Pet food recall: The morning wrap-up
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.
CNN has a good update on the situation on their Web site, including more numbers from Oregon, information on class-action suits and the possibility of legislative action. Our new numbers are posted, too: 3,240 pets reported as dead into our Pet Connection database as of 5:45 a.m. PT (more details here).
National Public Radio takes a look at concentrated manufacturing, how it relates not only to the pet-food recall but also to nearly every product we buy. Lots of brands, very few manufacturers. What does it mean for us all? Take a listen.
Ben Huh of Itchmo.com and Pet Connection Contributing Editor Christie Keith (whose article for the San Francisco Chronicle’s Web site really got people asking some questions about food for us all ) discussed the situation last night on a special edition of “The David Goldstein Show.” (click for the audiofile, courtesy of Spocko’s Brain)
And speaking of Spocko’s Brain, some questions of what the FDA knew and when.
Going to Sen. Durbin’s media conference this afternoon in Chicago? Take pictures! We’ll put a few of them up here, just send us your jpegs.
And a tip of the hat to supermarket chain Kroger, stepping up to protect their customers.
For another news round-up, head over to itchmo. My suspicion is that he’s younger than I am, and can sleep a lot less!
Finally: If you haven’t posted a comment here before, or if you have and you’re posting something with a lot of links, we have to clear the comment before it shows up. So don’t keep posting the same thing multiple times — we’ll get to it.
This morning, the release of comments will be a bit slow. I have hit the wall, and need to get a few hours of sleep. So be patient! I’ll be back.
Go to the latest blog post | Go to the PetConnection home page
Technorati Tags: pet food recall, dogs, cats,veterinarian, veterinary
CNN is the only cable news on top of this horrible story. i keep sending them pet connection web page everytime new numbers are posted. for 3 FRIDAYS in a row we got bad news.i hate to see what BREAKING NEWS we’ll get tommorrow.
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 7:31 am
By the way Gina-how are those books coming?
Doesn’t seem like there is enought caffine in the world to keep us all posted, work a real job AND write books right now!
-Nancy in Maine with 13 1/2 inches of snow this morning
Comment by nancy — April 5, 2007 @ 7:34 am
One book was due last Monday. Our publisher has been kind, and patient. :)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 5, 2007 @ 7:36 am
Here’s a great diary on dailykos.com titled DHS and the coming food disaster by Deep Harm:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/4/1/14427/45644
Comment by Maureen — April 5, 2007 @ 7:37 am
Everytime I go to Itchmo, the site is down. Im hoping its a temporary glitch due to numbers logging on and not a shut-down of his site due to that threatened lawsuit….
Comment by Sandi K — April 5, 2007 @ 7:46 am
I was just on Itchmo and was working fine for me.
Comment by Mary — April 5, 2007 @ 7:57 am
Yep it is now for me too, whew! Im glad to see they are OK over there, was probably just a temporary glitch.
Comment by Sandi K — April 5, 2007 @ 8:05 am
Glad to hear you got on.
Comment by Mary — April 5, 2007 @ 8:08 am
Just checked out Itchmo - oh they have a story about the Coyote - I love his face - maybe he just wanted a sandwich - all that meat probably was very tempting!
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 8:10 am
I saw that, too. What a beautiful animal. Poor things; I don’t think some of them know which way to go today. Although, he did look like a pro in front of that camera.
Comment by Mary — April 5, 2007 @ 8:16 am
Just sent the note below to every elected official state and federal I could think of. Hope more with voice their opinions to those that can do something about this never happening again:
Our 6 year old basset hound has been at the vet for 2 days on IVs with renal failure after eating Alpo Prime Cuts. We checked the original list, this brand wasn’t on it. Not sure how we are going to pay the vet bills or whether or not he’ll live.
Our concerns are 2 fold. Did it really take Purina 2 weeks to determine they were using the same supplier and issue a recall. Did the FDA act with urgency in this matter? Why did it take so long for the name of the supplier to be released even? Why are the FDA figures released on animal deaths so low compared to other sources. Read on Pet Connections, their self reporting database has over 3000 dead and over 9000 sick. Even if some of these ultimately don’t tie back to food, why is only a fraction of a percent actually getting reported to the media. Is this misleading the public? Is there even a system in place to report such things at FDA? Our emails to them and Purina have gone unanswered. Phone call to FDA between 4 and 5 yesterday netted a voice message, it was after hours. Guess its too much to ask for a hotline for us working stiffs to call after hours. Why are regulations not in place for testing raw materials in pet foods? Are human foods at risk due to the same shoddy regulatory environment? Last count pet owners do vote. We sure haven’t heard much from our elected officials on this issue. I predict this is only the tip of the iceberg as more pets die and the truth finally comes out in its entirety. Hope you are on the right side of the issue. This pet owner is enraged and is not going to forget what has happened and who does or does not act to correct the issues at these pet food companies and the FDA.
Comment by Kathy — April 5, 2007 @ 8:28 am
Obviously this is a scandal of international scope.
On the domestic front, you need to ask your pet food brand the following questions.
1. Who actually manufactures your product?
2. From who do you purchase your ingredients?
3. Where do these ingredients come from?
This is the litmus test.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 8:30 am
Mary Ann, My guess for this Friday afternoon’s breaking news is the FDA confirming more recalls.
Comment by Cynthia — April 5, 2007 @ 8:31 am
Mary, he sure did look like a pro. Took a seat and soaked up the smells. What a cutie.
And Steve, you are so right. I’m calling Natural Balance today and asking all those questions as I still have a few bags left.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 8:32 am
Cynthia,
I sure hope so. We need to know the truth - the entire truth.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 8:33 am
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 8:30 am
I actually sent off very similiar questions to a pet food manufacturer this morning and hope to receive an answer. Meantime, does anyone actually KNOW the answers to these questions for any particular foods not involved with the recall?
Comment by slt — April 5, 2007 @ 8:35 am
The FDA has a site for regional phone numbers to call with complaints:
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/back.....plain.html
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 8:37 am
Make plans for the long haul. The Pet Food Industry wants business as usual. The Corporations want business as usual.
We are going to have to deliver well placed punches that hurt to these companies. And work smart.
“Float like a Butterfly Sting Like a Bee”
I am using the boxing nomenclature because that is the only language our opponents in the Pet Food Industry understand. The see kindness as weakness. And will exploit that.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 8:52 am
Also, when you contact the Pet Food companies ask them for the name of the company that supplies their vitamins etc for their pet food, also get a contact number. China makes quite a lot of pet food ingredients - including vitamins and additives etc.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 8:55 am
Excuse my typos. “They See”
Not quite at full speed yet this morning.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 8:55 am
Let the Spin-Games-Denial Begin
China rejects blame for pet food recall
International Herald Tribune, France - 29 minutes ago
The Chinese government said that wheat gluten, which has been linked to a pet food recall in North America, had not been exported from China to the United . . .
http://www.iht.com/articles/20.....gluten.php
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 8:58 am
You heard right that MENU - the toxic waste Pet Food company plans to destroy the evidence -
Congress is trying to stop them!
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 8:59 am
Did you all see the Dateline (?) special a couple of weeks ago about the Market in L.A. that supplies most of the fresh food to groceries and resturants in the L.A. area - disgusting. Workers were peeing near the produce - wonder what the splash factor is? Rats running around. The health department turned a blind eye slapping their wrists and proably benefitting in some way - just a guess here - rats on the food, food on the filthy ground - rotting food, bugs, insects, deplorable conditions for years - years.
I don’t get it. I really don’t. GREED! Laziness? What is it?
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 9:03 am
Look at this spin. “Trading Company”
“We are a trading company and don’t manufacture the product,” said Mao Lijun, the general manager of Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development, an agricultural products company located in coastal Jiangsu Province. “We have never exported wheat gluten directly or indirectly to the U.S., Canada or the Netherlands.”
Homeland Security? Hello? Isn’t it time to start asking these “traders” some serious questions here?
http://www.iht.com/articles/20.....gluten.php
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 9:04 am
Face the facts folks. There needs to be a serious investigation of international scope here.
Racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice in furtherance of illegal and questionable business activities.
All the elements are in place. It’s looking real shady.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 9:09 am
I think it’s good people are keeping the pressure on here and not letting it rest. The more pressure, the more they’re exposed.
Comment by Mary — April 5, 2007 @ 9:10 am
Rosie needs to get some emails:
Rosie O’Donnell felt free to comment last week on “The View”: “Fifteen cats and one dog have died, and it’s been all over the news. And you know, since that date, 29 soldiers have died, and we haven’t heard much about them. No. I think that we have the wrong focus in the country. That when pets are killed in America from some horrific poisoning accident, 16 of them, it’s all over the news and people are like, ‘The kitty! It’s so sad.’ Twenty-nine sons and daughters killed since that day, it’s not newsworthy. I don’t understand.”
Comment by Meghan — April 5, 2007 @ 9:11 am
Some people have asked how to locate locally-grown food. One way is to find a local farm that offers a community-supported agriculture program (CSA). When you sign up with a CSA (usually in early spring), you buy a share of the coming season’s harvest. Then, each week, you get a box of whatever’s ripe, along with eggs and such. The CSA might deliver to your home or drop the boxes off at a central location for you to pick up. Many CSAs also let members come to the farm and work or at least visit.
Description at Wikipedia:
http://tinyurl.com/n67k9
Directory of many CSAs:
http://www.localharvest.org/
(Not complete—it listed only 1 of the 2 CSAs in my area, but it’s a start.)
Comment by Cathy — April 5, 2007 @ 9:18 am
yes,i have a bad feeling there will be more pet food recalls on friday.the really bad thing is some pets are so use to eating the same food they had for years.i know my 3 chows will only eat nutro natural choice. and refuse to eat any other dog food. i’m so upset nutro had menu foods do their wet food.
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 9:20 am
Comment by Meghan — April 5, 2007 @ 9:11 am
Forget Rosie and the Celebrities. None of them are coming out and doing anything.
In related Del Monte/potentially toxic news, the company has an intregal role in the pimping of Oprah’s personal chef, Art Smith, and his new book.
The new campaign, called “Just One More for Healthy Living” encourages families to eat “just one more” serving of something wholesome, such as tuna, canned tomatoes or those infamous fruit cups. Additionally, it encourages “just one more dinner” together with the family during the week.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 9:21 am
I said it before , i’l say it again.
