Pet food recall: FDA press conference report
By Christie Keith
March 30, 2007
In an FDA press conference this morning, a reporter asked the FDA’s Dr. Stephen Sundlof if people could be feeding unsafe food to their pets right now, because the FDA won’t reveal the name of a company - that makes dry “kibbled” food as well as “wet” pet food - that received wheat gluten from the same source Menu did.
The response? “It is possible, but I think we’ve been following every lead that we can. My sense is that we have gotten most of it under control.”
As soon as we have any information, he assured reporters at a press conference this morning, we’ll notify the public. Except for the name of the company, it seems.
How about the numbers? asked another attendee. You’re still saying only 15 confirmed deaths, but some reports are in the thousands. How do you explain the discrepancy?
Dr. Sundlof said FDA can’t confirm any cases beyond those first few in Menu’s test labs, even though they have received over 8800 additional reports, because “We have not had the luxury of confirming these reports.” They’ll work on that, he said, after they “make sure all the product is off the shelves.”
He pointed out that in human medicine, the job of defining what constitutes a confirmed case would fall to the Centers for Disease Control, not the FDA… and there is no CDC for animals.
Updated: Karen Roebuck of the Pittsburg Tribune-Review, who broke the story earlier this morning that melamine, not aminopterin, had been found in the tested foods, asked if any of the wheat gluten had found its way into the human food supply.
The response: “At this point we are not aware that any of that went into human food.” They do know the company that supplied the contaminated wheat gluten, and are tracking its shipments, but they aren’t disclosing the name of the company.
They are, however, doing “100 percent review and sampling of all wheat gluten from China.”
More to come.
If you have a pet with a recall-related illness, let us remind you to:
- 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
Go to the latest blog post | Go to the PetConnection home page
Technorati Tags: pet food recall, dogs, cats,veterinarian, veterinary
The Two main U.S. suppliers of Wheat Gluten are MGP Ingredients, Inc. and Archer Daniels Midland.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/07.....html?.v=51
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 9:04 am
So, they think they’ve gotten “most” of it under control, eh? That’s nice. Unless, of course, your pet happens to be presently consuming a tainted product that doesn’t fall into the ‘most’ category.. in which case, you’re pretty much.. well, y’know.
If they know who supplied the gluten, why is it so difficult to determine who else bought the stuff? If we know there’s something wrong with it at this point, why not announce the supplier so that, at the very least, companies using the gluten will know that their products may be contaminated? Who are they trying to protect? It’s certainly not the consumer..
Comment by Gwen — March 30, 2007 @ 9:04 am
Steve,
don’t know what the wheat gluten suppliers was in reference to, but MGP quit selling to MenuFoods 18 months ago.
Comment by Cathy — March 30, 2007 @ 9:06 am
Bureaucratic malaise
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 9:06 am
“It is possible, but I think we’ve been following every lead that we can. My sense is that we have gotten most of it under control.”
My belief now…
It’s Big. And Worse. Bigger and worse than we feared.
Comment by Kim — March 30, 2007 @ 9:09 am
It’s obvious we shouldn’t get our hopes up to high and expect Genius level problem solving and aggressive round the clock solution finding from the FDA.
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 9:15 am
I flinched when they said that the shipment of wheat gluten went to Canada, the US, AND Mexico. No body until now has said anything about shipments outside of the US and Canada until now.
Comment by Elderta — March 30, 2007 @ 9:19 am
Ever get the uneasy feeling we’ve been transformed into a Banana Republic the past 6 years?
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 9:20 am
“The apparently melamine-contaminated wheat gluten also was shipped to an unnamed company that manufactures dry pet food. The FDA is attempting to determine if that product, imported from China, was used to make any pet food, Sundlof said.”
2 questions.
1. If it wasn’t used to make pet food, what was it used to make?
2. Is there a Menu-Foods like manufacturer of 90% of all dry foods sitting out there somewhere?
Comment by Kim — March 30, 2007 @ 9:23 am
I’m still not giving up on the rat poison thing. That makes absolutely more sense than plastic. Just ask those who have sick or dead pets. I have both.
Comment by Sharon Gilbert — March 30, 2007 @ 9:27 am
“Is there a Menu-Foods like manufacturer of 90% of all dry foods sitting out there somewhere?” That is a very good (and very terrifying) question.
I am far from reassured. I wish they wouldn’t keep cramming this onto Fridays to push it under the news cycle. Why does it appear to be a foreign concept to these companies and to the FDA that people CARE whether their pets are being poisoned?
Comment by CatLady — March 30, 2007 @ 9:31 am
“He pointed out that in human medicine, the job of defining what constitutes a confirmed case would fall to the Centers for Disease Control, not the FDA… and there is no CDC for animals.”
Yup yup yup. Not to repeat myself, but WHAT the FLOCK has Homeland Security been doing for the past 5 years?
Just the other day I thought, cripes why don’t they call in the CDC. If there’s ANYONE on the planet who knows how to run one of these crises, it’s them. And the CDC doesn’t hold back on saying that X number of cases are “suspected” instead of requiring complete testing to be done.
I smell more pink slips coming. But I don’t really care about that right now. I just want people to focus on FIXING the problem. The very first fix is to find someone who can actually run FDA, then turn her/him loose.
