Tainted pet food settlement has $24M fund

TRENTON, N.J., May 23 (UPI) -- Pet food makers and retailers sued in 2007's pet food recall will create a $24 million fund to compensate U.S. and Canadian pet owners, court documents said.

In a proposed settlement filed in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, Menu Foods and 11 other pet food makers will create the fund to compensate thousands of pet owners who bought recalled pet foods containing a contaminated ingredient from China, sickening dogs and cats, USA Today reported Friday.

The $24 million is on top of the $8 million pet food makers already paid pet owners. The settlement, negotiated over the past seven months, would resolve more than 100 lawsuits filed by at least 250 U.S. plaintiffs and a dozen lawsuits in Canada.

The majority of the funds will be distributed to owners whose pets were injured or died because of kidney failure linked to the contaminant -- a wheat gluten-rice protein concentrate tainted with melamine -- discovered in some of the recalled pet food, USA Today said.

The recall, covering 180 brands of pet food and treats, was the largest recall of pet food ever, prompting congressional inquires, a federal investigation and a U.S. Food and Drug Administration review.