Pet Connection Blog » Pet food recall: China denies role in recall

Pet food recall: China denies role in recall

By Gina Spadafori

April 2, 2007

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From USA Today, still at the forefront on reporting this story nationally:

China denied Monday that pet food ingredients exported to the United States are to blame for the recall of more than 60 million cans of cat and dog food and the deaths of 14 animals.

Even so, Mao Liju, managing director of Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. of Peixian, China, says his company is investigating the possibility that its wheat gluten — an ingredient in commercial pet foods — was contaminated with the chemical melamine, used in the manufacture of plastics and as a slow-release fertilizer.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an import alert Friday authorizing the detention of any wheat gluten imports from the Chinese firm. All the samples of wheat gluten from this supplier have tested positive for melamine, says Ellen Morrison, director of the FDA’s Office of Crisis Management.

Chinese officials said Monday that an initial investigation by the government’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine found that China has not exported tainted pet-food ingredients to the USA and Canada. “The poisoning of American pets has nothing to do with China,” said the report, published in the official People’s Daily website.

OK, good enough and here’s the rest, but what’s with the 14 pets killed? Geez, the Oregon state public health veterinarian puts the number at 17 35 dead in that state alone, and Oregon has 1.2 percent of the U.S. population (correcting with current info, thanks to reader Mike for the pointer). What do we have to do to get the numbers real?

Update (or should that be Backdate?): I forgot to blog the earlier piece from the Associated Press, expanding on reader Joy’s lovely little find on the FDA Web site. Geez, at least the AP is no longer suggest there are only 14-16 dead pets (and most of those in a feeding trial!):

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is blocking imports of wheat gluten from a company in China, acting after an investigation implicated the contaminated ingredient in the recent pet-food deaths of cats and dogs.

The Food and Drug Administration took action against wheat gluten from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. in Wangdien, China, after the U.S. recall of nearly 100 brands of pet food made with the chemically contaminated ingredient. The pet food, tainted with the chemical melamine, apparently has resulted in kidney failure in an unknown number of animals across the country.

Wheat gluten from China has been suspected in the outbreak since the first of multiple recalls was announced in mid-March. Even more pet food could be recalled in the next few days, though there probably has been no contamination of human food, FDA officials said Monday.

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Filed under: 2007 food recall, animals: pets, medical, news — Gina Spadafori @ 4:12 pm

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From the article (and yes, it’s worth a read)

“We only started exporting to the USA last year,” Mao says.

Coincidence?

“In addition to these central government inspections, provinces also conduct their own inspections, Ma says. “In 2006, we inspected 11,800 batches of the 110 million tons of animal feed produced in China. Of the compound feed we inspected, including that used for pet food, 95% was approved,” he says.”

Great, but this wasn’t animal feed. It was human grade. Wonder whether they’ve even figured that out yet.

And - the saddest and yet most heartening part: the FDA is swamped.

“Normally the agency gets 5,000 consumer complaints a year on all products. “This issue has generated about 9,400 reports of concerns or complaints. The sheer volume is extraordinary,” says von Eschenbach.”

It’s horrible to think of all those sick pets. But maybe it’ll push the feds to seriously consider regulating this industry.

Comment by Laura — April 2, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
Not surprised to see this development.

Whats next? It’s a U.S. Chemical you Americans sold us. So it’s not our fault? Nothing like high standards.

And on the home front,

We can not escape the fact 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 the toxic-poisonous ingredient.

That is the bottom line. There is no escaping it.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
The FDA is not testing for unknown substances - this is bigger than the FDA. They are only testing specific foods - those on this hit list of likely foods to be poisoned by terrorist etc. - wheat gluten is not one of them.

I’d like something definitive - did this plastic junk kill the pets? Is there something else, yet discovered out there?

Until we know the bottom line, neither our pets or our familys are safe - and that is my opinion of course.

Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 4:42 pm
I just wanted to thank all of you folks here at Pet Connection. You have been an invaluable resource to me during this recall. You all do a wonderful job and the intelligent sarcasm when appropriate is somehow very comforting to me. It shows how much you care for your fellow pet owners who think of their pets as family. As I said over at Gothamist, I feel very blessed that my 2 precious cats were not eating any recalled food. I grieve so deeply for all of my fellow pet owners that haven’t been as blessed as we were.

Thanks again for this wonderful site and all of your hard work.

Sincerely,
Sue, Sammy and Shadow’s Mom

Comment by AZSue — April 2, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
Just saw on CNN TV — Lou Dobbs reported on the pet food recall, highlighting the tainted Chinese wheat gluten. He also questioned the “official” count of 14 pet deaths.

I only caught the end of the report, so there may have been more details of interest.

p.s. - Thanks for the awesome reporting here!! Appreciate all you’re doing to help keep pet owners informed and keep the story in the forefront in the media.

Comment by karen — April 2, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
OK PETA. . .this will be helpful. Let’s shake up the FDA in the middle of all this.

PETA Calls on FDA Head to Resign Over Botched Pet Food Recall

http://www.pr-inside.com/peta-.....r83655.htm

Comment by Jackie — April 2, 2007 @ 5:00 pm
This sad and sorry debacle deserves a place in the history books for future generations to learn from. The disruption and pain that a group of out of control scoundrels consumed completely by greed and their own selfish interests before everyone else’s can inflict upon people. Volume One.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 5:00 pm
I still believe, and I could be wrong, that with all the testing that has occurred, still we don’t know if it is this plastic junk or not that is the killer agent, and even the experts looking for ithe toxic cause, could hardly find it -

Seems we need to know what we are looking for before it can be identified - or at least something obvious -

I read it could be seen in the wheat gluten -don’t know the truth of that or not, but maybe it just appeared non-toxic and that leaves more questions than it answers.

I’m not satisfied and I called everyone I can think of calling today now I’m leaving. Hopefully we’ll have some more answers when I come back on tomorrow.

Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
Worse by the hour.

Second Possible Chinese Exporter Identified

We would like to caution that no exports from this company has been identified as being contaminated and that the only source of information linking Suzhou to the tainted wheat gluten is the one identified by the FDA as the source. We are looking for the FDA to tell us if this lead has been investigated.

A manager at Xuzhou Anying told the AP that the tainted wheat gluten was also sold to another Chinese export firm — identified as Suzhou Hengrun Import & Export Corp., Ltd. (Formerly known as Suzhou Textile Import and Export Co.) That firm’s Web site describes themselves as “one of the 500 largest foreign trade enterprises in China since 1991.” With revenues exceeding US $100 million. Quite a bit larger than Xuzhou, and possibly a larger trade partner with US companies. Their recent name change suggests that the company has been expanding into other export opportunities.

A list of their chemical exports do not contain melamine. Here’s the list:
Rifadin, Clarithromycin, sulphamethoxydiazine, Ganciclovir, glucuronolactone, NITROFURAZONE, Ibuprofen, Pyrazinamide

NOTE: The direct link to Suzhou’s Web sites resulted in a redirection to an x-rated site. Please exercise caution and shield your furbabies’ sensitive eyes. http://www.hengrunchina.com/en/

Thanks to Mr. Spocko for the tip

http://www.itchmo.com/read/sec.....02#respond

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 5:04 pm
Do we know who the second lab is? This is from the PETA article.

“Now, two independent laboratories are claiming that the FDA was wrong when it determined that the agent causing
kidney failure in cats and dogs was wheat gluten contaminated with a chemical called melamine found in plastic.”

Comment by Jackie — April 2, 2007 @ 5:07 pm
So now we have unregulated domestic corporate greed running amuck combined with a China Syndrome.

All coming together in a perfect storm meltdown.

I have no sympathy.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
Does anyone have any idea what is causing the deaths and injuries?

Comment by Elizabeth — April 2, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
Read the comments associated with the latest Itchmo article steve posted and you will faint - almost fell on the floor!

Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
Yep, it sure does redirect! Of course at the moment my son walked up.

Comment by Jackie — April 2, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Here’s another spot to let your thoughts be heard.

http://finance.google.com/grou.....88d4cba1e5

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
Here is a response to pet owners from a Menu Foods Fund supporter.

Date: Fri, Mar 30 2007 6:05 pm
Email:

Wow, I think that you guys are completely overracting. It’s not like
the board of directors are sitting around laughing about this. They
are not evil cigar-chomping kingpins. These guys have families and
pets as well.

I work for a big company in Canada and the owners are nice guys who
want to make alot of money and they also give alot back to the
community. Eating a pound or two of bad pet food? Get a life buddy.
I know you are upset but their intention was not to kill animals.
That makes no sense.

Being responsible, on the other hand, is a different manner
altogether. I believe they should be held responsible and even pay
damages to pets’ families who have sufferred because of this.

