Pet-food recall: ABC News breaks it wide open
By Gina Spadafori
March 27, 2007
- If you’re new to the site, please check out our general information page.
Mentioned before, but worth of its own post. This ABC News report has to be watched.
As we’ve said here before, ABC News and USA Today have been the only national media to truly report this story from Day One.
Reminding you:
- Call the FDA to report your information
- Call your veterinarian and ask him or her to report to your state veterinarian, also for the FDA
- Enter your pet in our database
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Technorati Tags: pet food recall, dogs, cats,veterinarian, veterinary
This is so terrible and people have reported on this blog trouble with the dry food that has wheat in it. Does anyone know if dry food is being tested and what brands might (MIGHT) be affected?
Does anyone know who this poisoned wheat supplier is and also what other company may have bought this wheat?
Does anyone know if the Dept. of AG is looking into this?
Comment by Linda — March 27, 2007 @ 9:34 am
SOME RECALLED PET FOODS IN BELGIUM, OTHER EU NATIONS 03/26/07
Thanks to Tanya’s Feline CRF website for this lead: Partial translation of a 3/22/07 press release from the Belgian Food Agency: Belgium has imported 40 boxes each containing 24 items. The Food Agency is trying to find out where these products have been sold but has not received any information from the USA supplier as yet. It is also possible that there is more than this amount on the Belgian market, possibly through import from other EU countries. Europe has imported a total of 3440 boxes.
Belgian Food Agency Press Release (in Dutch)
http://www.howl911.com/petfoodrecall.htm
PDF translanted from Dutch to English
COMMUNICATION
Serious problems with cat feeding of the American firma menu Foods inc.
The federal food agency FAVV was informed by means of RASFF-systeem (warning system of the European Commission) that a number European lands cat fodder from the United States from the firma menu originating Foods inc had introduced. In the United States kidney problems were determined at cats which have with this feeding.
Wet feeding of the mark menu Foods inc. where problems became are determined:
o Choice complete Care Adult Rich in Chicken & Liver
o Choice complete Care Adult Rich in Turkey with Broth
o Choice complete Care Kitten Rich in Chicken & Liver
o Choice complete Care Light Rich in Chicken & Liver
o Choice complete Care senior person Rich in Chicken & Turkey
o Choice complete Care Kitten with Ocean fish & Tuna
o Choice complete Care Kitten Rich in Salmon with
o Ocean fish
It will draw lots about this only with packing of 85 gr with as minimum durability dates which those falls between 03/12/2008 and 07/03/2009.
Belgium has 40 lays in a coffin with each time 24 items introduced. The food agency tries retrieve where these products are offered buy but until now further information still no of the American firma have received. It can however also be that there on the Belgian market more than this quantity has arrived by import from other European Member States. In sum conducted Europe 3440 lay in a coffin in.
Although it concerns here only a limited number of quantities, the food agency wants use here too the precaution principle. Persons who keep cats and that cat feeding will have bought of American produce, to be advised examine if their cat tin feeding was produced by the firma menu Foods Inc. if, however, and these agrees to above data (durability date, 85 gr and ingredients), then brings back she best this feeding to their sale point.
F.A.V.V. WTC III - Simon Bolivarlaan 30 - 1000 Brussel Meldpunt voor de consumenten: Tel. 0800 13550 http://www.favv.be
A.F.S.C.A. WTC III - Bd. Simon Bolivar 30 - 1000 Bruxelles Point de contact pour les consommateurs : Tel. 0800 13550 http://www.afsca.be
Comment by Mike — March 27, 2007 @ 9:39 am
Linda no one knows nothing. Just that there are tests being performed supposedly. Both Menu and FDA are saying nothing else. I think we have one of the most explosive scandals in quite a while brewing here.
Comment by Steve — March 27, 2007 @ 9:42 am
Basically, we have some media using and or repeating the same generic stories that have been running since last Friday.
NY Lab Conducting More Pet Food Tests
San Francisco Chronicle, CA - 1 hour ago
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 …
Comment by Steve — March 27, 2007 @ 9:46 am
Well, my dog had trouble with the dry Science Diet, liver problems, and I fed it to several dogs, and now I just wonder where the rest of that poisoned wheat went.