Comment by Cathy — March 30, 2007 @ 9:33 am
Cathy - excellent point. How do we get the CDC involved in this?
And… P&G.
How many dry pet foods do they make?
(How many other foods do they make?)
Comment by Kim — March 30, 2007 @ 9:37 am
“The apparently melamine-contaminated wheat gluten also was shipped to an unnamed company that manufactures dry pet food. The FDA is attempting to determine if that product, imported from China, was used to make any pet food, Sundlof said.”
Either they know the truth and aren’t telling it, afraid of panic and …..
Or they fear the worst and are having difficutly tracking it down…..
So many unknowns…dry? Are we safe eliminating just the wheat - what about oats etc?
Comment by Linda — March 30, 2007 @ 9:39 am
WELL this just sucks big time. every fri there is more bad news. my babies are spoiled and now i’ll really spoiled them with home cook meals.too many pets have died and i feel there is so much more bad news comeing.
Comment by MARY ANN — March 30, 2007 @ 9:44 am
I heard they use it as a fertilizer in Asia. Any truth to that and will it poison our pets?
Comment by Linda — March 30, 2007 @ 9:49 am
Kim, my guess is the CDC is present on a consultant basis, though I doubt they’ll say anything publicly. They ought to give them some clues about communication and transparency while they’re at it.
But wait, is the statement about “not being aware” of any toxic wheat gluten going to the human market a soft pitch of the problem over to the CDC? I hope so.
Comment by Cathy — March 30, 2007 @ 9:49 am
My guess now is delay tactics or unbelievable incompetence or unbelievable ignorance or any combination of the three.
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 9:51 am
Press Release Source: Menu Foods
Menu Foods News Conference
Friday March 30, 10:26 am ET
TORONTO, March 30 /CNW/ - In order to respond to developments today, Menu Foods will be holding a news conference for media only (accreditation required).
Who: Paul K. Henderson
President and CEO
Randall Copeland
Vice President
When: 2:00 p.m.
Where: Intercontinental Toronto Center
Ballroom A
225 Front Street West
Toronto, ON
For further information
Sarah Tuite, (416) 848-1703
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 9:54 am
I wonder how long it will be before we find out which of the dry products are affected?
Comment by Adrienne Stephenson — March 30, 2007 @ 9:57 am
I think what is happening and has happened shows how difficult it is for the powers that be to solve immediate problems not just with poison pet food, but the ramifications are immense and reminds me Kafka’s “Castle” - stuff is being done but nothing much gets accomplished but the wheels are turning and speeches are made and backs are patted. Unbelievable.
If Terrorists were to poison our food supply, then what? We’d be spending three weeks testing and coming up empty.
Pathetic!
Comment by Linda — March 30, 2007 @ 9:58 am
We’d be spending three weeks testing and coming up empty. Pathetic!
Comment by Linda — March 30, 2007 @ 9:58 am
They are always interested in helping people out of their money.
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 10:00 am
“I’m still not giving up on the rat poison thing. That makes absolutely more sense than plastic. Just ask those who have sick or dead pets. I have both.
Comment by Sharon Gilbert — March 30, 2007 @ 9:27 am”
My husband and I looked up the two chemicals on Wiki this morning. We compared the chemical structures. It looks as though aminopterin contains the melamine structure. (If I am not using the correct terminolgy here, please forgive…I am not a chemist.) Melamine has many uses, including fertilizer.
Perhaps, this explains the presence of melamine and how a lab got it confused with aminopterin. I really have no idea, but I suppose it’s possible.
Comment by Pamela J. Betz-Baron — March 30, 2007 @ 10:01 am
Melamine in pet food, wheat gluten from China : FDA
Reuters via Yahoo! News - 1 hour, 3 minutes ago
U.S. officials said on Friday that melamine, a chemical found in fertilizers in Asia and which should not be in pet food in any amounts, has been detected in the wheat gluten used by Canada-based Menu Foods.
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 10:03 am
Federal Officials Discover Fertilizer in Pet Food (Update1)
Bloomberg.com - 6 minutes ago
March 30 (Bloomberg) — U.S. investigators found a substance used to make plastic kitchen utensils and fertilizer in samples of pet food blamed for killing at least 16 cats and dogs, prompting the recall of 60 million cans of Menu Foods Ltd. products.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/.....NIdXyIlDc4
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 10:05 am
It’s beginning to sound to me like this was something that was intentional. I don’t know, maybe I’m just be paranoid but it really makes me wonder.
Comment by Adrienne Stephenson — March 30, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Who will be paying for all this testing? Can we trust the tests?
And…why aren’t all sources of wheat gluten being tested since melamine is used in
fertilizers. Who says it not being used in the U.S.?
Comment by Nadine Long — March 30, 2007 @ 10:09 am
Press Release Source: P&G Pet Care
P&G Pet Care (NYSE: PG) Position Statement in Response to Today’s Announcement by the Food & Drug Administration
Friday March 30, 11:52 am ET
>
For further information
Kurt Iverson of P&G Pet Care, +1-937-264-7436 Web Site: http://www.pg.com
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 10:09 am
I noticed that Menu Foods website has updated dates of 3-30 under the recall products but I cant tell if anything new has been added, can anyone else?
