Rat poison has been found in the massive recall of pet food.  Representatives of a food laboratory in Albany, N.Y., and the New York agriculture commissioner confirmed the rat poison findings on Friday afternoon.  A news conference was called to release the findings of tests conducted on the pet food this week, as well as provide information to the public and other researchers looking into the situation.

16 animal deaths, suspected to have been caused by kidney failure, lead Menu Foods to recall 60 million cans and pouches of pet food sold throughout North America under 95 brand names.

The chemical found in the food was identified as aminopterin, a rodenticide that is used as rat poison and as an anti-cancer drug in trials to treat leukemia.

Commissioner Patrick Hooker said that the toxin is not registered for legal use in the U.S. for rodent control.  The Food and Drug Administration and Menu Foods had been notified of the finding before the news conference. Hook and Smith both stressed that the results were just one step in the process of determining how the food became contaminated. Neither State nor Federal law enforcement agencies have indicated any criminal investigations are planned.

 Earlier, ABC News reported that the chemical was on wheat imported from China. However, at the news conference Commissioner Patrick Hooker, joined by Donald Smith, dean of veterinary medicine at Cornell University, said that they could not confirm the source of the contamination because they tested final products, not individual ingredients.

The Menu Food’s chief executive and president said the company delayed announcing the recall until it could confirm that the animals had eaten its product before dying. There had been two earlier complaints from consumers whose cats had died.  However, since both cats lived outside or had access to a garage there was a possibility they had been poisoned by something other than contaminated food.   

A spokesman for New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said he was not aware of any criminal investigation involving the tainted food.

Menu Foods has posted a complete list of the recalled products along with their product codes, descriptions and production dates is posted online by Menu Foods and is available at http://www.menufoods.com/recall/.  The company also designated two phone numbers that pet owners could call for information: (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708.

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