Pet food recall: CNN reports wheat gluten addition may have been intentional
By Gina Spadafori
April 5, 2007
- If you have a sick pet or a question on your pet’s health, call your veterinarian.
- If you’re new to the site, please check out our general information page (includes links to recalled foods).
- If you’d like suggestions on what to feed, click here.
- 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.
We’ll follow with a link to transcript when it’s up, but “Anderson Cooper 360” just reported that among the possibilities the FDA is investigating is that the plastic might have been added to the wheat gluten intentionally, as a cheap way to up the protein content.
Update: Here’s the transcript (keep reading past the FBI story).
Also: More than 12,000 complaints have been lodged with the FDA, more than two years’ worth on all other topics combined.
Finally … hello, commentors! Over here! May I have your attention?
We’re nearing the end of week three of this, and we’re all tired. I get that. But can we act appropriately and stop with the nastiness? That solves absolutely nothing.
We’ve tried to make our reporting on our Pet Connection blog on point, not political. The exception is our call to action, which we don’t see as a left-right, liberal-conservative issue. We want veterinarians to be recognized as an important part of the public-health system, with a centralized way to share and collect information on animal health. And we want stronger labeling on pet food, including country of origin and identification of manufacturers, with contact information.
We want people to be able to make an intelligent, informed decision on how to feed their pets. And we want veterinarians respected for their role in protecting both animal health and human health. Is that so hard to agree on?
Check out our call to action, and see if you agree.
And play nice here.
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I almost fell off the sofa when I heard this on 360 tonite,the show will repeat at 1 am est. i’m so upset with what i heard.
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
The news shocked me too. I was taping it and had to rewind the tape and watch it again to make sure I heard it right.
Comment by Sandy — April 5, 2007 @ 8:33 pm
I haven’t seen the report from Anderson Cooper. If it’s true, then some kind of props are deserved for the commenters on this blog who pointed out some time ago the connection between the gentlemen (forgot his name) who holds a position with the Chinese company and his patents on feeding, basically, urea to ruminant animals and possibly other animals.
Pet Connection.com has proven indispensable for pet owners during this crisis, unlike the FDA and the pet food companies. Thank you for this site, such a good resource.
Comment by Brian Bell — April 5, 2007 @ 8:37 pm
Oh, I do believe I mentioned that on the other post - they add anti-freeze to medicine - they add sewage to Lard - now it is poison toxic junk to wheat gluten.
This is just the beginning of our problems with importing edible goods from China.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
Gina and everyone at Pet Connection as bad as things are right now with more bad news. I hope everyone has a Good Holiday.
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 8:44 pm
Actually, they add stuff to the wheat to make it heavier - so it weighs more and that way they get more money.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
I read that they add it to the wheat to make the wheat heavier - absorbs more water - or something akin to that. Maybe it can be sprayed on and creates a binder of sorts for other elements that in turn add weight. Just a thought.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 9:03 pm
This is somehting new from communist china?
i call it criminal..
think people. korea, vietnam , human rights ?
whats needed here is expulshion from W.T.O.
and NO more trade with a menance..
and No politican should object!
i think some people don’t see, what does it take
to get people to wake up??
their’s a real criminal element at work here.
Comment by johnypaycut — April 5, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
I just found out. Am shaking like a leaf.
The urea adds something like 40% protein to the food. I ‘ll dig up the info I found the other day. I’m in shock but at the same time I’m not. Sick to my stomach. Alarmists, we?
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 9:14 pm
Sandro, thank you for posting the name and the details. I knew I read it here nearly a week ago. When I first read that bit about Dr. Mao, I thought it couldn’t possibly be this patent being used, could it? Now, upon hearing the FDA is looking into whether or not the melamine contamination was intentional, it makes more sense than ever. The blogosphere seems to outpace the news media these days. Thanks Pet Connection!
Comment by Brian Bell — April 5, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
TO: SANDRO Doesn’t it seem entirely possible that this guy wanted to do some “FREE” experimenting on American dogs and cats. Afterall aren’t cats and dogs frequently on Chinese dinner tables - on a plate, I mean??!!??
Comment by laura S — April 5, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
I posted this below but felt it needs to be read again.
I was at Senator Durbin’s conference today. To be honest, I was disappointed in the turnout. Lots of people are “outraged” and complaining on blogs and message boards but yet no one wants to do anything. If you have time to post your outrage on blogs and message boards, you have time to email or write an old fashioned snail mail letter to your congressmen and women. Ask them to stand with Senator Durbin (IL), Senator Kohl (WI), Rep. Kucinich (OH), and Rep Delauro (CT). We do a lot of complaining about politics in the US and how our congressmen and women don’t represent us. Make your voice heard. They don’t read minds.
Comment by Heather — April 5, 2007 @ 9:19 pm
Re: Comment by laura S
Well, according to Dr. Mao UREA is 7 orders of magnitude cheaper than other protein sources. If anything, I’d say it’s an economic crime as opposed to illegal experimentation. Wouldn’t want to jump the gun though and everyone has be so dishonest in this entire fiasco I wouldn’t believe everything they say until proven.
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 9:22 pm
Re: Comment by Brian Bell
Keep in mind that they’re all looking for scapegoats right now. I wouldn’t take anything at face value.
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
I don’t think this is new for China - not new at all. Fudging and we pay the price.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 9:30 pm
I guess i’ve got to offer a bit more here..
im a vietNam marine , i was sent to war at age 18. im fortunate to have survived, and i’ve
managed to leave the war behind me. i think
that right now we’r being tested..
a large number of my friends have never been to happy with our trade with communist china? they’v always said they are very untrustworthy..
Comment by johnypaycut — April 5, 2007 @ 9:32 pm
I’m trying to find the article on what China does to the grains so it adds weight - but alas, not luck yet.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 9:39 pm
Johnypaycut - my brother flew heliocopter night vision for two tours and shot down several times. He nows trains all the top pilots on hightech birds throughout the world. But many don’t remember our history or understand the benefits of buying only American - they just want cheap goods.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 9:43 pm
Linda, I’m still looking…it’s in my history, but my history is so huge!
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
Melamine coats fertilizer and maybe it adds weight too -
For sure I believe they either added something or altered something that evidentually poisoned our pets and threatened our food supply.
But to think it was done on purpose, none of it surprised me - not anymore
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 9:50 pm
And my old computer is so overloaded that it’s gotten so SLOW but I don’t dare clear anything out at all right now.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
I posted this on the other blog, but let me say it again. Check out this site:
http://keepourpetssafe.braveho.....vents.html
There is going to be a NATIONWIDE MARCH on April 28 - due to the pet food recall. I posted this under Durbin calls for hearings blogs, so check that out, or just go to the site. Let’s make this march HUGE, so our government will realize how important our pets are to us and that we will not sit back and do nothing! Please, I know most of you are active on other sites: spread the word!
Comment by Krystal Kubichek — April 5, 2007 @ 9:52 pm
According to most state statutes, Fido is a piece of personal property with value that depreciates. He is not a human being and he cannot be murdered; thus negligent homicide charges are not forthcoming when he dies of kidney failure. But ask the millions of pet owners in this country how they’d feel if their dog or cat was suddenly killed, and you’d get a very human reaction of grief and mourning.
A little more than two weeks ago, Menu Foods, a company that manufactures wet pet food for cats and dogs - to be packaged under many different labels ranging from Iams to Eukanuba - announced a massive recall, stating that more than 60 million containers of the food may contain a chemical that causes massive kidney failure in pets.
According to The Associated Press, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received more than 300,000 phone calls and 8,000 complaints since the recall began. But since there is no way to track pet deaths within the United States, the only official record of deaths come from Menu Foods: 15 cats and one dog. (Some private calculations estimate deaths in the thousands.)
Pet owners are rightly panicking. As they rush their dogs and cats to veterinary emergency rooms once their pets start vomiting or display other symptoms, they wonder how the food they’ve been feeding their animals for years has suddenly become toxic.
Even now, no one really knows the problem behind the recall. Food analyses of the wet meat products have turned up traces of rat poison and melamine, a chemical used in plastic production. Although melamine is usually not toxic in low doses, no one can pinpoint how the chemicals were introduced into the food or how it was able to penetrate such a large distribution supply. Officials for the FDA claim the main culprit is probably wheat gluten, an ingredient used universally in wet pet food products.
Menu Foods has claimed that it will take full responsibility for any dog or cat sickened by a Menu Foods product. “We are angered that a source outside the company has adulterated our product,” CEO Paul Henderson said.
But Henderson’s anger is unfortunately not going to be enough to satisfy pet owners. Many lawsuits have already been filed, but because of the “pets as property” laws, the lawsuits will probably have little effect. Instead, many lawyers are urging victims to file class action lawsuits, which attempt to compensate a large group of people who are victims of the same egregious act. Menu Foods, whether it directly contaminated the food or not, is responsible for this disaster. Although I’ve never thought of my dog as a human being, I have always considered him a member of the family, and it is traumatic to think of losing this family member to a bad can of dog food.
With hints of this past year’s Taco Bell vegetable-contamination scandal, Menu Foods is up to its eyeballs in problems. Recalling 60 million cans and packets of wet pet food is a massive undertaking and must be costing the company millions of dollars. But is this recall enough? Unfortunately, it isn’t.
The pet industry is a booming $50 billion-a-year enterprise. According to The Economist, consumers without children were responsible for 60 percent of pet-related spending in the U.S. in 2005. It is hard to say if these people are replacing potential human family members with those of the canine/feline variety, but it certainly seems plausible.
Either way, it’s clear that pets aren’t just property. No law governing personal property can take into account the love and camaraderie that pet owners feel for their animals. The reality of the current crisis suggests that even though Americans are growing more and more accustomed to referring to their pets as their peers, we are probably far from removing the personal property label from American law books when it comes to exercising legal action against pet negligence and avoidable death.
Josh Plotnik
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 9:55 pm
I am going to do all home-made for know after hearing the CNN report. What would prevent them from using the melamine to up the protein in say soy, corn, what ever.
Comment by Robin — April 5, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
On another note - the labs said the quantities of melamine were not that large as to be toxic to our pets…..
Is this too a lie?
Maybe it’s something else? Something was changed or added that the pets shouldn’t be eating in levels high enough to kill them and the dedicated labs can’t discover what exactly. Melamine, GM Wheat, and the “X” factor all spell death to our beloved pets.
The pets can taste it too - and they don’t like it. I wonder if any lab has tasted the toxic junk? Not to be hurt - but just to discover what it might taste like, metallic or something odd.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
I guess basically this is what happened to our pets. I have more coming on this subject. Just found some of my old links.
Animal Health Alert #1/2002: Urea Poisoning of Range Cattle
From the Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
May 20, 2002
Arizona ranchers and large animal veterinarians are well aware of the difficult times facing range livestock this summer with the current drought. This situation has been made worse for several well-intentioned ranchers who have lost range cows after they attempted to supplement them using feed supplements that contained urea. Urea-containing supplements can be dangerous when formulated or used improperly and it is our intention to clarify this issue here.
Urea or ammonium salts are added to protein supplements as non-protein sources of nitrogen (NPN), which can be used, under the right circumstances, by ruminant livestock to provide up to 40 percent of their protein nitrogen requirements. NPN sources such as urea can be converted to protein and amino acids by rumen microorganisms in NPN-adapted ruminant livestock when energy intakes are adequate. They are commonly used because they are often less expensive than natural protein sources. When NPN supplements are improperly used, fatal ammonia intoxication can occur from too-rapid breakdown of urea (or ammonium salt)-containing products to ammonia from NPN sources by microorganisms in the paunch (rumen) of cattle or sheep. In appropriate amounts, ammonia can be utilized as a nitrogen source for protein and amino acid formation but is poisonous when formed in the rumen in excessive amounts.
Clinical signs of urea (ammonia) intoxication can occur in as little as 10 minutes to as much as 4 hours after consumption and include frothy salivation, grinding of the teeth, rapid breathing, bloat, muscle tremors, incoordination, bellowing, and seizure-like activity just prior to death. More often, clinical signs go unobserved in range cattle and they are simply found dead, sometimes in significant numbers.
Urea-containing or other NPN supplements should not be fed to range cattle when:
1. the main forage intake is dry, weathered range grass, which, during a drought or early summer is low in energy and protein and high in fiber. There must be an adequate intake of energy for ruminants to make efficient use of NPN sources of nitrogen such as urea for protein formation.
2. range cattle are on poor range or have been starved. These cattle are typically very hungry, are unaccustomed to NPN sources, and can easily become intoxicated if suddenly given access to NPN (urea) sources which can be rapidly consumed such as soft, easily chewed molasses-containing protein blocks. Range cattle are often supplemented only intermittently, which makes NPN ineffective as a nitrogen source for protein and amino-acid formation.
3. cattle are dehydrated. Cattle that have had an insufficient water supply are more susceptible to poisoning and should not be given NPN supplements.
4. cattle are not adapted to NPN sources. These animals are more susceptible to ammonia poisoning when suddenly given access to supplements containing urea or ammonium salts. Again, crumbly, easily consumed supplements that are suddenly given to unaccustomed, hungry cattle are often responsible for deaths because they are consumed too rapidly.
A high level of management is required for safe and effective use of urea-containing or other NPN supplements. A ruminant animal must be fed the NPN-containing supplement continuously at appropriate levels for several days before adaptation of ruminal microorganisms occurs and there is efficient utilization of the product as a protein supplement. If feeding of the supplement is stopped or for some reason animals go off feed, adaptation is readily lost.
Unquestionably range livestock need feed supplements at this time of the year and this is especially true given the present drought conditions on Arizona rangelands. For greater safety we suggest that ranchers consider using salt-limited feeding of all-natural protein supplements that do not contain urea or ammonium salts to avoid the risk of urea intoxication.
Check the label ingredient list of any products you are considering as supplements or ask for a formulation sheet from the vendor. Feed labels should state “for ruminants only” if the product contains an NPN source. Do not buy unlabeled products. All-natural protein salt-limited supplements are usually suitable for intermittent (i.e. every few days) supplementation in range cattle and are safer to use unless cattle are salt or water-deprived. Always follow label directions for any product used.
For more specific information on the use of livestock supplements, a qualified livestock nutritionist or large animal veterinarian should be consulted.
Diagnosis of NPN-related mortality in range cattle can be made by determining ammonia levels in rumen contents or blood (heparinized whole blood is preferable). Samples, however, must be from freshly dead animals and be iced down immediately after collection and during transport to the lab to prevent additional ammonia formation from decomposition. A full necropsy should be conducted to rule out other causes of death. Feed samples can be analyzed for urea if mixing errors are suspected.
