Pet food recall: More recalls from Del Monte
By Christie Keith
April 6, 2007
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It’s late Friday afternoon, must be time for another recall announcement. And here’s Del Monte with just that.
From PR Newswire:As a precautionary measure and in continued cooperation with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Del Monte Pet Products modified its voluntary recall list today to include additional select code dates in the U.S. market only.
Complete list of affected products here.
Weren’t we just assured yesterday by the FDA there were no more product recalls in the works? Was I imagining that?
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.
Heck of a job, Sunnie.
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Yeah, here we go again…….. with late Friday releases, stores won’t see the recalls until Monday meanwhile these items will still be on the shelves being sold over the weekend…. it’s all about the dollar..
Comment by marcy — April 6, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
With I a little encouragement from unexpected sources I suspect.
PR Web (press release), WA - 15 hours ago
Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) April 6, 2007 — Representing pet owners nationwide, Sacramento law firms Kershaw Cutter & Ratinoff, LLP and Wexler Toriseva Wallace, LLP, have filed the first Class Action lawsuit against Del Monte Foods (U.S. District Court, Central District of California, CV 07-1958-GHK AJWx) arising from its alleged sale of contaminated dog food and other pet foods to the public. The pet food class action lawsuit alleges that Del Monte’s Jerky Treats, Gravy Train Beef Sticks, and Pounce Meaty Morsels are contaminated with chemicals that can cause fatal kidney failure in animals that consume it. All of these brands were the subject of a recent nationwide recall and are believed to be contaminated by tainted wheat gluten from China. The lawsuit seeks reimbursement for all veterinary bills that were paid by affected pet owners.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
Safe yesterday, deadly today.
They got all the bad food off the shelf, except for what they missed.
No need for panic.
Drink the koolaid.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 6, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
Comment by marcy — April 6, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
Yes and not to forget skeleton weekend crews with no authority holding down the fort while the managers in charge are off for the weekend at point of sale.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 4:26 pm
….did that not just shift the dates back to September from November… or DelMonte got this stuff first?
Comment by GingerTom — April 6, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
Weren’t we just assured yesterday by the FDA there were no more product recalls in the works? Was I imagining that?
Good question, Christie. So, what did Del Monte find out today, that it didn’t know yesterday, or last week for that matter? Oh, I forgot, it’s Friday afternoon.
Comment by Jackie — April 6, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
Evey fri. it’s more bad news
Comment by Mary Ann — April 6, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
“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,” MFEMFEM Sundlof, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, told reporters.”
_______________________________________________
This tragedy didn’t have to happen. The chickens are guarding the hen house and the pet food lobbyists have done everything they can to weaken the FDA and keep the industry self-regulating (read no regulation). I wonder how many political appointees at the FDA will use the revolving door to get lucrative jobs with the industries they are supposed to be watching? Oh, sorry, that would never happen would it? As for the PFI, they must be honest folks with our best interests at heart - we pet owners are just too dumb to realize that.
Please have another spoonful of Pablum (preferably made with Chinese wheat gluten), thank you.
Comment by MFEMFEM — April 6, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
And how about this statement from Delmonte’s press release
“In addition, since the beginning of the recall in mid-March, Del Monte has discontinued sourcing product from this plant.”
They stopped sourcing from this plant in Mid March and yet didn’t issue their first recall until Saturday evening on March 31, 2007.
At that time they said:
“The Company took this voluntary recall action immediately after learning this morning from the FDA that wheat gluten supplied to Del Monte Pet Products from a specific manufacturing facility in China contained melamine.”
Now they admit they knew it was tainted weeks before they recalled. Otherwise why would they stop sourcing. I guess dead and ill pets wasn’t convining enough. They had to wait until the FDA found them, knocked on their door and told them the product had melamine. If they cared one bit, they would have recalled when they stopped using the product.
And if this was a human issue, they wouldn’t recall faster because they actually care. They would recall faster because a human with lifelong kidney issues will get a verdict in the millions of dollars. Times that by a thousands of people and that is motivation to act fast. Don’t think for second that they actually would care if we were sick. They care only about $$$.
And now this further delay.
There aren’t words to describe how angry I am…
Comment by Garyn — April 6, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
….did that not just shift the dates back to September from November… or DelMonte got this stuff first?
It will probably go back to before August 2006 when ChemNutro set up the Las Vegas office and left town.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 6, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Geezuz this ticks me off. I’m with you Garyn, it’s just revolting. I feel like getting every Del Monte can (corn, peas) out of my kitchen and throwing it at somebody. THEM!
Comment by Kim — April 6, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
This is beyond stupid. And insulting, and revolting, and pointless. I’m not sure what would be worse…did Del Monte withhold it for two weeks, or did they just not know? Hope their food records are better…but I’m betting they aren’t.
You know, when I was talking about expecting more Friday recalls, I thought I was joking. Guess I’ll be keeping an eye on the wires. It IS a holiday weekend.
Comment by Laura — April 6, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Comment by Garyn — April 6, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
You not alone. I don’t to feed my cat this crap ChemNutras supplying them.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Don’t want. I’m half in a daze excuse the grammar.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
From the D & B Database. Their primary SIC is “pet supplies.”
D&B D-U-N-S Number 14-078-3601
Company Name(s) Chemnutra Inc.
Street Address 810 S DURANGO DR STE 102
City Las Vegas
State / Province NV
ZIP Code 89145
County CLARK
Phone Number (702)818-5019
Sales $220,000 US (ESTIMATED/MODELED)
Employees Here 3
Employees Total 3
Location Type Single Location
Line Of Business WHOL NONDURABLE GOODS
Primary SICs 51990305 Pet supplies
Primary NAICS 424900 Other Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Merchant Wholesalers
Ownership / Control Date 2005
Metropolitan Area
State of Incorporation
Import/Export Not Available
Public/Private Private
Ticker Symbol
Company Web Sites
According to the D&B Database, this company’s D&B D-U-N-S Number is matched or associated to the following Web site(s). The Web site(s) may represent branches, divisions, and/or special promotions of this company. This listing may not identify all Web sites for this company. Select a URL to visit the Web site. A second browser window will open. To close that browser window and return to this MDDI session, choose FILE, then CLOSE.
Site URL
http://www.chemnutra.com/
This web site(s) have been identified for this business location through the matching of the domain name/address to the D&B database.
Bank
Accountant Grobstein, Horwath & Company LLP., Sherman Oaks, California
CEO Mr Stephen Miller Chief Executive Officer
Executives Ms Sally Q Miller President
Other Officers
Executive Biographies
STEPHEN MILLER YEAR OF BIRTH: 1952 2003-present active here
SALLY QING MILLER YEAR OF BIRTH: 1967 2003-present active here.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 6, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 6, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
How many damn rackets are these two running already?
This is getting ludicrous.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
if you’re thinking about ordering any petbooks from amazon…do it now…some are out w 4-7 wk ship time…….or call your B&N to hold one if they still have it. just a thought. or note that
http://tedeboy.tripod.com/drmichaelwfox/id19.html has a dog and a cat recipe. Perhaps he could be trusted?
Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 6, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
The pet supplies thing is scary. I can’t find them in Reference USA. I’ve searched every way possible.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 6, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
These are very smart educated men. I really don’t believe that they knew about the problem. And I can’t even see how Menu CEO knew, otherwise he wouldn’t have taken the risk of having all those pets die - he couldn’t have known that the wheat was or could have been altered or GM or whatever with protein toxic junk, and I don’t believe Del Monte Did.
And these very smart educated Chemists working for top biological firms in the ChemNutro, how could they have taken such a risk knowing the effects of anything added without testing like the Protein Feed Enchancer for Cattle and put it out for pets, just my five cents.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
Sales $220,000 US (ESTIMATED/MODELED)
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 6, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
Wait a minute here damn it their claiming their revenues are 50 to 100 Million on their China Site.
Hello Feds? Are you out there? Does this compute?
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 5:28 pm
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
You need to upgrade your street smarts.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 5:32 pm
Didn’t someone mention a connection between ChemNutra and Mexico? I sure hope I’m mis-remembering, and I’m almost sure there’s not connection…but this story sounds a little odd, especially the time frame.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6534081.stm
Comment by Laura — April 6, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
….did that not just shift the dates back to September from November… or DelMonte got this stuff first?
Here’s what I think is up with these Del Monte production codes. One is TP7C05, another is BC6M21. Del Monte’s canned veggies use a code that goes like this, Yjjjx. That is year, Julian calendar, and the x means nothing. In the Del Monte pet food codes, the first number is likely the year it was produced. The last 2 numbers are likely the day of the month. The letters in between likely represent a month. A = Jan, B = Feb., and so forth. This is assuming the Jerky treats have a shelf life of 6 months, and the canned gravy crap has a shelf life of 1 year. Only thing that stumped me, was a couple lots have “M” in between the dates. M is the 13th letter in the alphabet, so they skipped a letter for some reason, and “M” appears to represent Dec. If this logic is right, they produced the stuff from Dec. to March. I’ll have to go back and look for the day they stopped using it.
I might check some of Menu’s codes and see if I can figure out their production codes as well.
Comment by Jackie — April 6, 2007 @ 5:42 pm
Please don’t forget about the lilies. It’s a big problem for cats. We’ve got enough poisons going around without that added to the mix. I don’t know if it could be posted on the front page as a public service reminder.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 6, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
Are you talking about upgrading my street smarts as far as ChemNutra goes or as far as Menu goes.
Look Steve and everyone, you are talking about highly educated people here, you are not talking about back alley poppy smokers or something.
Making a fast buck without proper assurance that pets are not going to die just does not make any sense. Now if the Justice Department or the FBI or the FDA or Congress can prove this diabolical plot then okay….but just looking at the players here and their education - it seems a bit too much.
When I read the docs yesterday, I dismissed it as being too dangerous to use the powder - it just doesn’t make sense that Greed would override caution. Maybe a mistake happened -
But more supporting evidence needs to be gathered and no wonder they would shut down their website - wouldn’t you. Who would want the grief -
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
LOL Steve, you said it better than I was about to.
It really is time to stop believing what these companies are telling you. People DO lie. Companies DO cheat. Think PG&E/Erin Brockovich. Think cigarette companies and nicotine.
Comment by Kim — April 6, 2007 @ 5:44 pm
Alright everyone. Is it just me, or… is it a bit fishy that they didn’t say ‘wheat gluten’, but instead said ‘ingredients’? PLURAL!
“The complete updated chart of voluntarily recalled product codes is below. Del Monte is confident that all contaminated product sourced with ingredients from the specific plant in China has been identified and is being removed from store shelves. In addition, since the beginning of the recall in mid-March, Del Monte has discontinued sourcing product from this plant.”
Comment by Kim — April 6, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
Didn’t I say earlier that there would most likely be more deceit for us to deal with by the end of the day
Comment by Valarie — April 6, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
Itchmo exclusive: All recalled wheat gluten came through the Long Beach Port. You can put the Netherlands connection to bed now.
AP: Xuzhou Anying exports 10,000 tons of wheat gluten a year. Less than 900 tons tracked down. FDA “reluctantly dragged into [screening import food], kicking and screaming.”
http://www.itchmo.com/read/lat.....s_20070406
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
The latest production code on their site is C12. . .March 12. What day did they start recalling?
Comment by Jackie — April 6, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
Never Mind
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
Somebody make a record of the Dunn & Bradstreet report that at least lists Sally’s middle initial.
Comment by Valarie — April 6, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
Companies do lie and cheat and cut corners and release toxic waste junk in the atmosphere etc., and people lie etc., etc.,
And I don’t believe that most of the pet food is healthy for our pets but this theory that you are so sure of and out to catch the bad guys and their associates, is a bit over the top, even if CNN had said on TV that it might have been added intentionally. Did they say how they knew this?
Maybe I’m wrong and I will admit, but some thoughtful thorough fact finding needs to be done and not just over the internet either.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
Sorry, my eyes are fogging over. Her full name is listed along with her birthdate.
Comment by Valarie — April 6, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
I’ve got the D & B report stored in a safe place. :)
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 6, 2007 @ 5:57 pm
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
It’s hard cold cruel world girl. It’s tough to face up to that. Believe me, I would love nothing more then the world to be shining center of universal peace and cooperation but thats not the current reality. I’m to old to start lying. And I’m not going to start now.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
Linda - I’m willing to concede that the initial inclusion of whatever is killing our pets may have been done without deliberate malice.
What is BEYOND FORGIVABLE, however, is the focus of these companies from the moment they received the first call from panicked and grief-stricken pet owners. For weeks, if not months, they ignored/hid/denied there was a problem. Then they launched into into protection mode, that is, protection of THEMSELVES. Every company involved should have pulled every product even marginally suspected of being contaminated. Instead, they keep waiting until they’re forced to recall the foods, all the while assuring us the products outside the recall are SAFE. In the meantime, our furkids are dying.
THAT’S what we “hysterical” pet-owners have a problem with.
Comment by A.C. — April 6, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
Nations Focus On Health Risks Posed by Globalization; Link to an article at Forbes (online).
http://www.forbes.com/forbesli.....03418.html
Comment by Grace — April 6, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
Did you all see the report listed on howl911 and itchmo about the GA Wheat Gluten:
http://www.itchmo.com/read/bre.....d_20070403
It goes on this link to talk about the effects of this GA Wheat Gluten and not just what the like id’s as the importer identified.
GA it and all our human food supply is in danger for long term kidney effects. Please all do not eat anything with Wheat Gluten added, make sure all the flour and breads are organic with no extra wheat gluten.
Now this is scary to me.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 6:01 pm
Linda, “Organic” means nothing. It must be “CERTIFIED organic.” Huge difference.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 6, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
I posted a link earlier today to an article about how they are GM Wheat Gluten - it is a common practice and it isn’t with the Feed/Protein junk.
