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At least one more Hawaii animal has died apparently from eating tainted pet food, a local attorney said yesterday. Nationwide, about 10 animals have died after eating the affected food, which prompted a recall of some 40 brands associated with Menu Foods. A list of the recalled products is on the Menu Foods Web site at www.menufoods.com/recall.
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Toxic food blamed in death of pets
At least one more Hawaii animal has died apparently from eating tainted pet food
At least one more local animal has died apparently from eating tainted pet food, a local attorney said yesterday.
Meanwhile, a Honolulu veterinarian said a fungal toxin in the food is likely causing kidney failure in animals that eat it.
Attorney Emily Gardner would not specify how many complaints she has received from local pet owners, but she said at least one cat has shown symptoms.
"You can say that more than one animal has died (in Hawaii) and that dogs and cats appear to have been affected," she said.
Gardner is representing Kailua resident Valerie Sylvester, who claims pet food killed her 16-year-old beagle.
"Other people have called me complaining that some of their pets have exhibited similar symptoms to the dog in Kailua after consuming the recalled food," said Gardner.
Nationwide, about 10 animals have died after eating the affected food, which prompted a recall of some 40 brands associated with Menu Foods. A company spokeswoman said the recalled products were made using wheat gluten, a meat substitute, from a new supplier.
Dr. Eric Ako, executive vice president of the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, said the illnesses likely are aflatoxicosis, which occurs when plant material in food or animal feed goes bad.
"When greens spoil, they get fungi and the fungi produce toxins," said Ako, who practices at the Pet Doctor clinic on Kalanianaole Highway. "Now, the companies have not come out and said exactly what it is, although they have alluded to the wheat gluten."
His clinic has seen no affected animals.
Aflatoxins cause circulatory problems, which could easily result in kidney or renal failure, the common reported symptom in the illnesses, said Ako.
The Food and Drug Administration is investigating.
According to the FDA, aflatoxins are a group of related toxic compounds produced by certain strains of fungi, including Aspergillus flavus. The most pronounced contamination has been found in peanuts and other nuts and oil seeds, the FDA says.
Only wet pet chow is believed to be affected, but one Star-Bulletin reader said yesterday by e-mail that her 9-week-old puppy became "deathly ill" after eating dry food from Iams, one of the recalled brands.