'Return contaminated pet food'

2007-04-20 14:39

Johannesburg - Pet owners must not dump food they fear may be contaminated with melamine because it might cause environmental damage or poison animals and people.

The SA Veterinary Association (Sava) issued this warning on Friday and urged pet owners to return all possibly contaminated food to their vets.

So far, 30 animals have died after a batch of food produced by the company Royal-Canin SA (R-C) was contaminated with melamine.

"Owners must return all possibly contaminated food to their vets so that R-C can incinerate it," said association spokesperson Gerhard Steenkamp.

"Dumping it in the refuse bin could expose the environment to the toxin, which could lead to human or animal exposure."

Steenkamp said Sava was particularly concerned about exposed dogs that had not been seriously ill and would strongly advise owners to have their pets examined by their veterinarian.

He said Sava had asked the Pet Food Institute (PFI) to require its members, who may have used the contaminated corn gluten, or other suspect contaminated material, regardless of the presumed level of melamine, to immediately recall the products.

Extra safety measures

These should only be made available for sale once the presence of melamine had been eliminated by independent testing, said Steenkamp.

"Failing this, Sava will make the manufacturer or brand known to its members, so they can advise the public on food that may not be safe."

He said Sava had now declared melamine an officially recognised toxin, capable of inducing serious clinical disease, and would insist that all pet food be tested.

He added: "In this regard, Sava will advise its members that they should only offer products that have been certified free from Melamine, for sale in their practices.

"This advice will, equally, apply to ethylene glycol, as an extra safety measure, even though this toxin was not involved in the R-C crisis."

- SAPA