The articles are very interesting and puts all of our food supply in danger - not just our pets - all of our flour everything has this wheat gluten in it.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
Thanks Lois - you are right. Certified Organic and look to make sure anything you buy, sauces etc. do not have Wheat Gluten in it - please everyone - for the sake of our pets and our children and our grandchilden.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 6:09 pm
Comment by A.C. — April 6, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
A.C., I agree. I hope to God this isn’t malicious or intentional, and honestly, I can’t see how anyone in business who wants to stay in business would see tampering as a good idea…unless of course they thought they wouldn’t get caught for some reason, like lax inspections, connections in the FDA, etc. I don’t know whether that’s the case.
But this fiasco doesn’t need to be intentional to be horrific, and the FDA response has been a joke regardless of the outcome.
But I do wonder whether the feds are trying to spin this as deliberate tampering in order to deflect criticism re their complete ineptitude in detecting and dealing with it. After all, if someone was trying to game the system, then it’s a problem with the vendor, not the system, right?
Comment by Laura — April 6, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
One should assume anything and everything is GMO unless it has the NO GMO statement on the packaging.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 6, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
Comment by Laura — April 6, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
I think these big time globalist “traders” and their wannabes are so intoxicated on profits they don’t even care anymore if it’s quality or not.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
I know, I’m going to start sounding like I’ve lost it, but this latest Del Monte, additional recall is really bugging me. Look at the Jerky Treats. Today they added TP7B16. Well, they previously recalled Jerky treats produced before and after the product added today. Did they just forget they had produced the TP7B16 batch? Unbelievable.
“BRANDED Production Code/Best By Date
Jerky Treats Beef Flavor Dog Snacks Code:
Best By: TP7B06
Aug 06 08 TP7B07
Aug 07 08 TP7B08
Aug 08 08 TP7B09
Aug 09 08 TP7B10
Aug 10 08
Code:
Best By: TP7B15
Aug 15 08 TP7B16
Aug 16 08 TP7C05 TP7C06
Sep 02 08 Sep 03 08
Comment by Jackie — April 6, 2007 @ 6:16 pm
I might have been willing to forgive , as unintended, some things. I would not have been happy but I would not be out for blood like I am now. if not for all the lying, insulting, lack of respect and wholesale ass covering.
If the pet food industry had put 1/10 the energy into getting the word out, telling the truth, stopping those insulting news reports about hysterical pet owners and using their power to get the vets and us info then I would not be so mad. A lot of pets might not be so dead.
They shot themselves in the foot and I have very little pity to spare just now.
They got caught, they lied, they got caught about the lying, they insulted me and I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!
I know quite a few people who have said to the press things that are not true and by thunder they are gonna be on national TV or under oath, or both, and exposed for the lying scum that they are.
There would be NO story about this if not for this site and others like it.
They want us to lie down and die just like our pets and fork over money for the privilege and I, for one, am not going to do it that way.
Plenty of time to calm down when the dying and the lying stops.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 6, 2007 @ 6:18 pm
From http://www.Howl911.com today…new theories re GM engineering of gluten grain stock to “improve gelling” so producers could use less for the same “rich gravy” effect.
Corn and soy, too. Whether or not it’s true, I feel sick just thinking about it.
“This is theory which Howl 911 has been exploring for several days. On March 30, 2007, we received a tip from one of our readers about research a Chinese group has conducted on wheat gluten, using an enzyme, transglutaminase (TGase, for short), to enzymatically modify wheat gluten to increase it’s gelling capacitiy by introducing more protein-protein crosslinks. Increasing the gelling capacity (as measured in water absorption rate) is advantageous in that one requires less wheat gluten to achieve the desired gelling effect. This means manufacturers could get by with using less wheat gluten in their formulations, thereby decreasing the cost of production.
But what does this have to do with melamine? We did some.googling and found other research articles which have used melamine as the crosslinking agent in other foodstuffs, notably for corn protein (known as “zein”) and in soy. As melamine is likely a cheaper crosslinking agent than is transglutaminase, it would make economical sense that a wheat gluten manufacturer or a pet food manufacturer would explore the process of chemical modification over enzymatic modification. Robert J. Russell, Ph.D., has also been investigating the angl of chemical modification of wheat gluten. Dr. Russell’s thoughts on the subject (The Gluten Story, Pt. 1 ) have been posted over at Itchmo’s blog.”
Comment by Laura — April 6, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
Check this out. Click through the archive Dates on the upper left.
http://tinyurl.com/25whcg
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
Comment by Laura — April 6, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
whoops - sorry - not GM modification - processing modifications via enzymes.
Comment by Laura — April 6, 2007 @ 6:22 pm
A.C. RIGHT ON ! I couldn’t OF Said It better myshelf.
Comment by Mary Ann — April 6, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
Re: Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
“Are you talking about upgrading my street smarts as far as ChemNutra goes or as far as Menu goes…you are talking about highly educated people here, you are not talking about back alley poppy smokers or something.”
There are an amazing number of people who run businesses that look like a big deal on paper, but are run out of their home offices, and in this case, perhaps with low paid warehouse staff in China. Computers have eliminated an office full of accounting staff, etc. Also, when you think that the Millers might be big entrepreneurs, note that the Miller’s live in a home they purchased in Las Vegas for under $500K in 2006, not a mansion in today’s home values in the west.
A search shows that Stephen S. Miller filed for Chapter 7 in bankruptcy court in NY federal court in 2001, when he resided at 8 Gramercy Park So, New York. It was discharged (roughly meaning approved…). A reputable research tool shows enough markers (info) that a reasonable person would assume that Stephen S. Miller associated with ChemNutra is probably the same as this person in the NY bankruptcy.
We assume that Sally Miller is his wife; her name appears on Lexis as Qing Miller. They have shared the same addresses for a few years. If you read her bio at she is called Sally Qing Miller:
http://www.zoominfo.com/people.....233.aspxor
“Sally has over 12 years of experience in China as QA Manager and Purchasing Manager, working for various multinational companies who imported and exported chemicals worldwide. As purchasing manager, she was responsible for purchasing and exporting over $100 million of feed, food and pharma ingredients worldwide.”
“Sally earned an MBA from City University in Seattle, as well as Engineering degree in Food Chemical Engineering at Hanzhou Institute of Commerce in Hanzhou, China. She is a member of the Institute for Supply Management in the US, and the China Food Ingredients Association in China. She is certified as an ISO 9000 Chief Auditor.”
The research tool also shows that Stephen Miller and “Qing Miller” also filed for a corp. in CA (subsequently dissolved) in 2000 called XLALL, Inc., which they listed at an address that they both claimed at 545 S. Los Robles Ave. Apt. 7, Pasadena CA 91101, in 2000. This address also shows up for ChemNutra.
I post this info if any sleuths out there want to follow up on this and have the wherewithal to do so.
