Pet-food recall: What are the numbers?
By Gina Spadafori
March 24, 2007
First, the news, then some comments.
The recall has expanded to include a few more brands. If you have one of these products, do not feed it to your pet. Save the product, along with receipts and veterinary records.
If you have a pet who has eaten any of the recalled foods — even if there are no symptoms — call your veterinarian and arrange for a simple blood test. As we’ve said before, you’ll be buying yourself peace of mind, and maybe saving your pet’s life. If your pet is sick – vomiting, increased thirst, increase or lack of urination, lethargy, bad breath, diarrhea or lack of appetite — you have an emergency situation, and your pet needs a vet now.
If you have a pet who has been made sick or killed by tainted food, you need to ask your veterinarian to report to your state’s veterinarian, who will then report to the FDA. The FDA also has consumer complaint lines set up, and you should call on your own in addition.
Take a few minutes as well to report your pet’s information into the PetConnection.com data base. We are trying to track the scope of the problem.
- Click to go to the FDA’s information on how to report to them.
- Click to report your pet into the PetConnection.com database.
Our current numbers (12:45 p.m. PT): 1,459 deceased pets (857 cats, 602 dogs). As we’ve said before, these are self-reported numbers, but if nothing else they strongly suggest the numbers are higher than the “official” count of 16, more than half of which included animals killed feeding trials.
Now …
Reasonable people can disagree on how best to do any job, even the work of reporting a national tragedy. There has been some discussion of our work at the PetConnection, and I’d like to give you all the background.
We first started reporting this story immediately after the recall notice, and had our information online Sunday night — days before many others. We did so because our sources in the veterinary community are extremely large, and we knew that at that point dozens of veterinarians were reporting animal in renal failure in their practices, with recalled food involved.
We made the decision to get the news out, and collect information on our own, in addition to that being offered through official channels. Not instead of, but addition to. This is an important point, because we have been accused of offering ourselves as an official reporting site. This is ridiculous, since on our reporting page we urge people to report to the FDA and provide the link to do so.
We opened our database because we wanted to know the size of the tragedy. We also knew official numbers would be slow in coming and problematic on the official side to get this because we knew it was nothing but busy lines at the FDA.
Every time we have released our numbers, we have stressed that they are self-reported, and what that means. (We also posted a link to this thoughtful analysis on vetcetera.) We have stressed that we consider our numbers indicative of a trend that will bear out that far more pets are dead than the official count (which this morning is at 16) is still saying.
It may interest others to know that that numbers we have reported are widely considered to be more than indicative of the true scope of this tragedy.
…. An unanswered question in this recall has been how many pets are affected. Menu Foods has listed 16 dead, 15 cats and 1 dog. Donald Smith, dean of Cornell’s veterinary school, said he expected the number of pet deaths to increase. “Based on what we’ve heard (from pet owners) the last couple days, 16 is a low number,” Smith said.
There is no national reporting system for animal injury or death, so official numbers are impossible to come by. However, data from the nation’s largest chain of pet hospitals, Banfield, suggests it is as high as hundreds a week.
Over the three months the food was on the market, the more than 600 Banfield hospitals in 43 states saw 200 to 250 cases of kidney failure in cats above the usual number that would have been expected, says Hugh Lewis, president of Data Savant, Banfield’s data collection arm.
During that period the Banfield vets saw 100,000 cats. Extrapolating to the entire cat population of the USA, that could mean “we’re probably talking several hundred cats a week across the country being affected,” Lewis said.”
As investigators look for a cause behind the 15 confirmed pet food deaths, doctors at New York’s Animal Medical Center suspect there will be a much larger rash of cases after learning of an additional 200 cases of kidney failure in animals.
Doctors at the hospital, which is considered the Mayo Clinic of veterinary medicine, say they noticed the kidney failure while studying sick animals from last Friday to Monday, and traced the cases back to the 60 million cans and pouches of recalled food from Menu Food.
“I was shocked and surprised, acute kidney failure is not a common problem,” veterinarian Cathy Langston told ABC’s David Kerley. “I’ve already heard about 200 cases, and so I bet that there are probably going to be thousands.”
From Banfield The Pet Hospital to the Animal Medical Center. From your friendly local vet to the “Mayo Clinic” of veterinary hospitals.
Menu Foods dropped their recall notice on the business media on a Friday afternoon. All good reporters — and certainly all PR professionals — know that’s when companies and politicians put out bad news, in hopes that it will be underreported or perhaps not reported at all come Monday morning.
We recognized the scope of the problem right away, and were determined not to let the story die as hundred if not thousands of pets already have.
We continue to cover this story, and we welcome your comments.
Go to the latest blog post | Go to the PetConnection home page
Technorati Tags: pet food recall, dogs, cats,veterinarian, veterinary
Gina, thank you for this update, it is much appreciated.
Comment by Dee — March 24, 2007 @ 9:05 am
Gina, where on the Menu Foods website does it state that ALL batches are part of the recall? Under FAQ, they are still saying to check the date codes.
Comment by Dee — March 24, 2007 @ 9:09 am
its hard to rely on the media for anything accurate, I think most reasonable people know that - so i thank you for your information and how often it is updated. its is so sad though that the info is still so inaccurate as to what it out there.
Comment by dan — March 24, 2007 @ 9:10 am
http://www.cctimes.com search for “Rat Poison” tells about all batches being recalled.
http://www.bobvernon.com/MenuF.....erers.html
Comment by Bob Vernon — March 24, 2007 @ 9:14 am
Bob Vernon, thank you for the link to the news story, but I still don’t see on the Menu Foods website where the recall has expanded to all date codes.
Comment by Dee — March 24, 2007 @ 9:23 am
In any attempt to get involved in a situation that touches so many people, there is bound to be criticism. Your coverage of the recall has been exceptional. You folks are doing an excellent job and I will continue to refer people here!
Comment by Therese — March 24, 2007 @ 9:23 am
Hold on everybody! We should not immediately believe the rat poison story, since they withheld information for weeks. Also the pathological pattern of Aminopterrin does not appear to match the descriptions we read on this site nor the kidney failures. It is too easy to adulterate specimens submitted for testing to cover up the truth.
Please hold onto your samples instead of turning them in. I am starting some studies myself in another direction. If anyone wants to join in and submit specimens of listed foods and samples of urine from live sick pets, please Comment to that effect. If there is enough interest, I’ll set up a response format; meanwhile inquiring for assistance from certain experts and labs for an honest investigation.
Comment by Ronald Wempen, MD — March 24, 2007 @ 12:36 am
Comment by Dee — March 24, 2007 @ 9:36 am
“The poison, aminopterin, a rodenticide that has not been approved for use in the United States or in Canada, was found in wet food manufactured by Menu Foods of Ontario and distributed under more than 90 brands” (NYTimes -03/24/1007)
I have a concern here. Is it a possibility the poison “aminopterin, was used to get rid of rats in the rendering plants (there are plenty of rats in rendering plants) and somehow either accidentally or deliberately, poisoned rats were dumped into the vats, mixed in with other animal byproducts and made into pet food? Certainly the poison would have a toxic effect on the resulting finished food supply.
I have read the poison “aminopterin” has not been approved for use in the United States or Canada. However I have also read that this pet food producer also uses product additives from China. No one has said this poison is not used in China.
I realize that I am speculating but it would seem entirely appropriate for investigators and attorneys to pursue this possibility.
I also think it would be entirely appropriate for various laboratories involved in the testing for this tainted pet food to quickly conduct DNA analysis on random samples of this pet food to determine if rat DNA is prevalent in the tainted products.
If nothing else the public should demand through their elected representatives to insist the FDA implement food safety standards for pet food that is at least half as comparable with human food safety guidelines.
Comment by Leslie Kinney — March 24, 2007 @ 10:07 am
We lost our beloved Tabatha March 13th 2007 to kidney failure. We live in Eugene Oregon. We fed Tabatha two foil pouches of Nutro brand with the gravy because the store was out of her normal diet, which was also a Nutro brand, but not one of the ones with gravy. We thought we were giving her a treat. I can not get the picture out of my head of my sweet little girl eating this food. within a day she was vomiting, urinating constantly and drinking a lot of water.
Tabatha was a sweet gentle 6# daschund and we miss her terribly.
Comment by Tim McClure — March 24, 2007 @ 10:14 am
Something’s off, though. They produce a billion cans or more a year(yes, with a “B”), so that’s three months production - and anything using that wheat in it is obviously affected(specific cause aside for now).
“This pile of wheat is only for those batches” makes no sense. Every cat food they produce has some gravy in it, afterall. Maybe not enough to kill, but, something’s just not adding up. They have to put “made in a facility that processes nuts” on candy, afterall. That means the entire plant is obviously contaminated if we hold them to the same standards as we would for human foods.
The recall should be for closer to 200-300 million cans, given how equipment was shared.
Comment by Joseph — March 24, 2007 @ 10:26 am
We have been trying to get the word out to the community on how big this issue is. Every time they quote “16 deaths” it seems like a big coverup. Call your local news station and help keep the focus on this tragedy.
