Pet-food recall: What to feed, and more numbers
By Gina Spadafori
March 26, 2007
Disclaimer: I worked at The Sacramento Bee for almost 20 years, and their science reporter Carrie Peyton Dahlberg is a friend of mine. Doesn’t change the fact that she has done a really good job following this story.
Her piece on what to feed pets:
The major pet food recall horrifying dog and cat lovers for the past week has raised the heat under a slowly simmering debate over what’s the healthiest meal for the animals that share our lives.
Partly fueled by distrust of the $14 billion-plus pet food industry, and partly mirroring trends in human cuisine, many people are making home-cooked meals for their pets, dishing up raw meat and bones, or going vegetarian.
“Just like with people, there’s a very emotional aspect around food,” said Andrea Fascetti, a nutrition professor at UC Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine.
“If we’re doing something that makes us feel better, we of course want to translate that to our animals,” Fascetti said. “Where that breaks down is, cats and dogs are not people. Sometimes it can be detrimental.”
Fascetti, who runs a nutrition support service that helps vets around the world develop or assess special diets, says she’s beginning to see more interest in raw foods, more interest in home-cooked foods — and more problem diets circulating on the Internet.
And this one, on how big the problem might be:
The official death count, provided by Menu, has risen only slightly, to 15 cats and two dogs. Those who’ve tried to extrapolate deaths nationwide have leaned in part on FDA statements that 40 to 50 pets were fed affected food in palatability tests, and nine died — which would be roughly a 20 percent fatality rate.
However, an e-mail obtained by The Bee that has circulated on veterinary data sharing lists raises the prospect of potentially higher fatalities and broader kidney damage.
The e-mail, from Cornell University’s Animal Health Diagnostic Center, outlined that in one test of 20 cats, only four escaped apparently unscathed. A Cornell expert who reportedly visited the test site did not return phone calls from The Bee.
While the e-mail describes the same overall number of deaths as the FDA, it indicates that one test in which cats had access to the food the longest ended with a 35 percent death rate and kidney damage in another 45 percent.
As described in the e-mail, the 20 cats were given a choice of two foods, including a product not yet on the market, to see how well they liked each one. That test ran for four days, Feb. 27 to March 2. The first cat died March 2, the second March 5, and later five more died. Of the 13 survivors, tests showed nine had impaired kidney function.
A separate test of another 20 cats, this time given only the unmarketed food for just two days, ended with two deaths and one survivor with kidney damage.
In a later test of 10 dogs, the e-mail said, all ate the food the first day, but afterward most refused to eat it at all, and vomit was found in one kennel.
Every bit of good reporting doesn’t have to orginate in New York or Washington, D.C.
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Technorati Tags: pet food recall, dogs, cats,veterinarian, veterinary
Is this in todays paper?
Comment by Amy Boda — March 26, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
Good Reporting Counts.
But like I was saying and I will repeat again.
“Unfortunately these ceo’s and executives can afford to feed their pets fresh sauteed tournedos of organically raised beef every single day while their customer bases have to suffer stress almost to the point of being overwhelming waiting to hear if we still have poisoned pet food in our cabinets.”
Comment by Steve — March 26, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
USA Today 3/26/07
has broke the news about the discrepancy in the numbers being reported
Comment by Rhon — March 26, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
Steve I couldn’t agree more, especially with this:
“…have to suffer stress almost to the point of being overwhelming waiting to hear if we still have poisoned pet food in our cabinets.”
My 2 cats think I’m crazy - I put food in front of them, let them eat for a few minutes, then I wonder if that can was okay, change my mind and decide it might not have been even though the company doesn’t use Menu at all, so I rush over and take their food away.
Then I make food for them (which one won’t eat), watch the other one eat it then wonder if it’s safe for him because he has ongoing kidney problems (from food 2 years ago!) and homemade food might make that worse so I take that food away too.
Rinse. Alternate. Repeat. I’m losing it.
This is insane. We HAVE to know more, now.