I read that the ChemNutra shipment(s) were sent to the Long Beach port, which makes sense geographically. It also makes sense that the Miller’s would have residences/business addresses in the west.
Comment by Maureen — April 6, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
One last word on organics. Even “Certified Organic” isn’t good enough. It has to state the name of the certifying organization. It’s an incredibly rigorous process and anyone who survived it is proud to put it on their label.
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 6, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
It’s not so difficult to cook and prepare healthy food for our pets. I’ve been doing it totally for our remaining cat since Nutro Natural Choice (natural - right) and Nutro Gourmet Classics killed my best friend. It takes a little extra time but I sure feel a lot better about what my surviving cat is eating - I know it’s not poison from some Menu Foods plant that is processing contaminated, dirt cheap Chinese grain gluten. The best way to let the pet food companies know that you are fed up with their deception, lies, and patronizing BS is to vote with your wallet. Our pets are worth the little extra effort of a homed cooked meal. Let the pet food companies face the economic consequences of their dishonesty. As for the FDA, the fox guarding the henhouse - are they still claiming only 16 deaths - have they no shame?
Comment by MFEMFEM — April 6, 2007 @ 6:38 pm
For the new people who may be visiting—get informed.
The major source of animal protein for pet food is “the four Ds “… Dead, Dying, Diseased or Disabled animals. So what exactly would an animal found dead, suffering or dying in a paddock have wrong with it? A disease, cancer, torn kidney, lung, blood or liver infection? Perhaps an overdose of pesticide? No one knows for certain but such animals are put down or carted away dead and used for pet food.
Also of concern is the possibility of veterinary drugs still present in the animal. These animals are then cut up and used as ‘choice cuts of beef or lamb, or plump whole chicken’, as the pet food labels claim. Being thrifty institutions, slaughterhouses take all that is left over, including the head, legs, intestines, liver and lungs, (not to mention whatever it was that the beast died of) and render it down in a big vat. The hair is skimmed from the top and whatever remains is dried and powdered, leaving beef or chicken meal or meat and poultry by-products or digests. These products are found in every dog and cat food available to day. I think this is a questionable source of nourishment for our animals.
http://tinyurl.com/2tqytt
Comment by DeeAnn — April 6, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
Comment by Maureen — April 6, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
Good work.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
Here’s the article again on the GM Wheat Gluten and go to Howl911 and read the article on the protein and they alter this Wheat Gluten to increase the protein levels then when you go to the link to Itchmo and read the article on the company is ID then further down you see the story Part I that talks about kidney failure with GM wheat:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/e.....519769.htm
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
Get The Facts:
http://www.api4animals.org/facts?p=359&more=1
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 6:42 pm
January 2006 Recall info - big article from MSNBC
http://tinyurl.com/7drv5
Comment by Nadine Long — April 6, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
Kim, Jackie, Maureen, Laura and so many others, Good work, thanks for posting your observations and sleuthing.
I am particularly interested in Kim’s observation:
“The complete updated chart of voluntarily recalled product codes is below. Del Monte is confident that all contaminated product sourced with ingredients from the specific plant in China has been identified and is being removed from store shelves. In addition, since the beginning of the recall in mid-March, Del Monte has discontinued sourcing product from this plant.”
Comment by Angelique — April 6, 2007 @ 6:49 pm
Here’s one article on the GM Wheat GLuten I posted earlier and there’s another too I’ll try to find:
http://www.agripressworld.com/...../209132/en
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
Here’s another article that I posted earlier this morning about the GE Wheat Gluten:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/e.....519769.htm
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 7:17 pm
“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.
——————————————-
“Safe yesterday, deadly today.
They got all the bad food off the shelf, except for what they missed.
No need for panic.
Drink the koolaid.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 6, 2007 @ 4:25 pm”
I’ll second that sentiment.
Comment by Pamela J. Betz-Baron — April 6, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
I don’t want to start a whole “what’s best food” debate here, but did want to comment about the disgusto factor of hair, hoofs, head, feet and organs, etc in rendered tissues.
If you give a dog a freshly killed chicken or a rabbit, I can guarantee you that they will leave nothing but a few feathers or tufts of fur on the ground.
I feed my animals raw whole prey foods. The bones, fur, feathers, feet and organs are vital parts of the meal.
It is really the rendering process that is the problem, which is why nutrients, enzymes, probiotics have to be added back in after the fact.
Comment by Angelique — April 6, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
Concerned in Alberta. I have 5 cats that used to eat fancy feast. And 1 dog that used to eat Purina One. Now they eat Origen and Innova Evo dry food. I have heard of complaints about fancy feast now too. I want to know if anyone else is reporting pet sickness’s after eating fancy feast. I have heard of 4 cases. Are there more? I have furr pet relatives that are still eating the stuff and want to know. For your info, pets are sick here in Canada too. For some, the recall came to late.
Comment by Lee — April 6, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
Comment by DeeAnn — April 6, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
“Being thrifty institutions, slaughterhouses take all that is left over, including the head, legs, intestines, liver and lungs, (not to mention whatever it was that the beast died of) and render it down in a big vat. The hair is skimmed from the top and whatever remains is dried and powdered, leaving beef or chicken meal or meat and poultry by-products or digests. These products are found in every dog and cat food available to day.”
The last sentence is not correct.For example,go to http://www.urbancarnivore.com.
We need to be accurate here in order to retain credibility,ok?Maybe “almost” before “every” would be better?
I didn’t see my previous post saying that Purina opened a plant in China at the beginning of February,with a link to the news report.Did it get posted?
Comment by Lorna — April 6, 2007 @ 7:59 pm
“It is really the rendering process that is the problem” - Comment by Angelique — April 6, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
Rendering indeed! Everyone must read the book “BRAIN TRUST’ about the hidden connection between Mad Cow Disease and misdiagnosed Alzheimer’s Disease. You will never, ever want to eat meat again!
Book found here: http://www.colmkelleher.com/
Comment by Barb — April 6, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
Too tired.I should have made clear that I was objecting mostly to “not to mention whatever it was the beast died of” .I,too,feed whole animal,but the quality control of the company mentioned is impressive.
Comment by Lorna — April 6, 2007 @ 8:05 pm
I think someone should make a memorial website where pet owners who have lost a pet due to this horrible incident can post their pet’s picture.
It’s so terribly sad. The people responsible must SEE the animals they injured and/or killed.
It’s so upsetting.
Comment by Diane — April 6, 2007 @ 8:06 pm
Apr 6, 2007 6:01 pm
Couple Sues Menu Foods Over Death Of Their Dog
CBS) LOS ANGELES A Los Angeles-area couple sued Menu Foods, alleging the company’s Iams dog food poisoned their two Golden Retrievers, killing one and leaving the other with kidney damage.
Mitch and Jayne Englander filed the suit Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court against Ontario, Canada-based Menu Foods Inc., alleging breach of contract, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and fraudulent concealment.
They are seeking unspecified compensatory, general and special damages, and certification of their litigation as a class action lawsuit.
