Was Toxin Added on Purpose? Pet Food Recall Widens.

Another contaminated grain product used in pet food (and possibly other animal feed), has been discovered. This time it's rice protein concentrate. And it's contaminated, again with melamine.

Because of this the pet food recall has widened to include some brands that contain the tainted rice protein concentrate. This is because melamine has been found not just in imported wheat gluten but also rice protein concentrate; both contaminated grain products are from China, according to the Houston Chronicle's online news outlet, chron.com. The Chronicle also says there are South African press reports indicating that corn gluten, contaminated with melamine, has been found in that country's pet food.

Wilbur Ellis Co., which imported the tainted rice product, found the contaminant in rice protein from one supplier, Reuter's reports. They are voluntarily recalling all of the rice protein concentrate its feed division sold to pet food manufacturers.

The FDA is mulling over if the contamination might not have been deliberate. They say that adding melamine can boost the apparent protein content of the grain products.