Pet food recall: April 1, and it ain’t no joke
By Gina Spadafori
April 1, 2007
- If you’re new to the site, please check out our general information page (includes links to recalled foods).
- If you want to report a sick or deceased pet, click here.
- If you want to know what you can do, please read our call to action
- If you want to read all our recall-related blog posts, click here.
I’m trying to get confirmation from C-SPAN, CNN and Fox that at least one of them will air Sen. Durbin’s media conference 1:30 p.m. CT today in Springfield. Here’s contact information if you want to urge full coverage:
- C-SPAN: events@c-span.org
- CNN: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/dotcom/
- Fox: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77538,00.html
And speaking of political action (which we have been, click here), reader Mike reminders everyone that:
[...} every Rep will be up for re-election in ‘08, and one-third of the Senators. What’s going into my letters will be some statement to the effect that “I will be supporting a candidate on election day Nov 4 who is working to further this legislation…..”
Also:
… suggest to your readers that they send a ‘thank-you’ to each independent writer, or broadcast/cable correspondent who filed a story or ran a piece, and tell them to thank their bosses as well…(so the media gets the idea that enough readers and viewers care about this…)
Update: I keep forgetting to mention that a group called Keep Our Pets Safe is organizing marches in cities across the country on April 28. Information here.
Go to the latest blog post | Go to the PetConnection home page
Technorati Tags: pet food recall, dogs, cats,veterinarian, veterinary
Gina, is there any way you can give us numbers of the total illnesses reported in the database?
And Gina? I want to thank you all for being so expedient in providing information. We’ve got 10 dogs and 8 cats in our extended critter family. Your up-to-date information has kept the rest of the animals from getting as sick as my 3 cats did from the original recalled food.
Comment by Sharon — April 1, 2007 @ 10:08 am
The Toronto Star posted a story at 4:30 AM today without mentioning the Del Monte recall:
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/198242
Their e-mail address:
city@thestar.ca
Comment by Dee — April 1, 2007 @ 10:12 am
Yes thank you Gina and for working on the weekend too keeping us up-to-date.
Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 10:13 am
Sharon (and others who have asked): It’s all in the database, but we just don’t have the resources right now to break all the information out as the story continues to develop.
We’ve discussed having it all looked at and analyzed by a database expert (we’ve even talked with one already), but just haven’t had time to deal with it yet.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 1, 2007 @ 10:14 am
Since most news outlets only carry AP stories, I contacted AP with a link to the Del Monte press release. I encourage anyone reading this to do the same.
http://www.ap.org/pages/contact/contact_pr.html
Include these links:
http://www.delmonte.com/petfoodrecall.html
On Business Wire:
http://home.businesswire.com/p.....ewsLang=en
Comment by Dee — April 1, 2007 @ 10:19 am
All Of U Big Shot so Called CEO’S DO You See The Latest NUMBERS? That’s How MANY Pets U KILLED By Useing Menu Foods. I, As Many Other Out Rage Pet Owners Will NEVER EVER USE ANY FOOD MADE BUY MENU FOODS !!!! It’s Time To Stop Useing Menu FOODS. LOOK at THE Dam NUMBERS. My DOGS Are On Nutro ,Because How Many Pets That Have Died And Are SO SICK I Took Them Off of NUTRO.
Comment by MARY ANN — April 1, 2007 @ 10:22 am
The Sacramento Bee this morning again stated the confirmed deaths (was it 14?) and hinted at “unconfirmed anecdotal reports” of additional deaths. How do they become confirmed? Will they ever? Will this go down in history as a non-event with 14 deceased pet food company animals? It seems like the FDA and other agencies have already taken a position that this is not important enough to acknowledge/or confirm the deaths. Am I reading this wrong?
Comment by carly — April 1, 2007 @ 10:25 am
Gina,u said your dogs are on wellness,did they like it at first?
Comment by MARY ANN — April 1, 2007 @ 10:26 am
oh also A BIG THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR hard work
Comment by MARY ANN — April 1, 2007 @ 10:27 am
Hey, someone got the news about Del Monte!
http://news10now.com/content/t.....rID=100455
Comment by Dee — April 1, 2007 @ 10:28 am
Thanks, Gina! My letters have just been sent!
Comment by Therese — April 1, 2007 @ 10:30 am
Every time I hear the number of deaths at 14, 15, or 16, I want to SCREAM! Write the Sacto Bee a letter, make a call. I just finished writing FOX a letter after they used the ridiculous 16 number again.
Outside of Pet Connection and the State of Oregon, NOBODY is counting. The FDA is not counting. The vet’s appear to be in the pockets of the Pet Food Industry and are not standing up for our pets or counting. I repeat, NOBODY is counting.
The number of deaths is in the thousands and possibly the tens of thousands. And the media (using the term loosely!) continues to report the Menu company-line without questioning the number.
Comment by Ron — April 1, 2007 @ 10:35 am
Sweetbay Supermarkets in a central FL location refused to pull the Del Monte treats until they had official notification. This means the FDA has to notify them. As of 12:25 EDT the FDA had not put this voluntary recall on their webpage.
I reminded the Sweetbay guy that since it was voluntary that leaves their store on the hook for removing these products. I reminded him that people are lawsuit happy these days. He claimed that until it was “official” they were not responsible. Personally I think he’s wrong, dead wrong - any lawyers out there that can address this question with any authority? I said, You’re not going to be proactive for your customers and remove this product now? He said, if I remove it I might just have to put it back later. He honestly did not get it.