But calling them bastards and evil for wanting to run a profit and use
the least expensive food is ridiculous. They have an obligation to
run a profit in the interest of their shareholders. They have an
obligation to own up to their mistakes as well and pay damages.
Business is not personal, even if you lost your pet. It is
unfortunate and sad, but it is not intentional. Take a deep breath
and have some class.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
This is not the first time China has had trouble with rat poisioning in food. Here are some articles I have found on the BBC.

http://english.people.com.cn/2.....3320.shtml

http://forums.techguy.org/civi.....ead-3.html

Read post from angelize56

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asi.....646379.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asi.....523075.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asi.....153382.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asi.....440817.stm

Something needs to be done about the food we are getting from other countries.

Christina

Comment by Christina — April 2, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
Melamine is a breakdown product of pesticides and relatively non-toxic. Melamine dinnerware is still on the market. I still believe a pesticide was used and levels were too high to be an accidental occurence.
China denies they are the source, and we have yet to prove otherwise.
The menu foods plant was in Canada, and their security is not as tight as the US.
Personally, I am avoiding any pet food with wheat gluten on the label until somebody gets to the bottom of this.

Comment by Pam — April 2, 2007 @ 5:35 pm
What Americans need to do is get a grip on this situation and demand severe restrictions on anything imported into this country from China.

It’s out of control, they don’t know what they are doing over there and they are taking advantage of the American people with the worst imaginable negligence imaginable. They are selling us deadly POISONS and that should be ringing alarm bells amongst the American people. The People of the United States do NOT have to lower itself to that level. It’s unacceptable. It’s Criminal.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
No! There are never any problems in the worker’s paradise!

What we are seeing is limited government at work - on BOTH shores….

Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — April 2, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 5:04 pm

If you’re looking for a family friendly site, try using the company’s new name - Suzhou Hengrun. I posted about it here this AM over on the Kansas string. but I can’t take credit for it - it came straight out of this story: http://www.canada.com/topics/n.....mp;k=87542

But if you look into Chinese grain export, you’ll apparently find that there’s only ONE nationalized export authority, and the Chinese gov’t owns a controlling interest in it…. that’s a real problem if you’re hoping for an investigation.

Comment by Laura — April 2, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
Here’s another spot to let your thoughts be heard: http://catmanager.wordpress.co.....omment-243

feel like venting? have at it!
be my guest.

There are folks who need to know how you feel about a few issues.

Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 2, 2007 @ 5:44 pm
Poll: Who Should be Responsible?
April 2nd, 2007

There’s been plenty of mistakes made by many parties. But we wondered who do you think is most responsible for the pet deaths blamed on the toxic wheat gluten — so far?

http://www.itchmo.com/read/pol.....e_20070402

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
Ridiculous Press Releases: Purina Edition

Purina joined the tight club of pet food makers (including Del Monte) to pull their product and was initiated through the passage of the Friday press release. They also issued this Q&A.

After the jump are two highlights and our commentary. (We don’t mean to make light of the situation, but after reading a lot of pet food company spin, it’s just gotten more absurd and offensive.)

Purina:

“We have confirmed with our supplier that our Crete, Nebraska, plant was the only Nestlé Purina facility that received the contaminated wheat gluten. We have a sophisticated traceability system that enables us to track all ingredients from time of receipt at our plant through their inclusion in finished products and on to our customers to which the finished products were shipped.”

Itchmo:
We are very happy to hear about your “sophisticated system”, but considering it took you 2 weeks to announce the recall, we highly suggest upgrading to Windows 95.

Purina:
From their 3/28 FAQ (ironically listed just below their 3/30 info):

“Should I stop feeding all canned pet food products? No. The FDA has confirmed that Menu Food’s recall is limited to the specific brand products of canned “in gravy” style cat and dog foods in cans and pouches that are listed at http://www.menufoods.com/recall. None of Purina’s canned pet food products are affected by Menu Foods’ recall.”

Itchmo:
YES. Did we also mention, Oui, Si, Uh Huh and the You Betcha?

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
Pam, the Menu Foods plants in question were in Kansas and New Jersey not in Canada.

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
from doolittler: “There is no requirement that pet food products have premarket approval by the FDA. However, FDA ensures that the ingredients used in pet food are safe and have an appropriate function in the pet food. Many ingredients such as meat, poultry, grains, and their byproducts are considered safe “foods” and do not require premarket approval.”

Link… http://www.fda.gov/cvm/petfoods.htm#consumer
# Posted By Stacy | 4/2/07 8:34 AM

Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 2, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
PURINA per Steve above: “We have a sophisticated traceability system that enables us to track all ingredients from time of receipt at our plant through their inclusion in finished products and on to our customers to which the finished products were shipped.”

So, Purina, let’s hear your excuse for the delay in notification?

Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 2, 2007 @ 5:57 pm
Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 2, 2007 @ 5:57 pm

It’s out of control. America needs to deliver a big wakeup call to the powers that be. Time is of the essence. What the hell is in our food? Any connection to the rising rate of diseases and other maladies in this Country? Looks like it.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 6:01 pm
These things can and do happen in the pet food world as well as the human food industry. I truly doubt that Menu did this on purpose. This has hurt their business tremendously and they’ve got serious problems with their stockholders.

That said, however, they do have complete control over the way that they handle the problem. They did live animal testing prior to determining a recall was necessary. They quietly dropped a very confusing recall on the public when no one was looking. They didn’t have enough staff set up to handle the questions regarding a recall of millions of units. They hid from the media and have only made “statements” to the press and their stockholders. They continue to support the FDA’s ridiculous death toll, hoping the public will believe the FDA. Even though everyone acknowledges that they still aren’t sure what exactly was in there, the plants continue to run and produce product using wheat gluten.

The Menu executives may have pets at home (which is supposed to humanize them?) but I’d be willing to bet that they aren’t eating the crap that’s in the food that they make. No wonder they can sleeep at night!

Comment by Deb — April 2, 2007 @ 6:15 pm
These things can and do happen in the pet food world as well as the human food industry. I truly doubt that Menu did this on purpose. This has hurt their business tremendously and they’ve got serious problems with their stockholders.

That said, however, they do have complete control over the way that they handle the problem. They did live animal testing prior to determining a recall was necessary. They quietly dropped a very confusing recall on the public when no one was looking. They didn’t have enough staff set up to handle the questions regarding a recall of millions of units. They hid from the media and have only made “statements” to the press and their stockholders. They continue to support the FDA’s ridiculous death toll, hoping the public will believe the FDA. Even though everyone acknowledges that they still aren’t sure what exactly was in there, the plants continue to run and produce product using wheat gluten.

The Menu executives may have pets at home (which is supposed to humanize them?) but I’d be willing to bet that they aren’t eating the crap that’s in the food that they make. No wonder they can sleep at night!

Comment by Deb — April 2, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
So what’s happened with the rat poison? You mean to tell me that a laboratory that is being used by the US government to help classify poisons and keep us and our pets safe, was totally out of the ballpark? I have been out of the loop from the weekend, can anyone tell me what’s happened with this? I’m getting to the point where I just can’t handle this anymore. It’s beginning to consume me and eat me from the inside out. :-(

Comment by Sharon Gilbert — April 2, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
We need to shake up the concept of passing the buck through “market by” concepts (a s in Wal-mart), and Chines wheat coming into the U.S., as a product of Canada. Heads need to start rolling all over the place and I am suing the hell out of everyone in major landmark cases!

http://groups.myspace.com/petfoodrecall
Please join and discuss here too…

Comment by j — April 2, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
Site owners, please update/edit your numbers in this article regarding Oregon — 35 deaths. Here’s the info from the OVMA website:

http://www.oregonvma.org/news/recallcases.asp

Of the 96 suspected cases, 32 are dogs and 64 are cats.

Of the 96 suspected cases, at least 35 pets have died:

13 dogs
22 cats

While there have been deaths, many animals are surviving with aggressive supportive care, including IV fluid therapy. While long-term prognosis cannot be predicted, partial kidney recovery can be anticipated in many cases.

We emphasize that these are suspected cases. A confirmed case would require a higher degree of testing, which may include isolation of the toxin in the blood or tissue of the patient by necropsy.

Comment by Sarah — April 2, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
Did I miss this posted here somewhere?
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.c.....le_animal/

Food and Drug Administration officials have told The Associated Press that the federal agency’s nationwide investigation into the pet-food recalls could turn up more pet food manufacturers that used tainted wheat gluten from China, prompting even more products to be recalled.

“It is impossible for us to say at this time that there won’t be additional recalls. We’re continuing to follow the trail,” said David Elder, who oversees enforcement in the FDA’s office of regulatory affairs.

Comment by Kim — April 2, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
Comment by Deb — April 2, 2007 @ 6:17 pm

Don’t anybody be fools Menu was a company with big financial problems a few years back and they turned rabid and were-are hell bent on doing whatever it takes to come back and create and monopolize the pet food market. It also looks to me from studying their marketing plan that they were even planning to turn against the companies they were producing for at some point in the future creating generic brands for mass grocery chains that would allow them to have mass control of much of the market. This company can not be trusted in any way shape or form to make a contribution to everyones well being. This is predatory capitalism at it’s worst.