This is a scandal and I don’t consider it just shameful, to me it is evil. Killing our pets, covering it up, and leaving grieving and hurt pet owners faced with thousand of dollars worth of bills and then the our beloved pet still may die.
This is corporate American gone amuck and the Politically Correct mindset of those in charge afraid to make waves - meanwhile we are holding our dying pets demanding answers and getting little, not even any respect for our suffering.
Comment by Linda — March 27, 2007 @ 9:46 am
Gina and everyone at Pet Connection
I appreciate all you group is doing. In the beginning you use to post the numbers of sick and Angels. Could you update us on how many have been reported to your database that have become ill?
Thanks
Comment by Kelly B — March 27, 2007 @ 9:54 am
Yes it is. If a nation of citizens can’t count on their elected government to watch out for them in the face of the most egregious behaviors by private enterprise, then we really have nothing.
Comment by Steve — March 27, 2007 @ 9:58 am
Steve,
Ditto.
Comment by Linda — March 27, 2007 @ 10:00 am
An AP Story just posted with NO Byline!
Thousands more pets could die from tainted food
Some veterinarians say impact of contamination is underestimated
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/sto.....id=5155358
Comment by Kim — March 27, 2007 @ 10:16 am
A PS to my last comment, it’s the ABC story, on an ABC site, but with an AP logo replacing the ABC logo. For what that’s worth.
Comment by Kim — March 27, 2007 @ 10:22 am
This is part of the reason I am a prey model raw feeder. I know what is in my pets food. The commercial dog food industry has been slowly poisoning our pets for years and years. Dogs have no nutritional need for carbohydrates and that is what makes up 60 to 80% of commercial foods. No wonder more and more dogs and cats are overweight and developing diabetes. The preservatives in dog and cat foods are not used in human foods because they are carcinogens. The pet food industry is a self-regulating industry and answers to no government agency. The AAFCO regulates the way the companies list the ingredients, but allows a lot of lies by ommission. Did you know that the label can read no preservatives if the actual company does not add any? The problem with this is that the supplier they get their ingredients from can add them and you’ll never know. And the meat your pet eats comes from rendering plants and can include diseased livestock, road kill and euthanized pets from vet clinics and shelters. I suggest every one read Food Pets Die For by Ann N Martin before you buy another can or bag. Your vets’ training in dog and cat nutrition is done by reps from the commercial food companies, unless they have taken the time to educate themselves. So don’t look for good information there. Your dog has the same digestive system as a wolf. Unless a wolf is in dire straits you will not see them eat anything but meat, bones and organs. Do some research on the internet, the information is there and every day more people are learning the truth. Don’t expect to see it on the television or the radio, the industry spends too much money on advertising for the media to tell the truth. Can you imagine a TV or radio station losing the advertising dollars of companies like Nestle, Colgate Palmolive, Heinz and Proctor & Gamble? Sorry for the rant, but I run a dog daycare and just spent a week of stressed out clients worried about their dogs. Quite a few asked me for info about raw feeding, which they all know I do. I took something like this for them to make the jump. Denise
Comment by Denise — March 27, 2007 @ 10:30 am
“Seriously under-reported.” I wonder if the MSM will snap out of it and start doing their job. What is it going to take. . .10,000, 15,000, 20,000, 30,000 Pet Deaths before it
is considered newsworthy enough to warrant serious in depth mainstream evening news coverage?
Comment by Steve — March 27, 2007 @ 10:30 am
Concerned pet owners are keeping a wary eye on the news as word of a major pet food recall spreads. Menu Foods’ plant in Emporia, Kan., appears to be the source of the contamination, which has affected “cuts and gravy” style pet food in cans and pouches, manufactured between Dec. 3, 2006, and March 6, 2007. No dry pet foods, biscuits or treats are affected.
http://www.ridgecrestca.com/ar.....news02.txt
Comment by Steve — March 27, 2007 @ 10:32 am
Wonder how much of this coverup is because of China being involved and may be the main culprit?
