Wilbur-Ellis Voluntarily Recalls Rice Protein Concentrate

It appears that the potential exists for more pet foods to be recalled because of the possibility of contaminated rice protein concentrate. Wednesday, April 18, 2007, Wilbur-Ellis company, an importer, recalled all lots of rice protein concentrate shipped from its San Francisco Feed Division to five U.S. pet-food manufacturers located in Utah, N.Y., Kansas and two in Missouri.

Wilbur-Ellis's press release identifies the rice protein as possibly being contaminated by melamine, a chemical used in the manufacture of plastic products and in agriculture. Of particular interest is the fact that one bag of the rice protein concentrate received from a supplier in China was pink in color, with "melamine" stamped on the outside. Wilbur-Ellis tested that bag as positive for melamine. The press release goes on to say:

Samples from the white bags tested negative for melamine. However, subsequent and potentially more sensitive tests by the FDA came back positive for melamine, leading Wilbur-Ellis to voluntarily issue the recall.

Wilbur-Ellis began importing rice protein concentrate from Binzhou Futian Biology Technology in July 2006. A total of 14 containers holding 336 metric tons of rice protein concentrate were sent from Futian to Wilbur-Ellis. Wilbur-Ellis has distributed 155 metric tons to date.

As I have been doing with the wheat gluten contamination issue, I will be inspecting labels on cat food containers for rice protein concentrate, and will avoid all cat food products with that ingredient. I'd advise my readers to take the same precautions, and to learn to read cat food labels.

Pet Food Recall Resources on This Site:

• TIMELINE: Pet Food Recall of 2007
• FAQ: Pet Food Recall of March, 2007
• Menu Foods Pet Food Recall Index
• List of Recalled Cat Foods
• Dry Cat Foods That Do Not Contain Wheat Gluten