Buy American!!! support American farmers, american jobs. forget the corporate carrion suckers, and the chinese .. this is what you’l get from communists. lies, and denial.
we make pet food right here, in the U.S.
with all the potential market ,if everyone
got together, invested their effort we could
produce a quality American pet food , and why stop there? we buy all manner (of $h!t)from
everyone else? we lost industry, jobs..
throw the international corporations out?
we’d do ourselves a favor.. this baloney with
China will go on for years, the endrun with
corruption will be ceaseless. forget global
trade, rebuild American factorys..starting with
this scandal!!
Comment by johnypaycut — April 5, 2007 @ 9:31 am
i wonder what big mouth ROSIE would say if she lost a beloved pet or had a sick pet from rat poison being in their pet food ??? ROSIE should just shut up!!!
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 9:31 am
i’m shocked that we haven’t heard from oprah
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 9:34 am
It’s not like there has not been any warning.
1998. . Notice anything peculiar about this?
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/6c696.htm
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 9:34 am
we make pet food right here, in the U.S.
Comment by johnypaycut — April 5, 2007 @ 9:31 am
This is what I am asking right now: Do we really know whether there are foods made in the US from exclusively US ingredients? If so, which brands?
Comment by slt — April 5, 2007 @ 9:35 am
From the onset, Xuzhou Anying’s CEO said they got the wheat gluten from another distributor. They, Xuzhou Anying, in turn sold it to Suzhou Textile Import and Export distributor who then sold it to ChemNutra, another distributor. Now, doing the math on this reveals a frightening thought, just how cheap (and why) is this Chinese wheat gluten? The stuff passed through several distributors (who each take a profit from its sale) and traveled thousands of miles to get here in the hands of ChemNutra who also takes a profit from its sale. To top it off, ChemNutra also said they sold some of it to yet another distributor!
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Forget Rosie - she’s a lunatic.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Re: ChemNutro: They are passing the buck so we don’t figure out the truth…..
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 9:37 am
A response from an email to a company I do have purchased from.
——- Original Message ——-
From: “Jennifer Marshall”
To: “DeeAnn
Cc:
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 9:52 AM
Subject: Re: Ingrediants or packaging
> Dear DeeAnn-
>
> Jenn forwarded your email to me and since I only have my blackberry this
> response will be short. Next week when I’m in the office I respond more. Let me
> just say you have expressed my opinions better than I could. Elysee makes all
> our own products in Wisconsin. We could have had a lipstick made in China for
> $.25 we had it made in the US for over $2.00 because of many of the points you
> made they don’t wear gloves so if they cut a finger you could have blood etc.
> Regarding packaging we don’t but from Asia only US companies however, the bulk
> of packing is coming from Asia. It’ s next to impossible to assure that
> everything is made in the US because America isn’t making that much packaging.
> We are currently working with a Family owned packging company from Germany. They are 175 years old and the Pres is a doctor that gave up his medical practice to run the family business. Unless we stand up and our counted America is going to be gone.Thank you for your email and for taking a position.I’m in agreement.
>
> Linda Marshall
> Linda R. Marshall (sent via blackberry)
>
> —— DeeAnn wrote:
>> Would you please tell me if any ingrediants or packaging you use come from China? I wish not to purchase any further product that comes from there.
>>
>> I know you are pet lovers also; my decision does come from the pet food recalls. The lies are being exposed about the pet food industry, as well as our food and products.
>>
>> I do not wish to cost you any business if that is the case, but must do this.
>> a.. We have lost tens of thousands of good paying jobs to China (plus other countries) and replaced them with low paying service sector jobs. Their human rights stink, their land is the most polluted, river waters are too toxic for drinking or bathing. They export food and other products to the U.S. that have been implicated many times.
>> b.. Our middle class standard of living is falling I can no longer in good conscience buy Made in China stuff and will be joining other people doing the same thing to try and turn things around. I want American jobs back, our food to be safe, pet food to be safe, the next generations furture to look a lot brighter than the one that has be laid before us/them.
>>
>> Petconnection.com is a website of where hurting pet parents have wound up.
Comment by DeeAnn — April 5, 2007 @ 9:37 am
SLT—Canidae brand says that all their ingredients are “of US origin”: http://www.canidae.com/
They make cat and dog food.
Comment by Cathy — April 5, 2007 @ 9:39 am
Thanks everyone for the time and effort you putting into these updates. I’ve been lurking for days, and this site has been tremendously helpful.
A request: anyone calling a pet food company to get answers to the questions Steve posed, please post the answers you receive.
(1. Who actually manufactures your product?
2. From who do you purchase your ingredients?
3. Where do these ingredients come from?)
We’ve switched from dry Science Diet to Natural Balance this week. But I still feel uncomfortable feeding our two dogs, not knowing what to trust anymore.
Comment by Ken — April 5, 2007 @ 9:39 am
Haitian Children Poisoned By Lax Drug Manufacturing Practices
CHICAGO, IL — April 14, 1998 — Poor quality control measures in the manufacture of a children’s medicine were responsible for its contamination and the subsequent death of 88 Haitian children, according to an article in tomorrow’s issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.
Katherine O’Brien, M.D., M.P.H., from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, GA., and colleagues investigated the deaths of 88 children caused by sudden kidney failure that occurred in Haiti between October 1995 and July 1996.
The researchers identified were 109 children with acute renal failure, of whom 88 died. Further investigation found that glycerin imported to Haiti from China through Europe was used in locally manufactured acetaminophen syrup and was found to be contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical with industrial uses including antifreeze, plasticiser and solvent.
The researchers believe that between 45 and 75 additional cases of DEG toxicity were averted by an intervention. Immediately following the discovery of the source of the toxin, notification went out through radio, television, newspapers and other sources.
“This outbreak highlights the challenges in developing countries where there may not be adequate regulation, enforcement, or strict implementation of current good manufacturing practice regulations in the pharmaceutical sector,” the researchers write. “Not only should strict quality control procedures be required in all countries where pharmaceutical products are manufactured, but these procedures must be consistently and fully applied, otherwise an outbreak such as this could occur even in countries where quality control procedures are usually strictly applied.
“It is likely that disasters such as these will continue to occur until strict quality control procedures are used consistently by all pharmaceutical manufacturers and until countries around the world adopt and enforce regulations that ensure the safety of pharmaceutical products.”
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/6c696.htm
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 9:40 am
I will be contacting Nutro with the questions Steve posed above. I will also be contacting 60 Minutes to see if they are willing to do an investigative story. Wont hold my breath over Nutro, I think I have now contacted them 4 times, 2 by e:mail, 2 by phone spread out over the last 2 weeks and have heard nothing back.
Comment by Sandi K — April 5, 2007 @ 9:40 am
DeeAnne - you were asking about cosmetics?
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 9:40 am
Here is the link to the Dateline story about the famous 7th Street Produce Market in Los Angeles - we need to question all of our food sources:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17789410/
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 9:42 am
Linda, Yes before I make a purchase in the furture.
Comment by DeeAnn — April 5, 2007 @ 9:43 am
2 new articles in today’s Washington Post:
After Food Recall, Whom Can a Pet Owner Trust?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....02160.html
and
Most Wheat Gluten Sold In China
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....00375.html
Comment by Cynthia — April 5, 2007 @ 9:43 am
Comment by Sandi K — April 5, 2007 @ 9:40 am
I thinks it’s obvious what Nutro is now.
City of Industry, CA, December 21, 2005 – Nutro Products, Inc., a leading manufacturer of natural super-premium dog and cat foods sold exclusively in Pet Specialty and farm and feed stores, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement for a management-led buyout by Bain Capital Partners LLC (“Bain Capital”), a global private investment firm. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Bain Capital LLC is a Boston, Massachusetts-based private equity firm founded in 1984 by Mitt Romney, later Governor of Massachusetts, and two other partners from the consulting firm Bain & Company: T. Coleman Andrews and Eric Kriss. Bain Capital was originally conceived as a combined equity start-up and leveraged buyout fund, an innovative strategy at the time.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 9:45 am
I agree with Mary Ann: Each Friday seems to be a day of bad news about the pet food recalls, probably time that way because so many people start in with their weekend chores & enjoyment and may pay less attention to the news. Also news agencies & networks are less likely to pick up and follow up on the story since there are two weekend days left with other events to cover. I’m waiting for the bombshells to be dropped. The head of the FDA has cancelled scheduled appearances on American Morning two days in a row. Friday morning is another date for a planned appearance. I wonder if he will be available late Friday afternoon?
I am shocked at Rosie O’Donnell’s comments posted above. I would think she would be better informed. Time for an email to Rosie!
Comment by petlover — April 5, 2007 @ 9:47 am
They also release things on the weekends - hoping the networks will miss it.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 9:49 am
I wanted to post the email reply because of the mention of not wearing gloves. What about food processing? What is next to be outsourced, baby food from China, if some of it isn’t already.
Comment by DeeAnn — April 5, 2007 @ 9:51 am
Exactly! There are many interests to protect here. Greed! Greed! Greed!
Comment by petlover — April 5, 2007 @ 9:51 am
Google this: It’s on MSNBC. 7th Street Produce Market Los Angeles.
It’s about deplorable conditions at a wholesale fresh produce market in Los Angeles - you will shudder. And this is in the U.S., not China. I question the safety of all our food. No wonder we have cancer and our joints and muscles ache - food for thought!
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 9:52 am
put cnn on now
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 9:54 am
There’s a real possiblity that the problem affecting our pets (wet food) is something else besides the Melamine plastic junk.
And it’s worrisome that we don’t know more. What in the world is taking so long - giving the corporations time to clean up their act?????
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 9:55 am
Mary Ann - I’m at work - what are they talking about on CNN? Can’t find anything on their web site…..
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 9:57 am
Steve, very good article. Very scary. Renal failure… I don’t know how I missed it before. I’ll just paste a couple of paragraphs below in case others may just be reading the last few posts on a thread.
Haitian Children Poisoned By Lax Drug Manufacturing Practices
CHICAGO, IL — April 14, 1998
…Katherine O’Brien, M.D., M.P.H., from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, GA., and colleagues investigated the deaths of 88 children caused by sudden kidney failure that occurred in Haiti between October 1995 and July 1996.
The researchers identified were 109 children with acute renal failure, of whom 88 died. Further investigation found that glycerin imported to Haiti from China through Europe was used in locally manufactured acetaminophen syrup and was found to be contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical with industrial uses including antifreeze, plasticiser and solvent.
