Rat poison found in deadly pet food

Animal deaths linked to lethal toxin illegal in the U.S.
(and the FDA is investigating whether it might also have contaminated human food.)
Full story, breaking news, videos and lots of links on MSNBC.com

"Rat poison was found in the pet food suspected of causing kidney failure that killed at least 16 cats and dogs ... The toxin was identified as aminopterin, which is used to kill rats in some countries, state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said. The poison may have been used on wheat imported from China, NBC News correspondent Tom Costello told MSNBC TV.

"Aminopterin is not registered for killing rodents in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, though it is used as a cancer drug ... it inhibits the growth of malignant cells and suppresses the immune system. In dogs and cats, it can cause kidney failure, according to Donald Smith, dean of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine ...

"Spokesman for New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said he was not aware of any criminal investigation involving the tainted food. FBI spokesman Paul Holstein in Albany said Friday he was not aware of any FBI involvement in the case. “I don’t know where we’ll go from here,” he said."