Maker of Tainted Pet Food Agrees to Settle Case

Jan 05, 07:33 AM

COLUMBIA, S.C. | A company that made contaminated pet food that killed dozens of dogs in 2005 will pay $3.1 million in a settlement with pet owners, said attorney Jim Andrews, who represented a Tennessee family that sued the company. Diamond Pet Foods acknowledged that workers at its Gaston, S.C., plant failed to follow internal testing procedures.

- The Associated Press Diamond Pet Foods is to set up a fund to reimburse pet owners for the loss of their pet, veterinarian bills and the cost of any unreturned toxic food.

the problem

The contaminated pet food, which contained a mold called aflatoxin, was sold in 23 states. Diamond recalled about 20 varieties of dog and cat food when a New York veterinarian said in December 2005 that she had linked a dog's death to the food.

the 2005 case

The 2005 recall is unrelated to the contamination problem that prompted recalls of more than 100 pet food brands in early 2007. In that case, investigators traced pet deaths to a toxic chemical, melamine, that had been added during manufacturing in China.