Comment by petlover — April 5, 2007 @ 9:59 am
I actually contacted Nutro last week. I have concerns about their dry food (my cat passed away and my dog got sick). They suprisingly called me back yesterday and offered to test the food in question. I am happy that they are taking my concerns seriously and are looking into this issue.
Comment by Shannon — April 5, 2007 @ 10:02 am
I remember that. It was terrible. I don’t trust China’s products -
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:02 am
Good going Shannon. Glad they are at least being responsive. Save a sample of the food yourself - just in case.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:03 am
I forgot to add in my post that just as someone posted earlier (I think on this site), I think we’re going to find that the contaminant(s) had an industrial use (whether in plastics or wood flooring, etc.) and got mixed into the food source. Diethylene glycol (DEG) in cough syrup…
Comment by petlover — April 5, 2007 @ 10:03 am
Here’s an interesting article about Food Safety Issues in China and their desire to correct problems, also addresses the problems there with small farmers etc.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberW.....Safety.htm
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:10 am
This is from what appears to be a Chinese government web site and so probably understates the problem:
“In 2003, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China carried out selective quality examinations on 2,000 food products. The pass rate was only 82.1 percent, and the percentage for medium-sized and small enterprises was only 76.2 percent.”
Source: http://tinyurl.com/yoww2p
Comment by Cathy — April 5, 2007 @ 10:10 am
I think the foodhold company in landover md. would have some answers on the recall. they are connected with every pet food co that has been recalled.
Comment by ann gates — April 5, 2007 @ 10:11 am
Here’s also a link to information on China and their increasing role in world produce market, farming etc.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Features/chinaWater/
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:16 am
Good find, Steve. Let the games begin.
“The Chinese government said that wheat gluten, which has been linked to a pet food recall in North America, had not been exported from China to the United States or Canada.”
Comment by Jackie — April 5, 2007 @ 10:17 am
It went to the Netherlands first.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:19 am
The Chinese government is stating a technicality - they did not ship it to the U.S.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:21 am
linda,the reporter was at uc -davis in ca. talking to a vet,. they said more testing needs to be done on the food.cnn is the only network doing this . i keep e mailing them the new numbers. every day.
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 10:25 am
U.C. Davis Vet is real close to me. Sorry I missed it. I checked Fox - nothing. Maybe they will post the story on CNN’s website.
A lot more testing needs to be done. Thanks Mary Ann.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:29 am
They deny sending it to the Netherlands as well.
“”We are a trading company and don’t manufacture the product,” said Mao Lijun, the general manager of Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development, an agricultural products company located in coastal Jiangsu Province. “We have never exported wheat gluten directly or indirectly to the U.S., Canada or the Netherlands.”
Comment by Jackie — April 5, 2007 @ 10:29 am
Large doses of vitamin d are also connected with the foodhold co
Comment by ann gates — April 5, 2007 @ 10:32 am
Oh, I didn’t realize that. Well they have to deny it I suppose - otherwise the effects of the truth may be shattering in more ways than one. People die over for making mistakes - it’s frightful.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:32 am
Before you bash Rosie O’Donnell, she ended by saying “it’s not newsworthy. I don’t understand”. She is, of course, absolutely right. That same statement applies to the toxic wheat gluten in the food supply. Anna Nicole Smith doesn’t exactly measure up in celebrity status to Marilyn Monroe or JFK, yet the coverage is insane and overshadows everything else in the news.
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 10:33 am
It’s probably another exporter, supplier, etc. that is yet unnamed or known. I posted an article and I will go back and put it here, where they simply don’t keep records of small producers etc.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:33 am
Here’s part of the article:
China Faces Challenges in Providing Safer Food
Implementing a 21st-century food safety system in China poses a challenge. It is difficult to standardize and monitor production practices in a sector composed of 200 million farm households who typically have 1-2 acres of land divided into 4-6 noncontiguous plots. Farmers have only usage rights to their land, so they lack ownership incentives to make costly investments.
Many of China’s food safety problems can be traced back to the farm level. Farmers rely on heavy use of chemicals to coax production out of intensively cultivated soils and deal with pest pressures, a practice that contributes to food safety problems. China has one of the world’s highest rates of chemical fertilizer use per hectare, and Chinese farmers use many highly toxic pesticides, including some that are banned in the United States. Farm chemicals are sometimes mislabeled. The Chinese government is tackling this problem by encouraging farmers to buy agricultural chemicals only from approved outlets. Some farmers have little understanding of correct chemical use; for example, they may fail to wait the prescribed number of days between the last application of a pesticide and harvest, resulting in excessive residues in the harvested product. Antibiotics are widely used to control disease in livestock, poultry, and aquaculture products. Industrialization and lax environmental controls have also led to concern about the potential for heavy metal contamination of food products. Untreated human and animal waste in fields and water raises the risk of
microbial contamination.
China’s fragmented marketing system also poses problems. Agricultural marketing is dominated by millions of small traders handling small volumes of product, often operating on a cash basis, with no documentation. In modern marketing systems, products are identified by lot and traced through the system with a paper trail. This process is easier in the United States than in China, since growers and buyers are fewer in number and deal in larger volumes. Vertical coordination and integration between growers and buyers also makes it easier to produce safe food and control it through the marketing chain. Chinese exporters have tried various approaches to gain greater vertical control over production, and these
methods are now being promoted within the Chinese domestic market.
Successful Export Industries Achieve Safety Standards, but at a Cost
China has emerged as a major exporter of agricultural products based primarily on its low labor costs and openness to foreign investment. Many of its exports are produced by companies with investment from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Europe. Most operations involve growing and processing fruit, vegetables, livestock, fish, or shrimp in coastal provinces with easy access to ports.
The influx of foreign investment has also brought foreign technology and attention to food safety. The importance of Japan, in particular, as an export market has compelled Chinese firms exporting to that country to make major improvements in food safety. Successful foreign firms operating in China exert careful control over raw materials to ensure that products meet the standards of the export markets. Exporting companies have been even more vigilant since 2002 when Chinese frozen spinach in Japan was found to have high levels of a pesticide and imports were banned temporarily (see “China’s Frozen Spinach Exports to Japan Falter on Food Safety Problems”). New Japanese rules for residues of agricultural chemicals, feed additives, and veterinary drugs, implemented in May 2006, will put further pressure on Chinese exporters.
Firms have used two business models to impose more control over production: the first is a fully vertically integrated model in which the company leases land and controls production directly; the second is the use of production contracts with growers that specify chemical use and production methods. The leasing model ensures greater control over production than the contract model, but it also costs more and is limited by access to land. Developing a production model that balances low costs against the risk of a safety problem is challenging. Exporting firms sometimes use both methods—growing the crops that are most prone to excess pesticide problems, such as leafy greens, on their leased land and using
production contracts for other crops.
Leases are typically arranged with village officials who serve as intermediaries to aggregate land into a “production base”—an area that may be as large as multiple villages and hundreds of acres. Leasing land is surprisingly expensive and involves difficult negotiations since there is no formal market for land. Foreign companies often pay rents comparable to those in developed countries. Companies post technical experts onsite to manage production and supervise workers. These firms may test soil, water, and air for pollutants; implement good agricultural practices (GAPs) to reduce the risk of microbial contamination; and use a type of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system to minimize risk in processing plants. A firm selling to a wide range of countries might face numerous standards; GAP requirements as well as maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides vary from country to country. The exporting firm may even purchase agricultural chemicals abroad to ensure that they are genuine.
Production contracts are also generally arranged by village officials who recruit farmers. The contract typically specifies inputs, production practices, price guidelines, and minimum environmental standards for air, water, and soil. Contractors must monitor farmers to ensure compliance. With more experience, growers may need less monitoring, and costs may go down. But the contracting model does not burden the company with land and labor expenses.
from: http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberW.....Safety.htm
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:36 am
It could get interesting if China takes a stand that it did not ship this wheat gluten. A simple pack slip from ChemNutra would resolve this.
Comment by Jackie — April 5, 2007 @ 10:36 am
Sorry, didn’t realize the article would take up so much room;
Thanks for the correction on the Rosie quote - I apologize Rosie.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:37 am
I was thinking about the import documents - doesn’t Customs keep them and are they subject to the same “Freedom of Information Act”?
Ummmm need to research this.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:39 am
Comment by Linda “China has one of the world’s highest rates of chemical fertilizer use per hectare, and Chinese farmers use many highly toxic pesticides, including some that are banned in the United States.”
You’d think this would qualify for an immediate and complete import ban on Chinese agricultural products.
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 10:40 am
Don’t you just hate these half-truths, side-stepping… seems as though a lot of agencies and companies are going to have “Teflon” skins on the pet food issue. They’re going to try to slide the blame off of them and on to someone else.
The posts below that I’ve pasted need repeating… In Steve’s article about the cough syrup above, the contaminated glycerin was “imported *to Haiti* *from China* *through Europe* was used in locally manufactured acetaminophen syrup and was found to be contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG)….
Good find, Steve. Let the games begin.
“The Chinese government said that wheat gluten, which has been linked to a pet food recall in North America, had not been exported from China to the United States or Canada.”
Comment by Jackie — April 5, 2007 @ 10:17 am
It went to the Netherlands first.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:19 am
The Chinese government is stating a technicality - they did not ship it to the U.S.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:21 am
Comment by petlover — April 5, 2007 @ 10:43 am
In response to the person that was shocked that Oprah has not responded…I have emailed her everyday on this subject. If everyone can do the same, the numbers will speak to her!!
Go to this page to submit:
http://www2.oprah.com/email/re.....deas.jhtml
This is what I sent to her:
Dear Oprah,
I am writing to you in a desperate attempt to please have someone shed more light on this pet food recall problem that is happening.
My pets had eaten the tainted pet food for 3 days and while they seem ok at present, I am constantly sick with worry. It seems as if a new food is added to the recall list every week, and the pet food companies are not releasing all of the information. What makes me sick is that the companies are issuing press releases
at midnight…how can they get away with this??? Our pets are our best friends, our family.
I know you are an animal lover and you have such power, please use it to create more awareness in this pet food industry and educate the public as to what foods we can feed our pets. The public needs you to do a show on the Pet Food Probem immediately, please, we need your help! Thank you!!
Comment by Bonnie — April 5, 2007 @ 10:45 am
Yes, you think it would call for a ban. But, this administration will not hear of that. China owns us!! Thanks to Bush and co.
