[rainbow]

Here's Purina's reply to wheat gluten from the FAQ page posted above:

Originally Posted by http://www.purina.ca/faq/default.asp#A

Q: How can you be certain that other Purina products available in Canada are safe?

A: The wheat gluten contaminated with melamine was received by only one of Purina's pet food factories in the U.S. The contaminated wheat gluten was provided to that plant by the same Chinese source that also supplied Menu Foods. It was isolated to specific, limited production runs of ALPOŽ Prime Cuts canned dog food, made at our Crete, Nebraska factory. ALPO Prime Cuts canned dog foods are not available in Canada.

We have a sophisticated traceability system that enables us to track all ingredients from time of receipt at our plant through their inclusion in finished products and on to our customers to which the finished products were shipped. Based on our traceability system we are confident that no Purina products available in Canada are impacted by pet food recalls.

Alpo Prime Cuts in Gravy and Mighty Dog pouch wet dog foods are the only two Purina products under recall and affected by the contaminated wheat gluten. Importantly, no Canadian Purina products were impacted.


INGREDIENTS SUCH AS WHEAT GLUTEN:

Q: Why do you use "wheat gluten" in your products?

A: Wheat gluten is a high quality ingredient that provides protein, used safely for decades in pet food products as well as many human food products such as bread, breakfast cereal and pasta.

In pet food, wheat gluten provides protein, a source of amino acids. Protein supports muscle development and a healthy immune system in cats and dogs. Wheat gluten provides the texture and consistency desired in our products.



Q: Why don't you use another protein source in your product vs. wheat gluten?

A: We use many sources of protein in our products, but the function of this protein source cannot be duplicated by other protein sources.



Q: Do you source wheat gluten from China?

A: For manufacturing at Purina's Canadian facilities, we source our wheat gluten within Canada.

For manufacturing at Purina's facilities in the United States, only a minority of the wheat gluten supply originates in China. Wheat gluten is a commodity ingredient sold on the global market. While the vast majority of grain products and ingredients for U.S. manufacturing are sourced within the United States, wheat gluten that meets our specifications is not available in sufficient quantities in North America.

Once again, PurinaŽ brand products available in Canada are not impacted by pet food recalls.