The Englanders’ lawsuit is the third to be filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in a week related to allegedly tainted pet food.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
Hey! Just noticed we have two marcy’s here! Mine is with a cap “Marcy.” :)
Yep…here we go again…guaranteed safe yesterday…recalled today!
I’m just waiting for two other brands to be announced that have already almost killed my JuJu on two separate occasions. This cat sure is a tough cookie…but a loveable one.
I sincerely hope that no other animal is killed before they decide to recall them.
Comment by Marcy — April 6, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
Friday, April 6, 2007 | 3:47 PM PT
Lawsuits filed in Alta., B.C. over tainted pet food
Several people in Alberta and British Columbia have started a class-action lawsuit against the manufacturer at the centre of a massive tainted pet food recall that has sparked other similar lawsuits in Ontario and the U.S.
The about 10 claimants in the two western provinces allege their cats and dogs became ill or died after eating tainted products from Menu Pet Foods of Streetsville, Ont.
Calgary lawyer Clint Docken filed the most recent lawsuit on behalf of Jim O’Keefe and several other pet owners.
Comment by Steve — April 6, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
There is so much sadness, anger and frustration by all of us who are regulars on this site. I have a little story to share involving my cats that I hope may provide a knowing chuckle. I have been home cooking for my 2 cats in order to avoid, at least temporarily, most processed cat food. To make the recipes I buy a variety of fresh human grade meats to serve them. They seemed to catch on right away that this was pretty yummy stuff.
Tonight I fed a fresh plate of warm sliced chicken livers and left the room. Shortly therafter I heard this horrible yowling, hissing, thumping and screaming going on. Both I and the dog briefly look at each and together go running to see what’s happening. Inches away from the chicken livers the two cats are just going at it like two wild animals on the veldt. Mind you these critters have peacefully co-existed for seven years and often sleep together. I separated them, checked for injury, (there was none) petted them to settle them down and divided the livers onto two plates which they proceded to eat happily and calmly. Funny, they never felt the need to have a cat fight over their dry old kibble!
Comment by elizabeth — April 6, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
Comment by Barb — April 6, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
“Rendering indeed! Everyone must read the book “BRAIN TRUST’ about the hidden connection between Mad Cow Disease and misdiagnosed Alzheimer’s Disease. You will never, ever want to eat meat again!”
I haven’t had any meat whatsoever since the madcow thing first appeared. Today, I can’t stand the disgusting smell of anything meat.
The way corruption is, I know they are mixing madcow diseased meat into the general batch.
Comment by Gary — April 6, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
Just think if we had to sue over our children having kidney damage from this toxic (in one way or the other) wheat gluten junk?
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 8:37 pm
Comment by elizabeth — April 6, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
Thank you for the chuckle! Much needed. :)
Your cats are better behaved than my two chow-hounds, who will hiss, fuss, and generally elbow each other out of the way to get to anything I put in the bowl. Not exactly gourmands.
Needless to say, we’re all on “light” diets around here. :)
Comment by Laura — April 6, 2007 @ 8:38 pm
Lee - my cat JuJu, almost died after eating Fancy Feast two weeks ago.
A friend in Canada says that his neighbor’s cat died after eating it.
I have filed a complaint with the FDA.
Comment by Marcy — April 6, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
This is from Howl911, headline news:
AP: Xuzhou Anying exports 10,000 tons of wheat gluten a year. Less than 900 tons tracked down. FDA “reluctantly dragged into [screening import food], kicking and screaming.”
The problem could have orginated in China, even though we’ve been doing a lot of guesswork here - and I certainly hope none of this was intentional except of course if it is GM Wheat Gluten or GE Wheat Gluten there’s much intention there - I believe that GM products don’t need to be labeled in shipping and packaging etc.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 8:57 pm
I was thinking tonight on more that could be done to make sure this never happens again and I was wondering about a petition. While SOME congress men & women or senators, etc may read letters, I have to admit Im skeptical that the reps for our state do…but I think they do read petitions, at least the number of names that are signed to them, names equal votes. I was wondering if anyone out there with writing skills (and judging by the blogs here, there are quite a few) would be able to write up the petition to request Congress to set up whatever it takes, a pet death registry, a pet version of FDA, stricter oversea purchasing requirements, etc. If that could be done, maybe Gina & the folks here could put a link to it so everyone could download a petition and take it around their home and work areas for signatures and then mail them in to Congress, state reps, etc. Its just an idea but maybe worth trying or thinking about?
Comment by Sandi K — April 6, 2007 @ 8:58 pm
Also another thing I was thinking about is that while CNN is doing a good job of covering this pet food recall, it needs longer than just a few short minutes. It needs an investigative reporter doing a whole hour long show on it such as 60 Minutes. Between all of us here and at Itchmo and Howl 911, we were able to get AC360 to do coverage. How bout we all e:mail 60 Minutes and request they do an investigative show on this mess that still has very little answers to it? Im going there now to send my e:mail to them….
Comment by Sandi K — April 6, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
Here’s an interesting news story:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Inte.....id=3014043
Wonder if these girls may have been eating any wheat (or corn) gluten lately?
My JuJu experienced weakness in her legs when affected by the toxins in the pet food…
Comment by Marcy — April 6, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
Marcy and Lee, I too am having trouble with Fancy Feast. Cats are refusing to eat it. Some have wheat gluten, some do not. Marcy, what are you feeding you cat now, please?
Comment by Peg — April 6, 2007 @ 9:07 pm
Hi all. Distressed to be here at all, but glad for the opportunity to share. I kept abreast of all the recall lists and continued to feed both my two-and-a-half year-old feline brothers the canned products from Nutro Max Cat Gourmet Classics (which were not, and are still not, on the list). My precious boys are now both in the vet hospital getting three days of IV fluids to try and flush out toxins and stave off any additional kidney damage after tests revealed higher than normal levels of all indicators. My boys have been poisoned.
THE LIST IS NOT COMPLETE. THE LIST IS MISLEADING. DO NOT TRUST THE LIST.
I believe that we are still at the tip of the iceberg with this crisis. Now that we have gone through a period of catastrophic reactions to direct poisonings in high doses, I feel sure that we will begin to see many, many more lower-level toxicity cases as a result of “associated tainting” of foods and food products which may have been processed on shared machines or production resources (like the peanut warnings for human products which contain no peanuts but were made on shared equipment). This would mean, perhaps, that the poison is not being delivered to the animal from one particular batch in total, but by possibly many batches over time in very small - even infinitesimal - amounts. Perhaps the toxicity builds up in the animals’ system until it reaches a critical point where functional debilitation ensues. Of course, I could be utterly mistaken about this, but if it is a possibility, it will make the identification of - and responsibility for - specific foods and products nearly impossible.
The fact that Nutro has failed to include ALL of their products on the list is nothing short of criminal. I am interested in anyone else who is interested in or has knowledge of a class action suit against Nutro.
