Pet food recall: What have we here?
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.
Here’s something a reader just pointed out on the FDA Web site:
Update: I just got off the phone with the person who discovered this alert while searching the FDA’s Web site, and she insists her name known. I’m happy to do this for her. She’s Joy Drawdy of Gainesville, Fla., and it’s a heckafine bit of reporting work.
Update No. 2: Itchmo has background and details here on the wheat gluten importer.
Update No. 3: Nobody aired the Durbin-DeLauro media conference. Best I can offer is this media release:
“Many cats, dogs and other pets, considered members of the family are now suffering as a result of a flawed pet food inspection system,” said Durbin. “Congresswoman DeLauro and I have once again reached out to FDA to work on eliminating the vulnerabilities that are affecting food safety. Last week, we asked FDA to quickly provide us with a report of what FDA has done to address the recent recall, and what needs to be done to make real improvements to the system of overseeing pet food safety.”
“Based on the evidence so far, it would appear that FDA is failing its responsibilities to protect animals from unsafe food as much as it is failing to protect American consumers. They have never visited the plant in Kansas being mentioned as a possible source of the contamination, and the last time FDA inspected the New Jersey plant that has also been implicated was in 2004,” said DeLauro, Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, FDA and related agencies.
“For the past decade, many of us who have examined our food safety system have pressed for a consolidated food safety agency. In light of recent events it looks like we will need to broaden that effort to include pet foods to ensure that all family members are protected from food-borne illnesses.”
Here’s the rest. Another tip of the hat to itchmo and howl911
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Technorati Tags: pet food recall, dogs, cats,veterinarian, veterinary
Not sure why it would appear to be an April fools joke, it is in the standard documentation format based on the other alerts for China (all interesting) listed here: http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_40cn.html
And it appears to document the event and ask that future shipements of wheat gluten from China be held without examination because of the danger.
It’s legit, thanks for the link.
Comment by Lance — April 1, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
Firms and products currently under detention without physical examination
CHINA (CN)
Firm: Date DWPE Product /Code:
Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology 3/30/07 Wheat gluten
China attempted to ship wheat Gluten into the US on March 30, 2007 and the product was detained..THANKFULLY!! But my question is would China ship the product if it had not been ordered by someone here in the US. Am I losing my mind or does this mean that some company here in the US has ordered more wheat gluten from China. Please tell me I am wrong. I am just speechless.
Comment by Nicole — April 1, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
Who used that wheat?? Who sourced it?? That is what I want to know!!
Was it used in human food too??
YIKES
I will vouch for the info being legit because it is on the fda website and they don’t fool when it comes to this.
WHO bought from that company??
sigh
Thanks petconnection for coming through AGAIN!!!
Now to find out about that press conference. I am anxious to hear what got said. Wish I could have gone to it or had a relative there who could go.
And really waiting on finding out about that.
Comment by Tracy — April 1, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
“The attachment to this alert includes manufacturers whose wheat gluten products have been found to contain melamine.”
We need the attachment!
Comment by Kim — April 1, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
The company mentioned at the end of this FDA import alert is Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Company Ltd. from China. It is unclear to me as a layperson reading this alert if the wheat gluten that is being detained has been subject to “physical examination” at any point in its importation.
Hope the sleuths on this blog start researching this company and if they have relationships with U.S. companies.
Comment by Maureen — April 1, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
Here’s the company profile from a global trade site. Written in “engrish”
http://www.alibaba.com/company/10926883.html
Comment by Lance — April 1, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
Xuzhou anying biologic technology development co, ltd is a technological enterprise with research, production, distribution, which exports biologic feed, feed additive, edible flour, agricultural and sideline products.
Our company sticks to the tenet of sincere and keeping promise and putting quality at the first place and has won the title of sincere and keeping promise for many times by consumer association. The reference grade is three a. We have also held the certificates of iso9001: 2000 international quality management system and haccp-EC-01 international system.
Our company specializes in the export of wheat gluten, wheat flour, cornstarch, sweet potato starch, and other agricultural and sideline products. We wish to cooperate with domestic and abroad merchants hand in hand.
http://www.alibaba.com/company/10926883.html
Comment by Kim — April 1, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
LOL we were all leaving the same info/ link at the same time!
Comment by Kim — April 1, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
Actually, the document says that they can detain any imports from THAT COMPANY, not all imports:
“Districts may detain without physical examination, products offered for importation from manufacturers and shippers listed in the Attachment to this import alert.”
Comment by Itchmo — April 1, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
http://www.bikudo.com/xuzhou_a.....ads/14169/
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
http://www.google.com/search?l.....pany%20Ltd.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
I’ve read the document and it appears that the FDA is detaining all shipments of wheat gluten from China AND the Netherlands.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
Now how much of this stuff got into our food chain and when?
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
“In the alert, the FDA has now authorized the quarantine or dentention of any wheat gluten from this specific company in China and passed through the Netherlands (a transit point) without the need to inspect it. Basically preventing the supply from getting into any food stream.”
So if it was shipped illegally. The point remains that Menu and others failed to test and inspect this product upon arrival at their facilities.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
I am so tired of running to the computer to see if the food I am feeding my puppy has made the list yet. He has been sick since the beginning of March and has been on Hills ID from the vet. All of his treats have wheat gluten and Ziggies by Kong always seem to make him sick. I wish I could see the comments made by Senator Durbin-I have contacted him in Washington, last week, and Illinois last night.
This site IS a lifesaver-Thanks to all of you who are involved with it.
forthose who have a sick baby or who have lost one to the Rainbow Bridge, I have found great support at petloss.com.
Carol
Comment by Carol — April 1, 2007 @ 2:20 pm
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
Sounds right on to me. And the other point is that it doesn’t say this is specifically for use in pet food. Right?
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
Apparently so. I can’t see any other reason why the FDA would be requesting any and all companies who have purchased products from this outfit to report.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 2:28 pm
The ship was probably en route when the recall happened and just arrived at the port around the 30th. What about customs declarations for where it was going?
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
Steve, I read it to say that all wheat gluten imports are to be held. ???
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
Wheat Vital Protein (Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. Ltd, China (Mainland)) http://www.alibaba.com/manufac.....luten.html
They had a contact us link so I did. I lost my dog to contaminated wheat gluten in Menu Foods Award Gourmet Filet Mignon Slice and Gravy Pouch dog food, March 16th, 2007.
Comment by John Clark — April 1, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
I’m not sure. FDA “code speak” is foreign to me. But I’ll learn it right now.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
This company also sells carrots and zinc, both ingredients found in many pet foods. I would love to know where menu got the carrots and zinc that went into the Innova cat wet food that my healthy five year old cat was eating (actually refusing to eat) alternating with Fancy Feast, before we found her dead on March 4, 2007. Since Natura hasn’t bothered to answer my questions about cross contamination I doubt they will tell me. I wonder if they even know.
Comment by Garyn — April 1, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
The part about the human body is a bit scary! The looking good and smelling good part!?
http://www.alibaba.com/catalog.....otein.html
” Detailed Product Description
Wheat gluten meal is also named wheat vital protein. The flour is used as its raw material, and from which extracts a light brown natural
Grain powder through intensively processing. It is a good solubles protein, containing fifteen amino acid essencial for human body. After all, it can yet be regarded as a plant protein food looking good, smelling good and tasting good.
Qualification:
Protein: 75% min
Moistur: 8% max
Ash (lime) : 1% max
The rate of absorbing water: 160% min
The degree of thickness: 99% through 200um tough silk sieve
Taste smell: normal, with grain delicious
Outward ap: light yellow powder”
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
I mentioned this on Itchmo also
The point still is that Menu and others failed to test and inspect this product upon arrival at their facilities. If they had done so they would have rejected it. Or would they?
another poster replied,
What Steve said. This is consistent with the allegations of poor QC at the Kansas plant, as reported by a former employee of Menu Foods. (see headline entry at http://www.howl911.com, “Through the Grapevine”
So it really is boiling down to Menu and whoever else allowed this stuff to get into their plants and end users products when you think about it. Not to forget Brands for being to lax on Menu or taking their word.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
FYI - from an email I got from ADM.
“ADM has not sold wheat gluten to Menu since before 2006. ADM has not issued a statement but has stated this to reporters. I believe Menu would be able to tell you whether or not the product was imported.
