No explanation was given as to how the poison entered the food or when in the process the dog and cat foods became contaminated. Neither State nor Federal law enforcement agencies have indicated any criminal investigations are planned.

According to Wikipedia, Aminopterin (4-aminopteroic acid) is a 4-amino analog of folic acid. It is a substance with properties that suppress the immune system (lower anti infection system strength in the body) and is commonly used in chemotherapy.

In the same article, Wikipedia claims ABC News has reported wheat from China may have been contaminated with Aminopterin (used there as a rat poison) and wheat byproducts (wheat gluten) from those shipments may have been used in the production of the dog food and cat food suspected in the deaths of the nearly 1,000 pets in the United States.

A statement issued by the New York Department of Agriculture confirms that scientists at the New York State Food Laboratory "…identified Aminopterin as a toxin present in cat food samples from Menu Foods, the manufacturer of the many brands of dog and cat food that are currently the subject of a nationwide recall."

The statement claimed that Aminopterin was found in samples "…at a level of at least 40 parts per million."

Please visit this thread in our forum for the details about this wet food recall and a list of dog food brands recalled by Menu Foods: Dog Food Recall - Menu Foods.

If you have any concern about the health of your dog contact your vet at once.

Looking for premium dog food for your special friends? We have a great selection of Sojourner Farms raw dog food, Karma Organics dog food, and premium Merrick dog food for you to consider.

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