Pet food recall: Menu expands recall dates, Sunshine Mills joining recall
By Christie Keith
April 5, 2007
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CNN (and a few minutes later, the AP - thanks, itchmo!) is reporting that Alabama’s Sunshine Mills, Inc., which makes a wide variety of pet products, is recalling some of their dog treats that were made with contaminated wheat gluten.
The AP is also reporting that today, Menu has expanded the dates covered by their original recall, and updated their dog and cat product recall lists. We’re looking over those changes now and will have more information shortly.
UPDATE: I spoke to Therese, who maintains the informative pet food list at the PetSitUsa.com blog - which has been getting so much traffic she’s had to mirror it at ThePetFoodList.com - and neither of us is quite sure how to interpret the expanded dates on Menu’s recall list. I also saw this article linked by Maureen in the comments:
Menu Foods today voluntarily expanded its pet food recall for selected “cuts and gravy” pet food products, manufactured back to November 8, 2006.
UPDATE 2: From PR Newswire, dated today:
ChemNutra Inc., a former supplier of wheat gluten to Menu Foods, announced a recall of all wheat gluten it imported from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. in Wangdien, China. As a result, Menu Foods today announced an expansion of its recall to include all products manufactured with wheat gluten purchased from ChemNutra Inc. which Menu Foods’ records show was first used on November 8, 2006 and last used on March 6, 2007.
The full release is here, and also contains the statement that “the vast majority of the products affected by this expansion are already off retailers’ shelves. No new brands have been added.”
Until, that is, Sunshine Mills was added, also today. Sunshine Mills makes a number of brands, including Ol’ Roy dog treats. They make also manufacture some “private label” pet treats, so… still digging.
UPDATE 3: The FDA just issued an alert for dog chews tainted with salmonella.
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Another recall AND Menu Foods expanding their dates??? This is ABSOLUTE gross negligence on the part of Menu Foods and FDA. And yet they have the nerve to say pet parents are over-reacting?! I am livid! So how many more pets have to die while they blunder along? Im hoping our kitty who is hopefully in heaven or a better place where kitties thrive puts the hex on all of them involved!
Comment by Sandi K — April 5, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
This website says Menu Foods recalling selected “cuts and gravy” products back to NOVEMBER 8, 2006:
http://www.nationalledger.com/.....2567.shtml
Pet Food Recall: Menu Foods Recalls All Foods Containing Wheat Gluten
By Cris Bergman
Apr 5, 2007
Pet food recall Update - A new recall has hit in what seems like the never ending recall of dog and cat foods. A press release has been issued that notes that all Menu Foods pet food with ChemNutra wheat gluten will be voluntarily recalled. The company notes that in response to a news release - issued by ChemNutra Inc.during the evening of April 3, 2007 - Menu Foods today voluntarily expanded its pet food recall for selected “cuts and gravy” pet food products, manufactured back to November 8, 2006.
ChemNutra Inc., a former supplier of wheat gluten to Menu Foods, announced a recall of all wheat gluten it imported from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. in Wangdien, China. As a result, Menu Foods today announced an expansion of its recall to include all products manufactured with wheat gluten purchased from ChemNutra Inc. which Menu Foods’ records show was first used on November 8, 2006 and last used on
March 6, 2007.
***
As a result of actions previously taken by Menu Foods, the vast majority of the products affected by this expansion are already off retailers’ shelves. No new brands have been added. A total of 20 varieties have been added to the recall list and the additional varieties are listed at this link. All Menu Foods products not made with the recalled wheat gluten are safe to consume.
Comment by Maureen — April 5, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
“The FDA said all the tainted wheat gluten has been traced to manufacturers and that to the best of its knowledge; none has entered the human food chain.”
Where is that damned list so consumers can take their own safety precautions?
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
You know what, that doesn’t suprise me. I think my kitty was sick for a while before the original dates were issued. It just took longer for the poison to finally take his life. He died on 2/21/07 which was before the recall dates were announced. This is just wonderful…………..:-(
Comment by Sharon Gilbert — April 5, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
Secrecy in the midst of a toxic meltdown, un_freaking_believable…
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
I have to agree with a fellow poster.
“The FDA will not disclose which manufacturers got the toxic wheat gluten AND to make matters worse, all these organizations and companies have been saying foods not on recall lists are “safe” to feed pets. This is criminal negligence of an unprecedented scale”
I have been following this since March 16 working 14 or more hours a day non stop watching, researching, contributing, sleuthing, tracking, observing, and so have many other volunteers here and there is no further explanation needed.
Please contact your Congressional representative and demand an immediate investigation into this matter.
Time IS of the essence.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
I’m working on this too over at petfoodtracker.com, not finding much so far…
Comment by Kim — April 5, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
I can’t believe the public is at the mercy of these inept individuals! Ah duh. . .it took how many weeks to check when they first started receiving this stuff? I’m with you Sandro.
un_freaking_believable!!!
Comment by Jackie — April 5, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
I had saved ALL of my wet food pouches and cans because of this recall. I never trusted the original date codes as being complete. And of course some of the ones that where not originally on the recall list are dated… Nov 08 08! Our kitty had to be euthanized 4-2-07 after over 2 weeks of hell and many vet visits.
Dennis
Comment by Dennis — April 5, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
Comment by Jackie — April 5, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
The contempt and corruption being displayed against Pet Owners across America by the Pet Food Industry is astounding.
All a reader has to do is review this blog and the facts will speak for themselves.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
Just added the ChemNutra information to the Wikipedia article on the recall and created an article for ChemNutra. Hopefully it will expand in the next few days and we’ll learn everyone who received contaminated wheat gluten from ChemNutra.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2.....ood_recall
Comment by John — April 5, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
And now the Sunshine Mills website doesn’t work. Hopefully they are finally updating it for the recall list.
Comment by nikandboots — April 5, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
So…from the Houston Chronicle on the LATEST recalled products:
“Other than that, I think, you know, the public should feel secure in purchasing pet foods that are not subject to the recall,” Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, told reporters.
Comment by Eva — April 5, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
Got brand names for the Sunshine biscuits (some anyway) petfoodtracker.com (open in new window so you can stay on this blog too!)
Comment by Kim — April 5, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
Comment by Eva
Duh, I think, you know, we’ve been saying since March 8, pet foods not on recall list, are safe to feed your pets.
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
This sentence posted above “All Menu Foods products not made with the recalled wheat gluten are safe to consume.”
Safe to consume by who or what? If its so safe to consume, then lets see Menu Foods CEO’s sit down to dine on their “safe” products.
I have to also add, whoever is in charge of these pet food companies public relations really should be nixed. I have never seen such a bunch of bumbling idiots……there are contradictory statements all over the place by Menu Foods and Nutro and others!
Comment by Sandi K — April 5, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
Yep…I couldn’t feel more confident that our crack cadre of FDA professionals are on top of the crisis.
