pet connection

153 Comments »

1. Did they not learn that giving product codes to check means the products will NOT get pulled off shelves correctly?

   (Or, did they learn that?) [choose from long list of swear words here…]

   Comment by Kim — March 31, 2007 @ 7:31 pm

2. And, has anyone learned if retailers are receiving notices of these after hours recalls? I don’t see how they could - as most “Corporate” offices (Walgreens, CVS, Target, etc) are closed on weekends.

   This is inexcusable.

   Comment by Kim — March 31, 2007 @ 7:33 pm

3. This is inexcusable. Comment by Kim — March 31, 2007 @ 7:33 pm

   You got that right Kim.

   In case you want to make your own decision on whats best for your pet after this Del Monte recall. Del Monte Pet Products makes or distributes the following brands:

   MeowMix
   Gravy Train
   Kibbles ‘n Bits
   Wagwells
   9Lives
   Jerky Treats
   Snausages
   Cycle
   Pup-Peroni
   Gravy Train
   Milk-Bone
   Reward
   Meaty Bone
   Skippy
   Pounce
   Canine Carry Outs
   Nature’s Recipe

   Comment by Steve — March 31, 2007 @ 7:44 pm

4. This is absolutely inexcusable!

   My fear: Many more to come.

   This is such a catastrophe! Yet, the pet food companies don’t seem to think so. Its almost like the Twilight Zone.

   Comment by Jeanna — March 31, 2007 @ 7:44 pm

5. The FDA had to tell Del Monte that they had used the melamine tainted wheat gluten?! Hullo! I guess I must be dreaming because I sorta thought pet food manufacturers would be *checking themselves* at this point. And seeing as melamine hasn’t yet been connected to the pet deaths, I guess I’ll just keep on wondering what IS making pets sick, how much longer before they find it, and how long after that before pet food companies react? Tick tock.

   Comment by slt — March 31, 2007 @ 7:45 pm

6. Comment by Jeanna — March 31, 2007 @ 7:44 pm

   It’s criminal.

   Start contacting your Representatives and demand investigations.

   SENATOR DURBIN (D-IL) PRESS CONFERENCE ON SUNDAY 03/31/07
   Howl 911 received an email today alerting us of Sen. Dick Durbin’s plans to hold a press conference to discuss the pet food crisis. The press conference is scheduled for Sunday, 04/01/07, in Springfield, IL at 1:30 p.m. (CDT)

   Comment by Steve — March 31, 2007 @ 7:46 pm

7. This is what happens when the government allows industry to regulate itself.

   Comment by Steve — March 31, 2007 @ 7:47 pm

8. I’ll (again) update the Pet Food Tracker later tonight… This time I’ll add in the Who Makes What info (like Del Monte) that I posted on my site earlier today…

   Comment by Kim — March 31, 2007 @ 7:54 pm

9. I find it so ironic how all these weekend press releases from the pet food companies say something like “all our other foods are perfectly fine”. Yeah, until possibly NEXT weekend.

   “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain…”

   Comment by slt — March 31, 2007 @ 7:54 pm

10. Hullo! I guess I must be dreaming because I sorta thought pet food manufacturers would be *checking themselves* at this point.Comment by slt — March 31, 2007 @ 7:45 pm

    Hard to believe we are witness in real time to what very well may go down in the history books as one of most sordid corporate crimes of this new century isn’t it?

    Comment by Steve — March 31, 2007 @ 7:54 pm

11. I took care of my sons three cats for a few weeks and when they left, he took the pet food I had bought and I can’t remember the dry brand but I bet it had that W.G. in it.

    It just didn’t sink in his head that it could be poison. I told him mom’s dropping off several bags of cat food tomorrow with no wheat or W.G. - use it. Nothing else.

    Finally, he said okay. You sound in a panic. Well I am. I just cant watch his kittys get sick. And this story is repeated across the nation - I sure hope there’s enough without that “poison whatever it is yet to be discovered” to go around.

    Comment by Linda — March 31, 2007 @ 8:02 pm

12. ok, I have been out of touch for most of the day, come home after a nice dinner out and Bam! the pineapple people are recalling dog and cat treats. Maybe I took too much allergy medication? So everybody, are we still waiting for the FDA dry food manufacturer or is this it? (Didn’t I ask that ? yesterday??)

    Comment by Shawn — March 31, 2007 @ 8:03 pm

13. Purina Adds Alpo To Recall List As Pet Owner Outrage Grows. North Country Gazette, NY - 12 minutes ago.

    Comment by Steve — March 31, 2007 @ 8:06 pm

14. Outrage is putting it mildly.

    Comment by Linda — March 31, 2007 @ 8:07 pm

15. Product Codes don’t mean everything is being listed. This means these are the Products they presently are knowledgeable of being contaminated. Or for that matter the only ones that became positively tainted. I don’t think they can pin point every last bag and every last can, pouch, treat, or whatever for that matter. This is why I say every possible food must be removed from the shelves. This is a real serious crisis. If the FDA has to keep record of every death and phone call. Why should pets pay while there not recalling every product, this is an indefinate on going situation. Now its Kibbles and Bits. (Del Monte)

    You see what I mean. They were not on the Recall list originally. This means who’s next?

    Comment by Georgeann Heckman — March 31, 2007 @ 8:08 pm

16. “The Company took this voluntary recall action immediately after learning this morning from the FDA that wheat gluten supplied to Del Monte Pet Products from a specific manufacturing facility in China contained melamine.”

    They knew this morning and it took them until evening to issue a press release, and they have yet to update their own website with the recall information.

    Comment by Dee — March 31, 2007 @ 8:09 pm

17. Get a load of this.

    China calls new US tariffs ‘unacceptable’ MarketWatch. Mar 31, 2007

    ‘It’s unacceptable and China strongly demands the U.S. to reconsider the decision.’
    — China Commerce Ministry spokesman Wang Xinpei

    Comment by Steve — March 31, 2007 @ 8:10 pm

18. WHEAT GLUTEN USE IN PET FOOD

    It is used to keep biscuits from breaking in the package. I would guess that wheat gluten would be used in dry dog/cat food also to prevent breakage.

    Use and cost statistics from Capitol Press ag site:

    “Total U.S. wheat gluten use is about 500 million pounds and about half that comes from imports. The EU is the largest U.S. supplier of gluten because the region derives much of its sweetener needs from wheat, whereas in the U.S. sweetener is often derived from high fructose corn syrup.

    The current U.S. domestic price for wheat gluten is 65 to 70 cents a pound, up from 55 cents in spring 2006. Chinese wheat gluten is about 10 cents cheaper than U.S. gluten.

    The IWGA lists a variety of ways wheat gluten is used including in aquaculture, breakfast cereals and tortillas. It said significant quantities of vital wheat gluten are used by the pet food industry.

    “The usage may be in preparing simulated meat for canned pet food or in both canned and intermediate moisture-type products where the water absorption and fat binding properties of wheat gluten improves yields and quality. In dry dog biscuits, incorporating gluten into the dough before baking can improve resistance to breaking during packaging and shipping. Because it is a great source of protein, wheat gluten can significantly contribute to nutritional labeling claims.”

    Comment by Nadine Long — March 31, 2007 @ 8:12 pm

19. “Now its Kibbles and Bits. (Del Monte)”

    Not all Del Monte products are being recalled. Kibbles and Bits are not on their recall list… not yet anyway.

    Comment by Dee — March 31, 2007 @ 8:12 pm

20. Eukanuba’s vet diets apparently contain a chemical bad enough to receive a warning letter from the FDA about - but no request for recall. The chemical is described as
    “genotoxic, meaning it can damage DNA and cause mutations and tumors.”
    Full story at http://www.msnbc. msn.com/id/ 17862261/ from/ET/

    Comment by Georgeann Heckman — March 31, 2007 @ 8:14 pm

21. Apparently del monte forgot to tell their web editor about their important press release as their web site has no info. In fact, the “Pounce” part of the site has a note that says somethign to the affect of …not affected by recall…. Ridiculous! And this according to the press release time was many hours ago.

    Comment by Peny — March 31, 2007 @ 8:15 pm

22. From another board

    “Went to the vet today, with the press release from Hills and the remainer of the M/D, and they refunded my money and gave me an alternate food instead- at Hills expense. The vet’s office has been trying since yesterday to contact Hills but they are not available and their VM box is full.”