Karla Miller
Archer Daniels Midland Company”
(Full disclosure - I’m a reporter.)
Not sure what to make of this. If they didn’t sell the tainted gluten, why not issue a statement that they didn’t? I did reply, asking that very question. We’ll have to see what they say.
I hate to sound paranoid. But anytime a major corporation doesn’t rush to protect its public image, it makes me suspicious.
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
Comment by Garyn — April 1, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
Indeed. Very disturbing.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
I’ve posted this on the Oregon BLOG but everyone seems to have moved away. Any thoughts on this? (Next to last paragraph in particular.) Grazie.
I phoned OMH/Wellness the week the recall story broke (I would sign an affidavit) and received the info their wet foods are packaged at Menu in Kansas. I immediately quit using their products, including dry, at that point.
Additionally, here’s correspondence from 12/18/06 with Wellness when we noticed, repeatedly over many weeks, our cats only liked the ~3 ounce cans of Wellness, never the 5.5 ounce cans of the same flavor. It confounded us. I am still more than a little anxious about what it meant.
“Thank you for taking the time to write Old Mother Hubbard regarding the Canned Cat Food. At Old Mother Hubbard we are committed to providing the highest quality pet foods and treats available. Our expert staff of engineers is continuously improving our products to ensure that they are tasty and nutritious for your pet.
Your comments will be forwarded to our Quality Assurance Department. I assure you that we are taking your complaint very seriously. You are a valuable customer, and any dissatisfaction on your part indicates an opportunity for improvement on our part.
Although the recipe is the same in both cans your cats may be picking up on subtle differences that occur naturally in our products. The cans were produced on different dates so the raw ingredients used will vary slightly because they were sourced at different times.
Since 1926, Old Mother Hubbard has been working closely with veterinarians and breeders to understand the nutritional requirements of animals. We manufacture only the highest quality pet foods, using healthy, natural ingredients. Our organization prides itself on making the best pet foods and treats available today.
Nicole Bibeau
Specialist
Consumer Affairs
000010645A
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
It could also mean ADM wants to avoid being probed for some reason thats anyones guess. But I agree completely with your point.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
All I want to know is what other companies have bought the tainted wheat.
Comment by Eskie Lover — April 1, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
Okay, everyone, we have it in writing. According to the FDA Detention Alert, this is their wording, not ours! And OUR bottom line:
PRODUCT
CODES: 02F[][]08 Wheat gluten
02E[][]06 - Wheat flour gluten
71M[][]01 wheat gluten
PROBLEMS: Poisonous or deleterious substance
Unsafe food additive
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
Oh goodie. . .they have a protein powder too. Glad to hear it’s “safe nonpoisonous”.
“Making use of NPN and reducing the production cost of feed factor, ESB Protein Powder is a good additive to supplement the shortage of protein resources in animal feed applications.
After eating this, protein powder will be transformed into mycoprotein in the alimentary canal under the action of digestive enzyme; it will be normally digested, absorbed and used by the livestock and poultry. It is safe nonpoisonous, without bad reaction.
Use Methods:
1. For poultry feed: adding 2. 0% is capable of increasing protein by 3. 2% -6. 0% .
2. For cattle / sheep / pig / fish / shrimp feed: adding 3. 0% is capable of increasing protein by 4. 8% -9. 0% .
3. For raw materials such as Fish Meal, Meat and Bone Meal, Bean Meal, Rice Protein Meal and other protein feed ingredients: adding 1kg of ESB Protein Powder per hundred kilos can improve protein by 1. 6% -3. 0% .”
http://www.alibaba.com/manufac.....owder.html
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
And, p.s., it is showing as an unsafe “food” additive, not agricultural feed or pet food only. Heads up, folks. This is big. And you wonder why all the silence?
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
Lookin’ for answers, searchin’ for clues, some of us get more that we need.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
Could the bad pet food be the work of terrorists? After all they did test gas on dogs.
Let’s get the USDA involved in regulation of food for animals (pets, dogs and cats), tracking safety and set-up a independent reporting agency.
Petconnection, I ask you to start an online petition. How many millions of pet owners, animal care takers, vets and other various individuals involved the lives of our animal friends. Its time for our voice to be heard and make the government and pet food compaines who we support with our money change.
Comment by PJ — April 1, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
This blog - and the sites that it points to - is literally a gold mine. It’s not just that I can do “one-stop shopping” for information related to the recall - I can often find important news here that I haven’t found ANYWHERE else.
I am completely disenchanted with my local news coverage of this. I am in western Pennsylvania, and there are two newspapers for my city; one established paper, one competitor. The pet food recall was the lead story on the competitor’s website today, and the story was in the top five read or mailed to others. Even so, they did not have anything on the Alpo or Del Monte recalls. The major paper had nothing at all on the recall in today’s paper or on their website. There’s a dog show in town this weekend, and I’ll bet that’s the reporter who usually covers pets will have a cute, fluffy feature article on it in tomorrow’s paper.
Del Monte is a LOCAL company - based in Pittsburgh - it’s appalling that the local media doesn’t know anything about this. I know the press release was a “hit and run” that came out late Saturday evening, but that’s no excuse.
I’m a volunteer over at the Best Friends Network and write news stories for them. I pointed the major paper’s “pets” reporter to that website, as well as to howl911.com. She sent me back a snippy email questioning the veracity and reliability of both sites - I think she had issues with the personal opinions in the comments (and personal comments following a news story are by now a recognized Internet convention). She said there was some information that was “outright wrong,” but she neglected to identify it. She suggested I get my information from AVMA and the FDA.
Well, guess what? I learned about the Del Monte recall from the Pet Connection blog hours ago - and there still is NOTHING about it on AVMA’s or the FDA’s site, 36 hours after Del Monte announced it.
Keep up the good work, everyone at Pet Connection - thanks again for being a resource that we can trust.
Comment by cerridwen — April 1, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
I already looked that up and passed it by because it appears to be soybeans.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
The FDA import detention says:
d. Documentation showing that a minimum of five (5) consecutive entries
have been released by FDA based on third party laboratory analyses
that show the shipments of wheat gluten do not contain melamine.
No mention about the RAT POISON!!!
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
I wonder why the official FDA reports are only emphasing that the melamine may cause renal failure in *cats*? If the stats that Pet Connection, the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association and others have accumulated are any indication, this substance appears to be nearly as damaging to dogs. Thanks SO MUCH to the entire Pet Connection crew for keeping us apprised of this situation! You folks must be worn out! My deepest sympathies go out to those who have lost pets or have pets with kidney damage from this horrible contamination.
Comment by Sue — April 1, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
Here’s Xuzhou Anying website:
http://www.xzay.com/english/index.asp
These people sell to the “world” for human & animals.
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 3:07 pm
Has anyone heard back from the FDA after reporting a death of a pet? I called and was told I would be contacted. So far, I haven’t heard back from them…Also, Menufood’s consultant company called and said they would send papers for me to fill out. Again, nothing…has anybody else heard from either?
Comment by Becky — April 1, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
Comment by Kim — April 1, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
“The reference grade is three a. We have also held the certificates of iso9001: 2000 international quality management system and haccp-EC-01 international system.”
Good QC systems, ISO and HACCP ? Who verified the processes and production in China. When was their last inspection ?
Comment by Stefania — April 1, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
This is a monumental failure across the board. From food manufacturers, the U.S. supplier (which the FDA still refuses to identify) to allowing industry self regulation and foreign feed stock raw materials from countries with substandard regulations.
Comment by Sandro — April 1, 2007 @ 3:10 pm
If rat poison and melamine is in their wheat, I wouldn’t trust anything from this company. I would hope the FDA is looking at everything coming from this supplier.
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Not to be pesty, but couldn’t these “subtle differences that occur naturally in our products. The cans were produced on different dates so the raw ingredients used will vary slightly because they were sourced at different times ” referred to by Wellness in my posting above been among the first indications something very BIG was happening?
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
Here’s another search on wheat gluten that says it’s used in wine — from the FDA:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~rdb/opa-g182.html
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
Comment by PJ — April 1, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
What it comes down to is failure of Menu and other Pet Food makers to test and verify on site the safety of the product. Failure of Pet Food Brands to insure the uncompromising safety of their customers. And misleading and violating the trust of the public by not mentioning food is produced by a major dominant mass manufacturer.
