Chinese ingredient poisoned pet food

JOHANNESBURG – Tests have confirmed that Vets Choice and Royal Canin pet-food products contained corn gluten contaminated with melamine, says the manufacturer.

The contaminated corn gluten was delivered to Royal Canin by a South African third-party supplier and appears to have originated from China. Those products subject to the present recall were manufactured by Royal Canin South Africa in its Johannesburg plant between March 8 and April 11 and were sold exclusively in South Africa and Namibia.The company said all other Vets Choice and Royal Canin products (including those made in South Africa before March 8 2007 and products made outside South Africa) were not affected.Managing director Gregory Watine said: “We will continue to co-operate totally with the relevant public authorities, vets, customers and pet owners to help them by all means possible.”He said the company wanted to express their support and offer condolences to pet owners whose pets may have fallen ill or died as a result of eating the contaminated food.Measures had been taken together with the South African Veterinary Association and the Pet Food Institute to ensure this contamination did not happen again.The Royal Canin South Africa call centre can be contacted at (00-27-11) 446 1025.Nampa-SapaThose products subject to the present recall were manufactured by Royal Canin South Africa in its Johannesburg plant between March 8 and April 11 and were sold exclusively in South Africa and Namibia.The company said all other Vets Choice and Royal Canin products (including those made in South Africa before March 8 2007 and products made outside South Africa) were not affected.Managing director Gregory Watine said: “We will continue to co-operate totally with the relevant public authorities, vets, customers and pet owners to help them by all means possible.”He said the company wanted to express their support and offer condolences to pet owners whose pets may have fallen ill or died as a result of eating the contaminated food.Measures had been taken together with the South African Veterinary Association and the Pet Food Institute to ensure this contamination did not happen again.The Royal Canin South Africa call centre can be contacted at (00-27-11) 446 1025.Nampa-Sapa