THE LIST IS NOT COMPLETE. THE LIST IS MISLEADING. DO NOT TRUST THE LIST.
Comment by Russell — April 6, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
Peg - I am feeding Merrick, and will be trying Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul (both canned).
Merrick has a website to purchase from, and you can find both for sale on other retailers websites (just do a search)…plus they are available in some of the independent pet shops.
My cats had to get used to it at first…as it is quite different from Fancy Feast. It is similar to table food, and mine have never been table food eaters.
They are adjusting to it, and love it now.
Comment by Marcy — April 6, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
Comment by Marcy — April 6, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
Hi, Marcy. I pointed to the BBC story on this earlier, but your version has more info.
I’m not a conspiracy theorist by any means, so I’m guessing there’s a far more common explanation for this than anything related to gluten.
But you’re right on target about the leg weakness, the inability to walk, plus nausea and vomiting…the timeframe is exactly the same as the recall, October to March…and the doctors can’t find anything wrong with 600 girls. Surely they’re not all THAT suggestible, unless they’re all desperate to go home. (They might have reason to feel that way! Yikes!)
So what do these 600 boarding school students have in common? Lots, I’m sure. But one thing is that they’re all low-income girls on scholarships at a school they’re only allowed t leave three times a year. Which makes me think they’re probably all eating the same food every day.
But even if (and yes, it’s WAYYYY unlikely) this has any connection, we’d have the same issue - while 600 are sick, more aren’t. Why?
Comment by Laura — April 6, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
I lost one of my babies that was only eating Friskies canned salmon and ocean white fish. Even though Friskies has not been recalled I believe it was bad. and all I know is my other cat will no longer touch the Friskies that he was always eating before. I am trying to change him to a real food diet but he will not eat anything now except Meow Mix dry(and he is eating only a little) I have tried real chicken, tuna, salmon, beef, cottage cheese, rice and other things. I am scared to continue feeding him the Meow Mix, but do not know what to do. I have tried lots of the different cat foods that have been suggested as grain free etc..they are stacked up in my cubbard. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to get my baby on a real food diet? I am so scared right now. I can’t sleep and so anxious about him getting sick.
Comment by Brenda — April 6, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
goodness this is crazy. I’m glad I do not feed my dogs Del Monte products.
-Shawntiah (pet food nutrition abratnamednoel@aol.com)
Comment by Eskie Lover — April 6, 2007 @ 9:23 pm
Brenda - mine wouldn’t eat at first, when I changed over to the new food.
But then they got hungry. :)
I transitioned them…less of the old food, and more of the new.
Comment by Marcy — April 6, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
Laura -
Hi! Sorry, didn’t see your post…
Quote: Laura
“So what do these 600 boarding school students have in common? Lots, I’m sure. But one thing is that they’re all low-income girls on scholarships at a school they’re only allowed t leave three times a year. Which makes me think they’re probably all eating the same food every day.”
You made me think about my cat JuJu, and my other two cats. JuJu got sick from the food…they didn’t. Why?
My only explanation is that they were eating other foods in addition. JuJu was eating only the suspect food. Perhaps the dilution saved them from the extreme consequences of eating this substance?
You mention that perhaps these girls eat the same food all the time…hmmm…sound familiar? Just a thought.
We might be “off the wall” on this one…but just found it an interesting coincidence.
Plus they were being treated by asian herbs! Hmmm…on that one too!
Comment by Marcy — April 6, 2007 @ 9:39 pm
Here’s a site with some information about GM crops etc: Lots of good info:
http://www.gmwatch.org/p1temp......amp;page=1
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
Marcy, that is what I have been trying, but to what point do I let him go without eating? I cave in and give him some of the Meow Mix, and mind you, he is only eating a little of that. He is losing weight and all vet tests say nothing is wrong with him. The anxiety is taking its toll on me! I am thinking he is only eating alittle of the Meow Mix because it is also tainted, but he gets very hungry and eats some of it anyway because he is addicted to the corn meal that is prevalent in commercial cat foods. I have become so paranoid about all of this.
Comment by Brenda — April 6, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
Thanks Marcy! This is becoming very difficult as mine are real fussy, plus I have one with IBD. I shall give the Merrick a try.
And for Russell, my prayers are with you and your boys. I opened a bag of Nutro dry senior 2 weeks ago and not one of my cats would touch it and that was their only dry food. Outdoor cats would NOT eat it either….neither would the raccoons!! I truly believe as you do that THE LIST IS NOT COMPLETE
Comment by Peg — April 6, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
Brenda - I’ve never used Meow Mix…is it the wet food pouches?
If so, try mixing some with the new food.
Have you thought of trying baby food temporarily? Sometimes cats will eat that. Mine prefer the strained chicken…as the beef seems to be too strong of a taste for them…but cats are different.
My JuJu also likes plain yogurt, and cottage cheese.
If it were my cat, I would try and get him on a different diet as soon as I could. My JuJu got very thin (actually skin and bones), and was not eating well either. Now she is eating more as she recovers, and has gained some weight already.
Try not to be anxious…sometimes they pick up on our moods, and can sense that something is wrong. Try to be calm and do “normal” things. Don’t panic.
Comment by Marcy — April 6, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
Linda
I found that piece I was looking for that I thought you’d be interested in. It’s a long read, but worth it.
http://tinyurl.com/yw5r2h
I’ll check back in a while…much to do right now.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 6, 2007 @ 9:58 pm
PETA Investigates Menu Foods animal testing -
http://www.peta.org/feat/iams/menu-index.html
http://www.peta.org/feat/iams/menu-pain.html
Here you can find a list of Dog and Cat Food Companies That Don’t Test on Animals
Comment by Barb — April 6, 2007 @ 10:01 pm
Thanks Nadine - I read it - scary!
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
Peg, at first I laughed at your comment about the raccoons turning up their noses at the food, but seriously I think yours is a very telling story. Cats are notoriously finicky but raccoons are not….they eat anything! There’s something seriously wrong with that food.
Comment by elizabeth — April 6, 2007 @ 10:06 pm
Comment by Marcy — April 6, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
Brenda, I agree with Marcy… a little baby food can work wonders sometimes.
But if your cat is refusing to eat things he used to like, you really should take him to the vet. It sounds like you’ve given it your best shot. Maybe a vet can help you figure out why it isn’t working.
Comment by Laura — April 6, 2007 @ 10:08 pm
Marcy
It is the dry Meow Mix, he will not touch any wet food now(since the Friskis in Feb) Baby food is one of the first things I tried. I know I am getting so worked up over this, but as everyone on this site understands..it is my baby. And I am so frustrated because I know there is more to this than the wheat gluten. And our babies know it. All the deaths are so hearbreaking…I think I need to quit reading about them for a while. Thanks for your suggestions hope your JuJu keeps doing well.