    Comment by Steve — March 31, 2007 @ 8:15 pm

23. I didn’t even know Del Monte made pet food! Meow mix is what we fed our kitty almost exclusively, before he started to get canker sores in his mouth. We would give him pounce treats once in a while too. We just bought ‘Ol Roy about a week ago, but decided not to feed it to our dog, because of this scare. She’s eating Beneful right now, and we bought her Paws Professional yesterday, but made sure it had no wheat in it. Today I heard that corn and wheat can be used interchangably, and we’re still not sure what the poison is or for sure if it was the wheat, so I hope it is safe. Del Monte makes human food, too. So I hope they didn’t use any of the wheat in human food. I think I’ll go to their website now to see what all they do make, obviously it’s not just canned fruit, and juice.

    Comment by Darlene — March 31, 2007 @ 8:17 pm

24. Hey everyone check this out… They say cats are more at risk….

    http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/.....index.html

    Comment by Melinda — March 31, 2007 @ 8:25 pm

25. Experts at the University of Guelph in Canada detected aminopterin in some samples of the recalled pet food, but only in very small percentages.

    “Biologically, that means nothing. It wouldn’t do anything,” said Grant Maxie, a veterinary pathologist at the university. “This is a puzzle.”

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....wk5J7MWM0F

    There is some giant lie or multiple giant lies in many layers going on here. How can mass spect identify aminopterin in error? Where are the Albany people defending their findings?

    How many toxins are really involved here? Does the FDA have a clue? Does anyone have a clue?

    Will this ever end? How many cats and dogs will die?

    Comment by Lois Kimball — March 31, 2007 @ 8:25 pm

26. Recalls or not, here’s what we seem to know so far:

    Something’s wrong with the wheat gluten many pet food manufacturers have been buying via a US supplier who’s been buying cut-rate gluten from China.

    The FDA refuses to name the supplier of that wheat gluten.

    Ergo - do NOT feed any food or treat with wheat gluten till we get more answers.

    It may not be melamine, or aminopterin. Neither seems to explain all the cases of kidney failure. It may be something they haven’t found yet. But it seems fairly sure the problem is connected to tainted Chinese wheat.

    That’s what I just told my mother, who has a new rescue dog. She’s been feeding Pedigree cuts and gravy - yes, with gluten. No, they’re not recalled yet. But if all these other pet food makers were buying the cut rate wheat, are you willing to bet your pet’s life that Pedigree alone held out? I asked her to please hold onto those packets, but stop using them till we know more.

    Same goes for treats. Old Mother Hubbard’s site says there’s no wheat in them. (Thank God that’s the case — that’s what I use.) But they’re the exception on this - a LOT of treats use wheat and gluten to make them crunchier.

    Four big companies supply gluten to US manufacturers. Two have said on record it isn’t them. One (US Energy) seems unlikely. The fourth is Archer Daniels Midland (a large political contributor, especially to the current administration.)

    So how much you want to bet the FDA is testing human foods like crazy right now, trying to figure out whether any of the tainted wheat got into the human food supply, before they make any further announcements that could spark a panic?

    Comment by Laura — March 31, 2007 @ 8:32 pm

27. Steve,

    “China calls new US tariffs ‘unacceptable’ MarketWatch. Mar 31, 2007

    ‘It’s unacceptable and China strongly demands the U.S. to reconsider the decision.’
    — China Commerce Ministry spokesman Wang Xinpei”

    They demand verbally now…until they get that blue water navy up to strength and the demand will become more than just words.

    The big problem is we have is a cave-in, politically corrected, appeasing administration. Not everything can be accomplished with fancy words around a table.

    Gary

    Comment by Gary — March 31, 2007 @ 8:32 pm

28. “They say cats are more at risk”

    I have two dead cats that would have concurred with that statement.

    Comment by Ron — March 31, 2007 @ 8:33 pm

29. before they make any further announcements that could spark a panic? Comment by Laura — March 31, 2007 @ 8:32 pm

    Makes me cringe. Del Monte apparently doesn’t even know whats going into their products and I’m wondering if they aren’t the only ones.

    Comment by Steve — March 31, 2007 @ 8:34 pm

30. INTERNATIONAL WHEAT GLUTEN ASSOCIATION

    I would wager a bet that these people know who and what! Chinese office is listed on their website.

    http://www.iwga.net/05_mem.htm

    Comment by Nadine Long — March 31, 2007 @ 8:36 pm

31. I truly believe our Big Companies are selling us down the River by Buying from other countries the Wheat Gluten. We should think of us and only the United States now. These other countries will destroy everthing good in the United States one way or another. We need to be a stronger country as a whole and get our backbone back. I mean BACKBONE. Stay and buy within our our own U.S. We shouldn’t have to rely on them. Their are too many Judis Iscariots outthere that want to destroy us. Terror, Terror, Terror. Their going to get to us one way or another because we are so vulnurable. There to interested in FOREIGN TRADE AGGREEMENTS. There going to KILL US.

    Comment by Georgeann Heckman — March 31, 2007 @ 8:39 pm

32. I am waiting for them to announce the 9 lives canned food that killed my Lil Bear kitty…..that is coming. I just know it…

    I contacted them when I learned of the recalls and they said NONE of their food was tainted….well they lied….big time lies. And I knew it at the time. I am just waiting for the announcement on the 9 lives then I join the class action lawsuits that will come of it. Bring em on..I am ready to sign up. Anybody got a good lawyer???? It took a month and a half to kill my cat as he also ate homemade food half of the time so it was a slow death…Oh I am so mad….

    Comment by Lil Bear's Momma — March 31, 2007 @ 8:40 pm

33. I am so mad and upset about worrying every single day about a new food they will recall.
    I swear If anything happens to my 2 Bichon Frise’s I will end up in a mental facility.
    They are my children, my babies and even though they are not sick yet, they eat Eukanuba dry - but I am starting to cook homemade food for them - I do not trust any dog food company anymore!!!
    I am considering filing a lawsuit against the supplier and companies for all the pain, suffering, anguish, and worry they have caused all of us!

    Comment by Cosette — March 31, 2007 @ 8:49 pm

34. My poor little schnauzer, Kiwi, would also agree. But, she’s in Heaven now, and I miss her so badly I can barely breath. Alpo cuts and gravy wasn’t on the list on March 23, when I had to have her put out of her misery. But, it’s on there today. We really need to band together, and put some pressure on the people who can do something about this crime against the most trustworthy and loyal population on earth, our beloved pets. Kiwi, I hope to see you again someday. And again, I’m sorry.

    Comment by Donna — March 31, 2007 @ 8:56 pm

35. Does everyone know about the Nationwide Memorial March on April 28? Please please go to this web-site and check it out for our precious babies!!

    http://keepourpetssafe.braveho.....march.html

    Comment by Marcia — March 31, 2007 @ 8:57 pm

36. I’m sick over this and getter sicker. Del Monte where else have you used that poisoned Wheat Gluten. I sure hope they don’t make baby food. How about pudding?

    Comment by Linda — March 31, 2007 @ 8:59 pm

37. Well maybe someone will believe us now when we were complaining about our kitties food not being on that recall list, oh except I forgot, I spoke with FDA on Fiday who said food thats not on the recall list is OK.

    And maybe that would explain why about 4 weeks before she died I was trying to give her anti-biotics to help her with the then not known poisoning from the cat food she ate, mixed in a Pounce treat that she always used to love, she wouldnt eat those either…

    Comment by Sandi K — March 31, 2007 @ 9:01 pm

38. The CEO’s and the big wigs don’t know what’s going on in their plants. It’s the production department and middle mgmt buying this poison junk - saving money - getting a bonus - killing our pets.