As it stands, the average non-computer owning public, knows nil of the recall.
The media are seriously at great fault.
Gary
Comment by Gary — March 27, 2007 @ 10:44 am
i heard on abc news the deaths could reach as high as 10,000,what the hell was menu food thinking when then went to china for this wheat filled with poison.my dog loved the pouches by nutro she is sick, waiting for her blood test to come back,i’m a mess. i’m having a very hard time getting her to eat.i’m going to boston market and picking up some roasted chickens for them. my heart breaks for every one who lost a pet and has a sick pet.oh it’s true there is nothing being said about this on cbs,nbc,msnbc,cnn ,fox had it on sun. i have not heard one big shot CEO from any pet food co come on t.v. and say they will no longer deal with menu foods.i called nutro last week they are steaming over this and very understanding .my dogs love nutro and won’t eat nothing else. keep checking peta’s web site.
Comment by ci — March 27, 2007 @ 10:48 am
I do have to agree about underreporting, across the board. Thank God for the internet. It seems to be the only that consumers are keeping in touch. My first kitty died on 2/21, and the other, who is very ill, may not be here longer. Is there anyone else out there that has lost more than 1 pet to this tragedy? If so, how are you coping?
Comment by Sharon Gilbert — March 27, 2007 @ 10:48 am
I believe DRY FOOD IS AFFECTED. please stop repeating menufoods CYA media releases saying dry is not affected.
My Cat eating nutro dry = same symptoms as recalled food, same timeframe.
How can anyone TRUST MENU on this???
My cat also eats wellness dry and is so far *seeming* ok with that - but wellness canned is ALSO made by menu. I’m skeptical of any mfr who used menu at all-wet or dry and the only reason I’m not feeding raw is because my cat refused it.
Comment by 4lgdfriend — March 27, 2007 @ 10:50 am
Gary,
I’m sure the slow response and reaction is politically motivated - but even if for some reason China needs to be approached in a diplomatic fashion, still the United States could be doing more now. For starts, tell us where the rest of the poisoned wheat (if there is any) went. Publish the supplier’s name. Also, discover if other crops are tainted.
Comment by Linda — March 27, 2007 @ 10:50 am
I believe dry is affected. The news reports are just mindless repetition of the offical FDA (and other) nonesense.
Comment by Linda — March 27, 2007 @ 10:56 am
It just makes sense to me, they put the rat poison in all their grains. After all, rats will eat all grains, why just wheat?
I get this feeling, the adminstration henchmen are very busily putting their heads together behind closed doors how to shut it up and writing big checks to key places.
Gary
Comment by Gary — March 27, 2007 @ 11:00 am
Keep in mind also that abrupt and sudden diet changes like we are being forced to do in many cases can cause some symptoms like change in box habits and some other signs that could cause some nervousness.
Don’t take any chances under these circumstances though. Go to the Vet even in the case it is possible just diet change is causes a few minor symptoms. Do not take any chances.
Comment by Steve — March 27, 2007 @ 11:01 am
With the diet change, I am giving my dog stomach aids to help with digestion, stomach enzymes, and intestinal processes - all seems to be fine once I switched to Natural Balance Allergy Formula with no grains whatsoever and am giving the digestion aids.
One dog I feed homecooked with no grains, sweet potato, carrots, chicken, yogurt etc……
Seems to be working okay for all.
Comment by Linda — March 27, 2007 @ 11:04 am
Comment by Gary — March 27, 2007
Our Government and these Corporations can’t be that corrupt to where they will do everything possible to keep their own hind ends covered first regardless of the consequences to us can they?
Comment by Steve — March 27, 2007 @ 11:06 am
thank GOD for this, that stupid co. menu foods only does wet food no dry food at all, if they did dry food ,also it would of been a worst nitemare than what we are going through now.
Comment by ci — March 27, 2007 @ 11:10 am
OregonLive.com, OR - 9 hours ago
The number of Oregon pets sickened after eating tainted pet food almost doubled on Monday to 47 cases, including 13 deaths.