Comment by Brenda — April 6, 2007 @ 10:13 pm
Laura, I have already spent $1400.oo in vet bills trying to figure out if something is wrong with him. They can’t find anything. Coupled with the $1800.00 I incured trying to save my other baby..I don’t know how I am going to pay those bills, I am losing faith in the vet. And becoming a nervous wreck. I know he misses is buddy, but I think this has gone beyond him grieving.
Comment by Brenda — April 6, 2007 @ 10:25 pm
Brenda, my Doberman Mercy was eating Dry Iams because the vet said it was fine. Well she started having trouble with leaking urine and then her blood work showed up a liver problem - she is three years old - I switched dog foods and put her on science diet and then homemade - she is on 1/2 homemade and 1/2 Natural Balance Allergy formula and after I finish the bags I have, she will be on all homemade - yes I have books and am doing all the right things here.
But she had test after test and I spent over $1,000 and they were ready to do a liver biopsy and I said no. Well after she went on the homemade diet, her liver blood tests started to get better. I can’t say for sure it was the IAMS but I can say I’m glad I stopped feeding it to her.
I’m sorry for your loss Brenda and all the pain that goes along with it too!
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 10:42 pm
Oh, Brenda, I’m so very sorry.
Okay, here’s what I know after years of nursing a diabetic cat in renal failure - aka, a picky eater. NB: I am neither a vet nor a nutritionist. But these are some of the things that worked for me over the years - maybe something here would work for you.
- a little tuna juice on the dry food
- soaking the kibble in warm (low sodium) chicken or beef broth
- plain boiled chicken (best idea) - chicken livers, etc - sometimes you can even use the water you boiled it in to soak kibble
- plain fish - you can try raw if he’s healthy, but I cooked mine because my guy wasn’t. If your cat has renal problems, though, he may very well throw up anything that’s too high-protein, so start with whitefish (tilapia, cod, etc) before you go to the heavy stuff like salmon or tuna.
- nutri-cal, kitten food, milk replacer, or other hi-cal supplements can help sometimes, but see above
- yogurt/low fat ice cream (yes, I know this isn’t good for kitties, but when they haven’t eaten in days, you do what you have to.)
- canned human gravy, baby food, or other soupy stuff - again, not the best thing long term, but you have to get him to eat.
- parmesan or other hard smelly cheeses. I think it tickles kitty noses a little, though my Max often just licked the cheese off the kibble and left the rest. :@
Whatever it is, it has to smell good, or cats won’t even taste it. Warming the food (gently) can be a big help - like 10 secs in the micro at about 50% power, then check the temp with a finger before serving it.
I realize this isn’t what you want to hear, but maybe a different vet could help. If a cat’s not eating, that’s the first thing s/he should help you deal with - you work on the diagnosis as you can, but after a point, the most pressing issue becomes avoiding hepatic lipidosis, which is what cats get when they don’t eat.
I so hope your guy makes it.
Comment by Laura — April 6, 2007 @ 10:57 pm
Tests have showed nothing abnormal with liver or kidneys, nothing seen on ultra sounds and barium xrays, we are at a loss as to why he is not eating as he should be. Maybe it is grief, he was very close to my lost baby. I am praying that it is all it is. But still very nerve racking in light of us not knowing what is really going on with the pet foods. if he would just take to homemade I would feel so much better. Thanks for the support. I will not give up no matter what.
Comment by Brenda — April 6, 2007 @ 10:58 pm
Brenda - very good advice has been given here…
when JuJu was on her first day of recovery…she wanted to eat, but seemed not to be able to chew (she was so weak).
I took her up in my lap, and put baby food in her mouth…which she swallowed. This seemed to get her started. Sometimes they seem to need a “helping hand” to get them started on something.
But we must remember, that they do have teeth, and will sometimes use them…and very well, I might add! :)
Comment by Marcy — April 6, 2007 @ 11:16 pm
I will say a little prayer for your guy tonight, Brenda.
Comment by Marcy — April 6, 2007 @ 11:19 pm
RE: Comment by Lee and Fancy Feast
At this point I wouldn’t trust any cat/dog foods with Wheat Gluten in it. Since so many companies haven’t been very forthcoming I have lost all faith in them.
Now even some Dry foods are in question with some pretty concerning posts on the internet.
I believe what pet people are telling us about thier cats and dogs over what the FDA and the pet food industry is telling us. Where there is smoke there usually is fire, I can’t see so many people just saying this because they want to lie for fun.
I really like how Del Monte is dealing with it, a whole bait and switch tactic. Con artists most of em. There are still good companies out there don’t get me wrong. I think I found one of them and plan on sticking with them.
The president emailed me today see how my kitties were adapting to the new food asking if I had any questions. Thats the way all the companies should be handling the situation, not trying to avoid lawsuits, bad press, and having to recall products in the attempts to keep the shareholder’s stock fat and happy.
I hope congress reams the whole rotten lot of them. It is up to us to make sure they do, keep sending letters! Don’t let this go way and be swept under the rug like so many other things seem to be.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 6, 2007 @ 11:20 pm
Does any one know if congress is going to require them to take an oath?
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 6, 2007 @ 11:23 pm
I thought Del Monte had this cutting edge way to track food ingredients.
Whatever happened to that one….
Keep lying…
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 6, 2007 @ 11:34 pm
I have read on several other blog sites that cats are getting sick on Meow Mix. Here are a couple of links:
http://cats.about.com/b/a/257790.htm see entry: #3
http://hubpages.com/hub/Menu_F.....ecall_List — see entries: #10 & #21
Comment by Kat — April 6, 2007 @ 11:55 pm
Here’s another link on the Meow Mix:
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.o.....44764.html
CragisList of all places. Guess he/she is desperate.
Comment by Kat — April 7, 2007 @ 12:16 am
Meow Mixe ingredients
Ground Yellow Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal, Soybean Meal, Beef Tallow Preserved with Mixed-Tocopherols (Source of Vitamin E), Turkey By-Product Meal, Salmon Meal, Oceanfish Meal, Brewers Dried Yeast, Phosphoric Acid, Animal Digest, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Tetra Sodium Pyrophosphate, Calcium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Added Color (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2 and other Color), Salt, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, L-alanine, Niacin, Vitamin Supplements (E, A, B-12, D-3), Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Citric Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite. E-4541
What concerns me is the the whole Chicken Byproduct, who knows what exactly is in it could it be recalled food? Just one of many possibilities. I am sure they don’t throw away the food once it is expired and sent back to the companies. They problalby recycle it back into dry food, who knows.
Iams also has the same Chicken Byproduct and I have seen tons of reports about IAMS dry and animals dying.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 7, 2007 @ 12:26 am
I would be interested to see how the Chicken Byproduct meal is made and if expired/left over wet food goes back into it.
Who knows,
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 7, 2007 @ 12:27 am
Definition: Chicken by-product meal consists of the ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidable in good processing practice.
Examples: Chicken by-product meal is considered an inferior source of protein for cats. Although cats may eat a certain amount of by-products “in the wild,” the most nutritious commercial cat foods will show a named meat, such as “chicken” as the first ingredient, rather than “chicken by-product meal.”