Comment by Sandi K — March 30, 2007 @ 10:09 am
P&G Pet Care (NYSE: PG) Position Statement in Response to Today’s Announcement by the Food & Drug Administration
Friday March 30, 11:52 am ET
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 10:10 am
http://biz.yahoo.com/cnw/07033......html?.v=1
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 10:11 am
I quit using any brand containing wheat, as well as any brand not natural/organic/human grade/made by the company that sells it/a small manufacturer, for our surviving dog on the evening of March 18th, and now I have new food for our mice. Our guinea pigs and senegal parrot are already on human grade foods produced by the companies that sell them. Our Betta fish is on Hikari Betta Bio-gold, which is made in Japan.
Comment by Pamela J. Betz-Baron — March 30, 2007 @ 10:12 am
For myself, I’m only eating “Organic from a Health Food Co-op” and then mostly fresh and locally grown.” I fear the worst and don’t know where to turn. I say avoid all wheat and grains for awhile, unless certain of their origin, locally grown or harvested, and wait and see. I don’t trust the “humane” food supply either.
Comment by Linda — March 30, 2007 @ 10:16 am
The FDA said the wheat gluten in question was shipped to a second pet food manufacturer that makes dry dog food, but as of this morning it had not been determined whether that wheat gluten had been used to make pet food. The FDA declined to identify the manufacturer.
Canadian-based Menu Foods Income Fund issued a recall of 60 million cans and pouches of wet style cat and dog food on March 16 after nine of 25 cats it used in taste tests died. All of the tainted product was made at the company’s plant in Emporia, Kan., which was set to resume production today after being shut down for more than a week.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/.....001048.htm
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 10:22 am
The FDA says it has been unable even to count the sheer number of calls it is getting from pet owners reporting sick or dead cats and dogs. Pet owners, meanwhile, are desperate for answers.
The government has not responded to the allegations. The FDA also will not answer questions about why it never inspected the plant in Emporia, Kan., suspected as the source of contamination, until after animals began dying. An FDA spokesman said in an e-mail Wednesday that the agency had no comment on its investigation.
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/175965
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 10:28 am
So it appears that Proctor and Gamble are trying to reassure us that their dry food is safe by telling us some really “enouraging” things. They say their food does not have melamine in it and that we should feel safe because their dry food is not made by menu foods. They also insist their other foods not in this recall are perfectly fine. Hmm I seem to remember a warning letter issued yesterday about a chromium supplement. This company has so many things wrong about it that my sarcasm fails to convey the depth of my anger.
Comment by Angie — March 30, 2007 @ 10:31 am
Sorry to repeat myself. But FDA needs to fess up to the name of the dry food company now. They are protecting big business and not our pets.
Comment by Linda — March 30, 2007 @ 10:35 am
I posted under the dry food recall blog, but let me repost this, since P&G makes Iams and Eukanuba sound sooo safe in their press release. After all, they claim their dry food is safe from the Menu Foods recall. It may be, but the FDA says some of their food isn’t safe for another reason: it included a chemical which the FDA told them they couldn’t use, because it’s dangerous for pets. So telling me Iams and Eukanuba is safe doesn’t quite comfort me. Check it out: Iams and Eukanuba deliberately disobeyed the FDA and exposed our animals to unsafe foods themselves, not just through Menu Foods. Don’t believe a word of their announcement!
http://www.itchmo.com/read/fda.....9#more-260
Comment by Krystal Kubichek — March 30, 2007 @ 10:36 am
Whose pets have to die before the FDA will release the name of the kibble company whose food *may* be tainted?
Comment by slt — March 30, 2007 @ 10:51 am
I’m sure all their friends know - it’s the little people at the bottom without the “big contacts” that must wait and suffer. They are keeping it on the QT and meanwhile their “mates” are throwing out the poisoned crap.
Comment by Linda — March 30, 2007 @ 10:54 am
Comment by slt — March 30, 2007 @ 10:51 am
It doesn’t matter to them. This is the Katrina of the Pet Food Industry.
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 10:58 am
Aminopterin in some, melamine in others, and still no definitive answer on the actual source. Incidental findings?? Nice food. Neither of the above really correlate completely with the symptoms and bloodwork. I’m still waiting for something that makes sense. Of course, a combination of all these toxins could probably be overwhelming to a system. So it looks like Fridays for the news cycles and press releases (or small portions of them)which is insulting and interesting at the same time. I am sorry for all of you who have lost your pets. I am looking at losing one now as BUN/Creat are back up after a few days off IV fluids. We’ll do subcutaneous fluids at home and repeat bloodwork in a week or until she shows symptoms that affect her quality of life to a point where enough is enough. This whole thing is a mess, the information makes no sense, and I am truly deeply saddened that I may very well lose an adorable “little friend” in a short period of time here.
Comment by jm — March 30, 2007 @ 10:58 am
We’re all on our own now. Poisoned food, poisoned air, poisoned water, no worker safety. Big Business has destroyed government and it’s oversight duties to it’s citizens. All we have now are unscrupulous corporations doing whatever they please with zero government oversight. When something major occurs, the Government acts like they are doing us a favor and is inconvenienced. Mediocrity is rewarded with a Medal of Freedom.
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 11:00 am
Is a meltdown on the horizon?
Comment by Linda — March 30, 2007 @ 11:02 am
There is a CDC for animals.
