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Pet Food Settlement Gets 1st OK

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The Associated Press

Published: May 31, 2008

CAMDEN, N.J. - A judge granted initial approval Friday to a settlement in which companies that manufactured or sold contaminated pet food would compensate pet owners for all costs related to the death or illness of their dogs and cats.

Under the deal, granted initial approval by U.S. District Judge Noel Hillman, pet owners in the United States and Canada would be notified of the settlement by June 16 and would have until early December to submit claims. A final hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14.

The $24 million settlement doesn't pay pet owners for pain and suffering from injuries to their pets.

Menu Foods and other companies that make or sell pet food announced April 1 that they were settling lawsuits with pet owners.

Last year, some of their products were discovered to contain wheat gluten imported from China that was contaminated with the chemical melamine. The discovery led to what's thought to be the largest pet food recall ever.

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