Big Time Fiasco-Scandal-Mess. Just the tip of the iceberg.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 3:16 pm
Has anyone here read the book
Food Pets Die for (Shocking Facts about pet food) By Ann M. Martin.
If so what are your thoughts? It was printed in 2003 but I read somewhere that this is how it use to be. Do you think the book is still valid? I find it hard to believe if dog food companies are self regulated that they stopped using by-products and road kill, etc.
I am not going to be feed any can food anytime soon.
She also provides some good recipes that we all can make ourselves.
Does anyone have the recipe for “Spots Stew” ?
Thanks
Comment by Meghan — April 1, 2007 @ 3:17 pm
Lois, did your Wellness contain wheat gluten? If not, maybe cross contamination occurred. I also fed a few cans of Wellness, and have 1 left which I have put aside (no wheat gluten though). My cats didn’t like it.
Comment by catlover — April 1, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
So our human food isn’t safe either - I thought as much, knew it.
Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
Comment by Sandro — April 1, 2007 @ 3:10 pm
Revolting isn’t it? This kind of unbridled rampant global coporate capitalism?
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
None of the Wellness wet or dry contain wheat gluten (or wheat) according to the labeling. My cat loves it; has always had the 3 oz. cans. Some of the varieties that I have tried are grain free and some contain ground brown rice. It better not have w.g. in it cause I will have a fricking cow if it does!
Comment by Shawn — April 1, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
To Lois Kimball. My cat would not even touch the 5.5 ounce cans even before she starting rejecting the smaller cans. And it was the same food. Before a few months ago, she would gobble the small cans and walk away from the large cans. This is Innova I am referring to and my cat died March 4, 2007. I don’t know what to make of this. It is so odd that your cat did the same thing with the wellness and both of these products were made by menu.
Comment by Garyn — April 1, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
And now we have to avoid the following in human food:
Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Company Ltd. This company also exports wheat flour, cornstarch, sweet potato starch, protein powder, zinc oxide, carrots, garlic, ginger, and other agricultural products.
They need to name the damn companies that bought this stuff!
Comment by catlover — April 1, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
I’ve been afraid of this since the story broke. But don’t trust wheat in anything - not even from you friendly Natural Foods Co-op - San Francisco my eye - via slow boat from China!
Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
I’m finding all sorts of links to where anyone — around the world — can buy from Xuzhou Anying. There are market boards all over.
Here is a link that they state is a “non-poisonous” protein powder — huh! Wonder WHY we didn’t buy that? Must have cost a buck or two more to get the non-poisonous type!!!
http://www.twaynet.com/trade/t.asp?ID=1408247625
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
I would like to suggest NOT return all of your suspect food (not already recalled). Keep some until we hear more, maybe we can get it tested later.
Comment by catlover — April 1, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
It was primarily the turkey and salmon which claims not to have wheat gluten. We thought we were out of harm’s way because of who “they” were, but I am getting more and more and more and more nervous that there is something besides aminopterin and wheat gluten going on here. I frankly almost crapped myself when I found they used Menu Foods.
As I’ve stated before, my 3 cats are acting strange, but so am I, so that could explain it. But I fear not.
My point being, while I can still type, the aversion to the 5.5 ounce cans started in the early fall or before in 2006.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
I understand now why China has one of the highest mortality rates on the planet. Other then they have so many people.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
As I read your posts that you are upset for the government for not revealing the source of the contaminated grain product in the pet food is because they probably do not know. This country does not have any mandatory country of origin labeling laws. I am a farmer in eastern Iowa that grows corn, soybeans, oats and some wheat. Although there have been some new traceability laws passed in the last few years farmers in the US are exempt from them. When I deliver a load of grain to a processor I am never asked where the grain is from. Most of the grain I produce goes into the human food supply and is processed in Cedar Rapids Iowa by Quaker Oats, ADM and Cargill. All of these large processors do have a policy on Grain grading for quality of the grain based on federal standards. But nowhere in the grading process is it ever asked if the grain was treated with any pesticide or other chemicals. The only test for this is by smell by the guy that runs the sample. On the rare occasion that I over treat a load of grain with an insecticide for bugs and get rejected for smell I just take it to the next processor down the road and hope that guy has a cold that day. The same holds true for aflatoxin tests. This is a test that is randomly done on grain samples. Some places are more stringent than others but it is still a random test. The bottom line on this is that I can usually drive around the block and get in line again and won’t be checked the next time through. The worst case is that I will have to drive to another processor to get rid of it.
Another area that the American public has been mislead is in the area of genetically engineered crops I can assure you that most of the grain supply in the US (especially Corn) has some level of GE contamination. Remember Starlink, it is still out there. A large portion of the corn crop and almost all of the soybean crop in the US is genetically modified. Once GM corn pollen is released into the environment it is very hard to contain. I have personally seen corn pollen drift over one half a mile and contaminate crops that were being grown as non GMO or organic. As Monsanto has convinced most regulators that pollen drift is a natural event (even if the pollen is genetically modified) and if my crop is contaminated by someone else’s pollen it is an uninsurable loss. I’ll be dammed if I am going to take a loss for someone else’s pollen that contaminated my crop. I will do whatever it takes to get the grain marketed. This is actually very easy in this country because all (and I mean All) processors run under the don’t ask don’t tell policy when it comes to GM grain. What I mean by this is that while all processors do have a specific policy on what GM grain that they will accept they don’t enforce it. Actually they can’t enforce it, the corn crop is so contaminated with GM material that there is no way I can guarantee zero GM in my crop any more. If the corn processors (including the organics) in the US were to enforce a zero tolerance on GM crop they would not get any corn to process. And as long as no one asks me to sign off or prove what is in my load of corn I am not going to. If you don’t believe me on how easy it is to get this in the food supply just come ride in the truck with me and I’ll show you. My phone is 319 521 7480.
If the American people are really concerned about their food supply (including pets) now is the time to lobby for country of origin label laws. There is a new federal farm bill being drafted in congress right now and there is still time to get some COOL language in the bill. Call Senator Tom Harkin from Iowa today and let him know how you feel.
Comment by Jim G — April 1, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
Wonder if we can find out what brands? It’s not easy doings avoiding products from China - but for now I think we simply must. 70% of our wheat is imported from China - wheat free is the way to go -
I don’t know what else to do - anyone out there have better ideas?
Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
Any news on the Durbin press conference?
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 3:42 pm
FYI
“Melamine is produced from UREA, mainly by either of two methods: catalyzed gas-phase production or high pressure liquid-phase production.”
The noun UREA has one meaning:
“the chief solid component of mammalian urine; synthesized from ammonia and carbon dioxide and used as fertilizer and in ANIMAL FEED and in plastics.”
Synonyms for Urea: carbamide, basodexan, carmol.
Synonyms for Melamine: 2,4,6-Triamino-1,3,5-triazine; 1,3,5-Triazine-2,4,6-triamine; Cyanuramide; Cyanurotriamide; 2,4,6-Triamino-s-triazine; Cymel
Comment by Joy — April 1, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
Oh wait.
Thanks Howl. Big thumbs up.
SENATOR DURBIN’S (D-IL) PRESS RELEASE 04/01/07
Copy of Sen. Durbin’s press release (pdf) regarding the Menu Foods recall, dated April 1, 2007. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.) Sen. Durbin held a press conference today, revealing much greater detail of his call for an investigation. We are still awaiting an electronic file of the video and will post it here on Howl 911 as soon as it is available.
http://howl911.com/images/durbin_pr_04-01-07.pdf
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
Back to Xuzhou Anying - ESB is extruded soybeans. But why would it be “processed as a mycoprotein,” which is a fungal protein? (Think Quorn, if you remember that - using fungi into protein for human consumption.) Are they using a fungus to ferment the soybeans in the extrusion process?
I’m wondering whether it could be that pet food co.s used this product to hike their protein levels on the cheap - or whether the wheat gluten was cut with it in China to boost its protein content - but maybe there was something wrong with the fermentation process.
Or maybe it’s something in the wheat itself - like a mycotoxin - remember the aflatoxin outbreak in dry foods a couple of years ago?