Comment by Steve — March 27, 2007 @ 11:12 am
Long before the elections, all these heads in congress show their faces everywhere looking proud and grandstanding, now, where did they all go? this recall will determine who I vote for, local and government whatever their party.
Comment by Gary — March 27, 2007 @ 11:13 am
I read on the Humane Society website that some in Congress are asking for an investigation. I didn’t read the article so I can’t say what it said.
Comment by Linda — March 27, 2007 @ 11:19 am
Comment by Linda — March 27, 2007
They better be. This is no joking matter.
Comment by Steve — March 27, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Hi Sharon - I too lost a kitty on 2/22 and have a seriously ill one at home still undergoing treatment since 03-12. Coping??? NOT.. It’s hard as hell and I don’t know what do to - I adopted my guys 4 months ago and then this?? I thought I was giving them a better life but yet I am filled with guilt, sadness, anger, frustrated. I wish I could wake up and be out of this nightmare. My heart goes to you and all the others - I just hope all the parents are heard.
Comment by Sandi Schreiber — March 27, 2007 @ 11:25 am
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) sent a letter to the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration March 23 asking for full details of the investigation into the pet food contamination.
http://www.hsus.org/web-files/.....-26-07.pdf
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) sent a letter to the president and CEO of Menu Foods Income Fund March 23 asking for detailed information explaining the contamination and subsequent recall of Menu Food’s pet food products.
http://www.hsus.org/web-files/.....-foods.pdf
Comment by Steve — March 27, 2007 @ 11:25 am
Seems like the government’s all been
FEMA-ized - the press, apparently has been neutered - the vets??
Thanks for keeping this blog going, what we need done we must all do ourselves I guess. You are all heroic.
Comment by Nancy Nielsen — March 27, 2007 @ 11:25 am
With this we now understand Menu has been put on official notice to respond to the questions asked.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) sent a letter to the president and CEO of Menu Foods Income Fund March 23 asking for detailed information explaining the contamination and subsequent recall of Menu Food’s pet food products.
http://www.hsus.org/web-files/.....-foods.pdf
Comment by Steve — March 27, 2007 @ 11:30 am
Using substandard wheat in petfood must be pretty common - I’m sure the “premium” brands don’t want us to know this. But just what qualifies wheat as “substandard”? Unfit for human consumption - but why? Why is wheat tainted by poison allowed to be sold on the market? I do think that other varieties of pet food have been affected now and in the past - we just couldn’t put 2 and 2 together. My cat was barfing a lot after eating Friskies canned “gravy” style food. I thought it was due to hairballs. Then she started just licking a little gravy from the bowl and letting the rest sit. I stopped feeding it to her, and she only barfs occasionally now. This wheat gluten is pervasive in the food. I think we need to know what is the lowest parameter for pet-food quality wheat - or any ingredient.
Comment by Melinda — March 27, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Why would anyone, anywhere treat a crop of anything to be used for consumption with a rat poisoning agent?? That story just absolutely makes no sense. For God’s sake I hope they come up with something better than that one.
Comment by jm — March 27, 2007 @ 11:36 am
Looks this is the Pet Food Industries Katrina.
Judging from the response were not going to get very much help.
Comment by Steve — March 27, 2007 @ 11:40 am
Sorry to bother you all, but doesn’t DRY FOOD start out WET? Come on you are helping these sob’s become better liars. DRY FOOD is implicated, there is no doubt. Why would there be so many ACUTE RENAL FAILURES in such a short span of time with people who feed their pets DRY.
Simply drying this porduct does not make it safe!
Menu Foods, the FDA and the media are full of ____!
keen@mac.com
Comment by MikeKeen — March 27, 2007 @ 11:42 am
My heart goes out to everyone who has lost a pet. I hopefully am in the lucky group. Both of my dogs ate 3 different brands from the recalled foods. My 15 year yorkie-poo was showing some symptoms, but it has been over the past couple months (since the food has been out there since Dec., I got me worried). After getting blood and urine check, the vet says he has early signs of kidney problems, but that it is probably due to his age hopefully not the food. His BUN level was barely above normal and everything else was OK. He had brain cancer 2 years ago(surgery and radiation) and made it through that so he is a fighter. My Westie’s blood work was all normal. But has anyone heard if Menu Foods will compensate for all these tests everyone is doing even if we are lucky and the pets did not get poisoned food? My dogs are my babies and I would do anything for them, but hundreds of dollars worth of lab work and tests due to the negligence of a company should also be compensated. If only the bills themselves.
