March 23, 2007, 10:19AM
Rat poison found in recalled pet food


From Chronicle wire reports


ALBANY, N.Y. — A spokeswoman for the New York State Department of Agriculture says rat poison was found in tainted pet food that killed several animals and sparked a nationwide recall.

ABC News this morning reported that the rodenticide, which the source says is illegal to use in the United States, was on wheat that was imported from China and used by Menu Foods in nearly 100 brands of dog and cat food.

A news conference is scheduled for later day in Alban, where scientists at the state's food laboratory made the discovery a week after a massive recall of 60 million cans and pouches was issued, ABC reported.

The chemical is called aminopterin.