Abstract
Eighty-four commercially available pet food samples including cat food (38 solid, 17 semi-solid) and dog food (20 solid, 9 semi-solid) were analyzed for melamine residues by competitive enzyme linked Immunosorbant assay. Among solid cat food, 78.94% (n=30) were contaminated with 14.43 +/- 1.27 (range >4-68 mg/kg) of melamine, while 82.35% samples of semi solid cat food (n=14) were found positive for melamine residue with mean value 6.43 +/- 1.96 (range >2-13.14mg/kg). Similarly, 75% samples of solid dog food (n=15) were positive for melamine residues with mean value 8.50 +/- 1.73 mg/kg (range >4-49mg/kg). A total of 44.44% samples of semi solid dog food were positive for melamine with mean value 16.31 +/- 1.64 range of >2-34.25mg/kg. Out of all positive samples, 53% samples of pet food were contaminated beyond the Codex Alimentarius Commission (i.e 2.5mg/kg). Analytical data showed existence of melamine residues in imported pet food.