More pet products recalled for melamine contamination

The Food and Drug Administration has recalled more pet products, imported from China, that have been contaminated with melamine, a chemical used as a fire retardant and to make durable plastics, laminates and cleaning products. In general, melamine is not highly toxic but smaller animals may be more sensitive to it. The items recalled include: Wild Harvest Fruit and Honey Cockatiel, Ecotrition Tropical Fruit and Honey Bars, and Wild Harvest Hamster, Gerbil, Mouse & Rat Honey Cakes. They are distributed by United Pet Group of Cincinnati, Ohio, which owns various brands of pet foods including 8 in 1, Dingo, Tetra, Nature’s Miracle and Marineland. Susan DiMola of Northern Bear Pet Food and Supplies in the Village of Florida said that pet owners are becoming more concerned with what they feed their pets, in part because of the recalls over the past few years. ”We have 27 brands of organic or holistic pet foods,” said DiMola. “People are absolutely more concerned with what they are feeding their pets. They are looking for foods without by-products, and with recognizable foods listed on the package.” She said people come in with their print outs from the Internet listing the better foods. DiMola’s rule of thumb is to look at the first five ingredients on the package. “That is what you are feeding your animal,” she said. “There should not be by-products. Poor diet causes many health problems with your pets, just like it does with us. If you don’t feed your pet properly, you will be spending a lot of time and money at the vet.” But you shouldn’t just switch your pet’s food instantly. DiMola recommends a gradual switch over two weeks time. ”Take the old food and mix in the new food with it, a little at a time,” she said, “until it is all the new food. Just like humans, animals can be affected by a sudden change in their diet.” And she doesn’t recommend you buy a big bag of new food without trying it first. Northern Bear and other pet stores offer small size samples to try and make sure your pet will like the taste. For more information on this latest recall, log on to www.FDA.com.