Encourages Consumers to Return Products to the Store of Purchase
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Maryland Department of Agriculture is supporting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recall of pet foods manufactured by Menu Foods, Inc. by issuing a Stop Sale Order on these products. The Stop Sale Order directs retailers to remove all identified pet food products from public sale and prohibits the shipment or movement of the products other than as part of the recall plan. A complete list of the brands, lot numbers and types of products being recalled is available on line at http://www.fda.gov .
"We are reinforcing the recall to make sure that this pet food is removed from the marketplace," said Agriculture Secretary Roger L. Richardson. "Anyone who bought the products should return them to the store from which they were purchased."
MDA has notified distributors of the statewide Stop Sale Order and have begun monitoring the recall by sending inspectors to retail outlets to make sure that products are pulled from the shelves. In addition, MDA will begin testing samples of the recalled pet food if any is found in stores.
The Department of Agriculture's Animal Health staff advises that pet owners stop feeding these products to their animals immediately. If a pet has recently eaten any of the recalled products and shows signs of kidney problems, such as loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting, owners should consult with their private veterinarian.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture's State Chemist Section regulates the sale and distribution of feeds and pet foods among other agricultural products in order to protect consumers and the environment from unsafe or ineffective products and to provide the regulated industry with a competitive marketplace.