    Comment by Linda — March 31, 2007 @ 9:02 pm

39. My beloved 9yr old healthy 140lbs Rottweiller “Hercules” died on March 13/07. He was on the dry Iams weight management. I came home in late February and found him paralyzed and lethargic in my bed. He had stopped eating his kibble apx 1 week prior. However, he would eat human food. His belly was rock hard and he seemed to be in alot of discomfort. I rushed him to the vet -who had no clue what was wrong with him. The vet gave him a shot of steroids, did some blood tests and gave me a supply of steroid pills which gave him the strength to walk with assistance for about a week. I told the vet that I had thought he had a bad batch of food and I actually returned the dry food for a refund after showing the manager my vet bill. My boy hung on to dear life until March 14 until he collapsed on my back step…dead.
    His belly was 2X the regular size and still rock hard. He also had extreme thirst & urination but no vomiting or diarrhea (however he was burping and gagging quite a bit) I am so guilt ridden with the fact that my poor dog was suffering and didnt have the words to tell me. According to my vet Herc still had many years to go & his illness was not age related. PEOPLE DO NOT FEED YOUR ANIMALS ANY DRY OR WET IAMS FOOD PRODUCTS!!!!!! Also I contacted Iams to inform them that it was the dry food that killed my dog and they said to fax my vet bill to them for an immediate reimbursement. My lawyer has advised against this. Somebody is going to pay. My young children have been so traumatized that they are sleeping with me every night & keep having nightmares from seeing their beloved family member drop dead before their eyes-while I cry hysterically trying to revive him. They wont even go downstairs at night alone because they’re “scared without Herc”. BTW I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. jen@goddessfilmproductions.com

    Comment by jen — March 31, 2007 @ 9:02 pm

40. This is driving me nuts watching for every symptom. But I have a question - where are you guys getting that Del Monte makes Kibbles n Bits? Does Del Monte own Purina?

    I have a bag of K&B on my lap right now and it’s clearly a Purina product.

    Comment by Kelly — March 31, 2007 @ 9:05 pm

41. The Del Monte recall hasn’t even made it to our local news yet. Tonight they’re still only reporting the Alpo and Hill’s recalls. Not one word about Del Monte. And what made me really mad is that they said to keep feeding commercial foods, just check the recall list and feed foods not on the list. How stupid is that, knowing that new foods are being added daily? They also said that pets need the ingriedients in commercial food, and that they can’t get it via homemade foods. Grrrr!

    Comment by Sandy — March 31, 2007 @ 9:07 pm

42. Sandi K,
    I am SO sorry for your loss. The magnitude of this thing just gets more appalling by the hour.

    Comment by Laura — March 31, 2007 @ 9:10 pm

43. Comment by Sandy — March 31, 2007 @ 9:07 pm

    It’s the weekend. A real bad time to be putting bad news out. All they have to do is slip out an internet recall that barely gets notice so they can’t be pinned for not saying anything.

    This is one sick game they are pulling here.

    Comment by Steve — March 31, 2007 @ 9:11 pm

44. Sorry people! I think this is getting to me more than I realized.

    I have Kit ‘N Kabodle.

    Carry on :)

    Oh and on a more serious note, I agree with everyone on taking action, but don’t put too much faith in the government. I think the FDA has proven today what it’s worth and our Congresspeople are in the pockets of the ADM’s of the world.

    This is all about money, right? Fine, we can play that game too. All major companies and all subsidiaries should be subjected to a nationwide boycott. That is the only thing that will produce the results we want.

    And my deepest sympathy to all who have lost their pets. It’s like Ghandi said — a nation is judged by the way it treats its animals.

    Comment by Kelly — March 31, 2007 @ 9:12 pm

45. Comment by Linda — March 31, 2007 @ 9:02 pm

    Exactly

    Comment by Steve — March 31, 2007 @ 9:12 pm

46. Could this be a conspiracy to get China to hate the United States? Now that we have this other crisis of IRAN and could it not really be China’s Fault? When you really look at the overall picture outthere. What Country is the most Powerful and What Country wants Who on there side if we go Nuclear. The United State trys to keep Good Relations with other countries but its not really working is it?

    Comment by Georgeann Heckman — March 31, 2007 @ 9:16 pm

47. ” We should think of us and only the United States now.

    Stay and buy within our our own U.S. We shouldn’t have to rely on them.

    There to interested in FOREIGN TRADE AGGREEMENTS. There going to KILL US.”

    Comment by Georgeann Heckman — March 31, 2007 @ 8:39 pm

    They’re going to kill you ? What about your EXPORT ONLY manufacturers like Proformance Pet Products Inc http://petfoodexport.com/sitemap.html what are they exporting too US ?

    Comment by Stefania — March 31, 2007 @ 9:16 pm

48. Well, this is just one wonderful news. We were using the Special Kitty dry but I have refused to buy it since the recall so have been buying Meow Mix and now I find that it is made by DelMonte and also Kibbles & Bits which is what I feed my pug. Needless to say, they won’t be eating any more of this. I swear it gets worse with every passing minute.

    Comment by Adrienne — March 31, 2007 @ 9:19 pm

49. Quoting Paul Watson President of
    Proformance Pet Products, Inc.

    “Proformance Pet Products, Inc. is a three year old export-only private label pet food company with sales in 28 countries. A critical component to the operation and ultimate value of our business is the security of the trademarks we register and maintain in these markets.”

    Comment by Stefania — March 31, 2007 @ 9:22 pm

50. The news in my small town did not have the Del Monte recall on, either. My vet, though, who was on the news, said not to feed your pet anything off the recall list or anything with wheat gluten. He also said that while he doesn’t believe that we need to be feeding homemade diets for the long term, for the short term, a home mede diet may be a good idea.

    Comment by Robin — March 31, 2007 @ 9:24 pm

51. You lying rats!!! my cat nearly died cause of
    the pounce treats? i got a letter from delmonte
    today! it said there was NO danger from any delmonte product? yet they admitted there was
    something wrong with my cat.. i got it in writting? HOW MANY ANIMALS DIED cause of this?
    anyone need a witness in the lawsuit?

    Comment by johnypaycut — March 31, 2007 @ 9:27 pm

52. At this point skip all packaged “treat food” and just get pan roasted turkey from your deli at Safeway, Raleys, etc. Both our cats and dog love it - and it makes great wraps or sandwiches too!

    Comment by PM Hill — March 31, 2007 @ 9:30 pm

53. What Exactly Did Menu Foods Give to the NY Lab?

    Or to ask another way, why isn’t aminopterin found in any other samples? If Menu Foods supplied the NY lab with the sample, and that sample was the ONLY one that was ever linked with amiopterin (which has since been pretty much debunked), how did aminopterin get in it?

    BTW, when aminopterin was announced as a possible cause, Menu Foods’ stock jumped up more than 25%. Only to come back down when the result was found inconclusive.
    We thought about this because the manufacturers of melamine and aminopterin are now issuing their own releases that seek to deflect blame from those substances. Clearly, no one is blaming them for the pet deaths, but the idea that their product killed kittens and puppies is something neither of them want. Interestingly, they claim that “[aminopterin] is not, and has never been, actually used as a rodenticide.” So how did it get the “rat poison” moniker? FDA?

    http://www.itchmo.com/read/wha.....b_20070331

    Poopcity has more info about the press releases.

    Comment by Steve — March 31, 2007 @ 9:33 pm

54. Am I the only person that feels that they can’t sleep because they might miss a recall? At first I was Chicken Little. Now I’m Paul Revere for a network of pet lovers who aren’t particularly net savvy.

    Any bets on another announcement tonight?

    Comment by Lois Kimball — March 31, 2007 @ 9:34 pm

55. I personally think there’s a greater story here, but I doubt it has to do with Iran. I think the possibility of terrorism is quite valid.

    I’ve been worried about our food supply for a long time - it never occurred to me they might start with our pets.

    But there’s too much shifting in all this. Remember Tylenol? Perrier? Those companies immediately defined the issue, accepted responsibility and worked to resolve the problem.

    Sorry to be so soapboxy, but dang…leave the pets alone. And I say this knowing I’ve been luckier than a lot of people. Evidence is coming in that this problem could 6 months old.

    Comment by Kelly — March 31, 2007 @ 9:38 pm

56. Did anyone see this?

    Experts at the University of Guelph in Canada detected aminopterin in some samples of the recalled pet food, but only in very small percentages.

    “Biologically, that means nothing. It wouldn’t do anything,” said Grant Maxie, a veterinary pathologist at the university. “This is a puzzle.”

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070331/ap_on_go_ot/
    pet_food_recall;_ylt=AooQ1sTc3Txq4E5oHswk5J7MWM0F

    WHere are the people from the Agri Lab in Albany? Why aren’t they defending their finding?

    Comment by Lois Kimball — March 31, 2007 @ 9:38 pm

57. No word on our local news either. FDA doesn’t even have it on their recall page. I called a late reporting local news station to tell them, thinking they had another 1/2 hr of news, but didn’t realize it was cut to only 1/2 hr on Sat. Rats. At least they’ll get in on in the AM. But I did catch the first 5 minutes of SNL and laughed myself silly - a skit on the news continually reporting Anna Nicole Smith instead of real news. So apt in this surreal situation. And laughing felt good, really it did.