I have posted a local news story concerning the recall and our pug, Rupert here:
http://www.davefinlay.com
Comment by Dave Finlay — March 24, 2007 @ 10:27 am
I believe retailers are being asked to pull ALL batches of the listed foods not because all batches are suspected (by Menu Foods) of being tainted, but because errors were being made. Recalled batches were accidentally left of the shelves because they were checking codes on cases and not individual pouches and cans.
I’ve looked over the Menu Foods website and Eukanuba’s and they are still stating that only packages within stated date codes are tainted. Personally, I believe other batches should also be included, but that does not appear to be the stance of Menu Foods.
Comment by Dee — March 24, 2007 @ 10:34 am
This is the information that is still up on the Menu Foods website FAQ page:
1. What exactly is covered by the Menu Foods Recall and for what timeframe?
The recall is limited to “cuts and gravy” style pet food in cans and foil pouches produced on specific dates and times between December 3, 2006, and March 6, 2007 in two of Menu’s plants. The recall affects 42 brands of cat food and 53 brands of dog food. In order to determine whether cat and dog food that your pet consumed is subject to recall, you should refer to the list of brand names on this website.
6. How do I know if the food I bought has been recalled?
The information is contained on this website. Not all date codes are subject to recall so please fully check the information on your can or pouch. The information on the website is organized by cat or dog then by brand and description. None of the traditional “loaf” style products are subject to this recall.
—————————-
If other batches are possibly tainted, they aren’t saying/admitting so yet.
Comment by Dee — March 24, 2007 @ 10:41 am
Gina,
The service that you and your Pet Connection colleagues have performed for the pet community is invaluable. I am sickened by the glaring lack of response from the national groups and companies whom we as a community look to for news and issues relating to our companion animals. Check out the Humane Society of the U.S.’s homepage: http://www.hsus.org and see if you can find the reference to the pet food poisonings. Look hard! Yes, it’s there but it is a small and vague headline “Your Pet” that requires close inspection to find. Ditto for the ASPCA’s homepage. Major news outlets yesterday referred to this recall as “unprecedented” in the history of American consumerism. This recall, and the thousands of deaths related to it, should be plastered in large headings across every animal-related website. It is paramount to literallly and figuratively SHOUT the word out to pet parents through every media venue possible. Yet the ASPCA and HSUS website’s bury the headline in small, out-of-the, below-the-fold notices bearing obscure headlines. And if one goes to Animal Planet, Pasado Safe Haven or Cesar Milan’s websites, you will see NOTHING, NADA, ZIP about the recall. Compare these (or lack of) responses to Hurricane Katrina. Every webpage of every website having anything to do with animals had screaming banners and large graphics of animals needing rescuing. I’m simply appalled by the scant, and in some cases, complete lack of coverage this recall—this national tragedy—is receiving. We expect it from the mainstream media who cowtows to corporate interests and routinely sinks to the public’s lowest levels in what they think is “newsworthy”…but we should EXPECT the groups whose very mission is to protect animals to do a better job then what they are doing. The ASPCA and HSUS, in particular. I’m on the ASPCA’s mailing list to receive their emails of alerts and important animal-related announcements. Here are the last poison or recall alerts I’ve received from the ASPCA:
Feb.23, 2007: PET POISON ALERT: FDA RECALLS OF CAT FOOD & PEANUT BUTTER (excerpt: Wild Kitty raw all natural, frozen cat food, chicken with clam recipe. As of this writing, there have been no reports of illness pertaining to either product in pets.)
Dec. 29, 2006: PET POISON ALERT: LIQUID POTPOURRI PACKS A PAINFUL PUNCH
Dec. 08, 2006: ASPCA HOLIDAY SAFETY ALERT: THE FINAL WORD ON POINSETTIAS
The VERY last email I received from the ASPCA is dated March 12, 2007 — four days before the recall was announced. Isn’t it curious that a nationwide recall involving nearly 100 brands of pet food and which has the potential to sicken or kill thousands of pets—isn’t it curious that the ASPCA sends out not one alert thru their mailing list, yet sends out an alert of contaminated peanut butter and Wild Kitty raw food wherein there had been “no reports of illness pertaining to either product in pets.”
Isn’t it curious? Is anybody else as perplexed, disappointed and angry as I am at these organizations (ASPCA, HSUS, Pasado Safe Haven) and businesses (e.g. Animal Planet and Cesar Milan’s Dog Psychology Center)?
What to make of it. It’s all about $$$$. Many of the recalled foods (Iams, Eukanuba, Hills) are HUGE sponsors, advertisers and/or donors of these organizations and businesses and they either don’t want to “offend” their money sources at the risk of having said money pulled from their programs. Either that, OR, they have all received word from the big corporate pet food sponsors NOT to publicize, talk about, or otherwise bring unnecessary attention to this massive food recall.
Whatever their reasons, it is absolutely disgusting to me that the groups whom which we’ve entrusted to protect and serve the animals have so wrecklessly and irresponsibly ignored this tragedy.
Comment by Nikki — March 24, 2007 @ 10:56 am
Gina - thanks for the update. Your coverage has been excellent, and without you this would not all have been made public to this extent.
I know you guys did a press release around the beginning of the week - if you do another one then all of us can send it to our local news agencies, newspapers, etc. If necessary we can print it out and tape it up all over our towns and cities, until the number of real deaths gets out.
Comment by Kim — March 24, 2007 @ 10:56 am
Menu Foods, on Friday (3/23/07), after the press conference, expanded the recall. This has not received headlines, but was buried in the news reports of the press conference. Menu Foods has NOT included this rather important bit of info on their official website. The food list I’ve been maintaining at http://www.howl911.com includes this newest information.
From: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200....._recall_36
ALBANY, N.Y. - Rat poison was found in pet food blamed for the deaths of at least 16 cats and dogs, but scientists said Friday they still don’t know how it got there and predicted more animal deaths would be linked to it.
After the announcement, the company that produced the food expanded its recall to include all 95 brands of the “cuts and gravy” style food, regardless of when they were produced.
The company also said it would take responsibility for pet medical expenses incurred as a result of the food.
Comment by Nikki — March 24, 2007 @ 11:03 am
Does anyone know if the two plants responsible for manufacturing these dog food also make dry dog food? I just switched my dry dog food from Nutro to Natural Choice because my dog recently has been throwing up and refusing to eat it. I talked to a man in PetCo who said the same of his dog. Both of us had been using Nutro for years. I’m still not convinced that they know enough about the cause of this problem to say that dry dog food cannot be affected as well. (Just FYI - PetCo did take my opened bag of dog food back after a little insistance on my part).
Comment by Sherri — March 24, 2007 @ 11:11 am
My German Shephard started to get sick in July 2006, shortly after beginning eating Safeway Priority canned food, 1/2 can a day mixed with dry food. He died one month later of inability to clot blood, and massive stomach bleeding. The Emergevet suspected rat poisoning, but we live in a rural area with no neighbors and no possibility of that occuring. Is it possible that the contaminated food goes back much further in time? I hope others will report any other suspected incidents.
Comment by lila — March 24, 2007 @ 11:18 am
The PetConnection site has been my best source of information. You do an awesome job!! Thanks so much for all your help and time.
My cat, Eddie HAD been eating the Nutro Natural Pouches since mid-February (just started feeding him that wet food..never used it before February) This morning I finally got out of my “denial” stage and got Eddie to the vet to be tested. Eddie last ate this RAT POISON a week ago today. The pouches I bought matched the date and bar code number…BUT my prayers were answered and a miracle happened. Eddie’s numbers were all normal! I am about to bust with joy…but it’s hard to be happy when I know what so many other pet owners have gone through.
My outcome had a happy ending…BUT next week I will get busy on getting my letters out to Menu and to Nutro!! I want to do whatever I can do to bring down Menu Foods!
Comment by Libby — March 24, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Menu Foods spokesman says recall NOT expanded:
“The recall has not been expanded,” Menu spokesman Sam Bornstein said Saturday. They were getting media reports that recalled items were still on store shelves along with others, and it would take too much time for retailers to sort through all the dates on containers, he said.
http://www.newsday.com/news/lo.....-apnewyork
Comment by Dee — March 24, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Another story indicating recall has not expanded:
After Friday’s announcement, Menu Foods food advised retailers to remove all brands from their shelves, a company spokesman said, though the recall still applies only to the dog and cat foods identified on its Web site since March 16. Those cover cans and pouches of food packaged from Dec. 3 through March 6.
“The recall has not been expanded,” Menu spokesman Sam Bornstein said Saturday.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news.....ornational
Comment by Dee — March 24, 2007 @ 11:32 am
My heart goes out to all of those who have lost their loved ones in the horrible,preventable situation!
I was in pet smart the other day and saw that all the food that I used to buy my cats were pulled from the shelves. Seeing this almost made me cry! It makes me furious to think that I spend extra money on food like IAMS because I made to believe its better for my cat. It makes you realize that all of the food comes from the same place they just stick a different lable on it. I am sure these companies have the money to test the food before it goes out.Why didnt they? It just makes me sick! I am scared that even though my babies arent showing any symptoms now will they later on? I have fed my cats the wet dinner that was recalled in the time period of when the contaminated batches were made. Should I make an appointment for the vet? My cats are my kids and I try and do everything right to keep them healthy and safe. These companies should be ashamed of what they have done and hopefully realize now that life is more important then money!
once again my wholehearted sympathy goes out to the families who have lost their loved ones.