Maybe it’s something like head blight, (Fusarium graminearum) common in both wheat and soybeans. Or worse:
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/93/8/3461.pdf
If you’re not familiar with mycotoxins, here’s a lay-folks rundown of what they can do:
http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/myco.html
For my money, mycotoxin sounds far more plausible than melamine OR aminopterin. But why wouldn’t they have found that already?
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
Well I knew this was a “pissy” situation but not literally. :)
You laugh or you go mad, at this point.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
And to Garyn, It wasn’t one cat. It was 3 who turned their smart noses up at the 5.5 cans.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
Has the major networks or cable picked up on this?
Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
Has the major networks or cable picked up on this?
Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
Nope. The Silence is Deafening
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
Rest assured, if this stuff was sold for human consumption, it will hit the fan big time.
Comment by catlover — April 1, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
Re: Comment from Jim G
Thanks for enlightening us from a farmers perspective. You can bet career journalists will be contacting you this. Country of origin is of the utmost importance when it comes to raw material for food…
Comment by Sandro — April 1, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
Keep in mind Lois that felines are incredibly picky. You know how cats are. You think you are getting them something they will enjoy and they turn their nose up at it. I think that may be some of the problem in getting them on a diet change right now.
Felines don’t like having their routine and comfort interrupted.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
Jim G Thank you for the information. It is what I have suspected is going on behind the curtain—but looks like it really is out in the open.
Do you think getting back to small family local farming as well as some cool language would make our food safer—faster?
Comment by DeeAnn — April 1, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
CNN and AP are both (finally) covering the Del Monte recall.
Still working the lines on the FDA wheat gluten warning.
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
CAROL:
You wrote: “I am so tired of running to the computer to see if the food I am feeding my puppy has made the list yet. He has been sick since the beginning of March and has been on Hills ID from the vet. All of his treats have wheat gluten and Ziggies by Kong always seem to make him sick.”
CAROL: If the food/treats you are feeding “always” make him sick, STOP FEEDING HIM THOSE FOODS. Do you really need an official press release to tell you your dog is sick? If he is sick, feed something different.
And yes, I’m yelling! Would you keep feeding YOURSELF or a child a food that kept making you/child sick? Would you really wait for some official announcement to tell you it makes you sick? Sorry, I’m just at a loss as to why you would keep “running to the computer” to see if you should stop feeding a food or treat that CLEARLY is making your dog sick.
Comment by Sarah — April 1, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
Ooh -wait - CNN is talking about melamine right now. They haven’t said “human food,” yet, but they’re definitely talking about “wheat gluten” yet as opposed to Menu Foods, and they’re questioning dry foods, too. Finally!!!!
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
This is big - why not? Don’t they work on Sunday?
Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
“I can’t imagine Menu Foods would give us that information if it weren’t true.” CNN
Another classic for the history books.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
This feels like I’ve been transported to the “X-Files”……
Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
Another classic for the history books.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
Makes me wonder how much they gave that Anchor under the table. Or of course the person could just be a complete robot reading the teleprompter also.
Right out of Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone and I would laugh at that if I wasn’t so DISTURBED about this whole scandal. As if worrying about my cats life every second of the day isn’t enough.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
Jim G. . .thanks for posting, and for the big warm fuzzy after reading that!
Gee, we waited all afternoon for THAT Durbin press release?!
I think we all know and would agree that imports from China, whether it be food or not, is going to do great damage to our country. Looks like sooner, rather than later. I’m going to make an effort to boycott Chinese goods.
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
No, actually, that’s the problem. Most news bureaus “unstaff” from Saturday night till Sunday afternoon. That is, they’re on skeleton crew, so they don’t cover anything short of a catastrophic disaster. (Why do you think Del Monte put out their request last night?)
I called an acquaintance at the AP about the Del Monte release as soon as their bureau opened this afternoon. It’s probably a coincidence, but it hit the wires 90 minutes later. God bless whoever it was that finally paid attention.
And yes, it’s SOOOO freaking X-Files.
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
Now that it sounds as if the bad ingredients could have made it to the human food chain, I’ll bet Lou Dobbs might be interested in the story now. Especially since he’s not too fond of outsourcing to 3rd world countries. I am going to write to him. He was the first one who spoke up about the H1B visas and the outsourcing of IT jobs to India & China, while Americans were getting laid off.
I think he would be interested in this story now. Not everyone feels the way we do about pets, but human food contamination is another story.
Comment by catlover — April 1, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
Wow, I think! Science types, please follow up on this. Thanks to Joy for posting about urea in animal feed.
(Comment by Joy — April 1, 2007 @ 3:44 pm).
I remember seeing that word, urea, somewhere when I was looking up Dr.Lujin Mao, who is the contact (and I think gen. mgr.) for the Xuzhou Anying company, the subject of this particular blog. Remember he is a former employee of the Dept. of Ag. in Illinois, too.
Dr. Mao has a patent titled “Controlled release urea-based products” for “…controlled release urea-based feed supplements for ruminant animals.” http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6391454.html
Connect the dots. Joy’s timely posting says:
Melamine is produced from UREA…The noun UREA has one meaning: “the chief solid component of mammalian urine; synthesized from ammonia and carbon dioxide and used as fertilizer and in ANIMAL FEED and in plastics.”
Can someone familiar with this science see if the dots possibly connect here?
Comment by Maureen — April 1, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
Not to long ago there was a time when people in our Country snickered if they saw a Made In China label on a product. Why are we lowering ourselves down to their standards? When they start giving us products that kill we need to slam on the brakes. Obviously they still have a serious problem with quality at every level. Even the stuff we buy now days from there falls apart in a week. And now this?
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
Premarin as a chaser, anyone?
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
Cheap Labor Globalists.
Thats the Problem
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
A followup to Jim G’s post (apologies because it’s off topic):
You know the higher-priced, trendy “ANGUS BEEF” they market in supermarkets and restaurants these days? Angus is a particular breed of cattle that happen to be black. A friend of mine who is a cattle rancher has told me that in order for beef to “qualify” as “Angus”, all the inspector needs to see is SOME black on the hide. In other words, it doesn’t need to be an ANGUS cow at all… it can be a Holstein, which is a black and white DAIRY cow, not a BEEF cow. But if the inspector sees black hair on the hide of a dead cow, it can get stamped as “Certified Angus.”
It’s all a marketing ploy to charge more money for certain beef… but the actual process is way too easy to scam.
Comment by Sarah — April 1, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
So these CEO’s are saying we need to import workers to fill positions here in the U.S. and it’s because we don’t have the talent?
Wrong. It’s because they don’t want to pay American Talent what they are truly worth.
And now we are paying for it.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
When the first reports came out about the aminopterin and they stated:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....SYaHas0NUE
Scientists at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University and at the New York State Food Laboratory tested three cat food samples provided by the manufacturer and found aminopterin in two of them. The two labs are part of a network created after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to keep the nation’s animals and food supply safe.
I assumed that Cornell, et al had some sophisticated microscopes & testing procedures. Is it possible the FDA’s equipment is too antiquated to detect chemicals that are not legal in the US?
I believe Cornell over the FDA. I think there’s probably both. I can believe that each plant had different batches of the stuff, resulting in two poisonous outcomes.
By-the-way, last week I found a website that had aminopterin for sale.
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
According to EarthTimes.org —
Researchers from Syntrix Biosystems, Inc. and The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) announced today that there was no evidence of Aminopterin in the tissues of animals who had died from consuming food from Menu Foods, the manufacturer of the many brands of dog and cat food that are currently the subject of a nationwide recall.
Full article: http://www.earthtimes.org/arti.....3172.shtml
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
Jackie, Yes-Yes-Yes on boycotting Chinese goods!!! I started in Jan of 06. A couple of things I have wanted I can’t find made anywhere else, so I have willingly done without. I just buy less of everything now anyway and have gone to as natural as I can because of distrust from big business.
I commend every one of you doing the digging on this story. The Companies and Gov. are forgetting how passionate and undying we are to our pet friends wellbeing, and will not let this go away. Hello to the powers that be: You are under estimating us.
Comment by DeeAnn — April 1, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
NOTE, regarding the reported potential higher death rate among cats:
There is no scientific study to support those statements. The only way to make that a valid statement is to feed the exact same number of dogs and cats the exact same food and see how many of each die.
