Mislabeled wheat flour is contaminated, not wheat gluten or rice protein concentrate

The FDA and USDA announced today that wheat flour, mislabeled as wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate, is actually the melamine-contaminated ingredient that has been the focus of a massive pet food recall, not wheat gluten or rice protein concentrate as previously believed.

Levels of melamine in meat products from animals given contaminated feed are very low and pose little risk to humans if eaten, officials reiterated. None of these ingredients has been used in the human food supply.

Also, a portion of the mislabeled "wheat gluten" has been used in the preparation of fish feeds and has been used in some U.S. aquaculture production operations. Officials stated that levels of melamine in affected fish tested so far have been comparable to those found in hogs and chickens.

More information will be posted on the AVMA Web site as soon as it becomes available.