Comment by Kim — March 26, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
Latest Pet Food Recall Information: New York State Lab Testing for Tainted Ingredient
Last Edited: Monday, 26 Mar 2007, 4:40 PM EDT
Created: Monday, 26 Mar 2007, 4:34 PM EDT
By MARK JOHNSON
The Associated Press
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The laboratory that identified the poison believed to be responsible for the death of pets around the country has started testing individual components of the tainted pet food to determine which ingredient was contaminated, officials said Monday.
Scientists at the New York State Food Laboratory on Friday identified aminopterin as the likely culprit in a poisoning scare that prompted the recall of 95 brands of “cuts and gravy” style dog and cat food.
Department of Agriculture and Markets spokeswoman Jessica Chittenden did not know when the lab would have results from the new tests.
The federal Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation into the pet deaths was focused on wheat gluten. Stephen Sundlof, the federal agency’s top veterinarian, said Friday it remains the suspected source of the contamination.
Scientists so far have offered no theories on how aminopterin got into the products of Menu Foods, which makes pet food for most of North America’s top retailers. Aminopterin, a derivative of folic acid, can cause cancer and birth defects in humans and can cause kidney damage in dogs and cats. Its use as a rodent poison is banned in the United States.
Some pets that ate the food suffered kidney failure, and the company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog. The FDA has reported more than 4,400 calls from concerned pet owners.
Cornell University’s veterinary school also is testing the food. Dr. Donald Smith, dean of the school, said the tests of the individual food components would likely take days.
“It’s a very challenging set of procedures,” he said. “We have to keep in mind there are other things out there that could potentially be hazardous. We are working very hard to confirm it was aminopterin.”
Scientists at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University and at the New York State Food Laboratory tested three cat food samples provided by the manufacturer and found aminopterin in two of them, the labs announced Friday. The two labs are part of a network created after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to keep the nation’s animals and food supply safe.
The company recalled products packaged from Dec. 3 to March 6 and advised retailers last week to remove all the products from their shelves to verify the dates they were packaged. Products not made between those dates can still be sold.
FBI spokesman Stephen Kodak said the agency is “not involved in any way, shape, or form.” He said the FBI would likely only get involved if evidence pointed to the products being tampered with while on store shelves.
Chittenden said any criminal investigation would have to be initiated by the FDA.
Comment by Steve — March 26, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
Local Sacramento, CA news station is going in the right direction!!!!!
http://cbs13.com/pets/local_story_082193016.html
Comment by Amy Boda — March 26, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
March 26, 2007
GOVERNMENT & POLICY
Pet Food Recall
Aminopterin, a rodent-killing compound, is found in samples of pet food made by Menu Foods
Lois R. Ember
Scientists at the New York State Food Laboratory have identified the rodent-killing compound aminopterin at levels of at least 40 ppm in samples of pet food made by Menu Foods. Menu sells the pet food throughout the U.S. under 95 brand names and has recalled 60 million cans and pouches of wet cat and dog food. To date, Menu says 15 cats and one dog that ate the recalled brands have died of kidney failure.
Aminopterin is not licensed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a rodenticide, but it is used to kill rodents in other countries. It has been used in the U.S. as a cancer drug, however.
The toxic compound is the 4-amino analog of folic acid, which it inhibits. In the late 1940s it was used as an antitumor agent. Aminopterin stops the growth of cancer cells and suppresses the immune system by inhibiting DNA replication and RNA and protein synthesis. It has now largely been superseded by a less toxic folic acid analog, methotrexate.
Methotrexate at high doses leads to the deposit of 7-hydroxymethotrexate crystals in renal tubules, eventually causing acute kidney failure. Aminopterin’s toxicity is believed to be similar to methotrexate’s and dose-dependent as well.
The Food & Drug Administration is investigating the animal deaths and is focusing on the wheat gluten used to thicken the gravies in the moist pet foods. By itself, wheat gluten does not cause kidney failure, but it could have been contaminated by aminopterin. Menu Foods imported the wheat gluten from China, where aminopterin is used as a rodent killer.
FDA is not yet saying that aminopterin is the only contaminant in the tainted foods and, therefore, the cause of the animal deaths. Lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and lack of appetite are signs of illness in stricken animals. There is no blood test for aminopterin.
