Toxin in killer pet food is used in rat poison

ALBANY, NY (Reuters) - An ingredient used in rat poison has been found in samples of Menu Foods cat food, New York State officials said on Friday. Food manufactured by the company has been blamed for the deaths of at least 14 animals.

Aminopterin, a folic acid derivative used in rat poison, was discovered in samples obtained from the Ontario-based company, New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said at a press conference. Menu Foods has recalled millions of pounds of its cuts-and-gravy wet pet food.

Use of aminopterin is forbidden in the United States because it can cause cancer and birth defects in humans as well as kidney failure in dogs and cats, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets said.

The New York State Food Laboratory found 40 parts per million of aminopterin in the samples, but were waiting to hear from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on how safe that level was and if it came from the wheat gluten that was previously suspected of causing illnesses and deaths in pets, Department spokeswoman Jessica Chittenden said at the conference.

FDA spokeswoman Julie Zawisza said it was investigating the finding by New York authorities and planned to hold a briefing for reporters later on Friday.

The New York lab obtained the food samples from a toxicologist at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University, which has been testing samples to identify the cause of kidney failure in dogs and cats that consumed recalled pet food.

Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Donald Smith said the lab would now test wet dog food for the toxin.

(Additional reporting by Lisa Richwine in Washington D.C.)