It’s called the National Animal Disease Center. It’s operated by the USDA and is located in Ames, IA. They look into things like hoof and mouth, mad-cow, bird flu, etc. Granted, these are diseases that impact livestock, they don’t deal with pets. But it would not be hard to expand their role if necessary.
http://ars.usda.gov/main/site_.....e=36253000
Comment by The Other Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 11:03 am
It’s all about money, Steve.
Comment by Nadine Long — March 30, 2007 @ 11:04 am
It’s all about money, Steve. Comment by Nadine Long — March 30, 2007 @ 11:04 am
Not to me it isn’t. You can’t buy peace of mind and integrity.
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 11:11 am
OK we need to get on researching who makes dry.
Several are made by Diamond. how many more made by Diamond?
what else?
Comment by 4lgdfriend — March 30, 2007 @ 11:19 am
Is melamine approved as a fertilizer in the US? If not, why are we importing wheat from China that uses this fertilizer? I suspect that we are allowed to import it but not use it in human food products. This is a mistake, since once it hits the US market, I think there is not a whole lot of control about how it is used.
Comment by Melinda — March 30, 2007 @ 11:19 am
At least one company that manufactures wheat gluten is Archer Daniels Midland. While they do manufacture it, this doesn’t say if they manufacture it in China. However, the following description by Reuter’s of ADM’s business ventures in China (and Indonesia) begs that question:
“Golden Peanut Company LLC, a joint venture between the Company (ADM) and Alimenta (U.S.A.), Inc., supplies peanuts to both the domestic and export markets. The Company has a 50% ownership interest in this joint venture. The Company participates in various joint ventures in China and Indonesia that operate palm plantations; soybean, rapeseed, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut, palm kernel and sesame crushing facilities and related vegetable oil refineries and packaging facilities; an oleochemical plant that produces fatty acids, glycerin and soap noodles; a soy protein plant; wheat flour mills; rice mills; feed mills; fertilizer operations, and related silos and storage facilities.”
Source: http://stocks.us.reuters.com/s.....ticlePage1
Comment by Maureen — March 30, 2007 @ 11:20 am
Is a meltdown on the horizon? Comment by Linda — March 30, 2007 @ 11:02 am
This is just another of a long list of business and economic scandals piling up everyday. I suppose we’re supposed to just get used to it and be greatful we have something edible to put in our pets belly’s so they don’t feel hungry.
It’s already known that there are substances in human food that increase appetite. They think increasing appetite is better then sound nutrition.
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 11:21 am
why are we importing wheat from China that uses this fertilizer? Comment by Melinda — March 30, 2007 @ 11:19 am
It’s cheap.
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 11:22 am
HOW Many more of us have to lose a peT? Before we are told the name of the dry kibble that is bad? this is a real mess and it’s getting worst. the FDA needs to give us the name of the pet food that is now killing more pets. it’s now 2,400 and counting. ISN’T THAT HIGH ENOUGH.????
Comment by MARY ANN — March 30, 2007 @ 11:24 am
I’ll be back later. I have to get some things done. And I am also completely disgusted by the Pet Food Industry and the FDA as of this moment and feel like throwing up.
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 11:24 am
It’s already known that there are substances in human food that increase appetite. They think increasing appetite is better then sound nutrition.
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 11:21 am
I must be way behind the times. Are you talking about junk food - or sodas?
Even more reason to go all organic/natural and homecooked for family and pets.
Comment by Linda — March 30, 2007 @ 11:25 am
I am also completely disgusted by the Pet Food Industry and the FDA as of this moment and feel like throwing up.
Comment by Steve — March 30, 2007 @ 11:24 am
DITTO!
Comment by Linda — March 30, 2007 @ 11:26 am
MPG has a press release explicitly denying it is their gluten.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-.....amp;EDATE=
Comment by Steinn Sigurdsson — March 30, 2007 @ 11:28 am
Steinn - thanks for the press release from MPG….this paragraph alone pretty much sums up how we got where we are:
Newkirk acknowledged that MGPI has done business with Menu Foods in the
past, noting that the company’s last shipment of wheat gluten to Menu
occurred over 18 months ago. “We have gone through periods in recent times
where we have been forced to curtail our production and sales of wheat
gluten due to economic and trade factors that have not allowed us to
compete effectively with lower cost gluten imports,” Newkirk said.
Comment by Becky — March 30, 2007 @ 11:36 am
They HAVE to give us the name of the dry-food in question NOW. After having one cat who ate the wet recalled food in the hospital for 2 days, my second cat who only eats dry food has stopped eating. I’m waiting for his blood test to come back but now I don’t know if what I’m feeding him is making him sick. This is ridiculous.
Comment by L. Kuz — March 30, 2007 @ 11:39 am
I think the FDA has an ethical obligation to name the company now.
Comment by Dale — March 30, 2007 @ 11:44 am
CNN just announced that they are taking questions about the recall from the public, which will be answered by a veterinarian at 3 pm ET (didn’t get his name- sorry!)
email addy:
cnnnewsroom@cnn.com
Comment by Robin — March 30, 2007 @ 11:47 am
Steinn’s posting of the MGP press release that their wheat gluten wasn’t sold to Menu Foods for more than 18 months, and Becky’s follow up are important to the extent that the “unnamed company” that the FDA would’t mention may be a conglomerate that makes dry pet food and human bakery and other products, too. Think of a company as entrenched in pet and human food products, such as Procter & Gamble (Iams & Eukanuba) and others. (See my posting above about Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) who manufacture wheat gluten, and, not to accuse but to encourage investigation, also involved in joint ventures in wheat flour plants in China. Did they sell this wheat gluten to such a big American pet and human food conglomerate?)
