Pet Food Recall: Rice Protein Causes Another Cat & Dog Food Recall

The pet food recall is not just about wheat gluten anymore.  Two more companies have recalled both cat and dog food because of rice protein.  Pet owners are really struggling as many have been pouring over labels to looking hard at ingredients but now it seems impossible to keep up with the ongoing poisoned food.

Pet Food Recall: Rice Protein Causes Another Cat & Dog Food Recall

Diamond Pet Food said on Friday it was withdrawing three canned products manufactured by American Nutrition Inc. following that company's recall, and it had not heard of any quality issues or illnesses related to the products.

The withdrawal comes 16 months after Diamond recalled pet food made at one of its own plants after dogs who ate it fell ill and died from the toxin aflatoxin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed that 76 dogs died in that incident, Reuters reports.

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A note on the company website says:  Because of the canned pet food recall initiated by American Nutrition Inc., Diamond Pet Foods has announced it is withdrawing a limited number of canned products manufactured by American Nutrition. This action is limited to three specific canned products: Diamond Lamb & Rice Formula for Dogs 13 oz. cans, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Kitten Formula 5.5 oz. cans, and Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Puppy Formula 13 oz. cans.

The release adds: Diamond Pet Foods is taking this voluntary action after learning the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed rice protein concentrate used by American Nutrition contained melamine, a substance not approved for use in food.

No other Diamond brand or Chicken Soup brand canned or dry pet food formulas are affected by the American Nutrition recall. 

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Diamond Pet Foods has not received any indication of quality or safety issues, including pet illness, with the three withdrawn products. However, because American Nutrition informed the company that these three specific products may include rice protein concentrate, Diamond Pet Foods felt this action was necessary for the protection of its customers and their pets.

It should be noted that the products being withdrawn were not formulated or labeled to contain rice protein concentrate. While the FDA is investigating this, current information indicates this error is a result of a manufacturing deviation by American Nutrition.

“We are voluntarily withdrawing these three canned products as a precautionary measure to protect the safety of pets and the integrity of our products,” says Mike Kampeter, president of Diamond Pet Foods.  “While testing has not revealed any safety issues with these products, we felt it necessary to remove them from retailer shelves as soon as we were made aware of the American Nutrition product recall.”

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Reuters notes that the family-owned Diamond was investigated by the FDA in December 2005 after dogs became ill and 76 died after consuming food made at the company's Gaston, South Carolina, plant. Those products contained aflatoxin, which comes from a fungus and develops on crops during hot weather and drought.