Comment by Susan — March 27, 2007 @ 11:43 am
Steve, thanks for the Kucinich letter. Some good news.
Jm: money talks and everything else walks.
Gary
Comment by Gary — March 27, 2007 @ 11:43 am
Better read and save a copy of this adobe document whether you like Dennis or not, it is a copy of the actual U.S. Congress request because this is exactly the questions we have and should continue to be asking. And not just Menu but other brands who’s marketing is less then 100% accurate.
http://www.hsus.org/web-files/.....-foods.pdf
Comment by Steve — March 27, 2007 @ 11:45 am
I agree, not only were they on Nutro Natural Choice pouch food but they were also eating the dry and they were turning their nose up at that too!!!! Just saw the news in Dallas and our local ABC station is running the numbers now.
Comment by Sandi Schreiber — March 27, 2007 @ 11:46 am
We have to keep the pressure on people. We all know what the industry is trying to do.
“Sweep it under the rug” rather then coming clean, being straight with the public, and FIXING THIS PROBLEM so it doesn’t EVER happen again.
Comment by Steve — March 27, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Steve,
Thanks for that link and the report. They also need to know who that supplier is and where that wheat went and who else is spraying this poison on other crops yet unknown.
Comment by Linda — March 27, 2007 @ 11:56 am
Contact you local news outlet, the AP, the FDA, your senators, your congressman. Keep the pressure on. Don’t let this ‘problem’ fade away.
Comment by Ron — March 27, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
cnn/headline news will talk about story after break
Comment by ci — March 27, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
Can someone here post a link of where we can find out the brands of all the pet foods menu manufactures?
Comment by Linda — March 27, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
after commerical break cnn headline news will tell the story about death totals up from menu food
Comment by sab — March 27, 2007 @ 12:10 pm
Linda here is one with some info you should know.
http://petsitusa.com/blog/?p=210
Comment by Steve — March 27, 2007 @ 12:13 pm
Thanks Steve.
Comment by Linda — March 27, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
I just registered the death of my 10 year old cat to the FDA and Pet Connection today (my other two cats died w/in the last 3 years at the age of 19-unrelated to story) due to his Iams/Menu Foods poisoning the weekend of the release and death on early morning of March 19th. I also emailed a detailed letter to Sen. Durbin and I do not have the time/energy to further comment except to say thank you for this resource to have my pet’s death acknowledged (the count of 10 then 16 then 15 is an insult to the intelligence of anyone who knows even the approximate number of cans involved. I also want to convey that the one time I was able to speak to an Iam’s employee and report his death (though no one has returned my call as they said that they would), I was told that it didn’t matter how much the cat was given 1 tsp or a cup…the poison could be lethal. I do not want anyone else to go through what we did (my pet suffered, my 8-year old found him almost lifeless at the end of his Spring Break weekend and we spent all evening and into the morning 2 a.m. at Vet ER, spending all my paycheck to try to revive him in order to determine what was wrong only to find out it was too late to save his life. The vets were great, but seemed to be only partially informed (as it was just released)and hesitant to suggest that it was related to this recall. I wish that ABC would investigate why this story was squelched by Menu Foods after reports and failed testing occured in February and then released like many government unpleasantries on Fri for the weekend—no less at a time that many families are out of town (Spring Break) or at least not as active consumers of the media. I would appreciate any referrals for homemade Dog Food recipes that I can make for my one remaining pet my dog who loved to eat from the cat’s bowl. I am a vegetarian, but I would be willing to cook meat if necessary to keep my dog from relying on an industry that values their corporate profit margins more than the populations that they serve.