There may be more dead cats than dead dogs, but that could be explained by the fact that very few large dogs are fed cans of wet food or small pouches of wet food. Most large dogs eat dry kibble. Whereas LOTS of cats eat wet foods from cans/pouches, and probably LOTS of small dogs do too. So if 50% of the cat population is eating wet cans/pouches, but only 20% of the dog population is eating cans/pouches, then it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison when you compare the number of cats who have died to the number of dogs who have died.
So let’s not panic about cats being more susceptible until there is reasonable / logical scienfitic evidence to support those statements.
Comment by Sarah — April 1, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
I had fed my “Jemm” diet dry food. Last year I had taken in a friends cat cuz she was moving. “Rex” also got dry food. Jemm didn’t like the idea of having Rex with us, so to suck up to her we would occasionally fed her wet food as a treat. she started losing weight ( which i thought the diet dry food finally was working).After spending close to $1000.00, Jemm died this past Friday from kidney failure. Rex is with us still, we never fed him wet food. Thx for listening.
Comment by Natalie — April 1, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
Comment by DeeAnn — April 1, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
We also need to Question Made In USA labels also.
How’s it Made In USA when every part or ingredient is outsourced from another country?
Oh, it was all slapped together in a USA plant.
Okay whatever you say.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
I posted this yesterday. It IS there.
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
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
Excuse me for the vent. I am really getting frustrated by all the spin and incompetence surrounding this whole issue. I’ll try to return to topic.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
Are they holding all flour or just holding the Wheat Gluten - and is the FDA not allowing any flour from China in - help here - what is happening?
Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
Actually, there’s a chance Cornell *could* have been wrong about Aminopterin - which would explain why *no one* is finding it in our poor dead pets
Here’s why - mass spectroscopy does not give you the name of chemical - it gives you a profile. The scientists have to figure out what chemical(s) the profile matches. But you can’t tell from the MS profile just how many substances are involved, or which molecules belong to which.
It’s an educated guess, in essence, kind of like reading tea leaves. Cornell is very good at making those guesses - don’t get me wrong, they’re fabulous - but it’s entirely possible that there’s something or things in the food that combine to form a profile that looks like aminopterin’, but isn’t.
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
Has anyone’s pet that became ill from eating the recalled food have internal bleeding in addition to the renal failure ?
Comment by Dee — April 1, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
Jim G……thanks for your post. So much to learn…..we need to get companies like Monsanto out of the farm industry. Monsanto is the producer of Ethoxyquin, which Hill’s Prescription still uses as a preservative for the tallow in the dry food. Ethoxyquin is an herbicide or weed killer. This is a horror and the silence on the part of the media makes me think that more will hit the fan……….
Comment by Peg — April 1, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
according to my vet, who has a cats only practice……cats have a more sensitive renak system than dogs. My vet has seen over 60 “blocked” cats in the past month…..males and females. All urine samples showed many crystals, but the crystals are difficult to identify. Females hardly ever block, so the rapid increase has my vet very upset.
Comment by Peg — April 1, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
I’d really like to know which labs have state-of-the-art equipment with which to reliably test samples. Cornell seems to be the only one from what I’m reading. Surely there area more. Will Cornell take samples other than those provided by the FDA? Which labs do the pet food manufacturers contract with to test? [Or do they bother at all?] I wish Cornell would enlighten us.
I’m not convinced that aminopterin is out of the ballpark. Anyone checked for vitamin D3 toxicity [also found in rat poison]?
I’m not a biochemist, but…… On another website someone asked if the Chinese company, Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co Ltd, could be genetically modifying its products. If so, wouldn’t this render the products extremely difficult to test?
“Food” for thought: I believe this company sells preserved carrots and other vegetables. To humans as well as pets???
Comment by Lynn Summers — April 1, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
Comment by Peg — April 1, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
Ever notice how it’s almost next to impossible to get a pet to eat a prescription diet from that company?
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
sorry…renal system…not renak
Comment by Peg — April 1, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
WalMart got in trouble many, many years ago for buying from a company with the name “Made in USA” — note no period (U.S.A.) One of the news shows — 60 Minutes maybe — did an expose’ on them. If I remember right, it was a Chinese company with the name.
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
Steve….none of my 6 cats will eat a prescription diet.
For you folks looking for a good food, dog and cat……Pet Promise
Comment by Peg — April 1, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
“Spots Stew”
Here’s the recipe Meghan, I’m going to start using it,
http://www.nbc10.com/recipes/10114578/detail.html
Comment by Peg — April 1, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
Yeah, most people won’t eat plain tofu, either. It’s about equivalent… no junk tocopherol “flavoring.” It doesn’t appeal to their noses. But that doesn’t make it bad for them. I’ve used SD and SD Rx for years - it hasn’t killed any of my pets so far.
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
I’m a former OTR truck driver. You would be absolutely amazed at the processes & various localities where products are made.
Every place is specialized — shipping from one place to another — to get various things done to it — then shipped to another place for something else done — then on to another for packaging — then on to another for a wholesaler — then on to another for retail sale — then on to YOU, the consumer.
It happens in just about every single industry. And, now with NAFTA & the global enterprise — it is worldwide….
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
Does anyone know if the detention order is just for wheat gluten (that’s what I get from the FDA’s notice) or is it all wheat from China?
Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
Comment by Lynn Summers — April 1, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
Yes, it appears much (most?) of what XA makes is destined for human use, not animals.
http://www.xzay.com/english/Pr.....=Foodstuff
Yikes.
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
I pulled up all my cat and dog food including treats. I steam chicken for my dogs everyday but I leave dry food out just in case they get hungry. I use Royal Canine and I have been calling them everyday and checking their website every couple hours over the weekend. I was putting Greenie bits in with the food also put found out that it contains wheat gluten in it. Greenies website said that they were not affected.
Yesterday, I took my big dog in to get tested even thou I don’t think she has eaten any of the food. I just wanted to be sure.
Meow Mix said that their food is safe and I have also been calling them and checking there website. My cats also have Purina One dry food so as you can imagine, I’ve been call and checking their site also. But over the weekend they seem to be adding more recalled food.
Monday, I will be taking my other two dogs to the vet and Tuesday my 4 cats. I don’t think I trust any food.
Comment by Kathleen — April 1, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
I don’t know if this will help anyone. I hope so. 2 of our 3 cats were exposed to some kind of toxin, infectious or poisonous or both, in Sept/Oct 2004 by a deranged neighbor. I’ll spare you the horrid details but our cats were on our custom-built-for-cats enclosed decks (they never go “out” out) so only could have inhaled and or possibly ingested said substance by licking their fur.
They have almost died multiple times, lost more than 1/3 of their body weight multiple times. Their symptoms alone would be a blog. We have spent a fortune times 10, months of force feeding, night duty, missed workdays, etc. Mountains of meds.
Said substance (or something that kills plants) got into our soil and we have escalated this to the State Deptartment of Toxic Substance Controls. You cannot imagine how much of a “cluster f—-“, as my husband refers to it, this process can be. You go around and around and around in circles. Every lab has a different result. We still have no resolution and know nothing more than we did in 10/2004.
I am saying this to say, put on your suit of armor, fasten your seat belt, strengthen your heart because this is going to go on and on and will crush you if you are not stronger than they are.
It is survival of the fittest. Amidst your anger, sorrow, and grief, remember to laugh. It is your only hope.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
Here is my story in a few words:
My cat, Pepper, gradually reduced his food intake over a couple of weeks time and stopped eating altogether in early March. Having lost a big orange tabby, Bullet, some years ago after he had stopped eating and developped hepatic lipidosis, I knew better and rushed Pepper to the Vet. That was on March 6. Labwork was ordered and Xrays were taken to reveal a very perplexing diagnosis. It looked like it might be renal failure but his phosphorus levels indicated the opposite. Pepper’s hair and skin looked normal. He did not have increased thirst but from the lack of food he became very lethargic. He did start vomitting some bright orange substance in spite of the fact that he hadn’t eaten in a week. He was getting sub-Q’s but he health kept declining. Every day he was half of what he was the day before… The Vet told us it was time to put him out of his misery even though the renal failure dx was not conclusive! So, the miserable decision was made on March 13, 2007.