    I almost got in a fight with an Asst Mgr at Publix. Early afternoon and Alpo still on the shelves. Printer broken so I had no official notice. He assured me FDA always notifies them. Later they found out server was down.

    Comment by Cathy — March 31, 2007 @ 9:39 pm

58. I was just on DelMonte website and the treat that we give our kitty Nemo is on that list. I am scared to death now. The FDA better get their act together and tell everyone about all the companies that are trying to hide. I mean it. I will keep a close eye on Nemo and keep everyone posted. the website is http://www.delmonte.com, the treat he eats is Pounce meaty morsels

    Comment by Melinda — March 31, 2007 @ 9:41 pm

59. Maybe that’s another reason for the Friday news release. The food manufactureres are hoping to share some of the liability with grocery store chains who hadn’t pulled the product from their shelves.

    Comment by Kelly — March 31, 2007 @ 9:45 pm

60. Melinda, I’m no expert, but I’ve been at about 10 forums tonight and on the Pounce, apparently the “infected” ones have a weird smell or taste and the cats won’t eat them or don’t want to. Hopefully Nemo will be fine!

    Comment by Kelly — March 31, 2007 @ 9:47 pm

61. jen@goddessfilmproductions.com

    Dear Jen;

    I had the same Problem you did. My 6yr old Airdale Rascal died Feb. 19th. He ate only IAMS DRY MINI CHUNKS 40LB BAG (that was on sale discounted price markdown?) And IAMS Bottled Savory Beef Gravy, NONE OF THESE WERE IN THE RECALL And IAMS told me the Dry was Safe to give to my niece’s Dog. They Also told me to submit my vet bills to them. Who do they think there kidding? My Dog Rascal The One in a Million Airdale died. As soon as he started to eat their food he became sick with all the symptons. I think they should pay me for my lost pets full price and vet bills, and also pain and suffering. They took from me like a Robber comes into your home and kills. I don’t know if I can get another Airdale like him again. His Sire was CH DROFFATS DOWNTOWN BROWN TOO IN THE WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW. DAM WAS
    DROFFATS MIDNIGHT SPLENDOR. I WANT THE SAME BREED AIRDALE. You know the cost of some of these Pets are not cheap. My Breeder checked up on his Gene Background, No Kidney Problems, No Cancer Problems, Not anything that would do this to a Healthy Strong Airdale Terrier. I Finally got an Airdale I wanted for years, Now he is taken away. I want him Back. My Vet mentioned to me at that time his heart was a little smaller than usual. Because he took XRAYS only because this wasn’t out in the news yet about the RECALL. We honestly thought he might have been poisoned or maybe ate something that might have been in his digestive track at that time. Unfortunatley the Bloodwork showed this chronic kidney failure. OK after this news NIGHTMARE CAME OUT INTO THE OPEN IT ALL STARTED TO MAKE SENSE TO ME. He wouldn’t eat the food then vomited it up then only wanted people food then less and less food he wanted.
    I feel so Bad because I made him eat the Dog Food because I thought he was being picky. So he starved or ate the IAMS. Then he got even worse. I wish this would have come out sooner I might have had a chance to save him. I don’t trust IAMS, or any of these KILLER PET MANUFACTURERS. They probably test their Products only for Quality and other ingredients, not HARMFUL TOXINS. You know if this keeps up we are the ones that will be NEXT?

    Comment by Georgeann Heckman — March 31, 2007 @ 9:54 pm

62. Del Monte recall just hit Fox News.

    This is starting to sound more like an FDA cover up all the time. If these latest companies really had to be told by the FDA they are using tainted wheat gluten, that is mind blowing. Why didn’t the FDA send out a bulletin when this first started, naming this dang supplier and demanding all these companies recall products using the same supplier of wheat gluten? I know. . .that makes too much sense.

    Comment by Jackie — March 31, 2007 @ 9:58 pm

63. I’m sorry but I think they should be MADE to name the supplier of the wheat gluten. I’m afraid when it does come out, we are all going to be shocked, well not anymore because I know nothing surprises any of us anymore but I am willing to bet that it is a well-known, big-time corporation.

    Comment by Adrienne — March 31, 2007 @ 10:02 pm

64. I gave my cat pounce for a treat.. she liked it.. We need t ofind out about Whiskas.. meat/Gravy puch and can.. As well as Friskee Meat and Gravy My cat ate that as well Help for Miss Cuddles in your Spirit HUn Love moomy!!
    In Canada there was Equality at Food Basics/ Special Kitty at Walmart, and Compliments.. and Presidents Choice At A& P All of these need to be Checked out Miss Cuddles Died t o soon.. Please Get these products Tested out Right AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Thanks Kelly

    Comment by kelly B — March 31, 2007 @ 10:03 pm

65. UNRELATED RECALL: DINGO’S CHICK’N JERKY TREATS 03/31/07
    CINCINNATI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Eight In One, Inc., a division of United Pet Group, Inc., is voluntarily recalling nationally all lots of Dingo(r) CHICK’N JERKY treats due to Company concerns that the jerky treats have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, which can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, if there is cross contamination, in people, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems. The Food and Drug Administration is aware of this recall.
    The products affected were sold at Target, PetSmart and other retailers. The products subject to this voluntary recall are Dingo CHICK’N JERKY 3.5 oz. and 8 oz. for dogs and Dingo Kitty CHICKEN JERKY
    1.5 oz. for cats and Dingo Ferret CHICKEN JERKY 1.5 oz for ferrets.

    http://home.businesswire.com/p.....ewsLang=en

    Comment by Steve — March 31, 2007 @ 10:05 pm

66. Georgeann Heckman - I’m so sorry for your loss. I too at one time was feeding the IAMS to my dogs - the vet said it was fine. Then I switched to Science Diet - no wheat - this was maybe in December. It is such a horrible tragedy.

    Now they are on a dry food with no wheat or corn whatsoever. One I make homemade because he has a sensitive stomach - boiled hamburger and sweet potatos etc……

    Why arent the major networks doing a better job of getting the word out - most people think it is no big deal? They are feeding IAMS and the dogs are dying - I don’t get it….

    Comment by Linda — March 31, 2007 @ 10:05 pm

67. Cuddles couldn’t be proven because she died t o fast too soon.. I can’t find receipts.. Her body is not buried she is in Cold Storage until the Ground untahws I know in my HEART and Soul.. She wants justice for this situation.. LETS GET Everything TESTED!! Cuddles Ate alot of Wet food!!
    I miss My Sweetie-Pie so so Much
    Love Kelly B… HELP HER in Jesus NAME!!

    Comment by kelly B — March 31, 2007 @ 10:06 pm

68. Geez, gone for a little bit and WHAM!!! Here we go again. Nothing on our news tonight( Dallas) - wonder who is next or what the next poison they will find?? Time to cook our own food - this is absolutely crazy!!!!!!

    Comment by Sandi Schreiber — March 31, 2007 @ 10:14 pm

69. Linda - I don’t get it either.

    Comment by Kim — March 31, 2007 @ 10:14 pm

70. Aaaaaaaargh. Our local CBS affiliate out of Albuquerque just mentioned the new recall… of the Hill’s dry food announced yesterday! Nothing about the Alpo or Del Monte recalls.

    Do these people not know what the internet is?

    Comment by Kim — March 31, 2007 @ 10:19 pm

71. I was also thinking the same Linda.

    I ended up sending ABC News and NBC5 (Chicago) emails referring them to the “real” story found on the PetConnection website. I’m not kidding myself to think they’ll actually listen to me, but the frustration is growing by the hour and thinking it’s high time to contact my senator.

    Comment by Gayle — March 31, 2007 @ 10:20 pm

72. Ugh! I almost bought some of those Pounce Meaty Morsel treats yesterday as a reward for Tyson.. thankfully, I put them back and picked up the Caribbean Catch instead. (Even MORE thankfully, as I’ve yet to inspect the ingredients for potential gluten, he thought they were gross and refused to eat them.)

    I truly believe we haven’t seen the end of this yet.

    Comment by Gwen — March 31, 2007 @ 10:24 pm

73. All the stores in North Louisiana still have the weekend recalled items on the shelves. I got my local Target to take the Alpo off after throwing a total fit. Their initial response was:”We cannot take it off the shelves unless we hear from corporate office.” The manager finally went to check and the stuff is off. She did tell me that if I had had a printout from FDA or the manufacturer’s website, she would have done it immediately. So tomorrow I am planning to have the printout and try to get as much of the poison off the shelves as possible. The corporate offices are going to be closed until Monday and to add insult to injury the Alpo was on sale. I have also told all my vegetarian friends to check their labels, some of the veggie meats have wheat gluten in them.