This is from MGP’s press release saying they are not involved here. I include it because it points to the uses for wheat gluten: “The company’s wheat gluten is sold for use mainly as an ingredient for
improving the rising ability and textural qualities of bread and other
bakery products. MGPI has also pioneered the development of a number of
specialty wheat proteins and starches for use in multiple food systems, as
well as pet treats, biopolymers and personal care products. The company
additionally produces food grade alcohol for beverage and industrial
applications, as fuel grade alcohol, commonly known as ethanol.”
Comment by Maureen — March 30, 2007 @ 11:55 am
I suspect the company they are not naming produces a large volume of food — the only reason I can think of for why they are not releasing the name is that it would cause more wide-spread panic. So, I would get rid of any of the major brands of dry food. It’s still a crap shoot, until more information is released. If it invovled a small player and a small amount of dry food, I suspect they would have released the name.
Comment by Elizabeth — March 30, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
Beware of the dog biscuits too. The International Wheat Gluten Association brags on their website that wheat gluten is used in dog biscuits. A quick check on Petfooddirect.com shows the ingredients for Ians Tartar Treats is WHEAT GLUTEN. I wouldn’t feed these either until the FDA decides to quit protecting the manufacturers.
Comment by Deb — March 30, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
Why are we importing wheat from China that contains poison when we grow our own wheat in this country - welcome to the wonderful, brave new world of NAFTA!
Comment by Karyn Vanderburg — March 30, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
Well, I think the major company is Procter & Gamble, and this is why (USA Today; http://www.usatoday.com/news/n.....htm?csp=34):
“Wheat gluten, a source of vegetable protein, is also used in some human foods, but the FDA emphasized it had found no indication that the contaminated ingredient had been used in food for people.
The FDA said it would alert the public quickly if the melamine was found in any foods other than the recalled pet food.”
It would most definately be a compnay that also produces human foods, not just pet foods. It would also create a wide-spread panic. The FDA needs to release the name of the company TODAY - NOW!
Comment by Jamie — March 30, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
Oh My God, they changed the article!!! I copied and pasted my above quote from the link that I also posted! They took out:
“Wheat gluten, a source of vegetable protein, is also used in some human foods, but the FDA emphasized it had found no indication that the contaminated ingredient had been used in food for people.
The FDA said it would alert the public quickly if the melamine was found in any foods other than the recalled pet food.”
This is getting weirder every minute…
Comment by Jamie — March 30, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
This is one of a long list of reasons I feed my dogs “real” food. They get pork & chicken, wild rice/brown rice mix and fresh vegetables. It isn’t that “human” food can’t be contaminated, but at least the government holds it to a much higher standard. Pork & chicken are not fed hormones or antibiotics, while beef is “beefed” up because the government has not forbid them to raise cattle with these additives. Food is food and there is no doubt in my mind that food processed for human consumption is far superior to the crap they send on from meat processors and other appalling sources, to be rendered and sold to pet food companies. Once I realized what actually went into commercial pet food, I stopped feeding it to my furry family members and began giving them good wholesome whole foods. I have an 18 yr old dog who not only adores mealtime, but is incredibly healthy and vibrant. She has been on home-cooked whole foods for the past 12 years. Both of my dogs are of a healthy weight, in good health and in exceptional condition. I pay particular attention to dental hygience since softer diets can lead to plaque and gum disease. Google commercial pet food ingredients and you will likely change your mind about “pet food”.
Comment by E Brand — March 30, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
Well here is what I have learned in my own home. Nick, my kitty, is a picky eater…or so I thought. We have been searching for a wet food that he really likes since September when we got him. We have tried it all. Considering I doubt that Menu Foods used an entire wheat crop (if melamine is the culprit and it is used as a fertilizer ingredient), wouldn’t it be prudent to check all pet foods for wheat related ingredients? Not just wheat gluten, although the rat poison may be part of this story yet. Here are the food I still have that he refused, which at first was irritating because I figured he was being overly picky, but am now left wondering if he isn’t just smart.
With wheat gluten: Fancy Feast Grilled varieties (all flavors), Whiskas pouches (all flavors), Meow Mix Market Select cups (all flavors), Natural UltraMix (made by Menu), Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys (all flavors), Special Kitty pouches (all flavors), and 9 Lives Tender Slices (all flavors).
With wheat: Purina Indoor Cat Formula (dry) and Purina Naturals Cat Chow (dry). Also his treats, Temptations (made by Whiskas), contain wheat flour.
How many other brands contain these ingredients?
Comment by Amy Boda — March 30, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
I have quite a few brands of cat food sitting here in front of me. We had been having a hard time getting Nick to eat anything for longer than a day. I just thought he was picky, I now think he is just smart. They all contain wheat gluten (except the Natural Balance I just purchased). I wonder how other brands are not affected? Menu could not have used the entire wheat crop…it had to go elsewhere.
