February 7, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Just six months after deadly pet food took the lives of dozens of animals across the U.S., indictments have been handed down to the companies responsible.

One indictment charges Chinese companies Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. and Suzhou Textiles, Silk, Light Industrial Products, Arts and Crafts I/E Co. The companies face 13 counts of introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce and 13 counts of introduction of misbranded food into interstate commerce.

The third company, Chemnutra Inc. of Las Vegas, is owned by Chinese national Sally Quing Miller and her husband Stephen Miller. The pair and their business are accused of the same charges as the others and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The U.S. Attorney’s office announced the charges, and in a prepared statement said Suzhou mislabeled more than 800 tons of melamine tainted wheat gluten to slip past government inspections.

Melamine is a protein additive that can be poisonous. The Suzhou shipment was sent to Chemnutra which distributed it to pet food manufacturers.

Court dates for the defendants have not yet been set.

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