Pet-food recall: Stepping in piles of bad public relations
By Gina Spadafori
April 9, 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.
As I’ve mentioned before, I have a lot of friends who are top-notch public-relations professionals, one of whom is one of the nation’s best at the subspecialty of handling a crisis. We love to “talk shop,” kind of a “hacks and flacks” interplay on the sometimes competing, sometimes complementary roles of the media and people who seek to get their messages to the public.
Good crisis public-relations handling of late: Jet Blue. They said the goofed up, they took steps to make it up, and announced changes to prevent future problems.
Bad crisis public-relations case of late: Pet-food recall. Downplay the problem, hide behind insultingly ridiculous numbers, drop Friday afternoon press releases on new recalls and attack the messengers in as many ways as you can.
If it weren’t so darn sad and serious, it would be very interesting to my “hacks and flacks” group of pet-lovers as a case study. (When all is said and done, I’m sure will talk about it lots, but the time is not yet right for the debriefing.) Still, even as I’ve been working the story for more than three weeks now, I’ve still been holding “hacks and flacks” yaks with my PR professional pals who are pretty much in agreement with this Forbes piece (thanks, Kim):
The tainted pet food crisis has roiled a passionate market. And the story isn’t dying: As the recalls mount, and the threat moves from cuts-in-gravy to staple dry food and even to treats, feeding pets seems like Russian roulette. How have the pet food companies involved reacted? Too little, too late–and, for the most part, the wrong way.
For most pet-owning families, their pets are family. This is hardly news to the nation’s pet food manufacturers, but it might as well be. They’ve been strangely, almost eerily, silent. Such behavior consumers might expect from a big, impersonal corporation, but not from the people who make the food for their beloved pets.
A recent tour of their Web sites was almost surreal. As you might expect, the worst offender was Menu Foods, maker of the majority of the food affected by the recall. Rather than a heartfelt apology, the Menu Foods site displays puppies joyfully eating out of bowls emblazoned with the corporate name.
[...]
What should the industry be doing?
First, say you’re sorry. Act like you really care about the animals. You may not think you owe an apology, but in pet owners’ minds, you do.
Second, offer to replace the pet food in people’s pantries, even it it’s not your brand. Every new recall announcement creates more doubt about the food that’s already out in the market. It might not be the cheapest solution, but it would buy a lot more goodwill than an ad campaign.
Third, stop being defensive. Simply reassuring people your other products are safe isn’t very reassuring. After all, a few weeks ago, you were de facto assuring that all your products were safe. Do you trust the guy who says “just trust me” right after he messed up? Probably not. To regain consumers’ trust, pet food brands have to give consumers reasons to trust that their food is safe.
Fourth, offer some substance. Explain what really happened, and what specific steps you are taking now to prevent something like this from happening again.
Fifth, send a message from the top. Jim Burke, the legendary head of Johnson & Johnson (nyse: JNJ – news - people ), personally managed the 1982 Tylenol crisis. The pet food manufacturers are all hiding behind their brands–to wit, the full-page ad signed by “The Employees of Iams and Eukanuba Pet Foods,” not by A.G. Lafley, the CEO of Procter & Gamble (nyse: PG – news - people ), which owns both brands. The pet owners of America deserve to hear from the CEOs to whom they entrust the health and well-being of their pets. There are differences between this crisis and Tylenol’s, but there is no less need for corporate courage, integrity and leadership.
For a start? How about some honesty about the scope of the problem? And then let’s go from there. We know there are decent people at these decent companies — folks at all levels who truly do care about pets and the people who love them. So step up, will you?
Go to the latest blog post | Go to the PetConnection home page
|Technorati Tags: pet food recall, dogs, cats,veterinarian, veterinary
I think I’m in love with these two Forbes guys. It’s just such a relief to read this… know what I mean?
Comment by Kim — April 9, 2007 @ 11:56 am
Re: Forbes Article:
I agree the pet food companies think they have us by the (you know whats) and just too bad for us. They know that most Americans are just too busy to hassle with anything other than store brand pet food – or food manufactured by bulk and sold throughout the U.S.
The solution is to force them to comply and to educate the consumers – it’s a no win situation right now and I don’t like it at all.
They will never get another dime from me as long as I live – never, ever, ever!
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
Very good write-up Gina, yes! It hits the nail on the head. Russian-roulette to be sure!
Comment by Sandi K — April 9, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
I’m with you, Linda. This isn’t the kind of breach of trust that can ever be repaired.
Comment by Elizabeth — April 9, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
I may be eating dried bread and beans to pay for it…but my furkids are getting only Blue Buffalo.
I think we are being strung-alone and lied to my the “big boys” in pet food…starting with the village idiots at Menu Foods.
Comment by Carol Johnson — April 9, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
I was so excited to read the Forbes article. FINALLY … somebody gets it! I just home the CEOs are paying attention!!!