    Comment by Ana — March 31, 2007 @ 10:25 pm

74. Kelly, I hope he will be fine… I am taking him to the vets on monday,,, So help me if anyhting happens to Nemo, the fda and comapny will pay…. THIS IS A NOTE TO ALL COMPANIES, DO NOT HOLD BACK YOU INFO… PET OWNERS HAVE A RIGHT TO N=KNOW… IF THERE IS FOOD THAT IS EFFECTED PLEASE LET US KNOW…. YOU ARE PUTTING PETS LIFES IN DANGER.. HOW CRUEL CAN YOU BE???

    Comment by Melinda — March 31, 2007 @ 10:28 pm

75. Sandi I’m in the Dallas area too and I noticed the lack of coverage. Then I went to CNN’s home page and they’ve got stories covering Sanjaya and all sorts of nonsense, but nothing about this. So I sent them an e-mail.

    Comment by Kelly — March 31, 2007 @ 10:28 pm

76. I called into a Seattle radio talk (KIRO) show just a little while ago. The topic was the pet food recall, but the host was not yet aware of the Del Monte recall. I pointed him to this website and he read directly of the press release posted here. About five minutes later they were announcing the information on their news update segment.

    Comment by Dee — March 31, 2007 @ 10:30 pm

77. Oh how funny. It’s back up there on CNN. It’s the same story from 1 pm today, but at least it’s up there now.

    Maybe I’ll start yelling at the Dallas networks too. Especially since people are reporting grocery chains are leaving some of this stuff on their shelves not having gotten the late Friday release.

    Comment by Kelly — March 31, 2007 @ 10:31 pm

78. Okay that’s it. I’m only feeding treats that are natural.

    Comment by Eskie Lover — March 31, 2007 @ 10:32 pm

79. That’s awesome, Dee! It sounds like we’re being heard, at least.

    I hope it helps someone.

    Comment by Kelly — March 31, 2007 @ 10:34 pm

80. I am scared… I do not know what to give Nemo now… If I give I give him the regular pet food, I am taking a chance of him dying… If I give him people food, he can die to, because of his tummy… I swear… The FDA will pay if anything happens to my baby… This is scary… I really feel this is an act of terrorism to the united states,, I might be crazy with thinking that way, but I do..

    Comment by Melinda — March 31, 2007 @ 10:35 pm

81. Kelly, I did the same thing too!!! Hopefully all the locals will get bombarded with e-mails. I guess Menu is going to sit back and see how this plays out - they definitely aren’t stepping up to the table.

    Comment by Sandi Schreiber — March 31, 2007 @ 10:44 pm

82. It’s not a crazy way of thinking Melinda, this country is being conquered from within, by infiltration without a shot being fired.

    FYI I’ve been feeding Pet Promise wet and dry. You can even get it on Amazon.

    Comment by Gary — March 31, 2007 @ 10:45 pm

83. they definitely aren’t stepping up to the table.
    Comment by Sandi Schreiber — March 31, 2007 @ 10:44 pm

    They are going to be bombarded with more lawsuits then they can handle. The ones happening now are early stage.

    Comment by Steve — March 31, 2007 @ 10:47 pm

84. So… The recall list is growing, but the media still reports less than 20 deaths? I’m confused. I’ve been checking this blog daily, I’ve read every ingredient on every package of any animal product in my house, and I’ve been constantly checking in on my parents’ dog, who they refuse to stop feeding Iams Dry Small/Toy Formula. What I’ve read here in the past week or so is that pets have become ill and even died from a long list of products that were not previously a part of the recall. Many of the products added to the list were the same products that people swear killed their pets. All sources say the cause of these animals’ illness is tainted wheat gluten, first with aminopterin, now melamine, and whatever else they’re going to say next. But what the FDA, Menu Foods, Purina, Hill’s, Iams, Nutro, etc. have to say about it matters little to me, as it’s becoming increasingly clear that the FDA is more interested in corporate damage control than public safety. It seems to me that there has been little in the way of straight answers in this matter, and that every press release and news report only leads to a whole bunch more questions. It makes this whole situation almost unfathomable, and continually frustrating, whether you’re approaching it from the standpoint of a concerned pet parent, a dedicated veterinarian, or a social justice activist. Why is it that the special interests have all the information, and we have a list of poisons that may or may not have been harming animals, foods that may or may not have been tainted, companies that may or may not be to blame? How can things be so vague when it’s so painfully obvious that somebody somewhere did something horribly wrong??? And how is it that the contamination can be safely confined to wheat, when people report sickness in pets that are only fed Iams dry food, which doesn’t even contain it? I’ve read articles speculating that corn might also be contaminated, and in the case of Iams, that would make much more sense. I also know how much of what we consume is corn-based. Is it possible that they aren’t looking into this (or perhaps know of it, and aren’t releasing the facts) to avoid panic, or accountability in the event of human illness? And if corn is also tainted, is it possible that there has been human illness, or even death, and that it’s gone undiagnosed, unnoticed, or even deliberately ignored by the media, in an attempt to downplay the situation? I mean, anyone who reads this blog can see how the media has mishandled the story of pet illnesses and deaths reportedly caused by food contamination. There is a huge difference between the number 16 and the number 2,800. I’m increasingly troubled by this, as I do not feel that anyone has gotten to the root of this problem, or, if they have, they are certainly not keeping the public aware. I really feel that what we need is an independent study of all the products that have allegedly caused sickness and death. Aren’t there any completely unbiased scientists out there, who would be willing to get to the bottom of this travesty and publish all they find? If there’s anyone able and willing to take this on, I’d even gladly volunteer my time at the grassroots level, to make sure the correct information found its way into the hands of the public. I’m sure every animal lover who is sick over this injustice, or any pet owner who lost a beloved family member in this horror, would as well. I just can’t understand why this has gone so far, why we don’t have answers yet… I just can’t…

    To those of you who haven’t started cooking for your animals, or put them on a raw diet, I’m pretty sure that pet foods that DO NOT contain either wheat or corn are safe. Just make sure you read all the ingredients before you buy any of them. I think anything you find in the grocery store has wheat or corn as fillers, but local pet stores (not corporate ones like PetSmart or PetCo) usually carry products made with human grade ingredients, and that lack the fillers found in all commercial brands.

    Comment by Ginger — March 31, 2007 @ 10:48 pm

85. Everytime I see news on the pet food recall on our local news stations, they are a story behind. This morning I called one of the stations immediately after the report and they amended it on the air ten minutes later to include the Alpo recall. Tonight I called all of them to alert them of the Del Monte addition. I told all the news stations to check with petconnection prior to airing any story. Without doing that, they’re reporting news that is not updated. Everyone should alert their local media outlets to this website.

    Comment by Deb — March 31, 2007 @ 10:49 pm

86. Melinda, since you’re seeing the vet Monday, maybe you could just ask at a pet store for the next day or so if you’re nervous.

    My little guys are still chowing down on Kit N Kaboodle, but it’s making me jumpy. It has corn gluten in it but no wheat.

    Comment by Kelly — March 31, 2007 @ 10:59 pm

87. KTVU channel 2 in the SF Bay Area, the first item on the news was the recall. They did a great job, showed the Alpo cans, SD dry bags being pulled from shelves and talked about poisoned wheat coming from China, showing grains being harvested there.

    Good for you KTVU, now, the rest?

    Comment by Gary — March 31, 2007 @ 11:07 pm

88. If you want a non-commercial food, not a name-brand, something made in America, with American ingredients, made for carnivores, contains no fillers, I recommend ABADY.

    Call them for a distributor near you and have some shipped directly to your doorstep by UPS.

    1-845-473-1900

    http://therobertabadydogfoodcoltd.com/index.html

    (I’m not affiliated with them, I just love their food and so do my dogs. I had been feeding Iams DRY mini chunks, but my dog got unexplained blood in her urine from October through February, and then the recalls started happening, so I went back to the Abady today and I’m so happy to have the peace of mind.)

    Comment by Sarah — March 31, 2007 @ 11:11 pm

89. As expected, more disturbing by the day now. Will stay tuned. Thank you to all of you who are working so hard to provide information on this site. It is greatly appreciated.