Menu Foods is majority-owned by Menu Foods Income Fund of Streetsville, Ontario. Menu Foods also makes food for zoo cats, but that food is not affected by the recall.
Chemical & Engineering News
ISSN 0009-2347
Comment by Steve — March 26, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
Durbin Wants Answers After Pet Food Recall
Reported by: WMBD/WYZZ/RNS
03/26/2007 04:37pm
WMBD/WYZZ/RNS - WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator Dick Durbin is calling on the Food and Drug Administration to provide answers about pet food safety.
Durbin and Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, have written FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach . The letter asks for an analysis of the FDA’s oversight of pet food manufacturing facilities and a report of actions taken since a recent pet food recall. The recall followed a string of kidney failures in cats and dogs and a handfull of pet deaths.
Durbin says many pets “are now suffering as a result of a flawed pet food inspection system.” DeLauro says the FDA never visited the Kansas plant mentioned as a possible source of contamination, and the last time it visited a New Jersey plant that was also implicated, was in 2004.
Durbin and DeLauro say since the recall, the FDA has been working with Menu Foods to investigate the source of any potential contamination.
It’s unclear whether or not there has been a contamination or what the source of the contamination may be.
In samples of the recalled product, recent tests have confirmed the presence of rat poison, aminopterin , which in high doses can cause kidney failure.
http://ciproud.com/content/ful.....p;cid=1696
Comment by Steve — March 26, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
Massive Industry Shake-Up
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-.....amp;EDATE=
Comment by Steve — March 26, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
“The recall followed a string of kidney failures in cats and dogs and a handfull of pet deaths.”
A handful indeed! Even the manufacturer reported more than a mere “handful” of deaths. Where do they come up with this stuff?!?!?! :-/
Comment by Dawn Turner — March 26, 2007 @ 4:31 pm
Where do they come up with this stuff?!?!?! :-/
Comment by Dawn Turner
Dawn, Menu just hired a well known PR Firm to handle this crisis.
Comment by Steve — March 26, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
Wellness (verified by company rep 3/26/07)
* “Menu does make some of our canned cat and canned dog foods. They make
OUR recipes according to OUR quality standards.”
* “We have procedures in place to clean between each run of food that is produced. We also inspect the plant regularly to audit their procedures. Since we take our quality very seriously we go above and beyond what is expected in the industry. We are happy to tell you that we require our facilities to pass an audit by Cook & Thurber, a HUMAN FOOD auditing firm.”
* Other manufacturers are used besides Menu Foods.
* Products do not contain wheat, corn or soy, artificial preservatives, flavors or colors.
Why am I still nervous?
Comment by Steve — March 26, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm#contact
If anyone wants to contact Dick Durbin.
Still very heartsick over my cat’s death with no response from Menu Foods.
Comment by Sally Callahan — March 26, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
I just want to add IF your dogs or cats ate any of the recalled food you should get them tested. My two young healthy Poms ate a small amount of the foods in question with their kibble everyday. They ate less than 1/2 a pouch each daily. They have no symptoms BUT I got their blood test results today and both have elevated Kidney readings and one also has elevated Liver readings. They are now on Purina NF food and one is taking two medications for her liver. These dogs had just had their yearly check up and shots a month ago and had no problems. One is 7 months old and the other is almost 2 years old. I’m hopeful that with the special food and medication they will be alright but I’m still worried.
People had told me not to bother getting them tested since they seemed fine. My feelings now is if your pet ate any of the menu stuff they probably should be tested.
Comment by Maureen — March 26, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
Sally,
Please accept my condolences over your loss. We need to stick together for the long run and make sure this never happens again. Whatever it takes.
Comment by Steve — March 26, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
“My 2 cats think I’m crazy - I put food in front of them, let them eat for a few minutes, then I wonder if that can was okay, change my mind and decide it might not have been even though the company doesn’t use Menu at all, so I rush over and take their food away.”
Cats will pick up on your stress, and stress itself makes living things sick. Don’t take this as chastising, but settle on something beforehand and let them eat it.
