FDA blocks imports of wheat gluten

WASHINGTON - The government has blocked imports of wheat gluten from a company in China because of contamination, acting after the recent pet-food deaths of cats and dogs in the United States.

The Food and Drug Administration took action against wheat gluten from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. in Wangdien, China, after the U.S. recall of nearly 100 brands of pet food. Tainted pet food apparently has resulted in kidney failure in animals across the country.

Imported wheat gluten from China was suspected in the outbreak, and the FDA reported last week that it had found the chemical melamine in samples of the gluten, which was used in the pet foods.

Yesterday, the FDA posted an import alert on its Web page notifying its field offices to detain any gluten offered for import from the company.

The order applies to gluten from China as well as from the Netherlands, a country through which transshipping of Chinese products can occur.