Comments on: Pet food recall: CNN reports wheat gluten addition may have been intentional http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/ Blogging by a team of pet-care experts led by Dr. Marty Becker. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:52:24 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's Mom) http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/comment-page-6/#comment-27255 Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's Mom) Sat, 07 Apr 2007 21:22:56 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/#comment-27255 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 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

]]> By: Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's Mom) http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/comment-page-6/#comment-27254 Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's Mom) Sat, 07 Apr 2007 21:18:40 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/#comment-27254 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. 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.

]]> By: Laura http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/comment-page-6/#comment-27012 Laura Sat, 07 Apr 2007 14:07:11 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/#comment-27012 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 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.

]]> By: ann gates http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/comment-page-6/#comment-26969 ann gates Sat, 07 Apr 2007 12:39:34 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/#comment-26969 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. 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.

]]> By: kelly B http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/comment-page-6/#comment-26967 kelly B Sat, 07 Apr 2007 12:27:51 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/#comment-26967 I beleve it's in most pet food this tainted garbage whatever it is? In the last 6 months or so... I beleve it’s in most pet food this tainted garbage whatever it is? In the last 6 months or so…

]]> By: kelly B http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/comment-page-6/#comment-26966 kelly B Sat, 07 Apr 2007 12:23:45 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/#comment-26966 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?? 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??

]]> By: ann gates http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/comment-page-6/#comment-26958 ann gates Sat, 07 Apr 2007 11:42:51 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/#comment-26958 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. 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.

]]> By: VJ http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/comment-page-6/#comment-26952 VJ Sat, 07 Apr 2007 10:24:41 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/#comment-26952 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. 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.

]]> By: Nadine Long http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/comment-page-6/#comment-26945 Nadine Long Sat, 07 Apr 2007 09:17:58 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/#comment-26945 Lynn I started to do that earlier, read a bunch, but have been so busy. Thanks for reminding me...I'll keep going tomorrow. Lynn
I started to do that earlier, read a bunch, but have been so busy. Thanks for reminding me…I’ll keep going tomorrow.

]]> By: Nadine Long http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/comment-page-6/#comment-26941 Nadine Long Sat, 07 Apr 2007 08:17:40 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/05/pet-food-recall-cnn-reports-wheat-gluten-addition-may-have-been-intentional/#comment-26941 Lynn, I picked up on that too. My guess is that's the pharmaceutical supplies company. Lynn, I picked up on that too. My guess is that’s the pharmaceutical supplies company.

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