Note: Horses, although less susceptible than cattle to urea intoxication, can be poisoned if they eat enough of a urea-containing supplement. Horses are roughly equivalent to cattle in susceptibility to poisoning by other types of NPN (e.g. ammonium salts).
By:
T.H. Noon, DVM, diagnostician, AZVDL
G.A. Bradley, DVM, diagnostician, AZVDL
H.F. Frederick Ph.D., livestock nutrition consultant
S. Peder Cuneo, Extension Veterinarian, University of Arizona
Reference: Clinical and Diagnostic Veterinary Toxicology, 3rd Edition, by GD Osweiler, et.al. 1985, Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 9:58 pm
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Am J Physiol 201: 71-73, 1961;
0002-9513/61 $5.00
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Urease poisoning in the dog
Stanley Wing Handford 1
1 Naval Medical Research Institute, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
Ammonium intoxication in dogs was induced by intravenous administration of urease. This method affords a unique preparation for the study of ammonia metabolism in vivo, since, within limits, a self-perpetuating, cyclic release of ammonia is achieved. Through the action of the enzyme, NH3—N is released from urea to be resynthesized via the ornithine-arginine cycle, operating in liver, to urea, from which in turn the ammonia nitrogen is released. Measurements of blood NH3—N, plasma NH3—N, BUN and plasma glutamine before and at 5, 30, and 60 minutes post intoxication show a highly significant increase in plasma glutamine and NH3—N levels and a decrease in BUN following ammonium intoxication. In showing that glutamine synthesis plays a major role in the clearance of an “overload” of NH3—N from the blood, and presumably other tissues, these results are in good agreement with the findings of other investigators.
Note:
With the Assistance of Paul J. Stonestreet and Paul W. Johnson
Submitted on February 1, 1961
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 10:01 pm
I know I am tired. I am not even making sense anymore, looking at my last 4 posts.
UGH, I need sleep. I will just read for a few days…lol
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 5, 2007 @ 10:01 pm
Nadine, what are you saying - they ground this stuff up in the Wheat when it was processed and put it in the feed - some Dr. Strangelove type of experiement?
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:01 pm
Still, even if China does doctor the grains, ChemNutra should have had that info with all their close ties. They were the ones to marry up with the company. Given China’s history, he should have looked more closely at what he was buying. He was probably more afraid of offending than he was about questioning and asking for a look-see at what he was buying. And shame on the rest for not doing their job either. With all the resistance and sugar-coating it will be difficult to sort out the truth. Putting pressure on P-G, Nutro and others should help change all of this.
Comment by Kathi — April 5, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
Linda, the feed grade is made from red wheat which has higher levels of phenol which causes the urea overload in laymen’s terms. I’m still looking for this explanation.
The human grade uses white wheat which is much lower in phenol and doesn’t cause the same reaction with the urea and apparently is more tolerated. Legally, the human grade should have been used in the pet food according to what I’ve read so far. The feed grade would not be tolerated by dogs.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
Linda, no the red wheat already contains the agent naturally.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 10:07 pm
Re: Comment by Steve “According to most state statutes, Fido is a piece of personal property”
These statutes exist in many countries. They tried having them overturned in Canada, but everyone from hunters to ranchers opposed it because they feared organizations such as PETA would use it against them.
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 10:09 pm
My Local news KSHB in Kansas city just did a story about the recall and they said that some dry dog biscuits are being recalled and the dates to the original recall may change to included food produced before the December 3 recall date.
Has any one heard similiar?
I received a call from IAMS to day about my deceased cat and my dog with seizures seems that toxins can cause seizures in dogs The local FDA office reported it to IAMS and they wanted to know all the detals about the cat and were interested in the dogs condition.
So after dragging through boxes of paper work ( my wife the account saves everything) we were able to trace the date we started feeding IAMS pouches to the dog and cat easy to see that the food purchased in december killed the cat(still miss him, he had a personality like no other) But more over the date we started feeding IAMS pouches coinceided with the when the dog started having seizures.
Early january we cut the dogs food in half our vet. said he was fat because he didn’t move much(a sign of kidney problem)so we did and seizures went from severe to very mild,and from every month to only one in the last 60 days, and on that date my wife figured out that I was out of town on bussiness and she fed the dog for the 2 days I was gone and she feed him 2 whole pouches and the following day he had a seizure.
now he has been on home made food since the recall and no seizures at all, and he is all over the place running playing like he did when he was a pup.
I firmly believe that this has been going alot longer than we know.
I do need to say that the lady from IAMS was nice and offer her condolences about the cat and said that IAMS will review my case and she asked what I expected so I told her since I can’t have my cat back I wanted my vet bills creamation costs, adoption fees and a refund of all of my food purchases.
I have to fax all this nformation to her tomorrow and then wait and see what happens.
Petco has lost my bussiness( poor customer service) and now that I’m making my own food petsmart is losing it as well if I could just make kitty litter I would set.
Comment by John — April 5, 2007 @ 10:10 pm
Well one of the owners of ChemNutra was Chinese so it would seem that she made the deal and just did the logisics.
She did get her MBA from China and her first name is chinese.
Everyone needs to take a deep breath, alot of speculation and theory.
I would say let the FDA do their jobs, but….
Just love your kitties and puppies if you still can. If you live in Colorado let me know you can stop by and love mine also.
It’s good to know there are caring people in this world!
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 5, 2007 @ 10:11 pm
EXPLANATION FOLLOWS (In part…will explain the melamine in layman’s terms if I can in a minute)
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/P.....01608.html
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 10:13 pm
Something seems so surreal about this. I can easily imagine that the growers altered the wheat to make it heavier but to ship this wheat gluten over that is altered to have higher protein and put it in our pets foods - they probably got a higher price for the human/pet grade than the feed grade. That’s the only thing that makes sense.
Now tell me Nadine, was this added to the wheat gluten in the processing?
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:15 pm
John I would consult with an attorney before you do any additional communication with “IAMS”.
Sounds like they are trying to settle to avoid litigation. Its up to you.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 5, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
Okay Nadine - so it was just the wrong grade to be fed to our pets - is that it? But the melamine levels weren’t that toxic that’s what the labs have said all along…
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
Menu Foods should not be claming they were unaware of the prescence of melamine— If that is true then they do not have sufficient quality control testing in place (tests that don’t involve sticking a pan in front of a test cat or dog to see if they survive the meal placed in front of them should be demanded). Pet food manufacturers in the US should be held to the higher standards. Ultimately, it does not matter where or how the product was contaminated, but the fact that this was not caught in chemical analysis product testing before it entered the hands of consumers is the problem. Recalling poison after the fact is not a sufficient answer.
Comment by pmaron — April 5, 2007 @ 10:18 pm
Re: Comment by Linda
I don’t know how long you’ve been following these blogs, but another theory that’s been raised is melamine powder was used as a cutting agent. I provided pictures of melamine powder and wheat gluten, both have similar colors and texture. Melamine trades on commodity markets for twice the price of wheat gluten. However, for use in plastic laminates and other goods, melamine must be at least 98% pure. Melamine from bad production runs is useless and likely given away or sold at rock bottom prices. China is one of the world’s top producers of melamine.
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
Has anyone sent the food to independant labs to see what the hell is going on?
Has anyone looked into doing this? At best it would be good to know.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 5, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
If not I would like to get a sample and do it. Let me know what you think. I can get funds to pay for it. We will need to do a chain of custody to make it scientific and credible.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 5, 2007 @ 10:24 pm
So how would this work - this importer, brainstorming here, would have a supplier in China, maybe he owns the firm and they add this Melamine to the product so it will test of high protein content so they can get more money, something like drug dealers do by cutting the pure product or something, and this same evil importer than delivers it around under dubious minimal labeling as fit for human consumption but makes certain it is only fed to our pets, as part of some strange design to reep higher profits?
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:26 pm
I for certain believe that something here has been added and mentioned this earlier and often. But let’s all remember, that the vets and testing labs say the quantities were not high enough to be toxic. Now that is the puzzle isn’t it?
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:29 pm
Lets just send it off to a lab and test it ourselves. A mass spectrometer can detect the compounds. We would problalby need a baseline to measure it against.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 5, 2007 @ 10:30 pm
Well, they make it heavier so it weighs more and they get more money. This sounds very plausible to me.
They did it with the anit-freeze, they add sewage to lard - same type of thing. Scary business practices.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:33 pm
I bet you can taste it - like the pets did.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
I do question the studies of melamine in humans and pets.
The FDA seems set on the whole melamine theory, as far as we all know thats all it is.
The first lab tests were different, as far as we know it could be a toxic soup.
Not they are saying it was deliberate, ya keep making stuff up until people start believing your story.
Someone start looking into a lab and we can consider doing our own tests.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 5, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
My vet said that the most recent scientific test on the effects of Melamine on cats happened during the 1940’s. And there’s none for dogs.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:38 pm
It could be the “X” factor - something we haven’t discovered.
It just seems if they added large quantities of melamine the animals would have a larger concentration of it in their urine and kidneys than what has been reported.
How does one test for GM wheat and it’s effects?
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:40 pm
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
I posted information on that way back. It’s in early blogs. I can’t find it now though.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 10:43 pm
The article I read said they spray something on the groups to increase the moisture content and make the wheat heavier.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
Crops, not groups. Oh, but I’m tired.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:45 pm
It’s never going to be the same for the Pet Food Industry. I truly can see a nasty shakeout coming.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 10:58 pm
Here it is.
BSE PROTEIN POWDER
160%-300% protein
Can be custom mixed into feed orders
I will find the rest tomorrow.
http://ccne.mofcom.gov.cn/offer/detail.php?t=
1&pid=952
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 10:59 pm
If my following question has been covered and answered somewhere over the past few weeks I apologize for asking again, but I don’t recall. When the lab tests were done to these cuts and gravy entrees was there any distinction in the results of whether the melamine contaminant was as equally strong in the meat (and I use the term loosely) part as in the gravy part? I know gluten is used to thicken things like the sauces and gravy but it seems to me any contamiment would have different intensity based on the viscosity of what it was in. And of course there is leeching to consider. I just thought maybe if the melamine was also strongly evident in the processed solid “meat” part that would possibly suggest a closer tie to the processed dry foods that many say are also sickening pets.
Comment by elizabeth — April 5, 2007 @ 10:59 pm
Oh, and it’s on the Chinese government site!
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:00 pm
Elizabeth, I’m not a chemist but from what I’ve sourced over the last week, it seems it has something to do with an excess of phenol in red wheat which combines with the formaldehyde to form a resin, or a “goo” —-somewhere back in my blogs I sent the link on what I suspected was the reaction. When all this is heated, a reaction takes place. It was days ago and I can’t explain well, and not being my field, I know I’m not explaining it well. In the dry food or in biscuits, the hardening reaction makes it possible to roll out and cut the forms. Something to do with poly… like in plastic sheeting, coating…it makes the thing harder, not just “goo” - sorry I can’t be of more help in my explanation. I know it’s all out there and I’ll try to dig up what I found the other day.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:08 pm
We need to get this China situation under control.
If you’re a semi or full vegetarian, and enjoy vegetable protein sources that resemble the texture and taste of meat or poultry, then there may be even more trouble for you.
We need strict unforgiving safety regulations on these imports.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 11:12 pm
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 10:58 pm
Ya think? 80 million dogs and cats out there are counting on them.
And God only knows what they’ve been feeding the hamsters.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:13 pm
Hay Nadine - the product information on the BSE Powder is now hidden by the Chinese - ought oh gal! You’ve found something….
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:15 pm
This has been another very long day without food, partly because I’ve lost my appetite (seriously). I’m off for now and will check in on you all in the morning. Nite.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:16 pm
Good night. The BSE powder content will be still hidden tomorrow no doubt!
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:17 pm
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 5, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
Yes, you’re right. The FDA seems very much set on melamine. But unfortunately, I don’t remember if anyone’s actually found melamine itself in the food as opposed to the pets (it’s been a long week) - can anyone enlighten me?
I’m sorry, I just don’t buy that this is a terrorist plot. Maybe it’s easier for the FDA to explain its inaction in that context than in the light of something less fantastic.
Logic says it’s way simpler than terrorism - it’s the market. I don’t know how to fix that, short of more FDA inspectors no one in DC wants to fund.
Comment by Laura — April 5, 2007 @ 11:19 pm
BSE PROTEIN POWDER
path: Home > Offer To Buy > Detail
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Esb Biologic Protein Powder
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Category:
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Date Posted:
Aug 23,2005
Trade Lead Expiration Date:
Note:
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Contact Information:
Company:
Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co.,Ltd
Contact:
lijun Mao
Country/Area: :
China
City:
Address:
Wangdian Country fair Pei County Jiangsu
Zip code:
221623
Tel:
86-516-4741888
Fax:
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xz.ay@163.com
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Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:26 pm
Linda - I’ve tried to send it “cut and pasted” to you but it’s not going through. Maybe it’s taking a while for our blog editors.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:29 pm
Nadine, thanks. I’ll keep an eye out in case you find it. The original Menu recall stuff was all cuts and gravy. I imagine like when we cook for ourselves the “meat” was done in a huge batch and the gravy was concocted up in another big vat. Then it would have been mechanically weighed and the two parts would be individually shot into the cans so there was the right amount of meat and the right amount of gravy. I just mainly wonder if the gravy and meat in the same can was equally contaminated or one more so than the other. Or maybe the scientists just ground it all up together like in CSI before they tested the stuff.
Comment by elizabeth — April 5, 2007 @ 11:30 pm
What if the Melamine is incidental to the poisoning -
Why would they name a protein powder BSE - initials for the Mad Cow Disease right?
Odd, what if it’s dried animal protein that was contaminated in some way and added to the wheat gluten…..
Lots of ifs I suppose.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:32 pm
Elizabeth - I’ll look for all of it tomorrow. I’m beat.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:32 pm
Regarding:
Comment by Heather — April 5, 2007 @ 9:19 pm
“Ask them to stand with Senator Durbin (IL), Senator Kohl (WI), Rep. Kucinich (OH), and Rep Delauro (CT). We do a lot of complaining about politics in the US and how our congressmen and women don’t represent us. Make your voice heard. They don’t read minds.”