Comment by dottie — April 9, 2007 @ 12:30 pm
The Pet Food Industry continues to fail miserably right to this very moment in protecting pets, their owners, businesses who sell pet products, and Americans and other people outside the U.S. as well as they continue to hide behind a wall of silence and contempt. They have chosen to protect themselves, their investors, and their profits first.
Rather then doing whatever it takes to be proactive the industry continues to stonewall and make this situation worse.
It is without a doubt the most despicable thing I have ever seen or experienced in my lifetime.
Comment by Steve — April 9, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
Agree totally with you Steve.
Comment by VJ — April 9, 2007 @ 12:36 pm
Jail them. Jail them all. And not some slap on the hand sentence either. Take away all their assets, strip them of personal wealth, put them in a dungeon - throw away the key.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
I’d like to see some photos of the ingredients these pet food companies put in the food. Pictures of the reject piles of renderings at the animal plants - maggots or whatever and filth - I’d like to see full page ads in every major newspaper and a web site showing every little detail - and then juxtapose that against their slick ads and smiling faces. Creeps - and these men sleep at night?
Jail them all!
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
U.S. Wheat rejected by India on quality grounds!
The bulk of the wheat - to arrive between September 2006 and January 2007 in Mumbai, Kandla, Mundra and Visakhapatnam ports — is of Europe, Russia, Canada or Argentina origin. The bids of three others who were offering American-origin wheat — Bunge and Teuton of US and Noble Grain of Singapore — were rejected on quality grounds, the officials added.
I don’t believe anyone—-anything’s possible. The U.S. wheat could have been unloaded right here in the good ole US of A.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 9, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
Durbin announces pet-food hearing line-up
11:01 am CDT
Chicago Tribune Blog
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Illinois’s mostly unheralded other senator, has announced the witness list for his hearing Thursday to investigate the death of numerous pets due to tainted pet food.
Witnesses:
Panel 1:
Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof, D.V.M, Ph.D., Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug Administration
Panel 2:
Mr. Duane Ekedahl, Executive Director, Pet Food Institute
Mr. Eric Nelson, President, American Association of Feed Control Officers
Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, Veterinarian
Dr. Claudia A. Kirk, Associate Professor of Medicine and Nutrition, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine
more. . . .
http://tinyurl.com/2hg9jl
Comment by Steve — April 9, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
MORE GREED
http://tinyurl.com/2mbjq4
Comment by Nadine Long — April 9, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
Mr. Duane Ekedahl, Executive Director, Pet Food Institute. Glad to see he’s been summoned to appear.
http://tinyurl.com/2mld8z
Comment by Steve — April 9, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
Gosh Steve, I was exicted about the hearing until I saw the guest list, arent these some of the same people that have been not so forth-coming and implying that the problem was just a little one? So its good if Durbin & his assoc go in with open minds but if they go in totally believing this panel, we are up a creek without a paddle…..I have to admit Im worried. I wish he could have some pet owners or even Gina or Christie from Pet Connection there to counter some of the ‘stories’ that might be fabricated….
Comment by Sandi K — April 9, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
Panel 1 doesn’t sound like much of a panel…list may not be rounded out yet… with a holiday weekend just past, getting commitments, flights booked, accomodations etc may still be in the works..also, perhaps some people have asked not to be named in advance?
Comment by GingerTom — April 9, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
Comment by Sandi K — April 9, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
It’s not a panel if I am reading it correctly these people are to be probed in the initial.
Witnesses:
Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof, D.V.M, Ph.D., Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug Administration
Mr. Duane Ekedahl, Executive Director, Pet Food Institute
Mr. Eric Nelson, President, American Association of Feed Control Officers
Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins, Veterinarian
Dr. Claudia A. Kirk, Associate Professor of Medicine and Nutrition, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine
“The hearing will also include outside experts who will discuss the current state of the pet food industry, as well as regulatory or resource shortfalls that led to the widespread recall of tainted pet food.”
Names not known on this.
Comment by Steve — April 9, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
Then there is this the following Monday. I wonder if the press and senators involved with these hearing will be allowed to attend?
http://www.wattnet.com/petfoodforum/PetForum.cfm
Comment by Steve — April 9, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
for “hearing” hearings:
http://www.capitolhearings.org/
Comment by GingerTom — April 9, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
Just a tiny snapshot regarding the state of the recall here in SC: I was at Petsmart today and the line was long as only one register was open. The first person in line was buying a bag of Select Spa (Blue) cat food, the next person was returning a car dog barrier thingy, I was buying a dog toy, and the person behind me was getting a fish. I couldn’t tell what the people behind her had. Anyway, it just kind of struck me as rather different from when I’ve shopped in Petsmart before.
Comment by slt — April 9, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
I sent 4 different emails about the “tainted” food I had (Iams and Science Diet). Fortunately, our guys did not get sick.
- I never received a response from Iams
- The FDA assured me the problem was taken care of and no further recalls would happen (that was before 3 more recalls) The FDA also denied they were giving the “14 pets died” number to the media.