Comment by ann gates — April 5, 2007 @ 10:45 am
I checked the U.S. Customs site: They are required by the Freedom of Information Act to release documents (unless prohibited or protected by law) all requests need to be made in writing and a reply will be sent within 3 days (aprox).
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:47 am
Good article Linda. The only question is why, didn’t this government wait until all the problems with China’s agriculture are fixed and it’s proven by testing? even if, it takes another 20 years.
Again the fault lies with this government and their insane rush to globalize even if it means the deaths of thousands.
Comment by Gary — April 5, 2007 @ 10:51 am
http://www.organicconsumers.or.....043004.cfm
you might want to read this interesting article on genetically engineered wheat and Norway’s refusal to purchase US wheat that is GE. Hence, the Gene Technology Act in 1993 in Norway. Other European countries agree with Norway. Their fear is someday they will have no choice!
Comment by Kathi — April 5, 2007 @ 10:51 am
China dumping melamine in India?
Chinese “trading” company “dumps” the melamine in India. Sells the junk VERY cheaply to another distributor in India, and ships it to U.S. (and all over the world) through the Netherlands distributor and port. No wonder they can’t find the source!
And why is it going to India in the first place? China says okay to ship to India, not U.S.? Can smuggle Chinese product through India to the U.S. and wherever else. Can’t trace source?
Read link here:
http://www.chennaicustoms.gov......n13_05.htm
Read the link…very suspicious activities.
http://www.chennaicustoms.gov......n13_05.htm
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 10:52 am
Someone may want to look into flame retardant, EPA, and Bluewater Environmental Network. Some great info just finishing the hour on NPR 88.5 FM San Francisco.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 5, 2007 @ 10:52 am
One wonders how any country will allow China to import edible goods, medicine, vet meds., vitamins etc into their country.
The U.S. has sold its soul to corporate America. And remember, many of these politicians have large stock portfolios so they are in favor of lowering costs so their dividends will grow - along with their stock values. It is very self-serving. And I’m not jaded - this happens.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:52 am
Gary,
They simply want the corporations to make money, lobby and special interest groups support their campaigns. It is disgusting.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:54 am
And p.s. That is why the Chinese trading company says “did not ship to the U.S.”…of course…they shipped it to India. Then somebody else shipped to U.S.
Do they think we’re stupid?
Sorry for the two links…they are one of the same.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 10:54 am
Ann, don’t get me started on Bush. I will lose it completely.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:55 am
Nadine, evidently they do think we are stupid. Yes, that’s it.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:56 am
And the Indian government gets a kickback from customs duty charge from China for “dumping.” I notice this one company gets a better deal than any one else.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 10:56 am
The VP of Natura, a board certified veterinary nutritionist and veterinary toxicologist from UC Davis. A Bluewater caller said the EPA is looking into high levels of flame retardent in cat food.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 5, 2007 @ 10:57 am
Sandro, one would think Chinese products would be banned. They won’t let any mad cow in their country but yet they want to export Chickens to ours - gee wonder what they are feeding those chickens? Toxic waste junk ground or canine-meal no doubt.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:58 am
Another horrible thought - what is the protein source in their protein powder?
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 10:59 am
Shannon, in regard to your comment about Nutro offering to test your dry food. I would suggest you ask them for a written copy of their lab analysis & keep a portion of whatever food you have left for your own for possible future testing by an independent lab once they find out what the true culprit is the tainted food. We complained to Nutro in January as we suspected a wet food problem way back then. They asked us to send in a couple of cans of food which we did. All we got back was a generic letter saying the food was fine, they didnt say what they tested for, etc. I am surprised they are offering to test your dry food when on their website they are reporting they make their own dry and none of it contains wheat gluten & none of its affected by the recall. It just raises suspicion to me if they really are going to test it and for what?
Also we have reported to them 4 times now since the recall that our cat died in March & we feel very suspicious about this type of wet food that contains wheat gluten that is not on their recall list ( & had reported our sick cat back in January to them) To date, no one has offered to test our food (let alone no one has called us back) although I wouldnt believe them now even if they said they would. Keep in mind that they still dont know what is wrong with the pet food so be careful when they say they are testing…..
Also I find another thing very interesting, we received an e:mail letter from Nutro on 4-4 saying all their foods “currently on shelves” are safe to use including wet food. They said the products currently on shelves dont contain any wheat gluten from China or from the manufacturer suspected of selling the compromised wheat gluten. BUT yet on their website under press releases they say no such thing about wet food. Their latest press release dated 4-3 only talks about their dry food being safe, not their wet food…..so once again I am very suspicious. If their wet food is so safe, why havent they come out specifically on their website to state that…..all I can say is be wary folks and document, document, document….& dont get rid of your evidence & dont give it all to the pet food companies if they offer to test it….
Comment by Sandi K — April 5, 2007 @ 10:59 am
High levels of flame retardant in Cat Food? Which brand, I can hardly believe it. Ewwwwww….
If this is true in any way or form, we need to flood Congress with letters of outrage - I’m speechless. Can you link that Lois?
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:02 am
From the link Steve already posted at 8:58am
http://www.iht.com/articles/20.....gluten.php
“We are a trading company and don’t manufacture the product,” said Mao Lijun, the general manager of Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development, “We have never exported wheat gluten directly or indirectly to the U.S., Canada or the Netherlands.”
ChemNutra, a Las Vegas company that supplies pet food makers, said it imported 792 metric tons of wheat gluten from Xuzhou between November 29 and March 8. The products were then shipped from its Kansas City warehouse to three pet food makers and one distributor of pet food ingredients in the United States and Canada, it said.
Not only has the company denied being the supplier, the Chinese government is also. The China Government is notorious for under reporting their AIDs epidemic, the SARS numbers, Bird Flu incidents etc.
Lying and denying is standard protocol for China. Our own Government and American Businesses have been adapting this protocol also one by one, because it has been working for them.
We have been fools with eyes wide shut.
Linda your link to small plot farming without controls etc. sums it all up.
Comment by DeeAnn — April 5, 2007 @ 11:04 am
Re: Flame retardant in SFGate:
“The fire retardants are now found in house dust, sewage sludge and the water and sediments of rivers, estuaries and oceans. They’ve been found in the tissues of whales, seals, birds and bird eggs, moose, reindeer, mussels and dozens of species of freshwater and marine fish,” including in the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Arctic Ocean, the study said.
There is a worldwide trend of the retardants building up rapidly in the environment since their first use in the 1960s. The levels in San Francisco Bay’s harbor seals have increased 100 times in the last 10 years.
Scientists fear that PBDEs will pose the same environmental nightmare as the banned PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyl ethers, because they’re similar in molecular structure. They accumulate in humans and wildlife, where they can injure the central nervous system.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:05 am
These guys seem to know a lot about the world melamine market. Maybe they have answers.
http://www.mindbranch.com/list.....-8015.html
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:05 am
Someone is probably researching the Customs records right? CNNN or something….I’d like to see those import docs.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:06 am
It was a caller from Bluewater on an hour show on NPR about the petfood recall which I posted above. He said the EPA is doing an investigation and Bluewater is working with them. He said the levels are very high in their food and then they are exposed to even higher levels because of furniture, etc in people’s homes. The toxicologist from Davis agreed that if that were the case we would see it in cats first because of their sensitivity. Gotta run. Happy hunting.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 5, 2007 @ 11:09 am
Comment by Linda Re: Flame retardant in SFGate:
And somewhere in there is the answer to the alarming rise in cancers. The public stands by starring into space while they are being killed by these smart men of science.
Comment by Gary — April 5, 2007 @ 11:10 am
I took all the carpeting out of my house. I can’t imagine living without furniture - maybe it will be “Twig” furniture from the Ozarks or something like that.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:13 am
I e-mailed CNN and asked them to research the cutoms records to find out what’s going on. Don’t know if that will help or not, but it might.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:14 am
CHINA CITED FOR DUMPING MELAMINE IN INDIA
http://www.chennaicustoms.gov......n13_05.htm
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (PORT)
CUSTOM HOUSE, NO.60 RAJAJI SALAI
CHENNAI - 600 001
PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 13 / 2005
Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, New Delhi, Notification No.107 and 108 dated 16.11.2004 issued under F.No.354/28/2004 is reproduced below for the guidance of the Importer, Clearing Agents, and Trading Public.
C16 / 78 /2004 AP (Port) (R. MOHAN DOSS)
Custom House, Chennai JOINT COMMR . OF CUSTOMS
Date:07.01.2005 (APPRAISING)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Notification No.107/ 2004-Customs
Whereas, in the matter of import of Melamine (hereinafter referred to as the subject goods), falling under tariff item 2933 61 00 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975), originating in, or exported from, the People’s Republic of China, the designated authority, vide its preliminary findings notification No.14/16/2003-DGAD, dated the 27th February, 2004, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part I, Section 1, dated the 1st March, 2004, had come to the conclusion that -
(a) the subject goods, in all forms, originating in, or exported from, the People’s Republic of China, have been exported to India below its normal value;
(b) the domestic industry has suffered material injury by way of financial losses due to suppressed Net Sales Realisation on account of price undercutting/underselling caused by low landed prices of the dumped subject goods;
(c) the injury has been caused to the domestic industry by dumping of the subject goods, originating in or exported from, the People’s Republic of China,and had recommended imposition of provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of the subject goods, originating in, or exported from, the People’s Republic of China;
And whereas, on the basis of the aforesaid findings of the designated authority, the Central Government had imposed an anti-dumping duty on the subject goods vide notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), No.53/2004-Customs, dated the 2nd April, 2004, [G.S.R. 250(E), dated the 2nd April, 2004], published in Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i) of the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, dated the 2nd April, 2004;
And whereas, the designated authority, vide its final findings notification No.14/16/2003-DGAD, dated the 3rd September, 2004, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part I, Section 1, dated the 3rd September, 2004, has come to the conclusion that –
(a) the subject goods, in all forms, originating in, or exported from, the People’s Republic of China have been exported to India, below its normal value;
(b) the domestic industry has also suffered material injury by way of financial losses due to suppressed
Net Sales Realisation on account of price undercutting/underselling caused by low landed prices of the dumped subject goods;
(c) the injury to the domestic industry has been caused by dumping of the subject goods, originating in, or
exported from, the People’s Republic of China;and has also recommended the imposition of definitive anti-dumping duty on all imports of the subject goods, originating in, or exported from, the People’s Republic of China;
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:15 am
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:13 am
And forget substituting your carpeting with “Pergolite”…it just got recalled.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:18 am
Good for India, so now we get it! This is making me ill - all the more reason to fight for change.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:19 am
I don’t use synthetics. And the more I read, the more I will go all natural - it’s sickening.
