For many owners, pets are more than fun-loving animals — they're cherished family members, whose health and well-being are no less important than that of a loved one.

It's no surprise, then, that the massive recall of Menu Foods in mid-March hit so close to home for millions of households with pets. Since that recall of 60 million cans and pouches of pet food, there have been 16 confirmed deaths. Last week, the recall expanded to 20 additional varieties of pet foods and Sunshine Mills dry dog biscuits. The recalled food contained melamine, which was found in the wheat gluten imported from China.

Tragically, the number of confirmed deaths is almost certain to rise.

This far-reaching recall points to the need to seriously examine what flaws there are in the system. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates pet food and inspects pet food products imported from other countries. On both fronts, there is clearly room for improvement.

Even those who have never owned a pet have reason to be concerned. Imported products for human consumption are rapidly growing in number. According to the Washington Post, the number of imported foods has increased fivefold since the mid-1990s. That number is likely to increase over time. Despite the abundance of wheat producers in the United States, manufacturers have turned to China for wheat gluten simply because it is cheaper.

The growing number of imported products is a sign of the times, and we must adjust our safeguards accordingly.

Last week, Sen. Richard J. Durbin announced a congressional hearing on the FDA's investigation. This will be crucial in identifying where the process failed and succeeded. The hearings also will serve as an opportunity to explore other options. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gets involved when there is a problem with human food. No such system is in place for pet food, however. This option is worth considering.

Accidents happen, and human error is inevitable. But there is little comfort in those thoughts when a beloved member of the family is a victim of them.