- Science Diet responded with a form letter which had about as much “soul” as a plastic milk carton
- Menufoods never responded.
Way to go Brownie!
Comment by John Pierce — April 9, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
Comment by Steve — April 9, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
If they are allowed to attend, they should opt out on lunch and dinner.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 9, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
Comment by John Pierce — April 9, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
John, my experience has been similar:
3 calls to menu Foods: messages taken but no calls returned
1 e:mail to Nutro: responding pending e:mail received back
3 phone calls to Nutro: messages taken but no calls returned.
FDA: We did have some luck in that we spoke with the FDA rep who took the info down. We did have a mysterious phone call from him 2 weeks later (last Friday) asking the status of our food we still have left, did we still have it? And they were concerned that we gave some to the animal shelter (we did that before the recall). Enough so that we ended up going out there to retrieve it all & he asked tht we call back & confirm that we picked it up. Interestingly our food is not on the recall list (although we have suspected the food is bad). Why such interest in food that is not on the recall list….?
Comment by Sandi K — April 9, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
There’s a difference between the Jet Blue problem and this one. Jet Blue got caught by honest company mistakes, for whatever reason, and so could be honest in explaining things. Read the information at this link then tell me how these people can be to be honest about their business:
http://www.api4animals.org/facts?p=359&more=1
Its old information but recently updated.
In basic terms there are two kinds of pet food manufacturers. The ones with the well-known names and national advertizing base their business on accessing materials inspected and condemned for human consumption, to keep costs and prices down and profits up. The other kind are names few people have heard of, who try for the best nutrition they currently know of, but at higher cost and price. The dry food I feed my dogs costs double the dry food in the bags with the world class graphic artwork.
Expecting Government to keep these two kinds sorted out for us really is dreaming due to the lobby power of the big companies but the intelligence I see on this site tells me that we have pet owners who can do it. The internet is a great equalizer. Also check out the Whole Dog Journal, they do an excellent annual analysis of wet and dry food. If they had enough subscribers it would be possible to extend their excellent paper analysis into live plant inspection and validation. Once credibility is established, any manufacturer wanting to achieve the standard will pay for the cost of third party validation just to be able to display the seal. That’s how ISO 9000 works in most industries.
Comment by Dave — April 9, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Sandi K, maybe I missed it in an earlier comment. What is the specific non-recalled food you are worried about and that the FDA called back and asked you to retrieve from the animal shelter?
Comment by elizabeth R. — April 9, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
Something seems to be missing: I’d like to see a discussion of how they are going to make pet food safer, steps that Congress can and will take to help protect our pets. We should at least be feeding them quality ingredients. Also, when pets start to die in their testing labs, which I don’t like at all, but it should be mandatory to bring the FDA and the FDA needs to investigate - right away, not weeks later.
SENATE HEARING ON PET FOOD CONTAMINATION TO BE HELD THURSDAY, APRIL 12th
Monday, April 9, 2007
[Witnesses (see below for full list) will include FDA officials who will be questioned on the timeline of the investigation, the source of the contamination, and the agency’s regulatory and inspection responsibilities. The hearing will also include outside experts who will discuss the current state of the pet food industry, as well as regulatory or resource shortfalls that led to the widespread recall of tainted pet food.
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
The Forbes article brought out the Johnson and Johnson example. One thing that you should all know about that is although the CEO was instrumental in the success of the recall, it was a lower level employee who pushed for the recall.
It had to do with the companies stated values. They understood that the health and safety of the consumers were first, not a secondary consideration to Wall Street.
This employee was supported in his actions, but for all we know there was an employee with in Menu who tried to do the same thing and was over ruled. For a week or more.
Whistle blowers in industry often have an especially tough time.
As much as there are smart PR people, I also want to ask questions of the spokespeople who’s job it is to minimize this or spin this. What role do they play in this process?
The reputation brand managers who want to move this of the front page. (BusinessWeek did a whole article about them. Will they be hired by the brands to turn this crisis down? Count on it.)
And money. Who is paying for all this dodging and weaving on behalf of the industry?
Right now I’m really glad I’m not working for the Pet Food Industry, but if I was I would be telling them that their should be listening to the customers first and not Wall Street.
Comment by spocko — April 9, 2007 @ 2:39 pm
Playing Devils advocate:
If the pet food companys tell the truth, it will be so much worse for them in lost Good Will and long term sales revenues - they just can’t. And they certainly legally can’t assume responsiblity. It is just better for them to say we didn’t know and its not our fault. Admitting responsibility, even to give an apology, just makes them more of a target.
Admit no wrong - claim innocence - a much wiser position for the industry to assume.
It’s not right. None of it is right. But since when does right matter in the Pet Food Industry?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 2:47 pm
they need to know they need to Inspect , and know all the Ingredients that are in pet food.. is it truly benifial or harmful,, now are pets are DEAD!!!! Because of this Negligence and Total uncaring Selfish Iresponsibility and GREED.. Every one from the Retail Outlets to The Wheat gluten ,Menu the whole kitten Caboodle needs to Claim Responsiblity for this National OUTRAGE!!!