Straw anyone?
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:20 am
I’ve got to leave now. Keep up the good research - you guys are great!
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:20 am
Furniture and other products off gas for several years. I have not replaced mine for that reason some claw scratch marks and all, oh well.
A side note: many long standing American furniture makers have already moved factories to China and more are on the way. More lost jobs for us…..
Comment by DeeAnn — April 5, 2007 @ 11:22 am
IRIS Substance Index
Just type in the name of the chemical and it will give you all the risk information.
http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/index.html
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 11:25 am
All pet food should be tested.. our animals our lost loved ones deserves answers..
Comment by kelly — April 5, 2007 @ 11:28 am
Seems to me that the answer may lie in the recall notice from ChemNutra. If you remember, it stated that the gluten was shipped from China in 25kf paper bags and was then distributed to their customers in the same bags.
Looking at a bag sounds like a start…
Comment by Carole — April 5, 2007 @ 11:29 am
Please get at the TRUTH, who where what when?? What’s killing our pets??
Comment by kelly — April 5, 2007 @ 11:29 am
Every day now, I can’t help but suspect, we are seeing the harbinger of calamity around the corner.
The hours before 911 was a beautiful, warm sunny day, everyone was looking for that time of peace and prosperity.
Comment by Gary — April 5, 2007 @ 11:31 am
What Companies/Petfood has a link with ChemNutes. what pet food labels??
Comment by kelly — April 5, 2007 @ 11:31 am
Thanks for that link Nadine. That will be useful to me and hopefully to alot of others.
Linda, I’m with you. I don’t do anything synthetic, nor can I. I try for as natural as I can in all areas of my life. I think it’s best for our pets, too.
Also, just curious and forgive me if this was already posted… (I haven’t read every post yet), but I’d like to know where our pets toys come from and what ingredients are used in making them.
Comment by Mary — April 5, 2007 @ 11:35 am
CNN breaking news: Biscuits and expanded dates for food. I need to go look
Comment by Kathi — April 5, 2007 @ 11:39 am
Forgive me if this has already been posted. When China says they didn’t ship any wheat gluten to the U.S., remember that the FDA alert mentioned transshipment through the Netherlands.
From the alert: “Appropriate screening criteria have been set for wheat gluten from China and the Netherlands, as a country through which transshipping of Chinese wheat gluten may occur.”
Comment by Maureen — April 5, 2007 @ 11:45 am
Kathi, I checked on CNN… haven’t heard anything yet. Have you heard any more?
Comment by Mary — April 5, 2007 @ 11:46 am
By DeeAnn;
“The China Government is notorious for under reporting their AIDs epidemic, the SARS numbers, Bird Flu incidents etc.
Lying and denying is standard protocol for China. Our own Government and American Businesses have been adapting this protocol also one by one, because it has been working for them.
We have been fools with eyes wide shut.”
Exactly right DeeAnn, that’s why I’ve been saying immorality and corruption is the root cause of these problems today.
The very nature of man is greed and selfishness. They have made an artform of it.
Comment by Gary — April 5, 2007 @ 11:47 am
Maureen, I think they are checking all Wheat Gluten regardless of the country importing it.
I looked for the CNN latest info. on recalled pet items - nothing yet on the web.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:48 am
Thanks. I was just looking too and turned up nothing… yet.
Comment by Mary — April 5, 2007 @ 11:49 am
Gary,
Well we won’t buy it anymore. The pet food companies sponsor “Dog Shows” and we associate the junk food with these beautiful healthy dogs and buy their product and feel so warm inside - we are treating our pets the same as famous show dogs - and in reality, we are poisoning them.
I do believe our buying power is the solution. Let’s not buy their pet food anymore or at least only buy pet food made from human grade ingredients and nothing from China.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:51 am
I had to chuckle over the Bush bashing. Does no one remember who pushed for and signed PNTR and NAFTA?! These are not new issue’s folks.
I think it would be wise if we are talking to our elected officials to brush up on these trade agreements, regulations, etc.
“Clinton Pushes for Senate Vote on China’s PNTR”
http://tinyurl.com/2u96x5
From the DLC’s website:
“President Clinton last week formally submitted legislation to Congress providing permanent “normal trade relations” with China, which would seal a historic agreement to open China’s economy to U.S. goods and services as part of China’s accession to the World Trade Organization. In an otherwise lethargic election-year congressional session, the vote on PNTR for China will represent, in the President’s words, “One of the most important decisions America has made in years.”
http://tinyurl.com/32byfk
Comment by Jackie — April 5, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Purina’s website says that they are not part of the recalled foods. Pedigree says the same. Are they telling the truth?
Comment by Mo — April 5, 2007 @ 11:55 am
I was watching Headline News but still waiting to find out more. Hope it won’t be a rehash report. They said they’d report more. I guess we have to wait.
Comment by Kathi — April 5, 2007 @ 11:56 am
I agree. Our actions will speak louder than words. If we simply stop buying their garbage it will hit them where they feel it matters most. Power in knowledge and numbers.
Comment by Mary — April 5, 2007 @ 11:57 am
re cnn breaking, FDA will release names later in the day. They need to let the corporations get their ducks in a row first, while more pets eat the product.
Comment by Robin — April 5, 2007 @ 11:57 am
Breaking news
April 5, 2007 (12:40 pm, CDT)
Additional products, specifically dog biscuits manufactured by Sunshine Mills, are being added to the list of pet food products that have been recalled because of concerns about potentially contaminated wheat gluten, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration announced this afternoon. A list of the dog biscuit products will be made available later today.
Also, the FDA said that Menu Foods, the manufacturer from which the recalls originated last month, will be amending its original recall to extend some product dates. Menu Foods is expected to issue a press release later today.
Comment by Carole — April 5, 2007 @ 11:57 am
This was on http://www.howl911.com
Just exactly who does the FDA think they are? They must be more powerful than the CIA, FBI, and the Whitehouse combined:
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Shrugging off congressional objections, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will immediately move to close more than half of its laboratories across the country, according to documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The closures will be completed during the next few months, before the new Congress can act to block the shutdowns through the appropriations bill for the next fiscal year …
FDA specialists have argued that eliminating laboratories will slow agency response time to outbreaks or attacks, as samples may have to be transported long distances. In addition, closing laboratories located near ports or large food distribution centers may reduce the agency’s ability to uncover contamination or other hazards before the effects ripple deeply through the country’s food chain.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:58 am
Someone needs to ask Senator Durbin if he can ask FDA for all the info they have under Freedom of Information act.
Comment by Robin — April 5, 2007 @ 11:59 am
I found this on Howl911
Just exactly who does the FDA think they are:
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Shrugging off congressional objections, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will immediately move to close more than half of its laboratories across the country, according to documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The closures will be completed during the next few months, before the new Congress can act to block the shutdowns through the appropriations bill for the next fiscal year …
FDA specialists have argued that eliminating laboratories will slow agency response time to outbreaks or attacks, as samples may have to be transported long distances. In addition, closing laboratories located near ports or large food distribution centers may reduce the agency’s ability to uncover contamination or other hazards before the effects ripple deeply through the country’s food chain.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 11:59 am
Thanks Carole. That’s what I heard, too
Comment by Kathi — April 5, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
The FDA is closing many offices over the objections of Congress. It is on the Howl911 website. I tried to link it here but it wouldn’t go through for some reason.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
Comment by Carole — April 5, 2007 @ 11:57 am
Oh, they are day early this week. Maybe they’re taking a long weekend.
Thanks Carole. I had my tv turned up so loud hoping to hear something on the additional recalled products from my computer. Still hadn’t heard anything though. Did you hear that on CNN?
Comment by Mary — April 5, 2007 @ 12:02 pm
I have no idea what happened to the above tinyurl.
Tried again, and it’s the same. Hopefully, this
isn’t too long, Gina.
“Clinton Pushes for Senate Vote on China’s PNTR”
http://english.people.com.cn/e.....43182.html
Comment by Jackie — April 5, 2007 @ 12:02 pm
Here’s the link: FDA Defies Congress:
http://www.healthtruthrevealed.....ge=article
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
I just heard the latest on CNN. Hopefully the rest of this will come out sooner rather than later.
Comment by Mary — April 5, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
shit,on fox news they just said dog bones will be recalled and that menu foods thinks the poison was in pet food long the recall dates
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
Comment by Carole: Additional products and companies initiate recalls
This is what I’ve been preaching against since day one. The FDA will not disclose which manufacturers got the toxic wheat gluten AND to make matters worse, all these organizations and companies have been saying foods not on recall lists are “safe” to feed pets. This is criminal negligence of an unprecedented scale!
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
CNN didn’t give any detail, only said that certain dog biscuits by Sunshine Mills were recalled (could have been one single product/unclear) and more recalls from Menu Foods.
Comment by Maureen — April 5, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
I’m still thinking of home cooking. I know vets don’t agree and insist we need these supplement, vitamins, etc. Yet the vets are the ones who suggested Iams, Hills and even Nutro Natural Choice which my babies (cat and 5# Peke/Chi) were eating along with Fancy Feast. The reason I don’t want to add supps and vits, etc is because of global markets. If I remember correctly I’ve used the CIA link to check out foreign countries in the past and they list what the countries produce. Lots of Pharmas. Are they here?!! Right now I’m using DVP’s Natural Balance, but I want to know where the supplements came from. Where do they get their raw materials?
Comment by Kathi — April 5, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
More Menu Foods and other products are due for recall from menu foods and sunshine foods (evidently they make dog biscits) According to CNN 12:10 MST.
http://www.sunshinepettreats.com/
I don’t see any recall information on the site.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 5, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
Menu Foods Update for Cats
Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Best Choice Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Companion Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Compliments Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Demoulas Market Basket
Eukanuba
Fine Feline Cat
Food Lion
Foodtown
Giant Companion Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Hy-Vee
Iams
Laura Lynn
Li’l Red
Loving Meals
Meijer’s Main Choice
Nutriplan
Nutro Max Gourmet Classics Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Nutro Natural Choice Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Paws
Pet Pride Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Presidents Choice Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Price Chopper
Priority US
Save-A-Lot Special Blend
Schnucks
Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans
Sophistacat Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Special Kitty Canada Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Special Kitty US Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Springfield Prize
Sprout
Stop & Shop Companion Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Tops Companion Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Wegmans Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Weis Total Pet
Western Family US
White Rose
Winn Dixie
Comment by Carole — April 5, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
I posted this on the wrong thread:
SHANGHAI: China said Thursday that it had no record of exporting any agricultural products that could have tainted the pet food that has been linked to the deaths of at least 16 cats and dogs (?????) in the United States -
What? That’s because you don’t keep the records or someone burned them.