A few days later, the catfood recall hits the news but it’s too late for my Pepper. He was only 14 years old and perhaps could have been kept alive to reverse his condition due to the tainted cat food. He was on the Hill’s Prescription Diet.
I am grieving my little buddy. The emotional impact could never have a value put to it. I miss my Pepper terribly and I am truly devastated by this loss.
Any words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated.
Comment by Ree — April 1, 2007 @ 5:04 pm
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
To avoid becoming cooked in our own stew of cynicism and hopelessness, there is one other, major saving grace that is common to humanity besides love and cooperation, and that is – humor.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Comment by Dee — April 1, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
Yes, my dog had internal bleeding. They never located the origin.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 1, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
I personally don’t trust wheat or any other food product from China. Call me parnoid - but I am eating fresh and canning my own food to the best of my ability. I need to find a company in the U.S. that makes it’s own wheat for bread and uses no foreign anything.
Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
Boy, let me tell you…If ADM or Cargill or whoever buys from these people including pet food companies were to provide details or link to Xuzhou Anying’s English version website, they wouldn’t sell a single bag of food. How do these Chinese manage to get ISO certification or customers for that matter?
This profit driven China mania has got to stop. Don’t kid yourself, it’s only about profit because pet food had not gone down in price despite the fact this new supplier had cheaper wheat gluten.
Comment by Sandro — April 1, 2007 @ 5:07 pm
WOW: Congresswoman DeLauro said “In light of recent events it looks like we will need to broaden that effort to include pet foods to ensure that all family members are protected from food-borne illnesses.”
She called them FAMILY MEMBERS, not pets, and certainly not property. That is huge. As we all know, in the eyes of the Law, pets are considered property, so damages are limited to the value of that property, which is often limited to $500 for a dog.
Comment by Sarah — April 1, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
Hmmmmmmm! Now THIS is suspicious: Syntrix OWNS the right to aminopterin. They bought it from UMDNJ. Of course they stepped up & offered their help. They want to use it on animals. Now THIS sounds like a coverup to me!
http://www.earthtimes.org/arti.....3172.shtml
Comment by Kat — April 1, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
Lois, I’m so sorry that happened to you. I’m so glad they lived, though, and that your sense of humor survived with you. :) (I have a friend who had her Dalmatian poisoned by a crazy neighbor. She wasn’t so lucky on either count.)
Anyway, you’re so right - it’s just so hard to definitively identify a toxin. So many people think it’s like CSI, but it isn’t. That what makes prosecuting these cases so very hard. And to add insult to injury, it often seems like pet poisonings end up on the bottom of the list when it comes to allocating government resources.
(I’d quote the stats about animal abuse and human abuse here, but I’d preaching to the choir. The ones who ought to be listening aren’t.)
Anyway, thank you for your post.
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
Uh Oh. Old Mother Hubbards Website is gone.
Can someone confirm?
http://www.oldmotherhubbard.com/
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
My cat recently died and also my dog had kidney issues as well. I have spent at this time 3,500.00 on bills. I have taken my pets to a top of the line NYC hospital and have documentation. My pets eat Iams. Dry and canned from the 4197 plant I found out! (I should have kept the cans) Both pets also have lung cancer. My cat from had kidney failure and died….I can not tell how heartbroken I was, and then my dog is really sick as well!! His kidneys are compromised and he is going back to the hospital Monday yet again.
Has anyone else had lung issues in their pets?
I tried to call FDA, Menu Foods, Iams….I also emailed them
NO REPLY at all… no one…
I am very afraid of what is going on and fear for my own health. What about all these other products this chinese company sells to US food companies who manufacture HUMAN FOOD what companies are those? I just had a frozen pizza, is it in there?. I am emailing everyone I know this link.. god bless you all for posting all this info-keep up the blogging!
Comment by Candace C — April 1, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
Ree,
I am so sorry about Pepper. We lost our Duke in Jan. He was on Hill’s Prescription Dry c/d. He had a seizure and had to be on IV’s for a week. Came home for a few days but had to be euthanized because his kidneys failed. I know the pain you are feeling. I also know how angry you must also feel because these deaths were needless.
Comment by Janice — April 1, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
Steve, I can’t reach it, either. However, give it a few minutes. It may be getting hammered because of the news. Or they may be having technical issues related to Daylight Savings Time (which would have switched today). Other public websites have had problems today, including Walt Disney World’s website, where I was just reading dates displayed 30 years in the future. A lot of IT departments are working this weekend to iron out DST issues in servers, and it nearly always means rebooting…
Comment by CatLady — April 1, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
The site’s crashed - so has the parent site, Wellness. Looks like a server overload. Guess a lot of folks are trying to figure out what’s in those biscuits.
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
Cat and Laura thanks.
I hope it’s nothing to worry about.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
Steve, I am trying other doors and it doesn’t appear to be there. I don’t know if my boys can take another hit, even a tiny one, if my Wellness fears are confirmed.
Let’s hope it’s Sunday server maintenance. And there go those flying pigs right past my window.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
I’m with you on that.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 5:28 pm
On that note, I need to take a break. This time it won’t be my head that explodes, but my heart.
Later all.
Big, warm hugs to Pepper’s mom. It never gets easier. You just get used to it. Remember, dear heart, all the sweet angels who went before are there to keep Pepper company. They greeted Pepper when he arrived and showed him around.
There’s a wonderful book you may want to get. It was written for children but I have given it to many adults and have a tear stained copy of my own. “Cat Heaven” by Cynthia Rylant.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 5:30 pm
I take it back. Wellness isn’t the parent site, Old Mother Hubbard is. Crap, I hope it’s just traffic or DST issues. I just found out today OMH uses wheat flour in its biscuits… the ones I feed my dogs.
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
Wow! I was away from my computer for only several hours and came back to all this! You guys should be private detectives. Thanks so much for all this outstanding info! I’ve got lots of reading to do.
Many thanks to this priceless website and those who contribute.
Comment by Mary — April 1, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
This is turning into a major nightmare.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 5:37 pm
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….
Author unknown…
http://rainbowsbridge.com/
Comment by Jamie — April 1, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
Comment by Mary — April 1, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
Amazing isn’t it. It’s not surprising that the comparisons come so easily between this masterful example of GRACE UNDER PRESSURE, and The Pet Food industries bungling of this event.
It is notable that when people are actually trained to do their jobs, they are prepared to masterfully manage a potential crisis, unlike Menu and the rest of em.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
Peg,
Thank you so very much! My 5 dogs send you hugs!
Comment by Meghan — April 1, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
Carol wrote:
“I am so tired of running to the computer to see if the food I am feeding my puppy has made the list yet. He has been sick since the beginning of March and has been on Hills ID from the vet. All of his treats have wheat gluten and Ziggies by Kong always seem to make him sick. I wish I could see the comments made by Senator Durbin-I have contacted him in Washington, last week, and Illinois last night.
This site IS a lifesaver-Thanks to all of you who are involved with it.
forthose who have a sick baby or who have lost one to the Rainbow Bridge, I have found great support at petloss.com.”
Carol
Comment by Carol — April 1, 2007 @ 2:20 pm
I agree with Sarah’s post. Carol, you clearly are a very caring and loving pet parent. Like many, many others I’ve read on various posts, you’re continuing to feed pet food that has not been recalled yet. But, in this case, you’re trusting the FDA and food companies rather than your pet and your own instincts.
If your puppy is sick, please, please stop feeding that food. It is so easy to cook at home for them. I started last week. Some of the things I’ve made: scrambled eggs with shredded cheese and one slice nitrate free chopped turkey (nitrate free can be purchased at Trader Joe’s); chicken breasts boiled and mixed with brown, wild, and white rice and canned vegetables - then minced in food processor; lean hamburger and fat free ground turkey breast (also TJ’s) cooked and then mixed with whole grain pasta, frozen peas, 1 can pumpkin, parmesan cheese, and cottage cheese. Just try to avoid high sodium content. I buy salt-free canned vegetables at Albertson’s and my dogs love fresh broccoli/cauliflower/carrots that I steam.