    Comment by jm — March 31, 2007 @ 11:12 pm

90. I too have lost two cats four weeks apart before the recall and I extend my sympathies to everyone out there affected by this tradegy.

    For the life of me I cannot figure out why the FDA isn’t taking more of a stand for us consumers. Keeping information secret reminds me of another era and makes one speculate if there isn’t more going on here. Even their faces in the press briefing looked as if they were very worried some reporter would present something they didn’t want out in the open.

    I am not a conspiracy hound but with the addition of the new chemical found makes me speculate that these different wheat batches were tainted with various chemicals in an attempt to hurt us. IT will not surprise me at all if they find a third or fourth. I pray that people will not start having illnesses next. I don’t believe for a minute these tainted wheat batches have not entered the human food chain.

    Perhaps our current administration is trying to keep this all hushed and toned down and chances are if they are then there is much more to this then they are letting on. Guess there will have to be congressional hearings to get answers out in the open.

    Sorry for my ramblings, but I’m mad as hell and annoyed like most of you and I have no idea what to feed my remaining animals. Today I bought more catfood, came home and read more food is recalled!!!! This is like playing russian roulette.

    Comment by Scott J. — March 31, 2007 @ 11:41 pm

91. I had actually e-mailed my e-mail list (friends, family, etc.) about the original recall on March 16th, all other recalls and then the most recent one on the Alpo, the hills and the most recent Del Monte. Two weeks ago, one of my friends on the list told me she was not worried because her dog hadn’t been eating the original recalled food and that she was feeding Alpo. Two weeks later, its no longer safe to feed and I have to ask, what is next?

    Does anyone on this list know what Corn Gluten meal is and where it comes from? Thank you!

    Comment by Lisa — April 1, 2007 @ 12:00 am

92. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this, and the whole thing just really makes my blood boil.

    As far as dog foods go, please check out Canidae. It has no wheat or corn in it, and all ingredients are American. Go to canidae.com

    I don’t work for them or anything, I’m just a happy customer. They have wet and dry food, one of mine is allergic to wheat and corn and the other has Addison’s disease, which causes her to have a sensitive stomach. They both do VERY well on it.

    Comment by sg — April 1, 2007 @ 12:01 am

93. For the posters recommending the Abady diets.. I checked out the site, and I really like what they have to say.. but it appears that they only sell fresh-frozen raw foods. Is this the case?

    One of my cats is FIV+, and I’m not really comfortable feeding raw foods to an immunosuppressed animal. He eats separately, as he’s also diabetic (among other things), but is quite resourceful (former feral) and often gets into things he’s not supposed to.

    Fortunately, I caught him as he was raiding the trash after I pitched the now-recalled food my other cats turned down! (Thomas wouldn’t have been deterred, he eats ANYTHING. Seriously.. last week, I busted him snarfing down on a box of Strawberry Mini-Wheats I’d left out, lol.)

    Comment by Gwen — April 1, 2007 @ 12:25 am

94. I still think it will take a massive lawsuit to hold the industry accountable.

    The FDA is either totally incompetent, totally unaware, or work for the industry - plain and simple. If the FDA can’t assure the public, hold the pet food industry accountable, or put the consumer’s health above company profits, then I guess lawsuits (even though they benefit lawyers mostly)are needed to force change. Change in accountability, change in communication, change in quality control, change in public safety, and change in deceptive marketing practices.

    And fwiw - I usually do not like lawyers or am litigious.

    here is a link of current lawsuits RE the recall for those who have lost a pet or are interested, found it at howl911.com
    http://dockets.justia.com/sear.....ods%2C+Inc.

    Comment by Scott — April 1, 2007 @ 4:15 am

95. >
    To be fair to Del Monte, the Purina statement that dropped in the wee hours of Friday morning included a statement that Purina was not notified until Friday. I suspect that Hills and Del Monte (and who knows who else) weren’t, either. Their not getting a recall underway sooner is inexcusable, but their not knowing until Friday is something I blame completely on the FDA. Some things need to change in that agency. We trust them with our lives, with approval of pharmaceuticals, and the lives of our pets. But they are too busy covering up for some grain importer to make the information public and help save lives. HEY, FDA, WAKE UP! YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT PEOPLE, NOT CORPORATIONS! Do you read your own web site? “”An Overview of FDA: Protecting Consumers, Protecting Public Health describes FDA’s public health mission and how the agency assures the safety and effectiveness of a range of products.” I don’t see anything about assuring the profits to large corporations who do business in unsafe products. I wonder if there are any whistleblowers at the FDA? we sure need to hear from one right now.

    Comment by CatLady — April 1, 2007 @ 5:45 am

96. >

    This cut-and run Friday press release stuff is appalling. “Here’s a recall. Proceed to deal with it yourself, because we’re not going to staff any phones until Monday. Have a nice weekend.” There should be some kind of significant financial penalty for any company who tries to “take out the garbage” this way. I am against legislation for the sake of legislation, but it seems like there needs to be some law outlining what is required of a company in the case that their product is recalled. And one of those things should be that the company ought to be available to be contacted with questions for the first 72 hours. It isn’t like Nestle-Purina, Hills, and Del Monte can’t afford to hire a bunch of temps to staff their call center and hand them a few pages of “frequently asked questions” answers, along with some pencils and some paper to take down questions and get answers!

    Comment by CatLady — April 1, 2007 @ 5:48 am

97. Corn gluten meal is a by-product of corn.

    Comment by Eskie Lover — April 1, 2007 @ 6:21 am

98. Something is amiss - how come these companies don’t know they bought the tainted wheat? Why is the FDA the one to notify them that something is amiss?

    Is it such a big secret who the supplier is that not even the pet food companies know? They are either protecting someone (and why would that be - who could it be and why - or what corp. etc.)

    This just doesn’t make sense to me - so what did they do, call this Chinese company and ask them - let me see your records - the company must warehouse in the U.S. and on what coast do you think this wheat was stored to be sold? It isn’t sold off the ships right? It is moved or is it sold off the ship and who could the middle man - probably an American Company that might have held this wheat before it was shipped out - Probably the west coast - what do you all think?

    Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 6:40 am

99. As someone who once had the responsibility of assessing new suppliers/ingredients for inclusion in HUMAN food products - I have been having trouble sleeping at night thinking about how easily this could happen to humans.

    Prior to approving a supplier - we would evaluate a LOT of things - proximates (basic nutrients - fat protein fibre etc.), we made test batches of product and analysed for appearance, functionality, did “triangle test” panels where you assess flavour, mouthfeel etc… we would OF COURSE only deal with suppliers that we felt were “reputable” (and ADM absolutely WAS on this list, for SEVERAL products) …and so on…

    But there is NO WAY you could EVER have detected random poisons. Not on a test batch, and certainly never in a 1,000,000 years on batches for production runs. Be realistic - think of how long it has taken FDA to reach the inconclusive results they have now - how could a food company receive ingredients for production, and possibly test in a similar way prior to use? It would be entirely impractical/IMPOSSIBLE.

    As a realist, and someone still who works in the Agri-food industry, I don’t think that a problem like this can EVER be totally prevented in the food for our pets - OR for HUMANS.

    However - the disappointing thing is how long it took the other companies to find out who the supplier was / what the batches were in order to perform their recalls.

    I do suspect that this has to do with fears of creating hysteria regarding the human food chain - or worse still, the suspicion that contamination has already happened. Wheat gluten is a common ingredient in LOTS of human products - vegetarian “meats” (chick’n patties etc.) - as well as King Krab type pressed fish products (one reason why it is an ingredient being manufactured in Asian countries - they use a lot more of it - you know those mysterious rubbery balls that float around in your Thai noodle soup? Wheat gluten is essential to give them chewy goodness) - and any formed meat chunks (check your Campbell’s “beef” flavoured soup labels)

    (Incidentally - media reports say it is used to “thicken gravy” - not really correct, it is used to bind meat into firm sheets that can then be cut into chunks and slices. This may seem like a trivial detail, but I do wonder if there are people out there washing off the gravy, then thinking the products are safe).

    Lastly - what I find most mind boggling - is that people are jumping off of “mainstream” pet brands, and moving to “holistics” - who are sold by companies that we know even LESS about.

