Pet Food Companies Agree to Pay $24 Million to Pet Owners in Tainted Pet Food Recall Suit (Menu Foods)

We all remember the Menu Foods pet food recall that affected so many types of cat and dog food in supermarkets. It was the biggest ever pet food recall in American history. The tragedy of the tainted food had cost many of our readers their pets. It was unknown just how may cats and dogs were killed nationwide, however, now there has been a settlement reached.

Pet food companies that were sued over contaminated and tainted food that caused the deaths of thousands of cats and dogs have agreed to pay $24 million to pet owners in the United States and Canada. Ontario based Menu Foods was one of the companies sued. Recall information HERE. Approximately 300 people sued 30 companies in state and federal courts including Menu Foods.

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Ontario-based Menu Foods Income Fund, which makes dog and cat food under about 90 brand names, and other firms that make or sell pet food announced April 1 that they were settling lawsuits with pet owners.

The pet food was discovered to contain wheat gluten imported from China that was contaminated with melamine, a chemical used to make plastics. Though Menu was the first company to issue recalls, four other companies eventually recalled pet foods, too.

“The settlement attempts to reimburse pet owners for all of their economic damages,” said Russell Paul, a lawyer for plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

The deal would affect people who incurred expenses directly related to the illness or death of a pet linked to the food, which was at the center of the biggest-ever U.S. pet food recall in 2007.

Under the terms of the deal announced Thursday, pet owners could be reimbursed for all reasonable expenditures, including veterinarian bills and burial or cremation costs.

Pet owners could also ask for the fair market value of their deceased pets, if that is higher than the costs incurred. Owners who do not have documentation of their expenses can get up to $900 each. All claims are subject to a review.

The companies say they will donate any money left in the fund after claims are paid out to animal welfare charities. (Yahoo News)