Our Family Members DIED!!!
Comment by kelly B — April 9, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Kelly B.
I totally agree, but it appears we are dealing with the Devil here and since when did doing what’s right matter to him (Mr. CEO of evil)?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
Please, remember your Humane Societys, rescues, and shelters! They are probably having a hard time with the food issue, also. I wonder how much “tainted” food they received from pet owners whose pets were sick and/or died, and then donated the remainer of the food? I wonder if they are having a high incidence of illness? I just went out and bought 40lbs. of dry food and took to our rescue….I sure had a hard time deciding which one to buy. (Something that hasn’t happened to me before this nightmare.) :(
Comment by Karla T. — April 9, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
I actually remember the 1982 Tylenol crisis which the company came through pretty much unscathed. Then they were hit again I believe it was in the 1990’s with a tampering event and came through again unscathed. Good crisis management and a product that people trusted.
With the pet food industry they not only handled the public relations dreadfully, they were hit with a double whammy the likes of which I doubt they will ever recover. First, their product was poisonous, they delayed, denied, stalled, lied, tried to cover it up, remained silent and tried to say no big deal lets get back to business. That is atrocious crisis managegment. And as if that wasn’t enough, the event uncovered their dirty little secrets that they have been hiding for decades. A great segment of society became aware for the first time that, in addition to a poisonous ingredient, disgusting unfit for human consumption and diseased ingredients made up the food they were selling as healthy and wholesome. The foods were portrayed with pictures of vibrant vegetables (translated-you get a carrot morsel from China) and “wholesome” grains (as if a dog was even meant to eat grains) falling through the air and “with” real beef too..yeah 3% of a contaminated dead road kill or diseased goat carcass…gag me.
Marketing is powerful. For years I have been trying to tell my sister, my mother in law, my friends etc that these foods are garbage and they don’t listen. It takes this hideous event for there to be a collapse of the trust placed in corporate America. It is scary to live in a society where we are at the mercy of corporations who feed us and provide our children food and toys which we want to be safe and cars which we want to be safe. To think that the big trusted corporations could be lying about pet food means that other big trusted corporations could be lying about their products. No one wants to believe that but here we are at exactly that place.
There are many people though who believe “ it is just a dog” or “ it is just a “cat”. I know many of these people. They don’t even know what is going on with this recall. And sadly, they don’t care. The other end of the spectrum are those who already know this food is garbage. We didn’t buy it before and we won’t buy it in the future. We aren’t a lost customer. We were never a customer to begin with. Then there are those in the middle who honestly believed that they were feeding a good healthy food because the commercial said so and they are now becoming aware of the deception in the product. These are the ones the big guns want back. I think though that as long as there are sites like this and Itchmo and Kims site and all the others (thank you, thank you, thank you!!), hopefully they won’t ever trust these corporations and that change will come.
One more thing I wanted to point out is beware of the bait and switch. I am seeing commercials for dog food that I have never heard of. Same pictures of cute dogs running on the beach, vibrant colored vegetables (I have never in my life seen a tomato that red and who puts tomatoes in dog food anyway) and clean perfectly cubed meats. I am nauseous at the thought that these companies may simply change the name of the food. What sane person is going to buy Iams again. It would make sense that they will just change the products name.
Has anyone ever heard of “The Good Life” Dog food. I looked it up and there is nothing that I found on the Internet. I would love to know who manufactures this food. It was a commercial I saw as stated above. The truly premium brands don’t have budgets for elaborate commercials. They put their money in their product. So it really makes me suspicious especially that I have not found a website.
Comment by Garyn — April 9, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
Regarding the upcoming Durbin Senate hearings.
Yes, they didn’t get OUR experts into the process, we are playing catch up on this deal, and I’m sorry that we couldn’t get them in place fast enough for this hearing. (Part of the struggle is just to find the people who aren’t beholden to the industry.)
The good staffers at Durbin’s office are reading this blog.
(As are the staffers at the FDA, Menu foods and the Pet Food Institute)
Here is how we can help Durbin’s office.
Help them with the right questions. Help them with the right information.
Send them what you really want to know about the process, who did what what? What did they know and when did they know it?
Here are some suggestions for those of you inclined to help in this area. We all have our strengths, maybe this is yours.
Methods to MORE effective Hearings
You can help make the senate hearings MORE effective. It will take a bit of research, but if you do it and share it with us and Sen. Durbin’s office it might help.
1) Find out who the Pet Food Industry has been donating money to in the Sen and house. Those are the ones that the lobbying industry will go to first to try and shut this down. Do a list of top contributors. In your research don’t just look at the obvious. Look for PERSONAL connections as well. http://www.opensecrets.org is the first place to go.
2) Calculate the “value” of this to the people whose pets are dead or ill.
Calculate the value of pets?! Yes. Put a price on them that is worth more or is at least equal to the donations to campaigns and the pet food industry.