This too was on howl911.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
i’m upset, on fox menu food said the food was bad long before recall i knew it. so many pets have been sick and this is why
Comment by Mary Ann — April 5, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
Yes, a reporter has also tipped me off to the same info - Sunshine Mills Product Line AND expanded Menu Foods recall. No more info than that right now. Believe me, I wish I knew more as well!!
Comment by nikandboots — April 5, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
Menu’s updates are posted to their site - I have tried posting them twice to no avail. Foods are noted as having April 5, updates.
Comment by Carole — April 5, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
I’m getting madder by the minute. Just when I set aside my anger and try to put my energy into positive… BAM!!! another recall. This is a nightmare!
Up until this tragedy, both my dogs were eating Iams biscuits. Luckily, I didn’t wait for the recall on them as I had already stopped giving them those. But it hasn’t been all that long. I’m also really concerned for the rest of the pets out there.
Sandro, you’re right! This is criminal. I’m so fuming .. I didn’t think I could get any madder until now.
Going to take a break and a cold shower.
I think we need a major boycott on all menu foods…. and maybe even beyond.
Power in numbers and knowledge!
Comment by Mary — April 5, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
I just heard that Sunshine Mills in Alabama is recalling some of their dog biscuits.
I managed to get through to a Customer service rep because my dogs had eaten their Pup Corn (low calorie, low sodium treats that look like Cheese puffs) since November. As of now I was told its only biscuits being recalled.
Comment by Maureen — April 5, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
Updated Cat Foods:
Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Best Choice Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Companion Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Compliments Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Demoulas Market Basket
Eukanuba
Fine Feline Cat
Food Lion
Foodtown
Giant Companion Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Hy-Vee
Iams
Laura Lynn
Li’l Red
Loving Meals
Meijer’s Main Choice
Nutriplan
Nutro Max Gourmet Classics Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Nutro Natural Choice Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Paws
Pet Pride Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Presidents Choice Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Price Chopper
Priority US
Save-A-Lot Special Blend
Schnucks
Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans
Sophistacat Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Special Kitty Canada Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Special Kitty US Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Springfield Prize
Sprout
Stop & Shop Companion Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Tops Companion Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Wegmans Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Weis Total Pet
Western Family US
White Rose
Winn Dixie
Comment by Carole — April 5, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
You simply can’t believe a word these companies say - not one word - and I pity the poor pet owener who happily believes their pets are safe - all the while feeding them this poison.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
I’m adding to my name since I’ve seen posts from at least one other Maureen :)
Comment by Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's Mom) — April 5, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
What is the problem with these biscuits? Wheat Gluten or Vit. D. or antifreeze?????
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
This is the Smoking Gun. For all we know this could be a direct link to the alarming increase of illnesses in the U.S. The United States did not have a health crisis such as we have today until this trend of importing food and ingredients from underdeveloped countries began.
April 14, 1998
“It is likely that disasters such as these will continue to occur until strict quality control procedures are used consistently by all pharmaceutical manufacturers and until countries around the world adopt and enforce regulations that ensure the safety of pharmaceutical products.”
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/6c696.htm
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
Interesting, if you look at the Menu Foods site now, they have removed all the Updated April 5, 2007 notes next to the food on the lists.
Comment by Carole — April 5, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
I’m not sure exactly what I have here, but this looks like a huge list from 2002 of animal feed (cattle, pigs, etc.) recalls. Look at how long this list is. Sometimes there are recalls EVERY WEEK. Look at the *reasons* for each recall.
Link: http://www.recalls.org/vet2002.html
Someone, please make this a hot link if it doesn’t show up as one. TIA.
Comment by petlover — April 5, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
Re: Sunshine Mills, from the Houston Chronicle”:
WASHINGTON — The recall of pet foods and treats contaminated with an industrial chemical expanded Thursday to include dog biscuits made by an Alabama company.
The Food and Drug Administration said Sunshine Mills Inc. is recalling dog biscuits made with imported Chinese wheat gluten. Testing has revealed the wheat gluten, a protein source, was contaminated with melamine, used to make plastics and other industrial products.
Also Thursday, Menu Foods, a major manufacturer of brand- and private-label wet pet foods expanded its original recall to include a broader range of dates, the FDA said. Menu Foods was the first of at least six companies to recall pet foods and treats made with the contaminated ingredient.
The FDA knows of no other pet product companies planning recalls, agency officials told reporters.
Sunshine, of Red Bay, Ala., sells pet foods and treats under its own brands as well as private labels sold by grocery, mass merchant and dollar stores, according to its Web site. A list of recalled products was not immediately available
http://www.chron.com/disp/stor.....90860.html
Comment by Michelle — April 5, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
Change the date to 2003 or 2004, and you’ll see recalls for those years as well. I see no listings for ‘05 to the present.
Looks like it lists foods and food supplements for animals.
http://www.recalls.org/vet2002.html
Comment by petlover — April 5, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
Our poor little babies, our cats and dogs, they simply deserve better than toxic waste junk food. I can’t take any more of this. Time for a break.
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
From Howl
FDA DEFIES CONGRESS - WILL CLOSE HALF THEIR TESTING LABS 04/05/07
In view of the current pet food recall and criticism of the FDA for failing to act expeditiously, this news comes as a shocker — particularly disturbing and relevant to the recall, is the last paragraph.
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Shrugging off congressional objections, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will immediately move to close more than half of its laboratories across the country, according to documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The closures will be completed during the next few months, before the new Congress can act to block the shutdowns through the appropriations bill for the next fiscal year …
FDA specialists have argued that eliminating laboratories will slow agency response time to outbreaks or attacks, as samples may have to be transported long distances. In addition, closing laboratories located near ports or large food distribution centers may reduce the agency’s ability to uncover contamination or other hazards before the effects ripple deeply through the country’s food chain.
http://www.healthtruthrevealed.....ge=article
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
Looks like its time to clean house in the FDA.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 5, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
Great, I just got my first Zit since I was a teen. I’ll be 60 this yr. I’m suing for stress. I live by the Atlantic, maybe my babies and I will just fish for our dinner. Did it almost daily in the 80’s. We don’t even know where supermarket meat comes from. In an early comment someone wanted to know what’s in that protein. Think “Soylent Green” just kidding, maybe not! Hard to type Anna May is trying to type her own message to petfood industry. “I might weigh only 5#’s but lie down and I’ll go for the jugular!” Anna’s words and I agree with her.
Comment by Kathi — April 5, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
Updated cat food recall info is above, in post at 12;22pm.
Here is updated dog info:
Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority
Award Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Best Choice
Big Bet
Big Red
Bloom
Cadillac
Companion Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Demoulas Market Basket
Eukanuba
Food Lion
Giant Companion Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Grreat Choice Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Hy-Vee
Iams
Laura Lynn
Loving Meals
Meijers Main Choice
Mighty Dog Pouch
Mixables Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Nutriplan
Nutro Max
Nutro Natural Choice Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Nutro Ultra Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Nutro
Ol’Roy Canada Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Ol’Roy US Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Paws
Pet Essentials
Pet Pride - Good n Meaty Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Presidents Choice Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Price Chopper
Priority Canada
Priority US Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Publix
Roche Brothers
Save-A-Lot Choice Morsels
Schnucks
Shep Dog
Springsfield Prize Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Sprout
Stater Brothers Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Stop & Shop Companion Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Tops Companion Last Updated: April 5, 2007
Wegmans Bruiser
Weis Total Pet
Western Family US
White Rose
Winn Dixie
Your Pet
Comment by Carole — April 5, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
All Menu Foods pet food with ChemNutra wheat gluten voluntarily recalled
TORONTO, April 5 /PRNewswire/ - In response to a news release - issued
by ChemNutra Inc. during the evening of April 3, 2007 - Menu Foods today
voluntarily expanded its pet food recall for selected “cuts and gravy” pet
food products, manufactured back to November 8, 2006.
ChemNutra Inc., a former supplier of wheat gluten to Menu Foods,
announced a recall of all wheat gluten it imported from Xuzhou Anying
Biologic Technology Development Co. in Wangdien, China. As a result, Menu
Foods today announced an expansion of its recall to include all products
manufactured with wheat gluten purchased from ChemNutra Inc. which Menu
Foods’ records show was first used on November 8, 2006 and last used on
March 6, 2007.
As a result of actions previously taken by Menu Foods, the vast
majority of the products affected by this expansion are already off
retailers’ shelves. No new brands have been added. A total of 20 varieties
have been added to the recall list and the additional varieties are listed
below. All Menu Foods products not made with the recalled wheat gluten are
safe to consume.
Food List Updated see link
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-.....amp;EDATE=
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
Updated Cat Food (as listed above)
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_cat.html
Updated Dog Food
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_dog.html
Comment by Carole — April 5, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
I don’t know if this has been posted here yet. Howl911.com features this as a new headline story from Dr. Fox re: his thoughts on the cause of this:
http://tedeboy.tripod.com/drmichaelwfox/id74.html
Comment by Maureen — April 5, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
Oprah and Dr. Phil They are both majoe pet lovers.. go for IT!!!!
Comment by kelly — April 5, 2007 @ 12:45 pm
I don’t know what product(s) will be in the Sunshine Mills recall that is supposed to be announced soon, but here is a list of their products, and it looks as though there are a few related companies attached to Sunshine Mills as well:
This info comes up when you click on their Site Map:
Internal Links (our products)
Buttons and Bows
Canine Principle Adult Formula
Canine Principle Lamb Meal & Rice Formula
Canine Principle Light Formula
Canine Principle Puppy Formula
Cat Café Chicken and Egg Flavor
Cat Café Gourmet Blend
Cat Café Hairball Relief Formula
Champ Adult Dog Food
Chatham Bite Size
Chatham Chicken Flavor Cat Food
Chatham Chunks
Chatham Gourmet Blend Cat Food
Chatham Gravy Galore
Chatham High Protein
Chatham Puppy Food
Chatham Valu-Chunx
Feline Principle Chicken Protein & Rice Formula
Feline Principle Kitten Formula
Feline Principle Light Formula
Field Trial Beef Flavor Ration
Field Trial Premium Bite Size
Field Trial Premium Chunks
Field Trial Premium High Protein
Field Trial Premium Puppy Food
Hairball Relief Formula (NEW!)