Comment by Julie — March 27, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
JULIE: I’m very sorry for your loss.
I highly recommend ABADY brand food, out of New York. They make food specifically for carnivores. It’s like home-cooked food without you having to do the cooking. It’s a balanced diet. It can be shipped to your doorstep by UPS. No fillers, no artificial preservatives, etc.
Slightly more expensive than a “premium” brand of commercial food, but as we all now know, the cost of Vet bills related to feeding a poor quality food make up for the “lower cost” food… not to mention the emotional “cost” of having a pet DIE from a lower cost food.
Comment by Sarah — March 27, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
http://www.gocomics.com/bobgorrell/
SNOOPY adding his voice on behalf of pets
Thank you Bob Gorell
Comment by 4lgdfriend — March 27, 2007 @ 12:36 pm
In retrospect, I wonder how far back this goes? because there has been an inordinate number of renal failure in cats for years now. I’ve already had 3 in the past 4 years.
Gary
Comment by Gary — March 27, 2007 @ 12:40 pm
Julie,
My sympathy on your loss.
I have sent emails to my local media to please cover this story further. I don’t know if the media is oblivious to the possible far reaching effects of this recall or if the public is desensitized to suffering. I would like to think that people can still feel for others’ losses. The fact that Menu Foods says that they’ll pay for the vet bills, etc. seems to satisfy some. That is a monetary compensation, but how do you compensate for the loss of a loved one. I’ve said for years that dogs’ lifespans should exceed ours because of the heartbreak when they die. Why won’t the media cover that?
Comment by Shirley — March 27, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
I’m wondering if any very low income individuals may have been eating some of this canned pet food because it was cheaper than ‘human’ food. (Barring the woman trying to tempt her dog’s appetite by example).
Comment by BJ — March 27, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
Menu SAID they would pay vet bills BUT it also said they are setting up a corporate company to contact people regarding the bills. Has anyone heard from Menu??? I started leaving messages on the 17th and still not one returned call. Money can’t replace my love and the only satisfaction I would get is to have this company shut down. We still don’t know WHY this company knew about this a month ago and failed to tell the public??
Comment by Sandi Schreiber — March 27, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
BJ: I don’t know if low income persons would be buying pet food to eat, but I do know that they have bought canned tuna for the cat because food stamps will cover people food, but not pet food.
Comment by Shirley — March 27, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
I contacted one of the editors at the Dallas Morning News yesterday and today they ran the same article the Los Angeles Times did. If you continue to contact your local media, someone will listen. The Dallas Morning News sent me a note saying had I not contacted them, they would not have run the article
Comment by Meri-Lou Mahoney — March 27, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
Thank you Steve for the Kucinich report. FDA just called me back and took my information. My vet will report today to the state veterinarian. Two cats home from the hospital since Saturday, seem ok. Repeat labwork set for Friday. Creatinine on both still elevated but improved at discharge. We will see if the numbers go up, down, or stay the same off the IV fluids. I watch, wait, and worry for now. They are eating and not vomiting anymore. Iams has yet to call me back as they said they would. Anyone know how long that might take?? Of interest, in the Kucinich report they ask Menu how many reported illnesses they have had but when I called Menu they directed me to Iams so Menu does not have my two in their numbers. Anyone know if the companies that are choosing to do their own thing (Iams) are going to get letters also?? I would hate to see the numbers split up and lost in the shuffle. My heart goes out to those of you who have lost your pets. This is crazy and someone needs to make some sense out of this whole story because so far there is a bunch of stuff that just doesn’t add up. I will stay tuned to see what’s next.
Comment by jm — March 27, 2007 @ 1:32 pm
I started calling (and leaving messages) with Menu on 3/17 and have yet to hear a word back. Actually, the same applies to Nutro.
Comment by Ron — March 27, 2007 @ 1:35 pm
Ditto Ron - I just love the pre-recorded message from Menu yesterday
Comment by Sandi Schreiber — March 27, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
Meri - Lou, who did you contact at the DMN? I have been in contact with 2 of the staff writers that 1st published the story. Would love to know who you sent an e-mail to? I’ve got to many friends and family that this has effected with my 2 babies and they are pissed!!!