Heather, I totally agree, and two days ago I called Rep. Kucinich’s office in Ohio (216-228-8850) and spoke with a very nice woman who took my name, address and phone number to pass along to the congressman. I praised Mr. Kucinich’s letter to the FDA and asked her to thank him personally for me for ‘stepping up to the plate’ and dealing with this issue head-on and asking the FDA those tough questions. We discussed how this was not a “democrat or republican” issue, but a “person who loves their pet as part of the family” issue.
Folks, it really made me feel better to actually speak with someone. Posting on these blogs has been frustrating because I feel so helpless, but at the same time I want to help and comfort as many of my fellow pet owners as I can. I am one of the lucky ones who wasn’t feeding the tainted food, and I thank God every day for this. My two cats, Sammy and Shadow are my “precious babies,” and I feel the pain of all of you that have lost your precious babies. Sometimes the sadness overwhelms me when I read the stories….
Anyway, I will look up the numbers of the other legislators that Heather has mentioned and call them tomorrow.
Wishing I could take the pain away….Sue
Comment by AZSue — April 5, 2007 @ 11:32 pm
I read here that the wheat gluten is part of the meat sections - meat strips contain very little meat. So people wash the gravy off and think they will be okay - but not so.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:34 pm
Linda
That what I was speculating in my earlier blogs. I think people thought I had a screw loose…
You are right and it does exist.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:34 pm
Nadine, we all are just brainstorming here - the low levels of Melamine don’t point to the massive addition of it during the processing.
But adding some animal protein, from the poor dead dogs or whatever, now that sounds plausible.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:36 pm
Avoid protein powder from China well, even here in America, we never know where the raw ingredients come from.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:38 pm
That reminded me, I don’t know if this helps anyone, but our cat would lick the gravy and leave a lot of the meat. He died in Feb. from the Special Kitty, so I guess that would suggest the gravy was more involved, unless, like you said, something leeched out of the meat into the gravy.
Comment by Darlene — April 5, 2007 @ 11:39 pm
Linda
It’s all processed just like plastic, because that’s what it is! Plastic protein. It’s GOURMET MOLECULES. It’s what holds chicken nuggets together, too, and formed barbeque pork. (Shiver.)
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:39 pm
I don’t eat that toxic waste junk. Can’t remember the last time I did, some things aren’t worth remembering.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:42 pm
So can we safely say its particle wood for pets?
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 5, 2007 @ 11:44 pm
China has to do something with all those dead dogs and cats, grinding up their bones etc into protein powder sounds very inventive to me. (sarcasm here)
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:45 pm
Oh Monkeykitty - gag a maggot!
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:46 pm
Whatever happened to food being food?
Comment by Darlene — April 5, 2007 @ 11:47 pm
Comment by John — April 5, 2007 @ 10:10 pm
John, so very sorry about your cat. Glad that the dog is doing well now, tho…
I also believe that IAMS was attempting to begin to legally “settle” with you. I would love to believe that they truly cared, but the record does not show that for that company.
For the moment, I believe you should hold tight and not submit to documents to IAMS, let alone sign any document from them right now. I am not a lawyer, but I do figure that some of these companies are starting customer outreach programs that will attempt to keep those customers from entering into any class action suits.
Any lawyers out there to give general information to John and any others regarding pet food company contact/attempt for settlement? We need to be ready for more of these questions even if it means researching some of these legal issues ourselves.
Comment by Laurie — April 5, 2007 @ 11:48 pm
Just the fact that this company’s president has a patent for dumping urea into livestock and melamine is a by-product of urea basically says it all to me.
The whole episode starts tomake some sense now.
Too many coincidences. They doctored this stuff on purpose, not to kill the animals (though they couldn’t care less), but to make money and prove this idiot’s ideas.
Dr. Strangelove indeed.
Comment by stephen — April 5, 2007 @ 11:48 pm
Linda
You don’t need much melamine (urea and formaldehyde) to react with the phenol in the wheat to cause it to be toxic. Read the toxic cow reports from AZ University. The reaction takes place in the digestive system and turns it back into melamine.
My question the other day was what other powdered products have been going into the mix? I wrote about this and included information for my suspicion.
My brain is fried…I’ve been sitting here for 15 hours. Need to go now.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:48 pm
Laura, personally when I read the FDA’s comments about melamine being added intentionally I didn’t see them as suggesting a terrorist plot. I thought they just meant the chinese chemists purposely added it for a trade reason (like maybe juicing up the protein levels) the way one might intentionally add salt or sugar to a recipe. Unfortunately for us and the Chinese the componant they used happened to cause a poisonous reaction. Previously to tonite most of us assumed the contaminent got in the wheat accidently through some environmental source. If the Chinese indeed added the melamine on purpose it would not be terrorism but it sure as heck is criminal negligence and our pets are just as dead.
Comment by elizabeth — April 5, 2007 @ 11:49 pm
I am burning the candle from both ends..
I have my humor and thats about it. I hope our pets lives mean something to congress and I hope they can all agree this has been a huge mess and get something taken care of for once without putting in some pork provision to a helpful bill (hint).
How hard can it be to pass something so basic?
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 5, 2007 @ 11:51 pm
I, too, am wondering if the “ESB protein powder” advertised on their site might not have something to do with this.
From one of Xuzhou’s online listings:
“The latest product esb protein powder which is researched and developed by xuzhou anying biologic technology development Co., ltd. Contains protein 160% -300% , which solves the problem for shortage of protein resource.”
It appears to contain urea, so I’m guessing that this is what Mao’s patent refers to.
On their personal site, it is advertised for use in aquatics and livestock feed, but there is no mention of whether it is safe for human and/or pet consumption.
I wonder if they weren’t either cutting the gluten with the stuff to increase profits, or attempting to do a large-scale test-of-sorts.
Comment by Gwen — April 5, 2007 @ 11:52 pm
Well Melamine is melamine right - it seemed that what was found in the animals weren’t that high, no matter the source, to cause death or injury.
Wouldn’t the FDA sleuths think of this?
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:52 pm
Comment by Darlene — April 5, 2007 @ 11:39 pm
Darlene, I’m sorry about your cat. It’s unbelievable what has happened to us all.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:53 pm
If not I am just going to friggin move to Canada or the UK. I have had it.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 5, 2007 @ 11:53 pm
Comment by Nadine Long
Try to get some sleep. Many of us here sure appreciate your research!
Comment by Laurie — April 5, 2007 @ 11:53 pm
Yes, that’s what I got out of it too. At first, when this first started, I thought perhaps terrorism, but the more I read, the more I think it is a very bad experiment gone wrong. Unfornuately for our kitty.
Comment by Darlene — April 5, 2007 @ 11:53 pm
Comment by Gwen — April 5, 2007 @ 11:52 pm
Gwen, you are right. I posted the other day.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:54 pm
It’s all speculation but good speculation. How expensive is this protein powder and I assume that Wheat Gluten is fairly cheap - protein poweder may cost more - that is just a guess here.
Contaminated protein powder though might be added as a filler -
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:55 pm
Just one more thing before I leave you all.
FDA has not tested melamine tolerance levels in dogs…they have no guidelines…it’s just considered “inedible.” I posted a paper done in 1961 for tolerance levels in dogs earlier this evening.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:57 pm
Nadine, thanks for the sympathy. My heart too goes out to everyone who has lost a pet. Over 3000 now according to the self-reported numbers! Even one was one too many.
Comment by Darlene — April 5, 2007 @ 11:57 pm
Looking over the post from Gwen it would appear that it was supposed to go into feed for fish farms. Might be looking into.
I know thats a huge industry in China and also a huge pollutant to watershed envirionments.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 5, 2007 @ 11:58 pm
Yes Nadine your research is wonderful. Top notch!
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:59 pm
I read earlier today about the toxic runoff from these fish farms into the fields -
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 12:00 am
Then again what isn’t in China, not so sound anti-chinese or anything but its pretty nasty there.
But it meets the requirements for fish food.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 6, 2007 @ 12:02 am
READ THIS
If you find something SAVE THE PAGE, do NOT post the link here.
Save it and we will set up a site where you can upload it.
There are ways to make sure that every page they delete is a nail in the coffin but we need to do this right.
Seriously, the mere act of deleting a page shows ‘GUILTY KNOWLEDGE”, this is a big deal in both civil and criminal cases. Just like shredding documents it will bite them in the butt. As in jail time, as in perp walk, as in handcuffs and seizure of assets.
Tomorrow, I will post a link to a site where this can be explained to those who need to know. Fun, cloak and dagger time!
Please, do NOT post links here until you have saved the page.
The good news is that once you have an entity on the net deleting pages, you HAVE them.
You OWN that lily white ass once they start deleting.
This is great news!! Those morons are deleting pages, yes, yes, yes!
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 6, 2007 @ 12:04 am
For those looking for the ‘BSE protein powder’ info., it wasn’t deleted.. it’s *ESB* protein powder, and it’s still available both on the XA site and for sale all over the web.
http://tinyurl.com/298o36
Nadine.. apologies on the double-post.. I was afraid others had probably already broached the ESB thing. It’s been so hard to keep up with all the traffic in these parts as of late.
Comment by Gwen — April 6, 2007 @ 12:10 am
The link Nadine posted - the product information was hidden -
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 12:14 am
Also.. as far as the cost of the ESB, I can’t find any prices listed, however, given the fact that they list it as “reducing the production cost of feed factor”, I am assuming it is not a particularly pricey ingredient.
“The latest product ESB Protein Powder which is researched and developed
by Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co., Ltd. contains protein
78%, which solves the problem for shortage of protein resource.Reasonably
making use of NPN and reducing the production cost of feed factor, ESB Protein
Powder is a good additive to supplement the shortage of protein resources in animal
feed applications.” -XA site
Comment by Gwen — April 6, 2007 @ 12:14 am
Notice how the CEO from Menu Foods hasn’t done any press conferences lately?
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 6, 2007 @ 12:18 am
Petconnection please make FULL backups of your data. Make sure you keep a copy offsite in a verified format so if you need to you can restore to a server that is non production for court purposes.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 6, 2007 @ 12:21 am
EWWWWWWW…..
http://www.westonaprice.org/tr.....china.html
Some interest points about diet of the Chinese.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 12:23 am
Ah… re: the ESB site posted earlier, if you click the link provided, you get the message regarding the product information being hidden because there’s a problem with the link. (The end of the link extends onto the next line, and isn’t registering as a part of the link.. so you’re basically just getting their standard error message.)
If you type/paste the entire url into your browser, or use this:
http://tinyurl.com/2uf8p4
you can access the information. It’s still there.
Comment by Gwen — April 6, 2007 @ 12:23 am
Maybe Steve was right that ChemNutro knew all along and is even involved. Hard to believe that something could be done like this with intent - probably never imagined that our pets would die or that we’d figure out what was going on.
How about the GM wheat theory?
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 12:27 am
It’s the ingredients that are hidden - unless you can access it.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 12:29 am
I’m going to bed.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 12:30 am
Just watched the CBS5 segment on the recall. Good job Christie!
As I anticipated they ran with the political angle with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) calling for an investigation.
She got out the message about the number of sick and dying pets. (No. “FDA only says 16” in this report. Finally!)
She also got out the point about wanting a better system for the food supply since pets are the “canaries in the coal mine”
I will note to everyone that CBS5 ended with the DENIAL from the Chinese government. They used the line that China had “never exported wheat or wheat gluten to … the United States.”
That kind of pissed me off because now it’s the “he said she said stuff. The CBS wire story pointed out that
“This contradicted comments by two employees at the Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co., this week who said the company had shipped wheat gluten to the United States.”
but the TV news didn’t point that contradiction out. They just ended with a kind of ‘Who knows who is telling the truth vibe?’
At this point I don’t want to pay nation against nation. I actually have a request.
Are there any Chinese bloggers here? Chinese speakers. Chinese American pet lovers (those are just a few categories I’m thinking of they aren’t mutually exclusive.)
We need your help!
If we had a few Chinese reading/speaking people who could help us parse the Chinese government’s response IN CONTEXT that might be helpful.
—NOTE: All of China and the Chinese aren’t wrong and bad. -
We need real People/blogger allies in other countries especially the Netherlands, China and Canada. Ask on your blogs for a Chinese/American pet lover blogger to contact you create an ally there. Yes there are huge global trading issues and problems but we CAN focus and point out that This is about the lack of people following rules, no real oversight, and cost cutting PUT AHEAD OF SAFETY. That is the problem, not the worker who makes .30 cents a day.
Focus on the places where they system was gamed, ignored, circumvented or just doesn’t exist.
Off to bed.
http://cbs5.com/ might have the video up soon.
LLAP,
Spocko
Comment by spocko — April 6, 2007 @ 12:39 am
Spocko,
I have a friend that may be able to help.
send me an email,
jon(don’t spam me)norris(no really)1000@hotmail.com
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 6, 2007 @ 12:43 am
I don’t think she is on right now but she is chinese and knows the language.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 6, 2007 @ 12:44 am
She also has pets and is as upset as we are. Chinese people are bad people. I know we want to direct our hate and loathing and fear somewhere.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 6, 2007 @ 12:46 am
She also has pets and is as upset as we are. Chinese people NOT are bad people. I know we want to direct our hate and loathing and fear somewhere.
I forgot an improtant part of that sentance….NOT BAD PEOPLE!!!!
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 6, 2007 @ 12:48 am
I’m still betting on Mr New York Lawyer (CEO). He knows something. Probably everything. Am I right ChemNutra. You people were there.
Comment by Kathi — April 6, 2007 @ 12:54 am
I think the more we speculate the more we look like idiots.
I am almost beyond thinking at this point need bed.
Again, the above posts what I intended on saying was “Chinese people are NOT bad people”.
I really hope this whole mess gets sorted out soon. My main concern is that no more life is lost due to lack of action of the FDA and due diligence.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 6, 2007 @ 1:05 am
I am in panic mode it comes and goes I can’t beleive my Sweet Cuddles my 13 yr old cat is gone.. It’s been a month and a half,,. I ‘ve been so caught up in this night mare.. I am having trouble breathing.. I lost my Sweet Angel.. It’s NOT FAIR I am so so HeartBroken.. I still can’t belive my Baby angel is Really gone ..
this Can’t be Real!!
the pain and the lonliness is REAL!!!!
Comment by kelly — April 6, 2007 @ 1:13 am
Hey… I haven’t lost anyone since this nightmare began, but I’m totally terrified that “they’re” going to recall the three dry foods that my baby’s been eating.