Comment by Colleen — March 24, 2007 @ 11:35 am
In response to Lisa - Use Google to do a search on Congressman (and or woman) and “Animal Welfare” - you’ll find several representatives who champion animal causes. Write to them, or call their offices — it doesn’t matter if they’re from our state or district. Contact your representatives too…make sure you mention who else you’ve contacted (they’re competitive critters…the more stumbling over each other trying to do something..the better, eh?)
Comment by GingerTom — March 24, 2007 @ 11:56 am
Gina, Nikki and others - you have been doing an exceptional job of reporting on this issue and are providing an important public service.
One thing that I have learned after 6+ years of political blogging, the powers that be feel very threatened by the new citizen driven media. Bloggers have provided a very powerful adjunct to the corporate media, pulling together reports from all over the world, digging out the one important fact in a misleading article, and pulling it all together, sometimes with their own original sources, to provide added perspective or break important news before it ever hits the corporate airwaves.
You all are the modern day “town criers” and you’ve got the aid of every single participant in checking facts and gathering info/data. I’m sure I speak for the vast majority when I say how grateful I am for your efforts.
-Steve
Comment by Steve G — March 24, 2007 @ 11:56 am
One thing that is certain from this fiasco is the concern of deceptive marketing and advertising practices. Some of these could border on false statements no matter how it’s spun.
A big wake up call to consumers.
Comment by Steve — March 24, 2007 @ 12:02 pm
I wanted to make sure my comments are in the right place and are answered. Sorry for the duplication.
What kibble (dry food) company actually manufacturers their own food?
No more outsourcing or mystery suppliers.
US Company, US owned manufacturing plant of that company, US products only.
We are looking to upgrade from Nutro Natural Lamb and Rice Dry.
We do not want a product made of beef, wheat, or corn.
Any suggestions?
We will no longer be feeding canned food to our dogs but will feed human grade chicken and a mixture of vegetables - non-corn.
Comment by Pat — March 24, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
Comment by Pat — March 24, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
Henderson confirmed that Menu Foods, the largest maker of wet cat and dog food in North America, buys wheat gluten from China. It also buys from the USA, says Menu spokesman Sam Bornstein, and another country that Menu didn’t identify.
The Food and Drug Administration said earlier that Menu identified wheat gluten as a possible culprit since Menu had changed a supplier of that product and that reports of pet sickness coincided with that change. Menu has never said what that ingredient was.
The U.S. imports 70% to 80% of its wheat gluten, used widely in human and pet foods either as a protein source or, in wet pet food specifically, as a binding agent.
In 2006 the U.S. imported 28,295,401 pounds of wheat gluten to be used as animal feed from China, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service.
China is the third-largest exporter to the USA, after Australia and the European Union, which is the largest, estimates MGP Ingredients, of Kansas, the largest single U.S. wheat gluten producer. It didn’t supply Menu with wheat gluten.
MGP President Tim Newkirk says its tests of wheat gluten from China find it to be “typically a lower-quality product” than found in the EU, Australia or the U.S. It’s also about 20% cheaper than other imports, he says.
Newkirk and food manufacturing consultants say that rat poisons would be tightly controlled in the U.S.
Typically in the USA, wheat — from which wheat gluten is made — is stored in bins or silos and not out in the open where rats would have access.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/n.....htm?csp=34
Comment by Steve — March 24, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
“Typically in the USA, wheat — from which wheat gluten is made — is stored in bins or silos and not out in the open where rats would have access.”
You got to be kidding me! I have been in many silos - rat infestation is very prevalent in grain silos.
This comment came from an industry representative - I assume. (http://www.usatoday.com/news/n.....tm?csp=34)
Comment by Leslie Kinney — March 24, 2007 @ 1:24 pm
In response to the request for a company that does its own manufacturing from its own ingredients:
Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance
http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/
Comment by Lisa — March 24, 2007 @ 1:32 pm
I am certain the menufoods website last night was saying the recall affected all savory gravy products regardless of data of manufacturer. But today the website makes no mention of it — I think they backed off on that action.
Comment by John Pierce — March 24, 2007 @ 1:36 pm
Lisa,
Sorry but Natural Balance does not make their own wet food. They outsource it to a contract manufacturer in Utah — American Nutrition (the same contract manufacturer who makes many of Wal-Mart’s Ol’Roy products (along with Menu Foods).
Comment by Nikki — March 24, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
At SuperFresh in Baltimore, MD, they initially pulled only the specific recalled flavors my cat ate before he became sick (2 types). Today they had pulled the entire product line of America’s Preferred Pets (roughly 4 shelves of cat food) so something’s up. I about fell off my chair when the CEO of MenuFoods said his company doesn’t have a problem with quality control. Bud - RAT POISON ended up in your food - I think you have a problem with quality control.
Comment by L. Kuz — March 24, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
I’m going to repeat myself:
They are only pulling all lots off the shelves because it was too time consuming to check every individual packet/can of food. At least that is what they are saying.
Menu Foods spokesman says recall NOT expanded to all date codes:
“The recall has not been expanded,” Menu spokesman Sam Bornstein said Saturday. They were getting media reports that recalled items were still on store shelves along with others, and it would take too much time for retailers to sort through all the dates on containers, he said.
http://www.newsday.com/news/lo.....-apnewyork
Another story indicating recall has not expanded:
After Friday’s announcement, Menu Foods food advised retailers to remove all brands from their shelves, a company spokesman said, though the recall still applies only to the dog and cat foods identified on its Web site since March 16. Those cover cans and pouches of food packaged from Dec. 3 through March 6.
“The recall has not been expanded,” Menu spokesman Sam Bornstein said Saturday.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news.....ornational
Comment by Dee — March 24, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Dee and John,
After yesterday’s press conference, Menu Foods in fact DID announce they were expanding the recalled products which are already on the list to include ALL dates, not just the lot numbers on the list.
Now one can split hairs in how you define “expanding” but the fact remains that NONE of the brand products listed on the Menu Foods recall list should be at present on any retailers’ shelves, regardless of the “use by” date or UPC code. Menu Foods subsequently clarified what they meant by “expanded” to mean that, because the FDA was finding recalled items still on retailers’ shelves, that Menu Foods, as a precautionary measure, has instructed retailers to remove all the recalled items, regardless of when they were produced in order to prevent confusion or mistakes.
This is important for consumers to be aware of so that if you see any of the recalled products on a retailer’s shelves, you can inform the retailer of the recent expansion to include all products, regardless of production date or UPC code.
It is also important to note that those of us who have been tracking suspected poisonings have received a number of reports involving products either outside the 3-month production period specified by Menu Foods’ recall, or products which are not on the list at all, including some dry foods (most notably Iams dry dog and cat kibbles).
It is also vital that people understand that neither Menu Foods nor the FDA have any conclusive evidence regarding the true source of the contamination. Menu Foods has *guessed* it is the wheat gluten because of a timing coincidence, but even they admit that they don’t know for sure. Moreover, both Menu Foods and the FDA have emphasized that they do not know how the aminopterin (rat poison/chemotherapeutic agent) got into the foods which tested positive for its presence. Once again, they speculate that MAYBE it was in the wheat gluten which was imported from China because aminopterin is legal for use in China as rat poison (bu illegal in the U.S.) The FDA has also stated the aminopterin is the suspected contaminate in SOME of the tainted foods, but have not ruled out that they may yet find other contaminates.
So folks, the bottom line here is that wheat gluten as the source of the problem is merely speculative at this point. That is why my family has opted to not feed our “kids” any products made by Menu Foods, as well any products containing any wheat (whole ground wheat, wheat flour, wheat bran, wheat gluten) until it is known for certain the actual cause of the poisonings. For now, Evangers canned is looking good, as well good old fashioned home cooking.
Comment by Nikki — March 24, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
We have updated our page to make it clear: Check the recall list at the link we have posted. If your pet’s food is on it, don’t feed that food.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — March 24, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
I am quite possibly very naive about such things, but wouldn’t you think that if a manufacturing company, after discovering that in some ‘mysterious’ way, that a poison was introduced to their product, either before or during the processing of such item, that they would show concern for future processing? Wouldn’t it be prudent to totally shut down for a time to do maintenance and sterilization of their equipment so that no other possible contamination could take place? Can anyone tell me if Menu Foods has done this? I suppose that those precautions wouldn’t be necessary if they did indeed know more precisely how and where the contamination took place?
Comment by Pat Lamb — March 24, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
Niki, I agree with your main points, but I haven’t been able to find any current report from Menu Foods that ALL lots are included in the recall. I keep checking their website and they still say the recall is limited to certain lots. I am especially interested as I lost a pet at the end of January from acute renal failure. The food she ate is on the list, but the date code is not included. If Menu Foods has in fact included all lots, I am VERY interested.