Comment by Sandi Schreiber — March 27, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
Jim, I am praying for you.. I know how it is - I lost Raz last Thursday and trying to get Blue back to normal - it’s just heart breaking.
Comment by Sandi Schreiber — March 27, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
Gary, you said “In retrospect, I wonder how far back this goes? because there has been an inordinate number of renal failure in cats for years now. I’ve already had 3 in the past 4 years.”
I’ve lost 6 in 7 years, and I know it was the food. I ‘figured it out’ just over a year ago and switched foods, so am avoiding some of the heartbreak now. (Though I have fed them some Nutro dry on and off, as recently as 3 weeks ago, so I remain worried.) And my cat Woody still has kidney problems - we’re going on two years on fluids - so of course I’m very scared now to feed him anything.
I’m so sorry for all of you that have just lost your pets, they were angels in fur while they were here, now they’re back to being angels who will always be with you.
I realized last night that for a good 3 years what I fed them all was the stuff in gravy. Way too much Friskies, Nutro, even the Whole Foods brand that hasn’t been available for 9 months or so. Now I’m wondering - why was the Whole Food brand discontinued?
Comment by Kim — March 27, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
oops, in my last post the last 2 paragraphs somehow got switched.
Comment by Kim — March 27, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
Crap! Just realized I never posted this. got this in an email from someone… :-) More ways to contact MEnu Foods. They of course wouldn’t be able to tell you anything or take a report, but if you just happen to feel like leaving a message or 50 I’m sure they’d love to hear about your pets.
Call this number, dial by last name, leave many messages…
8 Falconer Drive
Mississauga, ON L5M 2C2
CAN +1-905-8263870 (Phone)
Company website:
http://www.menufoods.com/
Management
Robert W. Luba > Chairman of the Board of Trustees & Administration Board
Officer Since: 08/31/2005
Age: 64
Mark A. Wiens > Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, Secretary of Administrator
Paul K. Henderson > Presidnet and CEO of Administrator
Officer Since: 08/31/2005
Randall C. Copeland > Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Administrator
William F. Grant > Executive Vice President - Corporate Purchasing & Logistics of Administrator
Christopher J. Mifflin > Executive Vice President - Operations of Administratior
Richard G. Shields > Executive Vice President - Technical Services of Administrator
Comment by Kim — March 27, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
JM — my beloved tabby Puna has been off IV fluids for over a week. She is drinking water just fine. Her last blood test she had only normal Creatinine but slightly elevated liver function. Puna and I are fighting over getting her to eat. She can’t eat tuna every day it isn’t good for her but she is turning her nose up at the organic, human quality (EXPENSIVE) stuff. I refuse to feed her the IAMS dry even though she keeps rubbing up to the plastic tub in attempts to show me that she wants what use to be inside.
This morning when I try to feed her the dry organic food she bit my foot —- at least she isn’t lethargic and hiding in the closet anymore.
Comment by Judy T in Virginia — March 27, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
Judy, I too am dealing with a finicky one after the fluid ordeal. You might want to try baby food ( beef flavor) - I am having a little luck with that and I also boiled chicken with some chicken broth. Hope this helps
Comment by Sandi Schreiber — March 27, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Judy T,
Wow, she bit your foot over the organic food - poor dear. Glad she’s improving.
Comment by Linda — March 27, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
has anyone actually spoke to anyone at Menu Foods? How are they planning to make this right? The loss was more than hard enough, but my fiance also had to use money from our wedding account to pay medical bills!
Comment by Jed Greeke — March 27, 2007 @ 3:06 pm
I received a recorded message on my answering machine yesterday from a company hired by Menu Foods to handle their follow ups. They said they’d call back within 72 hours and to have my pet food upc codes and lot numbers handy. I also just saw a story on Fox News about this whole thing. They quoted Pet Connection’s numbers, finally!
