Pet Food Toxins - Is Your Cat Or Dog Safe? (Part 1)
Very soon after consuming the poisoned food, the pets have started getting sick. The animals are having serious problems, such as vomiting, kidney failure, lethargy, and even death in some cases. Although few animals have died (less than two dozen) the scare has affected many pet owners.
At first, people suspected that the problem was part of rat poison in the food supply, namely the chemical aminopterin. Aminopterin is used primarily in chemotherapy. While New York officials stated this, FDA officials did not confirmed the matter.
At present, the general consensus is that a food distributor’s product from China included toxins. The poisonous chemical in the wheat gluten, melamine, is also used in pesticides, as well as for plastics.
Wheat gluten is the protein part of starches like those found in flour. It resembles gelatin, and is valuable in food manufacturing in that it adopts the flavor and texture of the food it’s with. It also adds volume to products, and can resemble meat by taking on the texture and flavor as well. It can also add chewiness and elasticity to foods, plus works as a binder, filler, and gravy thickener.