Pet owners worried about food

Local veterinarians were receiving calls about pet owners worried about their animals following a recall of 60 million containers of wet pet food after reports of kidney failure and deaths.

Neither Four Winds Animal Clinic nor Red Willow Animal Clinic sold affected brands, they said, and neither did Trustworthy Bikes, Pets and Hardware.

Among the list of affected brands were several sold by Wal-Mart as well as Safeway, Kroger and other store brands.

An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, manufacturer Menu Foods said in announcing the North American recall on Friday.

Product testing has not revealed a link explaining the reported cases of illness and death, the company said.

The company has posted full lists of brand names and lot numbers covered by the recall at its Web site-- http://www.menufoods.com/recall. Or, consumers with questions can call (800) 551-7392.

The company manufactures pet foods for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies. Its three U.S. and one Canadian factory produce more than a billion containers of wet pet food a year. The recall covers pet food made at at company plants in Emporia, Kan., and Pennsauken, N.J.