Comment by Amy Boda — March 30, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
Wet cat foods I have with wheat gluten in them:
Fancy Feast Grilled varieties (all flavors), Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys, Meow Mix Market Select cups, Special Kitty pouches (with correct recalled lot numbers), Natural UltraMix (made by Menu), Whiskas pouches (all flavors) and 9 Lives Tender Slices (all flavors).
Comment by Amy Boda — March 30, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Ok sorry for the double posts, server is swamped I think :)
Comment by Amy Boda — March 30, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
I am so mad right now I cannot think straight
how dare the companies NOT tell us which dry food is BAD…
I thought how lucky I was cause I did not use the wet foods and now I see its also the dry…BUT they cannot tell us cause they are afraid of panic well it could be worse than panic if we are not told the truth…
I feel and have felt so bad for the folks who have sick or pets who have died …they fed their pets what they thought was SAFE and look what happened
where are the agencies that are supposed to be looking out for products for consumption
this is america people lets fight back for our pets
stormy & her pooches
Comment by stormy — March 30, 2007 @ 1:52 pm
The FDA is part of the federal government. The last time the federal government was trustworthy was during the presidency of Grover Cleveland. It’s been all downhill since then.
It is up to we pet owners to take care of our pets by only purchasing food products from reliable companies. Relying on the federal government to keep our pets food safe is a losing proposition.
Comment by KenH — March 30, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
Folks, It is in people food and they can’t account for all the distribution to companies that produce pet and people foods. Time will tell and it will likely be traced to companies that make foods that children love. This is bigger than we can imagine. We can’t account for 100s of thousands of illegal aliens, and we’re going to track all this poison down…Please!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Bill — March 30, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
The company that is going nameless people think it is Hills and I keep on telling them it is not. I don’t think it is fair that this company is going nameless. I am going to ask you nameless company a question .”DO YOU HAVE ANY ANIMALS THAT YOU CONSIDER FAMILY”? YOU NEED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT COMPANY THIS IS SO PEOPLE WILL KNOW NOT TO FEED THE FOOD TO THEIR PETS. THIS IS WHAT CAUSES LAW SUITES AND I QUESS YOU DON’T CARE IF OTHER PETS DIE OR GET SICK. I QUESS YOU HAVE NO FEELINGS. I HOPE YOU HAVE NIGHTMARES OVER THIS.
Comment by jill — March 30, 2007 @ 10:12 pm
I heard the FDA news report on different tv stations, they were very brief almost cutting out most of what was said.
My 6yr old pet dog was eating IAM’s most of her life and never had any problems until I bought the last batch and she wouldn’t eat it. I just thought she was spoiled and being picky. She also didn’t want to eat the dog bones or tartar treats.
Well she got sick and died before the recall came out. As a matter of fact 2 days before.
Now I read that IAM’s put ingredients that weren’t supposed to be in the weight control food. They should fess up and admit their mistake. This would save the pets who are eating the dry food right now because owners think its ok. At this point, I don’t trust what anyone says.
Comment by Ruth — March 31, 2007 @ 12:20 am
Excellent comments—please keep up the info trail
Comment by sallyann couzelis — March 31, 2007 @ 5:46 am
I don’t understand something here. I just read on ABC News that the CDC tracked down peanut butter contamination and that ConAgra foods plant IS SHUT DOWN! Why on earth can they not shut down Menu Foods??!! Are our beloved pets not important enough? They are our babies and deserve equal protection, just by the fact that they’re living beings and rely on PEOPLE to protect and watch out for them. Menu Foods is crossing a fine line here in my opinion; bordering on animal cruelty?!
This madness must end!!!!! If they REALLY cared about animals they would’ve stopped ALL production until they traced back every single step to find the exact source and weeded it out. But, no. Instead they’re using poor, innocent pets as guinea pigs. I’d like to see them test the food themselves. If they’re still standing after eating it, then allow them to sell the crap!
Comment by Mary — March 31, 2007 @ 6:16 am
The company is Hills and they recalled the Prescription Diet m/d dry food. It was in my morning paper this morning.
Comment by Janine — March 31, 2007 @ 8:04 am
Is this a case of “Penny wise Pound foolish”??? where was menu foods getting the wheat gluten before???? Did they go to China to save themselves 5 cents??? Well thankyou menu foods my Pet is dead, Kidney Failure. I hope who ever made that decision is fired I hope the stock tanks and I hope people realise it may be better and safer to make your own dog and cat food. Because Now you know that paying $1.09 for some IAMS does npt mean you’re getting any better dog food than something for .39 its all the same crap.
Comment by clarlynn cooke — March 31, 2007 @ 6:05 pm
Why is the FDA covering up for this nameless company? I think it’s more than just Hill’s food. All those involved should fess up so pet owners can carefully chose what to buy for their pets. The damage is done, lets save the pets that are still with us.