So, There needs to be some kind of tie between companies and the FDA where notification will go up immediately at the FDA site so stores can be notified.
Add to your list of letters: Grocery store headquarters. They cannot wait until it’s official from the FDA. There are no internet connections at grocery stores. They have no way of checking that themselves. To be fair my printer is broken and I went in with a hand written copy. All I was asking them to do was to check with store headquarters and see that this was real. Or call home and have their kid look it up. Doesn’t matter, I haven’t noticed that any voluntary recall has been recalled and with the company saying - oh whoops we really didn’t mean it? Have you?
And a note of thanks to Gina, Christie, et al and all the others who have kept at it so tirelessly. I would like to add the FDA field people to this thank you. I imagine they’re running their hind legs off.
A big kiss to CVS employees who actually listen.
Comment by Cathy — April 1, 2007 @ 10:35 am
Gina, I know you are probably buried, but I would be interested in finding out how many of the deaths you have reported in your database are actually from Oregon. Then you can compare with the State of Oregon numbers that have been reported in the Oregonian. Kudos to Oregon.
Comment by Ron — April 1, 2007 @ 10:37 am
I just noticed the first real news story on Del Monte is leading readers/viewers to believe it is only Del Monte Treats. Ol’ Roy dog food is also being recalled.
http://news10now.com/content/t.....rID=100455
Comment by Dee — April 1, 2007 @ 10:40 am
Comment by Ron — April 1, 2007 @ 10:35 am
It’s going to be long fight. The Pet Food Industry has done everything possible to bury this scandal but it just won’t GO AWAY. And thats what they are still trying to do. SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG and MAKE IT GO AWAY.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 10:41 am
And we are not the only ones battling Big Business running amuck for PROFIT.
WASHINGTON - The U.S. rice industry wants the federal government to reject a plan to grow genetically modified rice in the Midwestern state of Kansas, saying the country’s growers would suffer “financial devastation” if modified crops contaminate the commercial supply.
“The cavalier ‘trust us’ approach should be considered the relic of a bygone era”
http://www.commondreams.org/
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 10:45 am
Comment by Dee — April 1, 2007 @ 10:40 am
Thanks, Dee. I just called News10 and let them know their story is wrong. They didn’t even have a copy of the release on hand, but I gave them the website address. Hopefully they’ll fix it soon….
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 10:46 am
Comment by Dee — April 1, 2007 @ 10:40 am
Todays news team at that station probably is one anchor, one camera man, one engineer, the janitor, and the security guard. With the Anchor searching the internet for stories on her desk top laptop during commercials.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 10:51 am
Questions? Here’s one number to call.
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is the world leader in BioEnergy and has a premier position in the agricultural processing value chain. ADM is one of the world’s largest processors of soybeans, corn, wheat and cocoa. ADM is a leading manufacturer of biodiesel, ethanol, soybean oil and meal, corn sweeteners, flour and other value-added food and feed ingredients. Headquartered in Decatur, Illinois, ADM has over 26,000 employees, more than 240 processing plants and net sales for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006 of $37 billion. Additional information can be found on ADM’s Web site at http://www.admworld.com/.
From:
Brian Peterson, SVP Corporate Affairs
Archer Daniels Midland Company
217-424-5413
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 10:52 am
Finally!! 2 articles in the San Francisco Chronicle. Both on PAGE 2. Not entirely accurate. Say the larger numbers are “anecdotal” but it’s a start.
Many, many thanks G, et al.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 10:54 am
A friend who studies world economics sent me this interesting comment. She says there is hardly noticeable Chinese lobbyists in Washington because politicians wouldn’t take kindly to them (communism, human rights issues, etc). Instead, the Chinese entered North America through a back door. They’ve got the Wal-Marts, Apple Computers, ADMs and other industry giants lobbying on behalf of them.
China shouldn’t be hit with duties, they should get them on a lack of standards and regulations. Let’s see how their prices stand up against having to pay billion dollar safeguards such as the FDA, labor exploitation and other regulators.
Comment by Sandro — April 1, 2007 @ 10:56 am
Here’s the latest numbers from Oregon:
http://www.oregonvma.org/news/recallcases.asp
94 suspected cases and 32 deaths and climbing.
Comment by Doug K. — April 1, 2007 @ 11:00 am
I just sent a scathing email to Del Monte! ????They had NO CLUE that they had bought wheat gluten from China until the FDA told them???? They left their products out there for people to feed their pets — for 2 1/2 weeks!!!!
I noticed today Purina Moist Whisker Lickin’s has wheat gluten…. wonder if it’s the SAME wheat gluten… They’ll probably recall it 3 weeks from now.
It is completely pathetic!
I have 2 dogs & 3 cats. None are SICK, but I’ve suspect off & on over the past 1-2 months they haven’t felt particularly well. I haven’t given them any of the food that had been recalled — initially, but suspected some of the dry or snacks.
I am cooking more for them & pretty soon that will be their complete diet. Nutrition has been my hobby for 30+ yrs & am researching what needs to be done.
Sometimes when I eat wheat bread now I get nauseated….I’m just waiting to find out that they’ve been poisoning people too.
Another thing I have an opinion on — since I’m stating my opinion now — ha!
The NY lab found aminopterin but the FDA didn’t find that, but found melamine instead. My thought is that since there are two facilities — maybe each was sent a different batch — one with aminopterin contamination — the other with melamine.
PetConnection — thank you for having such a wonderful board & blog. And, thank you for keeping track for everyone — I am sorry for everyone’s loss.