Point out the “I’ll never buy again!’ comments here. And the “My family member is gone!” Cries of pain. Try to avoid, “They are priceless.” We know they are, but $200,000 in donations can buy a lot of “Well on the other hand”… And to be fair to the industry… comments”
If the real numbers you dig up (cost of purchasing the pet, feeding it, vet care) are lower, then ask questions about what numbers are NOT included. Maybe intangibles like “the role they played as early warning system for our food supply. What was THAT worth to America. What if this was 3,000 dead constituents?
3)Some have mentioned grandstanding and faux real hearings as a sop to voters that don’t really do anything. The way to combat that is to find the right experts to get in place. That is part of the battle. Nikki at Howl911 has three up so far. We have been working to identify the experts who aren’t beholden to the industry. Find more. They can help. But often times there isn’t time and the usual suspects are rounded up. It happens, but there are ways to deal with that too: HOW?
4) Prep for the bullsh*t. If you have the same old “experts” who are beholden to the industry be sure to ask them different questions (Note who are the big donors to “outside experts” For example how much money do groups like the ASPCA get from the pet food industry. Who funds certain Colleges of Veterinary Medicine? Perks? Junkets? Note who funds certain Veterinarians? Not all experts are created equal. Not all have equal ties to industry. If you can’t have your own experts the experts you do have should be clear on their industry connections.)
TIMING
This is something that Ben’s timeline will be invaluable for. What did the FDA know and when did they know it?
There are no “experts” who are going to do this research for us. It’s just us. So this could be your contribution. If there are others reading this and are like minded, DO THIS.
the more people working on this the better.
Howl911, Itchmo, Petfoodtracker and I are all working on this and other tools to help
when you get the info share it with us and especially with Sen. Durbin.
This is important. This counts. Go!
LLAP,
Spocko
Comment by spocko — April 9, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
On PETA’s webiste they have a link to ask for the resignation of the commissioner of the FDA -immediately over this national tragedy - Pet Food Poisoning:
I tried to sign it but it was down for maintenance - here’s the link:
http://www.peta-online.org/feat-iams.asp
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
Do we know if this hearing is going to be on TV, is CNN going to air it or is anyone? I may want to take off work to watch this….
Comment by Sandi K — April 9, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
Here’s a pretty good article from The News Hour on PBS:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/ex....._4-09.html
Comment by Cynthia — April 9, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
OT sort of. Just venting. Interesting yahoo headline http://tinyurl.com/2kgnbc
China copyright issues! IMO poisoning are pets is much, more serious issue, than copyright issues. But it goes to show it’s all about the money$$$. Very sad world we live in..
Not sure if I did tiny url link correct. But is on Yahoo headlines right now..
Comment by Teresa — April 9, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
Cynthia, really good article, and it answered my question about using the ingredients of the main pet food factory - YES THEY DO!
“The manufacturing company purchases the ingredients while the brand often provides the recipe or formula for their particular brand of pet food.”
“According to investigators, it appears all the brands got the same tainted ingredients from the same place in the latest outbreak.”
It was a really good article. So glad you posted it. Thanks much!
Yes, and just why can’t we get the food portions right in homemade pet food? What don’t these pet experts want us doing and why?
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
I can’t believe that Senator Durbin is having that industry shill Ekedahl on the panel. You know, the guy who put a statement on this website about how much the industry cares about our pets, yadda, yadda. Like I said there (before Forbes BTW) that any idiot MBA knows the right way (Tylenol) to hande this type of crisis.
I’m going to be contacting Durbin’s office about his panel. He a great senator and I just want to make sure his staff is aware who’s on his team (he’s very sharp, so I’m pretty sure he knows, but it can’t hurt).
Also, as an interesting sidenote, I’ve contacted my mentor where I got my MBA (yes, I am one of those idiots) and we’re looking into doing a book on this about how NOT to handle a consumer crisis based on the pet food recalls.
Comment by Andrea — April 9, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
Steve,do u know if the hearing will be live on TV? IF CNN can go to china ,then why can’t the FDA ? I’M scared to feed my dogs,even though they “claim” IT’Safe. I’M so scared if this could happen to wet food an the death toll is so very high who is going to reasure all of us pet owners something so horrible like this will never ever happen again to our pets. I haven’t seen 1 CEO from Nutro,Hills ,Iams and the rest of them on TV Telling us how sorry they are. I want to hear them say they will never use menu foods to make their wet food.
Comment by MARY ANN — April 9, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
I don’t believe they are that sorry, not in the way we need them to be sorry. I asked a friend of mine about just that - a man’s opinion - he said “sorry” doesn’t cut it. It has nothing to do with being sorry.
I’m afraid he’s right.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
I truly share frustration with the FDA’s response but IMHO the very last thing we need right now is a resignation of the Commissioner and bringing in a brand new person to be involved. We who work for a living (that’s most of us :) )see how it always takes so long for a new person to get up to speed when they are new into any job. This current FDA investigation needs to continue without missing a beat, overseen by someone who has at least some knowledge aquired the hard way over the past few months in dealing with this international nightmare. At least that is how I see it.
