Import of pet food ingredient is blocked

The U.S. on Monday blocked imports of wheat gluten from a company in China, acting after an investigation implicated the ingredient in the recent pet food deaths of cats and dogs.

The Food and Drug Administration took action against wheat gluten from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. after the U.S. recall of nearly 100 brands of pet food made with the contaminated ingredient. The pet food, tainted with the chemical melamine, apparently has resulted in kidney failure in an unknown number of animals across the country.

Wheat gluten from China has been suspected in the outbreak since the first of multiple recalls was announced in mid-March.

The FDA reported last week that it had found melamine in samples of the vegetable protein source used in the recalled wet and dry pet foods and treats, as well as in cats that died after eating contaminated food.

“The wheat gluten that is positive for melamine all has come from this manufacturer,” said Neal Bataller, director of the division of compliance with the FDA’s veterinary medicine office. Melamine is used in plastics, countertops, glue and other products. Its toxicity to dogs and cats is unknown, but it is not allowed in food in any quantity.

Geng Xiujuan, Xuzhou Anying’s sales manager, said the company was aware of the FDA’s import alert and was looking into it. Geng said the company, based in Jiangsu province, did not make the wheat gluten but bought it from companies in other provinces. She said Xuzhou Anying then sold it to another Jiangsu company, Suzhou Textile Import and Export Co.