Dog treat recall is widened

Del Monte Foods Co. on Friday broadened its recall of dog treats that may have been tainted with contaminated wheat gluten from China.

Del Monte widened the range of Jerky Treats and Ol’ Roy and Happy Tails Beef Flavor treats covered by a recall first announced March 31.

The latest recall, which also includes some private-label snacks, adds packages with different expiration dates, Del Monte said.

The Food and Drug Administration is examining pet food contamination that has been linked to at least 16 animal deaths. At least six pet food makers, including San Francisco-based Del Monte, Menu Foods Ltd. and Nestle’s Purina Pet Care Co., have issued recalls.

The FDA has received more than 12,000 complaints from pet owners related to the recall, which has discovered food tainted with melamine, a substance used to make plastic kitchen utensils and fertilizers.