    Before you buy ANY holistic diet - FIND OUT WHO MAKES IT - and decide if you trust this company to not make a similar error. It is not just Grocery stores that don’t make their own diets - lots of uber-holistic brands don’t either. So why are they any safer?

    i.e… scan down Q&A’s - Organix “dodged the bullet” - but Menu makes THEIR products too…

    http://www.castorpolluxpet.com.....ood_recall

    i.e - Chicken Soup for Pet Lovers - made by Diamond (recall last year). Diamond recall WAS preventable - they had a test for aflatoxins that they said they did, but when investigation was done, they DIDN’T… this is entirely different than the Menu situation)

    i.e. Merricks - has had a few recalls, including one for Go Natural!, a Canadian brand that positions itself as uber-holistic (now says products are made elsewhere - why is this “elsewhere” going to be any safer?)

    Some stats say Menu is feeding 1% of pets in N.A - I read somewhere else that this translates to 50 million pets PER DAY - and this is their first major recall - so big picture, their track record for safety is not that bad.. if you think in terms of “dogs fed to dogs dead” ratio, the smaller company deaths/recalls are much more terrifying, and these are the companies making uber-holistics..

    Just some things that I am thinking about after a sleepless night…

    Comment by food scientist — April 1, 2007 @ 6:59 am

100. I have been waiting for them to name the “supplier” of the wheat gluten. That is how they identify it. Why is it a secret? There is alot of this that is very vague. I think vagueness contributes to hysteria. It we have all the facts then we know what to do.

     Comment by K — April 1, 2007 @ 7:13 am

101. I was at SaveMart yesterday afternoon AGAIN searching for a company that that makes pet food whose name wasn’t invovled in the recall. I did the research on some brand name cat foods and settled on Meow Mix (Purina). While at the store I saw that they STILL had Alpo canned, Lamb and Rice in Gravy on the shelves. I told them that these were involved in the recall and needed to be removed from the shelves. I was told “we already took the recalled Lot Numbers off the shelves and this food is okay”. I told them “Are you kidding me? Do you really think they are buying their Wheat Gluten from different suppliers? None of the food with this stuff in it is safe”.

     AND, on top of that, it was ON SALE 10 for $10!!! Looks like the companies that are releasing their recall info OVER THE WEEKEND or IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT are STILL trying to make money off these products before they are taken off the shelves! THAT IS CRIMINAL!!! Knowingly selling tainted products at a discounted price to people who are not yet aware of the recall!

     I went to talk to my vet yesterday. He told me not to buy ANY food with ANY wheat product (gluten or flour) in it until they find out what is making the pets sick! He wasn’t even aware of the Purina recall when I talked to him! I TOLD HIM! Now Del Monte!! WHAT THE HELL?!!

     I’D BE REALLY LEARY TO EAT ANY HUMAN FOOD THAT CONTAINS WHEAT GLUTEN! THIS IS A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM THAN NON-PET OWNERS ARE AWARE OF. I WOULD BE MY LAST DOLLAR THAT THIS STUFF IS IN HUMAN FOOD!

     Comment by Jamie — April 1, 2007 @ 7:19 am

102. Jamie and all others - yep. That’s probably it - the supplier might or did sell this to companies that make human food - and the question is - well did it get in the food chain - considering the “silence” I bet that’s it.

     So they want to square the corners before a news release is made - to stop speculation and hysteria.

     It is easy to call them “idiots” but these are very smart people trying to solve a problem and still keep their jobs.

     Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 7:34 am

103. Are companies buying product from different suppliers? Good possibility.

     As a company, you NEVER want to have only one “approved supplier” - it is to your advantage to have a few, for a few reasons.

     First - you can then “put the screws” to your suppliers, in terms of price - i.e “Company A, if your price gets too high, we are using Company B - so you better be competitive”

     Secondly - if a product comes in that IS of poor quality - you can reject it, and buy from someone else. If you only have one option, you are screwed. Do you not produce? Or do you lower your standards, so more stuff passes?

     Thirdly - supply - if you run short on ingredient from one supplier, you have options to buy a bit more from someone else to meet your requirements.

     Again - something that worries me about pet foods with very “niche” ingredients. How many suppliers are there out there of Organic Quinoa (or whatever). When a mouldy batch shows up at the plant - do they reject it and not make product, therefore losing money/sales? Or do they set standards so low that the ingredients ALWAYS pass - anything can pass “rigorous testing” if the “test” is extremely easy (I have seen this in food industry).

     Comment by food scientist — April 1, 2007 @ 7:37 am

104. Food Scientist - it seems to me that if the risk of producing a product that kills or injuries outwieghs the benefits - they wouldn’t do it. Since it is so difficult for the labs to discover the problem, seems to me the middle man and the buyer, had no knowledge of this. Maybe not even the supplier - maybe the producer did in some round-about-way. I don’t believe any of this was intentional (not considering sabatoge of course.)

     Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 7:44 am

105. Of course when animals began to die at the Menu Plant - big wakeup call.

     Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 7:46 am

106. Del Monte also is affiliated with these companies (please check “products” to the left side of the screen):

     http://www.delmonte.com/answers/gluten.htm

     Comment by Jamie — April 1, 2007 @ 7:51 am

107. Ok, so a question - my cat was tested recently - had some mild symptoms. The vet said she is not in renal failure. But did find an “unrelated’ problem of crystals in her urine. Vet said that it is unrelated to renal failure/food recalls. The cat will have further tests now to determine extent and what to do next. I am not so sure I believe the no related to food recall comments as to my urine & bladder has a direct connection to kidney function. Has anyone else had similar diagnosis? My cat may have had some of the wet brand (small amount) around Christmas, did eat Iams dry until last week (I know this isn’t recalled but a lot of people question if that will be next) and definitely the new Pounce treats, until I pulled all things last week with week gluten in the house. The vet now has the cat on a Royal Canin prescription food and I am not feeling confident about that either. To those in the know, what do you think?I am also severly irritated that my local news is still reporting that the Alpo is the latest recall. What is wrong with the system that they can’t even get the real news on the news. They are reporting “Olds” not News.

     Comment by Doug — April 1, 2007 @ 8:02 am

108. I recently looked at the IAMS Tartar Treats that my rat terrier was eating and found the first ingredient listed was wheat gluten. My rat terrier was pregnant and begain the lost appetite routine describe by others above. She stopped eating her Pedigree canned dog food and the IAMS dry dog food. We started feeding her human food she liked before but became very picky. I needed her to eat something because she was pregnant so I tbought some dog food pouches she seem to like. Stopped those immediately when they appeared on the first recall list. Now I believe she was slowly being poisoned by the IAMS treats which started the finicky appetite. It has been hard to determine what comes from having puppies and what is the dog food poisoning. She has been eating a lot, drinking a lot, and urinating alot. Took her for a blood test from the vet. He said she did not have elevated kidney function tests but had an elevated liver enzymes which is due to pregnancy.I don’t know what to believe or what to feed my dog and her puppies. Anyone seeing problems from IAMS Tartar Treats?

     Comment by Sally Langland — April 1, 2007 @ 8:20 am

109. My vet told me yesterday not to feed my pets (2 dogs, 2 cats) ANY of the foods that have wheat gluten or wheat flour in them.

     I do believe that that these pet food manufactures buy from different suppliers ONLY WHEN THEY HAVE TO. I believe that they have ONE MAIN supplier and use that supplier’s product in EVERY area of processing they can. So, to only recall CERTAIN Lot Numbers, to me is rediculous! I don’t care which of their processing centers produced which food, they are using the same damn WHEAT GLUTEN. IF, for some reaon, that manufacturer runs short, then they may very well purchase gluten from a different manufacturer. I doubt if that happens very often. And, I believe that WHICHEVER manufacturer is responsible SEES TO IT THAT THEY DON’T RUN SHORT by buying cheap, POISONED PRODUCTS FROM CHINA!

     If it is in ONE LOT NUMBERED BATCH, you can bet its in EVERY BATCH that contains wheat gluten! I’m not biting into ANY of their BS! They are all LIARS and MURDERS and the FDA should be held accountable for its inactions. So, not only class action suits against the pet food companies, but also against the USFDA! They are just as negligent as the others!

     Comment by Jamie — April 1, 2007 @ 9:00 am

110. ***YOU MUST READ THIS***

     I WAS RIGHT ABOUT DEL MONTE FOODS.

     Friday, Mar. 30, I emailed DelMonte Foods, makers of 9 LIVES wet and dry cat food among several other products, about the odd selection of word choice/phrasing on their site about the pet food recall and saying that none of their products were affected by the recall.