Comment by Eva — April 5, 2007 @ 1:36 pm
About the latest expanded recall:
According to an earlier press release Menu Foods said the problem started when they used a new supplier. However what is their excuse now for the extended recall. If they only started using the “new” supplier in December then why a recall going back several more months. Did they JUST realize they were using a new supplier earlier..or is ther something else up? What else are they not telling us.
http://www.menufoods.com/recal.....162007.pdf
“Menu Foods Income Fund (the “Fund”) (TSX:MEW.UN) today announced the precautionary recall of a portion of the dog and cat food it
manufactured between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007.”
“The Fund has, however, discovered that timing of the production associated with these
complaints, coincides with the introduction of an ingredient from a new supplier. The Fund stopped using this ingredient shortly after this
discovery and production since then has been undertaken using ingredients from another source”
Comment by mal — April 5, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
Eva -I’m with you.
Comment by Sheila — April 5, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
He doesn’t “think” there’s anything else for us to worry our pretty little heads about!?!! Where are the records?
From the FDA’s own f#@king site:
In June 2004, FDA published a final rule that specifies procedures that FDA would use to administratively detain food when the agency has credible evidence or information that the food presents a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals. In December 2004, FDA published a final rule requiring food firms to establish and maintain records that would allow FDA to conduct an effective and efficient traceback investigation to protect the U.S. human food and animal feed supply, in the event the agency has a reasonable belief that an article of food is adulterated and poses a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals.
Comment by Eva — April 5, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
So, let me get this straight, at first they (Menu Foods) said the contaminated foods were produced beginning December 3 because that is when they had changed to the new supplier and figured that was the culprit. So now they have announced that it actually dates back to November 8. And I also read that Menu Foods may have known about deaths in December…and waited until March to announce it to the public. I hope my Cocoajoe can appear in someone’s dreams and make their lives the nightmare that’ I’ve had since we had to put him down Feb 16.
Comment by Jamie Brehmer — April 5, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
Eva, what a WONDERFUL find. ATTENTION journalists reading this, get that list of food manufacturers who received delivery of toxic wheat gluten! They have been keeping this from the public since March 8…
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 1:52 pm
CNN just said that Senator Durbin announced that pet food hearing will be next week. Good for him for acting urgently. (Senate on break this wk.)
Comment by Maureen — April 5, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
even more alarming than this is the new piece on howl911 with a VERy convincing review of how the substances (not)found originated from GMO grains, as I previously suspected and posted. I repeat: What this says is: it’s not just wheat gluten it’s wheat and maybe other grains.
Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 5, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
The FDA information is interesting…
I have to say, I used to work in the food industry, in quality control. My job was to check the daily production records for a line of canned food my employer produced. I was the thorn in the side of EVERYONE involved with that particular product because I REFUSED to sign any records where there were discrepancies, REFUSED to release products for shipment if ANYTHING was out of whack.
I was always told that if there was ever a recall, and the FDA came in and saw MY name on the paperwork for a product that got released and caused sickness or death *I* was the one who could be held liable and sent to jail! Not just the company!
Needless to say, I didn’t sign ANYTHING I wasn’t sure of. No way, no how. Suppose that’s why I don’t still have a job there? LOL!
Seriously. There are very tight regulations in the human food industry. We had what were known as *critical* checks that had to be passed for a product to be considered safe from bacteria like botulism (common in canned foods before regulation).
Wonder what happened with the pet food industry that no one ever tested anything??? Or at least, that’s what they’re making it look like. I know we tested all incoming raw ingredients. I was good friends with the head of the testing lab. She was just as picky as I was about putting her name on a document…
So, where did all that honesty and integrity go?
Oh wait. NEITHER of us work for this big company anymore.
That probably answers that question, huh?
Comment by Tammy K. — April 5, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
The FDA does Not answer to Congress - so Congress can’t tell it to do anything.
Also, considering the anit-freeze in Chinese cough syrup and the sewage in the Lard (and I hope none of it was shipped to the U.S.) this is what I think is happening: They are trying to add weight to their product, similar to watering it down, but with cheap trash ingredients that somehow aren’t detected until its too late. Could that be happening now with our wet pet food?
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
According to CNN, these are the dog biscuits made by Sunchine being recalled:
Field Trial Large Plain
Nurture Chicken & Rice
Nurture Lamb & Rice
Pet Life Large
Pet Life Extra Large
Pet Life Large Variety
Pet Life Large Peanut Butter
Lassie Chicken & Rice
Lassie Lamb & Rice
Pet Life People Pleasers
Also private label biscuits for 5 of Sunshine’s customers, but they didn’t say which ones.
Comment by Sandy — April 5, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
Here’s the whole thing:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued final regulations on the establishment and maintenance of records to protect the U.S. human food and animal feed supply in the event of credible threats of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals. FDA also issued draft guidance to FDA staff and industry, which details the internal procedures the agency will follow before requesting access to records.
“Publication of this recordkeeping rule represents a milestone in U.S. food safety and security,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy G. Thompson. “There is more work to do yet, but our nation is now more prepared than ever before to protect the public against threats to the food supply.”
This final regulation implements section 306 of the Bioterrorism Act, which directs the HHS Secretary to issue regulations requiring persons who manufacture, process, pack, transport, distribute, receive, hold, or import food to establish and maintain records. These records identify the immediate previous source of all food received, as well as, the immediate subsequent recipient of all food released.
“These records will be crucial for FDA to deal effectively with food-related emergencies, such as deliberate contamination of food by terrorists,” said Dr. Lester M. Crawford, Acting FDA Commissioner. “The ability to trace back will enable us to get to the source of contamination. The records also enable FDA to trace forward to remove adulterated food that poses a significant health threat in the food supply.”
The final regulation is the fourth regulation designed to increase the safety and security of the U.S. human and animal food supply under the authority of the “Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002” (the Bioterrorism Act).
The record retention period for human foods ranges from six months to two years depending on the shelf life of the food. Records for animal food, including pet food, must be retained for one year. The maximum record retention requirement for transporters of all types of food is one year.
Records must be retained at the establishment where the activities covered in the records occurred or at a reasonable accessible location. To minimize the burden on food companies affected by the final rule, companies may keep the required information in any format, paper or electronic. All businesses covered by this rule must comply within 12 months from the date the rule is published in the Federal Register, except small and very small businesses. Small businesses (11-499 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs)) must comply within 18 months from this date, and very small businesses (10 or fewer FTEs) have to comply within 24 months from this date.
When FDA has a reasonable belief that an article of food is adulterated and presents a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals, any records or other information to which FDA has access must be available for inspection and copying as soon as possible, not to exceed 24 hours from time of receipt of the official request. The records access authority applies both to records required to be established and maintained by the final rule, or any other records a covered entity may keep to comply with federal, state, or local law or as a matter of business practice.
The Bioterrorism Act allows FDA to bring a civil action in federal court to enjoin the persons who fail to comply with this rule. FDA also can seek criminal actions in federal court to prosecute persons who fail to establish and maintain records, as required by the final rule.
FDA has already issued three other final regulations under the Bioterrorism Act, which are in effect. They cover:
Registration foreign and domestic food facilities;
Prior notice of food shipments imported or offered for import into the U.S.; and
Administrative detention, so that food products that might pose a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death may be detained.
FDA will be holding seven public meetings in January and February 2005 to explain the requirements of the final rule to interested parties and answer questions.
Comment by Eva — April 5, 2007 @ 2:10 pm
new piece up on howl911 with a VERy convincing review of how the substances (not)found originated from GMO grains, as I previously suspected and posted. I repeat: What this says is: it’s not just wheat gluten it’s wheat and maybe other grains.
The links I previously posted: GMO corn causes liver, kidney problems in rats: study http://www.sciam.com/article.c.....9A180E764B
http://www.drpitcairn.com/nutrition/gm_foods.html
Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 5, 2007 @ 2:10 pm
LARGEST PET FOOD RECALL EVER
A Genetic Engineered Food Disaster?
By Dr. Michael W. Fox
I have received several letters from dog and cat owners thanking me for ‘saving their animal’s lives’ because they were feeding them the kind of home-made diet that I have been advocating as a veterinarian for some years. These letters came after the largest pet food recall in the pet food industry’s history.
On March 23, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets announced that rat poison in contaminated wheat gluten imported from China was responsible for the suffering and deaths of an as yet uncounted numbers of cats and dogs across North America. The poison is a chemical compound called aminopterin.
Veterinary toxicologists with the ASPCA and American College of Internal Veterinary Medicine shared my concern that there may be some other food contaminant (s) in addition to the aminopterin that was sickening and killing many pets. Experts were not convinced that the finding of rat poison contamination was the end of the story.
On March 30, the FDA reported finding a widely used compound called melamine (formed by dehydration of urea and used in the manufacture of plastics, as a wood resin adhesive, and in slow-release urea fertilizer), in the suspect pet foods. The FDA claims the melamine was the cause of an as yet uncounted number of cat and dog poisonings and deaths. The FDA could not find the rat poison, aminopterin, in the samples it analyzed; however a lab in Canada, at the University of Guelph, has confirmed the presence of rat poison. There may be other substances of a hazardous nature not yet discovered in these manufactured pet foods that include other ingredients considered unfit for human consumption, and from around the world.
The Associated Press cited the Environmental Protection Agency as having identified melamine as a contaminant and byproduct of several pesticides, including cryomazine. People began to question if there is also pesticide contamination of the wheat gluten. Is there a possibility of deliberate contamination, or is it the result of gross mismanagement and lack of effective food-safety and quality controls that accounts for levels of melamine reported to be as high as 6.6% by the FDA in samples of the wheat gluten?
A brief internet search quickly reveals that the widely used insect growth regulator cryomazine is not only made from melamine, but it also breaks down into melamine after ingestion by an animal. Wheat gluten is wheat gluten, fit for human consumption, so the question remains, what was wrong with this gluten that it was only bought for use in pet food?
On April 3 Associated Press named the US importer as ChemNutra of Las Vegas, reporting that the company had recalled 873 tons of wheat gluten that had been shipped to three pet food makers and a single distributor who in turn supplies the pet food industry.
What of the uncounted number of people whose cats and dogs became sick, and even died? Several letters that I have received indicate costs of in the thousands of $ per animal; and what of long-term care costs for animals suffering from chronic kidney disease?
While Congressional hearings are now being called for by grieving pet owners, and class action suits put together, this debacle could have catastrophic consequences not only for conventional agribusiness, of which the pet food industry is a lucrative subsidiary, but also for the agricultural biotechnology industry, with its millions of acres of genetically engineered crops around the world.
I reach this conclusion, until there is evidence to the contrary, for the following reasons:
1. The wheat gluten imported from China was not for human consumption, because, I believe, it had been genetically engineered. The FDA has a wholly cavalier attitude toward feeding animals such ‘frankenfoods’ but places some restrictions when human consumption is involved (yet refuses appropriate food labeling).
2. The ‘rat poison’ aminopterin is used in molecular biology as an anti-metabolite, folate antagonist, and in genetic engineering biotechnology as a genetic marker. This could account for its presence in this imported wheat gluten.
3. The ‘plastic’, ‘wood preservative’, contaminant melamine, the parent chemical for a potent insecticide cyromazine, could well have been manufactured WITHIN the wheat plants themselves as a genetically engineered pesticide. This is much like the Bt. insecticidal poison present in most US commodity crops that go into animal feed.
4.So called ‘overexpression’ can occur when spliced genes that synthesize such chemicals become hyperactive inside the plant and result in potentially toxic plant tissues, lethal not just to meal worms and other crop pests, but to cats, dogs, birds, butterflies and other wildlife; and to their creators. (For details, see my book Killer Foods: What Scientists Do to Make Food Better is Not Always Best. Lyon’s Press, 2004).
How else can one account for samples of pet food containing as much as 6% melamine? It was surely not mixed in such amounts when the wheat gluten was being processed, but rather was already in the wheat, along with the aminopterin genetic marker. My suspicion is that the FDA was aware that the gluten came from genetically engineered wheat that was considered safe for animal consumption.
I could be wrong. But a greater wrong is surely for the pet food industry to use food ingredients and food and beverage industry by-products considered unfit for human consumption; to continue to do business without any adequate government oversight and inspection; and for government to give greater priority to agricultural biotechnology and the patenting of genetically engineered crops and animals, and not to organic, humane, ecologically sound and safe food production.
I believe that there is evidence of gross negligence, not simply on the part of the pet food industry, but by all who are responsible for food quality and safety in the global market that is clearly dysfunctional. The Pet Food Institute should start an emergency fund to compensate all veterinary expenses incurred as a result of this—-and any future—-mass poisonings of people’s beloved animal companions.
Dr. Michael W. Fox
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
The Dr. Michael W. Fox article was from howl911
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
How are Americans supposed to know whats going on when these companies and brands are sneaking PR Wire releases out on the internet? This needs to be getting onto mainstream primetime television news. They are using PR firms and these PR firms aren’t stupid. They know they can get away with breaking the rules, using this loophole to stay legal. Not every one in this country has the luxury of monitoring the internet 24/7 for these things.
And guess who gets stuck holding the bag?
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
Tammy K., thanks for that insight. We could only wish more industry insiders came forward.
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
I have been saying all along that my beautiful CJ catgirl went into ARF the end of November and that it likely was the front end of this food recall situation ~ and most everyone looked at me like I didn’t know what I was talking about. How many more will there be . . . I am beyond angry! Just hope I can get my blood pressure back down to non-stroke levels!!!
dottie
Comment by dottie — April 5, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
Nutro can just go to hell. They keep saying pouches, but I had CANS!!! and DRY!!! for cats and DRY!!! for dogs. Beans the cat started puking foamy crap just days after eating this stuff (7 cans) and she didn’t even eat all on her plate. And she started hanging out by the water bowl something she never did before. Anna the dog only ate dry, after awhile she started licking her paws. Reading all these posts and the links I think I’m foaming now.
Comment by Kathi — April 5, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
The Pet Food Institute should start an emergency fund to compensate all veterinary expenses incurred as a result of this—and any future—mass poisonings of people’s beloved animal companions.Dr. Michael W. Fox
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
“The management of Menu Foods (it is a publicly traded company, so there is no one “owner”) is not in a position to guarantee that owners of affected pets will be fully reimbursed for veterinary expenses. They can’t manufacture money out of thin air, and if this incident pushes the company into bankruptcy (which it certainly could), a bankruptcy court — not executives or owners of the company — will determine who gets compensation and how much.
Menu Foods had 2006 net income of CAD 6.4 million, and 2005 net LOSS of CAD 55 million. The matter of determining which pets were sickened or died due to this food vs. other costs is very expensive and uncertain, and could result in expensive litigation. And there will no doubt be many pet owners trying to get compensation for vet visits and tests done as a precaution, even though no illness was found. It would be totally irresponsible of the company’s management to make blanket promises of reimbursement which they may not be able to deliver on, and which might induce pet owners to incur huge veterinary bills that they are unable to afford themselves, believing that it will be paid for by the company.”
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
This info that I am about to post requires validation by those with better search skills than I possess.
I reviewed the petsitusa food list with staff at a petfood store to determine which foods, if any, I should consider purchasing.
We reviewed ‘evolve’ which states brands include Hi-Tor, Pet Gold and Triumph, with the comment numerous attempts to contact them proved unsuccessful.
The staffer then informed me Sunshine had just purchased this company.
Comment by Lorraine Takahashi NY — April 5, 2007 @ 2:20 pm
Now, maybe, all the really offensive news reports that called me (and most of you) ” hysterical, over reacting, fanatic pet owners” and worse, those are going to stop?
I should just shut up and quit all this nonsense of making my own pet food because the pet food companies can do it better?
It was all just my overactive imagination that sicked and killed my beloved pets?
I really did not pay all those vet bills?
I did not clean vomit off every surface of my house and watch my cats suffer?
It was _my_ paranoia that made me think there was a cover up?
I DEMAND an apology from every single news agency that added to my pain.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 5, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
Just hope I can get my blood pressure back down to non-stroke levels!!! Comment by dottie — April 5, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
You and me both
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
I would like to know if there is any system in place to alert small mom and pop type stores, many with language barriers. They all seem to carry some canned and dry pet food. I’ll bet there is still stuff sitting on the shelves. Many older people don’t even have a computer and newspaper here hasn’t printed a complete list in days. Lots of these type of stores go to costco or wal-mart and buy cases then put it on their shelves.
Comment by Robin — April 5, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
Gina - check your email. A Washington Post reporter wants to talk to you. Great guy, very sharp. :-)
Comment by Kim — April 5, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
From deepharm.com
April 1, 2007:
Corruption at food inspection agency shocks Congress
Last Thursday, the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee demanded explanations from officials of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for paying lavish bonuses to senior officials while claiming it lacked funds to carry out inspection activities. Subcommittee chair Rosa deLauro expressed shock at the outrageous scheme.
It is incomprehensible to me how an agency that nearly went bankrupt in fiscal year 2006 and is cutting training for front-line inspectors gave out almost half a million dollars in bonuses to senior executives,” DeLauro said. “This is money that could have been used for more training or for more inspectors, but however you look at it, it should have been spent for the public health. (Government Executive)
The response from Undersecretary Richard Raymond failed to satisfy the Subcommittee.
Raymond said the bonus money was departmental and the agency could not reclaim it. (Reuters)
Raymond’s answer appears to implicate Bush appointees. When agency officials refer to the “department,” they generally mean Departmental Administration, which includes the Secretary, USDA, and other political appointees.
The biggest shock came when the Undersecretary admitted that the Agency had ignored federal laws for 30 years by failing to ensure daily and uninterrupted inspections at meat plants.
For three decades, U.S. inspectors visited 250 meat processing plants as rarely as once every two weeks despite federal law requiring daily inspection, Agriculture Department officials admitted to lawmakers on Thursday.
“All I can say is, it’s been going on for a long time,” said Undersecretary Richard Raymond to the House Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture. “It’s going to stop now.” (Reuters)
The agency’s plan to replace the current inspection system with a new system that it calls “risk-based inspection” also received criticism. Rep. DeLauro was skeptical that the agency’s plan was based on adequate data (GovExec), a reasonable view in light of the agency’s flawed sampling program for detecting mad cow disease. The agency’s proposal to focus inspections on plants with the worst records ignores the fact that deliberate or chemical contamination can appear out of the blue, as it did in the current pet food contamination crisis.
The Subcommittee plans to call back Raymond for a second hearing in April (Reuters), when more of its members will be available. Hopefully, they will look further back than 2006, and examine the agency’s actions in 2004 and 2005, when officials also abandoned responsibilities, allegedly for lack of funds, even as they lavished themselves with bonuses, promotions and overseas travel. Congress might also ask why the agency gave more than a million dollars in contracts to a firm with Bush administration ties while the agency marginalized and drove out staff experts.
Comment by Maureen — April 5, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
Re Letter from Dr. Michael Fox
“My suspicion is that the FDA was aware that the gluten came from genetically engineered wheat that was considered safe for animal consumption.”
The woman I spoke with at the FDA the other day insisted that it was PET FOOD GRADE. When she said there are only two grades of wheat gluten, one for human consumption and one for pet food. I questioned her on this and indicated I was confused as I understood there was human/pet grade and feed grade. She said, no … just human grade and animal grade. I believe this is our answer. Feed grade, genetically engineering, for our pets?
This is why the FDA continues to report that this wheat gluten did not go into the human supply.
They don’t even know their own rules.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
Nadine, it is very disconcerting. And you are right: human/pet food grade and feed grade - just two.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
Comment by Maureen — April 5, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
We simply must stop the slaughter of our own nation.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
If it is G.E. wheat - then the government of China knows about it…..their scientist knows about it….
And we suffer. Nice uh!
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
Linda, remember when the other day we both questioned this!!! Ever since then I’ve been researching genetically engineered wheat. I posted something about phenols…more of which is in the red wheat and causes the resin to reform in the digestive system…and therefore lands up as crystals in the kidneys. I posted this the other day but guess I was way ahead. I’m not a scientist by any means…it was just common sense. I’m tracking back to some of the sites I visited. I’ve been looking for one thing all morning which will say very much…when I find it.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
Red wheat is used for feed grade. There’s less phenol in white which doesn’t affect humans.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
Good going Nadine. I believe that it has been mentioned before. And I’ve read so much that everything just blurrrrs after awhile.
Try to find it. You know that you can do a search by going to each thread and doing a “find” and putting in the key word right?
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
Friend don’t forget to check out the new lead story by Gina.
You won’t believe this.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
I believe it Steve. I read it and am in shock. After that anit-freeze fiasco and the lard cut with sewage - none of this is comforting and 70% of our wheat comes from China.
Politicans aren’t human - they must be clones from Mars - clueless!
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
The sunshine mills website is down. For the list of foods, bar codes, etc., use the press release at the FDA.
You can find it here: http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmr.....04_07.html
Sunshine Mill Biscuit brands: Nurture Chicken & Rice, Nurture Lamb & Rice, Pet Life Large, Pet Life Extra Large, Pet Life Large Variety, Pet Life Large Peanut Butter, Lassie Lamb and Rice, and Pet Life People Pleasers Dog Treats
Private label: Companion’s Best Multi Flavor Biscuit, Stater Brothers Large Biscuit, Ol’Roy Peanut Butter Biscuit, Ol’Roy 4 Flavor Large Biscuit, Ol’Roy Puppy Biscuit, Champion Breed Peanut Butter Biscuit, Champion Breed Large Biscuit, Perfect Pals Large Biscuit, Stater Brothers Large Biscuit
Comment by modthinglet — April 5, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
My conviction is at this point these guys will lie and deceive whenever it reasons that truth would lead to a diminishment of what they perceive to be power money, which so thoroughly intoxicates, and the ability to get away with anything they can with zero accountability.
NOTHING IS SACRED TO THEM. They are careerists who serve a class of people who have seceded from the humanity. This class holds us in bondage while it amasses wealth that affords it neither peace nor joy.
I have never witnessed such lack of ethics as in this case. It is truly astounding to see it come to this.
And I am not anti large scale employer or anti big business. I am against Business without Ethics.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
Just read that Senator Durbin plans to begin a
congressional hearing next week. Do any of you remember when the Senator McCarthy hearings ran all day on TV? Why not call/email (remember snail mail takes over 14 days to get to his office) and request that the hearings be televised. After all, if the news media can run all day about Anna Nicole, this is a hell of a lot more important and the public should be able to hear all of the investigation.
Comment by Valarie — April 5, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
How many elderly persons with low or limited income do you think may eat canned pet food? Would any medical doctor realize that if the elderly person suddenly became sick, it could be because this contaminated food had been eaten?
Comment by Valarie — April 5, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
‘A Genetically Engineered Food Disaster?’ by Dr. Michael W. Fox is very interesting. I wonder if GMO ‘killer wheat’ loaded with toxins could become resistant to insects, bees, animals, people, even ‘cloned’ transgenic half-animal, half- plant cattle eating frankenfodder, and could overwhelm the earth including Red China, etc. And then it could ultimately die from drought due to global warming. So why is our Government promoting this ecological disaster?
Comment by Sue Dunn — April 5, 2007 @ 3:16 pm
By the way here is the link for Gina’s request to use Tiny for links for those who wondered.
http://tinyurl.com/create.php
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
I’m really going to get sick now - Nutro expanded their recall lists - everything that my 2 cats were on - now 1 dead, 1 trying to make it!!!! These people have got to know what the hell is in it - why won’t they step up????
Comment by Sandi Schreiber — April 5, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
Sandi, that is so terrible. I’m sorry.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
Nutro attempts to neutralize odor problem
TATIANA PROPHET
April 3, 2007 - 10:56PM
VICTORVILLE — Nutro Products has spent more than $4 million to vanquish an odor problem at its Victorville factory, and now it’s time for the air district to decide if the plan of attack is good enough.
“I want to reserve judgment on whether it’s fixed or not,” said Eldon Heaston, executive officer of the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District. “I want to wait before I’m cautiously optimistic that we’ve rectified the problem.”
Friday was the deadline by which the company had to implement an odor-abatement plan devised by its paid consultant, mitigating it “beyond detectable levels.”
http://tinyurl.com/295ufn
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Note that the products listed in the FDA’s announcement of the Sunshine recall have “best by” dates going out to “32308.” If these best-by dates are simply one year past the date of manufacture, then these products were being cranked out a full week after the Menu Foods recall of 16 March…
Comment by David — April 5, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
comment by Sandy Schreiber
I repeat NUTRO can go to HELL. Read earlier post.
Comment by Kathi — April 5, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
Comment by Kathi — April 5, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
I did. Apparently they have more problems then they want to let on to.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
Before the March 16 recall, Nutro’s website as with the rest of these BUMS gave the impression they made their own products. We were duped so now they think we’re still dumb. But we are finding out little by little, piece by piece their dirty little secrets. KEEP GOING GUYS. DIG DEEP. Thank God for this website and the others or all our furry babies would be gone. The weekend press releases and all. We really do need to boycott and we need to tell them what we think. They won’t change until we demand it and their profits fail. Can’t wait for Congress they have a lot on their plate right now and it takes time but it does help if they start investigating and shaking up these arrogant buttwipes.
Comment by Kathi — April 5, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
GREAT just great **The FDA does not require any safety tests on genetically modified foods
“There have been less than 20 published, peer-reviewed animal feeding safety studies and no human clinical trials—in spite of the fact that millions of people eat GM soy, corn, cotton, or canola daily. There are no adequate tests on “biochemistry, immunology, tissue pathology, gut function, liver function and kidney function,”[3] and animal feeding studies are too short to adequately test for cancer, reproductive problems, or effects in the next generation. This makes Ermakova’s research particularly significant. It’s the first of its kind.
Past Studies Show Significant Effects
For example, animals fed GM crops developed potentially precancerous cell growth, smaller brains, livers and testicles, damaged immune systems, bigger livers, partial atrophy of the liver, lesions in the livers, stomachs, and kidneys, inflammation of the kidneys, problems with their blood cells, higher blood sugar levels, and unexplained increases in the death rate. (See Spilling the Beans, August 2004.) None have been adequately followed-up or accounted for.
….nearly 25 farmers in the US and Canada say that certain GM corn varieties caused their pigs to become sterile, have false pregnancies, or give birth to bags of water”
http://www.drpitcairn.com/nutrition/gm_foods.html
Comment by phdcat — April 5, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
GMO Not just for petfood feed:
“It is the first time that independent research, published in a peer-reviewed journal, has proved that a GMO authorized for human consumption presents signs of toxicity,” Arnaud Apoteker, a spokesman for Greenpeace France said” http://www.sciam.com/article.c.....9A180E764B
Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 5, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
*! The FDA does not require any safety tests on genetically modified foods !!
http://www.drpitcairn.com/nutrition/gm_foods.html
…There are no adequate tests on “biochemistry, immunology, tissue pathology, gut function, liver function and kidney function,”
“animals fed GM crops developed potentially precancerous cell growth, smaller brains, livers and testicles, damaged immune systems, bigger livers, partial atrophy of the liver, lesions in the livers, stomachs, and kidneys, inflammation of the kidneys, problems with their blood cells, higher blood sugar levels, and unexplained increases in the death rate. (See Spilling the Beans, August 2004.) None have been adequately followed-up or accounted for.
nearly 25 farmers in the US and Canada say that certain GM corn varieties caused their pigs to become sterile, have false pregnancies, or give birth to bags of water”
Great stuff, great stuff, obviously has no effect, just what you want to feed your pet.
Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 5, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
AND Tomorrow is FRI. GOD knows what more bad news we will get.
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
http://www.organicconsumers.or.....043004.cfm
Norway does not want this wheat.
Comment by Kathi — April 5, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
I think tomorrow is Good Friday so I doubt they’ll be in. That’s why we heard it today! Well I’ve looked at all the labels and I can’t find BEAKS listed as an ingredient. I guess it’s not in there.
Comment by Kathi — April 5, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
I don’t know how much more I can hear about this stuff, so I’m signing off to clear my head. Will catch up later. Hope you find that post Nadine. It’s difficult to go through all the threads.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
Someone in Europe just asked me whether or not any of these recalled brands were shipped to Eurpoe. I know somewhere I saw a yes or no to that question, but I haven’t been able to find that particular article. Anyone know?
Comment by Sandy — April 5, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
PLEEEEAAAAASSSE, HEEEEEELP!!!
Is anyone else having the following problem?:
I have been trying SEVERAL of the BEST cat foods (dry & canned)ie. Felidae, Fromm, Solid Gold, Evanger’s etc. I know there are many more out there, but so far, NONE of my cats are thrilled. OR one likes it okay, but the other 7 don’t. So, between my indoor & outdoor kitties there are 8 different food bowls out. NONE of which do I see any of them really eating out of. I am so stressed out with all these facts, myths, ingredient lists, Hi protein, Low protein, NO grain, SOME grain…UUUUGGGHHHHH!!!
Meanwhile my heart breaks because they all look at me longingly for their old favorites and like I’ve lost my mind and what’s going on ???
This is probably just me venting, but I haven’t read an entry on this situation since this thing started & I guess I’m just feeling very alone here… Appreciate any thoughts or ideas on how our household can stay sane & happy through this… THANKS
Comment by laura S — April 5, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
For your dining pleasure, an informative website on genetically manipulated (engineered) food:
http://www.intekom.com/tm_info/
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
For the cynical among us…
Guess the FDA (and everyone else) is trying to get all the bad news released before the 3-day holiday weekend. Yup - that’s right. A press release today on the Thursday before a holiday is the same as doing a Friday press release. Boy they’re good. (but we’re better.)
Comment by Kim — April 5, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
Regarding Nutro, when I adopted my dog he was healthy as could be. Never threw up, loved going for car rides, never got car sick. I was feeding him Authority. Later on I switched to Nutro. After a few months he started vomiting bile and also getting car sick. I still didn’t relate it to the food because he seemed to be doing ok on it before. I took him to several vets to try to figure out what the problem was. I was told they couldn’t figure it out and that Nutro was the best food I could feed (this was before I knew about better brands) and to give him dramamine when going on trips.
In 2004 he developed an urelated problem and I got fed up with local vets so I went out of town. I told that vet about his vomiting bile and getting car sick. First thing she asked was whether or not I fed Nutro. She said every dog who she had examined who had mysterious bile vomiting that they could not find any cause for, was eating Nutro. I took him off Nutro. He stopped vomiting. He has never been car sick again, not even on a 30 day cross country road trip where we drove a minimum of 12 hours a day.
My vet told me her theory on why Nutro was making dogs vomit. I called Nutro. Nutro said my vet was wrong. They said all it was was that some dogs couldn’t handle the firmer stool Nutro produced. I didn’t believe it then and I don’t believe it now. I think there is a lot more to it, and if my vet is right, the other problem with Nutro not related to this food recall, has been going on at least since 2003.
Comment by Sandy — April 5, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Sandy, I wouldn’t be surprised. I’ve got some similar cat stories.
Comment by Kim — April 5, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
Looks like a lot of the major companies (if not all of them) use genetically modified products. While researching the Friskies food I have been feeding my cats I came acros this from Nestle..who owns Purina..who makes Friskies:
Safety
The safety of our products and the integrity of the ingredients from which they are manufactured are paramount to Nestlé. Genetically modified crops, as all raw materials used by Nestlé, comply to strict regulatory and safety evaluations. WHO, FAO, OECD and numerous independent scientific bodies have concluded that genetically modified crops, including ingredients derived from them, that have passed food safety evaluation procedures, can be registered as safe for use in food production. Nestlé concurs with their shared opinion that such crops are as safe as their traditional counterparts.
http://www.nestle.com/Our_Resp.....nology.htm
Although many other countries have banned the use of GM products Canada and the US amongst others continue to use them.
Comment by mal — April 5, 2007 @ 5:24 pm
Comment by laura S — April 5, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
A little tuna juice can help…or a little shredded chicken, or even a little water you’ve boiled chicken IN - although if you go this route, try to avoid the frozen bag-o-chicken since it’s usually frozen in high-sodium broth….
Good luck. I sure hope they eat for you!
Comment by Laura — April 5, 2007 @ 5:28 pm
SANDY S. - A Yahoo group I am on — a while back someone posted about that throwing up bile on Nutro and that it was normal when eating that food. . . so I just wondering what you vet said could be causing this? (BTW, I do not feed Nutro personally, but am curious)
Comment by Bonnie — April 5, 2007 @ 5:44 pm
A different recall:
Also Thursday, the FDA warned consumers not to use American Bullie A.B. Bull Pizzle Puppy Chews and Dog Chews manufactured and distributed by T.W. Enterprises of Ferndale, Washington. The chews could be contaminated with salmonella, the FDA said.
reported on Reuters Canada today in addition to the Menu Food and Sunshine recall.
http://ca.today.reuters.com/ne.....mp;summit=
Comment by mal — April 5, 2007 @ 5:44 pm
There may be an interesting way to find out how much pet food is contaminated. 873 tons of wheat gluten recalled. About how much wheat gluten goes into a pound of food? We would be able to divide and find out approximately how many tons of food have been contaminated and be able to compare that with what has been recalled. Does anyone know where to find the information about how much wheat gluten approximately is used per pound of pet food?
Comment by Angie — April 5, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
SANDY,What brand of nutro did you feed your dog? was it max or natural choice? please let us know what your pet was on?? thanks
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 6:22 pm
It was Nutro Natural Choice.
Comment by Sandy — April 5, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
Regarding Nutro, I should also say that it was the dry food.
Comment by Sandy — April 5, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
Would like to know if anyone lost their cat around Sept. 06 from Kidney failure and who was feeding them Nutro Dry Adult Chicken Cat Food. My cat died on 9/28/06. She was a healthy 7 yr old cat.
Comment by sandy — April 5, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
alot of people have their pets on nutro dry,which nutro dry food got your pet so ill?
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 6:48 pm
Sandy-you mean to tell us that your dog was sick back in 2004???!!!!! Has anyone else had similar problems with any other brand of dog food? We have one who was on Eukanuba Large Breed dry puppy formula for the first year of her life(2004). Then she suddenly started to get sick. We couldn’t figure it out, so we took a stab and changed her dog food and she got better. Maybe this whole thing is bigger than we think.
03833
Comment by Jackie St.Cyr — April 5, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Comment by Sandy — April 5, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
“Also private label biscuits for 5 of Sunshine’s customers, but they didn’t say which ones.”
I wonder. Guess who manufacturers Proformance Pet (www.ProformancePet.com) dry dog food - yes you are right it’s Sunshine Mills, Inc. Their market at least Europe, Former Russian countries, Malaysia.
Guy’s & girls can you dig deeper, can’t find where they produce this dog food.
Comment by Stefania — April 5, 2007 @ 7:07 pm
Proformance Pet Foods - Sunshine Mills, Inc.
P.O. Box 1550
USA- Madison, MS 39130
Tel: +1.601.8536806
Fax: +1.601.8567485
http://www.proformancepet.com
watson@petfoodexport.com
Comment by Stefania — April 5, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
Yes, my dog was sick in 2003 and 2004 while he was on Nutro Natural Choice dry. But the only thing it caused was vomiting bile. All his kidney levels were fine back then.
This December was a different story though. I feed him Innova dry but the first week in December he was on medicine that required food, and he didn’t want to eat, so I fed him all kinds of canned “junk food”, including Ol Roy, Mighty Dog, etc. Just whatever he would eat. He was also getting the Ol Roy biscuits that have just been recalled. His lab work up to that point had been fine.
A week after eating those foods, he was diagnosed with early kidney disease. Of course, I don’t have the cans anymore from 3 months ago, so I can’t prove a thing and my vet thinks it’s not related because he didn’t have complete kidney failure and everything she’s heard about this food recall says that it only causes acute kidney failure. I think the coincidence is too great for it not to be related to the food, because I was having lab work done at least once a month at the time because of the medicine he was on (which is not known to cause kidney problems), and his kidney values were fine until he ate the recalled food. I think we were just lucky that we caught it at the early stage. As soon as I noticed him driking more, he went to the vet.
Comment by Sandy — April 5, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
Stefania, they have since said who the private brands are. It’s in their press release, which I think is either linked her or on itchmo.
Comment by Sandy — April 5, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
Thanks Sandy, will check ;)
Comment by Stefania — April 5, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
Angie are those Metric tons (873 tons of wheat gluten recalled)
Comment by Stefania — April 5, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
Why am I not surprised about this? It’s truly unbelievable and totally sickening.
Well, my Poo came home from the vet today after 12 days. His creatinine is almost normal. Just keeping my fingers crossed that he won’t relapse and end up there again.
Comment by Adrienne — April 5, 2007 @ 7:33 pm
everyone this is getting really scary,pets are sick long before the recall. i bet the food we were feeding our cats and dogs had that rat poison in our pets food long before it broke on the news march 16. i feed my dogs nutro,1 dog is always licking her paws. both dogs vomit bile. i was told by my vet give them pepcid ac. they love it and won’t eat nothing else. sandy, was it the lamb and rice or the chicken meal ,rice and oatmeal or the lite that got got your dog sick? my family is freaking out over this. thank u
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 7:33 pm
What a difference a day makes do these people at Sunshine even know what is going on in their own company?
Email answer a friend received yesterday, one day before the recall.
Forwarded Message:
Subj: RE: RECALL
Date: 4/4/2007 9:46:45 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
From: mwammack@sunshinemills.com
To: XXXXXXXXXX
Sent from the Internet (Details)
None of our products are involved in the recall.
Sincerely,
Sunshine Mills
————————————————————————————————————————
From: mwammack@sunshinemills.com
[mailto:XXXXXXXXXX]
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2007 10:36 PM
To: mwammack@sunshinemills.com
Subject: RECALL
I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR MEATY TREATS, I’VE WHERE THE ONES MADE BY DELMOTE ARE BEING RECALLED, WHAT ABOUT YOURS? I HAVE 5 COCKER SPANIELS TO WORRY ABOUT!
BARB & 5 COCKERS
Comment by Barbara — April 5, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
Mary Ann: It was the lamb and rice.
Comment by Sandy — April 5, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
cnn has it on now
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 8:05 pm
360 will repeat at 1 am est, this is something everyone needs to hear, they might of done this on purpose oh my GOD
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 8:10 pm
This is what I remember from what the vet said about Nutro, which would have nothing to do with kidney disease. Now remember, this was way back in 2004, and I did not write anything down at that time, so I’m totally going on memory, and my recollection might not be 100% accurate. Anyway, from what I remember it had something to do with something in the food causing the lining of the stomach and sphinctor(sp?) to thicken and not close properly. Nutro told me this was not true. I don’t think we’ll ever know what the real problem was.
Comment by Sandy — April 5, 2007 @ 8:10 pm
OMG I just saw CNN. There’s a chance the melamine was added on purpose!
Comment by Sandy — April 5, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
Well, I just added another cat to the data base. She was very sick in late November. Lost a lot of weight, and was drinking all the time. When I took her to the vet he said one kidney was enlarged. Her bloodwork showed elevated liver enzymes and she had blood in her urine. I didn’t attribute it to the recall because she became sick before the original recall date. This was a previously VERY healthy 10 year old. My 17 year old was not so lucky. She liked the gravy part of the Iams can the best and had to be euthanized in Feb.
All this Nutro talk is scaring me. My 4 year old blue heeler has eaten that all his life and recently has been very lethargic and vomiting bile. A couple days he didn’t even eat his food, which NEVER happens. I took him to the vet on Monday and all his tests came back normal.
Who knows what to think anymore
Comment by Bonnie b — April 5, 2007 @ 10:09 pm
IF I KNEW that the dog food I fed my two whippets, Devo & Daisy, who are my angels, came from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. in Wangdien, China…I WOULDN’T HAVE BOUGHT IT! We need a warning label…WARNING! MADE IN CHINA!
Can someone compile a list of dog & cat foods that are safe? I’d rather look at something like that at this point than the list of tainted (poisoned?) products.
Dog food made in China probably contains dog meat, for all we know. I’m not being xenophobic…I just happen to believe in American values, American products, and American workers. I do not believe that Chinese companies, and even some American or Canadian companies, have my dogs best interests at heart. Hats off to the senators, and any elected official, any orginization, any individual, who speaks out to uncover the truth in this horrible mess. And then hopefully, we can VOTE WITH OUR POCKETBOOKS. I will only buy from American or Canadian companies that I trust (who do not buy from companies like Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. in Wangdien, China). I trust petconnection to publish a list of trusted, ethical, cruelty-free, safe companies.
Comment by Jeff — April 5, 2007 @ 10:15 pm
I have contended all along that the list is going to expand and I am equally certain that it is not done yet.
As I have repeated posted here and and on other blogs my old pal Brandy’s food (Sprout Beef Cuts & Gravy) had an expiration date of Oct 25 09.