Hunter’s Special Economy Adult Formula
Hunter’s Special Maintenance Formula
Hunter’s Special Performance Formula
Hunter’s Special Performance Plus
Nurture Chicken Protein & Rice Formula
Nurture Chicken Protein & Rice Formula
Nurture Kitten Formula
Nurture Lamb Meal & Rice Formula
Nurture Light Formula
Nurture Light formula
Nurture Performance Formula
Nurture Puppy Formula
Pet Life Beef & Cheese Flavor Burger for Dogs
Pet Life Beef Flavor Burger for Dogs
Thrifty Adult Dog Food
Thrifty Cat Food
Thrifty Puppy Food
External Links (other related sites)
Sunshine Pet Treats
Sportsman’s Pride
World Pet Foods
Comment by petlover — April 5, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
Okay….so not having an old list to compare to, but remembering most expiry dates were ‘09 on the Menu Foods list….am I correct in seeing that they were producing feed with the tainted stuff as early as the first week of November?
When did they say they changed suppliers?
Comment by GingerTom — April 5, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
RED ALERT on that new recall above folks.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-.....amp;EDATE=
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
Comment by kelly — April 5, 2007 @ 12:45 pm
I don’t think they even have a clue.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
whoops…sorry, while I was posting, that question got answered.
Comment by GingerTom — April 5, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
24 minutes ago
FDA says pet food recall expanding
By JENNIFER MANN The Kansas City Star
The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday that Menu Foods is expanding its recall of tainted pet food to include more dates.
The FDA also said that Sunshine Mills in Red Bay, Ala., is recalling dog treats. Information on both recalls should be available on the FDA’s web site at http://www.fda.gov sometime on Thursday.
The regulatory agency also said that it is more definite in its assessment that wheat gluten imported from China tainted with melamine is the cause of an untold number of deaths and illnesses of cats and dogs throughout the U.S. Melamine is used to make plastics and other products and as a pesticide in some countries, although it is banned for that use in the U.S.
The agency has received over 12,000 calls since Menu Foods first issued a recall on March 16 of 60 million cans and pouches of cat and dog food made at its plant in Emporia, Kan. That is more calls than the FDA normally receives in a two-year period for all products.
The tainted wheat gluten has been traced to an importer based in Las Vegas, which received the product from a firm in China. The FDA said all the tainted wheat gluten has been traced to manufacturers and that to the best of its knowledge; none has entered the human food chain.
Melamine in itself is not highly toxic, although not a lot of research exists on the effect of melamine in cats or dogs.
The agency is now confirming 16 animal deaths but did not provide a breakdown of cats and dogs. It said that the actual number is likely much higher, and is presently focused on developing reporting criteria in an effort to get a more accurate figure.
PetConnection, a web site for pet owners, was reporting that as of Thursday, it had received 3,240 reports of pet deaths.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
Notice that Nutro is on that Menu list? Well, here’s what their website (dated April 2) says right now:
* All Nutro pet foods currently on store shelves are safe to feed your pets.
http://www.nutroproducts.com/press4-2.asp
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
I want to admit something friends. I have been following this since March 16 working 14 or more hours a day watching, researching, contributing, sleuthing, tracking, observing, screaming, hollering, venting and more. And right now I am kind of in a state of shock.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
They still aren’t sure, eh?
“The FDA said all the tainted wheat gluten has been traced to manufacturers and that to the best of its knowledge; none has entered the human food chain.”
Comment by Jackie — April 5, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
It’s too bad, we can’t observe the bank accounts of all those at the FDA for any increase in deposits recently.
Comment by Gary — April 5, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
Comment by Jackie: “The FDA said all the tainted wheat gluten has been traced to manufacturers and that to the best of its knowledge; none has entered the human food chain.”
Where is that damned list so consumers can take their own safety precautions?
Comment by Sandro — April 5, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
This is from Foxnews.com
“Other recent cases include 30 high school and primary students who became sick this week after eating beef soup at a small restaurant in Zhejiang province in eastern China.
Last month, 57 people were hospitalized in Zhejiang after eating food laced with rat poison, while nearly 400 people were hospitalized with possible food poisoning after a wedding banquet in Yunnan province in southern China.”
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2.....ll,00.html
Comment by Jackie — April 5, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
Nutro can just go to hell with their lies. I stopped feeding the day of the recall. Nutro only says pouches. Bull, I fed Max Cat Gourmet Classics in 3 oz CANS!!! NOT on list and dry cat and dog. My cat started puking foamy just days after eating it. I replaced with DVP Natural Balance shipped Fedex overnight. Thank God little Anna got Canidae canned. Beans the cat also started sitting by the water bowl - never did that before. Anna only ate Nutro Natural Choice dry but started paw licking so I took it away the Recall day.
Comment by Kathi — April 5, 2007 @ 1:18 pm
Comment by Jackie:
“Last month, 57 people were hospitalized in Zhejiang after eating food laced with rat poison, while nearly 400 people were hospitalized with possible food poisoning after a wedding banquet in Yunnan province in southern China.”
>> Rat poison?…strange coincidence! I think they have a huge and growing problem in China. Until they clean up their country, better stay out of exporting. They also need to be banned.
Comment by Gary — April 5, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
More on the India issue with China dumping melamine
Date:06/04/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinesslin.....200400.htm Dumping duty on Chinese melamine
K.R. Srivats
New Delhi , April 5
THE Finance Ministry has imposed provisional anti-dumping duty on all imports of melamine from China.
Gujarat State Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, Vadodara, had filed the petition seeking anti-dumping probe on melamine imports from China.
Based on the recommendations of the Designated Authority in the Commerce Ministry in its preliminary findings, the Revenue Department has imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty equivalent to the difference between $1,294.09 and the “landed value” per tonne on all melamine produced and exported to India by Tianjin Kaiwei Chemical Co Ltd of China.
© Copyright 2000 - 2006 The Hindu Business Line
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
Comment by Kathi — April 5, 2007 @ 1:18 pm
We recall David Kravis’s plea letter here to Pet Connection. I thought he was taking a first step towards change but since I did research and found out he sold his own company to Global Private Equity firm Bain Capital in December 21, 2005 I have changed my perspective on that.
http://www.nutroproducts.com/press122005.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bain_Capital
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
Comment by Jackie: “The FDA said all the tainted wheat gluten has been traced to manufacturers and that to the best of its knowledge; none has entered the human food chain.”
The FDA is stating “to the best of their knowledge” —- which in my opinion is not very reassuring. When speaking with the FDA the other day, the woman I spoke with was emphatic that it is difficult to trace the origin due to such poor record keeping on the part of the shippers. I suspect there’s a lot more to the shipping story than we yet understand, from the original manufacturer to the end product. Global.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
This says it all.
FDA DEFIES CONGRESS - WILL CLOSE HALF THEIR TESTING LABS 04/05/07
In view of the current pet food recall and criticism of the FDA for failing to act expeditiously, this news comes as a shocker — particularly disturbing and relevant to the recall, is the last paragraph.
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Shrugging off congressional objections, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will immediately move to close more than half of its laboratories across the country, according to documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The closures will be completed during the next few months, before the new Congress can act to block the shutdowns through the appropriations bill for the next fiscal year …
FDA specialists have argued that eliminating laboratories will slow agency response time to outbreaks or attacks, as samples may have to be transported long distances. In addition, closing laboratories located near ports or large food distribution centers may reduce the agency’s ability to uncover contamination or other hazards before the effects ripple deeply through the country’s food chain.
http://howl911.com/
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
FDA Head Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, 64, is a longtime Bush family friend.
The FDA is led by Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, who was confirmed by the Senate on December 7, 2006 after serving as Acting Commissioner for fourteen months. Von Eschenbach succeeded Lester Crawford, who resigned on September 23, 2005, just two months after his final Senate confirmation.
Let not get started though with Bush here.
Comment by Steve — April 5, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
And it is going on and on, when will that ever stop. I’m so glad our food, Life’s Abundance and Flint River Ranch - both holistic brands are not effected!
WASHINGTON Apr 5, 2007 (AP)— The recall of pet foods and treats contaminated with an industrial chemical expanded Thursday to include dog biscuits made by an Alabama company and sold by Wal-Mart under the Ol’Roy brand.
The Food and Drug Administration said the manufacturer, Sunshine Mills Inc., is recalling dog biscuits made with imported Chinese wheat gluten. Testing has revealed the wheat gluten, a protein source, was contaminated with melamine, used to make plastics and other industrial products.
Also Thursday, Menu Foods, a major manufacturer of brand- and private-label wet pet foods expanded its original recall to include a broader range of dates and varieties. Menu Foods was the first of at least six companies to recall the now more than 100 brands of pet foods and treats made with the contaminated ingredient.
The recall now covers “cuts and gravy”-style products made between Nov. 8 and March 6, Menu Foods said. Previously, it only applied to products made beginning Dec. 3. In addition, Menu Foods said it was expanding the recall to include more varieties, but no new brands.
The FDA knows of no other pet product companies planning recalls, agency officials told reporters.
“Other than that, I think, you know, the public should feel secure in purchasing pet foods that are not subject to the recall,” Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, told reporters.
Sunshine, of Red Bay, Ala., sells pet foods and treats under its own brands as well as private labels sold by grocery, mass merchant and dollar stores, according to its Web site. The recall included some of the products made for sale under five private labels, including Ol’Roy biscuits, sold by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and Stater Bros. large biscuits, sold by Stater Bros. Markets. It also covered a portion of Sunshine’s own Nurture, Lassie and Pet Life dog biscuit brands.
Previously, Menu Foods had recalled some wet-style dog foods it made for sale under the Stater Bros. and Ol’Roy brands as well.
Sunshine said there have been no reports of dog illnesses or deaths in connection with the recalled dog biscuits, which contain one percent or less wheat gluten by weight.
The FDA continues to focus on melamine as the suspected contaminant of the pet products, though Sundlof said it could be a marker for the presence of another, yet-unknown substance. Melamine previously was not believed to be toxic.