The way things are going, I don’t know that we can trust any pet food right now. I bought Pet Promise dry but my dogs will barely touch it. Until they have figured out positively what’s killing pets, and ALL the foods affected, it just seems so much safer to cook for your pets. Your puppy’s immune system isn’t developed and is so much more susceptible to contaminants. If you do start cooking, try individual things first to make sure your pup can tolerate them. Everything I use, my pets have already had individually and love. You can find pet recipes on line. One site I found is divinerecipes.com. But, be sure to look up what they CANNOT have first! NO onions, grapes, raisins, chocolate. NO fruit pits.
Huge hug and best wishes! It makes me so terribly sad to know a little puppy is suffering, and I know you’re suffering from worry too.
Kaye
Comment by Kaye — April 1, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
I WENT and got wellness ,they were on nutro,at the pet store they had wellness cans but no one is buying the cans, the stupid kibbles are to small and one dog even gagged on it. guess it’s back to nutro they love it.
Comment by MARY ANN — April 1, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
The 404 or Not Found error message is an HTTP standard response code indicating that the client was able to communicate with the server, but either the server could not find what was requested, or it was configured not to fulfill the request and not reveal the reason why.
http://www.omhpet.com/
Any speculation?
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
To respond to a testing lab, what about getting Purdue University involved? The have a great vet school and I am sure tech equipment.
Be sure to March in protest April 28. Call your local new agencies and get the political folks involved!
Comment by PJ — April 1, 2007 @ 5:50 pm
Thank you Nadine for your reply. I lost a 10mo. old shepard and an 11yr. old lab spent a week in ICU and two months of home treatment> no cause was found. This was the first week of Dec. 2006 >> two days before I had given them Alpo beef and gravy as a treat. They had all the symptoms we know of now but also the bleeding. We contacted Purina twice in Dec. and when they didn’t show up on the recall list I contacted them again. They returned my call March 18th. I also e-mailed FDA March 17th. I am glad it finally is being recalled. Don’t know why it took so long. I believed in Dec. and especially now that this brand killed our pup and sickened our lab. But I have been puzzled by the bleeding.
Comment by Dee — April 1, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
This is making me nervous.
http://www.omhpet.com/
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
In related Web news - Menu Foods has now taken down its entire website, except for the recall info. What don’t they want out there?
http://www.menufoods.com/
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
Dietary Protein - Dr. Vidt’s site for Shar-Pei’s and bless him, other dogs
http://www.drjwv.com/faq/?view.....%20Protein
Comment by Stefania — April 1, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
I book marked the *old* Menu Foods site that was linked earlier.
http://web.archive.org/web/200.....omers.html
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
Steve, it might be nothing (the website being down.) I’ve had problems loading this site and several others today, including petsitusa.com. And people have had problems downloading stuff on mine.
Comment by Kim — April 1, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
Jackie - I imagine this isn’t seen as a benefit right now…
Menu is a contract manufacturer for many branded pet food companies, including five of the top six branded companies. As a result of Menu’s low-cost, flexible manufacturing platform, it is able to generate reasonable profit margins manufacturing segments of these leading branded companies’ portfolios. Menu sees continued expansion of its contract manufacturing business as a growth opportunity, as the branded pet food manufacturers expand their product lines and look to contract manufacturing as an alternative to capital investment.
Comment by Kim — April 1, 2007 @ 6:05 pm
A spokesperson from Del Monte Foods has confirmed to me that the tainted wheat gluten was supplied as “food grade.”
http://www.horsesass.org/wp-trackback.php?p=2749
Until the FDA provides more information about the US distributor, and confirms that this contaminated, food-grade wheat gluten was not shipped to food manufacturers, or used as an additive in other food products (such as specialty flours,) we cannot assume that it did not enter the human food supply.
Comment by David Goldstein — April 1, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
Just catchin’ up. . .had to go bake some homemade dog biscuits so my dogs don’t starve to death.
DeeAnn. . .good for you on not using Chinese products! I know it is going to be difficult, but I’m with ya all the way!
Laura, the mycotoxin is very interesting. Thanks for that info.
Steve. . .the omhpet site going down is quite curious, eh?
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 6:07 pm
Comment by Kim — April 1, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
Perhaps they just had to shut down due to massive overload. Seem to be a big problem today. I still just tightened my seat belt another notch.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 6:07 pm
I’m trying to find out the American companies that make Flour using our wheat. Gold Medal and Pillsbury aren’t even American owned - I wonder where the wheat comes from.
I did find that Idaho Potato flour is actually from Idaho potatos and is all made here in America.
But the flour - and the wheat - it’s not so easy. But I did discover that we export wheat - we export the good stuff and import poison. Hello out there……..
Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 6:07 pm
A new press release, referring to the Happy Trails mentioned in Del Monte’s release yesterday. Nice to see another retailer step up a bit.
http://home.businesswire.com/p...../index.jsp
In Cooperation with Del Monte Pet Products, SUPERVALU Recalls Select Private Label Happy Tails® Pet Foods Due to Possible Health Risk
Recalled Products Sold at Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Star Markets Stores Only
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—In cooperation with San Francisco-based Del Monte Pet Products, SUPERVALU (NYSE:SVU) is voluntarily recalling from sale select private label Happy Tails® brand pet food items due to a possibility of contamination which may cause adverse health effects in pets. The products have been recalled from SUPERVALU’s Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, and Star Market stores as well as its Albertsons stores in the Southern California, Northwest, and Intermountain West regions.
Out of an abundance of caution, Del Monte and SUPERVALU advise customers to refrain from feeding the following items to their pets:
* Happy Tails Beef Flavor Jerky Strips (All Sizes): production codes TPY7B08, TP7B09; best by dates August 8, 2008, August 9, 2008
* Happy Tails Meaty Cuts with Beef in Gravy Dog Food (All Sizes): production code BC7A29; best by date January 29, 2010
If they choose, customers who have purchased the Happy Tails® brand items that are subject to this recall may return the product to their local Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, or Star Market for a full refund.
Customers who have questions about this recall may call Del Monte, the product’s manufacturer, at their consumer hotline, 1-800-949-3799.
Comment by Kim — April 1, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 6:07 pm
I just felt another fuse pop in my nervous system. After having replaced the whole set last Friday.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 6:09 pm
Kim. . .yeah, good luck with that alternative to capital investment !
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 6:10 pm
Comment by Kim — April 1, 2007 @ 6:05 pm
My guess? Menu would like to hide their corporate phone and email, neither of which appear on their “New and Improved” (a/k/a empty) website.
But that hardly seems fair. So here it is, for anyone who wants it:
Menu Foods Income Fund
8 Falconer Drive
Streetsville, ON
Canada L5N 1B1
Tel: 905.826.3870
Fax: 905.826.4995
Email: investorrelations@menufoods.com
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
I have my babies on home cooked also. I’ve gone from half and half to 100% home cooked since this tragedy. I have been cooking chicken, brown rice, peas/carrots, scrambled eggs, beans and a small amount of plain pasta. I mix several of thee above foods together. Oh, mashed potatoes, too. I”ve also made my own dog biscuits. I used flour, oats, Quaker corn meal, 1 egg beaten and a dash of garlic powder. (some say no garlic powder, but I didn’t use much and they’re fine with it). I baked them for 12-15 minutes at 400 degrees. It was actually not as hard as I thought it would be. They came out slightly crunchy but not too hard. At this point, they have no dry kibbles so the biscuits are coming in handy. Good luck to everyone who is trying to discover new ways to feed your cherished pets. I should also add that I didn’t find anything negative about the foods I’ve been feeding my dogs, but I think it’s wise for everyone to do their own research to be sure.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been effected by this terrible tragedy. May you continue to have the strength needed during this very difficult time.
We must continue to speak for those who can not speak for themselves.
Comment by Mary — April 1, 2007 @ 6:12 pm
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
Proceed to link.
http://www.itchmo.com/read/men.....e_20070331
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
Good luck with those replaced fuses, Steve! After today, I don’t know what the heck to feed OR eat.
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 6:16 pm
Linda, since I got a bunch of biscuit recipes off Ebay, I had to go out and buy stuff I have never purchased before. One being whole wheat flour. I bought Kroger brand, which says “Made IN U.S.A.”, and distributed by the Kroger CO., Cincinnati, OH.
Of course, does that absolutely mean the wheat was grown in the US!?
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 6:16 pm
Thanks. An Iron stomach is definitely an asset right now also.
