This story is concerning dog food sold in China not the United States. However, there is a question whether this food was imported from the US or Australia, as well as exactly where the blame lies.

SHANGHAI, China – A local distributor of a popular brand of dog food said Monday it had suspended sales of the product following reports that dogs who ate it died from poisoning.

China’s recent food safety scandals have centered on locally made products; this time it wasn’t immediately clear whether the product was locally made or imported.

A customer service manager at Shanghai Yidi Pet Co. said the company stopped selling Optima brand dog food last week following reports that more than a dozen dogs who ate it had died from aflatoxin poisoning.

An Optima brand of pet food is made by Doane International Pet Products LLC, based in Brentwood, Tenn. Mars Inc. acquired the Brentwood-based Doane Pet Care Enterprises Inc. in 2006.

U.S.-based Mars Inc., the world’s largest chocolate seller and the maker of several pet foods, denied involvement Monday but said it was investigating the reports from China.

“To the best of its current knowledge, the Optima-branded pet food which appears to have caused these reported incidents in the People’s Republic of China was not manufactured by, or under the authority of, Mars or any of its affiliated companies,” the company said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press.

This has turned into a bit of a blame game, no one taking responsibility. The saddest part is that while everyone is blaming each other over 30 dogs have died.

Thanks Kodi for barking this to me.

Solid Gold Voluntary Recall – Turkey, Ocean Fish, Carrot, & Sweet Potatoes Formula

Turkey, Ocean Fish, Carrot, & Sweet Potatoes Formula Canned Dog Food 13.2 oz Cans – POP-TOP CANS ONLY WITH A ‘USE BY DATE 01/02/2010′ located on the bottom of can

A limited production of this Turkey canned food was made with the POP-TOP, and none of the product was distributed in any of the following states: Arizona, California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Hawaii, or Alaska.

Solid Gold has received several complaints regarding mold found in a batch of 13.2 oz canned Turkey, Ocean Fish, Carrot, & Sweet Potatoes Formula, with Pop-Tops. As a precautionary measure, they ask that you return any of this product with the ‘Use By Date 01/02/2010′; you will find these numbers on the bottom of the cans.

• 13.2 oz Turkey and Ocean Fish Canned Dog Food.

• Purple label with a POP -TOP (Pull top) only.

• Date on bottom of can 01/02/2010.
• Turkey and Ocean Fish cans without a Pop-Top are not affected.

If you have this product with this date range, you can return it to Pet Supplies Plus for a full refund.

* Photo courtesy Solid Gold Health website.