Comment by Dee — March 24, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
Hey, Gina, Christie and Dr. Becker. Nevermind what all those official sources are saying about your database. Obviously they feel stupid they’re so slow on the uptake, that they don’t have a national reporting system for vets or medical drs for that matter and are so far behind the 8 ball it isn’t funny.
CVM Adverse Reporting is also self-reported. That doesn’t make it useless and it was that database that raised questions about Rimadyl. So keep at it, kudos to you all for your hard work.
I hope to see more large vet hospitals giving interviews with numbers soon. At least Banfield and Cornell are speaking up. Whether or not the “real” (ahem) press picks up on this is questionable.
Off to watch Farscape…..
Cathy
Comment by Cathy — March 24, 2007 @ 2:05 pm
A postscript: Because my now deceased dog ate food from lots not included in the recall, my vet will not send a report to the FDA. If all lots are included, then and only then will he send a report to the FDA.
Comment by Dee — March 24, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
Nikki and Lisa,
According to http://petsitusa.com/blog/?p=210 Natural balance
“Canned food is made at their own plant, then shipped to American Nutrition in Utah where it is canned. Natural Balance has their own line at American Nutrition and no other canned foods are run through Natural Balance’s equipment.”
Is this incorrect? I was thinking of switching my two cats to Natural Balance. We have taken them of both of their wet foods (Science Diet and Fancy Feast) and we are in the process of switching their dry food to Chicken Soup for the Cat Lovers Soul, which is not affiliated with Menu and also contains no wheat products.
Comment by Mike — March 24, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
I’m curious if any of the ill animals have shown signs of hypercholesterolaemia. Wheat gluten producers have been working with molecularly modified wheat casein and in methods of producing higher protein counts from the middlings and crushed hulls during production of gluten. (Some studies with rabbits induced hpercholesterolaemia by feeding high wheat casein diets). Even if the wheat was grown in China, it may be one of these new strains engineered in the States/UK or grown under contract to the one American supplier who has remained quiet on the matter. The concentration of the protein and the genetic strain of wheat need to be checked.
Comment by lt — March 24, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
Dee,
It is not too surprising that you can’t find anything on Menu Food’s site, or in the form of a Menu Foods press release regarding the “expansion” which was widely reported via several media reports after Friday’s press conference.
Menu Foods, up until yesterday, had changed the lists on their website several times without making note of it or changing the date stamp. This was pointed out to me by Itchmo and other astute observers. I’ve been using their website as a reference since day one for maintaining the list on howl911.com and, sure enough, the list has changed (often to add more products) many times since the original lists appeared on March 17, 2007. Yet, in spite of these changes, up until yesterday, Menu Foods had never once made a note or changed the date stamp on their website.
So does it really surprise anyone that Menu Foods has failed to update their website to include mention of this recall “expansion”?
Comment by Nikki — March 24, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
I have to agree with Nikki about the ASPCA and Humane Society. I’m on both of their lists and I have been surprised that neither organization has not been reporting more widely about this on their sites. I went to them days ago to specifically look for information, and the silence was defeaning.
Comment by Elderta — March 24, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
Dee,
I am so sorry you lost your dog. Please retain EVERYTHING pertaining to your dog’s suspected poisoning. If your vet won’t report it, then take it upon yourself to do so. Get copies of all vet reports from said vet and all other evidence (food receipts, food cans/pouches or labels), diary of the chronology of your pet’s onset of symptoms, etc.)
Please add your case to Pet Connection’s database and call the FDA yourself to make a report. If they try to put you off, DEMAND they take the report. Also, contact your state’s veterinary board and see if there is a way to file a report with them as well—perhaps they will do the job of reporting this to the FDA, where your personal vet has failed.
Also, email me the product info suspected in your dog’s death and I will add it to the http://www.howl911.com’s list with an appropriate disclaimer.
Comment by Nikki — March 24, 2007 @ 2:20 pm
Nikki, thank you. I’ll do all you have suggested. I have also contacted the law firm in Seattle, Myers and Company. I don’t know yet if I’ll participate in their lawsuit, but I’m giving it serious consideration. If I can get the food I still have in my possession tested by an independent lab and the results are bad, I’ll be signing up for sure.
Comment by Dee — March 24, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
Other possible containments would be any of the restricted use corns: Starlink, Liberty Link, produced by
Aventis and Monsanto, BtXtra and Roundup Ready.
Starlink in particular has a pesky way of appearing where it should not.
Comment by lt — March 24, 2007 @ 2:39 pm
Yes, I noticed that also on the ASPCA.
It is suspicion-inducing.
Comment by Traci — March 24, 2007 @ 2:47 pm
I’ve noticed the complaints about retailers and other pet-affiliated agencies not pulling or reporting on the recalled food. However, I would like to add that [URL=http://www.petco.com]PETCO[/URL] has been doing a pretty good job of keeping customers informed and pulling all recalled brands of wet food, regardless of the codes. I actually found out about the recall when I was shopping for food at PETCO on the afternoon of March 16. They literally took everything off the shelves and it has been that way since. I also received this e-mail from them this morning:
“PETCO Cares about Your Pet
Here at PETCO the health and well-being of your pet is our number one priority and we’d like to update you about the recent industry recall of certain WET DOG AND CAT FOOD PRODUCTS.
First, it is important that you know ALL foods affected by the recent Menu Foods recall have been pulled from our stores’ shelves and are not being sold online at PETCO.com. For additional information regarding the recalled pet food brands, you can visit the Menu Foods web site.
Second, where possible, we are sending notices to anyone who may have purchased recalled products asking that they discontinue feeding their dog or cat these specific canned and pouched wet foods.
Remember, this recall involves ONLY certain WET FOOD in cans and pouches. Dry food is NOT part of the recall.
Most importantly, we’re here for you and your pet. Please feel free to ask our associates about our wide assortment of high-quality Premium Dog Food, Premium Cat Food or shop our All Natural Market. You can rely on us to supply the finest Premium, Natural and Organic Food brands on the market.
For more information on how to effectively transition your pet’s diet, click here.
To keep up with the latest news on the pet food recall, please visit us online at PETCONews.com.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you and your pet at PETCO soon.
Sincerely,
Jim Myers, CEO”
Comment by piggles — March 24, 2007 @ 2:47 pm
I just came back from PETCO, and their shelves are filled with Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba pouches. I checked one recalled SKU and there were still pouches on the shelf!
I was so stunned I walked out (with a copy of their SKUs to be pulled list). Called the manager and he claims to have pulled all recalled SKUs, and that I was wrong.
I’m still so shocked to have seen full shelves of (what I believe to be poison) that I’m shaking, and not quite sure what to do. Have that many POUCHES NOT been recalled yet?
Comment by Kim — March 24, 2007 @ 2:55 pm
I had to make the decision to have my cat put to sleep on February 13. I had taken him to the vet the day before, had blood work done, and been told that he was in acute renal failure, with a creatinine level of 14 and a hopeless prognosis. The vet hadn’t seemed to believe me about the sudden onset of symptoms, but after the blood test, acknowledged that poison, such as antifreeze or lilies of the valley, was a possibility. I didn’t see how he could have ingested poison, but at least the very idea of it helped to explain his death.
It was an incredibly painful decision that I had to make much too quickly. Although he was nearly 16, he was still an energetic indoor/outdoor cat that had never had a health issue in his life. I fully expected many more years of companionship. After several weeks, the grief over the manner of his passing started to lessen, but my moment-to-moment awareness of his loss is still omnipresent.
I don’t watch the news very often, so it wasn’t until March 23 that I learned that there was a pet food recall. I didn’t pay much attention to the story until I saw an Iams pouch onscreen. With rising horror, I went to the Iams website and saw that food that I had fed him as a treat—just before I noticed symptoms—was listed on the recall page.
Although I no longer have the packaging, there is not a doubt in my mind that the food was responsible for his renal failure. This wasn’t his regular food and within two weeks of first giving it to him, he was dead. Now, I have to live with the anguish of having killed the creature I love best in all the world.
I called his vet this morning to let them know that I attribute his death to tainted food and to see how they were tracking patient deaths for reporting to the state and the FDA. The vet was unavailable, but the receptionist told me they weren’t tracking anything because their patients haven’t been affected. I was horrified anew. Somehow, I had the weird idea that because they are champions of animal health that when they heard about the recall, they would have gone back over their records for the past three months, tallied acute renal failure cases, and gotten in touch with people to try to confirm causes of death.
So, thank you for attempting to track the real toll of this disaster. Sixteen pets dead is insulting to both our intelligence and our heartbreaking losses.
Comment by stefanie — March 24, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
I just this morning found this site, have reported the loss of my beloved Beau (a 105 pound dog) last Wednesday, March 19th. I didn’t think about the recall at that time (or much else)..took him to another vet next day for cremation (which has probably taken place by now) and decided against autopsy, although I had strongly considered it. I’m sick, absolutely sick, thinking that I may have caused his death. I had been giving him about one can of Old Roy (walmart)and sometimes Alpo chunks/cuts (half x2 a day with dry kibble) in order to give him his glucosamine plus 75 mg of Rimadyl for the past two months or so. He had hip problems, but this didn’t cause his death, I think I (unknowingly) did. This is the most devastating thing that’s ever occurred in my life, and there have been many. Thanks for this site, I’ll be a faithful reader from now on.
