Comments on: Pet-food recall: The ’same vat’ theory http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/ The Web blog of the Pet Connection, a pet-care feature syndicated internationally by Universal Press. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:05:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Jj Jones http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-38847 Jj Jones Tue, 24 Apr 2007 23:22:16 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-38847 We have two cats 5 and 7 years of age. We have fed Innova dry cat food exclusively to them their whole lives with the exception of Innova canned, California Natural Lamb & Rice canned, and we did purchase 1 bag of Evo dry cat food. Our 7 year old cat lost a lot of weight on just one bag of Evo so I went back to Innova for him. He still has not gained back the weight and now is showing signs of renal failure. I have an appointment later this week for him to see what's going on. Our other cat's weight never changed on Evo and he's a chubby boy. We do animal rescue and currently have 9 bottle baby kittens and 5 more just being weaned of the mother. We are weaning them with a mixture of KMR feline mothers replacement milk and California Lamb & Rice feline canned. So far they are doing great but I'm concerned since what I'm reading here is that Menu Foods produces Natura's canned foods. I'm going to purchase some fresh chicken and start feeding it instead of any canned products. I thought Natura was safe. Now I don't trust any prepared pet products. We have two cats 5 and 7 years of age. We have fed Innova dry cat food exclusively to them their whole lives with the exception of Innova canned, California Natural Lamb & Rice canned, and we did purchase 1 bag of Evo dry cat food. Our 7 year old cat lost a lot of weight on just one bag of Evo so I went back to Innova for him. He still has not gained back the weight and now is showing signs of renal failure. I have an appointment later this week for him to see what’s going on. Our other cat’s weight never changed on Evo and he’s a chubby boy. We do animal rescue and currently have 9 bottle baby kittens and 5 more just being weaned of the mother. We are weaning them with a mixture of KMR feline mothers replacement milk and California Lamb & Rice feline canned. So far they are doing great but I’m concerned since what I’m reading here is that Menu Foods produces Natura’s canned foods. I’m going to purchase some fresh chicken and start feeding it instead of any canned products. I thought Natura was safe. Now I don’t trust any prepared pet products.

]]> By: Kay Jackson http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-37376 Kay Jackson Mon, 23 Apr 2007 23:39:40 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-37376 I just wanted to share a brand of dog food that is still made by the people who originated it. It's called Timberwolf Organics. More information can be gotten at timberwolforganics.com I just wanted to share a brand of dog food that is still made by the people who originated it.

It’s called Timberwolf Organics.

More information can be gotten at timberwolforganics.com

]]> By: Lori http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-32742 Lori Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:22:12 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-32742 I feed Natura Innova and also the EVO (grain free)I use dry foods for my dogs and canned and dry for my cats. I almost lost my 13 year old cat in Jan. I had tried a sample of an all Natural food on her and the 2 other cats. She got very ill. I then switched her to EVO canned only, after the week of no foods and fluid support, and she regrew her hair coat and is back to her normal self. I now give them Evo dry and canned and will continue to. EVO Has NO GRAINS. Nutura makes its dry foods in its own plant. Wet foods were made at a menu foods plant, again, NOT the ones implicated by the wheat and now rice concentrate issue and using NUTURAS ingred. Only Nutura's Karma uses rice concentrate and it uses only DOMESTIC products. They do not use wheat in any product. I also feed EVO to my german shepard, 2 skips and standard poodle. No canned for them. Nutura is seeking to start their ownn canned plant. I DO NOT work for NUTURA, I DO believe it saved my cats life. I feed Natura Innova and also the EVO (grain free)I use dry foods for my dogs and canned and dry for my cats. I almost lost my 13 year old cat in Jan. I had tried a sample of an all Natural food on her and the 2 other cats. She got very ill. I then switched her to EVO canned only, after the week of no foods and fluid support, and she regrew her hair coat and is back to her normal self. I now give them Evo dry and canned and will continue to. EVO Has NO GRAINS. Nutura makes its dry foods in its own plant. Wet foods were made at a menu foods plant, again, NOT the ones implicated by the wheat and now rice concentrate issue and using NUTURAS ingred. Only Nutura’s Karma uses rice concentrate and it uses only DOMESTIC products. They do not use wheat in any product. I also feed EVO to my german shepard, 2 skips and standard poodle. No canned for them. Nutura is seeking to start their ownn canned plant. I DO NOT work for NUTURA, I DO believe it saved my cats life.