Her symptoms were spot on including a blood flushed tongue and bloody saliva after she died, lethargy, profuse night time bed wetting, fever, would not take food. Prior to being fed this stuff she had been doing very well.
When I reported her to the FDA the man I spoke to stated that it was clearly a suspicious death but they have not yet collected the remaining cans for testing.
I have also posted that I do not buy the melamine as the source of the problem but perhaps an indicator that the products were anything but pure. Check out any poison control website (or non-web source) and you will see that the listed remedy for ingestion is to rinse out your mouth or get to fresh air if you inhale it. Not exactly kryptonite… At first it was supposed to be aminopterin but what else?
Part of the problem may well be that the farther back you go the fewer remaining samples there are to be had.
In memory of my freind and companion of 14 years, Brandy. The finest dog anyone could have wanted. Died March 15th 2007. May her death come to mean something. Where there were tears, let us find resolve.
Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — April 5, 2007 @ 10:28 pm
Just asking if we as “consumers” have sent anything out for independant tests?
If not can we consider this? This might help clear up anything that we are or are not being told. Frankly I want to know but we need to make sure the chain of custody is in order (meaning that the food pouch hasn’t been opened). It would also be good to get a pouch that is known to be safe (good luck on that). Then we can get a delta of the compounds that are not within the norm. I would hope if it were that easy they could detect that pretty quick. But at this point everything is open.
I am interested and willing to look at cost and possibly pay for it.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 5, 2007 @ 10:41 pm
Well, about Europe. Sounds like there’s been a recall list for Europe since March 22nd. When will this stop getting worse?
http://tinyurl.com/yqvuhb
Comment by Kim — April 5, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
MonkeyKitty, the only place I have heard where you can send samples for independant tests is Cornell or possibly the vet school in Mi. (not confirmed).
But I also understand that the cost is prohibitive.
I dont know what kind of delta on melamine you would expect to find since I dont think you should find ANY. Unless of course they are slaughtering little plastic animals for food now. (sick humor I know but thats how I feel)
Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — April 5, 2007 @ 10:58 pm
Thanks for the info on Europe, Kim!
Comment by Sandy — April 5, 2007 @ 11:24 pm
There is an inaccuracy in the recall list for the Sunshine Mills products. The Ol’ Roy 4 Flavor Large Biscuits with UPC Code 81131-46959 is actually labeled on the bag (or is it a box) as “Multi Flavor” Large Biscuits.
I found this out because I called my Dad, who doesn’t have Internet access, to tell him about the treat recalls. I asked him what treats he was feeding his dog and among them he said the Ol’ Roy “Multi Flavor” large biscuits. So I said, “OK, well that product doesn’t appear to be listed but you might want to stop feeding them anyway.” I mentioned that there was another brand recalling “Multi Flavor” biscuits but the Ol’Roys were just the peanut butter, puppy and 4-flavor ones. And he said, “Well, wait a minute it does look like they list about four flavors on here.” I decided to read the UPC Code to him and sure enough, it was a match. Needless to say he was very upset and telling him that so far no one has reported deaths from Ol’Roy biscuits did little to ease his mind.
So Ol’ Roy 4 Flavor = Ol’ Roy Multi Flavor. Just FYI.
Comment by JM Leong — April 5, 2007 @ 11:38 pm
laura S we too have unhappy furry family members. The dogs are now eating just homemade food after rejecting the Natural Balance and Canidae. They eat and smell each other’s bowls to be sure no one has any of the good stuff. I have to add a little yogurt or unsalted melted butter to get my old girl (14 year old Pom) to even consider eating. They eat carrots (cooked slices) as snacks and like them better than the food :(
My poor cats are eating the Purina One Urinary health and a bite here an there of the dogs homemade stuff. I can’t find any natural food with low enough Ash and Mag. for them. They sadly miss their Friskies canned that they use to have once in a while as a treat. At least they didn’t have the once with the gluten in them.
I’m so stressed at meal time I think they sense it. I now have a canister of Sunshine’s Pup Corn in Peanut flavor and one in cheese in my closet but we’re not opening that until its cleared completely. No Gluten but who knows anymore. It was a perfect treat for all the dogs because it was low sodium for my Missy and Lilly and Lucy loved them too.
Comment by Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's Mom) — April 6, 2007 @ 12:23 am
Recalled food dated back to AUGUST????
I apologize if this isn’t the appropriate blog issue to post this under but didn’t know where to post this.
My previously well, indoor cat became very ill the end of Sept. Blood and urine tests showed nothing specifically wrong. There was never a determination as to the reason for her constant vomiting and refusal of water and food, and then seizures. I always felt she was poisoned some how. Since she is an indoor cat, the food was a consideration.
I’ve been an avid reader of this site, especially since my cat has never totally regained her health. I haven’t reported her illness because of the recall dates of the tainted food and never taken the cat back into be rechecked even though she continues to be ill and experiencing sporadic seizures. This morning, I scanned just a few of the updated/expanded dog food recall lists and found that some of these included foods made back in AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER!!! I thought Menu Foods stated that they only used this wheat gluten beginning in DEC???? And they wonder why we have no confidence or trust in them!!!
Comment by Pat — April 6, 2007 @ 8:02 am
Just realized that those were BEST BUY dates…sighs… my apologies for typing before having coffee… and grasping at straws for explanation for my cat’s illness
Comment by Pat — April 6, 2007 @ 8:27 am
This may be a red-herring or red-flag. In an April 6th article (see link) of the Boston Globe there is a statement from Sundlof that…
“Between 5 and 10 percent of the product that was sold as wheat gluten was, in effect, melamine, ” “said Stephen F. Sundlof , director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.”
This says to me that a percentage of 55lb bags are pure melamine!!! Maybe I’m mis-interpreting this or the information is already known by the blog community. Just wanted to share.
I’ve been so depressed and concerned for all those that have been affected by this immense tragedy. It has hit close to home. A neighbor’s dog passed in December and a friend had to euthanize one of her cats in mid-March.
Comment by Neil S. — April 6, 2007 @ 11:19 am
Sorry, here is the link to article:
http://www.boston.com/business....._biscuits/
Comment by Neil S. — April 6, 2007 @ 11:21 am
I have been so upset over this whole recall that I am obsessed with finding just the right food for my Buddah cat. He’s been eating Fancy Feast but I am so scared that any day now they will say it’s bad too. Tomorrow I am going out and buying Blue Buffalo Spa Select and hope to heck he’ll eat it….as he is so….ooooo finiky. He’s also had Hills Science Diet Hairball formula which was bought awhile back so I hope that’s okay. It’s been a guessing game every week now since this whole thing broke in the news. I tried Friskies and Meowmix and he doesn’t seem to want to eat much of any of it lately and that worries me so its gonna be Blue Buffalo for awhile….at least it has no wheat glutten in it! Wish me luck!!!!
Comment by LadyDi — April 6, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
Does anyone know if the pup corn is tainted or not ? My little yorkie ate some and is vomiting yellow foam ??????
Comment by Kathy — April 22, 2007 @ 5:40 pm