Comment by Paula Lynn Dee — March 24, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
To “It”
Interesting you should mention this. Check this forum posting out, which I found this morning:
I was talking about [the recall] with my vet yesterday (fortunately my puppy isn’t sick, we were just there for routine puppy shots). He said he is participating in a large-scale national web log for vets on this subject, and they are all posting their experiences with the symptoms, treatments, and course of the illness. Here’s the thing- there are different symptoms for different regions of the country! Some vets are reporting pets with vomiting or diahhrea, others are reporting lethargy and lack of appetite, others are reporting kidney issues like excessive peeing or painful peeing.
According to him, there’s one hypothesis being floated the most around that vet forum: A year and a half ago there was another big pet food recall due to an aflatoxin fungus which had infected all the industrial-grade corn used by this co-packer company in producing pet foods for all those brands. So for over a year they have been spraying all their industrial corn crops with a heavier-duty antifungal agent, and that chemical is what some vets suspect is causing the current wave of illnesses.
But again, that’s just a hypothesis at this point….
(from: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/.....?t=318381)
Comment by Nikki — March 24, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
For a food manufactured in the US: Abady brand, made in New York. Can have it shipped to your door by UPS. Made for carnivores, with no fillers, etc. Love this food. Feed 1/2 - 2/3 the amount you feed of commercial kibbles.
Everyone keep eyes and ears open for reports of BLOOD IN URINE for pets eating DRY food. My dog eats dry (Iams mini chunks) and has undiagnosed blood in urine. No UTI found, no kidney/bladder stones found. 20 days of Antibiotics didn’t fix it. Now I’m suspecting low-dose poison. I first noticed increased frequency of urination in October, but she’s getting older so I didn’t suspect a problem. Not until I saw blood on the snow in January did I get to the Vet. We haven’t found the cause yet. Our next step was going to be an $$ ultrasound to look for a bladder tumor, but those are rare. Now I’m thinking low-concentration poison in the food (low dose may cause kidneys to bleed rather than to fail). I reported it to Iams, the FDA, and my local TV news channels.
But keep your eyes/ears open for other cases of BLOOD IN URINE for pets eating DRY food.
Comment by Sarah — March 24, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
I just received a call back from a woman with the FDA in New York State. She was calling (on a Saturday!)to interview me and file a report on the death of my cat. I called the FDA on the recommendation of Pet Connection and,although it took a few days,they did contact me.I was questioned for about half an hour about specific details regarding the food I still have in my posession and the details of the sudden sickness and death of my pet.
They stated it is possible someone may want to come and retrieve the food I still have but it is not know for sure at this time if that will happen.I finally feel as though I am being listened to by someone who can actually do something to prevent this from happening in the future.The woman who called me stated the office is so busy they asked for volunteers to come in today to return calls.Thank you so much for the information you are providing to pet owners like me who were feeling very powerless.I picked up my cat’s ashes at the Vet’s office this morning and this afternoon I finally feel as though I did something to honor his memory.
Comment by Pat Shaw — March 24, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
I fed my two dogs pouches of three different recalled foods. As far as I can remember this was January or early FEbuary. How far back does this go? I am glued to television news sites ect., but I have yet to hear anything about feeding prior to the recall. Also no one is commenting on wether animals can get sick much later on, or is it instantanious?
Comment by susan — March 24, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
Kim, that is horrifying - email and call any local news outlets you can about this -perhaps if they call to verify that will light a fire under the appropriate person. Also get friends or family to call the store and report the same thing to management. The life you save could be any of our furkids.
Comment by Empress 60 — March 24, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Sorry, one more thing. I just called our Animal Control Officer here in town…I had donated a bag of dry and several cans of wet dog food Monday to the shelter. I know there was at least one can of Old Roy and I warned him not to use it and please to return to me. I wonder how long it would’ve taken and how MUCH it would’ve taken (giving 1/2 can twice a day) for bad symptoms to set in. Anyone know?
Comment by Paula Lynn Dee — March 24, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
Mike, I use Natural Balance for my Paikea, and they do not manufacture foods of the “cuts and gravy” style. I have been feeding Pai this food for the past year, and so far, there has been no problem with Pai. I only feed her wet food. They do not use wheat gluten, though some of their products have grains in them. I cannot attest to how they manufacture their food, but I believe it’s a good product. (Though I must say these days, it’s hard to figure out what is what these days.)
Comment by Elderta — March 24, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
Excuse me that comment was from It, not Mike. If anyone has info on ge wheat and toxic effects I would appreciate links. I know that Bt crops have been implicated in toxic effects. Could China be crossing wheat with rodenticides?
Comment by Angela Flynn — March 24, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
Excuse me that comment was from It, not Mike. If anyone has info on ge wheat I would appreciate links to it. I know that there has been indications of toxic effects with bt crops. I wonder if China may have genetically engineered wheat with some kind of rodenticide.
Comment by Angela Flynn — March 24, 2007 @ 3:32 pm
Sarah,
You might want to check http://www.itcmo.com. Itchmo is gathering reports from pet owners like us who suspect their pets have been affected by IAMS Dry products. We lost our nine year old very healthy cat to kidney failure on March 1st. She was an indoor cat and ate only IAMS DRY. I’ve reported to FDA regional office in Dallas and to IAMS.
Comment by Russ — March 24, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Empress - I went straight to our local newspaper, and left them a copy of the Memo/SKU list. No one will be there to talk to me for another half hour or so.
In the meantime, I’m trying to find and print out easy-to-understand lists of the recalled food. No wonder everyone is having so much trouble with this! I’ve been staying on top of this all week (all day every day) and now I’M horribly confused.
All the garbage about date codes and plant codes is confusing people into paralysis I think. It’s tragic, if as we all believe the date range is much larger than they’re indicating.
I did find on the recall list the Iams Pouch I saw on the shelf. 3 oz Adult with Salmon in Sauce. So why didn’t they pull it?
Talked to another PETCO store in another state and they told me they got a new SKU list last night and were told to pull everything off the shelves before opening today. So I’m not blaming PETCO here, I’m blaming the local store manager. I would drive to a different PETCO for comparison, but the next nearest one is 60 miles away.
The manager knows who I am (saw me telling another customer apparently) otherwise I’d just go back in and check every item. I may do that anyway, I’m just still so shaken by this I can’t quite manage a good plan yet.
Comment by Kim — March 24, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
I bought ONE variety pack (12 pouches) of Iams 3 oz Select Bites Tuna and Salmon. My cat ate half a pouch twice a day for about three to four days. By day five, he was just licking the gravy off the bits. He developed bad breath during this time. Within two weeks of starting to eat this food, he was dead. It doesn’t take much.
Comment by stefanie — March 24, 2007 @ 3:45 pm
Angela, if you’re referring to me, I was referring to the comment from 2:12 PM from Mike.
Comment by Elderta — March 24, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
Kim, I was in PetCo last night and I broached the same concern to the manager of my store! When I told him that as of 4pm Menu had expanded the recall to include all of the recalled items, not just the ones within the original date ranges, he told me I was wrong. He ran in to check his email (to make sure he was right I am assuming) and then told the cashier to make sure she was checking SKU’s when items were brought up for purchase. Are you kidding me???? Isn’t it his responsibility to make sure those foods are not there to purchase in the first place? There is not one single sign about the recall posted anywhere in the store, and two days ago another store employee told me this recall is supposed to be handled quietly. Seems to me, even in the wake of this disaster Menu is still trying to make a buck. “Sure we’ll pay for your vet bills when you jump through hoops to prove to us we murdered or mamed your animal, providing we make sure we still have the money coming in to pay for them.” Just my opinion.
Comment by Amy Boda — March 24, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
I received an email today from a pet owner who, in turn, received the following email from Nutro, dated Friday, March 23, 2007; 5:03 p.m.:
From: “Nutro Products”
To: xxx@xxxx
Subject: Menu Foods Recall -Date Range Change
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 17:03:08 -0800
We have just been made aware that Menu Foods has expanded the date range of their recall. NO New Products are being added and we ask all Nutro customers that have any wet “cuts & gravy style” pet foods product, regardless of the “best by date,” to no longer feed these products to their pets and to return them for a full refund. This action is being taken to avoid customers’ confusion in reading specific “best by dates” on individual cans and pouches.
Comment by Nikki — March 24, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
To the folks at Pet Connection: Keep up the good work. You are providing a valuable service!! Your database is better than anything the government has (something is better than nothing). Your reporting is far better than anything in the traditional media.
Comment by Russ — March 24, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
This is to Bob Vernon and his wife,
I just read (and listened) to your blog. I am sitting in front of my computer with tears rolling down my cheeks. I have lost pets in my life and I know the deep loss you are feeling. It makes it so much worse, that a company that we as consumers are supposed to trust, is the cause. I can accept when a pet dies of old age, natural causes, even a car accident is more forgivable;but this is unacceptable. And in the name of your beloved pooch and all of those other loved and missed furry friends, I too will spend my time fighting for a better future for our pets and making those responsible pay for their negligence.