Brands that did business with this outfit made a serious mistake. A serious error in judgment and vision. Unless they just don’t care anymore about quality and it’s all about Marketing to them. And of course retiring with the big package.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
Who, specifically, will make that call, and to which “powers that be” will they direct it?

What if they aren’t in when the call is made and their voicemail is down?

What if their line is disconnected?

Who are The American People, America, The People of the United States?

You and me.

If “they” cared in the first place, would things be this screwed up?

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE STENCH!!!!!

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
The Sacramento Bee is finally referring to this web site for more accurate death numbers. I’m not sure whether to be impressed that the UCD lab is testing, and putting out a call to vets for food and tissue samples, but it seems better than what I’ve been hearing. I’m also hopeful because, although they stated they found melamine in samples, they continue to look for any other irregularities.

On the subject of melamine, I remember when researching Melmac (dishes, which I love) that the American govt. outlawed melamine imports from China. I can’t remember why, but I’m thinking that there was something wrong with the melamine, even when used in dishes. Will see if I can find my earlier notes.

Comment by carly — April 2, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
This is the culture the Wal-Marts, Apple Computers and other industry giants lobby your politicians in favor of. This is who the pet food industry is now sourcing raw materials from…WARNING: The following link (from itchmo) may leave you feeling somewhat queezy:

http://sirius.2kat.net/Peixiun.html

Comment by Sandro — April 2, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
Elections are coming up, folks.
Time to clean house.

Comment by E. Hamilton — April 2, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
Comment by Sandro — April 2, 2007 @ 6:39 pm

I have no words to describe the feeling I have after having gone to that link. That is the most disgusting, revolting thing-mentality I have ever seen in my life.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
Hello to everyone this evening. Well, my PooPoo still isn’t home. He has been in since last Monday a week ago. His creatinine was 9 on admission and today it is down to 2.9. They want to keep him until they can get it down a little closer to normal. I will be so glad to get him home though. He is so sad when I go to visit and have to leave him.

Anyway, hope you all are doing well today and that your pets are doing well also.

Comment by Adrienne — April 2, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
We can pontificate into the next millennia and nothing will change. This country has slipped into a complacency that has given us this event as a tiny foreshadowing of the complete unraveling of all we hold sacred.

We ALL need to answer this call now or someday soon this event will seem like a tea party.

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 6:48 pm
And the fur collars on a lot of jackets and coats sold in the Good Old USA come from puppies just like that, and from kittens who are even cuter. And they live horrible dismal lives in tiny cages until they are brutally slaughtered.

And then their fur is labeled “acrylic” or some other lie and manufactured in China but marketed by bastard American greed mongers.

Is this really news to any of you?

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 6:48 pm

Your correct.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
Sorry, Adrienne. Things are getting a little heated around here and for good reason. I’ll send a special prayer up for you and PooPoo tonight.

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
I’m not an anti-foreign xenophobia type. This is business and this is not the kind of thing I would serve up to my customers.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
There’s been no little outrage around the importing of wheat gluten when we produce so much wheat domestically. But we are consumers too, not just outraged pet owners, so a little education is in order for all of us who consume products made with it. Just found this Slate article that gives a good background as to why we import wheat gluten…

http://www.slate.com/id/2163235/?nav=fix

Why do we put Chinese wheat gluten in Fido’s kibble?
By Michelle Tsai

(…)
To extract the gluten from wheat, you have to separate it from the starch, by repeatedly washing and kneading wheat flour. But only four U.S. companies go through this process; last year, they produced roughly 100 million pounds of wheat gluten, about 20 percent of the domestic demand.

(…)
Our enormous appetite for wheat gluten exacerbates the wheat-gluten trade deficit. We’re the world’s biggest consumer of wheat gluten today; American manufacturers use it to produce baked goods. Having the right protein content in dough ensures that it will remain intact as it rises. Without the elasticity afforded by the gluten, bread would collapse, yielding a dense, heavy loaf. Wheat gluten also gives vegetarian “fake meat,” like DIY seitan, and pet food a meatlike texture and binds together processed foods like chicken nuggets, turkey burgers, and imitation crabmeat. Gluten even makes its way into shampoo and biodegradable sporks.

Comment by Maureen — April 2, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
Adrienne,
that’s fabulous news! :) Best of luck to your Poo-Poo - sounds like you caught it early.

As for the dog fur issue, CALL the retailers. JCPenney, Macy’s, Chadwick’s, etc. I did when this came out around Christmas. They hate it when you call them - it’s much more trouble that email.

When you ask then to remove the dog fur items, they’ll give you a line about how it’s about consumer choice. I always ask them whether that argument would apply if I, as a consumer, wanted to buy something trimmed in human baby skin. They don’t say much when you ask that.

Comment by Laura — April 2, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
People have bought into the Wall Street accumulation of “stuff” image, that THAT is the meaning of life and the only way to happiness and the true measure of a person. But they want it at the lowest possible price which is why we, as a country, are in bed with cheap off shore producers who commit acts in their daily routine that only our fringe lunacy would. BUT, then we paint them pretty, sell them at Target or Walmart and pretend no natural law has been broken, and because WE didn’t actually do it, it must be okay. Well, it is NOT okay and now we are starting to see why. Garbage out, garbage in. What goes around, etc. The tragedy is it’s the INNOCENTS who suffer, not the bastards who caused the problem in the first place and perpetuate it ad nauseum.

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 7:14 pm

Henry David Thoreau said, “A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to leave alone.”

By this standard many billionaires are paupers. In fact, the more money a person has, the harder it is to think of anything else.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
REP. KUCINICH (D-OH) DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM THE FDA 04/02/07
On March 27, 2007, Howl 911 reported on Rep. Kucinich’s letter to Menu Foods. Now, according to Raw Story, Rep. Kucinich is putting some very hard questions to the FDA:
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking pointed questions about the pet food recall that has now affected 60 million cans of food and at least four pet food manufacturers.
“Millions of American families have a right to be assured that everything possible is being done to protect the health of their beloved family pets and to determine how in the world the pet food supply could have been contaminated,” Kucinich said in a statement released RAW STORY today. “We must also find out when the FDA officials first learned that our nation’s pets were in danger of being poisoned by their own pet food.”
The letter demands information about how the FDA learned of the tainted food and what action was taken.
MORE FROM RAW STORY (including the full text of Kucinich’s letter to the FDA)

http://howl911.com/

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Kucinich demands answers from FDA about pet food recall
Josh Catone
Published: Monday April 2, 2007

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/....._0402.html

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
I know this is a stretch - but what if bio terrorist decided to poison us - so they poisoned the wheat gluten knowing that it is put in everything - and maybe in people the effects take longer - like a slow process (arsenic poison take a long time - something akin to that) until we become so ill - etc. after all it was human grade and then it went into pet food - and we discovered it sooner than expected.

I know this sounds odd - but seems like a likely plan - who would have thought it would be in the wheat gluten?

Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
And a quote from Mr. Twain as I take a break. It seems most appropriate:

One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives.

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 7:27 pm
I have a funny feeling (sitting here on Mon 02 Apr) that the dry food recall will be extended. I do not think the toxins are will remain restricted to melamine and rat poison - and I think more companies will be recalling their DRY food. My cat died very suddenly in January of acute kidney failure (healthy as anything until 24 hours before his death), and he was eating a dry food that is NOT on the recall list. I am watching, as I predicted last week that the wet food recall would extend to dry. I am sad to say I was right.

Comment by JLR — April 2, 2007 @ 7:30 pm
Well, as I get ready to leave Christie in charge, watching for the late-night news release drops and such (along with the sharp-eyed folks at itchmo.com and howl911.com), I’d like to leave a Twain quote behind, too. It’s my favorite, and I try to live my life by it:

“Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” — Mark Twain

Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 2, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 7:25 pm

I would count nothing out at this point but still stick to the theory of Western Business (Cheap Labor Capitalists) willingly doing business with a country thats does not know what they are doing. We have not only exported capitalism and sold it’s products and technology to China but we have done it in a manner that is like handing a a 10 year old kid a military issue M-16 and saying, “Here kid, your in the big time now. Have fun.”

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 7:34 pm
Linda, I can assure you, the terrorists have been seeing how this is playing out and the weak spots which are many, and making note. They are smarter than the administration we have now. (thank you DHS and Chertoff)

I think we are wide open again, just like before 911 and it’s a matter of time when we will be hit again. If they hit critical areas, they might just cause a economic calamity, especially if they use a nuke. The panic would be astounding. Sorry, it’s how I see it based on how this politically corrected government is doing things.