Vist this link for a discussion on what are alternatives you might feel safe with at the moment:
http://petsitusa.com/blog/?p=210
Also read the comments as readers are always adding new info.
Comment by Traci — March 26, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
steve,it’s about time DC does something about the this.
Comment by gigi — March 26, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
it’s about time DC does something about the this.
Comment by gigi — March 26, 2007
Gigi your correct this situation is unacceptable and it is time to start contacting ALL our representatives and request they begin demanding some answers from all involved including right up up to the FDA.
Comment by Steve — March 26, 2007 @ 5:32 pm
Traci,
I have been reading that site, and have only bought the foods I most trust. Which I still don’t trust. Which is the problem. Sigh. Thanks though.
Ohmigod. I’ve got the TV on in the background and I just heard “ABC World News brought to you by Purina”.
Guess that might answer some of our questions…
And I posted this on the most recent post, but let’s add it here too. Names, phone numbers and email addresses for the AP Bureau Chief in every state.
http://www.ap.org/media/pdf/Co....._08.08.pdf
Comment by Kim — March 26, 2007 @ 5:44 pm
I think I’m doing OK because I’m feeding dry Pedigree………… then i see online that it is being recalled in Thailand, and Asia and others because dogs there are dying! What gives????
Comment by kerry — March 26, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
kerry, the recall of Pedigree in Thailand due to fungal problems was in 2004. Please try not to spread panic unnecessarily. Give us a source to check for statements like this.
http://findarticles.com/p/arti....._114410165
Comment by Cathy — March 26, 2007 @ 6:16 pm
Do not reccomend DRY FOOD. Please don’t do it! Dr. Becker, you have good intensions but your 180º out of whack. You see, I believe that the dry food problems have been with us for years, they are being magnified now because of the newer wet food problems…in a big way. In the past your dog got sick and you didn’t go on the net to see who elses dog or cat died, no, you just buried them. Now we have the resources to compile and assimilate a great deal more information in a short time. With these tools we have the world and all of it’s good and bad at our fingertips. I have been in touch with people in all over this great country and Great Britan, Mexico, Newfoundland and South Africa all since the death of my dear Abby Gayle. I have found that pets are in serious trouble every where and no one wants to admit it. The news papers give us the back page, the syndicated columnist under state the crisis, the vets are getting wealthy. Hell, they sell to us what is killing our pets and then charge enormous sums for treatment. The pet food manufactures make their quick bags of change and the pet owners foot the bill.
This is just the opinion of a person who has lost something very dear and knows it will be impossible to replace. Any money we recieve should be used as Mary stated earlier, get your pet at the S.P.C.A. or Animal Shelter, maybe then, if we all did this, it could put animals in our homes instead of in our pets food.
They killed our Dog! Our Dear Abby Gayle Died last night at 10:05 pm with my wife, sons and daughter at her side. Almost 4 years old, purbred Airedale Terrier, picture perfect health record, She died of acute kidney failure due to eating tainted, contamiated, IAMS Dry, Green Bag, purchased from Walmart. Dead before we could do anything because we were notified to late and as for the dry food no notification at all. Please people, listen, do not feed your dog any products from these recalled manufactures, wet or dry. Do you trust them, they have been hiding this for months possibly years. They have had this problem for 2 years and have still not trully fiqured out why. Please don’t feed your pets poison DRY FOOD! It may have anti freeze components in it.
I know I’m going to ruffle some feathers, bring it on.
keen for Abby Gayle (keen@mac.com)
Comment by MikeKeen — March 27, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
Gigi, haven’t heard that name for years.
keen
Comment by MikeKeen — March 27, 2007 @ 5:57 pm
Blue Buffalo pet food company in CT uses no wheat in their food, and does not use Menu Foods for mfg/canning. It’s sold at Petsmart.
Dear catlover,
Thank you for taking the time out to write us. And thank you for your interest in BLUE. BLUE products have never been produced by Menu Foods and we are not affiliated with them in any way.
Best regards,
Samantha Wuhrer
The Blue Buffalo Company
(203) 762-9751 Ext 11
Comment by catlover — March 27, 2007 @ 6:14 pm