Kat
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 11:07 am
If the melamine was present in %ages up to 6.6 (as they are saying) and the crystals were visable by the naked eye, not by microscopy, how come nobody caught it?
I guess that’s a rhetorical question.
I’ve emailed everyone I can about the press conference. Hopefully Dick will let it rip.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 11:10 am
Comment by Sandro — April 1, 2007 @ 10:56 am
The powers that be are in bed with them. You got that right. And our Government just turns it’s head and looks the other way.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 11:12 am
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 11:10 am
“Well Steve, that definitely confirms it. Melamine was used as a cutting agent in the Chinese wheat gluten. There needs to be an investigation into criminal negligence on the part of these manufacturers and the FDA needs to clamp down on imported food stock.
Comment by Sandro — April 1, 2007 @ 7:32 am”
I’m with Sandro
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 11:14 am
Pet owners take note, if you wouldn’t eat dog or cat food, why would you feed it to your beloved pet?? This latest dog/cat food poisoning should be a wake up call to all pet owner who love their pets, DO NOT FEED THEM PET FOOD!!! I have a golden retriever and a black lab, plus two cats. Recently I have chosen to change their diet from pet food to whole foods, this means they eat what I eat. I have discovered (I wish I would have found this out a long time ago for all our prior four-legged family members) that feeding them foods like chicken, carrots, squash, turkey, whole oats, garlic, celery and spring water (just to name a few of the ingredients) makes a world of sense. This new diet requires a time commitment from me to prepare special meals for them, but I consider it a very small price to pay considering the expense of dog food and the possibility of losing a loved one.
There is an enormous amount of resources out there to reference, one such wonderful book is by Andi Brown, The Whole Pet Diet. I caught a small segment of Andi Brown on a morning talk show just a couple of months ago and she got me thinking that maybe my Golden Retriever’s constant itching and obesity is due to her pet food. Although our dogs are on a high quality (expensive) brand of hard dog food, I cannot seem to get Zoe to lose weight. After reading this book, I am convinced that this whole food diet is the way I want my pets to eat the rest of their lives, now I know exactly what goes into their diet. This is a wonderful comfort to me.
My sympathies go out to all those families that have tragically lost their family members to this horrific event. The pet food industry only cares about making money, do some research and take your pets care into your own hands and know exactly what they are eating.
Ms. Randy Driegert
Comment by Randy — April 1, 2007 @ 11:17 am
I don’t believe there is enough funding going to the FDA. It seems that the government is focusing more now on homeland security and of course fighting in a war that we have no business being involved in. Of course, this is just my opinion.
Comment by Adrienne — April 1, 2007 @ 11:18 am
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 10:51 am
Steve, just wanted to thank you here for your ongoing participation and valuable contribution to this blog. Your little gems of information have kept the focus on the facts—-so necessary to maintaining our clear thinking and strength. People like you make a difference and I just wanted you to know that your efforts did not go unnoticed.
Thank you, too, for keeping things light with your great tongue-in-cheek humor. With heavy hearts, it seems to be impossible to laugh out loud these days, but we must for our own well-being. You have broken up some of the darkest moments in the day and I thank you for this. —-Nadine
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 11:20 am
Is wheat gluten called anything else on a package? I’m trying to figure out if its in my cat’s food but all I see is corn gluten.
Comment by L. Kuz — April 1, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Comment by Adrienne — April 1, 2007 @ 11:18 am
Check out the National Priorities Project
http://nationalpriorities.org/.....Itemid=182
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Comment by L. Kuz — April 1, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Corn gluten meal (CGM) is a natural substitute for synthetic pre-emergence herbicides.
http://www.extension.umn.edu/y.....nmeal.html
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 11:23 am
‘Contaminated Pet Food Causes Human Food Scare as Chinese Imports Rise’, written by Roger Barlow of the Catfish Farmers of America, discusses this at http://prnewswire.com/news/ind.....15+PMThere is almost no regulation of imported food products from China for pets and people! Feeling a bit off after that catfish sale? The article states that according to a recent AP press release, “The FDA has sharply reduced its inspections of foreign food and today physically examines only 1.3 percent of all food imported into the United States.” So are we going to follow the fate of our pets, consuming uninspected and imported food products laced with banned chemicals from US multinational corporations? County of Origin labeling is required for grocery stores, but with so many mergers and acquisitions it’s difficult to trace origins of all ingredients. What about fast food and restaurants with no labels on food? When will Congress fund the FDA and Justice Department to protect our national security? Looks like the cat’s got their tongue! The Press’s too.
Comment by Sue Dunn — April 1, 2007 @ 11:31 am
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 11:21 am
The National Priorities Project’s Local Partner Network includes over 100 organizations from across the country that share in NPP’s mission to make the federal government more accountable to community needs. By joining the Network, organizations demonstrate their support of this mission and their use of NPP’s resources to help accomplish it. The Network also provides a vehicle for organizations to connect and coordinate efforts. If you would like to join the Local Partner Network, please contact Pamela Schwartz, Outreach Director.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Thanks Steve. That was very informative. Unbelievable that we are spending so much on this war. It’s amazing when you run the comparisons. This is exactly the reason why the other governmental agenies are under-funded including the FDA.
Comment by Adrienne — April 1, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 11:20 am
My pleasure. We have to be careful not to start feeling sorry for ourselves, or toss in the towel. We have to remain committed to seeing JUSTICE is served based on the facts.
This is a HUGE MAJOR SCANDAL. There is so much potential liability involved. Now Customers don’t trust Brands. Vets don’t trust their vendors. Retailers and supermarkets don’t trust the Manufacturers. People don’t know if they can trust their Vets. Vets don’t know if they can trust their clients. Brands can’t trust Menu. Menu doesn’t trust brands. On and on and on. It’s a COLOSSAL MESS.