Comment by Amy Boda — March 24, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
Nikki - I can’t find anything from Menu Foods that says their recall now includes ANY date. As far as I can tell, everything on their site still refers to the initial date range.
I’m really trying to find something I can print and take into PETCO. (See my other comments above)
Do you have anything? HAven’t been able to find it on your site either. (Though I have a bad headache right now so may be not seeing things.)
Thanks for all your work this week,
Comment by Kim — March 24, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
CRAP! Just found this:
The Associated Press
Saturday, March 24, 2007; 5:54 PM
ALBANY, N.Y. — In a March 23 story about a pet food recall, The Associated Press, relying on information from the Food and Drug Administration, reported erroneously the recall had been expanded to all 95 brands of the “cuts and gravy” style dog and cat food by Menu Foods, regardless of when they were produced.
The company said Saturday the recall still applies only to products packaged from Dec. 3 to March 6. Retailers were advised Friday to remove all the products from their shelves in order to verify the dates they were packaged, but products not made between those dates can still be sold.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....00672.html
Comment by Kim — March 24, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
The compassion and mutual support of contributors to this site is phenomenal. I am here for the first time today. Please know that veterinarians - myself included - are as heartbroken as the caregivers who have lost beloved family members to poisoned food. I euthanized a previously healthy 6 year old cat today who was nearly comatose with acute kidney failure, having eaten one of the recalled foods. I am devastated and don’t know how to cope with my grief over this tragedy and the thousands like it that are occuring across the country as a result of mass-produced, mass-marketed, unsafe food. My heart goes out to everyone who has lost a loved one in this disaster.
Comment by Susan — March 24, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
Now that they know the source of the toxin, has anyone heard anything about a rescue therapy or are IV fluids the only thing that can be done for treatment?
Comment by jm — March 24, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
Kim,
You already found the retraction in today’s press. Funny how so many different sources reported the same “regardless of the date” info on the recalled expansion, yet today Menu Foods says they never said that. It’s like their daily-changing stories about how, first, the animals that died were from their own in-house testing which was done in response to customer complaints…NEXT, they said the testing was NOT in response to customer complaints, but was just a part of their “biz as usual” quarterly tasting tests….THEN they said that the tests weren’t done in-house, but outsourced to another company. There was also the “Menu Foods began receiving complaints in December”—widely reported in the Canadian Press, only to be contradicted by reports in the U.S. press which stated Menu Foods received their first complaint on Feb. 20th.
So do we attribute all this conflicting information to a truly incompetent media (both the Canadian press and the U.S. press), or to a company CEO who is continually retracting his words in order to both confuse consumers and deflect public criticism? As much as I lack faith in the mainstream media, I’m leaning toward believing the latter rather than the former.
Anyway, we do have it from Nutro that they have decided to pull all of the recalled products, regardless of production date. This was sent in an email to a customer from Nutro and stated on their website. This much, at least, you can take into stores who refuse to believe that the recalled Nutro products should be taken off the shelves.
Links: http://www.nutroproducts.com/
and here: http://sev.prnewswire.com/reta.....007-1.html
“We have just been made aware that Menu Foods has expanded the date range of their recall. NO New Products are being added and we ask all Nutro customers that have any wet “cuts & gravy style” pet foods product, regardless of the “best by date,” to no longer feed these products to their pets and to return them for a full refund. This action is being taken to avoid customers’ confusion in reading specific “best by dates” on individual cans and pouches.”
Comment by Nikki — March 24, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
For everyone who is wondering what is safe to feed their animal:
Please consider researching unprocessed (raw) and minimally processed foods for your animals.
Take a look at their teeth. Do they look like the teeth of a cow or horse, or rabbit? No, they are the teeth of a carnivore, with the short, highly acidic digestive tract of a carnivore. An animal that by genetics has hunted and eaten their prey.
Big business has fed us ideas about what is best for our pets, and we love them so we have bought into their fear mongering. Would you expect to live a long healthy life if you ate the same highly processed food every day, filled with god knows what?
Buy some books on natural feeding, do some reading, keep an open mind - educate your vet, find like minded people online.
Feeding your dog a naturally appropriate diet will make you feel better and you will never be in this position again.
Comment by Angelique — March 24, 2007 @ 6:58 pm
Kim,
As you’ve already found, there was a retraction today by Menu Foods of the statement made yesterday regarding expanding the recall, and which was widely reported by many news outlets.
Since the beginning of this fiasco, Menu Foods has been constantly contradicting themselves with respect to 1)the timeline of events and 2)the initial reports of pet deaths which were belatedly revealed to be test subjects.
So now, today, we have another retraction. Do we believe that the press—both the Canadian and the U.S.—is overwhelmingly incompetent and can’t seem to get any facts or statements made by Menu Foods right, or are we to believe that Menu Foods and their CEO is prone to continually changing their story for the purpose of confusing already-confused consumers AND to deflect public criticism, post-haste. While I have my reservations about the media, I am leaning toward believing the latter rather than the former, in this case.
Anyway, we DO know that Nutro has recalled their products which were on the recall list to include all dates of production, as a precautionary measure. This comes from both Nutro’s website and from a Nutro press release:
“We have just been made aware that Menu Foods has expanded the date range of their recall. NO New Products are being added and we ask all Nutro customers that have any wet “cuts & gravy style” pet foods product, regardless of the “best by date,” to no longer feed these products to their pets and to return them for a full refund. This action is being taken to avoid customers’ confusion in reading specific “best by dates” on individual cans and pouches.”
website:
http://www.nutroproducts.com/mfrecall.asp
Press release:
http://sev.prnewswire.com/reta.....007-1.html
Comment by Nikki — March 24, 2007 @ 6:58 pm
Kim,
As you’ve already learned, there was a retraction today by Menu Foods of the statement made yesterday regarding expanding the recall, and which was widely reported by many news outlets.
Since the beginning of this fiasco, Menu Foods has been constantly contradicting themselves with respect to 1)the timeline of events and 2)the initial reports of pet deaths which were belatedly revealed to be test subjects.
So now, today, we have another retraction. Do we believe that the press—both the Canadian and the U.S.—is overwhelmingly incompetent and can’t seem to get any facts or statements made by Menu Foods right, or are we to believe that Menu Foods and their CEO is prone to continually changing their story for the purpose of confusing already-confused consumers AND to deflect public criticism, post-haste. While I have my reservations about the media, I am leaning toward believing the latter rather than the former, in this case.
Anyway, we DO know that Nutro has recalled their products which were on the recall list to include all dates of production, as a precautionary measure. This comes from both Nutro’s website and from a Nutro press release:
“We have just been made aware that Menu Foods has expanded the date range of their recall. NO New Products are being added and we ask all Nutro customers that have any wet “cuts & gravy style” pet foods product, regardless of the “best by date,” to no longer feed these products to their pets and to return them for a full refund. This action is being taken to avoid customers’ confusion in reading specific “best by dates” on individual cans and pouches.”
website:
http://www.nutroproducts.com/mfrecall.asp
Press release:
http://sev.prnewswire.com/reta.....007-1.html
Comment by Nikki — March 24, 2007 @ 7:07 pm
My cats ate Iams Select Bites. They got sick in mid February and one of my cats had to be euthanized.(Feb. 15th 2007) And for anyone who knows about bloodwork, my cat’s BUN was 270! Severe Renal Failure. My other cat is in beginning stages of kidney failure, I have to give her 2 shots per day for nausea, and I have subQ fluids that I give her when I notice her getting dehydrated. I was given K/D for her condition, she just didn’t want to eat it. I make her chicken now and with her shots she will eat it.
My Iams box that I have left starts with 6338, the recall starts with 6339. They need to recall 6338 as well, and who knows how many more. That box of Iams was the last box that I fed my cat. I will never buy Iams again. I just could never do it.
Comment by Bridget — March 24, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
I called the FDA to report the death of my cat in december. I got a return call yesterday and the lady asked me alot of questions about the cat’s death and my dog which has been having problems and she asked when was last time I had blood work done on either animal and I told the dates and one was over a year ago and she requested the records, So I asked her why and she said I need all the information I can get So I asked her if there had been problems before the December 3 recall date and she said I can not comment at this time and then she gave me her direct phone and she would like the records ASAP.
I beleive this has been going well before December 3.
John
Comment by John — March 24, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
It IS NOW ALL Menu Foods - Sat. 3/24
http://www.breitbart.com/artic....._article=1
Comment by Ray — March 24, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
Probably not to be a stastic except here. Thank’s for the database, it is not creating hysteria, it is quite responsible, well documented (including potential flaws) and clearly shows the scope of the problem to be beyond what the press is willing to report. Not that there is a conspiracy, just that most press won’t report information that cannot be verified.
Our cat is hanging in there, but not gaining back her lost weight yet. There is no doubt she is part of this story, but we do not keep our empty pet food containers for weeks just in case they are tainted. We buy as we use and canned food is a treat once or twice a week, thank god. Fortunately the vet put her on a special diet, so we have not bought any more ‘treats’ since late January.