Comment by Ruth — March 31, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
Since everyone is up in arms about commerical dog food companies. Go after AFFCO who is make up of board members from those same dog food companies. Stop feeding what your Vet tells you Since they normally have NO animal nutrition and Certainly ask for a certificate Prior to buying what they tell you to feed. Demand the rights to know just What lever of Protein, carbs. vitamins, mineral As well as Why its in there. Dog food companies make a lot of Eye candy to appeal to you Not your animals. Don’t any of you Question why chemical compamies own dog food companies. Most companies I have written asking questions of them have not reponded and their ansers from the Lawyers text book of answers get pretty old really fast. Those of us who feed a total Raw diet do it for this #1 Reason. only 1 compnay has been truthful and the rest lie through their teeth. Ask question, make these companies prove where they buy their so called Human grade products and mixes of so called minerals. And just what ingredients contain MSG, Salts, NGT & BHA & Ethoxyquin b3for they get it along with preservatives and chemicals. If it in ther before they get it They never have to list i ton the bag. Sorry folds most of those bags out there cost 5 times what it costs to make what to me is just Dead cement. Candy coated so your animals will eat it. You all have the right to Demand the truth, Its your animals life, Not theirs. if they buy 5D grade ingredients. from som company You’ll never know unless you demand the into.
Comment by tina — March 31, 2007 @ 6:58 pm
the FDA does not govern dog food. The agricultural dept does. Its considered Stock Feed the center for animal research who helped AFFCO set the guidelines for the foods You should all aquire a copy of the book of testing they did on dogs over the years to come up with their so called Minimum requiremenet. From Starving bitches of calcium to produce non-bone puppies & kileed them all to every aspect of what your dog needs to Survive, Yes survive, If you don’t feed the amounts they tell you on those bags. Your cats and dogs will nutritional starve. Fat? oh you bet but healthy? not likely. Consider Eukanuba with it falling off sales on their adult dog food. What do they do? Why change the formula Just a smiggen and make 9 new breed specific foods?? any compnay that does this is out for your Money #1 and could care less about what it is they changed or added or deleted to the ingredient list. So next time you consider a food, look at how many different types they make then go somewhere else. Do your own research, go to seminars and learn for yourselves. The major cat & dog food comapanies could care less about your animals. With Billions in sales each year.Its hype, advertising, and pretty bags. Not anywhere near what should actaully be fed to an animal for health.
Comment by Tina — March 31, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
My one year old standard poodle died last sunday. I had been feeding him Innova but began to add in a little bit of Kirkland Super Premium Lamb, Rice and Vegetables dry dog food to make the Innova stretch a little further. He refused to eat the food after a couple of weeks and was acting like he didn’t feel good. I thought maybe he had an ear infection and began treating his ear and putting broth on the food to soften it. He ate it like that for a few days then refused to eat it all together. He would still eat his Prarrie Venison Medallions or anthing I cooked for him. He began to deteriorate over the next week and a half. The Vet was not sure exactly what was wrong with him but his Red blood cell count was low and he had many if not all of the same symptoms as the other animals affected. I took him for hyperberric treatments and tried all kinds of supplements to keep him alive. I was constantly reassured that his food was not one of the ones on the recall. He finally became so weak and his RBC count was down to 9% despite the treatment program we had him on. I’ve been told over and over again that it is just a coincidence that he was sick and died with the same symptoms and at the same time all this other stuff is going on with the dog food. He was diagnosed with autoimmune hemophilia. If he really died of that I can accept it. I am just having a really hard time believing that my perfectly healthy puppy from an ethical breeder suddenly died of these same symptoms, at the same time, but its not related. Does anyone have any advice for me to get the bottom of this?
Thanks,
Gayelea
Comment by Gayelea Esparza — March 31, 2007 @ 9:31 pm
Gayelea, my pet Chi/terrier mix also died 2 days before the recall hit the media. It was fast and sudden. The vet didn’t really know why. Said her red blood cells were very low and put her on predisone and antibotics because she thought she had an unkown infection. Bottom line she had kidney and liver failure. Said it was an auto-immune disfunction. Something inside me thought there was more to why she got so sick. I don’t think she really knew what made her sick.Nothing added up. My pet was 6 yrs. old in good health. She ate IAM’s mini chunks and treats.
At this point IAM’s can deny everything but in my heart I believe it was the food. The last batch of food, she din’t want to eat it. She was not one to turn away from food. My daughter called her piggy because she was getting fat. In fact I bought at one time IAM’s weight control. Now I read that they put some chemical thats not good for dogs. Well, she wouldn’t eat that either and I went back to the mini chunks.
I am so sorry to all who have lost a pet. You all must be as heartbroken as I. My pet was my baby, my shadow, my companion.
Comment by Ruth — March 31, 2007 @ 10:55 pm
HI,
We feed C/D to our cat. I would like to switch the cat to a organic / free range diet, the way our dogs eat, but I fear a return of the urinary crystal problems.
Comment by jamie — April 1, 2007 @ 7:52 pm
My heartfelt condolences to all who have lost beloved companions. If you aren’t familiar with Whole Dog Journal and their annual reviews of both canned and dry dog foods, you owe it to yourself and your pets to subscribe! (You won’t find Science Diet or Iams on their “top ten.”) I have been feeding a combination of home-prepared food and organic, grain-free holistic brands such as Innova Evo and Solid Gold’s Barking at the Moon for many years, with great results. My cats and dogs have led long, healthy lives free of fleas, allergies, skin problems, and other common ailments. Yes, it costs more, but consider the alternative! At the very least, read the ingredient lists if you buy commercial brands. Ingredients to avoid:
BY-PRODUCTS!
Grain fractions;
“Generic” proteins or fats;
Artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives;
Sweeteners;
Ingredients to look for:
Meat and poultry (listed first!);
Fish;
Whole grains;
Vegetables and fruit (organic even better).