I also think it is hard to know at this juncture whether PETA has been a bigger help or hindrance as we try to engage the press, the public and the lawmakers over this crisis. They are a controversial organization in some respects and so when some people see the word PETA it sends them running in the other direction. This is not meant as a slam to them or to pet loving PETA members who may frequent this site. It is just an observation about perception.
I will be more than disappointed if the upcoming Senate Hearings end up merely being a show “managed” by the pet food lobby and it is starting to look that way. In politics, trust few and always follow the money.
Comment by elizabeth R — April 9, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
Itchmo is going to have the hearings live as a web cast: http://www.itchmo.com/
Well, off to call Senator Durbin’s Office.
Comment by Andrea — April 9, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Re Hearings:
60% of american households have pets - this from the Humane Society of the US site:
“Over 60 percent of American households include pets,” said Pacelle. “Congress is weighing in on this and demanding answers. The Humane Society of the United States supports the efforts of members of Congress to examine this problem and welcomes their involvement in getting to the bottom of this issue as quickly as possible.”
Also Hills Pet Nutrition Brand (Blah Blah Blah) gives financial support to the Humane Society of the U.S. and HSUS supports change in the pet food industry - ummm….just thought it odd that they post this on their web site that Hills helps shelter animals etc etc etc……so wonderful of Hills to care I suppose…sounds like Propaganda to me…..
Isn’t that odd?
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Is the voice of the HSUS now the voice of Hills? It just gets a bit confusing with the many varied lobby groups and special interest supporters - how about the pet owners? We have a say, we vote and these 60% of households just may vote in people who will take care of our pets and vote out those that listen to Big Corporations - wouldn’t that be a welcome change.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
Del Monte Pet Products Modifies Recall List:
http://www.infozine.com/news/s.....sid/22089/
It looks like it extended the recall dates.
Comment by marcy — April 9, 2007 @ 4:11 pm
we have been feeding our two dogs and kitty home cooked meals. We will boycott every brand of dog and cat food, treats etc, until we get the whole story, not fragments of one. We will stick to our guns on this!! I hope they all end up bankrupt!!!!
Comment by ann gates — April 9, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
This is an article from yesterday I just found on line.
One statement in it makes my blood run cold
“The FDA is so far sticking to the melamine theory but has inexplicably refused to name a dry pet-food manufacturer believed to have received the suspected contaminated ingredient and hasn’t recalled brands of dry food that may be affected.”
The article calls for the FDA’s Commissioner
Andrew von Eschenbach to step down and allow a more capable leader to direct the agency.
Hopefully this is the link to the full article
http://www.northjersey.com/pag.....FlZUVFeXky
Comment by Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's Mom) — April 9, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
Bankrupt and begging for food at a soup kitchen!
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
PR GONE BAD, MADE GOOD
No, they’ll never be sorry enough to suit us, but if they would just show a little honest-to-goodness remorse and spell out what it is they’re DOING to ensure this never, ever happens again.
Wouldn’t you be willing to pay a little extra per serving of pet food in order to establish a veterinary-associated group to review daily manufacturers’ lab reports for adverse reactions and act as an “early warning system”? It’s far from being a complete resolution, but it’s a start.
Comment by Lynn — April 9, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
OK… this is slightly off-topic but I found it because I’m starting to pay a lot of attention to where my pet food and my people food are coming from (those 2 categories have recently merged)… and I saw an article about Walmart selling organic produce grown in - where else - China, which caught my attention. A country that apparently has no real regulation is labeling the produce they’re exporting to the US as organic. And then I found a chart of corporations that own loads of organic labels here: http://cornucopia.org/index.php/who-owns-organic/
which made me feel really ignorant and pretty sad. How can I do better with pet food if I can’t trust people food to be other than a toxic trick? and what does ‘organic’ mean anyway? has that term been marketed into meaninglessness too? and why is the reference to “human grade” when having to do with pet food always in quotes? is that to say that it’s pretending to be edible?
Comment by Cynthia — April 9, 2007 @ 4:26 pm
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007
No I do not. I do not know if or when the transcripts of this first opening hearing-probe-fact finding event on Thursday will be made public. Or if the hearing is open to the public. Another key factor I am waiting for is if Menu replied to Kucinich’s demand for information.
No doubt the Pet Food Industry is well prepared at this moment to drag this thing out for years.
And during the process when a pet becomes ill, every pet parent is going to be thinking, “is it the food?”
The PTB’s in the PFI will win in the short term and be “the last man standing” until they go bankrupt of not having a clue about how to survive without markets to exploit in the manner in which they have become accustomed to.
Be prepared for a long fight.