The recall is one of the largest pet food recalls in history, Sundlof said. The FDA has received more than 12,000 complaints but has confirmed only about 15 pet deaths. Anecdotal reports suggest the tally is in the hundreds or low thousands.
Sunshine Mills said it would post a complete list of the recalled dog biscuits on its Web site, http://www.sunshinemills.com/.
The FDA last week blocked wheat gluten imports from the Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. in the eastern city of Xuzhou, saying they contained melamine. A Las Vegas importer, ChemNutra Inc., recalled this week all wheat gluten it had purchased from the supplier and in turn distributed to pet food manufacturers.
Xuzhou Anying has said it is investigating the claims.
On the Net:
Sunshine Mills Inc.: http://www.sunshinemills.com/
FDA pet food recall: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/h.....tfood.html
Comment by The Purrfect Nanny — April 5, 2007 @ 2:02 pm
No wonder the woman I spoke to at the FDA was so nice about our commplaints. She probably will be out of a job soon if her bosses at the FDA are closing her lab down. Remember my post that she said there was so much more she would have liked to say. Now I understand that comment!
Comment by Nadine Long — April 5, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
I just heard on CNN tv that a senate committee will investigate the contaminated pet food next week after their Easter break
Comment by Christi — April 5, 2007 @ 2:10 pm
I am cross posting this from howl911:
LARGEST PET FOOD RECALL EVER
A Genetic Engineered Food Disaster?
By Dr. Michael W. Fox
I have received several letters from dog and cat owners thanking me for ‘saving their animal’s lives’ because they were feeding them the kind of home-made diet that I have been advocating as a veterinarian for some years. These letters came after the largest pet food recall in the pet food industry’s history.
On March 23, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets announced that rat poison in contaminated wheat gluten imported from China was responsible for the suffering and deaths of an as yet uncounted numbers of cats and dogs across North America. The poison is a chemical compound called aminopterin.
Veterinary toxicologists with the ASPCA and American College of Internal Veterinary Medicine shared my concern that there may be some other food contaminant (s) in addition to the aminopterin that was sickening and killing many pets. Experts were not convinced that the finding of rat poison contamination was the end of the story.
On March 30, the FDA reported finding a widely used compound called melamine (formed by dehydration of urea and used in the manufacture of plastics, as a wood resin adhesive, and in slow-release urea fertilizer), in the suspect pet foods. The FDA claims the melamine was the cause of an as yet uncounted number of cat and dog poisonings and deaths. The FDA could not find the rat poison, aminopterin, in the samples it analyzed; however a lab in Canada, at the University of Guelph, has confirmed the presence of rat poison. There may be other substances of a hazardous nature not yet discovered in these manufactured pet foods that include other ingredients considered unfit for human consumption, and from around the world.
The Associated Press cited the Environmental Protection Agency as having identified melamine as a contaminant and byproduct of several pesticides, including cryomazine. People began to question if there is also pesticide contamination of the wheat gluten. Is there a possibility of deliberate contamination, or is it the result of gross mismanagement and lack of effective food-safety and quality controls that accounts for levels of melamine reported to be as high as 6.6% by the FDA in samples of the wheat gluten?
A brief internet search quickly reveals that the widely used insect growth regulator cryomazine is not only made from melamine, but it also breaks down into melamine after ingestion by an animal. Wheat gluten is wheat gluten, fit for human consumption, so the question remains, what was wrong with this gluten that it was only bought for use in pet food?
On April 3 Associated Press named the US importer as ChemNutra of Las Vegas, reporting that the company had recalled 873 tons of wheat gluten that had been shipped to three pet food makers and a single distributor who in turn supplies the pet food industry.
What of the uncounted number of people whose cats and dogs became sick, and even died? Several letters that I have received indicate costs of in the thousands of $ per animal; and what of long-term care costs for animals suffering from chronic kidney disease?
While Congressional hearings are now being called for by grieving pet owners, and class action suits put together, this debacle could have catastrophic consequences not only for conventional agribusiness, of which the pet food industry is a lucrative subsidiary, but also for the agricultural biotechnology industry, with its millions of acres of genetically engineered crops around the world.
I reach this conclusion, until there is evidence to the contrary, for the following reasons:
1. The wheat gluten imported from China was not for human consumption, because, I believe, it had been genetically engineered. The FDA has a wholly cavalier attitude toward feeding animals such ‘frankenfoods’ but places some restrictions when human consumption is involved (yet refuses appropriate food labeling).
2. The ‘rat poison’ aminopterin is used in molecular biology as an anti-metabolite, folate antagonist, and in genetic engineering biotechnology as a genetic marker. This could account for its presence in this imported wheat gluten.
3. The ‘plastic’, ‘wood preservative’, contaminant melamine, the parent chemical for a potent insecticide cyromazine, could well have been manufactured WITHIN the wheat plants themselves as a genetically engineered pesticide. This is much like the Bt. insecticidal poison present in most US commodity crops that go into animal feed.
4.So called ‘overexpression’ can occur when spliced genes that synthesize such chemicals become hyperactive inside the plant and result in potentially toxic plant tissues, lethal not just to meal worms and other crop pests, but to cats, dogs, birds, butterflies and other wildlife; and to their creators. (For details, see my book Killer Foods: What Scientists Do to Make Food Better is Not Always Best. Lyon’s Press, 2004).
How else can one account for samples of pet food containing as much as 6% melamine? It was surely not mixed in such amounts when the wheat gluten was being processed, but rather was already in the wheat, along with the aminopterin genetic marker. My suspicion is that the FDA was aware that the gluten came from genetically engineered wheat that was considered safe for animal consumption.
I could be wrong. But a greater wrong is surely for the pet food industry to use food ingredients and food and beverage industry by-products considered unfit for human consumption; to continue to do business without any adequate government oversight and inspection; and for government to give greater priority to agricultural biotechnology and the patenting of genetically engineered crops and animals, and not to organic, humane, ecologically sound and safe food production.
I believe that there is evidence of gross negligence, not simply on the part of the pet food industry, but by all who are responsible for food quality and safety in the global market that is clearly dysfunctional. The Pet Food Institute should start an emergency fund to compensate all veterinary expenses incurred as a result of this—-and any future—-mass poisonings of people’s beloved animal companions.
Dr. Michael W. Fox
Comment by Linda — April 5, 2007 @ 2:15 pm
Does anyone have friends/relatives in the pet food industry, manufacturing plants, or investigative agencies that have given out some “secret” info — of course, anonymously?
I wonder how much more the FDA rep Nadine Long spoke to knew?? After guaranteeing her anonymity, I’d love to have a conversation with her, although I wouldn’t want to get her in trouble. I hate this trickling out (or lack thereof) of info at the expense of our pets!
……. The post below is by Nadine Long:
No wonder the woman I spoke to at the FDA was so nice about our commplaints. She probably will be out of a job soon if her bosses at the FDA are closing her lab down. Remember my post that she said there was so much more she would have liked to say. Now I understand that comment!
Comment by petlover — April 5, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
I just wrote to Oprah too, your right maybe if enough of us e-mail her she will get the message that we need this out in the media as much as possible. Thanks for the idea, Tina
Comment by Tina — April 5, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
Great!! :) Bombard Oprah with messages! I seriously have been sending one everyday since this started.
This entire situation just makes me sick. I really hope she does a show and see if she can get some of these scumbags on for an interview. I’d like to see them squirm.
Comment by Bonnie — April 5, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
I’ve always felt bad from throwing away scraps in the trash. I know dog food manufacturers always warn people not to feed dogs human food but then I had a labrador as a kid that grew up with me for 17 years who ate nothing but table scraps.
I’m glad my two dogs now eat my table scraps and not this gluten from China.
Tonya
Comment by Tonya — April 5, 2007 @ 4:42 pm
It’s time I expressed my gratitude to all of you who have done the research and work to keep us all informed. Because I live without electricity it is invaluable to me to have one trustworthy, reliable place to find information - I stress my solar powered laptop keeping up but thank you thank you thank you. Skeeter, somewhere in the doggie meadows in the sky, thanks you - Tycho, hanging in there so far, thanks you.
Comment by Nancy Nielsen — April 5, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
Here’s the latest on the fraud by MenuFoods.
http://www.bobvernon.com/MenuF.....erers.html
These greedy corporate thieves should hang.
Comment by Bob Vernon — April 5, 2007 @ 6:01 pm
On March 18 I emailed Oprah to do a show also. Didn’t think to email every day. Good idea. Question for Steve, Nadine, Linda, the remainder of you whose names I see constantly, are you talking to family and friends and coworkers about this. What do they say. Are they telling you to not get hyper, “there’s nothing you can do”, don’t let it upset you, etc, etc. I keep hearing this all the time or else get just a ho-hum comment. Are there really a lot of us out there that are angry or is it just some of us. Good lord, I pray there are thousands of us who want justice and who do care what is happening. Like most of you I spend hours and hours checking out all the information you wonderful people supply here. When I mention to people about the Pet Connection website, I don’t think a one of them has bothered to check. Man, I would love to give these sheep a swift kick in the a** and say wake up! but don’t think it matters to them. I’m a spiritual person having studied various modalities. I know that for every negative here on earth, there is a positive in the Universe. We must all ask the Universe or go to whomever you strongly believe in to help our pets and us in righting this horrible wrong. It brings tears to my eyes that there really are a lot of people who don’t give a damn especially if they aren’t affected. I would give my life to protect my dogs. I get very emotional any time an animal is hurt and in pain and suffering or worse yet, dies. So keep up the great work everyone. I’m hanging in there with you and doing my part too.
Comment by Valarie — April 5, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
Last week was tragic for my family. On monday the first of our two Shar Peis’ passed away. If that wasn’t bad enough the second began exibiting signs and died on Friday. Prior to their deaths we knew nothing of the problem with the food. We boarded them at our local vet on the Friday prior while we went out of town. We had been feeding them Alpo Prime gravy cuts in the morning because it was the only way we could get them to take their medication. We brought the food to the vet with them and he immediatly told us to stop feeding it to them. He told us it wasn’t on the list yet but that he was sure it would end up there. It did…the day after our second died. The large companies that are trying to get all their ducks in a row before admitting anything should have to see firsthand the grief that their procrastination has brought to each and every one who has suffered a loss. I urge everyone to stay involved. Don’t let this issue slip away into obscurity.
Comment by Donald Carr — April 6, 2007 @ 10:57 am