Menu Foods Income Fund Announces Precautionary Dog and Cat Food Recall


TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - March 16, 2007) -
NOT FOR RELEASE OVER US NEWSWIRE SERVICES
Attention Business/Financial Editors


Menu Foods Income Fund (the "Fund") (TSX:MEW.UN) today announced the precautionary recall of a portion of the dog and cat food it
manufactured between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. The recall is limited to "cuts and gravy" style pet food in cans and pouches
manufactured at two of the Fund's United States facilities. These products are both manufactured and sold under private-label and are
contract-manufactured for some national brands.
Over the past several days, the Fund has received feedback in the United States (none in Canada) raising concerns about pet food
manufactured since early December, and its impact on the renal health of the pets consuming the products. Shortly after receipt of the first
complaint, the Fund initiated a substantial battery of technical tests, conducted by both internal and external specialists, but has failed to
identify any issues with the products in question. The Fund has, however, discovered that timing of the production associated with these
complaints, coincides with the introduction of an ingredient from a new supplier. The Fund stopped using this ingredient shortly after this
discovery and production since then has been undertaken using ingredients from another source.
At the same time, the Fund's largest customer, for which it manufactures on a contract basis, received a small number of consumer
complaints and has initiated its own recall. Furthermore, for the time being, the customer has put future orders for cuts and gravy products on
hold. This customer's cuts and gravy purchases in 2006 represented approximately 11% of the Fund's annual revenue.
"We take these complaints very seriously and, while we are still looking for a specific cause, we are acting to err on the side of caution" said
Paul K. Henderson, President and CEO, Menu Foods. "We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that our products maintain the very
highest quality standards."
While the number of complaints has been relatively small, Menu is taking this proactive step out of an abundance of caution, because the
health and well-being of pets is paramount to the Fund.
In addition to changing suppliers, for production after March 6, the Fund has increased testing of all raw materials and finished goods. It is
also working closely with regulatory authorities and its customers to learn more and will take whatever additional actions are appropriate. The
Fund estimates that based on currently available information, this recall could cost between $30 million and $40 million, which will be
financed from a combination of internally generated cash flow and bank credit facilities. Furthermore, the Fund is aggressively producing
product, utilizing a different supplier for the ingredient in question, to replenish customers as quickly as possible.
In order to determine whether cat and dog food in their possession is subject to recall, consumers should refer to the list of brand names
("listed products") at www.menufoods.com/recall. This will be available by 6 a.m. Saturday March 17, 2007. Products not identified on the
website can continue to be used.
Menu is the leading North American private-label/contract manufacturer of wet pet food products sold by supermarket retailers, mass
merchandisers, pet specialty retailers and other retail and wholesale outlets. In 2006, the Fund produced more than one billion containers.

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thunder cat yoooo

Pet food sold locally safe for animals to eat

PETALING JAYA: Dog and cat owners can heave a sigh of relief while feeding their pets.

None of the pet food distributed locally is affected by the United States and Canada recall.

According to a statement released by Eukanuba and Iams pet food distributor Procter & Gamble (P&G) (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Asia is not affected by the recall, as the specific wet food products are not being sold here.

“All products acquired from local authorised distributors are safe,” said P&G associate public affairs manager Edwin Lam Choong Wai.

The recall in North America is part of a larger product recall by Menu Foods Inc, a contract manufacturer that makes a small portion of canned and foil pouch wet pet food for various brands, including Eukanuba and Iams.

Meanwhile, Shrilan Sivaguranathan, managing director of Hill’s Pet Nutripet pet food distributor Pet’s Corner Sdn Bhd, and Nestle Purina country business manager Ernest Yong said there was no cause for worry as none of the products being recalled were sold in Malaysia.

However, Purina PetCare Co and Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc are voluntarily recalling some products as a precautionary measure.

Ontario-based Menu Foods said on Saturday it was recalling dog and cat food sold under some 48 brands after receiving reports that a number of cats and dogs suffered kidney disease and some had died after consuming the affected food.

Menu Foods chief executive and president Paul Henderson estimated the recall will cost the company US$26mil to US$$34mil (RM93mil to RM122mil).

Company spokesman Sarah Tuite said the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, which has since been dropped for another source. Wheat gluten is a source of protein.

TheStar

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Men do change, and change comes like a little wind that ruffles the curtains at dawn, and it comes like the stealthy perfume of wildflowers hidden in the grass.