Comment by Steve — April 9, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
Comment by Maureen (Lilly and Lucy’s Mom)
Could it be possible that just like Menu Foods producing the wet food, that there maybe another manufacturer that produces all/most of the dry food and places the brand labels on the finished dry product? Maybe that is why the FDA is not naming the manufacturer, because it would include most of all the pet manufactured foods wet and dry.
Comment by marcy — April 9, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
Just out of curiosity, if Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach did get axed, who would be the likely replacement?
Let’s not forget that the FDA is in a budget crunch mode, too. Translation: veterinary division will suffer the most cuts, don’t you think?
I say take the monies allocated for the Veterinary division of the FDA and form a separate organization [no ties to the FDA, thank you] that won’t be stampeded by “human priorities” [meaning tasks associated with watchdogging the safety of human food]. I’ll bet veterinary students could do a better job of policing the manufacturers at a fraction of the pay.
Comment by Lynn — April 9, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
Comment by marcy — April 9, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
What has been determined is there has been enough questionable and suspicious activity going on under the radar and out of sight of the public by this industry to where the economic damage could potentially be catastrophic to brands and their suppliers of ingredients. The only communications from the brands to the public so far have been pretty much designed to tug on the heartstrings of pet owners to try to get them feel sorry for the industry kahunas. From PR firms based in Beverly Hills and such. They are also making an error if they believe it’s just a small handful of Internet bloggers causing all their problems.
It’s huge. National in scope. And they can not escape that.
Comment by Steve — April 9, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
ANDREW VON ESCHENBACH
Here’s the link to his FDA resume:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/voneschenbach/bio.html
Interesting: he’s a urologist charged with overseeing products that account to more than 20% of US consumer spending.
Comment by Lynn — April 9, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
I don’t know who the good guys are anymore - seems most have just sold their soul to big corporations and pet food manufactures - yes we need to know where this other toxic waste wheat gluten went into what dry pet food company you no good lousy elitists keeping the information to yourselves while our pets die.
Burn in hell all of you -
Linda MS.
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
The more I hear the crazier its making me. Time for a break. Keep up the good fight and the good information.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
Maureen, I thought they (FDA) had already said that the dry food was fine in regards to the one company that had recieved it?
Not that I have much faith in that (and I could be confused), but the article is written by PETA, and they have their agenda also. If you notice the PETA link above, it’s got Iams in it and they have been using this situation to exploit their Iams campaign. Seems to me the link should have recall in it ;)
Comment by straybaby — April 9, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
ANDREW VON ESCHENBACH
Check this out: Wikipedia.com states that:
“On August 1, 2006, Senators Clinton and Cantwell announced they would block his nomination to be the permanent FDA commissioner because of his department’s failure to act on the application by Barr Pharmaceuticals to sell Plan B over-the-counter. They utimately voted for his nomination.”
He was made Commissioner on 12-06-2006.
Here’s who voted “nay”:
Baucus (D-MT), Nay
Brownback (R-KS), Nay
DeMint (R-SC), Nay
DeWine (R-OH), Nay
Grassley (R-IA), Nay
Inhofe (R-OK), Nay
Santorum (R-PA), Nay
Snowe (R-ME), Nay
Talent (R-MO), Nay
Vitter (R-LA), Nay
Voinovich (R-OH), Nay
These people abstained from voting:
Biden (D-DE), Not Voting
Burns (R-MT), Not Voting
Dodd (D-CT), Not Voting
Graham (R-SC), Not Voting
Hatch (R-UT), Not Voting
Jeffords (I-VT), Not Voting
McCain (R-AZ), Not Voting
Reid (D-NV), Not Voting
Warner (R-VA), Not Voting
source: http://www.senate.gov/legislat.....vote=00274
Comment by Lynn — April 9, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
Comment by Lynn — April 9, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
Everything has changed since March 16, 2007
Comment by Steve — April 9, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
ANDREW VON ESCHENBACH
To Steve,
You bet things have changed since 03-16-2007. I’m guilty for not really questioning what my government has been up to. For not demanding accountability. No more.
In my 4:55PM list of those that “nayed” AVE’s permanent position, I’m wondering what the nay-sayers’ reasons were. Did they know AVE to be a person who would sacrifice some divisions of the FDA in order to promote other divisions?
Comment by Lynn — April 9, 2007 @ 5:07 pm
Comment by elizabeth R. — April 9, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
Elizabeth, our cat was eating Max Cat California Chicken Supreme in the 3 oz cans. (its not on the recall list even though Howl 911 has it on theirs, they put it on their list to warn others it might not be safe after i e:mailed them)
She became ill in Dec after we had purchased a new case of this food that she had been eating for 3 years. Her symptoms were that of every ones elses pet and she died in March. We were so suspicious of this food that we contacted Nutro back in January long before the recall. We sent them 2 cans of food for testing and received back a generic form letter in Feb saying the food was fine. I dont believe it is fine at all. Its a cuts & gravy style food but its in a can not a pouch & it does have wheat gluten. I have met another person thru Howl 911 whose kitties are at the hospital having their kidneys flushed, 2 year old kitties that had been fine. Guess what they were eating? The same thing as my kitty, Nutro Max Cat California Chicken Supreme. The bad thing is we dont have our kitty any longer to prove it thru testing but we do have the food (which we will ge tested if FDA doesnt do it). This other person I met doesnt have any of the food left but (thankfully) does have the kitties….his vet was going to contact FDA to report it.