I cry for the animals who died and the people who lost them, on a daily basis. I spend hours assembling and gathering information, then dispersing it to others, every day.
We need to set up some kind of “Rainbow Bridge” link, a special area up there, for those whom we lost during this tragedy. This is the animal equivalent of the 911 Twin Towers tragedy. They have a memorial. We could all plan some kind of memorial for our loved ones when the immediate danger passes and no new lives are at stake. It won’t help those who are gone, but it’ll perhaps help some of us left behind. Remember that the chain links up again, on the other side of the veil, one link at a time. Eventually, you’ll be with them again. I’ve experienced needless loss of beloved animals in years past. I know how I felt. I cry for them still. Yet, I know that this current tragedy is still quite raw and totally senseless. I AM SO SORRY! And so scared…
Blessed Be.
WOLFIN
Comment by WOLFIN — April 6, 2007 @ 1:35 am
Kelly I’m sooo sorry for your pain.
In the past I, too, have lost a cat that was very dear to my heart.
It happened in 2001, but the pain is still very real yet.
He was only 11 yrs. First he started to poo on the floor, then
he started to miss the pan and finally he just wet on the basement
steps on his way down to the pan. Then came the sizures. My mom finaly had
to take the poor little fella to the vet. The vet confirmed that it
was ‘time’ and also said that he had become blind. He did have a bump
on his head that we felt was a tumor, but now with all of this . . .
I have to wonder if he, too, was a victum of tainted food.
Comment by Mary Smith — April 6, 2007 @ 2:02 am
Count on me for copies of those webpages of articles, patent info, etc. I’ve amassed a ton of data.
Comment by Lynn — April 6, 2007 @ 2:29 am
Kelly, I know how difficult this is for you. My thoughts are with you.
Comment by Lynn — April 6, 2007 @ 2:34 am
Just a reminder - PLEASE! If your pet shows ANY sign of kidney problems, or you know your pet has eaten one of the recalled foods, don’t hesitate - call your vet IMMEDIATELY. The sooner kidney problems are diagnosed, the better the chances for treatment to succeed. Do not wait.
Comment by Lynn — April 6, 2007 @ 2:38 am
Our dog ate the recalled Nutro natural choice wet. He is not dead, nor being treated although he was getting sick at least once per week from Jan 8th until MArch 16th when we stopped giving him the food. We were mixing the Nutro wet with a nutro dry, small bites senior. I have a vet’s appointment this mornig to do a blood test to see if he has any kidny/liver damage.
Following all the advice on this website and on dailykos:
I Called NUtro last Friday ( march 30) and left a message. I then called the NYS FDA field office and was able to make my report to a human. She took down my info and said they might call me back as I have eveidence because I kept a whole butter tub full of the dry food and have 2 empty cans of the wet.
I have also e mailed Dick Durbin my story along with several links from this site and petcenter.com.
We are worried, but feeling lucky we don’t have a ndead pet. For all those of you who lost youur loved ones to this recall, I feel for you in my heart. Some of the stories have reduced to me to shivering tears and made me very angry.
Comment by texastwister — April 6, 2007 @ 5:31 am
IO almost forgot. About 3 hours AFTER i called the FDA, I got a call from NUtro, leaving a message on my machine that they wanted to “hear back from me”. I wonder why it took them a week to call back and then somehow they only call after I complain to the FDA?????? I’m going to try and stick with the “coincidence” thingy.:
Comment by texastwister — April 6, 2007 @ 5:33 am
Sad that they sneak these announcements in right before a big holiday weekend, hoping no one will notice. Infuriating!!!
Pet Food Recall Gets Bigger
THE MONEY TIMES by Jyoti Pal - April 6, 2007 - 0 comments
http://www.themoneytimes.com/a.....03251.html
Continuing the wave of recalls, Menu Foods recalled all products that used wheat gluten from its former supplier, ChemNutra Inc. In turn, ChemNutra Inc. issued its own recall of wheat gluten it imported from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. in Wangdien, China.
A further recall for pet treats made by Sunshine Mills of Red Bay, Ala., primarily dog biscuits sold by Wal-Mart under the Ol’Roy brand, was also announced due to the treats that they were made with the contaminated wheat gluten.
The recalled Sunshine Mills dog biscuits are sold across the U.S. at supermarkets and pet specialty stores. In addition to the Ol’Roy brand, Nurture Chicken & Rice, Pet Life and Lassie biscuits were also recalled. Six of Sunshine’s private-label customers also were notified that their treats may contain wheat gluten with melamine.
Menu Foods, the Canadian based wet pet food manufacturer had earlier, on March 16, announced the recall of over 60 million cans of dog and cat food after numerous cases of renal health of the pets popped upon consumption of the food. This recall had covered a production period between December 3, 2006, and March 6, 2007.
The recent recall covers five more cat food varieties and four more dog food varieties of the moist products. It also includes seven new varieties sold in Europe. Twenty more dog and cat foods have thus been added in an already huge list of recalled pet products.
Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof, the FDA’s chief veterinarian, said, “Consumers should (still) feel safe in purchasing products not on the recall list.” Referring to the fact that the FDA had no idea how many pets have died or become sick from the recalled food, he said, “We know that there are a lot more animals that have been affected by this, made ill and died, but trying to put an estimate to it at this time is just not something we can do.”
The nationwide recall is based on the finding that melamine wound up in the pet food and in the wheat gluten imported from China that was used in the pet food.
Comment by Brooklynstargazer — April 6, 2007 @ 5:41 am
The FBI needs to get involved in this.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 6:32 am
I RECENTLY RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY NIECE WHO WAS ON CHANNEL 69 NEWS. AFTER MY AIRDALE TERRIER DIED I GAVE HER MY DOGS BISCUITS?
She said Shana was vomiting and had been a little ill? I gave her the MILKBONE dog biscuits? Now could this be realted in anyway.Since my DOG RASCAL died FEB 19th of chronic kidney failure. I FED HIM ONLY IAMS MINI CHUNKS DRY FOOD AND IAMS SAVORY BEEF GRAVY, AND MILKBONE BISCUITS. GOOD LORD I KNOW NOW THIS IS STILL A MYSTERY AND YOU CAN’T TRUST NOBODY’S PRODUCTS.
Comment by Georgeann Heckman — April 6, 2007 @ 6:34 am
This needs to become a criminal investigation.
Enough is enough.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 6:39 am
Angry? YOU BET WE ARE
Representing pet owners nationwide, Sacramento law firms Kershaw Cutter & Ratinoff, LLP and Wexler Toriseva Wallace, LLP, have filed the first Class Action lawsuit against Del Monte Foods (U.S. District Court, Central District of California, CV 07-1958-GHK AJWx).
Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) April 6, 2007 — Representing pet owners nationwide, Sacramento law firms Kershaw Cutter & Ratinoff, LLP and Wexler Toriseva Wallace, LLP, have filed the first Class Action lawsuit against Del Monte Foods (U.S. District Court, Central District of California, CV 07-1958-GHK AJWx) arising from its alleged sale of contaminated dog food and other pet foods to the public. The pet food class action lawsuit alleges that Del Monte’s Jerky Treats, Gravy Train Beef Sticks, and Pounce Meaty Morsels are contaminated with chemicals that can cause fatal kidney failure in animals that consume it. All of these brands were the subject of a recent nationwide recall and are believed to be contaminated by tainted wheat gluten from China. The lawsuit seeks reimbursement for all veterinary bills that were paid by affected pet owners.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 6:46 am
This issue has nothing to do with good or bad people - it has to do with inadequate oversight of imported goods by our Federal Government - namely, the FDA. And our problem of allowing these questionable items made with questionable ingredients into our country.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 6:54 am
After only three hours of sleep, I woke up with a start and the thought of “Pedigree” came into my mind. I immediately went to the computer to pull it up and … nothing. Is anyone else experiencing this? Intrigue.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 6, 2007 @ 7:01 am
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 6:54 am
Don’t be naive Linda. The law is the law and there is no excuse.
These guys know what they are doing.
Thats REALITY
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 7:03 am
Wonder who supplies Pedigree? Who owns Pedigree? I also went to AKC site and didn’t see any Pedigree advertising. I couldn’t remember if they were there before.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 6, 2007 @ 7:03 am
The point still is that Menu and others failed to test and inspect this product upon arrival at their facilities. If they had done so they would have rejected the toxic-poisonous ingredient.
In the criminal law, criminal negligence is one of the three general classes of mens rea (Latin for “guilty mind”) element required to constitute a conventional as opposed to strict liability offence. It is defined as:
careless, inattentive, neglectful, willfully blind, or in the case of gross negligence what would have been reckless in any other defendant.
GROSS NEGLIGENCE - Failure to use even the slightest amount of care in a way that shows Recklessness or willful disregard for the safety of others.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 7:07 am
Nadine - Yup. I woke up having spent all night having nightmares about this.
(For what it’s worth, I’ve seen more than a few anecdotal reports mentioning Pedigree). Putting together a list of all the anecdotal ‘mentions’ is next on my list. Feel free to send me any more psychic ‘hits’. Better than the info they’re giving us! ;-)
Comment by Kim — April 6, 2007 @ 7:09 am
Steve,
I certainly hope this company is not adding or altering Wheat Gluten with criminal intent - but I hate to be the judge and jury when as yet we don’t know the “whole” truth.
From what I’ve seen, China does some odd things with their edible products - so I blame our government for allowing this in the first place and now we’re closing down FDA labs.
I was making the statement in reference to the general Chinese people. I do not hate them. I just want the goods imported to be safe. And if China can’t control it, then at least we need to, one would think.
And again, whatever happened to this Wheat Gluten I hope was not meant to harm our pets. And if this company added something knowingly and thought what, oh it won’t hurt the pets….well that’s just wrong.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:10 am
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:10 am
Criminals do not have a conscience.
And naivety is no defense.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 7:12 am
Comment by Steve
Yep, although this is a monumental failure across the board starting with allowing companies to import food stock from countries with inferior standards and regulations, the last straw lies with manufacturers before the food gets into plates and bowls.
Comment by Sandro — April 6, 2007 @ 7:14 am
I am not pro hurting our pets. Menu acting in their own best interest - that’s something different. Menu knew almost certainly that the problem was with the new Wheat Gluten and they didn’t recall immediately.
But the ChemNutro company, have you guys proven that they added something on purpose without it being labeled correctly?
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:16 am
http://www.businessweek.com/ap.....B46A82.htm
China is investigating U.S. claims that a Chinese company exported contaminated wheat gluten implicated in pet deaths in the United States, a Chinese official said Friday, the first time the government has weighed in on the issue.
{..}
Xia Wenjun, another administration official, was cited by the state-run Xinhua News Agency as saying that “sampling and examination” of wheat gluten were under way nationwide but did not elaborate.
The probe will center around melamine, Xia said, and the administration will stay in touch with the U.S. Embassy in China. Further measures will be taken “based on developments in the United States,” Xia said.
Chinese veterinarians and animal rights activists said they were not aware of any reports of deaths in China due to tainted pet food.
{..}
Mary Peng, a manager of the International Center for Veterinary Services in Beijing, said she’s been receiving four to five queries a day from worried pet owners in China asking which food brands are safe. However, there have been no reports of animals sickened by pet food.
Comment by CathyA — April 6, 2007 @ 7:18 am
Do Chinese dogs eat wheat gluten? Do we export dog food to China?
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:20 am
Comment by Kim — April 6, 2007 @ 7:09 am
Why is their website down? I don’t the the busy page…just nothing. Who supplies Pedigree their raw materials? Have they made any statements at all? I wonder if they’re getting sad phone calls?
Comment by Nadine Long — April 6, 2007 @ 7:20 am
After Seeing This Story On CNN About 10 times, all I can say is how dare they do this to the food we fed our Pets. Our GOV. NEEDS TO Press some charges here against Menu Foods and this co in China
Comment by Mary Ann — April 6, 2007 @ 7:23 am
By the way, Borden owns Bakelite in Germany.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 6, 2007 @ 7:23 am
Steve and Nadine - are you saying that you know for certain or almost for certain that ChemNutro put something in the Wheat Gluten? Or knew their supplier did?
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:25 am
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:16 am
All the data compiled since March 16 suggests corruption. I predict it is highly likely these players would take the 5th if subpoenas were delivered and questioning began under oath.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 7:25 am
Re: Comment by Linda “Do we export dog food to China?”
You’ve got to be kidding, right? Exports is the last thing the pet food industry is thinking of. They’re more likely drawing plans to take advantage of China’s cheap labor by building plants over there.
Comment by Sandro — April 6, 2007 @ 7:26 am
Lets just talk about ChemNutro. Are you saying that you know that ChemNutro added this whatever on purpose?
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:27 am
You won’t post this, but here it goes. Doesn’t aafco allow for animal feces to be used in pet food? Since urea is in animal waste, and melamine is a by product of urea. Should we examine the the statement that melamine has no place in pet food a little more closely? Is it just the concentration that is wrong? Recycled chicken manure has been used in pet food for 40 years. That is what I have read. Do people really know or care what is in the food unless something bad happens? Do we know what is in our food?
Comment by Scott — April 6, 2007 @ 7:29 am
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:27 am
How bout ChemNutro be required to answer those questions?
Hmmm?
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 7:29 am
They deal in the same stuff…where?
http://www.bordenchem.com/ourP.....asp?prc=33
Comment by Nadine Long — April 6, 2007 @ 7:32 am
I do know that Sandro, see the post I made on the other thread - letter from the PF Institute. I posted it about an hour ago and hope I don’t get slammed too much for doing it. It’s all about the Trade with China and Greedy Corporations.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:32 am
Comment by Steve: “How bout ChemNutro be required to answer those questions?”
Yeah and I really, really don’t mean to be rude, but if you’d take the time to read the many blog posts Linda, you’ll find that you are rehashing many subjects that have been discussed at length.
Comment by Sandro — April 6, 2007 @ 7:33 am
Comment by Sandro — April 6, 2007 @ 7:26 am
No! Now they wouldn’t do something like that would they? I mean, they have our best interests at heart first right? These are the “good guys”.
;-)
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 7:33 am
Comment by Sandro — April 6, 2007 @ 7:33 am
Lindas not up to speed. Nothing personal towards her but every “clue” she needs to “get it” is on this web site.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 7:35 am
All you wonderful pet families. Please be very careful what you are feeding your pets. I fed my wonderful dachsie only a major brand DRY food that has NOT been recalled. She has been sick since January with all the same symptoms as the pets sickened/killed by the recalled foods and has been treated for a variety of ailments (who would have suspected her food?). Finally, this week, we learned that she has 25% kidney function. Even if the food you are feeding has not been recalled, be very, very vigilant.