Comment by Gary — April 2, 2007 @ 7:36 pm
Well - we are wide open. And anyone reading the FDA website and reads the reports and sees what small amount of product we test and furthermore discovers that our tests are limited to known toxic agents - well you do the math!

Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
JLR - what brand were you feeding?

Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
I Hate those Greedy Companies as much as the next person. But I will not buy any of their Products Again and thats that. Calling them names won’t bring my Pet back and yours. If we Boycott their Prodcuts and look for a small Company that is local and inspected well. You shouldn’t have any problem with a good quality food and getting away from the Big Manufacturer’s Products that use other Companies for their Product including outsourcing their wheat gluten.

Comment by Georgeann Heckman — April 2, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
I agree with the small company. I even found one from Indiana that is shipping me some U.S. grown and milled wheat with no imported anything to make bread.

I am not buying this processed junk anymore - its in sauces, noodles, almost everything.

Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
go to http://www.rawstory.com then click onto kucinich demands answers on growing pet food recall

Comment by MARY ANN — April 2, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
Look. Howl reported this Saturday and now the Company is just hitting the wires on Monday.
Totally irresponsible. Or is the MSM is so dysfunctional it’s ludicrous. Which is it?

Pet Treats With Salmonella Recalled
ABC News - 1 hour ago
By AP. WASHINGTON Apr 2, 2007 (AP)— A pet food company announced Monday a nationwide recall of dog, cat and ferret treats that could be contaminated with …
Pet treats recalled for salmonella contamination

http://news.google.com/news?lr.....&hl=en

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 7:59 pm
‘Workers Return to Menu Foods Plant in Emporia’
WIBW, KS - 18 minutes ago
(AP)

Workers Return to Menu Foods Plant in Emporia
3:27 PM Apr 2, 2007
Reporter: AP

EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) _ Workers returned to the Menu Foods plant in Emporia today, ending a shutdown that began more than a week ago after a massive recall of pet food made by Menu.

The Canadian company recalled 60 million containers of wet pet food that had been made at the Emporia plant and a plant in New Jersey.

It was unclear today whether the Emporia plant was back at full capacity.

Paul Henderson, the head of Menu, said Friday that all its pet food made after March sixth is safe.

http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/6832922.html

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 8:03 pm
http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/6832922.html

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
Has anyone else noticed fewer birds at their feeders this year? Are we importing sunflower seeds from China as well? Don’t they use DDT which is banned here as extremely toxic to birds and fish? Not only am i worried to death about my cats and what to feed them but also i fear for the wildlife.I am agonized that i may have attracted these beautiful creatures to my home with poisonous food.

Comment by Kathryn — April 2, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
One thing we can all do right now, in addition to calling and faxing everyone, is to start buying local. Especially our food. From farmer’s markets. From local produce markets. Always certified organic if you can get it because any bozo can stick an organic label on their product and get away with it. That means nothing. Certified Organic is the highest standard. Supporting local agriculture means sustainable agriculture.

Plant a garden. Plant a neighborhood garden. Plant a garden in a city park. We can do it. It’s done all over the world.

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 8:31 pm
New release on the reuters wire. Make sure you go to page 2 to finish the article

http://www.reuters.com/article.....3620070403
from the reuters article:
“FDA officials told reporters on Monday there was no sign that wheat gluten contaminated with melamine has entered the human food chain.

“At this time, we can say there is no evidence” the gluten was used in food products for people,” said Michael Rogers of FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs.”

Comment by Doug — April 2, 2007 @ 8:33 pm
Pardon me if this has already been posted from the San Francisco Chronicle…they seem to be sticking to their story.

Lab Gets New Attention in Pet Food Case
By MARK JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer
Sunday, April 1, 2007

(04-01) 19:48 PDT Albany, N.Y. (AP) —
Tucked away in a nondescript state office park, scientists at the New York State Food Laboratory have for years quietly gone about their business testing products destined for grocery store shelves.
The obscurity, however, ended abruptly last week as the lab, with 10 of its researchers on the case, made a crucial breakthrough in the testing of pet food believed to be responsible for animal deaths across the country. Using sophisticated drug screening panels, the lab determined a banned rodent poison called aminopterin might be killing the household pets.
The lab is part of Food Emergency Response Network, a federally supported group of state and federal facilities with expertise in testing food for chemical, biological, and radiological hazards. With a staff of about 40 chemists, microbiologists and technicians, the lab is one of a few dozen state-level facilities capable of doing such tests and regularly screens foods for pesticides.
Unable to pinpoint what was wrong with the pet food with their own equipment, scientists at Cornell University sent samples of the tainted pet food to Albany. Chemists here quickly got to work, three days before a nationwide recall of 95 pet food brands manufactured by Menu Foods of Ontario, Canada. Numerous tests eliminated hundreds of possibilities, from heavy metals to deadly fungus.
In a matter of days, the researchers zeroed in on aminopterin, a derivative of folic acid that was once used to induce abortions and is also used in cancer research. It can cause cancer and birth defects in humans and kidney damage in dogs and cats.
“We brought about 100 years of combined expertise to bear on this,” said lab Director Daniel Rice. “Trouble shooting with each other was a real asset in this case.”
Scientists here have long gone about their business with little fanfare, analyzing about 20,000 samples a year in a facility that looks more like a high school chemistry lab than cutting edge workplace. The lab has been around for decades, but became part of FERN after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as part of the government’s effort to protect the nation’s animals and food supply.
Now the lab’s scientists have gotten more attention than they bargained for.
“It’s been very stressful,” said Virginia Greene, an associate food chemist. “We were triple checking our methodology. There are some skeptics and we have to fend them off. … When you have a result like this, it starts casting more doubt than enthusiasm. It’s bizarre how science works like that.”

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
Re: Comment by Steve

Business as usual for Menu, huh…I just hope the forensic evidence wasn’t disposed of quickly and conveniently (read WTC buildings). Still no word from the FDA on who the U.S. distributor is?

Comment by Sandro — April 2, 2007 @ 8:35 pm
They were called Victory Gardens in the 1940s. Then you absolutely know what is going into you and your loved ones.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/.....amp;sc=655

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
Hmmm. March 6th? So it sounds like the FDA import restriction is a case of closing the barn door after the horse is gone.

Wonder how they know it’s March 6th. Was that the day they started testing? Or the last run that used the now-questionable gluten?

Henderson knows where they got it, and when, and from whom. My question is whether anyone will ever force him to divulge what he knows.

Comment by Laura — April 2, 2007 @ 8:38 pm
Comment by Doug — April 2, 2007 @ 8:33 pm
I hate how they start it with, At this time. Until Friday at 5, right….?

Comment by Doug — April 2, 2007 @ 8:38 pm
Business as usual for Menu, huh…
Comment by Sandro — April 2, 2007 @ 8:35 pm

No report, no accountability, no responsibility to the general safety and well being of the public and consumers despite this being a Federal investigation of international scale. Who was there? Whats was done? What were the results and findings.

Nothing. Back to business as usual. And I wonder what Brands are continuing with business as usual at that plant also.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 8:38 pm
Sorry - that last post was in response to Steve’s 8:09 posting.

Kathryn, all your birds must’ve come to my place, down south. We’ve had SCADS. And no problems with the seed, so I wouldn’t worry about that.

Comment by Laura — April 2, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
Comment by Lois - local gardens etc:

I totally agree. I’m going to learn how to can this year so I can buy from farmers markets and prepare for winter.

I don’t trust any of it - not anymore. Most worrisome is that someone pointed out that one of these companies from China - exports medicine to the U.S. - now that is troublesome.

I can only do what makes sense - and that means just use herbs and buy local and make my own and tell people and if they don’t want to listen - well that’s their problem.

Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 8:48 pm
FDA Hiding Info In Pet Food Epidemic, PETA Says
Commentary. North Country Gazette, NY - 25 minutes ago

http://www.northcountrygazette.....gInfo.html

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 8:53 pm
You have got to hand it to PETA, they will hound all of them until the public gets answers. I think I’ll drop over and make another donation :)

Comment by Sandro — April 2, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
With all the recent publicity about outbreaks of food-borne illness, consumers may be wondering whether anything is safe to eat anymore. Contaminants are cropping up in products that are supposedly wholesome: peanut butter, fresh spinach, even organic baby food. E. coli comes from fecal matter, so theoretically it should not be a problem with plant-based foods. But crops can become contaminated if they are adjacent to areas where livestock are kept. Without an overhaul of the agricultural system,it will be difficult to prevent this sort of thing from happening. Consumers should expect that any type of fresh produce carries the possibility of contamination. “We’re eating more raw produce, so there’s more exposure to foods that have a higher risk.” Consumers need to take more responsibility for their own health, because there are fewer watchdogs to oversee the nation’s food supply. An investigation by the Associated Press last month showed that FDA food safety inspections decreased 47 percent between 2003 and 2006, and safety tests on U.S.-produced food dropped by almost 75 percent. “Expect more outbreaks in the future, because the U.S. is importing more and more of its produce from countries that are far less sanitary than ours.” The FDA inspects less than 1 percent of our imported food. If the trend continues, Americans may need to reassess their assumption that the food supply is safe. “When you travel to a developing country, the only way to avoid illness is to cook all food before eating it. If you are susceptible to illness, you might want to consider doing that even if you live in the United States.”
http://www.gainesvilletimes.co.....9469.shtml

Comment by DeeAnn — April 2, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
Borrowing form some info here, I just sent this email out to my list of friends.

The emphasis in parenthesis is mine.

Chinese show their passion for dogs, (by eating them.)

RED MEAT: One man’s best friend becomes another one’s meal in ever-increasing numbers as dog farms are springing up around the country to keep up with demand.

The people of Peixian love their dogs.

At seven each morning a crowd of local residents gathers under dusty roadside awnings on a street corner for their favorite breakfast: a bowl of steaming soy milk and a piece of pita-like flat bread wrapped around a rasher of dog.

Before pooch lovers revolt, or grow revolted, they should know that this has been going on here for about 2,000 years.(I don’t care—I just know I am not going to support it!)

It started with Liu Bang, first emperor of the Han dynasty, who liked the taste of dog meat. Before becoming emperor he was an official here in Peixian, in today’s Jiangsu Province, and frequented a local dog restaurant run by a man named Fan Kuai.

But dog meat is increasingly available now, and its popularity is growing as people become wealthier and their diets diversify: dog meat is one of the most expensive meats available in the country today. (Who is making them wealthier, it’s Americans by buying stuff Made In China.)

To keep up with demand, dog farms have been springing up around the country and dog breeders have been experimenting with crossing larger foreign breeds with the leaner Mongolian dogs long favored for their meat. /end of excerpt

————————————————————————————————————————

http://sirius.2kat.net/Peixiun.html Here is the rest of the story. WARNING: Pictures that made my heart ache.

I’ve had it with China. We have lost tens of thousands of good paying jobs to them and replaced them with low paying service sector jobs. Their human rights stink, their land is the most polluted, river waters are too toxic for drinking or bathing, and their exported food and products to the U.S have been implicated many times. And now perhaps wheat gluten that has poisened our pets. It may be in the human food supply also—FDA is working on it, but the jury is still out on that. For me it is just the last straw—I am taking a stand.
Our middle class standard of living is falling while China’s is rising. I can no longer in good conscience buy Made in China stuff and will be joining other people doing the same thing to try and turn things around.

Please feel free to comment. I would appreciate a dialog with like minded people.

DeeAnn

Comment by DeeAnn — April 2, 2007 @ 9:00 pm
Good on you DeeAnn, that’s the spirit :)

Comment by Sandro — April 2, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
>>What about the rat poison (Aminopterin) that had been confirmed by two New York State Labs on March 23 ? ,

These two labs are New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Connell, and the New York State Food Laboratory. They are not ordinary labs, but “part of a network created after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to keep the nation’s animals and food supply safe.” (Bucks County Courier Times, Levittown, PA, March 24, 2007).

After a relatively extensive research, I found out that FDA and its officials have never repudiated，since March 23，the New York State Labs’ findings. There are NO statements, and NO reports on FDA site to that effect. Nor can anyone find them on any publications.

So, facing the current China-blaming surge in the American media, we need to ask ourselves this question: Are We Going to Be Mislead to Ignore the Findings——— the Very Existence of Rat poison, Aminopterin in Our Pet Food? It is this substance that has caused the death and the kidney failures in our pets. And it is the same reason that 60 million cans had been recalled in the first place! Is it not?

>>When the finding is out and done, is it not the next logic step for a further investigation into how and why as the rat poison, Aminopterin, got into the pet foods?

On March 23, Menu Foods declared that its next “goal” as “quickly identifying the means through which this substance entered our supply chain.” (Press Release: Menu Foods Press Conference Opening Statement, March 23, 2007, Author: Menu Foods, http://www.menufoods.com/recal.....232007.htm )
But now ten days later, why does Menu Foods suddenly drop its declared goal? Instead, it is now switching our attention in pursuit of Melamine “contamination”.

>>Should FDA Recall All Pet’s Eating Bowls? Melamine in It!
But any chemist or scientist in toxicology can point it to you that Melamine does not and could not harm humans IN SMALL AMOUNT. As a matter of fact, EPA(Environment Protection Agency) had removed it from the tolerance list. Melamine is manufactured in the USA in large quantity. Actually, it is in our daily life, and even indispensable for a pet life——————-Melamine can be found in a dog’s or a cat’s eating bowls! That is right, it is an essential ingredient that makes yours, mine and everyone’s pet eating bowl !

>>Why Does Menu Foods Shut Down Its Emporia Plant in Kansas ?
Here may come a smoking gun: at the conference on March 23, 2007, Paul Henderson, President and CEO of Menu Foods, asserted unequivocally that Menu Foods’ plant at Emporia, KS, is keeping its usual operations. But my investigation found it quite otherwise:

On Friday, March 23, 2007, at 10:24 a.m., an ABC local news station: KTKA 49 ABC reported: Menu plans brief shutdown of Emporia Plant. This TV story was reported by Scott Rochat. He reads: “Menu Foods, dealing with the after-effects of a massive recall of pet food, said Wednesday that it would shut down its Emporia plant for a few days but that no layoffs would be involved.”
On March 26, the same TV station, by Lisa Coble-Krings, at 11:00, reported that Menu planned to shut it down for another week.

But in its March 16, 2007 press release, Menus Foods declared it had changed to a new supplier source after March 6, 2007. This means that the Chinese company’s material was longer in use at Emporia plant after said date. Furthermore, Menu Foods has asserted repeatedly, on its first and subsequent press releases, that it had kept vigorous tests on both supplies and the products; and the tests’ results had found no issues since March 6———-the ending date on the recall list. (Press Release: Menu Foods Income Fund Announces Precautionary Dog and Cat Food Recall, March 16, 2007, Author: Menu Foods, http://www.menufoods.com/recal.....162007.htm)

Now here are the questions to Menu Foods: why did Menu Foods shut that plant down? And for more than one week?
Inside that plant, is there any operational process or any proceedings throughout the production course, that had been tainted by the found substance: Aminopterin?

>>Would Menu Foods make an unequivocal statement in that regard for the North American pet owners?

Comment by Mian Qin — April 2, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
Comment by DeeAnn — April 2, 2007 @ 9:00 pm

Your exactly right. And the Marketing Magicians have somehow convinced many Americans that not only are Chinese products cheap. But even superior to our own. And what is going on over there is a magnificent shining example of the best of what Capitalism can offer. And we haven’t even questioned it. Whats even more sickening to me then their eating this, is the way it’s spun and evangelized in that pitch.

It’s revolting.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 9:18 pm
All I know is that as of 7:30 pm this evening, my Riley boy is dead. DO YOU HEAR ME NOW — DOES ANYONE HEAR ME — HE’S GONE!! My heart bleeds for all who have lost a loved one because of this tragedy! Our beloved pets did not deserve this! I miss Riley—Oh so much, more than these words can express! :(

Comment by Maggie Coker — April 2, 2007 @ 9:18 pm
Great commentary Steve! I have a new found respect for PETA! GO INGRID!

Comment by Jamie — April 2, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
My heartfelt sympathies Maggie, I know how hard this is. If you don’t mind my asking, which brand of food had Riley eaten?

Comment by Sandro — April 2, 2007 @ 9:23 pm
About peanut butter: I stopped buying anything comercially packaged. I grind my own at the Natural Foods Co-op and the peanuts are all from CA.

I go every few days and grind peanuts and have fresh peanut butter and keep it in the frig. It is wonderful. After the real thing, I can’t stomach the trash in our supermarkets.

Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 9:23 pm
Would Menu Foods make an unequivocal statement in that regard for the North American pet owners?
Comment by Mian Qin — April 2, 2007 @ 9:16 pm

Mian I’m not going to hold my breath. I think the answer is no unless they are forced to submit their findings. At this point I think deep down, these guys at Menu are nothing but cheap hoods, two-bit chiselers hustling for loot, thug-brained goons with no more grandeur about them than the meanest pack of Mafia knee-breakers.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
We hear you Maggie. My heart is breaking too - soon we will be nothing but a country holding our dying pets. It is horrific. None of mine have died, but I know what it is like and I can’t stomach it too much longer.

Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 9:26 pm
We hear you Maggie. We hear you loud and clear. We will fight for him. And for all the other sweet angels who did not deserve this. xxoo

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
Mian, thank you for the info. Now we know the significance of March 6th, at least.

And Maggie, I’m so sorry about Riley. I wish there were something more we all could do to help.

Comment by Laura — April 2, 2007 @ 9:31 pm
Comment by Maggie Coker — April 2, 2007 @ 9:18 pm

Maggie please accept my sincerest condolences. We will keep up the good fight for Riley. And all the others in their memory. Whatever it takes.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 9:32 pm
Mian,

What is an “unequivocal statement” worth from those who do not speak the truth?

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 9:32 pm
I think we all just need to stop buying the “poison” no matter who makes it - and that means even making it ourselves and sending a big message - we won’t take this any longer you CREEPS!

Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 9:33 pm
Bonus - two more write-ups on this - Dogster and Crooks and Liars. http:/www.dogster.com and http://www.crooksandliars.com/

Comment by Laura — April 2, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
Regarding the Menu plant shutdown on March 23, perhaps they came under some pressure from their three largest co-packers to do so (43.5% of their business)? According to their financial statements:

“20. Economic dependence
The Fund has approximately 22.6% of its sales to one customer and has approximately 43.5% of its
sales to its three largest customers. Other than these customers, the Fund does not have a significant
exposure to any individual customer. The Fund relies on a single supplier for the majority of its can
requirements. Should this supplier fail to deliver in a timely manner, delays and/or shutdowns of the
Fund’s operations could result.”

Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
http://www.stephenvoss.com/sto.....oto13.html

Here are the health standards in China. You should also pay close attention to the pictures below.

Just look at the Cancer Rates there. I have been to China around areas that they have heavy industry. It wasn’t any surprise to me. The air was so thick that you could eat it. You could walk accross rivers it was so polluted. Yet they are allowed to import food to our country? What gives?

Comment by Monkeykitty — April 2, 2007 @ 9:41 pm
Oh, and the last sentence states that the Fund relies on a single supplier for the majority of its can requirements. Does that mean raw materials or cans?

Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 9:42 pm
whoops - fixed links:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/.....ood-grade/ and http://dogblog.dogster.com/200.....rom-china/

Comment by Laura — April 2, 2007 @ 9:42 pm
Maggie, my heart breaks for you…I know how it feels to lose a beloved pet - it is such an empty feeling. I’m sorry.

Comment by Jamie — April 2, 2007 @ 9:46 pm
Mian you are raising interesting quetions and I admire your methological investigative spirit. To play devil’s advocate, plants will briefly shut down for numerous reasons throughout the year. In this case and a plant of this size, it could simply be that the transition from the tainted wheat gluten to new supplies warranted a brief shutdown.

Comment by Sandro — April 2, 2007 @ 9:46 pm
Buy local - buy small supplier buy what you know - avoid the large corporations - avoid China.

I went to buy a sweater and the made in place was so small on thin fabric I couldn’t read it. The sales lady said - made in Macau - where is that I said, I won’t buy China. She said - does that sound like China. I said no, but it’s a trick - it probably is. Yes it is China. That will be next - it will be shipped someplace where a tag will be sewed on or a button - no longer from China.

Ghandi used to make his own clothes and weave his own cloth - now I understand why!

Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 9:55 pm
And this is a typical scenario where the wheat that we and our dogs ingest is growing??? What the heck is wrong with our government?

“Shenqiu County, in the eastern part of Henan Province, has seen occurrences of stomach, liver, esophageal and intestinal cancer rise dramatically in the past fifteen years. Houses sit empty where whole families have died, villagers are bedridden with sicknesses they are too poor to have diagnosed and many continue to drink the polluted water because there is no other option. The majority of the 150 million people that live along the Huai River Basin are farmers, and depend on the river water to irrigate their crops. Unfortunately, the Huai is one of the most polluted stretches of water in the country.”

Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
Thank you all for the kind words and thoughts. Sandro,unfortunately I fed him a pouch of the Eukanuba Dog Senior with Savory Chicken cuts and gravy on March 3rd. Ever since he ate that food, his health was severely compromised. He spent two weeks in the hospital trying to recover. We brought Riley home today and celebrated his life. He would have turned 10 this Friday, April 6th. Again, thank you for the kind words — I can no longer bear to read anymore. I’m too numb.

Comment by Maggie Coker — April 2, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
Comment by Sandro — April 2, 2007 @ 9:46 pm

The employees at that plant did not receive pay during this past weeks shutdown. How cheap can you get?

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
It states that these Chinese people don’t have an option, but we sure as heck do…this is the United States of America…and we have choices.

Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
Nadine - terrible. I shudder to think what is coming to America. Heck, we won’t have to worry about terrorist - our undoing will be greed. Our demand for cheap products and the corporations demand for higher profit margin.

Walden Pond where are you?

Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 9:59 pm
Maggie, we do hear you. I lost my Calvin, 12.

Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 10:00 pm
Maggie-I am so sorry. I am sharing your grief. I don’t know what it is about our animals, but when we loose them an arrow goes right through our hearts.

Comment by Shawn — April 2, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
Linda, our undoing is already done. We have to undo the undoing. I’m moving next month from Lake Tahoe to the Redwoods coast. I feel blessed, but not complacent.

Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 10:03 pm
I just watched Fox News with “Gretta”.She said there were 3 more recalls. delmonte, nestle/purina and hills. She wasn’t specific at all on what types wet or dry. She was vague. She even said that there were only 14 total deceased from the poison 1 Dog and 13 Cats.The number of the deceased not only pisses me off!!!I know for a fact it’s wrong and much higher than that.My girlfriend works for a vet hospital,I aked her today how many cats and dogs died due to the poisoning at her facility. She told me over 40.Now,across the country there are many vet hospitals.Lets just say there are 100 vet hospitals,when we now there are alot more than that,and in each of those hospitals,over 40 cats and dogs died due to the poison.Well,that would make the total number of deceased loved ones at 4,000!!! Thats a staggering number alone.Alot of heartbroken families.There’s alot of information that we all do not receive,and the actual number of deceased animals is one of them.I would put the total number of deceased animals in the tens of thousands,not just 14.Whats the point of having news/media when they don’t ever give accurate,reliable information.This is a great website and we all need to band together so we can keep eachother informed.Go to your pet stores and talk to people that are shopping there,stop in at vet hospitals and ask questions about how many animals were deceased and what specific brand named food those deceased animals ate.Thats the only reliable way to get the information we need.

Comment by Dar — April 2, 2007 @ 10:03 pm
What happened is quite simple, really. We want cheap iPods, but won’t accept their dumping chemical runoffs in our rivers to save money. Industry had to find a country with massive cheap labor, total disregard for the environment and little or no regulation. They found it in China and it’s become the world’s garbage can.

That this garbage is now finding its way back into our plates is, quite frankly, exactly what is needed!

Comment by Sandro — April 2, 2007 @ 10:03 pm
Another quote worth pondering:

“Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead

LET’S DO IT!!!

Comment by Lynn — April 2, 2007 @ 10:04 pm
Goodnight all. Have to cook up some sweet potatos etc to feed one of my dogs. The vet put him on SD I/D because he had a fever and loose stools and now he is on meds. I fed him Nutro Puppy Food and gave him 1/2 can of Trader Joes Dog Food, wet, that is made in the Menu plant.

Now I don’t trust his wet ID even though it said no wheat or wheat gluten. I just don’t trust it. He is now getting boiled hamburger and cooked sweet potato etc.

I can’t imagine losing him. He is so young and beautiful. The thought scares me to death.

Keep up the good fight. Be Brave. We will win this battle - we have to!

Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
Nadine - lucky you. Love the redwoods. Grew up there near Fortuna on a small ranch. You are blessed indeed.

Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 10:08 pm
Monkeykitty, Nadine:

I was just reading today, where in November of 2005, there was a terrible cadmium and benzene spill into the river and the chemical traveled 120 miles! as far as Russia, do you remember that spill? benzene and especially cadmium is a known carcinogen.

Now, is it any wonder the grains are all polluted? the land has long absorbed these carcinogenic toxics and it goes right into all the fields for miles. Probably no food that comes from China is safe.

This is precisely why I fault this Administration that looks away from people dying of cancer and only thinks about it’s pocketbooks. And that gang of crooks called the UN that gives China a free pass to kill it’s citizens and now us.

Comment by Gary — April 2, 2007 @ 10:08 pm
Comment by Dar — April 2, 2007 @ 10:03 pm

Word-of-mouth has always been the most powerful advertising method of all. It just takes a while longer. Now we have the internet to assist the process.

Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 10:09 pm
Gary, yes I do remember now that you mention. It’s funny how those events were “so far away” and yet here we are not removed from them at all. I’ve had such an education today reading all about China and I am sickened and saddened. I had no idea how bad it really was and I sit here shuddering at the flashes of the pictures I saw today…both pets and people. We want this here?

Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 10:15 pm
Linda, Fortuna? Really! We’ll be near the Oregon border between Crescent City and Smith River.

Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
Also an article in Scientific American about the food recall. I haven’t seen it posted yet.

http://www.sciam.com/article.c.....mp;ref=rss

Comment by Monkeykitty — April 2, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
Comment by Sandro — April 2, 2007 @ 8:55 pm

Don’t fool yourself Sandro. PETA doesn’t even want you to own a pet. Their agenda is for all animals to be completely free of human ownership and intervention, including your pets. They are not what you think they are. Be careful what you support with your donation dollars.

Comment by Sarah — April 2, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
It was posted yesterday. Heartbreaking. What is important is that it’s in Scientific American…a credible source for doubters.

Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
If it makes anyone feel better the CEO’s email address of Menu Foods is phenderson@menufoods.com I have confirmed this. I won’t go into many details on how but it will reach his assistant.

Comment by Mr X — April 2, 2007 @ 10:25 pm
Sarah, I understand that. But I feel their brand of activism is called for under circumstances such as this one.

Comment by Sandro — April 2, 2007 @ 10:28 pm
The thing that’s really maddening is, there are multi-millionaires and billionaires living in highrise penthouses not too far away from those they sacrificed to gain wealth. These greedies came and built hundreds of factories, destroyed the river people’s lives, killed them and they are lavishing in their wealth.

Now depending on your belief, I’m going to say there is a judgment day coming where everyone will give an account.

Comment by Gary — April 2, 2007 @ 10:29 pm
I hope our government does something about this issue with our food, but since they did so little for people of Hurricane Katrina I can’t help but be skeptical.

There is always power of the purse and our votes.

Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 2, 2007 @ 10:30 pm
http://home.businesswire.com/p.....;ndmHsc=v2*A1104584400000*B1174109162000*C4102491599000*DgroupByDate*J2*N1002521&newsLang=en&beanID=370386346&viewID=news_view

I wonder if this is related? Concerns Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream.

Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 2, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
Gary, isn’t that what is happening here in America? We’re losing our middle class. And our pets are sacrificial lambs.

Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
Gary, thanks for the reminder. I DO remember. I’d give my eyeteeth to be able to go that valley today and see what happened, But I don’t think we’ll see that on the evening news soon.

And Linda, congrats. I used to live in No CA too. The area you’re moving to is really and truly the last unspoiled place in CA.

Take a road trip down to Fort Ross sometime - there’s a B&B there that accepts pooches -and ask the folks at the local breakfast diner (there’s only one, really) where the local dog beach is. It’s illegal, so it’s a “secret,” but they’ll tell you anyway.

That’s one of my fondest memories with my dearly departed dog. It was in 2003, about 6 months before she died. She was 17, arthritic, blind, diabetic, and mostly deaf, and had never been in salt water before. I thought she’d hate it.

Wrong! She turned into a puppy again. Barking, laughing, running. There’s no human definition of joy that comes close to what she showed she felt on that beach. It was as if she could sense the wide openness of it. She didn’t worry about running into anything - she just ran, zooming around, in and out of the water, loving it all. I cherish the pictures of her I took that day more than just about anything else I own.

Enough with the reminiscences - but really, do take your dogs if you go. It can be hard to find a good dog beach in CA, but I’ll vouch for that one.

Comment by Laura — April 2, 2007 @ 10:36 pm
Whoops - make that Nadine! Sorry! Too many CA folk and alumni here. :)

Comment by Laura — April 2, 2007 @ 10:38 pm
Are we gonna have to mail our dead pets to the FDA to get the numbers right?
Send cat corpses to CNN?
What is it going to take to make them QUIT LYING??

Comment by E. Hamilton — April 2, 2007 @ 10:43 pm
Laura, I’m the one who’s moving there…lucky Linda grew up there! The memories you hold are so very special with your dog there. I know what it’s like when the seniors seem to momentarily go through puppyhood again…it’s a beautiful time and an indelible memory for you. Where are you now? —-Nadine

Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 2, 2007 @ 10:43 pm

No, better yet, make the trip with them. A fleeting thought I myself had earlier today. What a unique march that would make.

Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 10:48 pm
Here is a new lawsuit today. Thats alot of zeros.

Streczyn v. Menu Foods, Inc. et al
Case Number: 3:2007cv00159
Filed: April 2, 2007

Court: Nevada District Court
Office: Reno Office [ Court Info ]
County: Washoe
Presiding Judge: Judge Larry R. Hicks
Referring Judge: Magistrate Judge Valerie P. Cooke

Nature of Suit: Torts - Property - Property Damage Product Liability
Cause: 28:1332 Diversity-Product Liability
Jurisdiction: Diversity
Jury Demanded By: Plaintiff
Amount Demanded: $100,000,000,000.00

Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 2, 2007 @ 10:49 pm
Pardon me. I’m getting punchy after 14 hours here today.

Good night all.

Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 10:51 pm
Please, please, please research and think twice before sending money to PETA or HSUS. Sure, PETA is coming out and trying to do something, and I am happy for that, but if you would like to continue owning pets, these orgs are not for you. Local shelters and rescue org’s definitely need our help and support.

“-PETA pamphlet, Companion Animals: Pets or Prisoners?

“I don’t use the word “pet.” I think it’s speciesist language. I prefer “companion animal.” For one thing, we would no longer allow breeding. People could not create different breeds. There would be no pet shops. If people had companion animals in their homes, those animals would have to be refugees from the animal shelters and the streets. You would have a protective relationship with them just as you would with an orphaned child. But as the surplus of cats and dogs (artificially engineered by centuries of forced breeding) declined, eventually companion animals would be phased out, and we would return to a more symbiotic relationship – enjoyment at a distance.”

http://peta-sucks.com/araquotes.htm

Anyone who follows the news, has already heard about the PETA members getting busted for dumping dead pets in the dumpster. Read the whole story to fully understand why and what is going on with that org.

http://www.nokillnow.com/PETAI.....Resign.htm

Check the AKC site for legislature alerts. This is very real, and crazy anti-pet laws are getting passed. Read the Louisville ordinances. There is a huge difference between animal welfare and animal rights.

http://www.akc.org/news/sectio.....alerts.cfm

Comment by Jackie — April 2, 2007 @ 10:53 pm
Hey, Nadine. Sorry!:) I’m in NC now. Still miss CA horribly, and my old girl, too. I couldn’t even get another dog till 2003 - it just wouldn’t have been fair.

Here’s an idea: what if everyone who lost a pet to this debacle emailed their pet’s photo to their congressional delegation? What if we could put up a wall of shame on a website somewhere? Maybe that would make the national media take notice. A picture really is worth a thousand words - when it’s a pet, maybe 2000.

Comment by Laura — April 2, 2007 @ 10:58 pm
I’ve long stopped purchasing anything made in China. I’ve also told anyone who wants to buy me a gift that it can’t be made in China. I’ve seen excellent Canadian industries move their operations to China, only to have our people put out of work and the quality of the product plummets. Look at all the dollar stores popping up around the country. Need I say more.

There are no human rights or animal rights. They do not respect life and I don’t understand it. I will always buy Canadian first (as it is my home country), US second and EU third, even if those products cost more. I also buy products from Third World Countries if I know that they were handmade by villagers who will receive the money I have spent; organizations that help these people survive. But, China is not an option.

It kills me to know that a Canadian company was so irresponsible as to not test its ingredients before using them in our pet’s food. I thought we were above that as a caring country.

After learning that I had fed my 5 cats both Iams with sauce and Hills m/d, I am so grateful that nothing has happened to them, though I had one of them tested to be sure. I am now feeding them Acana — a dry food made with local ingredients and no fillers. I am supplementing that with homemade stews and they love it. And if something does go wrong with the food, at least I know which tree to bark up.

Comment by Claudia Hickling — April 2, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
Here is the address to the New York laboratory press release concerning Aminopterin vs. Melamine from 2 days ago. This is going to take time to figure out. http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/A.....aseID=1599

Comment by katie — April 2, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
Laura, that’s an excellent idea. I thought I read where someone has started a website. Even so, we can do the same. I would think receiving the photos in the mail would be be moving as well. It might turn up as spam in the email.

Gina?

Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 11:03 pm
Hello. My heart aches for all who have lost loved ones to this horrific situation. I have two resuce pups who are my life. They ate Iams dry and were very sick in November with the same symptoms we are seeing now. The vet could not figure out what was wrong. They are doing okay now, but I am cooking for them. You may all be aware of this already, but for anyone who is not, Keep Our Pets Safe is holding a National Memorial March for our lost little ones on April 28. I will post the link so that you may go to the web-site and read more information. Please think about joining a march in your city or starting one if your city is not on the list. Our babies cannot speak for themselves. http://keepourpetssafe.braveho.....march.html

Comment by Marcia — April 2, 2007 @ 11:09 pm
Dar: What part of the country are you posting from where you saw “Greta” on Fox say only 14 dead?

