Who Manufactured Aflatoxin-Contaminated Optima Dog Food?

January 16, 2009

So far, no one has owned up to having produced the aflatoxin-contaminated Optima brand dog food that has been linked to at least 20 dog deaths in China.

Media reports have variously described the dog food as having been manufactured in Australia by Doane International Pet Products, or having been imported into China from the United States via a Taiwan company.

China's government agency denies having authorized the importation of Optima pet food, and the Australian government has corroborated China's claim. Australia states that Optima pet food never was exported from Australia to China. Furthermore, there is no Australian corporate registration record for Doane International Pet Products. This confirms our Wednesday report that Doane is not registered in Australia.

Was the Optima dog food manufactured in the United States? Mars denies having manufactured the offending dog food – or having authorized manufacture by a third party. We have had no response from Mars to our emailed request for comment.

Perhaps this "imported" dog food actually was "Made in China."