Comment by Paula — April 6, 2007 @ 7:37 am
Steve, thanks a bunch. It’s all speculation and maybe some are right. We simply don’t know it all. Now if ChemNutro is in “bed” with Menu so to speak and both knew, then that’s something extreme and “evil”.
So why don’t you just spell it out for me okay then?
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:39 am
Itchmo brought up an interesting question a few minutes ago.
“Menu Foods visitors, can you tell us how you will dispose of the recalled food?”
Go ahead. Have at it.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 7:39 am
They don’t need to go there for cheap labor!
MIDDAY BUSINESS REPORT | Visas for high-tech foreign-born workers go quickly
By DIANE STAFFORD
The Kansas City Star
U.S. businesses that are merely thinking about hiring a high-tech foreign-born worker any time in the federal fiscal year starting Oct. 1 are out of luck.
All H-1B visas for fiscal 2008 were spoken for in one day after the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services began accepting applications Monday.
The controversial program limits such work permits to 65,000 for the coming year. Businesses sponsor H-1B visas to allow foreign-born “specialty” workers (such as computer programmers, scientists, engineers) to work in America.
The agency said 150,000 applications were received by midday Monday. A computer randomly is selecting winning requests.
Another 20,000 visas above the 65,000 cap are authorized for the year for workers who have advanced degrees from U.S. universities.
Businesses generally lobby for the visa cap to be raised, saying they can’t find enough qualified U.S. workers to meet their needs.
Critics of the H-1B visa program say it hurts U.S. workers by giving jobs to foreign-born candidates and by pulling down the wage scale that would otherwise be offered.
Two years ago, the specialty visa cap was set at 195,000, but Congress lowered the cap to its level before the dot-com boom. Businesses that use H-1B visas say 195,000 was a more realistic expression of market needs and that the cap should be raised again.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 6, 2007 @ 7:40 am
I read the post by Nadine Long from the “Biologic” company. Being an X farmer I recognized one term… “NPN”. This stands for Non Protien Nitrogen. It is a term that stands for a non-organic compound that simulates the role of protien in the digestive process. A good example in dairy cattle is the feeding of chemical urea mixed with plant protiens like soybean meal. As they state in the posted information it does act like protien in the gut and can be converted to real protien in the digestive process of CATTLE - not cats. This has NEVER been used anywhere else that I am aware of and certainly not in human food. Cattle have 4 stomaches and ferment the feed first.
As I recall it was ONLY for ruminants and was considered toxic for pigs. Even then you had to be careful because it could cause was vets referred to as Nitrogen Poisoning which had something to do with the excess nitrogen overwhelming the hemoglobin in the blood - but it has been a while since I have been around large animals and do not fully recall all the issues. I know that the treatment was to administer an IV of some type of blue fluid to counteract the excess nigtorgen.
If this is what they were trying to do then it explains a lot. As I read this I had a flash back to the old movie “Soylent Green”. Where is Charleton Hesston when you need him?
Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — April 6, 2007 @ 7:41 am
So why don’t you just spell it out for me okay then? Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:39 am
Probably not wise from and investigative and legal standpoint.
Go back and read every post on this board and follow every suggested link. You’ll need three weeks of 15 hour or longer days to “get it” most likely.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 7:43 am
Please spell it out in plain English - and pose it as a theory - I’d like to hear it. If these dog food companys conspired with China to bring over this toxic junk to up their protein level so they could sell more dog food - especially with this cheap toxic waste - well I’d like to know it!
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:44 am
Linda,
They offer “custom mixed” batches for export.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 6, 2007 @ 7:44 am
Comment by Nadine Long — April 6, 2007 @ 7:40 am
What these Globalist CEO’s want is top talent for dishwasher wages.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 7:45 am
Re: Comment by Nadine Long
I doubt the majority of pet food plant workforce consists of “high-tech” labor.
Comment by Sandro — April 6, 2007 @ 7:45 am
Well pardon me for wanting to think the best of this situation and now I’m gonna puke and my stomach is empty - gag a maggot!
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:47 am
Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — April 6, 2007 @ 7:41 am
Toxic to pigs, but why then not dogs? It was never tested on dogs…or was it?
Bernie, I posted the Soylent Green thing the first day…had the same thought…that movie was not sci-fi after all.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 6, 2007 @ 7:48 am
I wonder about the foodhold usa company in landover md. they are connected with every recall product. Also dealings with china on chemicals,
Comment by ann gates — April 6, 2007 @ 7:48 am
“Soylent green is peopleeee.” Sorry I had the exact same thought. Call this soylent brown.
Comment by Scott — April 6, 2007 @ 7:49 am
“can you tell us how you will dispose of the recalled food?”
Okay putting in the greed factor. They could rake it in a ton of money by selling it to some unsuspecting under developed country. Fertilizer? Or it could end up back in pet food as by products?
How bout just having some ethics and doing the right thing and shooting this stuff off into space towards the sun. Maybe China could donate a missile and launching facility.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 7:49 am
Just got off the phone with Rep Kuchinich’s office. Probably spoke to the same lady. Specifically asked if the hearing once it begins could be televised. She took my name and address and then cut me short saying she was only one in office and the office is closed. Well, at least she listened long enough to say she’ll pass on the request.
Comment by Valarie — April 6, 2007 @ 7:49 am
I was just on Itchmo reading the blogs & comments. On Itchmo some of the posters said they checked the labeling on the sunshine products and they do not list wheat gluton but wheat flour, whats up with that? ac360 is reporting that the melamine was intentionally added to the wheat gluton as another source of protein by the maker (so I wonder actually how long that practice has been going on).
You know I am still going to go with my gut on this and say that I do not think it is the melamine that is the primary cause, I think the arf/crf may be an after effect that may of gone un-noticed, I think the rat poison found was the start and caused the initial pet deaths and I also don’t think it was in every batch of food or every cat/dog that ate it would of died and its what made every pet owner to stand up and take notice of their animals.
I do however think that melamine may be the cause of a lot of UTIs that have been going around, has anyone notice on the lists the increase of people posting their kitties have UTI’s? and I also think that because of the recall what would of been taken as everyday UTI or kidney stones/infection causing arf/crf is now linked to the melamine (am I making sense, my mind is going 240 and its hard to catch it all) and there probably would of been no connection made if there wasn’t something else in the food to begin with. Yes I do think dogs and cats are dying from the melamine because the crystals are building up and inflaming the distal and proximal tubules in the kidneys and causing decreased kidney output which in turn basically starts shutting them down and causing the toxins to start backing up.
I guess what I am trying to say is that 1. there was something else in the food (rat poison) and 2. if it wasn’t for the rat poison we would still be feeding our kitties melamine laced foods because there would not of been immediate deaths and would of been taken as a UTI/kidney stone blockage which is a normal everyday occurance in a vet practice.
Comment by Kelly B — April 6, 2007 @ 7:49 am
Could be, might be, ummmm….And maybe that’s why they can be certain they got it all - well if they were the ones that added the whatever in the first place?????
And this maybe in the human food supply too?
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:50 am
I vote for the protein powder being made from ground up dog and cat bones and internals that were putrid or something.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:53 am
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:47 am
I think your trying to find reasons to feel hopeful about a tragic situation of astounding magnitude. The sun will shine again. But not until The Pet Food Industry steps up to the plate and cleans it’s ACT UP and offers the public transparency.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 7:53 am
Speaking of it. I wonder where the brands executives are heading off to this weekend in their Gulfstreams and Lears? The second or third vacation home? Aspen or the Riviera?
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 7:57 am
Greed is a terrible motivator - corporate profits.
I tell you what is astounding, that we buy that toxic waste garbage and feed it to our pets. We buy the slick ads and put our trust in the coporate Moneywhoremongers - and then have to play detective to figure out what happened because our watchdogs (pardon me for dissing dogs) are asleep or eating under the table if you get my drift.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:58 am
Paula - you posted “I fed my wonderful dachsie only a major brand DRY food that has NOT been recalled. She has been sick since January with all the same symptoms as the pets sickened/killed by the recalled foods and has been treated for a variety of ailments (who would have suspected her food?). Finally, this week, we learned that she has 25% kidney function.”
First, please report this to the FDA. Insist they take the report even if they say ‘it’s not on the list’. Many FDA offices are taking reports of food not on the list, including dry food.
Second - what dry food was it? We’re (several of us) keeping track!
Comment by Kim — April 6, 2007 @ 7:59 am
If all this was done on purpose by their friends and co-conspirators, well they all can just go to hades and I hope jail too where they will discover the pleasures of eating crap.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 8:01 am
Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — April 6, 2007 @ 7:41 am
Urea based supplements not fed to livestock in this country? I don’t believe that’s true.
The Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, July 1996 has been referenced recently on this blog:
They say “Ammonia Intoxication”: In an attempt to reduce the effects of drought, many ranchers are wisely providing supplemental feed for their livestock. However, some elect to use protein supplements containing urea and somethimes other non-protein nitrogen sources (NPN) which, if not managed properly, can result in ammonia intoxication and death…”All-natural”, urea-free protein supplements would certainly be preferable.”
http://microvet.arizona.ed/AzV.....uly96f.pdf
So while Dr. Lujin Mao has a patent regarding urea-based supplements fed to livestock, I don’t see that as causative of melamine in the shipment of wheat gluten from Xuzhou, but then I’m not a scientist. However, who can we ask that, if there are high levels of urea added to the wheat gluten — and the animal by-products (or even meal?) are from cattle that were fed urea supplements, and perhaps if cattle that died of this ammonia intoxification are included in our pet foods, then could this have led to a toxic mixture?
Comment by Maureen — April 6, 2007 @ 8:01 am
Besides, the - they did it on purpose theory….why isn’t hasn’t more Melamine been found in the urine and kidneys?
That is the only problem here - unless what was added was toxic for some other reason.
Surely, our pets were not poisoned on purpose
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 8:05 am
Comment by Maureen — April 6, 2007 @ 8:01 am
That’s why I posted the info…I think there’s some correlation somewhere.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 6, 2007 @ 8:07 am
In answer to Kim’s question— I’ve contacted the pet food manufacturer, the FDA (as has my vet, who has come to the same conclusions), my Senators, my Congressman, the media, etc. (with very little interest in return, by the way). The food was Iams Chunks.
Comment by Paula — April 6, 2007 @ 8:07 am
Morning all…thought ya got rid of me, didn’t ya :-)
Nadine, Pedigree is owned by Mars. Bags of their biscuits say EFFEM INC, Bolton, Ontario. I definitely think something is up with these biscuits. I have 2 different varieties, and gave my dogs both types on a regular basis. My male first started refusing one type, after eating them for years. Then my bitch started refusing the other type. My dogs don’t suffer from any picky eater syndrome. I honestly think something in their little bodies is telling them not to eat these.
Comment by Jackie — April 6, 2007 @ 8:09 am
So, how does a company that claims 2 U.S. Officers, and 11 to 50 Employees in China rake in 50 to 100 Million a year selling basic food ingredients?
Thats quite a haul by any stretch of the imagination. Do they pay taxes? Have their books been looked at recently? Where is all this money?
Whom are the main beneficiaries?
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 8:10 am
I read the article too, and try to read most of what is referenced on this site and linked. Pet food companies are always talking about their high protein content - and proud of it. It seems reasonable that some toxic protein might have been added - something cheaper than renedered meat by products etc. etc. - something cheaper than our own putrid garbage?
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 8:10 am
I would like to talk to a lawyer before I send anything to IAMS is there a class action lawyer on here or can someone recommend one?
John
Comment by John — April 6, 2007 @ 8:15 am
I would like to point out the following irony: All of these “NPN” sources are made from petro-chemicals (read oil and natural gas).
Here we are in this country so proud of ourselves that we are making fuel for our SUVs from corn. And, there they are doing their best to make food from oil…
In the Milton Friedman world of global trade, you just couldnt make this stuff up!
Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — April 6, 2007 @ 8:19 am
Paula— you mentioned feeding your pet dry Iams Chunks. Here’s a story about the wet Iams Chunks. Perhaps the same ingredients are used?
Lawsuit alleges tainted dog food caused death of LA-area purebred
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 04/03/2007 05:54:28 PM PDT
LOS ANGELES- A woman who claims her purebred dog died of kidney failure after eating tainted pet food has sued the product manufacturer and the store where she bought it.
Kelly Finestone alleges negligence and strict liability in the death of Sammy, her 8-year-old Samoyed, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The suit names Ontario, Canada-based Menu Foods Inc., maker of IAMS Chunks With Beef in Gravy Weight Control Dog Food, and Petco Animal Supply Stores Inc. of San Diego.
Finestone, a Los Angeles County resident, claims she suffered emotional distress and a loss of companionship when her pet was put to sleep March 14, two days before Menu Foods announced the recall of several brands of dog and cat food products nationwide.
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damages.
A phone message left for Menu Foods was not immediately returned Tuesday. However, the company issued a statement on its Web site last week that expressed confidence that its cuts and gravy-style pet food made outside the recall period of Dec. 3 to March 6 was safe for pets to eat.
Finestone’s attorney Thomas Ferlauto said the pet lost 35 pounds in three weeks and suffered kidney failure.
“That’s the common thread between the dogs that are dying from tainted food across the country. This is the type of food on the recall list,” Ferlauto said, adding he plans to seek class action status for the lawsuit.
Nearly 100 store and major-brand pet foods were recalled by Menu Foods on March 16. Three other companies have recalled some foods since then.
Food and Drug Administration testing found that wheat gluten imported from China was contaminated with a chemical used in the manufacture of plastics. The FDA has confirmed 15 pet deaths, and anecdotal reports suggest hundreds of cats and dogs may have died.
Comment by Brooklyn Stargazer — April 6, 2007 @ 8:19 am
Re: Comment by John
I’m not vouching for this law firm by any stretch of the imagination, but try: http://www.merchantlaw.com/petfood.html
Comment by Sandro — April 6, 2007 @ 8:20 am
04/05/2007
CAMDEN, New Jersey and SAN FRANCISCO, - The death toll from allegedly contaminated pet food sold by Menu Foods is likely going to be in the tens-of-thousands, according to William M. Audet, an partner with San Francisco-based trial and class action firm of Audet & Partners, LLP.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 8:21 am
John,
If you do not have local representation here is a link where you may get some return info if you are interested.
http://classactionconnect.com/menufoods/
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 8:23 am
Paula - Green bag? (Iams Chunks green bag is what I’ve been hearing…)
Comment by Kim — April 6, 2007 @ 8:25 am
Does anyone think the advice by the companies to customers to destroy the tainted product is a little suspicious? Someone must have mentioned this. Why would they want people to destroy evidence? Because we trust them not to? Right? Becasue we won’t need it to prove our individual cases in court? label it with a skull and cross-bones, but destroy it? Why? I don’t think people will feed it by mistake after what is going on.