]]> By: Christel Johnson http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-28076 Christel Johnson Mon, 09 Apr 2007 23:14:20 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-28076 Well, the site didn't show, so here it is again: http://www.formypet.biz Well, the site didn’t show, so here it is again:
http://www.formypet.biz

]]> By: Christel Johnson http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-28074 Christel Johnson Mon, 09 Apr 2007 23:12:02 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-28074 So sad to hear about all you affected by this menace. I have 10 dogs and a cat myself. I highly recommend doing some reading at the site I have listed. While I understand that sometimes drastic measures are needed, consider what the chemicals from the vet are doing to your pet on top of the poison that's already in their system from the contaminated foods. Very interesting and informative. I have been using them/their products for 3 1/2 years, which is ever since a vet told me my 6 month old pup wouldn't be able to walk by the time she's an adult. She'll be 4 on 19 April and runs and jumps with all the rest. READ-READ-READ-and then call the number they provide for free consultation. It all makes sense. So sad to hear about all you affected by this menace. I have 10 dogs and a cat myself. I highly recommend doing some reading at the site I have listed. While I understand that sometimes drastic measures are needed, consider what the chemicals from the vet are doing to your pet on top of the poison that’s already in their system from the contaminated foods. Very interesting and informative. I have been using them/their products for 3 1/2 years, which is ever since a vet told me my 6 month old pup wouldn’t be able to walk by the time she’s an adult. She’ll be 4 on 19 April and runs and jumps with all the rest. READ-READ-READ-and then call the number they provide for free consultation. It all makes sense.

]]> By: Maureen http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-16703 Maureen Fri, 30 Mar 2007 17:11:01 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-16703 At least one company who manufactures wheat gluten is Archer Daniels Midland. ADM does manufacture wheat gluten, though this doesn't say if they manufacture it in China. However, questions can be raised based on Reuter's description of ADM's business ventures: this refers to one of ADM's joint ventures in China (and Indonesia: "Golden Peanut Company LLC, a joint venture between the Company (ADM) and Alimenta (U.S.A.), Inc., supplies peanuts to both the domestic and export markets. The Company has a 50% ownership interest in this joint venture. The Company participates in various joint ventures in China and Indonesia that operate palm plantations; soybean, rapeseed, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut, palm kernel and sesame crushing facilities and related vegetable oil refineries and packaging facilities; an oleochemical plant that produces fatty acids, glycerin and soap noodles; a soy protein plant; wheat flour mills; rice mills; feed mills; fertilizer operations, and related silos and storage facilities." Source: http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/fullDescription.asp?symbol=ADM.N&WTmodLoc=HybArt-C1-ArticlePage1 At least one company who manufactures wheat gluten is Archer Daniels Midland. ADM does manufacture wheat gluten, though this doesn’t say if they manufacture it in China. However, questions can be raised based on Reuter’s description of ADM’s business ventures: this refers to one of ADM’s joint ventures in China (and Indonesia:

“Golden Peanut Company LLC, a joint venture between the Company (ADM) and Alimenta (U.S.A.), Inc., supplies peanuts to both the domestic and export markets. The Company has a 50% ownership interest in this joint venture. The Company participates in various joint ventures in China and Indonesia that operate palm plantations; soybean, rapeseed, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut, palm kernel and sesame crushing facilities and related vegetable oil refineries and packaging facilities; an oleochemical plant that produces fatty acids, glycerin and soap noodles; a soy protein plant; wheat flour mills; rice mills; feed mills; fertilizer operations, and related silos and storage facilities.”