     Specifically, they stated on their website after you click the link the said no DelMonte pet foods were affected by the recall, you saw a few paragraphs of text explaining what they meant. I wonder how many people actually clicked the link to read the text once they saw in bold letters that no pet food was affected. Following that link, you would have seen a sentence that read that DelMonte Foods “does not procure any FINISHED [capital letters are mine] products from Menu Foods or co-pack with Menu Foods.” This quote is very close to what was there. Immediately, I saw a red flag about the usage of the words “finished products” and asked if they procured any INDIVIDUAL ingredients or UNFINISHED products from Menu Foods and if their wheat or wheat gluten came from China or the same supplier as that of Menu Foods. The response was very scripted and, to me, highly evasive. I left my full address but no phone number, so they must have been concerned and looked up my number and called me, twice, in fact, after I had the CS rep talk to upper management. (My cat is experiencing some higher kidney levels, and I’m not saying it’s from 9 Lives canned Shredded Turkey in Gravy, but I’m concerned.)

     I was told by the CS rep that several ingredients go into cat food and that all of the ingredients are not theirs. I kept hearing the pat, highly scripted phrasing that “DelMonte does not procure any FINISHED PRODUCTS from Menu Foods.” So I asked again about the INDIVIDUAL ingredients, whether they used the same supplier as Menu Foods for wheat or wheat gluten and whether or not their wheat/wheat gluten came from China. Clearly their lawyers, writers, or spin doctors have scripted the sentences for the poor CS reps to parrot to the pet owners, and the poor CS reps have to repeat these responses. It immediately looked suspicious to me that the wording about the procurement of products said “FINISHED products.” If all was well, why did the word “products” have to be qualified by adding the word “finished”? It stood out like a sore thumb, to me.

     I kept pressing the issue with her about the origin of the individual ingredients and was told by the CS rep that “I [she didn’t] don’t know if Del Monte contracts with them [Menu Foods]for any ingredients.” I said that they should know who their suppliers are and to ask upper management and that it should be a simple “yes or no” answer whether or not the same supplier as Menu Foods was used or if the wheat or wheat gluten came from China. I didn’t want the names of the suppliers, just where the ingredients came from.

     Then, I ***heard something completely unbelievable*** out the the CS rep’s mouth, which told me to immediately switch my cat off of 9 Lives canned because, to me, the company seemed to be hedging by avoiding answering my very simple and pointed questions with an answer. She said she didn’t know about the wheat/wheat gluten supplier because the investigation still hadn’t determined that melamine in wheat gluten was the actual cause of the kidney failures/deaths and that the first probable finding of the investigation was the rat poison. (Huh?? I couldn’t believe what I was hearing!) I told her that her response that the investigation had shifted twice was no answer and was certainly not relevant to my questions. (I wonder if DelMonte was going to sit on this information if the investigation shifted to, let’s say, some type of filler or another grain in the products.) I actually felt sorry for the poor CS rep who was just doing her job and was reading what she was told to say. I wondered if she had animals and was just as worried as I was.

     I wanted to know if DelMonte’s supplier of the tainted wheat/wheat gluten was the same as Menu Foods. She said she didn’t know because the investigation might change to another ingredient. Huh? Can you believe it? I would think that DelMonte would have known earlier if the wheat/wheat gluten was used in their foods.

     I told her I was NOT satisfied with her answers that 9 Lives canned food was safe and that I wouldn’t be feeding my cat 9 Lives any more. I further said that I would not be satisfied until Del Monte changed the actual wording about the recall on its website site to read that it did NOT PROCURE ANY products, whether finished or unfinished, from Menu Foods and that their wheat gluten was not from China. She told me she was not trying to hedge or lie to me. I HAD HEARD ENOUGH AND WAS GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH MORE EMAILS AND CALLS ON THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY (tomorrow). And now, we have some DelMonte products recalled. Surprise! Although 9 Lives canned is not on the recall list, it DOES contain wheat gluten. See the 3rd line in the ingredients.

     The Mars company, makers of Friskies, says on their site several paragraphs down in the recall section that they have verified that their wheat gluten did not come from the same supplier that Menu Foods used. If DelMonte could have said the same thing, they should have stated so on their site. They couldn’t! That’s all I wanted responses to. I feel sorry for all of the people that may have gravitated to some of DelMonte’s products when it was thought they were on the “safe” list and have now been recalled.

     Maybe it was the FDA, but I hope I was some how responsible in getting Del Monte to recall some products by questioning its odd phrasing on its website. I told the CS rep that I immediately saw the odd word choice (FINISHED PRODUCTS) about the recall and that anyone who could read and clicked on the link that said no food was recalled, could see some careful selection of word choice being used. My cat is now eating Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul (no wheat gluten), and my dogs are eating Back to Basics (no wheat gluten). I don’t care about the cost of the food. Since we are unsure of what treats are safe or unsafe, our pups are getting cooked chicken breasts. At the beginning of February, we lost our dog to what we believe was kidney failure, based on his symptoms. The images of him lying there with his back arched up in pain are burned in my mind forever. Forever!

     Cat and dog lovers, PLEASE READ WITH A CAREFUL EYE. SCRUTINIZE and ANALYZE THE WORDS USED by companies. KEEP PRESSING THE COMPANIES FOR ANSWERS. WATCH FOR CAREFUL and NON-INCLUSIVE WORDING AND ANSWERS. CALL AND WRITE TO THE COMPANIES WITH PRODUCTS NOT RECALLED.

     My heart goes out to everyone who has ill or dead pets.

     Comment by petlover — April 1, 2007 @ 9:46 am

111. Ita - petlover. My heart goes out to everyone who lost pets or whose pet got sick from this.

     One of the terrible things is that we don’t know which brand is going to be affected next. My cat used to eat some of the recalled brands, but thankfully she stopped liking them a year or so ago. A week ago, my mom brought her Pounce meety morsels, but luckily my cat tried one and decided she hates them. She does like other Pounce treats, and the ingredients list doesn’t appear to include wheat gluten, but who knows.
     But.. I just learned from this site that Del Monte also produces Nature’s Recipe. Julien cut lamb is one of the few things my cat eats. It doesn’t appear to contain wheat gluten, but the ingredients are written in such small letters that it is difficult to see after first 5 ingredients or so.

     A week or so before the recall I met a woman in our local health club. She was heart-broken because her 6- or 7- (don’t remember exactly) cat suddenly died of acute kidney failure. Now I wonder if this has been related to this recall.
     This is a nightmare. What is going to happen tomorrow? 10 more brands on the list? My cat refused to eat anything that doesn’t come from a can, so cooking for my cat is not much of an option.

     Comment by Kitty — April 1, 2007 @ 10:05 am

112. When will these food manufacturers start putting false information on the ingredients label? Are they already doing it? MELAMINE was in the food but it wasn’t listed on the label right? The only other way to tell what is inside the food is by inspection but they have bought off the inspecting agencies.

     Comment by Gary — April 1, 2007 @ 10:05 am

113. Wow, nice work PetLover! I think Del Monte is in further than anybody, at this time, can imagine. Why wouldn’t they use wheat gluten in their human food production? Obviously, they thought it was safe enough to use in pet food. They had no reason to suspect any different. So, how much did they use in human food? Its not like they’re going to buy different wheat gluten for different purposes from different suppliers, are they? I certainly don’t think so. They’re going to buy in mass bulk and use it accordingly, as they always have, IN EVERYTHING!

     This is incredible….

     Comment by Jamie — April 1, 2007 @ 10:08 am

114. Exactly right Jamie,
     They wouldn’t go to the great expense of having one batch of wheat for pets and a separate batch for humans would they? NOW…who else is putting the tainted wheat into human foods? and how long has this been going on? can it explain the continually rising human diseases like cancer? is testing going on in human foods by the FDA?.. there is a strange silence isn’t there?

     Comment by Gary — April 1, 2007 @ 10:21 am

115. I was also feeding my pups Del Monte’s Snausages and Canine Carry Outs as dog treats. Although they’re not on the recall list, they’re going back to the store simply because I didn’t like the answers I got from Del Monte foods when I spoke to them Friday, March 30. See my post above for full details about my conversations with Del Monte concerning from where Del Monte obtained its wheat/wheat gluten and if it was from the same supplier as Menu Foods used or Menu Foods itself.

     Comment by petlover — April 1, 2007 @ 11:48 am

116. Please GET ALL PET FOOD TESTED Miss Cuddles My Sweet He