China Gluten Blocked After Pet Food Recall
Chemical Melamie Found In Wheat Gluten Samples

WASHINGTON -- The government has blocked imports of wheat gluten from a
company in China because of contamination, acting after the recent pet-food
deaths of cats and dogs in the U.S.

The Food and Drug Administration took action against wheat gluten from
Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. in Wangdien, China, after
the U.S. recall of nearly 100 brands of pet food.

Tainted pet food apparently has resulted in kidney failure in animals across
the country.

Imported wheat gluten from China was suspected in the outbreak, and the FDA
reported last week that it had found the chemical melamine in samples of the
gluten, which was used in the pet foods.

On Monday, the FDA posted an import alert on its Web page notifying its
field offices to detain any gluten offered for import from the company.

The order applies to gluten from China as well as from the Netherlands, a
country through which transshipping of Chinese products can occur.