Comment by Cindy Pratt — March 27, 2007 @ 3:38 pm
Finally! Be sure and go to the AP story and post a comment - you don’t have to register and it’s a chance to finally let them know how badly they dropped the ball in getting the word out to pet owners. Had this received the coverage it deserved, it could have saved lives. We’ll never know…
Comment by Becky — March 27, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
Oops…and link to the AP story would be helpful, although it’s on the blog now..
http://www.amny.com/news/local.....3087.story
Comment by Becky — March 27, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
Please all of you feeling guilty about feeding your pet tainted food … God knows that it was an un-selfish act of stewardship and love over the environment and world that we live in. There is a lesson and a positive thing that can come from this mess. The sacrifice of today’s pets can produce a new standard of living for tomorrow’s pets. My cats and my dog are family. I buy huge amounts of food at a time, so I haven’t needed to buy since January. I would be crushed at the loss of one of my loved little darlings. I know an elderly woman who lost her husband 6 months ago and her cat recently. Words cannot describe her loss. We all will gain some control and make a better tomorrow for the pets of tomorrow. Don’t lose hope and faith in your pain and despair. We can do this. Condolences and a wish of peace to all.
Ken
Comment by Ken — March 27, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
My 12 year old dog had severe seizures earlier this month, first time (does run in this family, might not be food related at all). However, due to that and the recall, I quit feeding Nutro dry kibble, and began feeding only home cooked meals.
It made me start thinking of my dogs general health. Both had been lightly vomiting froth/liquid at times, with upset tummies, over the last couple of months frequently (which I and the vets had stupidly excused, since we take long walks, and they are a hunting breed that could be getting into little things everywhere, never lasted long…but never went away entirely). Also, they did eat the Nutro, but not like when we first switched over a couple of years ago. In fact, they had become reluctant to eat it.
Since I quit feeding Nutro dry food, there has been NO vomiting. Zero. The vomiting stopped the minute I stopped the dry kibble (despite the sudden change in diet, which didn’t result in any stomach or other upset, which I had expected). Their coats are softer already. I am thankful they are alive right now, and feel like the worst person that I never questioned the food as a possible problem until the recall of wet food. I believe there is something in the dry kibble as well that shouldn’t be there as well.
I will never feed a commercial food of any kind again. I read about this daily and can’t believe the lack of response from MenuFoods. And Nutro. And the the others. We took back our Nutro sacks for a store credit - and fwiw, this store told us the rat poison was done by a disgruntled employee, and thus limited in nature. I haven’t read that anywhere, and don’t believe it.
I send condolences to all on the unspeakable loss of their animal friends. Reading these stories simply tears my heart up.
Comment by TC — March 28, 2007 @ 12:36 am
My pug eats only Iams dry and has been with the vet the last 3 days!!! Symtoms: vomitting, drinking excess water; bleeding (and internal as she is now having black stools); Treatment: IV fluids and steroids (not to mention my vet asked if she had been exposed to rat poison). I have been doing alot of research on the dry and seems to be popping up alot…why are they not recalling????? I am worried this will only esculate by large proportions…I live in Canada and don’t know who to report this to. I talked to Iams and the lady said there have been reports but no recalls of the dry products…I don’t think this is a coincidence. HELP.
Comment by Tanya — March 28, 2007 @ 2:15 pm
I am wondering how widespread this is in the different brands?
I have a kitty who almost died on 3/18. She didn’t eat anything that was on the recall list, but ate Fancy Feast and became very ill afterwards. I don’t know if she is going to make it or not. She seemed to be recovering for a week…but is vomiting tonight.
I reported what happened to my cat to the manufacturer, and they said that I was the only one reporting a problem with this food…but a friend told me that their neighbor’s cat died after eating Fancy Feast also…this was in Canada. The person’s veterinarian reported this to the manufacturer, and they reimbursed the owner’s vet bills and paid for them to adopt a new cat.
I have another friend in the Houston area. Her dog is deathly ill from eating food from the same manufacturer. It is not eating or drinking right now.
This whole thing is inexcusable. I will never again buy food from these manufacturers. I am buying organic/natural foods from here on in. I will never trust them again.
Comment by Marcy — March 28, 2007 @ 10:46 pm