Pedigree recalls more dog food

2004-03-11 17:22

Taipei - The United States dog food maker Pedigree expanded the recall of its product from Taiwan to nine other Asian countries on Thursday after Thailand and the Philippines also reported dogs dying from kidney failure.

The expanded recall comes one day after Pedigree inspectors found mildew on two kinds of ingredients for Pedigree dry dog food in its Thailand plant.

"We ordered the Thailand plant to stop production after we began to suspect that there might be a link between dogs' kidney failure and Pedigree dry food," its Taiwan distributor Eiffem Foods Taiwan said in a statement.

The voluntary recall applies to Pedigree dry dog food, Whiskas dry cat food Pedigree Dog's Delight Ringo, Pedigree Dog's Delight Tasty Bone and Pedigree Puppy Biscuit dog treats, all made in Thailand.

The products were sold in Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. Kitekat dry sold in Thailand and Malaysia as well as Cesar Duo sold in Taiwan and South Korea are also to be withdrawn, the statement said.

The recall also covers products in Japan and Hong Kong.

The company began recalling its dry dog food in Taiwan on March 8 after hundreds of dogs - mostly puppies - died from kidney failure. Some dog owners suspected the current batch of Pedigree - from Thailand - might have been contaminated.

"Our investigation has not confirmed a direct link between this finding and a reported increase in renal disease among dogs in Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines. Veterinarians have not reported such problems with cats," the statement added.

Pedigree denied the charge, but put up NT$1m to help authorities and health officials find out the cause of the dogs' deaths. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA