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Pet food recall: Natura to can its own foods.
By Gina Spadafori
April 2, 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.
Itchmo spots this media release while the PetConnection is out getting caffeinated:
SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Although not implicated in the recent massive Menu Foods canned food recall, Natura Pet Products has pledged to either acquire or build a canning plant so that the company can exercise complete control over its product lines.
In a video message to Natura customers, Peter Atkins, one of Natura’s founders and owners, made assurances that no Natura canned food contains the suspected contaminate, wheat gluten from China, or wheat of any kind. Furthermore, Natura’s canned foods are made exclusively in a Menu Foods South Dakota plant, rather than in the affected Kansas and New Jersey plants. Nonetheless, Natura plans to remove any doubt that they are producing pet foods with unsafe ingredients.
The rest is after the break.
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Technorati Tags: pet food recall, dogs, cats,veterinarian, veterinary
“I want to make sure that you know that we take very seriously our responsibility to provide healthful and safe products for the thousands of dogs and cats that eat Natura pet foods,” said Atkins. “To do this effectively we must ultimately control the manufacture of ALL products that we sell. Therefore, the Natura Pet Products board of directors has authorized the immediate implementation of a plan to either acquire an existing canning operation or build a new can plant from scratch. This substantial financial commitment will insure that you, our loyal customers, can be confident in knowing that all Natura pet food products will always be of the highest quality – that we truly live up to our mission to make the healthiest pet foods in the world.”
Natura owns and operates the manufacturing plants that make its dry pet foods and its baked treats and biscuits. Its quality management programs at these plants are unequaled in the industry and as a result of these programs Natura has achieved many human food plant certifications, including a “Superior” rating from the American Institute of Baking, Organic Certification, registration with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and ISO 9001:2001 compliance.
Until Natura begins its canning operation, it will have one of their own Quality Control employees on-site in South Dakota to oversee the production of its products. Natura has also instructed its buyers to utilize ingredients from domestic suppliers only.
About Natura Pet Products
Founded fifteen years ago by John and Ann Rademakers and Peter Atkins, Natura is recognized as the most trusted name behind the healthiest pet food in the world. Natura’s products are formulated, manufactured, and prepared at human grade levels. Lines include: INNOVA, EVO, CALIFORNIA NATURAL, HEALTHWISE and KARMA. For more information visit: www.naturapet.com or call (800) 532-7261.
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Technorati Tags: pet food recall, dogs, cats,veterinarian, veterinary
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“It’s the Customers Stupid”
A small step in the right direction. Probably the only development we have seen from a Brand since this scandal started that gives us at least some glimmer of hope a new direction can be pursued.
Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 10:36 am
When they build their new operations, I hope they also set up a state-of-the-art testing laboratory and keep their nose in all incoming/outgoing product. Maybe we can ask them to bake our cookies for us?
Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 10:45 am
I saw this video last week (sorry, thought it was here somewhere!), and while I’m glad to see them take this step I really wish they had backed off from their ‘100% certainty” that current foods made at Menu are safe.
So all in all, I give them a C-. But if we were grading pet companies on a curve…. sigh.
Comment by Kim — April 2, 2007 @ 10:46 am
Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 10:45 am
I doubt there is any future for CEO’s in this business who want to run skeleton crews to put money into their own pockets at this point.
They are going to have to do some serious soul searching on the issues of Wealth Without Ethics or Conscience if they want a job.
There is no escaping it now. And as far as these faceless behemoths who acquired pet food brands for a revenue stream, I already know what they think. “If it’s not producing revenue we’ll sell it off and minimize our losses.”
Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 10:57 am
All these companies are saying such things now.
I called the people over at NutroMax this morning after discovering that their Natural Choice Dog Treats ( Chicken and Rice Sticks, Lamb and Rice Sticks) have wheat gluten in them via website. I asked why they were not in the recall list and I was told that their treats were made some place else, but yet their site claims that their treats don’t contain any wheat gluten.
Arseholes! Talk is cheap as is ingredients from other countries.
Comment by Stacy — April 2, 2007 @ 10:58 am
The FDA needs to produce a list of pet food companies who signed off on shipments of Chinese wheat gluten. Consumers can’t trust companies and I’m damned curious to know who got some of this stuff and hasn’t initiated a recall.
Comment by Sandro — April 2, 2007 @ 11:03 am
Comment by Nadine Long: “When they build their new operations, I hope they also set up a state-of-the-art testing laboratory and keep their nose in all incoming/outgoing product.”
Yes! and make certain all those involved in especially testing are ethical and good people, not sluff offs.
And, banish the name Menu off every pylon and oblisk.
Comment by Gary — April 2, 2007 @ 11:06 am
Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 10:57 am
Wealth without ethics is epidemic. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with prosperity and I wish it to all; however, not to the detriment of a single thing on this earth.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 11:06 am
Comment by Gary — April 2, 2007 @ 11:06 am
Perhaps a citizens’ oversight board would be helpful.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Hi, something just came to mind today. We use to have a problem with wild birds (Sparrows, Mocking Birds & Doves) eating our dog’s food on our back patio, but now that I think about it, it has been months and months since I have seen a bird eating the food…. Since the first recall we have changed our dry food to Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul. Just wondering if anyone else has noticed anything like this?
Comment by marcy — April 2, 2007 @ 11:08 am
Stacey - that is so outrageous. They just don’t want people not buying their product!
Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 11:10 am
Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 11:06 am
I am with you. And another thing is these companies (ceo’s) are going to have to bite the bullet and realize that they are going to have to give their employees a stake and sense of ownership in the company and treat them with respect if they want to maintain the highest level of quality and welfare for everyone. No one wants to work for a company that treats them like disposable fodder. They need to rethink and revisit the concept of the LONG TERM growth curve. And constantly trim and tweak during the ascent and realize there are limits to what altitude you can exceed.
Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 11:17 am
Lying seems acceptable.
Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 11:18 am
I’m skeptical about the Natura video. Easy to say you will make drastic changes, harder to actually do it. At this point, I’m not buying their products.
Comment by Elizabeth — April 2, 2007 @ 11:22 am
STEVE FOR PRESIDENT!
What is it going to take to change corporate mindset? A vital wheat gluten worldwide recall?
Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Then, there are the huge old school conglomerates caught up in this scandal.
We now know the names.
Hanging on to a fleet of corporate aircraft while cutting over 35,000 people is one example. How many new ideas did those pieces of hardware come up with in the last five years to improve food safety?
Hanging on to lavish corporate offices while cutting 35,000 people. What did those overpriced buildings accomplish in the last five years, how has safety and quality control been improved with those material things?
It’s PEOPLE, your employees, not things, material things or executive possessions that make the difference. It’s time to change the focus.
Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 11:29 am
I’m worried. If this main Chinese company, who is also shipping it through the Netherlands, passes future FDA testing and deliveres products to the U.S. - what is keeping this same comapny (or other companies) from using this tainted unknown raw product supplier in this other province from once again getting into our pet food or into the human food chain?
The FDA needs tighter controls or am I missing something here?
Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 11:33 am
Linda,
I was just writing the same thing when my computer hung up on me. I also question how we would have any control over a distributor buying wheat grown in Viet Nam in the old fields that have so nicely been cleared for them with Agent Orange. Anyone consider that as a threat here? Viet Nam is a grower.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 11:39 am
re Marcy’s post…..I always had birds, squirrels, raccoons and possum eating the dry cat food. Hasn’t happened in awhile!!!
I feel the need to share some food observations. Cats in my house giving me grief with the Pet Promise canned…..they love the dry. Comes in dog formulas too for you puppy owners…
Anyway, after threatening to throw the cans of Pet Promise at them, just kidding, but cats can be real fussy, I just received an order of Evangers canned cat food. They also make canned varieties for dogs…..Took my fussiest, who also happens to have IBD and tried him for a taste test. He was purring his head off while he was inhaling the food!! Check out the Evangers site. This looks promising……although my cats’ passion for food seems to be affected by the phase of the moon…..stay tuned
Comment by Peg — April 2, 2007 @ 11:40 am
Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 11:24 am
It’s not going to be easy. We’ve been seeing this trend since the 1980’s where these monster corporations have been devouring small and medium size business for 25 years now. Simply by using their deep pockets to undercut on price. Then they have conditioned us to accepting cheaper is better. Then we get into the concept of product obsolescence, as if money grows on trees and it really doesn’t matter since we can just toss it in the garbage and buy a new one. Example my stereo equipment is 30 years old and in mint condition. Now that is the kind of product I want to invest my hard earned money into. Not something thats going to fall apart in a year. Then there is the trend of selling us bridge technologies. Like it’s cool or something.
Something has to give here.
Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 11:44 am
Thank you for the information, Peg……..
Comment by marcy — April 2, 2007 @ 11:45 am
Guess what. I just called my representative in Congress and complained about the Wheat Gluten problem being more widespread and even possibly in the Human food chain - the FDA is not doing enough - he’s not in the office - he is off campaigning….his aide took a message. My representative isn’t in….
So, what else is new?
Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 11:45 am
I see the core group jumped blogs again without checking with me first. Ha ha ha. This relates to my Gerber story, says the pesty woman.
http://www.alibaba.com/catalog.....tarch.html
How upset do you think people would be if baby food is contaminated?
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 11:53 am
We have the name of the company!
AP
Chinese Pet Food Co. Inspecting Product
Monday April 2, 1:10 pm ET
By Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press Writer
Chinese Maker Implicated in US Pet Deaths Says Investigating Contamination Claims
SHANGHAI, China (AP) — A Chinese company accused by the U.S. of supplying a contaminated ingredient for pet food that allegedly killed cats and dogs said Monday it was investigating the claims.
Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Company Ltd. was named in a notice issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the source of wheat gluten containing a chemical found in plastics and pesticides.
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Geng Xiujuan, Xuzhou Anying’s sales manager, said the company was aware of the notice and was looking into the accusation that large concentrations of melamine had been found in its wheat gluten, a protein source used as an ingredient in the pet food.
However, Geng said the company based in the eastern province of Jiangsu had not manufactured the gluten but had instead bought it from companies in neighboring provinces. She said Xuzhou Anying sold it onward to another Jiangsu company, Suzhou Textile Import and Export Co.
“There are many other exporters and I don’t see why they would just blame us,” Geng said. However, “We are doing the self inspection now,” she said, adding it was too early to announce any results.
The U.S. investigation has traced the melamine to wheat gluten that Menu Foods, Nestle Purina PetCare Co. and Hill’s Pet Nutrition bought from an unnamed U.S. supplier.
The latter two companies have recalled a limited number of products since Friday.
It is not clear how many pets may have been poisoned by the apparently contaminated food, although anecdotal reports suggest hundreds if not thousands have died. In early March, Menu Foods recalled 60 million containers of its “cuts and gravy” style wet pet foods after cats fell sick and died during routine company taste tests. The company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog.
Xuzhou Anying’s Web site describes it as a private company set up in 1995 to make and sell animal feed, wheat gluten and vegetables. It said the company produces and exports more than 10,000 tons of wheat gluten each year.
The U.S. FDA notice issued Friday said all wheat gluten traced to Xuzhou Anying would be held at customs until the company released results of its investigation, took corrective measures and proved that five consecutive shipments had been cleared of contamination.
All gluten from China will be screened, along with that arriving from the Netherlands, through which Chinese gluten is shipped, the notice said.
Comment by L. Kuz — April 2, 2007 @ 11:53 am
The FDA needs tighter controls or am I missing something here? Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 11:33 am
Badly in need of serious and immediate scrutiny. Look at the Walter Reed Scandal.
If we start thinking hey the FDA is worthless why even have it and waste our taxpayer dollars shut it down, then the Corporations win and will be popping champagne corks and celebrating because there will be ZERO oversight on ANYTHING.
The biggest problem is undoubtedly cost cutting and inadequate federal funding and the resulting bare bones skeleton crews for one of the most important responsiblities in this country because revenue is being devoured and siphoned off into “priorities” elsewhere and I do not want to go off into that topic here.
Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 11:55 am
I can’t get this to post. What is going on.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 11:56 am
http://www.alibaba.com/catalog.....tarch.html
Check this out! I thought I already posted it but don’t see it.
How upset do you think people would be if baby food is contaminated?
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 11:56 am
Please go to Kansas blog and see my 11:15 message.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 11:59 am
We have the name of the company!
Comment by L. Kuz — April 2, 2007 @ 11:53 am
Good Find L. Another small step. We have a long road ahead of us though. There are no instant solutions to this disastrous myriad we are confronting.
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap.....74502.html
Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 11:59 am
That AP article got at least one fact wrong. The FDA alert is not for ALL wheat gluten coming from China and the Netherlands. The FDA alert is for the wheat gluten coming SPECIFICALLY from Xuzhou Anying, be it direct from China or thru the Netherlands (Rotterdam’s a big port). It states that at the bottom of the FDA alert.
Comment by Brian Bell — April 2, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
**A few days ago I wrote this email to the moderator**
I’ve been posting off and on here since the beginning of this fiasco and I was wondering if someone might consider making a topic about the possibility that the dry food also has potentially toxic corn in it?
Monsanto makes genetically altered versions of soy and corn(as well as a few dozen others) that are shown to cause kidney and liver problems in rats. The long-term symptoms of most people who are finding that their pets are having problems with dry food is surprizingly simmilar to the effect that this grain had on the rats. It didn’t kill them outright so much as cause systemic health problems.
Here’s a link to a good article on the subject:
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/mon.php
http://www.organicconsumers.or.....052605.cfm
The UK newspaper is no longer carrying the original article, but I found a copy of it online.
The bottom line seems to be that the genetically modified corn(and other plants like potatos - check out the scientist in question) have an almost constant trait. They cause damage to the immune systems of animals that eat them.
With a compromized immune system, it’s not hard to imagine that something like this bad gluten would cause massive deaths. My best educated guess is that this bad corn compromised their systems and the bad gluten/melamine(sp?) easily pushed them over the edge. What would have been normal food poisoning turned into a disaster.
How else could people be reporting renal failure from dry foods that don’t even have gluten in them?
Well, thanks for reading my ramblings.
**I received a reply from the moderator of this site saying to put it here - which I am, but here’s my followup as well, which I though was relevant.**
I was hoping that you might make a topic for it - something like “Genetically Modified Grains?” or “Bad Corn?” or whatever you felt
was appropriate.
I’ll put it in the comments again, but it seems to be buried in amongst the other posts. I dropped all corn and wheat out of my cats’ diets and they were better withing a week - an astounding chance, in fact. I work with computers and tend to be a very pragmatic sort of person. And the change was not imagined - they went from shedding, throwing up, having icky skin, watery eyes, and so on to… absolutely no symptoms at all. I suspect that the GM grains are weakening their immune systems so that all it takes is a little something bad to push them over the edge - as opposed to just making them really sick.
They don’t use GM grain in the U.K. for instance, and you’ve heard literally nothing about bad food over there.
****
Just trying to get the word out - I think it’s a case of both factors working together. Try removing corn, soy, and wheat from their diets for a week(rice also is modified, but for dry food, it’s the least offensive of the three, being the least modified). You’ll see an amazing change.
Comment by Joseph — April 2, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
Good article.
Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
Also, just to clarify, I meant the AP article was wrong about inspecting all Chinese wheat gluten. That’s not what the alert states. It states they should detain Xuzou Anying’s wheat gluten, not inspect all sources being imported. The AP article does get just about everything else right, though. Except, the AP article also neglects to mention that Xuzhou Anying’s Web site states its wheat gluten is “good” for human food as well as animal feed. Small details, but I think possibly important ones.
Comment by Brian Bell — April 2, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
Rock on, Forbes. Finally, a national pub picks this up - read, one hopes, by people who hold shares in pet food companies.
Not to sound mercenary - hey, it’s global capitalism that got us into this mess, IMO - but I also think it’ll take market pressures, not the FDA, to sort it out.
Comment by Laura — April 2, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
Please call your Senators today. I called each one and asked for an investigation into this poisoned wheat gluten and into the human food supply also.
Everyone, please call, not write, call today.
Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
MADE IN U.S.A means absolutely nothing anymore.
Everything has become about expansion, growth, and more money. We as a nation have lost our collective souls to greed. Wash, rinse, repeat—-year in and year out.
I have been simplifying my life for more than a year now. I buy less and I own less of everything. I do not buy much from a box or packages of food because it is so far away from natural as can be. Also getting as many chemicals out of my life has been a goal.
When it comes to getting us to part with the money in our pocket, people/companies will tell us anything to get us to put it in theirs. I decided to keep more of it in my pocket. My quality of life is actually better stepping off the consumer rat race.
What did people feed their pets before pet food became big business? I guess the question should be, were pets healthy before pet food became commercialized? (I am reading stories of long and healthy pet lives—but would liked it validated)
We have more sickness in people now with our current system in place, is that also true in the face of processed pet foods?
There are so many individuals here with caring hearts for the animals, probably the same kind of people who would stick with doing the right thing, even if the wrong thing had better consequences for them. How, or can we ever get businesses too see it that way also. Good Karma, Bad Karma, it all comes back.
Comment by DeeAnn — April 2, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
Finally got someone from the company handling the claim for Menu to call me - WHAT A JOKE!!!
These people are arrogant. If anyone is interested you can go to http://www.claimsalert.ca/menufoods
Comment by Sandi Schreiber — April 2, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
For your Congressional calling convenience:
http://usgovinfo.about.com/lib.....blflag.htm
Comment by Laura — April 2, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
DId anyone look at the Alibaba link?
They are selling corn gluten and corn starch as the same thing.
I’ll bet my house and my cats this is not only about wheat.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
It’s important to realize the FDA is not an impartial party in all of this. The FDA generally will protect the manufacturer — that has been well established in the instance of pharmaceuticals. The FDA, unfortunately, will not be an adequate watchdog.
Comment by Elizabeth — April 2, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
I just called my Natural Foods Co-op to find out about their flour - the man almost laughed at me. Said their organic flour was nothing but the flour and it goes through a grinding process - nothing is added. He said they make it in Canada. Why am I not comforted?
Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
Lois said: They are selling corn gluten and corn starch as the same thing.
Just bought a jar of Gerber’s 2nd Foods Chicken Baby Food this morning. Ingredients: Chicken, water, corn starch.
My headache is back.
Comment by Kim — April 2, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
Elizabeth, oh I so agree.
Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 12:30 pm
Deeann, I understand about ” simplifying” - I too, have been getting away from all processed foods and it’s made a HUGE difference. I agree with the petfood manufacturing too!!! Just think how many processed foods are out there to make people’s lifes easy??? In the end, it will hurt us - wonder why there is so much cancer around than years past???
Comment by Sandi Schreiber — April 2, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
Joseph - I hadn’t seen any of your corn posts so you’re right about them getting lost in the comments.
I’ll be happy to post the corn info on my blog (where it will be seen by anyone getting the pet food tracker). Feel free to email me at kd @ playingbig.com
Comment by Kim — April 2, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
Why am I not comforted? Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
I wouldn’t trust anyone who would snicker or laugh about a situation like this. This is going to extend way beyond just pet food at this point.
Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
I was going to return my jars of Gerber but not now. I’m going to need them. If there was any truth to what Don said, and I assume there was, this is very, very not good. As in, I am shaking.
And yes our pets are the canaries in the coal mine.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
US. Wheat - no additives - Indiana company - they will ship - local company. No extra gluten
http://www.newrinkelflour.com/.....ff7eaaeeea
Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
My little bitty pet food company uses only USA ingredients with the only exception being the lamb meal from New Zealand. They are internationally known for the excellence of their sheep and grazing lands. Other than that I only source from the US since I am a bit paranoid. It has amazed me how many times I have been contacted by overseas entities i.e. their people here in the states that represent them. Then again, a little paranoia can be a good thing! I work with a small manufacturing plant that sources virtually all of their ingredients from heartland America, within a 100 mile radius of their plant. Their community pride and technological excellence got my vote when I was looking for someone to make my products.
I first worked with a premiere multi-species nutritionist who has been in this industry (and appalled by most of what he sees) for over 35 years.
My dog food has a ‘politically incorrect’ label. Corn is my first ingredient, so my nutritionist could pack the meat in. Look at the meat/grain ratio grid at kumpi.com for some insights there. We have been so bamboozled. Also, I use meat and bone meal, another consumer perception gone awry - and I have posted multiple times about this issue and have been lambasted online with ‘facts’ they have read. Corn is THE best grain for a dog food, it is highly digestible (we don’t use raw corn) and we do use a non-GMO corn source.
I list meat and bone meal so IF there is not the grade of beef I want for production, sometimes they will use pork in the food too. Also, if BSE ever hits the food chain, I am going strictly pork and won’t have to worry about my bags being in violation. As small as my company is, that would be a lot of capital to worry about.
I am happy to take the ‘heat’ from the industry and those who still believe the propaganda. I have lived in ‘angst’ for nine years now, trying to educate people. It is so ironic that I have often told people that I am alternative to corporate America - I never knew the need would mean life and death to this extreme.
My company is a fluke. I worked in the field of dog behavior for decades and when my OWN dog died when he was only five, I took matters into my own hands. Three years ago (my company turned nine yesterday) I had to go fulltime. I work from the spare bedroom of my house and have a whole two whopping employees. It is myself and two other women who keep this going.
I am vendors with The New York State K9 Handling Unit, The MTA/NYC and The United Nations Ambassador Security K9 Detail. Talk about folks who scrutizine a soul and want the best :)
I ramble on to indicate that some pretty high profile people trust me, even though according to the vast amount of information online that really is *false science* they looked first to one thing - who they could trust. The actual formula of the product was secondary. Then they tested the performance of the food.
I would issue the same call to consumers. CALL the pet food company and don’t just settle for talking with the receptionist. Ask for someone obscure in their nutritional department or the department that deals with the plant who manufactures their food - someone who won’t be talking from a script.
QUIT getting so hung up about labels. There are some darn good foods out there besides mine that get passed over because you read somewhere online about this and that. Back to Basics is an AWESOME food line, but since they also use corn, they get overlooked. Go to their website and check them out!!! Labels can be very deceptive boogers and can hide a multitude of sins. If you can trust your company (and personaly I would trust INNOVA) you can trust the rest of the process. I guarantee that INNOVA will lose a lot of money in this restructuring process!! I respect them immensely.
This whole recall issue has caused me to break into tears several times. I am emotionally supporting an elderly woman locally whose cat was affected. I cannot imagine the sorrow of so many who are going home to empty food bowls, keeping toys that used to dance around the room and leashes that were held in hands that now hold memories. This has been a travesty in the worst way. My whole life has been dedicated to helping dog owners develop a better relationship with their pet and learn how to abandon props and see their pet as a living being with their own unique emotional makeup.
How could anyone doubt our pets have souls? How could anyone doubt they feel love, jealousy, fear, compassion - so many emotions that run parallel to ours? I work hard to support rescue groups and admire the work they do. I could ‘how could’ for a long time…….our pets are a part of our hearts and when they are affected (for good or bad) it affects us as well.
I am just so sorry that the industry has been ‘revealed’ at the expense of innocent pets betrayed by greed. But now, people will look differently at their choices in pet food and definitely are far more aware.
Itchmo was kind enough to do a post about me and it is not promoting my company, rather some fyi about the industry I thought needed to be shared.
http://www.itchmo.com/read/a-p.....p_20070329
Innova Products are some of the best out there and I am pleased to see their response to this situation. They have shown tremendous integrity in taking this stand and I applaud their efforts. They are one of the companies I support when people find they can’t use my products for whatever reason.
Innova has always been one of the best companies in my opinion and I would encourage people to support them fully!! I hope other companies follow suit.
INNOVA - thanks for showing that you ARE more concerned about pets and the owners who love them than the money you can make. I’ve always trusted you to refer people to and what you have done is seal the deal for me :)
Give Natura/Innova a break in all of this. I have a unique perspective on all of this since I am inside the industry. There ARE plants that over regulate themselves out there and this incident with Menu Foods is a long needed wake up call. I am only sorry that it came at the expense of the lives of pets and owners who were betrayed by corporate greed.
It will be difficult to establish trust and I’m somewhat grateful that both my manufacturer and I are small entities. But MAJOR KUDOS to INNOVA for taking this stand!!!!!
And petconnection, thanks to you and itchmo and petsitusa and howl911 for being a place we can trust!!!
I am sorry this is so long. But this whole issue has been my *alarm* went off about this industry nine years ago and I am very passionate about all this.
Comment by Evy — April 2, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
And I am certain this is all being monitored, obviously, if they are getting their findings from here. The only question is, what will be the consequences.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 12:40 pm
I just ordered 25 pounds of Bread Flour. Just got off the phone with a very nice lady.
Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
From an activist perspective I think we all need to quit focusing on the individual complexities: human grade, animal grade, batch numbers, recall dates, Menu, DelMonte the FDA., wheat gluten, corn gluten, melamine, etc. Let’s promote something with a simple easy to grasp message and demand that our lawmakers ban ALL ag imports from China now without further delay! Yes, it is necessary for scientists to continue to test and analyze what went wrong, yes, it is necessary to step up inspections and demand accountability; but let them do it in an environment where new and additional potential contaminated goods are not entering the market and supply chain.
A single documented mad cow case in any country has resulted in all that country’s beef to be banned for import into the U.S. Surely THIS documented contaminated grain is sufficient to ban all grain imports from China.
Comment by elizabeth — April 2, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
SUGGESTION: These comments sections are becoming so long that it’s impossible to scan them for NEW and USEFUL INFORMATION. So any news media that may have been reading the comments section is probably as frustrated as I am trying to find INFORMATION here. It takes a couple of hours to read through all the new comments, and the news media doesn’t have that time. So my suggestion is to please limit comments to useful information, rather than chit-chat or anectdotal stories.
It’s too bad there couldn’t be TWO comment sections, one for NEWS and INFO and one for chit-chat. I know people who have sick or dead pets have a need to post and talk about it. I’m guilty of posting useless comments myself. But I’m worried that this website, which has been a previously-valuable source of info, and which is just now starting to be used by the mainstream media, will start to be ignored because it’s too cumbersome to FIND the NEW and USEFUL INFO buried within 200 random and chit-chatty comments.
Just a suggestion.
Comment by Sarah — April 2, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
P.S. This company also does not ship to stores outside of their area. So I can’t buy it from a large co-op. Their farmers are all local. And they assured me it is just the ground wheat. Indiana company.
http://www.newrinkelflour.com/.....ff7eaaeeea
Comment by Linda — April 2, 2007 @ 12:45 pm
But the BSE case only worked because of the threat to humans. They will not act because of threats to domestic pets which is why, if we could find ANY documentation of a concurrent threat to the HUMAN food supply, we would have way more power.
It’s just the way it is.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
So even though the FDA still won’t name the US Supplier and obviously no one has come forward, I am a little surprised that other companies and/or suppliers aren’t stepping up yet and saying, its not us - look, here’s the proof… or something like that. Until someone proves that they have good gluten, I think it is fair to think that perhaps pretty much everyone has the bad stuff.
Comment by Doug — April 2, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
Re Evy’s post about Innova/Natura “stepping up”-
Pardon me for not being overly impressed by their show of concern. But if they really wanted to show concern for their customers, they’d tell us who sold them the damn wheat!
That information should be available to them through their production reports from Menu. The FDA won’t do it. Menu won’t do it. So let one of these oh-so-concerned pet food companies put their money where their mouths are, and start singin’!
/rant concluded. Sorry.
Comment by Laura — April 2, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Do you agree that any company who produces human or pet food should be scouring their raw materials files and lists today?
Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
Heck, yeah. And frantically digging for any info they don’t have…
Unfortunately, I’d guess most that ARE doing so today are probably less concerned about their customers than their potential liability. But hey, you gotta start somewhere. Maybe someone will step up. And gee, think what a fabulous PR move THAT would be. :)
Comment by Laura — April 2, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
Yes, I agree.
Sarah’s point is also valid but we are only human and new at this.
And Steve should be King.
I think it’s time to start talking in private with those of us who want to do more than this in fighting this scourge.
I suggest a closed group elsewhere.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
Im not a natura fan right now either - although they are maybe moving in the right direction but how long will it take to build a facility - Anyway I went to my local super premium food store this weekend- they wanted me to buy either Welness or Natura wet food (Evo and /or innova) and I told them I wasn’t buying their wet because it was made at a menu foods plant. they told me I was wrong that they do not sell any product in that store that has any connection whatsoever to menu foods. I left them with some websites to check out and I would have loved to have seen the look on their face when they realized they had been lied to by natura and wellness reps which in turn made them be the ones to be handing out false information to their local community and customers. Why can’t these companies just be honest up front and let everyone know who gave them what and where it was manufactured….Why did it take something like this for super premium customers to find out their food was made at the same plants as the Walmart food.
Comment by Doug — April 2, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
***********************************************
Here are two really informative websites that every pet owner should visit before opening up a can of food for their beloved dog or cat…
a) http://www.api4animals.org/fac.....038;more=1 - Contains lots of info about the pet food companies themselves, their list of supposedly “safe” ingredients, how the foods are made, & what we’re REALLY feeding our pets.
b) http://www.api4animals.org/fac.....038;more=1 - Gives really useful tips on what to look for in a safe & healthy pet food, and what to avoid.
***********************************************
Comment by fern — April 2, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
This incident has clear implications for homeland security. However, the US govt appears to have taken little real action to set up safeguards against intentional contamination. What has been done so far appears to be summarized on this site:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/defprog.html
Since 2001, the following actions have apparently been taken:
- The FDA can now detain suspect food (they couldn’t before?)
- Domestic and foreign food producers must register with the FDA (they didn’t have to before?)
- The FDA must be notified of all food imported into the US or offered for import.
That’s it.
Now they just seem to be “planning” what other steps they might take. The latest planning doc is here:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/agroter5.html
Interestingly, under the “Vulnerabilities” section of the planning doc, they say, “In sum, for processed foods, the amount of product that can be directly contacted and exploited by a terrorist usually limits vulnerabilities. Thus, large batch sizes and secondary ingredients that will be mixed with large amounts of product stand out as critical.”
The most recent info on the Food Defense program site is from mid-2006. It seems there was a small flurry of activity in 2003 and 2004, and now they’re still “planning” how to prevent an intentional contamination of our food supply.
Comment by Cathy — April 2, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
We are certainly approaching that point. Lois, from your previous posts, sounds like you’ve been through the fires before and could be of great help.
(I’ve been having difficulty accessing this blog today.)
Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
Comment by Cathy — April 2, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
Great work, Cathy! I hope the Food Defense Committee is faithfully reading this blog. Maybe a lightbulb will go off.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 1:18 pm
Business as usual.
http://finance.google.com/finance?q=TSE:MEW.UN
Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
I am not suggesting in any way that anyone abandon this site as it is invaluable now and hopefully will remain that way.
I am saying, we need to take action beyond what we are already doing and sooner rather than later, as time is a wasting.
We cannot expect any governmental or regulatory agency to fix this problem. It ain’t going to happen. It is up to us.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
HELLO SPPA - FOOD DEFENSE…IS ANYONE OUT THERE?
It’s great to have policy, you just need to implement it. What’s this gobbledeegook in your agro-terrorism plan? I’m glad to hear you’ve identified all the gaps in the system. Now, how are you handling this today? We could use your early awareness and rapid response. Or was your plan just another empty exercise?:
“Research gaps and needs were also identified during each assessment. Enhanced scientific capabilities can provide an early awareness of an event and permit a rapid response that could reduce the impact of an event. Identified gaps and needs include developing a better understanding of threat-agent characteristics and improved detection methodologies. Most assessments also identified improved communications between government and industry during an emergency as a key gap.”
Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
I am pretty surprised Nadine, that we are all able to access this information so readily. Is it avaialble on purpose or do they really want everyone to know where the needs and gaps are.
Comment by Doug — April 2, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
It will take some time to organize resources so this site should remain the main contact point. Obviously this web site is now a National resource for this crisis. And a lot of people across the country are depending on it for credible sources of information.
We’ll need patience, perseverance, and need to proceed calmly and methodically. The secret to success is to being impeccable. This the challenge. If I have to name one quality we need to cultivate and maintain, then it’s in being able to stay calm in very stressful situations. Especially those of us who have endured this trial from the first day and are now able to proceed with clear heads and some real knowledge and authority on this situation. People need our help. If we don’t get this done we will have failed. And that is not an option.
Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Comment by Doug — April 2, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
It’s easy to say what is needed. The difficult part is to organize it seamlessly. It’s a mammoth network in which it all needs to be processed through. Somebody has to be in charge. Who is that? Do they have red telephones anymore?
Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 2:05 pm
Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Here I am.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 2, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
Laura wrote: Pardon me for not being overly impressed by their show of concern. But if they really wanted to show concern for their customers, they’d tell us who sold them the damn wheat!
— Laura… step back a minute here. Not defending Natura for using Menu Foods, but do understand that none of their foods except for their Karma Organic contain any wheat products. So they most likely don’t know (the company as a whole) who sold the wheat gluten.
Definitely, rant all you want about this situation, but first get the facts. As a small retailer of raw foods and a few kibble/canned products, I also want to applaud Natura for stepping up. Sorry if that PO’s anybody… but they have been MORE than forthright with me, even as a teeny tiny drop in their revenue bucket. More forthright and open than some of the other companies I deal with.
I don’t like that their canned is currently made at Menu’s S.D. plant anymore than anyone else does, but at least they understand that some wholesale changes need to be made - including putting their own inspectors at the site to take care of what Menu should have been taking care of all along.
We can only *hope* that this starts a revolution of change within the reputable and high quality pet food manufacturers to seek out their own manufacturing facilities - build them if they have to - so they can go back to standing behind their products.
No… I don’t feed kibble. Haven’t fed a drop of kibble or canned in 8 years… and wouldn’t dream of going back, but I *do* have to be able to offer some of my customers an option, and so far, Natura has been the one which has given me the ability to educate a few on the benefits of WHOLE ingredients, and no fillers, chemicals, dyes, etc.
Just a different perspective. It’s tough on this end right now - I’ve got people contacting me left and right wanting food ASAP, but can’t convince most that for good quality, they’re going to have to pay more than $.25/can or $10/bag. I’ve long said that, unfortunately, pet food is one place you get what you pay for, especially with “cheap”. Not saying the most expensive stuff is the best either, but it’s certainly one area where more pet owners need to be AWARE, and learn to read a label!
Tammy Kinkade
K9’s Naturally
Comment by Tammy K. — April 2, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
Comment by Doug — April 2, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
Mammoth is correct. You don’t wave a magic wand and create a National Movement or National Consumer Lobby Group in an instant.
Comment by Steve — April 2, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
Steve, et al,
I understand that this site is serving a tremendous purpose and must continue to do so at all costs. I am saying whatever plan is devised to prevent this from happening in the future is going to take a very, very long time to actualize and it may not be too soon to start at least beginning to strategize. I would think it would not want to be done in front of the world, hence my closed group suggestion, but maybe I am wrong on that.
Look at the Gulf Coast, how long it has been since Katrina, how little has been done. It is the individuals who have taken matters into their own hands who are bringing about the reconstruction, not the governmental bureaucracies. Walter Reed. The list goes on.
It is up to the people who truly care about an issue to fix whatever problem exists and actions speak louder than words. Yes, it is mammoth but it has to start somewhere. What better time to start than when this kind of motivation is present? I wasn’t thinking of a magic wand. I was thinking of hard work.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
Steve for President!! Lois for V-President!! Your ideas are wonderful, let’s put them to work.
Comment by Sandi Schreiber — April 2, 2007 @ 2:46 pm
Honestly, my greatest fear now, and from the beginning, is that we all fall back into complacency which is how this happened in the first place. I’ve been in several “start ups.” I’ve owned my own companies. I know what it is to work my ass off. That is what this will require and nothing less.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 2, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Not sure if this has been posted..but Nestle-Purina produces pet food in China, since February 2007.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/engl.....688630.htm
Not sure if any of this food is sent back to North America but it does leave room for thought.
Comment by mal — April 2, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
I HAVE 1 question what are we supposed to feed our pets? i put money aside for my dogs yearly shots, had to pay over $150.00 for blood test because they ate food on recall list now i don’t have the money for THEIR shots. i went out and got wellness ,today they refused to eat it,i don’t want to keep them on nutro because so many pets died from it,i was lucky my dogs are ok. i’m at my wit’s end. i’ve been on so many pet foods web site . wellness i heard does not even make their own dry food. what food co. are we supposed to trust now????
Comment by MARY ANN — April 2, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
This is awesome… I sent Natura an email a week ago notifying them that I would be switching my dogs off Innova Evo dry food until they broke all connections with Menu Foods. I didn’t have to wait very long at all. Since they’ve taken this step, I’m just going to mix the Solid Gold I bought in with the rest of the Innova and keep my dogs on the Innova, which I think they like better anyway. I’m going to email the company and let them know they’re no longer deserving of my boycott.
Comment by Ginger — April 2, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
i think solid gold is made at diamond food plant. go to http://www.petsitusa.com/blog
Comment by MARY ANN — April 2, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
If people are relying on the FDA to uncover more information it may be a LONG time.
For example the peanut butter recall back in Feb 2007 originally said that all jars purchased since May 2006 were not safe. Now they have extended the recall back to 2004.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/.....01583.html
If it takes that long for proper updates on human consumption food, how quickly are they going to find more information on something as “trivial” as pet food.
There is very little news today about the pet food recall. Most of the news is directed at the issues of pet owners not being able to get much in compensation for lawsuits. Already the media are moving onto other issues, while there are still no answers about what is really happening with pet foods and tainted wheat gluten possibly in the human food chain.
There have been many accusations of FDA cover-ups in the past regarding many types of products..the chance of the pet food becoming another “swept under the rug” problem remains very high.
Comment by mal — April 2, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Having a sick cat (unknown cause so far)and therefore thinking about what it would take for me to be satisifed that the pet AND human food supply is safe in a globalized market, have the following suggestion:
An online petition to get large players, like, say a Walmart, to take a pledge along the following lines - they will certify within a specified period, e.g. 60 days, that all food products they carry after that date will only have ingredients or bioactive materials of domestic origin or they will be pulled until this can be done and verified. All suppliers will have to provide acceptable verification of this, certified by the FDA as well as the company and any prevailing industry standards for domestic production.
Alternatively, they could certify to the FDA, etc. that any part of the food supply coming from abroad will be subject to the same level of quality control and oversight as is required and generally practiced here.
An alternative petition (could be in addition to the first) could be one to demand that the Feds (FDA, Congress, President, etc.) immediately take steps that would basically achieve the same thing as the petition to retailers would.
A central goal of these efforts to change regulatory polciy would be to shift the burden of proof for safety claims entirely onto the sellers, producers, distributors, oversight agencies and other players to insure safety and back up any claims about safety, such as asserting that the human or pet food supply is definitely safe.
I actually thought this up and proposed it during a long conversation with a customer service person with a local supermarket chain. If large sellers like WalMart were smart, they would be proactive and get ahead of the curve (and the undoubted growing storm that will predictably result in changes anyway) and decide to become part of the solution to these problems rather than part of the problem. In addition to good publicity and good will, it should be a smart move financially, as buyers of pet and human food have now lost any remaining innocence and much confidence in the food supplies and a seller who can help restore this confidence should reap the rewards of increased, rather than decreased, sales.
So what does anyone think? This is a very rough conceptual draft for a petition, and I’m open to any suggestions to fill in more specifics, particularly in order to make it practicle to carry out (such as the time frame to give stores or suppliers - I have little technical knowledge of the whole proces, which may be why I have so many unanswered questions about how safety and adequate regulation is achieved).
With the outrage we all know is out there and building, a simple yet sweeping measure to instantly transform the current safety pardigm - as an interim measure, and as the basis for more long-term, permanent change - a well-crafted petition and associated lobbying effort could spread like wildfire through the internet and help to quickly generate tremedous pressure on the private players or the government to rapidly implement much more adequate policies to insure human and food safety (maybe supplements, herbs, cigarettes and anything else we ingest but which is now largely unregulated). It’s now become not only a food safety issue, but a human food safety issue, as well as potentially a national security/war on terrorism issue, not to mention an ethical and financial issue (as changes will have to be made if players in the process want to keep their (our) business!
So I say, strike while the iron is hot - Carpe Diem!! As the Doors once sang, “the time to hesitate is through, no time to wallow in the more….” It is now time - pasttime - for careful, critical thought and sustained involvement by all of us, and decisive, swift action!
Comment by Shebagirl — April 2, 2007 @ 11:37 pm
I’m getting concerned. My dog has been on Wellness Simple Solutions Venison (dry food) for a couple of years. I got him a new bag of it a week ago and he has pretty much consistently had diarrhea and very bad gas! His appetite is good and he’s well hydrated…I’m going to take him to the vet. :(
Comment by Melissa — April 3, 2007 @ 12:21 am
I am simply going to cook for my pup. He normally gets table food at night : ie chicken, steak, pork (no bones or fat). I am concerned about him getting the essential vitamins & minerals that he needs if I cook every meal for him. Has anyone tried the “Missing Link” supplement?
Just wondering if anyone had a good/bad experience with it. Also, any recipes that you’d like to pass along would be great!
Comment by Rhonda — April 3, 2007 @ 7:40 am
I want to start writing letters but I don’t know where to start. If anyone has any advice please share. I want justice for the life of my baby.
Comment by Nancy — April 7, 2007 @ 10:58 pm