Health

Settlement Approved For Melamine Poisoned Pets

by Barbara McPherson | October 15, 2008 at 08:55 am

316 views | 20 Recommendations | 2 comments

The melamine laced milk scandal had a precursor. Last year thousands of N. American pets were sickened and killed by poisoned pet food. Melamine laced wheat imported from China destroyed the cats and dogs' kidneys. It would seem that the criminals who put the poison in the cows' milk ignored the very real probability of poisoning those who consumed the milk.

For officials of the Peoples' Republic to attempt to sweep this under the rug by arresting a few people and claiming that the poisoning was accidental is beyond credibility.

Associated Press Writer= CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) - A federal judge Tuesday approved a $24 million settlement for owners of dogs and cats who were sickened or died after eating pet food contaminated with an industrial chemical.

Sherrie R. Savett, a lead lawyer for plaintiffs in the case, has said she believes that more than 1,500 animals in the U.S. died after eating the food last year.

Most of the food turned out to contain Chinese-made wheat gluten laced with melamine, an industrial chemical. Since then, the nitrogen-rich chemical used to make plastics and fertilizers have been found in a variety of food products in China. Authorities there have issued guidelines limiting acceptable levels of the chemical in food.

Chinese officials no longer give estimates of how many children have been sickened in the lastest melamine scandal, but estimates are above 93 000 casualties.

For a comprehensive list of recalled products containing melamine contaminated milk products go to Now Public, Health, Milk Scandal

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Terri Potratz

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 09:38 on October 15th, 2008

Barbara McPherson, I like this story. It's good stuff.

I remember how horrifying it was when the pet food was contaminated, as I had an old dog at the time - luckily she wasn't eating any of the affected brands, but there was a lot of confusion at the time. Gives me a tiny window of understanding as to what parents in China and other affected countries must be going through right now.

Amy Judd

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 12:48 on October 15th, 2008

Barbara McPherson, I forgot about this. I have a cat and I was totally freaked out that he was going to get sick, mostly because he will eat anything.