Things that are truly worthwhile in life never come easy. So we have our long term work cut out for us to restore our faith in the system.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 11:37 am
I just Googled Archer Daniels Midland and Republican contributions, and came to this VERY interesting page on ADM chairman Dwayne Andreas:
It begins
“Perhaps America’s champion all-time campaign contributor is Dwayne Orville Andreas. Although virtually unknown to most Americans, since the 1970s, leading politicians of both parties have been well acquainted with Andreas, his company, and his money.
The 77-year-old Andreas rose from modest circumstances to become chairman of the Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, which is based in Decatur, Illinois, and is the largest U.S. processor of farm commodities such as wheat, corn and soybeans.”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/.....dreas.html
Comment by Empress 60 — April 1, 2007 @ 11:41 am
Friends I am going to have a break and clear the head. Take in some fresh spring air. I’m most interested in hearing what Durban has to say next so be back in a few.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 11:41 am
The FDA is covering for somebody big. Other posters here have suggested ADM or GE. I don’t know who, but I do know 2000+ pets didn’t die from Melamine. It’s not toxic. The New York Department of Agriculture and Cornell University are not a bunch of hacks. They said Aminopterin was the cause. Aminopterin is lethal and matches the symptoms spot on. Why else would the FDA spin in a pointless direction?
http://www.jiminy.org/article.php?article=25
http://www.jiminy.org/article.php?article=29
For anyone who thinks a government agency can’t lie, here are the links for Melamine toxicity:
http://www.pesticideinfo.org/D.....9#Symptoms
http://www.dsm.com/en_US/html/.....onment.htm
http://www.inchem.org/document.....108781.pdf
http://www.dsm.com/en_US/downl.....glish3.pdf
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/.....00465.html
http://www.researchandmarkets......search.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ipcsneng/neng1154.html
http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/ME/melamine.html
http://www.osha.gov/dts/chemic.....50440.html
Comment by Ben Preven — April 1, 2007 @ 11:45 am
Enjoy your break Steve. We will be looking forward to seeing you back with your wonderful comments about the press conference.
Comment by Adrienne — April 1, 2007 @ 11:46 am
And for those beloved pets suffering from depression, shock, grief, and other negative emotions, as many are, don’t forget about the flower essences. They can work miracles especially with cats.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 11:47 am
ANy word on where to view the Durbin press conference?
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
jamie on fox news channel just said fido’s food is not all u need to worry about, she did not do the story yet
Comment by MARY ANN — April 1, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
Globalization—well how is that working?
It’s working to beef up the bottom line of big business.
It is moving jobs offshore.
It has put a lot of small community businesses out of business.
It has given away knowledge and technology that can be used against us.
It has made Government bigger and that requires more taxes to run.
It has put way too much power (and money) into Corporations hands.
It has removed many safeguards that were in place to protect us.
This is not going to ever get better until things are turned around. Maybe limited terms for our Reps would have them focus on doing what is right, instead of looking for votes and PAC money.
My two sick kitties are doing good, right now anyway, but noone can say what the future holds. I am giving them bottled steam distilled water to keep as many chemicals out of their system as I can, for what it’s worth. Steam distilled water is pure and is supposed to have no chemicals in it.
Comment by DeeAnn — April 1, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
Doesn’t sound like Fox is going to carry it. Just a vet from the ASPCA with some advice on what to feed and what not to feed.
Anyone here anything else on Durbin?
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
We are hearing about all the recalled Dog and Cat food and I am lost to figure out to feed my little guys. I guess I will start cooking for them. I have another concern that has not been mentioned. What about the other pets????
Potbellied pigs, birds, and etc. Wheat glutten is used in many foods for these animals as well as farm animals. Does the FDA not feel these animals are not important? Is there a way to check on this??? My potbellied pig is just as important to me as my 2 little dogs and my 2 cats.
Comment by Janet Fine — April 1, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Our local Sunday morning news stated this morning that another pet food had been added to the recall. The report - Alpo. This was news Saturday morning. They did not mention the Del Monte recall from yesterday evening. I sent an email to their news tip box with a link to the Del Monte press release. I could not believe that they did not have the latest information.
I urge everyone to monitor what their local media is putting out there and if they are not advising of the latest recalls to contact them. There are still many people who do not access the internet for the latest information and depend on their local news.
Comment by Lora — April 1, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
i doubt fox, cnn or msnbc will show it.i have not heard anyone say it will be on tv
Comment by MARY ANN — April 1, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
4/1/07——-2:15 just watched the spokeslady for ASPCA SPEAK on FOX NEWS
They took a very layed back causal approch to this serious problem——————-
gave no numbers of deaths— said just check the back of your pets food package for wheat gluten
or call the company. and for people not to panic .
I WAS HOPING FOR A BETTER REPORT————
THANK YOU FOR THIS WEBSITE!!!!
Comment by jonnie gibson — April 1, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
Streaming anywhere? There are no links on his site.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
may be c -SPAN?
