Chicagoan blames cat's death on tainted food, sues maker
By Mary Ann Fergus
Tribune staff reporter
Published March 21, 2007

A Chicago woman who said her cat died of kidney failure last week after eating a product made by Menu Foods filed a lawsuit Tuesday in federal court.

Dawn Majerczyk's 9-year-old cat, Phoenix, went into kidney failure Friday, four days after it ate a 3-ounce serving of Special Kitty Select Cuts. The cat had to be euthanized Saturday, according to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Majerczyk, a medical assistant, took the cat to Abbot Animal Hospital in Chicago last week because he appeared to be lethargic and dehydrated.

"By Friday, he couldn't walk," Majerczyk said. "He couldn't even meow or lift his head up."

At least 14 animals--one dog and 13 cats--have died after eating Menu Foods products, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Last week, the Streetsville, Ontario, company recalled its "cuts and gravy"-style cat and dog foods, made in Emporia, Kan., and Pennsauken, N.J., between Dec. 3 and March 6. Consumer complaints and the company's routine tasting trials led to the recall of the products, sold in cans and pouches.

A federal probe is focusing on wheat gluten as the likely source of contamination. It was used to thicken the gravy in the pet food, said Stephen Sundlof, the FDA's top veterinarian.

During quarterly taste tests, the company fed its products to 25 cats and 15 dogs, and of those, nine cats died, Sundlof said. The company said four cats and one dog belonging to customers died also, he said.

Sundlof said he fears the number of animals affected is widespread.

The list of recalled products includes 40 brands of cat food and 51 brands of dog food sold by companies such as Iams, PetCare and Science Diet.

Majerczyk said she hopes to at least recover the $300 she paid the veterinarian.