FOR MORE INFORMATION

Tom McPheron
Phone: 847-285-6781
Cell: 773-494-5419
e-mail: tmcpheron@avma.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 26, 2007

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.

— Doctors Foster & Smith, a catalog pet product distributor is recalling their Adult Lite Dog Food and Adult Lite Cat Food because the products could contain rice protein concentrate tainted with melamine. The recalled food lots are: Adult Lite Dry Dog Food item numbers 14180, 14262 and 14263 purchased between January 22 and April 19, 2007 and lot item numbers 14178 and 14179 purchased between February 2 and April 19, 2007. Adult Lite Dry Cat Food item numbers 12855, 12856, 13864 and 13865 purchased between January 22, 2007 and April 19 are also recalled.

The catalog distributor, Doctors Foster & Smith, received their product from Chenango Valley Pet Foods. Chenango Valley Pet Foods has also recalled "Lick Your Chops Lamb Meal, Rice and Egg Cat Food, Best Used by April 29, 08." and the previously reported recall of Chicken & Brown Rice Formula Adult Lite Dog Food sold to SmartPak.

Chenango Valley Pet Foods are the fifth of five manufacturers who received potentially contaminated rice protein concentrate supplied by distributor Wilbur-Ellis.

According to the Doctors Foster & Smith Web site, preliminary tests for melamine contamination have been negative, but final test results from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are expected within two weeks.

Until final test results are available from the FDA, Doctors Foster & Smith Web site requests that its customers discontinue feeding their pets the food from the lots listed above. The manufacturer said it is contacting all customers who have purchased the affected products.

Other pet food manufacturers that received potentially contaminated rice protein concentrate imported from China by the Wilbur-Ellis company include: Blue Buffalo Company, Natural Balance Pet Foods, Royal Canin, and SmartPak Canine.

Dr. Daniel McChesney, director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance of the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the FDA, said that melamine and it's interaction with other melamine-related compounds, such as cyanuric acid, are being investigated as the probable cause of toxicity. Both melamine and cyuranic acid are nitrogen-rich compounds which may have been added separately for the purpose of increasing the apparent protein content of both the wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate.

While this is an ongoing inspection, Captain David Elder, director of the Office of Enforcement, Office of Regulatory Affairs, for the FDA said he is not aware of any other pending product recalls.

In the wake of these recalls, the AVMA reminds pet owners to continue to consult the AVMA listing of recalled pet food and discontinue feeding pets any food that has been recalled.

The AVMA advices that any animal that is showing symptoms such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in urination—common symptoms after consumption of recalled pet foods—should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

A comprehensive AVMA Pet Food Recall List is available at http://www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/products.asp. This list contains all recall information that has come to the attention of the AVMA, but it is not guaranteed to be complete. The AVMA encourages all concerned to contact the specific manufacturer regarding the status of any particular pet food or treat.

Veterinarians should report all cases of illness and death linked to a recalled pet food by calling the FDA's State Consumer Complaint Coordinator. A list of these coordinators is available at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html.

For more information, please visit the AVMA web site at www.avma.org.