Comment by Scott — April 6, 2007 @ 8:26 am
ESB Protein Powder selection photos
http://tinyurl.com/2ys3sm
Comment by Nadine Long — April 6, 2007 @ 8:28 am
Comment by Scott — April 6, 2007 @ 8:26 am
I was a believer up until March 16 when my whole world came crashing down. I don’t trust any of them now.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 8:29 am
Congress told Menu not to destroy the evidence. So I would imagine that we would also need to keep samples of what we had, safely protected so as to not be used again.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 8:29 am
China has a shortage of protein. I linked the article last night where it talks about the lack of protein in the average person’s diet. I suppose that’s why they eat dogs.
Coming up with a good protein alternative is a big money maker.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 8:32 am
Comment by Scott “Does anyone think the advice by the companies to customers to destroy the tainted product is a little suspicious?”
Yes, evidence shouldn’t be destroyed if you’ve lost a pet or have one who’s sick. They are also trying to get an injunction against Menu Foods to prevent them from doing so, but this was launched quite late in the timeline so I wish them luck.
Comment by Sandro — April 6, 2007 @ 8:32 am
I just read the AC360 transcript. My question is, if it is true that the melamine was added deliberately, does that mean that the pet food companies would have signed off on it? What I mean to say is that some companies (Old Mother Hubbard for example) claim that everything made by Menu Foods for them is according to their specifications… so did Iams agree to have melamine added to the food so they could greed out more money?
And who is the liason between these Chinese businesses and the US pet food industry… someone makes these agreements happen… What does ekdahl’s resume look like? what about the other lobbyists in his office? there’s a connection somewhere.
Comment by Cynthia — April 6, 2007 @ 8:34 am
There still remains in my mind the question of who is really telling the truth.
If you read the story at this link:
http://www.motherjones.com/new.....raham.html
you will see the massive FDA coverup on the whole Vioxx issue.
“The trouble is that the roughly 2,300 staffers who support the approval process, and the 109, like Graham, who study the safety of drugs after their release, all fall under the same leadership, and that leadership is highly responsive to industry. In recent years, nearly half of the center’s $400 million budget has been paid for by drug companies. This arrangement stems from a 1992 agreement, made partly at the urging of AIDS activists, that the FDA would speed up approvals in exchange for “user fees” from industry. “The focus at FDA is efficacy,” says Dr. Curt Furberg, a scientist at Wake Forest University who advises the agency. “Safety is a stepchild.” “
If the FDA is in the back pocket of the drug companies, they are most likely in the back pockets of many other related companies. The pet food industry has tentacles reaching into many other area..food producers..food processors..renderening..drug and agricultural products..pet food..animal feeds..and so on. Most of the larger pet food companies have ownerships in all these areas. The connections are all there if you delve far enough into the companies histories and holdings.
It seems that every time the focus of this site gets into the errors and lack of control in the home market, more releases come out pointing the finger back to China. It is more beneficial to have the public outrage aimed at a foreign entity than to concentrate on the problems in our own backyard. This relieves the pressures of having inquiries made about what is happening at home. As was stated last night many links to information that is pertinent to this issue are disappearing. The various departments are definitely monitoring this site and adjusting their releases in response to issues being brought up here.
In my mind there still remains many unanswered questions as to the basic makeup of the pet food industry and all the related industies. It would be very bad indeed for the focus of the investigation to be aimed at the home markets.
Comment by mal — April 6, 2007 @ 8:35 am
I think a search order is needed to look into Menu’s processing plants -
On another note, I wonder if this EBS or whatever is shipped in sacks or barrels - maybe it’s just sitting around someplace obvious waiting to be discovered, waiting to be added into something that is sold in this country.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 8:37 am
One reason why we need better labeling.
Cynthia all great questions. Just exactly what is the connection here?
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 8:39 am
Heads up guys and gals new topic from Gina.
Looks as if someone got to our PetConnection database last night, since the numbers didn’t change overnight and test entries can’t be added this morning.
All entries prior to the tampering are safe, and the Black Dog guys are looking at the problem. I suspect we may never recover entries made in the last 12 hours or so, but prior entries are saved and we’ll be able to accept future ones soon.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 8:41 am
Steve,
What next?
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 8:44 am
We see numerous comments regarding pets showing suspicion about thier food. If your dog or cat refuses a particular food I would put your trust in his or her nose. Dogs have even been used in England to detect early-stage human cancers that are currently undetectable. Their nose is so much more sensitive than ours and millions of years of evolution will have given them natural precautions against accidental poisoning.
One of my dogs recently decided she wouldn’t eat a particular premium holistic dry food even if mixed with another food so I simply removed it from the menu and threw out the remainder even though the other dog would eat it. I have always put more trust in my dogs judgement than I would in any Government agency because my dogs never lie to me. I’m afraid many friends thought I was a little overboard. Perhaps we can now gain a few more converts to the notion that a major portion of the pet food industry has been more about waste disposal than about health. If much of the protein and carbohydrate that goes into pet food had not been going there it would have had to be incinerated or go into land-fill. This Chinese toxin issue is the wake-up call because the injury is so immediate it’s obvious; but it also tells us to look for long-term less immediate injury going on that is much more difficult to connect to the food.
Comment by Dave — April 6, 2007 @ 8:44 am
Thanks for all your responses.
First, Kim, yes, the green bag.
To all of you wanting to help. I stress that the food I was feeding was not part of the recall and may not have been a Menu Foods product.
By the way, vet bills to date = $10,600, and if you think I can afford that, you’re way wrong. But,most importantly,she’s still with us and she is starting to do better.
Comment by Paula — April 6, 2007 @ 8:46 am
Here’s a link about Wheat Gluten that is modified to improve it’s texture - published 11/06
Appears to be GM Wheat Gluten (appears as I am not an expert in this.)
http://www.agripressworld.com/...../209132/en
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 8:50 am
Paula,
Oh my what a high bill but I’m glad you still have your pet. I too was feeding the IAM Green Bag but stopped around Novemeber. I just got a funny feeling about it - such a big bag and so cheap. I wondered what really was in it.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 8:52 am
Again, as an old cattle man I would like to both clarify and reinforce certain points I made earlier.
1st, I was gratified that some of you quickly posted references to the main biologist there who was clearly involved with exactly the same kind of urea based cattle feeds I identified. These feeds are nothing new but these guys are taking it to a new higher-tech level.
2nd, Some of the FDA and company releases are beginning to make sense now. I think many of us (myself included) were making the assumption that this was some kind of contamination event. Apparently not. Recall the statement from “Biologic” protesting the idea that their product contained any kind of “contaminant”. Clearly from their perspective, it did not.
But what exactly constitutes a contaminant is also a matter of perspective. Also recall the statement from the FDA that the shipments were being detained NOT because they were contaminated but because they contained an un-approved substance!
The rules for product identity are pretty rigid at the FDA and if a particular ingredient is present that is not listed for the identity of that product as approved in the US then it cannot be sold here - PERIOD!
Clearly these guys were experiementing with artificial protien enhancers that went WAY beyond anything used here before and certainly there never were any adherences to product approval processes to get them cleared which is what the FDA was referring to in detaining the shipments.
So, the question is now much less so, what exactly caused this but who is responsible for evading FDA rules in introducing unapproved chemical substances into HUMAN grade food that killed our pets (and my friend Brandy).
It aint just about dogs and cats anymore….
Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — April 6, 2007 @ 8:54 am
Re: Comment by Paula
That’s great news Paula. Once everything is back to normal, you’ve got to concentrate on getting that 10K (or more) back from this billion dollar industry. Promise you’ll do that? Also, you might want to contact Senator Durbin’s people, they’ll need testimony from victims of this sickening scandal.
Comment by Sandro — April 6, 2007 @ 8:58 am
JAVMA just published an article about the illnesses and recalls:
http://www.avma.org/onlnews/ja.....70415b.asp
Comment by Cynthia — April 6, 2007 @ 8:59 am
American Veterinary Medical Association
April 15, 2007 Edition
Veterinarians seeking solutions.
Dr. Kirk had some insights about the current recall. While working as a research scientist for a pet food company, she and her food technologists had products manufactured at the Menu Foods plant in Emporia, Kan. This familiarized her not only with the facility but also the manufacturer’s production process and the ingredients it used.
http://www.avma.org/onlnews/ja.....70415b.asp
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 9:01 am
Thank you Bernard for clarifying so many points - I thought it was contamination perhaps inadvertantly, but now the thought of a Dr. Strangelove experiement gone amuck is terrifying.
Also, I noticed on the FDA website that many products are rejected for containing unknown substances, many and this got through or it even could have been added here in the U.S. and that is even a worse thought.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 9:02 am
Some time ago, I wondered if MENU food could have wholesaled ingredients to other pet food manufactures - I still have the same thought.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 9:08 am
You guys, what if it is not a customs issue at all. What if what entered this country was the usual normal Wheat Gluten and then the alterations? Just what if protein was added in the U.S. - takes customs out of the loop and maybe the FDA oversight…..
This is a pretty nasty what if!
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 9:12 am
Yes it is. It’s The Pet Food Industry’s The China Syndrome. The China Syndrome as in the 1979 thriller film which tells the story of a reporter and cameramen who discover safety coverups at a nuclear power plant.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 10:11 am
Does everybody know that the FDA head Dr. von Eschenbach is a Bush appointee and close family friend? Perhaps it’s not merit that gets you to the top of the FDA… just sayin’
Comment by Cynthia — April 6, 2007 @ 10:12 am
Yeah, I figured as much when I said that the FDA is run by BUSH, so to speak, and no I’m not being political - facts are facts.
Well, I didn’t want to believe the worst, but I sure wish that a good investigative reporter would follow up on some of this. I shudder to think what may be put in our own food supply next and we just slop it up like dopes. God save us from ourselves.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 10:24 am
Oh I remember the China syndrome and when Nadine posted the protein ingredients added to cattle feed - it just seemed such a leap - really who would do that.
Well, maybe the devil!
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 10:26 am
If the feed was contaminated with urea, then the pets are in fact dying from uremia. Go to emedicine to see the symptoms. They are precisely what have been described by pet owners and vets.
It would be natural for vets to assume kidney problems, as the blood work would indicate increased levels of urea (in BUN, creatine, etc.) normally associated with renal failure.
Comment by Eva — April 6, 2007 @ 10:30 am
Well, I’m sad to say BUSH has been mentioned once too many times (I’m liberal leaning but feel it’s counterproductive) and the idle chit chat has poisoned these blogs ever since the MSM has rendered them popular. For those who contributed valuable information and of course the fine folks at Pet Connection, thank you and keep on digging!
Goodbye :)
Comment by Sandro — April 6, 2007 @ 10:40 am
Has anyone who called and talked to these pet food manufacturers asked if they use any GM ingredients, including GM wheat or gluten, in their products? Might be good to get them on the record about this.
Comment by Jackie — April 6, 2007 @ 10:47 am
Yeah, I’m just about to that point as well Sandro. I’ve had to get up and leave several times. Thanks for all your insightful input.
Comment by Jackie — April 6, 2007 @ 10:49 am
We all wondered about the GM Wheat and it appears they also GM the Wheat Gluten according to the article I posted above. This is very worrisome.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 10:59 am
Look Bush is our president. Our Congressmen are our Congressmen, plain and simple. It is not anti-Bush, it is against policy makers that don’t tend to the needs of its citizens no matter who it is. If Clinton had his buddy in the FDA, then it would be Clinton. Surely we live in a country where we can mention our leaders and their policies - if we can’t then we are no better than Communist China.
And its nuts to be so politically correct and party loyal that a voting citizen on a blog can’t mention our President’s name in conjunction with policy making issues. I’m not endorsing anyone else or saying anyway would be better or different.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 11:04 am
Changing stories, or clarifying?
“Zeng said a report posted to the administration’s official newspaper earlier this week led some to believe China denied exporting any wheat gluten to the United States. She said that the administration meant that it had never exported any wheat gluten containing a rat poison, aminopterin.”
http://www.chron.com/disp/stor.....93637.html
Comment by Jackie — April 6, 2007 @ 11:08 am
Comment by Linda 11:04 AM
Thank you Linda - my sentiments exactly.
Comment by Rescue Mom — April 6, 2007 @ 11:12 am
ARSENIC FOUND IN KELP SUPPLEMENTS from today’s SacramentoBee. “Toxicologists at UC Davis have found arsenic in 8 of 9 kelp supplements they bought at Davis (CA) health food stores.” They then purchased kelp from every health food store in Davis to test. All but one had measurable levels of arsenic, and 6 had levels 10 - 30 times higher than FDA allows in meats. Dr. Michael J. Fox’s cat & dog food recipies call for kelp as an ingredient.
Comment by PM Hill — April 6, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Linda, really. . .let it go. The more you bring it up, and put Bush in caps, the worse it gets. You’ve said several times before last night, “Bush, don’t get me started”. Who in the World do u think our republican president would nominate, a Clinton croney? The fact that the head of the FDA was appointed by the president has been brought up multiple times. It appears people are doing it over and over just to push some buttons around here, and it’s working.
Comment by Jackie — April 6, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Let’s be blunt. there are two choices. Ywe can bring in politics and end up with a stalemate in Washington. Or we can make it a Motherhood issue and have a good chance of getting something done. It depends what is more important to us. Smart lobyists stay out of politics and stroke both sides thats why they are so annoyingly succsful.
Comment by Dave — April 6, 2007 @ 11:38 am
Have just finished emailing FoxNews and CNN requesting they run live feed when Senator Durbin begins his congressional investigation.
Attempted to call the senator’s office but currently closed until Monday. Everyone should do the same.
Comment by Valarie — April 6, 2007 @ 11:43 am
The improper procedures and lack of quality control with pet food producers is not a new problem.
The Diamond food recall in 2005 showed findings by the FDA on numerous discrepencies with the company’s testing and the allowable limits of unacceptable contaminants.
http://www.fda.gov/foi/warning_letters/g5811d.htm
As the FDA does not do routine inspections of the pet food plants, who is to say what other unreported problems are occuring RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT. The only time there is FDA involvement is when a serious problems arises.
Also many warnings have been issued about contaminants in human food derived from animals:
http://www.fda.gov/foi/warning_letters/g5853d.htm
in this one a cattle producer had sold for human food (the remainders of which go to rendering plants for pet food) a calf with gentamicin present in the tissues (an antibiotic used in cattle) Gentamicin is a drug which can cause kidney failure in some people:
Inflammation in the kidneys. Acute kidney failure may result from sudden inflammation of the spaces between the glomeruli and the tubules (acute interstitial nephritis) and inflammation of the glomeruli (acute glomerulonephritis). Acute interstitial nephritis is usually associated with an allergic reaction to a drug. Examples include certain antibiotics — especially streptomycin or gentamicin — and common pain medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Antibiotics pose a greater risk of acute kidney failure for people who already have liver or kidney disease or who use diuretics or other drugs that affect your kidneys.
http://edition.cnn.com/HEALTH/.....00280.html
This is only one incident of thousands that happen on a regular basis. The industry is so intricate that getting to the source of the problem in this latest pet food recall may be impossible, but the possibilities are endless as to what really happened.
After 2 weeks of following this story and delving into all the side issues that intersect the main issue, my head is reeling!!!!
Comment by mal — April 6, 2007 @ 11:52 am
CSPAN cable channels broadcast many of the important hearings and legislative sessions live.
CSPAN is the cable tv industry’s public service programming available if you have cable tv service. There are 3 channels: CSPAN, CSPAN2, and CSPAN3.
Go to the link provided here and sign up for the free CSPAN alert to be e-mailed to you with their daily programming schedule.
http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs.....code=Watch
The thing you need to find out is what channel #s CSPAN is on in your cable market. I’m not sure if all 3 CSPAN channels are available to all cable subscribers. You might have to have more than basic cable to receive all 3. However, all cable subscribers get some CSPAN coverage. Note that on weekends they air Book TV, which is fabulous.
Comment by Maureen — April 6, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Stupid question time: Isn’t it unusual that this particular shipment of imported ‘human grade’ wheat gluten was shipped ONLY to pet food companies by ChemNutro? According to their releases, NONE of it was shipped to the human food chain.
Comment by Margaret Bridge — April 6, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Suzhou Textile - Suzhou Hengrun Import & Export (caution opening their site which contains viruses, spyware and may bring up a porn site), located in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China is a subsidiary of Picanol, located in Brussels, Belgium. Picanol has 4 branches in China. It is a fabric company and at least some fabric is made from wheat gluton. Is this wheat gluten ‘food’ grade or ‘fabric’ grade! Is this chemically-modified wheat gluten?
Comment by Sue Dunn — April 6, 2007 @ 11:58 am
This has been brought up before, but it’s worth repeating. Many rescue groups and shelters are in desperate need of donations. Please consider contacting your local rescue groups and shelters and offering some support. Petfinder.com will provide a list in your area.
“Animal group pleads for pet food donations”
http://www.citizen-times.com/a.....0770406038
Comment by Jackie — April 6, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
I’m guessing that they’re suggesting getting rid of tainted food only to ensure that pets don’t accidentally comsume it.
But I’m hoping people are holding on to ALL original packaging. I would not send anything anywhere until we know exactly what happened and then what needs to be proven.
The exception might be an attorney, but even then I’d make sure you can get the originals back upon request.
Regardless of how this finally shakes out, people requesting reimbursement or joining lawsuits are going to have a high burden of proof, and that starts with original packaging.
Comment by Kelly — April 6, 2007 @ 12:23 pm
dave,how true my one dog will smell the can food and pouches and make the strangest face when i would mix it in with her dry food and just walk away.stupid me i should of knew by her actions there was something wrong with the food.she refused to eat it . i would have to get a clean plate and put more dry food in the plate.
Comment by Mary Ann — April 6, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
IJust got back from the vet after posting my story above.
$207 lighter, we have had tests for electrolytes, Blood chemistry, Urinalysis. I will not know the results until tomorrow. The vet’s attitude was that since he is alive, and not lethargic and urinating blood that he is either not damged or has a “small percentage” of chronic renal failure. Which of course would require eating prescription food.
even though he was perfectly healthy before we tried the Nutro natural choice/NUtro small bites senior for only 7 weeks, and for each of those 7 weeks he vomited at least once per week ahving NEVER vomited in the 2 years since we resuced him the vet says not to worry because ARF doesn’t “come and go”.
NOw, I have repsected these guys in my 4 years of dealing with them but I am getting the uneasy feeling some of these older, local vets are getting overwhelmed by issues of science and corporatism that they are not used to.
It is hard to blame the Vet’s and the Pet food stores as they are right in the middle.
Sorry to rant, I am lucky Bailey is not dead, and am so, so sad for those pet mommies and daddies who have lost loved ones.
I am phoning Senator CLinton next!
Comment by texastwister — April 6, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
Very interesting article by Herbert Mayer on Global Intelligence found here: http://www.evolvingexcellence......gence.html
“While China is addicted to manufacturing, Americans are addicted to low prices. As a result, a unique kind of economic codependency has developed between the two countries. If we ever stop buying from China, they will explode politically. If China stops selling to us, our economy will take a huge hit because prices will jump.”
One blogger wrote: Herbert Meyer goes on to discuss how this burgeoning Chinese manufacturing base is impacting raw material prices now, and what will happen in the future. There are also some interesting thoughts on what the Chinese government will do with regards to Taiwan before the mainland inevitably morphs into a more democratic and capitalistic society…. and the impact that could have on foreign manufacturers currently in China. Now there’s a supply chain risk.
Comment by Barb — April 6, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
My 14 year old cat, Junior, was very sick last week. First, his kidneys shut down, then he developed pneumonia and heart complications. My Veterinarian can’t come up with a reasonable explanation for his kidneys to have shut down in the first place. We are assuming the additional complications stemmed from the initial kidney problem and were exacerbated by his old age. Junior and my other cats eat Friskies canned foods daily. They especially like the shredded varieties.
We want to be sure about the wheat gluten in Friskies Shredded canned food products, is this food safe and is there any possibility that the wheat gluten in those products came from China? We know their food is not currently on the recall list but are not sure it is safe since the information is not coming out as quickly as we would like.
Second, we especially want to know if the problem really is from the wheat gluten. Could this problem be coming from a different ingredient? Although the Chinese gluten may be bad, perhaps it is not actually the source of the problem? The FDA couldn’t confirm the rat poison and the melanin may or may not be toxic. Also, my cats seem to be refusing to eat the loaf varieties, which do not contain wheat gluten, another reason to wonder if the correct contaminant has been found.
Is anyone looking into this?
Peggy for Junior, Stormy, Butters, Rascal, Spot, Bumpers, Daisy, and Furface.
Comment by Peggy — April 6, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
They need to give pet ownwers the Benefit of the doubt.. I know whatever proof we have but before the recall, like my cat Feb 17th they still had poison in the petfoods that put my cat down.. she made need an autopsy already went tothe media who posted my story. Front Page.. The more people that get invoved the Better for Class Action.. this is A Nati0nal Serious Problem.. VERY SERIOUS!! .
Comment by kelly B — April 6, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
Reposting over here.
Can we get more information on the size/weight of pets from people and compile a definitive database?
I do not want a cover up to take place, in other words for Menu Foods (and the others) to place blame somewhere else if that is not the case.
I am trying to keep track of when symptoms occurred. Some animals have (self-reported, I know) become sick or died after minimal exposure. Others have reported many cans/pouches eaten then all of a sudden there are problems.
Others have the food in their possession and believe to have fed it to pets with no symptoms showing.
This information if correct, points strongly to an additive placed into the recipe at the manufacturing plant. No?
What about the conficasted shipments on hold right now. FDA, tell us are the melamine crystals in that raw product?
If not, did it get adulterated after entry but before delivery to the pet food companies?
We want/need answers.
Comment by DeeAnn — April 6, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
Where have you people been? this has been going on since before I was born, and this country has buried it’s collective head in the sand.
Now when it hits you close to home you are screaming. I too have lost my babies to the tainted food (which I do not believe the gluten is the only problem ) But I can no longer take the hypocrisy, you want your goods convenient and cheap and that is what you have been getting. Right now the focus needs to be on what is really wrong with the food, so our animals stop getting sick. Menu foods needs to be held accountable for holding back on recalling the food. One good thing out of this is now people are finally waking up to what has been going on in this capitalistic world for a long time. Greed is truly the root of all evil.
Comment by BW — April 6, 2007 @ 12:45 pm
Some more background on ChemNutra:
ChemNutra has an active business license in Las Vegas, but the company has not filed as a Nevada corporation.
A search of public records found that ChemNutra filed for incorporation in California on Aug. 1, 2005, with a Pasadena address and Miller as its agent for service of processes. The company also incorporated in Delaware on Oct. 27, 2003.
No one answered the door at Stephen Miller’s Summerlin home, at 10396 Noontide Ave., near Charleston and Hualapai Way. The two-story stucco home is assessed at more than $470,000 by the Clark County assessor’s office.
California listed ChemNutra’s incorporation status as “surrender,” which means the company “has voluntarily surrendered its right to transact business in the state of California.” Records called up online did not reveal ChemNutra’s incorporation status in Delaware.
The California secretary of state’s office was closed for the day before reporters could call the agency to inquire why a company would cede access to business opportunities in the state.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/6859667.html
Why would a “reputable” pet food manufacturer buy from a relatively unknown company who is not even registered as a corporation in Nevada and has given up its business rights in California. Or is ChemNutra a good “sacrificial lamb” for this whole mess. Something here smells of more than rotten pet food !!
Comment by mal — April 6, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Bw, you are so right. I reduced my consumption of everythig more than a year ago and simplified my life also. I’m much better off and DO NOT miss it.
Comment by DeeAnn — April 6, 2007 @ 2:05 pm
I have an 11 yr old golden - 47 lbs who was showing strange symptoms since late Dec. She eats dry dog food and biscuits(not recalled). Symptoms were: heavy breathing,like she was gasping for air, hot nose,upset tummy and within last two weeks 2 1/2 gal of water a day. Vet recommended no more food,thinks she’s allergic to wheat or wheat-gluten(dry food corn based) and now feeding homemade. Symptoms disapperared. They were sporadic, sometimes 3x a week, sometimes only 1x a week.
In reading above, the article re: Arizona farmers and NPN supplement. Cattle presented with, salivation,rapid breathing,staggering,bloat,gas…,seems that pet owners are seeing some of the same symptoms along with hot noses,trouble urinating,vomiting, etc.
It would be interesting to know if the concentrations of melamine in the samples were the same in each lot#,run# and samples collected.If companies have their own formulations - does the amount of wheat gluten added vary.
My heart is with all who have lost or are caring for a sick family pet.
Katie
Comment by Katie — April 6, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
I am really missing my dog Gizmo today. He was so sweet and that unconditional love. He would greet me everday when I came home from work. Not only was I feeding him the Ol Roy gourmet dog food, but I was giving him the snack sticks and dog biscuits. He didn’t have a chance being 9 lbs. When I called Walmart weeks ago they assured me these foods were not on the recall list. I still have my dog Toto, but she is also in kidney failure, although stable since I started feeding homemade food, and on meds to help the kidneys. I am grateful for Toto, but I had a special connection with Gizmo.
Comment by Denise — April 6, 2007 @ 2:47 pm
‘Use of Chemically Modified Wheat Gluten to Reduce Formaldehyde Emissions During Curing of Pigment Print Pastes on Fabrics’ by Scheyer and Polsani discusses the reduction of formaldehyde emissions with chemically modified gluten. Two types of auxiliary resins were used including melamine-formaldehyde and hexamethoxymelamine-formaldehyde resins. The print paste formulations were applied to fabric and the abilities of the gluten and ethylene urea scavengers to reduce formaldehyde emissions were evaluated. “Chemically modified gluten scavengers absorbed as much formaldehyde as the ethylene urea scavengers that are presently used in industry.” Formaldehyde resins containing melamine, with high nitrogen content, might cause kidney failure. According to the CDC ATSDR “Medical Management Guidelines for Formaldehyde” “formaldehyde reacts with urea and has a tendency to polymerize. The slide of the kidney of the cat shown on this site looks like it did polymerize. “The systemic effects of formaldehyde are due primarily to its metabolic conversion to formate, and may include metabolic acidosis, circulatory shock, respiratory insufficiency, and acute kidney failure. The exporter of the contaminated wheat gluten, Suzhou Hengrun Import & Export, specializes in textiles so they might have been exporting chemically modified wheat gluten.
Comment by Sue Dunn — April 6, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
THEREIN LIES THE RUB!!!
I’ve been trying to say that the whole time!
Comment by Nadine Long — April 6, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
Nadine - I thought the same thing.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
Has anyone received a call from Menu Foods, or in my case Walmart? I called both companies on March 18th. I filed a product liability compliant with Walmart and no one has responded to me. I feel that Walmart is just as responsible. No where on the contaminated packet of food that I have left does it say anything about menu foods, only Walmart. Don’t they have a responsibility in this horrible tragedy? Why isn’t there a class action law suit against the distributors of the food?
Comment by Denise — April 6, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
I don’t understand the cover up.
I had 5 cats die during the summer of 2005.
They were fed Purina and 9 lives dry food.
They were all near the same age (7 to 10 years)and in a tightly controlled environment.
Since that time I lost 3 more.
The total DEAD is 10
The tears continue daily.
Felisa Decker
Comment by Felisa Decker — April 6, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
If it is chemically modified wheat gluten, why would animals be getting sick on dry dog food where wheat gluten is not mentioned as an ingredient? or are they two seperate issues?
Katie
Comment by Katie — April 6, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
I have more to report. I just got off the phone with Nutro foods CS rep. HE spent more than 30 minutes gathering my info. Took lot numbers of the canned food, and asked a few questions about the dry food. Their claim is the dry food is good, not made by MEnu and he told me where it is made. HE also added there is no wheat gluten in the dry formula.
They took my vet’s information and mentioned they were discussing reimbursements for vet’s bills. I am not sure if that is for only deceased aninmals or not, but it did make me cautiously optimistic that Nutro actually has a plan to deal with the Pet owners.
