On April 24th, 2007 Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Inc. issued a voluntary recall on several of their pet food products after receiving a half dozen reports in the same day regarding animals falling ill after consuming the food. Melamine, the same chemical that contaminated wheat gluten in hundreds of foods that have been recalled over the last month, was detected in the rice protein samples.

Since then, importer and distributor Wilbur-Ellis has issued a complete recall of all rice protein that entered the country from manufacturers Binzhou Futian Biological Technology in China.

On April 2nd, when shipment was received by Wilbur-Ellis, most of the rice protein was bagged in the usual white bags except one pink bag that was clearly marked melamine. It was thought at that time that it was a limited incident and that all infected products were recalled. However, melamine has since been discovered in all of the rice protein in that shipment and the FDA is testing all eight shipments of rice protein that has entered the US since July 2006.

Newly recalled foods include:

ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET(TM) (available only in veterinary clinics)

Dry Dog Food

* Canine Early Cardiac EC 22(TM)

* Canine Skin Support SS21(TM)

Dry Cat Food

* Feline Hypoallergenic HP23(TM)

ROYAL CANIN SENSIBLE CHOICE