Comment by MARY ANN — April 1, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
I’m so tired of the way the news media is continuing to cover this devastating crisis. I just had CNN on at the top of the hour. They give you a run down of the stories they’re coving. One of them was the pet food recall. I sat and sat waiting for what they had to say only to hear about six other stories and still no coverage on the pet food. After that, they go to break and then FINALLY after they come back and cover another story, they air it. Don’t they realize that people are depending on them to get word out there and that it might be saving a pet’s life? Well, their news is old as I now get up to the minute news right on here, but for the thousands upon thousands of other folks who don’t know about this site or have no internet access, it is a must they get their news from somewhere and fast. I just don’t get it. None of it makes sense. After reading some of the above comments, I have to say, I agree with many theories out there. Someone is covering for somebody. Top scientist didn’t discover rat poison out of nowhere and now we’re being told there’s no rat poison. Yeah, right!!!! Also, why are they putting such focus on why cats are more prone to this poison. Does it really matter? Bottom line is, there’s poisons being fed to our beloved pets. Poisons that should not exist in any of our food, pet or otherwise. I wish these clowns would stop playing games with us and come out clean!
Comment by Mary — April 1, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
Can you believe this?
Any Recall of Dry Food Irresponsible, Pet Food Institute Says
A recall of dry pet food is unjustified at this moment, said Duane Ekedahl, president of Pet Food Institute.
http://www.torontodailynews.co.....ood-recall
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
I emailed C-Span two hours ago requesting they cover Durbin conference. I didn’t hear back, but then again, I didn’t expect to. I doubt they respond to every email. Will check the tv.
Comment by Mary — April 1, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
“A recall of dry pet food is unjustified at this moment, said Duane Ekedahl, president of Pet Food Institute.”
Wish I could say I was surprised. But, I posted this yesterday http://playingbig.blogspot.com.....mbers.html
Anything they say is from the viewpoint of the cat guarding the hen house. It’s their wallet they’re talking about.
Comment by Kim — April 1, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
Flower essences work for people too in case you are ready to snap from being up to your neck in bullshit. Soon we’ll be breathing through a straw.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
Comment by Kim — April 1, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
Indeed. I saw right through what The Pet Institute really is and they are basically Lobbyists for what appears to be a corrupted Pet Food Industry.
As in . . . . . .
lob·bied, lob·by·ing, lob·bies
v.intr.
To try to influence the thinking of legislators or other public officials for or against a specific cause:
1. To try to influence public officials on behalf of or against (proposed legislation, for example): lobbied the bill through Congress; lobbied the bill to a negative vote.
2. To try to influence (an official) to take a desired action.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
Anyone able to see the press conference? Anywhere? Somebody?
Comment by Kim — April 1, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
All the American People are asking for is Truth and Accountability and Changes in the way things are done. The Pet Food Industry is obviously digging in and is going to fight it tooth and nail.
Sad to see it come to this.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
Comment by Kim — April 1, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
Not yet. We are probably going to have to wait till the internet bloggers do the job the MSM is supposed to be doing.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
Can’t find it anywhere. But they are certainly covering every other story they can scrape up to fill the time. Stolen toilet paper? Puuuleeeease.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
I did receive an autoreply from CNN.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
Lois - Stolen toilet paper? Thanks for the laugh!
Comment by Kim — April 1, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
Unbelievable. They are actually running this story from last week today?
Menu Foods says its pet food is now safe
Lionel Perron, Reuters
Published: Sunday, April 01, 2007
http://www.canada.com/national.....50&k=0
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
Kim,
It’s a BIG problem in this country. Employee theft. Apparently dead pets aren’t.
I need to take a break before my head explodes or worse.
If anybody finds the Press Conference, please post it in BOLD or let Gina (or whoever is manning the ship right now) know so she can post a new topic. Thanks.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
I’m surprised CNN isn’t all over this. For the past 2 years, it seems they’ve been running any flimsy excuse for a news item to avoid covering the mess in Iraq.
Comment by Sandro — April 1, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
FOX NEWS LIVE
I just heard that a “Studio B” segment on the pet food recall will be coming up. Developing story on Iran TV is currently usurping news on most everything right now.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
maybe on the his website there will be a video of his news conferance
Comment by MARY ANN — April 1, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
Just out of curiousity, are these major media outlets owned at all by the same comapnies that own these major food comapnies? Just a thought….
Comment by Doug — April 1, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
I was excited to see that last night Fox News actually had FOUR reporters talking about it as the “Big Story”. The lead reporter was frustrated and worried about her animals…finally asking some good questions. I guess that’s what it takes…for a reporter to be personally touched by this tragedy to prompt a detailed conversation. Very sad.
Comment by Sherry — April 1, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
Well that Studio B item was little more than a fart.
I blame the FCC and whoever’s pocket they are in for this atrocity.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
What a joke. I blinked and it was over!
Comment by Mary — April 1, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
Comment by MARY ANN — April 1, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
I checked UTube just in case…nothing…yet.
Fox alerted to the Del Monte snacks recall. They suggested that people check the Fox website for the recall food list.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 1:17 pm
Whoopee. . . I just listened to Trace’s report on the recall (Studio B). Same thing they have been saying since last night, but at least they are covering the Del Monte, and showing pics of the jerkey treats. They are talking about the recall about every 1/2 an hour, but there is no substance to the reporting.
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 1:18 pm
After spending several hours last night, I came up with conclusive evidence, at least for myself, that the Melamine found in the pet food was probably from a Canadian company. “ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND” CORP. I’m not completely sure about the confirmation that this company is involved because I recieved this info. from a blog at this site that there are only two companys that supply wheat gluten to MENU FOOD CORP. and that is MGP ingredients inc. and Archer Midland corp., (ADM).
MGP is ruled out because it lost it’s contract to MENU FOODS and has not supplied to them for 18 months. Based on that info. I began researching the ADM, ARCHER MIDLAND CORP.They make a wide variety of products and interestingly they also make PLASTICS.