They also mentioned sending me a mailer so I can send my dry food samples to them for testing. As someone mentioned on another thred on this site, if I send it all to them I will have none for any other testing.
in summary, I received calls back from both the FDA and Nutro today. specifics are in this post and tow more upthread.
Comment by texastwister — April 6, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
Katie: If it is chemically modified wheat gluten, why would animals be getting sick on dry dog food where wheat gluten is not mentioned as an ingredient? or are they two seperate issues?
Because both wheat and corn can be enzymatically enhanced - or as the other theory has it GMO, so we’re talking other wheat products as well as other glutens (corn). Dheck the label on your dry foods. What grain ingredient do all these recalled biscuits have in common or espec all the dry foods in the vol. report? Same symptoms from dry food w/o wheat gluten so it can’t be just from wheat gluten.
Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 6, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
texastwister: where did Nutro say the dry was made? i have not seen this revealed to anyone yet.
Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 6, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
I just wanted to thank you for your post. I really appreciate the fact that I can come to this website and get information, without a lot of harsh rhetoric thrown in.
I am so angry that my beloved Whiskers was poisoned and I know my emotions taint my post at my blog, but we all need to remember that it is the factual information that will help prevent this tragedy from happening again.
A couple of sites I have been too have been bashing veterinarians. I can only speak for my own but they did their best to save my cat. Would they have done something different had they known about the recall, probably, but they suffered for the same lack of information I did.
They helped my family make a tough decision and then they shared our grief.
Comment by Alasandra — April 6, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
4lgdfriend durn, I only wrote down 1 of them: Lebanon TN. I can’t even recall the other, too much input for today. I am sorry.
he mentioned the dry was made by NUtro, but the canned has to be contracted out as it is “a big business”
Comment by texastwister — April 6, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
4lgdfriend
My dogs food is corn based and her dog bones wheat based. I guess I thought that being corn based no wheat gluten, there couldn’t be any contamination. The dog bones that list wheat as the first ingredient,don’t list wheat-gluten as an ingredient.
My vet didn’t push for blood tests because her food products don’t contain wheat-gluten, and nothing she ate was on the recall list.
Katie
Comment by Katie — April 6, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
Just wondering if in the record keeping for pet deaths if they are being categorized as to male and female.
Some drugs such as ethoxyquin (found in most pet foods) have a more profound effect on males than females.
“Female rats were much less susceptible to the toxic effects of EQ than males of the same age.”
“Male rats were more prone than females to proteinuria, which was greatly exacerbated by EQ in both age groups”
http://www.springerlink.com/co.....2w652412n/
Just a thought, as whatever the contaminant is, there may be a difference in how it reacts depending on the sex of the pet.
Comment by mal — April 6, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
okay…some general information on rats — rats cannot regurgitate…which is one of the main reasons why they’re used for toxicology research (you put it in, it’s not coming straight back up)…they also don’t have gall bladders.
Female rats of the same age would be anywhere between 2/3 and 1/2 the size of the males, and probably leaner (lower body fat). The females are also cycling every 3-4 days.
just my feeling here…but i would trust rat data with regards to dogs…. not trust it so much in relation to cats.
Comment by GingerTom — April 6, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
Also…male rats are very prone to developing bladder stones, urinary tract infections, inflamed bladders and so forth. Females are not prone to urinary tract problems…
Comment by GingerTom — April 6, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
This is the only study I found (so far) where ethoxyquin was tested on dogs. The study showed that male dogs seemed to be affected at lower dosages first:
“Dog
Mixed groups, each of three dogs, were given oral doses by capsule
five times weekly for one year at dose-levels of 0, 3, 10, 50 or 100
mg/kg body-weight. Feeding the 100 mg/kg group was terminated after
sit weeks due to toxic effects, and the dogs were sacrificed at nine
weeks. One female animal at 3 mg/kg developed histoplasmosis about 40
weeks after initiation of the study, resulting in abnormal findings
when compared to the control dogs. All such finding could be
attributed to the infection. In the remaining animals body-weight was
depressed at 100 mg/kg; bromosulphthalein retention was increased at
10 mg/kg and above, indicating liver dysfunction; abdominal tenderness
was apparent in two of three dogs (male) at 10 mg/kg, and in two of
three dogs (one male and one female) at 50 mg/kg; erythrocyte
sedimentation rate was increased in one of three dogs at 50 mg/kg, and
in all three dogs at 100 mg/kg; haemograms showed reduced haematocrit,
haemoglobin, and erythrocyte counts in two of three dogs at 50 mg/kg,
and in all dogs at 100 mg/kg; urin-analysis indicated dark amber,
green or blackish brown urine at 50 and 100 mg/kg; there was increased
heart, liver, and kidney to body-weight ratios in all dose-levels, but
there does not appear to be any dose relationship in these increases;
histopathology indicated liver-stress, and fatty renal nephrosis at
the 10, 50 and 100 mg/kg dose-levels (Hanzal, 1955).”
http://www.inchem.org/document.....69pr15.htm
I was only using the other reference as an example of whre my thoughts came from. I think the point of what I was saying was that there may be a difference in the ratio of male/female pets being affected. It was merely a thought for further reference.
Comment by mal — April 6, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
Sometimes Wheat Gluten is put into dry pet food and also there may be a seperate problem with the dry foods, we can’t just assume that its the same issue - also I wonder if the GM or GE Corn Gluten too - I bet they do and this corn gluten is in lots of stuff.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
This FDA spokesman is a full blown fraudster. He’s said the melamine content was 6.6%. 6.6% of the
wheat gluten reported as contaminated comes to 115,000 pounds of melamine!!!! So yeah, duh, you
don’t put that much plastic in something accidently. The problem with the “for profit” theory is that
melamine costs over 7 times as much as wheat. There is no conceivable business reason for adding it
to the wheat. In the mean time, melamine is for all practical purposes non toxic. A person would have
to eat half a pound of the stuff to become seriously ill, and an average size cat would have to eat
half an ounce, or about 10 times more than the reported contamination levels. It’s also worth noting
that everything the FDA has tested so far came from Menu Foods, including the cats. So what’s the
real story here? Aren’t we being led down a garden path away from the earlier reports of rat poison?
There’s actually a fairly simple explanation for how rat poison got into the food: the company processed
poisoned rats along with the rest of the offal that goes into pet food. The real question at this late
date is WHY ISN’T THERE A FULL BLOWN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION TAKING PLACE???!!!
Comment by Don Earl — April 7, 2007 @ 12:22 am
I have been lurking around here for nearly three weeks now, trying to get and stay on top of the pet food after having lost my wonderful 10 year young rott mix 7 mos ago to Nutro Lamb and Rice Large Breed Adult, although I cannever prove that. Today, my mother was admitted to the hospital with ARF. She has been eating next to nothing for a good month now, the nursing home has been pouring Glucerna down her. It doesn’t contain wheat gluten. Have any of you run across any cases of humans being affected , I need to find information quickly I think.
Comment by Kathy Thompson — April 7, 2007 @ 12:50 am
I’ll mention it again:
Does it make sense that the “General Manager” of an “export company” [his words, not mine] who holds a PhD in chemistry/chemical engineering and several patents would be connected with this Chinese “export company” unless he could play around with the chemicals?
Comment by Lynn — April 7, 2007 @ 12:58 am
Kathy:
There was a news report of a woman who tried to encourage her pet to eat its commercial food by tasting it herself [monkey see, monkey do]. I don’t know what the current status is. Try http://www.insideedition.com and then search for the article “Owner Falls Ill After Eating Tainted Pet Food.”
Comment by Lynn — April 7, 2007 @ 1:03 am
Who the heck knows what is really in the pet food at this point. It sure as heck isn’t what they say it is on the package. Which may be the reason why the initial tests they did came back with other harmful substances.
Chemical soup.
Dry and Wet, I don’t even think they know.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 7, 2007 @ 1:29 am
My Sister went to get a Pizza at Raleys store in the deil dept. and they told her that they were out of pizza because the FDA had put a hold on imports. Sounds like this is very serious. I bought bread today, without wheat gluten. I’ve decided to stay away from any imports concerning my food and my pets food.
Even if they clear this up, I will never trust imported food ever again. I don’t trust a country like capitalist communist China! We are paying our farmer to not grow wheat in the US so they can keep the prices at a certain level, then get it cheaper from China and then the big corp ceo’s pocket the rest!! I’m sick of this, and don’t have much power but I will not ever buy their food again!!!
Comment by lori anderson — April 7, 2007 @ 2:06 am
I’m probably reading too much into this, but if you go on ChemNutra’s website, they state:
“ChemNutra imports high-quality nutritional and pharmaceutical chemicals from China to the US. We purchase our inventory from quality-assured manufacturers in China, with whom we have strong relationships over the past twelve years. Our US customers are manufacturers of food, pet food, and nutritional ingredients, who want high quality, the best service, and the most competitive prices.
The ingredients we import include amino acids, preservatives & antioxidants, nutritional minerals, proteins, flavor enhancers, and sweeteners.
The principals of ChemNutra have exported large quantities of feed and food ingredients from China to manufacturers in the US and elsewhere worldwide. Annually, our volume exceeds 4,000 tons of Amino Acids and other quality ingredients.
We are qualified as a woman-owned and minority-owned company.”
I happened to enter the company name incorrectly into Google [entered as NutraChem..reversed the company name] and came up with “JNC NutraChem” in Shanghai, just formed in late 2006. They deal with:
ALPHA-KETOGLUTARIC ACID
ALPHA-KETOGLUTARATE CALCIUM
L-ARGININE ALPHA-KETOGLUTARATE
ASCORBYL PALMITATE
GABA (GAMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID)
CREATINE DIMALATE
GLYCOYAMINE
GUANIDINO PROPIONIC ACID
N-ACETYL-L-GLUTAMINE
L-CITRULLINE
L-CITRULLINE MALATE
ALANYL-L-GLUTAMINE
DIARGININE MALATE
I wonder if the Millers are involved with this company, too.
Comment by Lynn — April 7, 2007 @ 2:06 am
Lynn, I picked up on that too. My guess is that’s the pharmaceutical supplies company.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 7, 2007 @ 2:17 am
Lynn
I started to do that earlier, read a bunch, but have been so busy. Thanks for reminding me…I’ll keep going tomorrow.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 7, 2007 @ 3:17 am
The truth is that we most likely will never know for certain what the contaminant is. I know I will forever wonder from now on what is the next ingredient that could be tainted. As we all see, ChemNutra also expedites supplements and pharmaceticals. If not everything yet, shortly all we use no matter what will come from China. There could be a host of incidents like this happening. Nothing we do can protect us completely. It pains me that no matter how I try to protect my beloved furballs, something that we all think is safe and healthy for them, could be a potential killer. All in the name of greed.
Comment by VJ — April 7, 2007 @ 4:24 am
I have said this before, but, Foodhold usa llc. is a big distributor of these recalled petfoods. they have a lot of chinese exported materials, chemicals etc. I think somehow chemicals and petfood were manufactured together and this rat poison theory and melamine are a coverup. They know what’s going on and don’t really care. These are billion dollar corporations that put their greed in front of innocent animals.
Comment by ann gates — April 7, 2007 @ 5:42 am
I would Like All pet Food Tested/ and the companies.. first, Rat Poison, then Melmame, too much Vit. D?? and on, and on, and on, meanwhile our little fur babies have either died or are still dieing or was critically ill?? there needs to be Responsiblity and JUSTICE.. and we Need to HEAL!!
We need theTruth, and change..
No more BS??
Comment by kelly B — April 7, 2007 @ 6:23 am
I beleve it’s in most pet food this tainted garbage whatever it is? In the last 6 months or so…
Comment by kelly B — April 7, 2007 @ 6:27 am
Diamond petfood had recalls in 2005, many cats and dogs died from kidney failure. The website says aflatoxin caused it. Natural recipe also did a big recall in 1995 for vomitoxin. A lot of these petfood companys, fudge the dates on cans , after 18 months these petfoods should be destroyed because of mold. A lot of these companys don’t want to do that, the almighty dollar comes first, with these greedy, ruthless, individuals.
Comment by ann gates — April 7, 2007 @ 6:39 am
Comment by Don Earl — April 7, 2007 @ 12:22 am
I agree, Don. Melamine DOES cost a lot more than wheat - it doesn’t make sense they’d add it “to save money.” However, the CNN report last night said it may have been added to scam the buyers into thinking the gluten was higher protein (and thus higher quality) than it actually is. It’s a non-protein nitrogen, so it looks like a protein on a chemistry screening, but it isn’t used as protein.
And re its toxicity, you’re right - a lot of vets have pointed that out. Many are saying it’s just a marker for something else. But what? They’ve had how many labs working on this for a month, and yet can’t find it? I can’t help but think actual poisons of any type would have been the first things they’d look for.
I’ve heard three ideas here that might make more sense:
1. It’s a metabolite of a urea product (nitrogen again) which IS toxic.
2. It’s a byproduct of GM wheat engineered to include an internal pesticide (which is toxic) that’s closely related to melamine.
3. It was added to the gluten in processing to make it thicker - there are enzymes that do this better, but melamine will do some of the same thing for much less money. I’m not sure about the toxicity, but howl911 had a good article on it.
None of these seem like good explanations, either. But any would make more sense to me than the “cheap additive” theory.
Comment by Laura — April 7, 2007 @ 8:07 am
This is the info posted on the Mars web page about Pedigree and their other pet foods.
“The recent US pet food recall initiated by Menu Foods and other companies does not include any Mars Petcare pet food products. All of our brands, including PEDIGREE, CESAR and THE GOODLIFE RECIPE food for dogs, and WHISKAS, SHEBA, TEMPTATIONS, and THE GOODLIFE RECIPE food for cats, are safe for pets to enjoy.
The safety of products not involved in the recall was validated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 23. According to the FDA, pet owners should feel confident feeding unrecalled products to their pets.
The safety and nutritional quality of our pet food is our top priority because for many people, their pets are their top priorities.”
Of course since March 23 other pet foods have been recalled so I’m not ready to trust any of the Mars products right now either.
Comment by Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's Mom) — April 7, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
I have a question that probably has been asked and answered but I still can’t find the information.
My cats are still eating the Purina One Urinary health food because more then one of them need the low levels of Ash and Magnesium. This Purina One has no wheat gluten but it does list wheat. Has anyone had any problems with this variety of Purina One and also does anyone know of a natural dry cat food that has like levels of the Ash and Magnesium.
thanks
Comment by Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's Mom) — April 7, 2007 @ 3:22 pm