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 7, 2007 @ 12:31 am
Brenda,
You can go to the Chronic Renal Failure for Feline site and access the group that specializes in feeding problems. I forget their web site. All the people at the CRF can give you directions. The feeding group has excellent advice on cats that refuse to eat.
My cat died after eating Hill’s Prescription dry c/d. It had corn gluten in it. I think the corn may also be contaminated. I hope your baby improves quickly. Please keep us posted.
Comment by Janice — April 7, 2007 @ 7:05 am
Proof might be obtained if pet food was purchased on credit cards. Major stores like Walmart’s computer system are able to identify each item purchased by credit card. This would provide the needed data (dates and food purchased) to analyze the actual pet death data. I wish our gov’t would step up to the plate and be more vigilant about protecting pet owners as consumers.
Comment by Jeanette Lloyd — April 7, 2007 @ 7:06 am
RE COMMENT BY LEE
We found my previously completely healthy five year old cat dead before the recall on March 4, 2007. We buried her because we didn’t know what had happened.
I fed her Innova dry and canned (made by menu) her entire life. A few months ago, she ate the Innova canned and threw up. I thought she ate it too fast. After that she would not touch the Innova. I wanted her to have canned, in addition to the dry, so I alternated the Innova with Fancy Feast and she loved it. This started I believe in December 2006 It was before Christmas.. She ate the Fancy Feast and only licked the gravy from the Innova. She threw up a few more times and again I attributed it to eating too fast. There were a few kinds of the Fancy Feast that she would just lick the gravy.
When we found her, she was lying on her side and there was blood near her mouth. There was also vomit. I live in New York where the only lab found the rat poison and it seems she had bleeding.
Coincidence…maybe…maybe not. I just don’t know. She could have had a an aneurysm or a blood clot which can cause sudden death in young cats. I know that. But how odd that it would happen during the biggest food recall ever.
When I saw her in the morning she was lying on my white couch, the only place she isn’t allowed. I called to her as I do every morning because every morning she would be on my white couch and she didn’t move. For a split second I thought she wasn’t answering me because she didn’t want to get off the couch. It was heartbreaking. My dog has only now stopped searching for her.
I still have the cans of both foods and when they are definitive on the toxins I may have them tested.
TO KIM: Yes lets throw those cans of vegetables and don’t forget the College Inn Chicken Broth made by Delmonte and it has wheat gluten… *shudder*
Comment by Garyn — April 7, 2007 @ 8:12 am
Well, what about Rice Gluten? My 15 year old cat was eating Nutro Natural Choice Indoor Senior Chicken and Lamb formula (rice gluten being one of the ingredients). In Dec. she suddenly started exhibiting the symptoms of renal failure (drinking large amounts, urinating large amounts). Turned her nose up at her wet food and would eat only dry.
She is now in early stages of renal failure.
Anyone have any idea where the rice may have come from? Perhaps something deadly was used to “thicken the gravy” in the rice gluten as well.
Any info on the rice gluten question would be appreciated.
Comment by Sue — April 7, 2007 @ 8:14 am
Comment by Garyn — April 7, 2007 @ 8:12 am
Garyn, I’m so sorry. What a heartbreaking story.
And Sue - not that it might NOT have been the food, but remember, renal failure (the chronic kind) is very, VERY common among older cats. And it can be managed - my old guy had it for three years before he died back in October.
The weird cases are the younger, healthy cats like Garyn’s whose kidneys suddenly fail overnight. Unless cats get into something toxic, that really doesn’t happen very often.
Comment by Laura — April 7, 2007 @ 8:55 am
Laura, I realize it could be just old age for my cat but, her symptoms came on suddenly. I took her to the vet just after she started behaving differently and he said she had the blood work of a 2 year old. Kept feeding her the food and she would eat it occasionally. Symptons continued and I took her back to the vet. Her bun and creatinine had increased substantially and she was now considered in renal failure.
I am very suspicious of the rice gluten. I would bet the rice came from Asia also.
Many people on the blogs have mentioned other grains such as corn, etc. but there has been no mention of rice.
If anyone has an info on the source of Menu Foods rice I would appreciate it. This food is still on the shelves (although my cat has not had any since the recalls began).
Comment by Sue — April 7, 2007 @ 9:08 am
Brenda,
Here are some sites that have members who offer suggestions. Joining the group is free.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/.....d-Feeding/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline-CRF-Support/
Hope they can give you some suggestions on getting your baby to eat.
Good luck. Please keep us informed.
Comment by Janice — April 7, 2007 @ 9:12 am
Comment by Sue — April 7, 2007 @ 9:08 am
Sue, I’m sorry about your girl. I don’t remember seeing anything about rice yet, but maybe other people have…Anyone?
Comment by Laura — April 7, 2007 @ 9:29 am
Sue - I don’t trust any of the glutens right now…when I went on the suspect China supplier’s site…they don’t just sell wheat gluten…but other grain glutens.
My JuJu got deathly ill after eating Fancy Feast, which includes wheat gluten. She started improving and doing better, until I fed her a well-known brand of dry food, Royal Canin, which contains corn gluten. She became extremely ill again, with the same symptoms.
She is now recovering (again), and is doing well, considering what she went through.
No more glutens of any kind for my cats (or me for that matter)! I have a feeling that they all might be contaminated.
Better safe than sorry.
Comment by Marcy — April 7, 2007 @ 10:13 am
Brenda and all - I posted on another thread here about what I gave my JuJu while she was extremely ill with this toxin…wanted to repeat it.
She was extremely dehydrated…so I gave her a mixture of half apple juice, half water…which she drank with gusto. I later found out from a friend who was in the medical field that apples detoxify. He says it’s the pectin in them.
I don’t know for sure if this helped to save JuJu’s life or not…but I sure don’t think that it hurt her. The fruit sugar also gave her some added energy when she needed it, and wouldn’t (or couldn’t) eat.
Another thing I did was to give JuJu a lot of extra affection. They seem to get depressed somewhat while they are ill. The constant touching helps to stimulate them.
Just my experiences…
Comment by Marcy — April 7, 2007 @ 10:19 am
I cannot see the Feds doing much of anything given the power of the dollar and the food lobby.
I will not buy any more animal food items ie; dog and cat foods from any store be it Fry’s WalMart,Petco or Petsmart. And I sure am going to look at another source for vegetables. More than likely I will spend the extra money for certified organic from a local or FARMERS market….. TO LATE DEL MONTE
JUST A THOUGHT IF YOU ARE FEEDING HOMEMADE DOG FOODS AND USING LIVER - REMEMBER THE LIVER IS WHERE ALL TOXINS ARE STORED… GET CERTIFIED ORGANIC..
HAPPY EASTER
HOPE THE BUNNIES MAKE IT THIS WEEKEND
Comment by Anne in Phoenix — April 7, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
Anything salty offsets adverse reaction off melamine (at least in rats)
Comment by Stefania — April 7, 2007 @ 6:49 pm