According to Andrew bridges of the washington associated press 3/31/07, testing by the FDA and Cornell University has found Melamine in samples of recalled pet food as well as in crystal form in the urine and kidney tissue of dead cats. They’ve also found the chemical, in apparently raw form in concentrations as high as 6.6 percent, in wheat gluten used as ingredient of the recalled cat and dog foods, said Stephen Sundlof, The FDA’s chief veterinarian. “There was a sizable aMount of melamine. You could see crystals in the wheat gluten”. Sundolf told the Associated press.
ARCHER MIDLANDS, AGM, makes resins and plastics. Melamine is an ingredient used when combined with methanol to make different types of resins, They make cleaners too. Some cleaners contain the crytilized melamine for scubbing qualities. Perhaps it was used in cleaning at the plant and got in the wheat gluten by mistake, or a disgruntled employee put it in the gluten?
Melamine will also disentegrate as it ages. It is also used as plastic parts in Large Machinary applications, and food preparation. Guide machines spinners, pump parts, conveyors, brushes, (think tootbrush bristles, but huge gigantic!) membrane filters. I wonder how much melamine would enter a system if a large 40,000 gallon tank membrane filter disentegrated because it wasn’t changed when it should have been?
I did not find any information that Melamine was used as a pesticide or a fertilizer. The FDA IS TELLING EVERYONE THAT IT CAME IN THE WHEAT FROM CHINA BECAUSE THEY USE IT IN THIS TYPE OF APPLICATION.
I also read on a blog on this site, that ADM corp. has given large donations to the Bush campaing and Republican party.
IF THIS IS ALL TRUE, WE NEED TO ALL KEEP AT THIS AND EXPOSE THE TRUTH!! AND YES , THERE IS A COVER UP. THE GOOD NEWS IT’S NOT RAT POISON AND THIS IS NOT A TERRORIST ATTACK. THE IRONY IS, IF THIS IS ALL TRUE,OUR OWN HAS BECOME OUR ENEMY. I ALSO BELIEVE THEY ARE DRAGGING THEIR HEELS IN THE RECALLS ON THE PRODUCT LINE SO THEY CAN GET AS MUCH OF SOLD AS TO LOSE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY! MENU FOODS, AND CHINA ARE TAKING ALL THE BLAME!
Comment by lori anderson — April 1, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
I think someone needs to go “undercover” — or catch a “squealer” who works for these companies.
What I’d like to know is — who is monitoring the RETURNED food??? Hopefully — they will destroy it so that no other animals can find it & eat it.
I also know there were problems with eggs. The dates expire on the cartons, then returned back to the producer & replaced in new cartons with good dates. That happened quite awhile ago — but probably still does.
Yesterday was the very last day my 5 animals eat any type of commercially processed food.
I never trusted the canned “crap” anyway.
Kat
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
THERE IS Nada on Durbin’s website ABOUT PRESS CON.
Comment by MARY ANN — April 1, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
What we need is to get one of the reporters with a great investigative team to check into this. It is smelling like a major cover-up at this point. There were some very good links added to the site today.
Yeah, Julie and Kimberly both had decent segments about this on their programs last night. Geraldo was all about Anna. Julie is the one with a pet and has been the most out spoken about this.
Fox News has a few reporters that might be good to contact. . .If we could get Bill O’reilly to look into this, it would become huge and the politicians would take notice. We can e-mail or try to call into his radio program tomorrow. We have a lot more proof today, then we did on Friday that something is up with this story.
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
Or the Coop-Meister.. Not quite as polarized, in my view anyway.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
I wonder if Bob Woodward is available. :)
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
When I was checking a few weeks ago — China is the number one CONSUMER of wheat. They buy from the EU & Australia. WHY are we buying from THEM anyway???
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
OK, I have posted this link before. ADM has wheat milling plants in the Asia Pacific. To think they are not using China wheat is ridiculous. Them setting up shop in Asia, would make them more competitive than Midwest Grain when it comes to CHEAP wheat gluten.
I’m not buying the melamine story. Yeah, maybe some is there, but that is not what is killing all these pets. More testing, probably more crap found in these foods. Melamine sounds a heck of a lot less scary than RAT POISON!
http://www.admworld.com/asen/
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 1:52 pm
Perhaps earlier marches should take place this week [in addition to the one on 04/28/2007] - in front of the supermarkets that still have recalled brands on their shelves because “they’re waiting for official paperwork telling them to pull the food off the shelves.” Gutless idiots.
Comment by Lynn Summers — April 1, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
Hello first off. I have 2 very active dogs, a Rat terrior and a Palm. We feed them Kibbles and bits which is a del monte food. Its the dry kind. Do I need to worry over this or..wait and see? I mean with 52 maybe 53 manditory recalls listed, what do we feed our pets?? People food (table scraps) isnt healthy for them. Organic food is, sorry to say, a rip off. I live in the country and we only have 3 grocery stores with 90% of the pet foods gone. The dogs have been on this food for about 3 years. I just told my mom and dad and they are like..what do we get them?? theres no other food cheap enough to buy.
Comment by Jamie — April 1, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
I also heard last nite on niteline or something like that, that something was traced to china. With the nuclear crap going on, whos to say its not on purpose.
Comment by Jamie — April 1, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
AS OF YESTERDAY THE FDA HAS REFUSED TO GIVE THE NAME OF THE SUPPLIER WHO SUPPLIES THE WHEAT GLUTEN TO MENU FOODS. PROTECTING THEM I SUPPOSE.
