Nevada-based ChemNutra Inc. recalled all wheat gluten on Tuesday that it had imported from one of its three Chinese suppliers.
The recalled wheat gluten was all shipped from China in 25 kg paper bags and distributed to customers.
Each ChemNutra shipment had the certificate of analysis information from the supplier, including batch number and the supplier's content analysis and test results. ChemNutra shipped the 792 metric tons of the product from its Kansas City warehouse to three pet food manufacturers and one distributor who supplies wheat gluten only to the pet food industry. The shipments began on November 9, 2006, and ended March 8, 2007.
On March 8, the company learned from one pet food manufacturer that the wheat gluten it had sold them was among ingredients suspected as a potential cause of pet food problems. ChemNutra said it immediately quarantined its entire wheat gluten inventory and assisted in the investigation.
Upon learning of the pet food manufacturer’s inquire, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began an investigation of the wheat gluten, which included documentation analysis, inspection, and laboratory testing. ChemNutra cooperated fully with the FDA and immediately notified its other three customers about the FDA's investigation.
On March 30, the FDA announced it had found melamine in samples of the wheat gluten ChemNutra had imported from its China supplier.
The toxicity of melamine is not clear, but the chemical is not approved by the FDA for pet food and it should not have been in the wheat gluten.
For additional questions about the pet food recall, click here.