You’ll see the results - soft, shiny, itch-free coat, clear eyes and ears, no doggie breath - and best of all, peace of mind that your pet won’t be affected by contaminated ingredients!
Comment by Mimi Alberu — April 3, 2007 @ 10:50 pm
Jamie - one of my cats has been prone to urinary problems in the past. He has done really well with By Nature Organics canned food and Serengeti or Innova grain-free dry food. He also gets Veterinarian’s Best Feline Urinary Support chewable tabs. If he does have a flare-up, I give him homeopathic Cantharis pellets dissolved in a little warm milk.
Comment by Mimi Alberu — April 3, 2007 @ 11:06 pm
I called IAM’s and FDA and filed a complaint on the dry food. If you suspect that your pet died from eating the dry food they should know about it.
Comment by Ruth — April 4, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
Another recall came out today on Sunshine dog treats made for Ol’Roy dog bones.
Who else is next?
Comment by Ruth — April 5, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
It’s all about the money, pure and simple just greed and money in their pockets while our pets are made to suffer.
Little by little other companies are starting to recall their products.
Still don’t know why my dog died even though she didn’t eat the wet food but ate the dry food.
Comment by Ruth — April 6, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
Hannibal’s Story
Hannibal was a very sweet, 20 year old cat. I had his mother and Hannibal was literally been born in my lap. Despite his advanced age, Hannibal still chased lizards and bugs. After making several loops around the perimeter of the house checking on his domain, he would lay down in the front yard and soak up the sun. When the family gathered in the kitchen, Hannibal would sit on the counter right in the middle of everything. He was the only cat I ever knew that would actually come to you when called. His hearing and vision were not what they used to be and he had some stiffness in his joints; however, he was in good health up until March 9th when he suddenly stopped eating. Hannibal loved to snack all day long and I couldn’t remember the last time he refused to eat. I even offered him tuna fish but he wouldn’t touch it. All he wanted to do was drink water. The last meals he ate were foil envelopes of Special Kitty in gravy that I purchased at our local Walmart. It was the first time I bought this brand and I had been feeding it for less than a week as a change from his regular dry food. On the night of March 15th, I woke up to hear Hannibal screaming in pain. I sat up all night with him and held him to soothe him. The next morning he could not walk straight; he could only stagger sideways. I called my vet and accepted that euthanasia was the only thing that could be done for my dear, sweet, little Hannibal. The appointment was made for 3:00pm at Aalatash Animal Hospital. I spent the day carrying Hannibal around the yard and telling him how wonderful he was and how much he meant to all of us. I sat next to him while he lay in the sunshine for the last time. Later that afternoon, I held him in my arms as he was released from the horrible pain of renal failure.
Yes, he was a very old cat and 20 year old cats can go into renal failure on their own, but because of the suddenness of what happened to Hannibal coupled with my feeding him the recalled tainted cat food, I have no doubt that it was the Special Kitty cat food that killed him. Yes, he was a very old cat but he deserved whatever time he had left to be with us – whether it would have been six months or six years – and he deserved a more peaceful death – not the hours of pain that he suffered.
It is very important to me that Hannibal’s death be counted with all the other beloved animal companions who were poisoned by the tainted food we purchased in good faith. Yes, Hannibal was old but he still deserves to be counted because he does count to me and to my family.
Comment by Mary Briant — April 19, 2007 @ 10:18 am
Mary, so sorry to read about your pet cat. I agree with you that your cat deserved better and dont blame it on age.
My pet was only 6yrs old and she died from what I beleive was tainted food. And its not on the recall list. That makes it even more hard to accept the cause. I know how she suffered and it was so sudden. I had a Chihuahua mix and she had been a healthy, happy fur-baby.
Once again, I am sorry for your loss.
Comment by Ruth — April 20, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
My 1 year old daschund is very very sick. He went from a very robust, feisty little ball of energy to not being able to walk in 3 days. He went to the Vet this am, and I carried along a package of Meat Blast Pork Twists and I thought they were suspect. The vet, in a hurry, kind of blew me off, saying never to feed those to the pets and choose rather, hooves or sterilized bones. Then, he administered an iv to hydrate (hump of water) and two shots for vomiting and severe bloody diahrrea. He didn’t really say what he thought caused my dog to be so sick…..but he did call later saying he saw whipworm and to come back on Monday for the pills. There were no blood tests taken or xrays. He never even looked at the package. I threw it away in his office, but have the receipt. I purchased them at Walmart last week, thinking surely to God, they have emptied their shelves. Well, it’s evening, Saturday night, after midnight actually. My dog seems to be in very dire straights. I went online in a panic, and found this:
http://socalmuchacha.wordpress.....mment-3905, mentioning the same product.
It was Meat Blast Pork Twists, China, Wheat Gluten. I don’t have the money to pay for today’s visit let alone get this product tested. Is there anyone that might be able to do this independently for free? Please, I fear for everyone’s pets and would like to have this product put on some suspect list, separate from the FDA, which btw, I will call tomorrow. You can’t email in complaints, I guess. Thank you so much and please feel free to e mail me at my address:
Berni Aziz
bsa1111@yahoo.com
Athens, TN 37303
Comment by Berni — July 14, 2007 @ 10:09 pm