Pet Food Poisoning Settlement Increased

Today a federal judge will hear oral arguments on a proposal that would bring to $32 million the amount pet food makers and distributors would pay to settle hundreds of lawsuits over contaminated pet food that last year killed or sickened thousands of animals, the Associated Press reports.

The case began in March 2007, when Streetsville, Ontario-based Menu Foods Income Fund, recalled millions of containers of pet food that were believed to be sickening pets suddenly and by the thousands. Menu’s products are sold under some 90 different brand names.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration later found that the food contained melamine, a chemical used to make plastics. The chemical was traced to contaminated wheat gluten imported from China.

Hundreds of pet owners sued.

In April, lawyers representing more than 200 named plaintiffs and dozens of companies announced they had struck a deal for pet owners in the United States and Canada. In addition to the $8 million they had already agreed to pay owners of sickened pets, the companies would put up $24 million for the settlement, the AP reports. Owners would be able to be reimbursed for medical expenses, euthanasia, burials, the cost of replacement pets and other costs. Even those who did not keep any receipts for either the pet food or the costs of the pets’ illness and death could get up to $900 per animal.

But the agreement did not include any money for the humans’ pain and suffering from injuries to their pets.

The AP reports that as of Sept. 30, more than 9,500 people in the United States and Canada had made claims, while just over 100 people had preserved their rights to sue separately. Relatively few — 28 — had filed objections to the settlement.

People who want to make claims have until Nov. 24 to submit their information.