Comment by lori anderson — April 1, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
Bob Woodward. . .I like it !
Lori, a couple different links were posted to the contributions by ADM. They have given money to politicians on BOTH sides. You can see what years more money went to each party. They are buying politicians from both parties. Clinton and Bush included.
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
Our Maine Coon mix has lost another 3oz, that’s 7oz this week now down to 6#7 and losing ground again after 9 weeks of treatment. Our greatest consolation is that kidney failure is not generally painful until toward the very end.
We treated a cat for lymphoma for 3 years. When it came to be time for the last trip to the vet she sat up and purred on the table, rubbed her head on my hand and sighed as she put her head down for the last time. I can barely type this past the tears remembering…
When we picked up her ashes we found out the vet made a clay imprint of her paw prints, queue the tears again, that was so very thoughtful. They rest next to a geode in our display.
I don’t know if we’ll have that long with this one, but where there is breath there is hope. I really didn’t want to go through this again for several more years, though.
When our cat got sick was late January. I’d really like to believe based on what we know today that nobody knew anything was clearly wrong…
I keep seeing “up to 6.6%” in yesterday’s press release, that’s one part in fifteen. I keep seeing the words “you could see crystals in the wheat gluten” and have to wonder if some ignorant jackass who voted for creation science in public schools just shoveled in the next batch even though it looked funny…
There may be culpability in the chain of command, but someone shoveled in the poison and I wonder if they thought it looked wrong…
Someone shipped this poison knowing what was in it, and probably knowing that our testing process would likely not catch it.
THOSE are the people to blame.
You can hate corporate executives all you want. You can hate the people who want to protect their jobs and their investors all you want. Their delays and hesitations provide more than enough to blame them for, too. They may have known taste test animals died, and they may have had a few complaints of pet deaths, but they certainly did not have the whole picture way back then.
In my experience of quality control problems there is ALWAYS somebody who chose to ship with full knowledge that the product was not up to the required standards. THAT somebody was not in upper management, and that somebody said nothing to the proper people, if to anyone at all in the workplace about what they knew. They may have bickered to their social friends, but not a peep to the people who would have pulled the plug in time.
Are the executives responsible in the end, yes they are. They are responsible to make sure the process in place does not fail when one worker conceals a problem. Because when more than one person is involved silence is almost impossible to maintain.
But, in the end, there is nobody to blame but the ones who knew. Nobody at all. Somebody knew long before the head office, long before the first frightened visit to the vet.
Somebody, somewhere, knew. They were silent. They are to blame. They need to be crucified, figuratively or otherwise. They all need to know that we will find out. We will find them, and they will suffer for it if they try to hide it. But if they speak up they will be living heroes instead of pariahs.
Comment by steve a — April 1, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
Lynn, you’re right. . .we have to come up with a way to get attention. I’m not sure the best way to do that, but this sitting back and hanging on the blogs doesn’t seem to be getting us anywhere with the media.
Maybe we should come up with some picket locations by next weekend? We all know we won’t have any big news until next Friday (if then!).
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
so far as what i eat and my babies, this event has been life changing for me and we will be eating whole foods from now on for sure!
Comment by lori anderson — April 1, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
Comment by lori anderson — April 1, 2007 @ 1:38 pm …….
Lori, thank you for all your hours of research for your excellent post. It shows a lot of proof for what many of us have been thinking all along. If it wasn’t for the enormous public outcry on this matter, I doubt that anything would have been done to find the cause(s) of this ongoing tragedy. I’m hoping there is a “maverick” Rep or Senator out there who is brave enough to uncover the “cover-up”…………
Meanwhile, I have switched to homecooking for my pet. No more commercial poison for HER!
Comment by gerry m. — April 1, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
Well, wheat gluten is in people food too, - we just don’t know what we or our pets are eating. I make up a batch of homemade dog food each week - I think it is nutritionally sound (cooked turkey, green veg & brown rice) but they need some hard food as well - I’ve heard Bil-Jac is okay - anybody know anything about it? We have a kitty & I just don’t know what to feed her she is so fussy.
Comment by D. Potter — April 1, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
Well I’m going to start sending written letters to congress by mail and the media. I think picketing is good so is the march. I’m not stopping.
I CAN JUST IMAGINE WHAT THE QUALITY CONTROL MUST BE LIKE AT AN ADM PLANT IN CHINA MAKING WHEAT GLUTEN. iT SENDS A CHILL DOWN MY SPINE.WE HAVE ALL HEARD HOW THE BIG CORPS TREAT THERE WORKERS IN OTHER COUNTRYS!!
Comment by lori anderson — April 1, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
Menu foods & its chinese suppier should be sued out of existence!
Comment by D. Potter — April 1, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
Here are a few links for those who want to write to the news media:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77538,00.html
http://abc.go.com/site/contact.....%20Tonight
nightly@nbc.com
If you are FAST you can send a comment to CBS. They TIME you out quickly. Katie Couric will probably send you a daisy & a “Hi there”…. http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/.....form.shtml
I just did my part — collected as many standard emails as I could & sent them all the same email.
Gotta get back to the TAXES! ugh!
kat
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
D. Potter: My kitties won’t eat much of the homemade food, but they like REAL tuna & salmon — straight from the can. I had been giving it with the dry. Sometimes I bake my homemade food & give it to them as a cookie. I have a VitaMix. It breaks down the nutrients so they are better assimilated.
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
I think there are some dog and cat food recipes at this link…. (Bone Appetit!)
