Tests of seven urine samples and two feed samples at American Hog Farm in Ceres all came back positive for the chemical, melamine, which has tainted more than 100 brands of dog and cat food, said State Veterinarian Dr. The California Department of Food and Agriculture imposed the quarantine Thursday after records from Diamond Pet Food’s Lathrop facility showed it sold salvage pet food to the farm for pig feed earlier this month. Melamine, which is used in making plastics and other industrial processes, has been blamed for causing health problems in dozens of dogs and cats, but the Food and Drug Administration could not provide numbers of pet deaths or injuries due to the contaminated food. The house pets that have died from contaminated pet food likely had long-term exposure to the chemical through their diet, but the pigs on American Hog Farm were likely only exposed about two weeks, Breitmeyer said. Small farm owners commonly buy salvage feed from pet food companies that repackage torn shipments or spilled products, Breitmeyer said. On Friday, Royal Canin USA became the third company to recall pet foods made with Chinese rice protein concentrate contaminated by melamine. Read More

[Tags]farm, food, pet, american, california, foods, natural pet health[/Tags]