Comment by spocko — April 2, 2007 @ 11:12 pm
One thing we need to watch is Menu is ramping up production today. And not one single report of what was accomplished during that shutdown. There is still the issue of Brands. I doubt the Brands are going to just cease production with Menu. Except one announced they are cutting ties today. Menu is going to ramp up another 60 million cans over the next months or whatever their volume is. It wouldn’t surprise me to see pouches with cuts and gravy back on the shelves soon. Are they that stupid? No doubt they are going to want to make up for lost revenue. I don’t want to buy another brand that is affiliated with this company in any way shape or form. The first thing we need to demand of Brands as customers is truth in advertising. “Do you make your food or do you outsource to someone else? And who might that be? Who supplies your ingredients?” Another issue in this fiasco that still remains to be addressed.
The Brands who partnered with Menu despite the impression their products were not produced by a conglomerate. Which is basically misleading. As much as the Industry would like to just get on with business as usual. I think they are deluding themselves with the magnitude of this debacle. They have taken their customers for granted and are going to have to earn everyone of us back.

See you AM.

Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 11:17 pm
Spocko, Fox runs their evening programs 2 or 3 times a night.

I also heard Greta tonight, while fixing up grub for the dogs. I think it was at the end of her program, and she did elaborate, saying the number of pets will likely go up. She also said something about the human supply is suppose to be safe, according to the FDA. I was in the kitchen, so don’t quote me, but that’s the jest of what I heard her report.

Comment by Jackie — April 2, 2007 @ 11:29 pm
http://groups.myspace.com/petfoodrecall

Just a reminder, you can post pics of your babies on this myspace group…

I am so sorry for everyone that lost a CHILD, as I did.

You will all see your babies again, but right now we have work to do!

Comment by J — April 2, 2007 @ 11:31 pm
Night Steve!

Yes, I don’t think they understand the magnitude of the brand hit nor what they really need to do to get back the customers. This demanded a TYLENOL LEVEL response and if they are smart they will ask the question of the people here, “What will it take for you to trust us again?” And frankly the press should be asking that question too.

This isn’t a question for Wall Street, this a question for Kelly B who lost “Miss Cuddles my Precious Companion kitty for 13 yrs”

The company that understands that will come out of this. The ones that don’t, won’t.

Comment by spocko — April 2, 2007 @ 11:33 pm
Too all-

We careful of some of the websites that others are posting! The Chinese site below gave me 2 viruses!!!! Fortunately, it was caught by my antivirus software. The virus names are called TrojanAnicmoo and Adware.Iebar. BE VERY CAREFUL!

“NOTE: The direct link to Suzhou’s Web sites resulted in a redirection to an x-rated site. Please exercise caution and shield your furbabies’ sensitive eyes. http://www.hengrunchina.com/en/”

Comment by Melissa — April 2, 2007 @ 11:44 pm
The Late Great Miss Cuddles and Me Loves You All!! Good Night and God Bless !!!

Comment by kelly B — April 2, 2007 @ 11:53 pm
Laura,

Sorry I’ve been off making cat food. I know you all missed me dearly! :)

The photo idea could be great. Would it be sacrosanct to borrow from the concept of the AIDS quilt and make this not just a statement of who has been lost, but a healing mechanism for who is still here?

I don’t know about you but the loss of a beloved animal has impacted my life far greater than the loss of a human, bizarre to some as that may sound. Now we have all these hundreds, if not thousands of deeply wounded people.

And as I scan what is left of my brain, still living in San Francisco, having been on the front lines of the AIDS epidemic in the 80s, I can’t think of one single person I watched die that would not embrace this idea.

As each of us post our comments, we see these precious faces at the bottom the screen looking up, how powerful would this quilt be? How precious? How healing? It gives an outlet for the grief. An expression for the pain.

I am certain the AIDS quilt people would help us.

Is this viable or should someone call the men in the white coats to come and take me away?

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 11:54 pm
I have been reading this forum and I too am not
sure that Hill Science has “fessed up” to the
possibility that their other dry cat food is
safe. My two cats are both sick,throwing up.
They are on “Sensitive Stomach”. This has been
going on for over a month. My vet bills have been unreal. The Vets can’t find anything. I am
suspicious about this corn gluten. Tonight I have removed the food bowl. Tomorrow I will find something that I feel is safer. My super
cat friend says she has all her cats on Purina
dry cat food. Our precious pets are captive to
what we feed them and that is why this tainted
food is such a personal tragedy.

Comment by Elaine Derrick — April 2, 2007 @ 11:57 pm
Coming from a country, such as China, that abuses cats and dogs, actually raising them for food and brutally and inhumanely murdering them, I am not surprised that they deny and shrug off this horror that they created by poisoning the food supply of not only pet food, but probably human food as well. After all, the only thing that really matters to them, and apparently Menu Foods and the companies that allowed this is MONEY! Save a dime at the expense of our beloved pets. It is no wonder cancer and other diseases are on the rise among humans and other animals. But don’t worry, Menu foods wiil reimburse your vet bill if you can prove the death of your pet came from their food…disgusting! “The LOVE of money IS the root of all evil!”

Comment by John — April 3, 2007 @ 12:18 am
Pet Food Deaths: FDA Blocks Gluten from China

National Public Radio did today on Monday on the All Things Considered news program. You can hear the audio of the story by following the link just under the headline.

Something that was especially good to hear from a national medis source - talking of the number of pet deaths, the NPR reporter said information from “…pet hospitals, chains and some states would indicate that it’s certainly higher than the 14 that the FDA is reporting or the 16 Menu Foods is reporting. Probably in the hundreds…”

They also went into a little detail about melamine’s use as a fertilizer, saying that it would have no connection to the wheat it contaminated - because it is a very slow release fertilizer, it’s used in forestry.

- Paul

Comment by Paul — April 3, 2007 @ 12:20 am
Pet Food Deaths: FDA Blocks Gluten from China

National Public Radio did today on Monday on the All Things Considered news program. You can hear the audio of the story by following the link just under the headline.

Something that was especially good to hear from a national medis source - talking of the number of pet deaths, the NPR reporter said information from “…pet hospitals, chains and some states would indicate that it’s certainly higher than the 14 that the FDA is reporting or the 16 Menu Foods is reporting. Probably in the hundreds…”

They also went into a little detail about melamine’s use as a fertilizer, saying that it would have no connection to the wheat it contaminated - because it is a very slow release fertilizer, it’s used in forestry.

- Paul

Comment by Paul — April 3, 2007 @ 12:21 am
John and Paul - The Night Owls

What do you think can/should be done by crazed pet loving Americans?

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 3, 2007 @ 12:23 am
Where do you live, roughly. What do you do, roughly.

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 3, 2007 @ 12:25 am
I am a crazed pet loving American and value your input as you are coming in out of the mainstream.

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 3, 2007 @ 12:40 am
I was in China twice in the late 1990s. Even in a smaller city, where I was, the air was thick with smog, yet Chinese people from elsewhere remarked on how clean it was. I have never seen anyplace with as much pollution, or such casual acceptance of pollution, as China.

We get in a hissy fit and prevent generic drugs manufatured in Canada from being imported, because we’re concerned (we claim) about safety. In reality, we’re caving in to pressure from the big Pharmacutical companies.) But we apparently accept bulk food shipments from China without inspection - I had no idea.

I was fascinated with the traffic in China - all sorts of weird, dilapidated trucks that were built out of mismatched parts. Motor scooters and bicyles piled high with chickens in cages or other absurdly huge loads. Motorcycles carrying pairs of 55 gallon drums on the sides like saddlebags.

An off-the-top-of-my-head guess, having been there and seen some of the amazing means of transporting goods, is that the contamination is from shipping gluten in rail cars or trucks that had also been used to ship fertilizer.

Comment by Paul — April 3, 2007 @ 12:40 am
mY THOUGHTS THIS , THAT A CHINESE FIRM DELIBERATLY PUT THE MELAMINE IN THE FOOD AS AN ADDITIVE. THE FDA STOP SHIPMENT ORDER SAID THAT IT WAS AN “ADDITIVE”. SO TO ME THAT SAYS THAT THE LITTLE PLASTIC CRYTALS WERE VERY CHEAP, AND IT MADE MORE WEIGHT TO THE FOOD, MORE WEIGHT, LESS ACUTAL FOOD , AND MORE MONEY. THEYV’E PROBABLY BEEN DOING IT FOR A LONG TIME SOMEBODY JUST GOT GREEDY AND THOUGHT WELL….GEE ALIITTLE MORE FILLER WEIGHT WON’T HURT..AFTER ALL IT’S ONLY ANIMALS ANYWAY!! THAT EXTRA BECAME FATALLY TOXIC. A THEORY ANYWAY.

Comment by lori anderson — April 3, 2007 @

pet connection

Pet food recall: China denies role in recall

By Gina Spadafori

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