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story.....amp;page=1
Comment by Mary — April 1, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
A holisitc dog & cat food with all natural premium human grade ingredients that does NOT contain any wheat or wheat gluten is SOLID GOLD. I have used this food for years for my dogs with great success and recently switched my cats to it also. The company’s phone numbers are 619-258-7356 or 619-258-1914. FAX is 619-258-3907. Email address: dane@solidgoldhealth.com. They are based out of El Cajon, California. Also you can check the website. They can tell you where the nearest distriburor is located. Certain stores as well as individuals that become distributors sell the SOLID GOLD food, supplements and treats. It was introduced to the USA in 1974. SOLID GOLD had been a top grade dog food in Germany for 20 years before it was was sold in the USA.
If your cats or dogs kidneys have been affected by the poison in the food, another thing that you can do is to find a homepathic or naturopathic doctor to give them supplements to strenghten their kidneys. They will work in conjuction with your vet. They will need the details about your cat or dog & will want a copy of the blood tests from your vet to know exactly what to give and what dosage.
My heart and prayers go out to all of the innocent pets and their beloved owners that had pets that have died, are ill and have been affected by this huge and senseless tragedy that should never have happened. It has taught us a lesson that you cannot trust blindly. You have to always be on top of things and research for yourself everything that concerns your pets as well as yourselves.
Everything revolves around money it seems in this day and age and Menu Foods probably could get wheat glutin cheaper in China than in the USA where we grow tons of wheat. In the end though to try to save money they are going to be out millions of dollars. Many people will never buy any dog or cat food made by them again.
Peace and love to all of you. Keep up your spirts in this trying time. Those of you that have lost pets due to this, remember that even after death you and your pet are always connected by a bond that will never be broken. Their little soul, personality and character live in your heart and thoughts daily in everything that you do. They are always with you.
Jeannine
Comment by Jeannine — April 1, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
The SOLID GOLD dog and cat food website is: http://www.solidgoldhealth.com. You can type in your zip code to find rhw nearest store that sells this premium grade helistic & natural dog & cat food that does NOT contain wheat or wheat gluten.
Jeannine
Comment by Jeannine — April 1, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
Comment by steve a — April 1, 2007 @ 2:07 pm:
What you are suggesting (I haven’t seen the docs you refer to) sounds like somebody stole part of the wheat gluten shipment and dumped in some junk to make the weight difference, not caring what it could do.
That does sound likely.
Comment by Wilbrod — April 1, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
I was trying to find the article I read here friday and just offhand, I cannot… In one paragraph it mentioned concentrations as high as 6.6%, in the next that you could see crystals in the wheat gluten… I had the distinct impression you didn’t need a microscope, but that may be a mistaken impression…
The way grain products are stored in parts of China it seems likely there didn’t need to be theft, just incompetance and improper handling of food products.
My wife used to coordinate intermodal shipping on the Russian East Coast. To ensure the security of your food export, and the container (refrigerated containers were often stolen), you would hire a driver, buy his fuel, then hire several gunmen to make sure the truck was not hijacked and to make sure the driver didn’t keep the shipment himself…
It is a different world outside our borders…
Comment by steve a — April 1, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
This part of the ADM website says it all. Pet nutrition.I just found a package of the Meaty treats from Del Monte in my cupboard.
http://www.admworld.com/naen/ahn/
Comment by Mary — April 1, 2007 @ 11:21 pm
I’m still waiting for other pet foods to be named in the recall. We had to euthanize my golden retriever a few weeks ago because she was in renal failure. The vet said that it seemed as if she had been poisoned. The only thing that our golden retriever ate that was different from what our Lab did was Pedigree foil-packaged dog food. We had to put her on soft food following her tooth extraction. I keep hoping that there are others out there like me whose dogs ate this type of food and got sick.
Comment by Brenda P — April 2, 2007 @ 6:20 am
According to The Globe and Mail:
“The total market value of pet food and pet care products in North America:
2006 - $26.7-billion”
“As part of a plan to return to its core business, Cott sold its stake in Menu in 1999. Three years later, Mr. Bras hopped on the income trust bus and took the company public on May 22, 2002, for $129-million. Less than four months later, he was dead, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
In 2003, Menu Foods went into debt to buy a wet pet food plant from Procter & Gamble. The deal came with a five-year agreement to be the exclusive wet pet food supplier to P&G’s Iams division, but the $85-million in new debt came with financial thresholds Menu Foods had to meet before it could pay distributions to unitholders.
The units, which had launched at $10, briefly traded over $16 in 2004. The next year, the company stumbled from a stronger Canadian dollar and a difficulty of passing price increases on to its customers.
Things went from bad to worse when the company suspended distributions after announcing that it was in violation of its financial covenants on the debt issued to buy the P&G plant. Units fell to $3.
But by early 2007, things were looking up for Menu Foods. The Canadian dollar had given back some if its gains, and Menu Foods had been able to implement some price increases. The company was using its cash flow to pay down debt and analysts were expecting it to resume distributions in the near future.”
Menu Foods is only one of a number of manufacturers of pet food. They are all looking for ways to cut costs and get their share of this MULTI BILLION $$$ industry.
How can we trust any pet food company when there is so much at stake for them??
Comment by mal — April 2, 2007 @ 8:16 am
I lost a healthy 5 year old dog last month. I know of three other people that also lost their dogs. One was 4 years old. Cause of death not totally determined. All died shortly before recall. Three were on DRY Dog Food. Something is very wrong here. I bet we see it is in the dry food also. Seems like this investigation is taking a very long time.
Comment by honey — April 2, 2007 @ 8:35 am