Comment by Steve — April 1, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
I see OMH (perhaps OMG would be appropriate at this point) is not back up yet.
We had our guys on the Feline Future diet since 1999 and only went to “ultra premium organic natural” (apparently) crap after the above recounted events of 2004 in our desperation to get them to eat ANYTHING.
I now feel like I will vomit if that site doesn’t come up very, very soon. But I’ll keep lauging as I vomit. :)
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
Has anyone been on the OMH site today? It’s cached for yesterday. And where in the country is going to DST today? I thought everyone already went a couple weeks ago.
I am going to DEFCON 5.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
oh MY GOD i was just on ichmo web site ,dingo bones now are being recalled ,i know them dam things were not safe as sooN as i read they were made in CHINA. WHAT IS CHINA TRYING TO DO TO OUR PETS. SOMEONE TOLD ME IN CHINA THEY EAT DOGS .
Comment by MARY ANN — April 1, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
Yeah. . .glad I just got that mail order supply of Nexium. Altho, for some reason it’s not all that effective today.
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
Anyone who hasn’t read the Iowa farmer’s post on this blog (Comment by Jim G — April 1, 2007 @ 3:39 pm) should go back and read it. It won’t give you much comfort about only using American-grown wheat. His post was very courageous, even if the compromises he makes are not. The solutions to his problems as a farmer and ours as food consumers and pet owners must be political. When we can, we must focus on a long-term grass roots political strategy to clean up this mess.
Comment by Maureen — April 1, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
Lois, I was on the OMG :) site this morning. (You are fabulous, by the way.)
It’s still down, and I don’t know what that means. Maybe nothing….with any luck, it’s just heavy traffic. Cross your fingers - I know I am.
In the meantime, if you want to see what the site USED to say, like last year, you can find out at the Internet Wayback machine, http://web.archive.org/web/200.....bbard.com/
Comment by Laura — April 1, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
Thanks for the email link Laura. My lastest email sent to Menu Food Income Fund.
Subject:Customer Base
As you can tell, there are many of us going through your dirty laundry to see what you knew and when you knew it. Hiding information will not help you. In my book no matter what happens, you are held accountable for your actions. You unfortunately chose the bottom line over the health and well being of your end user. The pets are your customers. CORRECTION: The pets were your customers. I hope there is special place in the abyss for people like you.
Comment by DeeAnn — April 1, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
Mary Ann. . .I never buy any dog treats that are made outside the US (at least to my knowledge!!). You have to read labels on everything cause a lot of bones, chews and treats are not US made. There’s also a recall with pig ears. http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmr.....03_07.html
Lots of problems with rawhide made outside the US.
Comment by Jackie — April 1, 2007 @ 6:48 pm
Thank you for your advice to be proactive on this issue. I was up in the middle of the night working the computer overtime, so saw the Del Monte recall. Went back to bed and woke up this morning to our local TV news who reported on the Alpo recall but said nothing about the Del Monte recall. Because of your advice I called the station. They checked their newsfeeds and saw it there and put it on their next report. Later today I was out shopping and saw Alpo Cuts & Gravy cans on the the shelves at our local CVS Pharmacy. Told them about the recall. They had not heard about it yet but were very nice and pulled the product off the shelves immediately. So, each one of us can make a difference in our small ways. I work in a vet clinic and we have had some sick animals (maybe one death before the recall) come in due to the recalled food. I personally am grilling every client who comes in about what they have been and are feeding their pets. I find that most people are aware of the recall but not aware of every product on the recall list. So, it’s important to keep trying to get the word out. Thanks so much for this website!
Comment by Marilyn — April 1, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
I can’t get Old Mother Hubbard either. I use omhpet.com and did so in the middle of the afternoon to check ingredients but it is either gone or down.
And this is re: the Spots Stew recipe. It looks fine for dogs, but the instructions says make it soupier for cats, but it includes garlic which I think is in the onion family which is poison for cats. Also I am totally clueless as to how much taurine to add for a cat? Anybody know?
Comment by Shawn — April 1, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
Well, friends, as I feel the need to ramble on nervously while checking to see it they’ve come back up…great good MUST come from this.
Perhaps the status of domestic pets will change to more than property because of all the lawsuits (there’s those flying pigs again). Big nasty corporations will be held accountable for their detestable acts.
Americans will realize that “stuff” isn’t all that matters in life so having millions of tons of it pouring into this country from China so we can have more stuff than our neighbors, may not be the highest goal of the perfect life. A shopping channel or 2 may even have to go belly up.
Many people who “see” things say this year is a year of huge change, not unlike the 60’s. Maybe this is the firecracker that we all needed rammed up our proverbial butts to start it.
And while the tragedy of this has been gut wrenching, dehydrating, heart breaking, we have met wonderful loving people we never would have met otherwise.
Now let’s fry the bastards.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 6:55 pm
Surely King Arthur Flour is made here, isn’t it?
Comment by Shawn — April 1, 2007 @ 6:56 pm
shawn,i google wellness dog food and got the site,the kibbles are to small and a med. size dog can gag on it this is the site http://www.oldmotherhubbard.com/wellness
Comment by MARY ANN — April 1, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
To Shawn re: the Spot Stew
I don’t think garlic is too bad for cats, when one of my previous older cats was on k/d and wouldn’t eat, Hills said to try sprinkling a little garlic powder on it. But it didn’t work anyway, he hated it.
Where do U get the taurine to make your own cat food? Is it a powder or liquid? Thanks!
Comment by catlover — April 1, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
Marilyn-I agree. I did the same thing at my Shoppers Food Warehouse. The manager was very nice, was going to check the website. I also told him about the Delmonte treats. My guess is it all came off the shelves pretty quickly.
As I have said before, my cat loves wellness and merrick. Wet and dry with respect to wellness and I hope all is well with them. I don’t need more drama!
Comment by Shawn — April 1, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
Hi
New poster. I don’t knpw what I would do without this site. The investigative efforts of these members are saving many more lives of our pets…and I feel you may have saved my pet’s life.
After reading a link of the FDA analysis for residue of pentobarbitol in pet food, used to euthanize pets, would the aminopterin be found if they were using it to test animals already (from the Sintrix comment)? They test for the pentobarbitol as they know there are downed pets used in rendering plants. But they would not routinely test for other chemicals or contaminants. Could that explain why some batches might contain the poison and others don’t? I’m not that informed or educated (yet), but they’ve not had any answers, and I cannot bear to think my cat may be a victim of this recall.
Comment by MySimon — April 1, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
shawn.i did get old mother hubbard dog bones , just vegg’n and the dogs went crazy over them, i was told wellness sale’s have gone way up since all of this,my dogs ate it very fast so they must of liked it. good luck
Comment by MARY ANN — April 1, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
Shawn - I was wondering about King Arthur Flour myself… am looking into it now.
Comment by Kim — April 1, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
Jackie - thank you. I will look up the Kroger Brand.
I read the post by the farmer, thank you. GE grain and wheat. Terrible. Drifting pollen….what can a person do?
I’m not familiar with the brand King Arthur but thank you for the name. I don’t believe made in the U.S.A. means the raw product is from America. It could be processed in the U.S. from wheat grown somewhere else - more work to do on this.
Glad to read that Quarker Oats is though. There is some hope.
Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
Taurine powder capsules can be bought at your health store.
I use Taurine and L-Carnitine for heart health for my 4 dogs. Vet cardiologist recommended it to prevent Cardiomyopathy in cockers based on the MUST trials.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/en.....t=Abstract
Comment by Barbara — April 1, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
catlover:
I’m no expert by any means but I’ve been warned about not using any garlic or onion in dog or cat food. It’s supposed to cause something called heinz body anemia.
You can look it up here:
http://felinecrf.org
Comment by Gary — April 1, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
If you find out about the King Arthur you will post it here right? I’m on in spurts and the threads change and then I can’t find anything.
Comment by Linda — April 1, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
The jury is out on garlic for cats. Taurine should be readily available at any health food, decent vitamin/supplement store in capsule or loose crystal form. Or look on line.
Maybe OMG/Wellness is just coming up with some new fancy page for tomorrow. ALong the lines of “We have saved the world”
I hope..I hope.. I hope.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 1, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
If you find out about the K A flou