We cannot be part of any official count since we don’t have containers still to feed out, or empty ones with the proper date code. I appreciate your database, and your effort.
Does anyone keep their empty pet food containers for a few months just in case there is a mass poisening of pets?
Comment by Steve — March 24, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
I have a 3 year old Ragdoll who seems to be showing all of the symptoms associated with the poisoning - extreme lethargy, refusal of all foods and water, vomiting, etc. If no improvement is shown, I will take her to the emergency clinic within the next few hours. My concern is that aside from a Royal Canin dry specialty diet that she shares with my other cats, the only other food she gets is a once a day can of Fancy Feast (only fish flavors). The can is split between her and another ragdoll who gets heart medication buried in the Fancy Feast. He gets very little of the Fancy Feast, and has only shown minor symptoms, but the younger cat definitely seems to be getting worse. When I’ve checked with the Purina or Fancy Feast sites, they do not list any product difficulties at this time, but the emergency clinic says they believe that to be untrue. What do you know? Obviously I am very concerned but the clinic wants me to give the situation a little more time to develop….
Comment by Jane R — March 24, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
I have 5 pouches of the Nutro Puppy Chicken and Cheese meals that I bought in December that is listed as a recall on the Nutro website. I gave one package to my puppy in December right after I purchased it. She ate a small amount and then refused it…shortly after she threw up. I kept the packages but did not feed her anymore because I wasn’t sure if it was from the food or what…and she didn’t seem to like it much. My question is this…should we return the unused food or should we keep it in case we find out some later our pets have been damaged as a result of eating these products? How would we prove we purchased the food if we return it?
My puppy had a blood test taken last month and some of her markers are outside of the normal range…but not by far.
Comment by Surfsista — March 24, 2007 @ 9:36 pm
Anyone who has lost a pet or in any way has been affected by this tragedy should ask to be included in the class action lawsuit underway.
http://progressivelaw.ezsitela......asp?id=11
The only way to get these companies to take notice is to hit them where it hurts!
Comment by Surfsista — March 24, 2007 @ 9:46 pm
Gina,
With all due respect, the breitcop.com article is not sourced from AP’s wire, but AFP’s (Agence France-Presse) and the quotes included in the article are far too extensive and specific for there to have been any misunderstanding or fabrication. I have emailed AFP for confirmation of the information contained in their quite precise and seemingly credible news release. Until I have heard back from AFP, I will continue to run the headline which presently stands on the http://www.howl911.com website.
Comment by Nikki — March 24, 2007 @ 9:50 pm
Jane R, I think you should not hesitate to take your Ragdoll kitty to the vet. The sooner the better. I wouldn’t wait any longer if I were you.
Comment by OJoy — March 24, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
to Colleen—If your pets have eaten the recalled food, take them to the vet before they show symptoms. My cat was fine one day and very ill the next. We had to have her put to sleep three days after she started showing symptoms because her kidneys were 75% gone. If you wait for symptoms, it will probably be too late.
Comment by Gloria Rose — March 24, 2007 @ 10:29 pm
I was just at Rite Aid in Fremont, CA. They are still selling some of the brands that are on the recall list for cats and dogs. I notified the manager, and she didn’t even know about the recall. My god - it has been a week!
Comment by Kellie — March 24, 2007 @ 10:37 pm
Hello everyone,
I too have a sick kitty—he is my 6 month old baby biy ragdoll. He has been on IV’s for the past 2 days because he ate the poisoned food. He is my love, my baby. I am sick over this whole situation.
My question is, what do the people do who cannot afford treatment. Are they just supposed to let their animals die? There could be many they could have been saved…
Why aren’t the Pet Food Companies or Menu Foods setting up some sort of clinics for these poor animals and their owners? Shouldn’t they be doing something?! I am so angry and saddened by the response the public is getting from these companies! How dare they!
There are many people I know who cannot afford treatment. My heart aches for them and their pets…their babies…their only family! How dare these companies take them away by poisening them and give NOTHING back! How dare they!
Comment by Jeanna — March 24, 2007 @ 11:23 pm
And another thing, I tried to call and report my issues of having poisoned Eukanuba wet food to Menu Foods and they will NOT take any info from me. They told me they have NOTHING to do with the Iams & Eukanuba recall, & I would have to call them direct (which I had already done). They said they DO NOT manufacture the food for Iams and Eukanuba and have NO information regarding their food!…Is this true, or a lie?! There seems to be no consistency with what they are telling the public.
Comment by Jeanna — March 24, 2007 @ 11:30 pm
Why worry? Here is the latest:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17.....3?GT1=9145
There have only been 16 deaths. Where in the world is this number coming from? There have been more than 16 in Orange County and 1 (soon to be 2) have come from my pets. This is ridiculous!!!!!!
Comment by Ron Davis — March 24, 2007 @ 11:33 pm
Jeanna,
I cried when I read your post. What an atrocity! I cannot believe the cavalier attitude these companies have. You are right…why are they not stepping up to the plate? Can it be because they don’t have to?
Why are people still going to pet stores and supermarkets to purchase food for pets? If the food is unregulated, there will never be any guarantee what is in the food. I would rather feed table scraps than trust these companies with my babies. I will only buy Pet Promise organic dog food from Whole Foods or Artemis through a natural food pet store and if I run out of money, I will feed them my food.
The only way to drive the point home is a total boycott of all un-regulated pet food.
I cried when I read your post. What an atrocity
Comment by Surfsista — March 25, 2007 @ 12:08 am
I do not understand why Menu would not take calls regarding Eukanuba and Iams, it has already been stated more than once that these companies outsourced to Menu…hence the recall of their foods. Granted each of these companies are responsible for their products, however if Menu is the actual manufacturer they need to step up and take the damn call!
Comment by Amy Boda — March 25, 2007 @ 12:40 am
My cat is sick and I am sure it is related to the recall. He was a happy and healthy cat a few weeks ago and now after an expense trip to my vet, we are trying a new diet that is supposed to slow the process of kidney disease, though I am fearful the damage is done. The vet has confirmed abnormal/decreased kidney function and watery urination. He continues to drink more, vomit and has diarrhea and lethargy. I have retained all the cuts/gravy Nutro brand cat food. They are all on the recall list, however the dates are earlier than the recall list from menu foods - BEWARE. DO NOT RETURN THE UNUSED FOOD. There is no incentive and once youo do, you’ll never know. I will be back at the vet tomorrow morning, hope it’s not too late.
Comment by Andy — March 25, 2007 @ 8:45 am
Thank you for the update. I find this frightening. I can’t believe how many pets are affect, although given the scope of the brands, I’m not surprised.
Comment by Cheysuli — March 25, 2007 @ 11:43 am
my cat is sick from this food, she just came home after 4 days in the hopsital, her numbers we quite high almost to the point of complete renal failure, the first vet i took her too wouldnt treather because i didnthave themoney thank god i found one that would work with me,she will have to be spayed so she cant breed, she is only functioning at 25% use of her kidneys at this point which most likely will never go back to normal, she is 13 months old, thats the one thing on her side is that she is young, i have idea what the future holds at this point for her but i pray that she will survive this, if anyone else has filed a lawsuit , i am currently trying to find an attorny, if u can help me pleasee contact me at just2wiley4u@aol.com
Comment by debra klein — March 25, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
Having just last week losing one of the kindest dogs ever born, I cannot understand what the hell is going on in this country. They say only 16 have died. BULL. Its time for us as pet owners to reply to those who are lying to us.. I will NEVER again buy from anyone listed on these recalls. My local RED APPLE store is still carrying Western Family pet foods on the shelves. They seem only to be concerned with making a few bucks instead of doing the right thing.
For everyone who has lost a pet, I’m Sorry and feel with you the lose.
Lets stand up and be united for one thing in this time of turmoil.
Comment by Dan Mills — March 25, 2007 @ 3:37 pm
I have also reported the death of my 4 year old, perfectly healthy cat, Bailey. On Feb 25th, he stopped eating, and by Wed the 28th at 7:30am I rushed him in for an emergency vet appt. Over $500 in blood work confirmed his kidneys had failed. According to the medical chart, one ‘kidney could not be found’. Unusual for a 4 year old, in great health, indoor tabby cat. I chose NOT to cremate, but rather bury in my parents woods area.
Last weekend, when the recall was announced, I contacted my vet and told them I still had the food and the numbers matched the recalled food?!?! By Monday morning, she called me and was quite concerned and very interesting in finding out more information about the recall. On Tuesday, the FDA called me. I continued contact with my vet and on Friday the FDA came to my office to pick up samples of the food and the medical records. I explained that Bailey was buried and the FDA has discussed the idea of exhuming the body. Friday afternoon, I watched the new conference when Menu Foods apologized to the world and claimed all responsibility. Yesterday (Saturday) I finally got through the 866# and pleaded my case, with tearing running from my eyes to Menu Foods and was promised that someone would get back to me ASAP. I have heard nothing yet.
I have contacted an attorney and have received all paperwork for representation and have NOT mailed it quite yet. I sorta wanted to see what the new conference would say and IF Menu Foods would actually return my call.
