On March 15, 2007, FDA learned that certain pet foods were sickening and killing cats and dogs. FDA found contaminants in vegetable proteins imported into the United States from China and used as ingredients in pet food.

A portion of the tainted pet food was used to produce farm animal feed and fish feed. FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture discovered that some animals that ate the tainted feed had been processed into human food. Government scientists have determined that there is very low risk to human health from consuming food from animals that ate tainted feed. All tainted pet food, animal and fish feed, and vegetable proteins continue to be recalled and destroyed.

As a result of FDA and USDA's comprehensive investigation, on February 6, 2008, FDA announced that two Chinese nationals and the businesses they operate, along with a U.S. company and its president and chief executive officer, were indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a scheme to import products purported to be wheat gluten into the United States that were contaminated with melamine.

Press Releases

• Charges Filed in Contaminated Pet Food Scheme
• FDA Investigation Leads to Several Indictments for Importing Contaminated Ingredients Used in Pet Food
• Contaminant Found in Second Pet Food Ingredient
• Pet Food Recall: FDA's Ongoing Investigation

Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences

• May 30, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• May 17, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• May 17, 2007 Audio for Transcript of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• May 15, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• May 15, 2007 Audio for Transcript of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• May 10, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• May 8, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• May 8, 2007 Audio for Transcript of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• May 3, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• May 3, 2007 Audio for Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• May 1, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• May 1, 2007 Audio of Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• April 26, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• April 26, 2007 Audio for Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• April 24, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• April 24, 2007 Audio for Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• April 19, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• April 19, 2007 Audio for Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• April 5, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• March 30, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• March 20, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall
• March 19, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall

Additional Information

• Consumer Complaint Coordinators
• Melamine Pet Food Recall - Frequently Asked Questions
• Pet Food
• Analytical Methods for Melamine and Triazine Analogs
• The Melamine Story (video)
• FDA Webinar: Melamine—The Cause of the 2007 Pet Food Recall