof said. The FDA has received more than 12,000 complaints but has confirmed only about 15 pet deaths. Anecdotal reports suggest the tally is in the hundreds or low thousands.

Sunshine Mills said it would post a complete list of the recalled dog biscuits on its Web site (and can be found below).

The FDA last week blocked wheat gluten imports from the Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. in the eastern city of Xuzhou, saying they contained melamine. A Las Vegas importer, ChemNutra Inc., this week recalled all wheat gluten it had bought from the supplier and in turn distributed to pet food manufacturers.

Xuzhou Anying has said it is investigating the claims.

Also Thursday, the FDA warned consumers not to give American Bullie A.B. Bull Pizzle Puppy Chews and Dog Chews to their pets. The FDA said salmonella could contaminate the dog treats, made and distributed by T.W. Enterprises of Ferndale, Wash.

Branded Product and Variety

Product Size:

UPC Codes

Plant Code / Best By Date

Nurture Chicken & Rice Biscuit

26 oz.

70155-13606

Plant code:

RB

 

 

 

Best by:

31208

 

 

 

Nurture Lamb & Rice Biscuit

26 oz.

70155-13607

Plant code:

RB

 

 

 

Best by:

31308

 

 

 

Pet Life Large Peanut Butter Biscuit

4 lb.

41746-00950

Plant code:

RB

RB

 

 

Best by:

30608

31308

 

 

Pet Life Large Biscuit

4 lb.

41746-02545

Plant code:

RB

RB

 

 

Best by:

30308

31908

 

 

Lassie Lamb and Rice Biscuit

26 oz.

45352-07005

Plant code:

RB

RB

 

 

Best by:

30708

31908

 

 

Pet Life Large Biscuit

25 lb.

41746-00008

Best By Date – last 5 digits

Best by:

30308

31408

 

 

Pet Life Extra Large Biscuit

25 lb.

41746-00010

 

 

 

 

 

Best by:

30408

30808

31408

31508

Pet Life Large Variety Biscuit

25 lb.

70155-00073

 

 

 

 

 

Best by:

30408

 

 

 

Pet Life Peanut Butter Large Biscuit

25 lb.

41746-00078

 

 

 

 

 

Best by:

30308

30808

 

 

Pet Life People Pleasers  Dog Treat

25 lb.

41746-00266

 

 

 

 

 

Best by:

31408

31608

32308

 

Pet Life People Pleasers Dog Treat

50 oz.

70155-11006

Best By Date – 5 digits

Best by:

30208

30508

30808

31308

31408

Pet Life People Pleasers Dog Treat

40 oz.

70155-11007

 

Best by:

30908

31208

31808

 

 



Private Label Product and Variety

Product Size:

UPC Codes

Plant Code / Best By Date

Companion's Best Multi Flavor Biscuit

4 lb.

50700-49270

Plant code:

RB

RB

RB

RB

RB

Best by:

30308

30808

31108

31408

31608

Plant code:

RB

RB

 

 

 

Best by:

32308

32708

 

 

 

Stater Brothers  Large Biscuit

4 lb.

74175-18801

Plant code:

RB

RB

 

 

 

Best by:

30908

31308

 

 

 

Ol'Roy Peanut Butter Biscuit

5 lb.

78742-34501

Plant code:

RB

RB

RB

RB

RB

Best by:

30508

31008

31208

31508

31608

Plant code:

RB

RB

 

 

 

Best by:

32108

32308

 

 

 

Ol'Roy 4 Flavor Large Biscuit

10 lb.

81131-46959

Plant code:

RB

RB

RB

RB

RB

Best by:

30308

30408

30508

30608

30708

Plant code:

RB

RB

RB

RB

RB

Best by:

30808

30908

31208

31308

31408

Plant code:

RB

RB

RB

RB

RB

Best by:

31508

31608

31708

31908

32008

Plant code:

RB

RB

 

 

 

Best by:

32108

32408

 

 

 

Ol'Roy Puppy Biscuit

28.8 oz.

81131-92197

Plant code:

RB

RB

RB

RB

RB

Best by:

30208

30308

30408

30608

30708

Plant code:

RB

RB

RB

RB

RB

Best by:

30908

31008

31408

31508

31608

Plant code:

RB

RB

RB

RB

RB

Best by:

31708

31808

32108

32208

32308

Champion Breed Peanut Butter Biscuit

4 lb.

72000-26063

Plant code:

RB

RB

 

 

 

Best by:

32108

32308

 

 

 

Champion Breed Large Biscuit

4 lb.

72000-26065

Plant code:

RB

RB

 

 

 

Best by:

32208

32308

 

 

 

Perfect Pals Large Biscuit

4 lb.

12333-00260

Plant code:

RB

 

 

 

 

Best by:

31808

 

 

 

 

Stater Brothers Large Biscuit

26 oz.

74175-18802

Best By Date – 5 digits

Best by:

30308

31008

 

 


© 2007 The Associated Press.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17967533/