I will probably NEVER trust manufactured pet food again. I have resorted to homemade food for my 2 dogs, which I have found to be fun, easy, and actually relatively inexpensive compared to the highest priced specialty foods. If you really think about it…we have had pets in our lives for thousands of years…and only since the 1950’s has pet food become a business!! Entire isles in the grocery stores is dedicated to it. AND if you read the ingredients…it’s NOT made for human consumption!! Most of the animal byproducts are pretty disgusting and yet, we are suppose to feed this #$#@$@ to our beloved animals.
I have lost Bailey, and this is horribly sad. BUT I have been educating myself and I will make the commitment to my 2 precious dogs, Hunter and Romeo, that THEY will have better quality food than I can get in the pet food isle!! Best of luck to anyone else who is grieving over their lost family members!!
Comment by jennifer — March 25, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
ONE MORE NOTE…DO NOT RETURN THE FOOD. KEEP IT AS EVIDENCE…AND IF YOU CAN GET A HOLD OF THE FDA, THEY WILL DO TESTING.
AS FAR AS ATTORNEYS…I HAVE CONTACTED JAY EDELSON IN CHICAGO. APPARENTLY HE HAD OVER 350 CALLS IN ONE DAY REGARDING THE PET FOOD RECALL. HE APPEARS TO BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT GUY…AND HAS BEEN QUITE FRIENDLY ON THE PHONE.
MY BROTHER IS IN LAW SCHOOL AND IS VERY INTERESTED IN HOW THIS WHOLE THING PANS OUT IN COURT.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH…A LOSS OF A PET IS NOT CONSIDERED A WRONGFUL DEATH, BUT RATHER DAMAGES TO PERSONAL PROPERTY. STILL TRYING TO LEARN THE LINGO AND WHAT IT MEANS.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!
JENNIFERAZ@COX.NET
Comment by jennifer — March 25, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
Ronald Wempen, MD can you please expand on your theory that “the pathological pattern of Aminopterrin does not appear to match the descriptions we read on this site nor the kidney failures”. If you “starting some studies myself in another direction. If anyone wants to join in and submit specimens of listed foods and samples of urine from live sick pets, please Comment to that effect” I am commenting….please contact me directly @ jenniferaz@cox.net. I have the recalled food in my pantry, blood work from my vet, and body that the FDA was interesting in exhuming.
Comment by jennifer — March 25, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Good grief. I posted a day or two ago, giving the date of my dog’s death as March 19th, (I’ve really been in shock over this). I realized that it was Wednesday, March 14th, and no wonder I didn’t hear about the recall. It hadn’t hit the media yet! I feed outside cats and now worry because I’d been using Special Kitty cuts and gravy for some time now (luckily my inside cats never liked it, so they eat Friskies exclusively. I’m hoping to God I haven’t destroyed some of the cats I was trying to take care of outdoors. They didn’t get S.K. all the time, but still…. not only is the guilt overwhelming as far as my dog, Beau, is concerned, but the under-reporting and lack of concern by some is making me very angry. Now Menu has hired a spin-meister too? Figures. I used to work in Public Relations and there were times when I felt like I needed a bath. Keep up the good work! Paula
Comment by Paula Lynn Dee — March 25, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
Can anyone comment about Dick Van Pattens “Natural Balance” dry pet food? I have heard great things and am desperatly seeking the best food I can give my kitties.
Or, any good recipes for cat food (wet &/or dry) would be apprecitated as well. Everytime I go to feed my babies I am literally TERRIFIED! I second guess EVERY brand out there, even the ones NOT on the recall list. I have lost ALL trust in the pet food industry. My boy is sick and the last thing I want to do is give him anything that could have even the slightest chance of hurting him. What are we all to do? Who are we to trust? And, WHY should we trust them? ERGH! It’s driving me NUTS!
email: jeannac21@hotmail.com
Comment by Jeanna — March 25, 2007 @ 8:38 pm
Jeanna,
I switched to Natural Balance for my Nick after he started drinking more water and peeing alot (blood work is ok for kidneys but white count is low).He was previously eating Special Kitty pouches. He is a beautiful 18 month old Russian Blue. He took to the dry ok, but is fighting me on the wet (their wet is the loaf variety and he likes the chunks with gravy). I did tell him that this was his only option, however he just clawed at my thigh and meowed while I was cooking (hence he had some of our dinner because I’m a sucker for this cat :) ).
I also received an email from Natural Balance yesterday stating that they only use human grade products from within the US, and they do not outsource to Menu at all. Plus they are wheat free which makes me feel somewhat better. My vet agreed they were a good choice as well. I guess only time will tell, but for the time being I will stick with them.
Good luck to you and your baby, this has been a rough week.
Comment by Amy Boda — March 25, 2007 @ 11:51 pm
We recently lost our boston terrior to kidney failure i had fed her some of the tainted dog food i have been on fox 6 news here in alabama and also in our tuscaloosa newspaper i have a web blog on the fox 6 website and someone listed a statement today that they went into the foodworld in mccalla and found some of the recalled dog food still on the list Please people watch what you are buying if you are going to continue to buy canned or pouched food for your pets
Comment by amberC — March 26, 2007 @ 10:24 am
I lost my beloved cat five days ago. I read and posted on the blogs to get my story out. Reading the blogs helped me get through this difficult time. However how hard it may be to get your call into your local FDA, please don’t give up. It will make a difference if you file a report with them. Hopefully there will be accurate numbers of sick and deceased pets and warrant higher regulations on pet foods. You will be making a difference to pet owners now and to the future.
Comment by LFrahm — March 26, 2007 @ 10:15 pm
Oh LFrahm & everyone who is suffering,
Tears are streaming down my face at this very moment! I am so sorry. I am so thankful for these blogs too. I agree with you, definatly take the time to make a report to the FDA. My heart is aching that more cannot be done for our precious family members. I am absolutly devastated! Please, take care and continue to get the support you need. ((Hugs to you))
Comment by Jeanna — March 27, 2007 @ 12:12 am
Fancy Feast seafood and Freekies is what I was feeding my beloved cat….purina is not saying they are one the list but it is all my cat ate. I had to put him down on monday… it was terrible…the night before I stayed up with him all night as he fell and tried to drink in between vomitting…I pray there is a heaven for our pets… I cant believe I gave him his last meal.
Comment by Sharon — March 28, 2007 @ 10:47 pm
my class is doing an experiment that involves rats, and we are getting near to the end of the study(so someone gets to take one of the rats home). We have a mini dauchund and my mom said if we didn’t have a dog she might think about it (i don’t belive her). Do you people have any ideas that will help convince my mom to let me adopt one of the rats?
Comment by Ananomious — October 30, 2007 @ 5:54 pm
I guess for starters, who takes care of the dog most of the time? You don’t actually have to answer that here, but do answer it honestly for yourself in your own mind. If the honest answer is that your mom is doing most of the feeding and the cleaning and the training and the remembering of when the dog has to go to the vet, then I would guess that you won’t have much chance of convincing her that another pet won’t just mean more work for her.
On the other hand, if everyone in the family is doing their fair share of taking care of your dog (or if - at least - YOU are pulling your weight in that department) then your credibility will be a little better.
Credibility - however - may not do you any good if your mother simply doesn’t *like* rats. And that’s a strong possibility. People who have never had a rat often don’t realize what a wonderful pet they can be. A lot of people can’t get past the tail. While others just can’t wrap their minds around the idea of making a pet out of an animal that’s been traditionally demonized throughout history.
So the next thing to find out is whether your mom has an issue with the idea of a pet rat - dog or no dog.
Finally, think about the genetic heritage of your dog. The dachshund was bred to “go to ground” - that is - to go down into tunnels after prey. Historically, that prey was a badger, but no self-respecting Dachshund is going to turn up his nose at the substitution of a rat!
So bringing a rat into a house with a strong hunting-drive dog like a dachshund requires a lot of vigilance in order to keep the rat safe. And your mother - with good justification - just may not want to deal with that responsibility. Can you convince her you’re up to the challenge? I don’t know. But make sure that you UNDERSTAND the challenge, first.
Sorry I didn’t have an easier answer for you, but there’s a lot to think about here. So think it through, and make sure you’re honest with yourself for the sake of all the critters involved.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — October 30, 2007 @ 7:53 pm
I switched my dog’s food from Nutro to Natural Balance in late march of 2007 because I didn’t wan’t to take any chances with my dog’s health. Sadie had liver cancer and I was taking her in for cancer treatments since Nov. of 2006. The last treatment she had was in April of 2007. She never recovered from the last treatment. She started to develop jaundice and pancreatitus set in as well as anemia. I had to put my beloved dog Sadie, of 16 years down. To my horror, I found out that the food I switch to; Natural Balance, was on the recall list! She never had a reaction to her treatment like this before. I still have the wet food in a plastic container and some still in unopened cans. I’m finally starting to come out of my shock of losing her, but I still have my moments. I’m thinking of having the food tested to see if it was a contributing factor in her demise. I want to do this because I need closure. I MISS HER SO MUCH!! Does nybody have any suggestions on the best way I should start my investigation?
Comment by Steve — October 30, 2007 @ 8:52 pm