Menu Foods Must Reimburse Pet Owners

To:  Menu Foods Income Fund

A major pet food recall has impacted pet owners across North America. For some pet owners this may be only fear, but for others, it is a reality.

The following is a statement released by Menu Foods Income Fund on March 16, 2007 regarding this recall:

March 16, 2007

Menu Foods Income Fund Announces Precautionary Dog and Cat Food Recall
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - March 16, 2007) -
NOT FOR RELEASE OVER US NEWSWIRE SERVICES

Attention Business/Financial Editors

Menu Foods Income Fund (the "Fund") (TSX:MEW.UN) today announced the precautionary recall of a portion of the dog and cat food it manufactured between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. The recall is limited to "cuts and gravy" style pet food in cans and pouches manufactured at two of the Fund's United States facilities. These products are both manufactured and sold under private-label and are contract-manufactured for some national brands.

Over the past several days, the Fund has received feedback in the United States (none in Canada) raising concerns about pet food manufactured since early December, and its impact on the renal health of the pets consuming the products. Shortly after receipt of the first complaint, the Fund initiated a substantial battery of technical tests, conducted by both internal and external specialists, but has failed to identify any issues with the products in question. The Fund has, however, discovered that timing of the production associated with these complaints, coincides with the introduction of an ingredient from a new supplier. The Fund stopped using this ingredient shortly after this discovery and production since then has been undertaken using ingredients from another source.

At the same time, the Fund's largest customer, for which it manufactures on a contract basis, received a small number of consumer complaints and has initiated its own recall. Furthermore, for the time being, the customer has put future orders for cuts and gravy products on hold. This customer's cuts and gravy purchases in 2006 represented approximately 11% of the Fund's annual revenue.

"We take these complaints very seriously and, while we are still looking for a specific cause, we are acting to err on the side of caution" said Paul K. Henderson, President and CEO, Menu Foods. "We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that our products maintain the very highest quality standards."

Menu is the leading North American private-label/contract manufacturer of wet pet food products sold by supermarket retailers, mass merchandisers, pet specialty retailers and other retail and wholesale outlets. In 2006, the Fund produced more than one billion containers.

-Menu Foods Income Fund

***

Menu Foods supplies some of largest retailers with pet food, such as Wal-Mart, Wegmans, Eukanuba, Iams, Paws and President’s Choice brands. Although the company has not received many complaints, pet owners may not be aware of the side effects present in dogs and cats consuming the dangerous food.

Some signs that your pet may be in danger are:
• loss of appetite
• lethargy
• vomiting
• symptoms of kidney failure

For a complete list of affected brands, please visit www.menufoods.com

Veterinary bills can be extremely expensive. The costs of tests alone can be monumental, not including the treatment. For example, the cost of the testing one cat has been recommended to undergo will cost $1575.00 CAN, a cost that was unexpected and unfair.

We, the undersigned, believe that Menu Foods Income Fund must take responsibility for their product and their mistakes. Menu Foods should be responsible for reimbursing pet owners who have had to pay these expensive vet bills due to their faulty product. Many pet owners can not afford these expenses and others struggle for a chance to save their pets.

Menu Foods must take responsibility for their products and reimburse all pet owners who have had their pets undergo tests and treatments. They should also provide compensation for those who have lost their pets due to Menu Food’s many products.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Menu Foods Must Reimburse Pet Owners Petition to Menu Foods Income Fund was created by and written by Gillian Alexander (gillianalexander@hotmail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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