Source: http://stocks.us.reuters.com/s.....ticlePage1

]]> By: Amanda http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-11914 Amanda Sat, 24 Mar 2007 23:28:02 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-11914 I want to share a resource for those looking for information on dog food quality and how to assess it (sorry, I don't know of a comparable one for cat food). Whole Dog Journal (www.whole-dog-journal.com) conducts an independent annual review of dog foods. They publish a list of 50+ recommended brands each for wet and dry foods. Even better, they accompany this list with information: explanations of how to interpret what's on the label of any food, how to tell high quality foods from low quality, and what to keep in mind when choosing. I've found it to be a fantastically helpful resource. It's not a perfect system, but it's pretty good: only one of the brands they've ever recommended has a product affected by this recall. Thanks to them, I learned a few years ago at that many of these so-called premium brands are really pretty bad, even if they are better than the grocery store generics. I'm feeling *really* appreciative of that right now, and wanted to share. I want to share a resource for those looking for information on dog food quality and how to assess it (sorry, I don’t know of a comparable one for cat food). Whole Dog Journal (www.whole-dog-journal.com) conducts an independent annual review of dog foods. They publish a list of 50+ recommended brands each for wet and dry foods. Even better, they accompany this list with information: explanations of how to interpret what’s on the label of any food, how to tell high quality foods from low quality, and what to keep in mind when choosing. I’ve found it to be a fantastically helpful resource. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s pretty good: only one of the brands they’ve ever recommended has a product affected by this recall. Thanks to them, I learned a few years ago at that many of these so-called premium brands are really pretty bad, even if they are better than the grocery store generics. I’m feeling *really* appreciative of that right now, and wanted to share.

]]> By: Melinda http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-11816 Melinda Sat, 24 Mar 2007 18:57:39 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-11816 The premium brands have been "outed" by this disaster. And they are still trying to maintain secrecy about what else is manuractured by menu foods. Does dry food come from there also? I suspect that some of the old names on the list will disappear and "new" names will appear for the premium foods but will just be the same stuff marketed by the same companies - trying to make us believe there is something different and better on the market. Well, I suppose we have to buy our pet food from someone. I am just not going to pay premium prices anymore *unless* the premium companies list the % of the major ingredients on their packaging. In absence of that, I have to assume their percentage is no better than the less expensive brands. The premium brands have been “outed” by this disaster. And they are still trying to maintain secrecy about what else is manuractured by menu foods. Does dry food come from there also? I suspect that some of the old names on the list will disappear and “new” names will appear for the premium foods but will just be the same stuff marketed by the same companies - trying to make us believe there is something different and better on the market. Well, I suppose we have to buy our pet food from someone. I am just not going to pay premium prices anymore *unless* the premium companies list the % of the major ingredients on their packaging. In absence of that, I have to assume their percentage is no better than the less expensive brands.

]]> By: Sally Callahan http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-11728 Sally Callahan Sat, 24 Mar 2007 14:22:28 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-11728 My cat died January 27th. The test animals (reported by Menu Foods) died in March. Why THAT discrepancy? How many of those pouches are involved. We purchase Iams all through January. Please e-mail your local news channels if you have a sick or dead pet. This is being minimized by reporting only 16/17 dead animals. My cat died January 27th. The test animals (reported by Menu Foods) died in March. Why THAT discrepancy? How many of those pouches are involved. We purchase Iams all through January. Please e-mail your local news channels if you have a sick or dead pet. This is being minimized by reporting only 16/17 dead animals.

]]> By: Lynn http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-11704 Lynn Sat, 24 Mar 2007 12:10:11 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/21/pet-food-recall-the-same-vat-theory/#comment-11704 To clarify the above post, I was told by a Natura customer service representative that all of Natura's dry foods are produced in their own plants in Nebraska and California. They only contract Menu Foods for production of their canned food. My question is: if you vow to not use any food that contracts out their production, what's left as far as canned/wet food? It seems that almost all canned foods are contracted out. To clarify the above post, I was told by a Natura customer service representative that all of Natura’s dry foods are produced in their own plants in Nebraska and California. They only contract Menu Foods for production of their canned food.

My question is: if you vow to not use any food that contracts out their production, what’s left as far as canned/wet food? It seems that almost all canned foods are contracted out.

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