AR-News: (Thailand) apology for toxic dog food

[Mary Finelli]

>From today's AnimalNet:


BC-Thailand-Pedigree
Associated Press, March 23, 2004


Bangkok (Kyodo) -- Effem Foods Thailand Co., a subsidiary of food and 
confectionary giant Mars Inc. and the makers of Pedigree Dry brand dog food, 
was cited as apologizing in a statement to customers Tuesday after 
acknowledging that cases of kidney disease in dogs in Taiwan, South Korea 
and Southeast Asia were most likely caused by toxins produced by mold found 
in raw material at its pet food manufacturing plant in the northern province 
of Nakhon Rachasima, adding, "A panel of animal health experts, including 
veterinary medicine specialists from the United States, Europe and Asia, 
conducted a thorough review of all available information before concluding 
that toxins were the most likely cause of the problem."

Effem Foods' general manager for Southeast Asia Calvin Schmidt was quoted as 
saying in the statement that, "We sincerely apologize to our customers and 
express our regret for any distress or anxiety this problem may have 
caused," and that the company is "taking all necessary steps to prevent this 
from ever happening again." Taiwan veterinarians have reportedly said 
hundreds of dogs fed Pedigree Dry dog food, including young ones, had 
mysteriously developed kidney failure and died in recent months.

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