Are rice gluten, rice bran, and other forms of rice contaminated with melamine?

Question: Are rice gluten, rice bran, and other forms of rice contaminated with melamine?

These additional cat food recalls are becoming confusing. Now we're told that foods containing rice protein concentrate from China are being recalled because of melamine content. Should I just toss out all cat foods containing rice in any form?

Answer: So far, only one shipment into the U.S. of rice protein concentrate containing melamine has been confirmed. That shipment, from Binzhou Futian Biology Technology in China, to the Wilbur-Ellis Co., a U.S. importer, whas shipped from its San Francisco Feed Division to five U.S. pet food manufacturers. Three of those companies, Natural Balance, Royal Canin, and Blue Buffalo have recalled certain foods, as of April 20, 2007. Until otherwise notified, only foods containing melamine-contaminated wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate have been recalled in American pet food products, along with corn gluten in South Africa.

Here are definitions of these rice ingredients:

• Rice protein concentrate is the concentrated protein fraction of rice grains resulting from the rice wet milling process. Rice protein concentrate is a good source of hypoallergenic protein for pet foods.

  The FDA is now pursuing a theory that these products were intentionally contaminated to "spike" their protein content, therefore commanding higher prices. Interestingly, one bag of the rice from China was pink, with "Melamine" stenciled on the outside.

• Rice gluten meal: The dried residue from rice after the removal of the larger part of the starch and germ, and separation of the bran by the process employed in the wet milling manufacture of rice starch or syrup, or by enzymatic treatment of the endosperm.

  Rice gluten is considered an excellent option for any pet allergic to wheat or corn. It is ideal for use in cat foods not only for its hypo-allergenic qualities, but for its low ash content.

• Rice bran: is the pericarp or bran layer and germ of the rice.

  Rice bran adds a rich, hearty natural flavor to the food and has a positive effect on proper digestion due to the high fiber content Consists chiefly of wheat germ together with some bran and "middlings" or shorts. It must contain not less than 25 percent crude protein and 7 percent crude fat. It is used in some pet foods as a source of protein.

As with the contaminated wheat gluten products, I can only offer the caveat that, foods containing these other rice products should be safe for your cats that are not allergic to rice, until we are notified otherwise.

Source of Definitions: Natura