Comment by Sandi K — April 9, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
RE COMMENT BY SPOCKO
Here is what I would like to know. Why did Menu know instantly when the complaints started before the recall to stop using the wheat gluten. They stopped using this ingredient before even the rat poison was found. I believe they stopped on March 6. They said it was because this was a new supplier so they assumed this ingredient was a problem. Was it really a new supplier? I would love to see the records. If not the entire premise becomes a fallacy. Why did they immediately point to the wheat gluten… because it was a new supplier or because they knew this was an experiment to increase protein as some have theorized.
The cost of one dead cat put in terms they can understand. Vomit, blood and urine on my $8,000 couch. It can’t be cleaned. How is that for the price of a cat. No one to follow me from room to room at 5:30am while I get ready for work. No one to bound to me with a soft meow to say good morning mommy. Instead, waking up on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning and finding my young cat child stiff and dead, eyes wide open with blood coming from her mouth soaked in her own urine having died all alone in pain in the cold dark night. The price of a cat.
I will never ever buy a human or animal product from any of these manufacturers again and if I have my way neither will any single person that I know.
Comment by Garyn — April 9, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
Garyn -
I second all that - I will never spend one dime again for anything these Corporatewhoremongers put on the market.
And I hope they are reading these comments, as if it will make a difference, afterall you have to have a soul first, and they don’t have one, not anymore.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 9, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
Just keeps getting sadder and sadder and uglier and uglier. So sorry Garyn for your loss and to all of you who have lost beloved pets.
Comment by VJ — April 9, 2007 @ 5:25 pm
ANDREW VON ESCHENBACH
http://www.time.com/time/magaz.....81,00.html
Long-time Bush family friend. And check out the very last sentence of this article:
“If the Senate does hold confirmation hearings, the doctor will have to overcome suspicions that he is more concerned with drug approvals than with drug safety.”
The Commissioner does seem to have a predilection towards all things related to cancer. At what cost?
Hmmm…that’s telling.
Comment by Lynn — April 9, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
I’ve contacted Menu Foods, Safeway (who sold me the tainted food) and the FDA. I have to say at this point that the FDA Maryland Recall Coordinator was the most informed and compassionate of them all.
Safeway has e-mailed me that I need to file an incident report. What??? Again, we have another involved company that is doing rotten PR damage control. I’ll file their report. And rip them another one along the way.
Haven’t heard squat from Menu Foods. Although I keep getting these calls on my cell phone from a restricted number. Guess it’s them…
Comment by Sharon — April 9, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
DURBIN: LESTER CRAWFORD
The previous Commissioner of the FDA was DVM and PhD, Lester Crawford, who resigned after two months on the job. Read the link.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/ind.....r_Crawford
Obviously he’s not the best person to publicly support Durbin, but I’ll bet he could provide some good insight as to what he observed when he was with the FDA, albeit for a short period.
Comment by Lynn — April 9, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
Absolutely(my Baby Cuddles) she was all I had.I feel sad, angry and Depressed..!I need to be Strong now.. I know this sounds Radical, I know one lady who mentioned about being in the same place as her cat (buried).. she says her Grief is Insurmountable.. So, the mental ,and spiritual, finacial cost in all of this is HUGE!!!!. Major Depression!! I told her; her sweet pet would want her to Live a Good Constructive Happy Healthy life. She needs Support . and not to Give Up.. So SAD HUH????
She’s NOT Alone!!
Comment by kelly B — April 9, 2007 @ 5:38 pm
I have 2 cans of Max Cat California Chicken Supreme. They indicate a best by date of “June 21/09 0515C1” and “Nov. 21/09 1329C1”.
I don’t know what the numbers after the date mean. Tigger is still OK with no symptoms but I stopped feeding him Max Cat when the recall began. I am taking him in for tests to be sure. These cans were bought in Canada.
Sandi K, what was written on your cans of Max
Cat? Since Nutro won’t address this issue, maybe we should post all the dates/codes we are aware of.
Comment by Sindy — April 9, 2007 @ 5:38 pm
I third that.
I honestly didn’t buy the pet products before this (long story, but basically wanted something more wholesome), and I bought as much green product as I could. Well, since my eyes were opened even wider from this, i have purged my pantry and spent quite a bit of time researching brands. Replacing anything that ingredients can’t be verified on and will only use certified organic going forward (or as close as i can get). I even bought a pasta maker to go with the grain mill I use for my dog’s treats, lol!
I will be getting my niece some pettfood gift cards so she can afford *safe* petfood from some of the smaller companies. And she will be receiving a list of them from me :) My mom has already switched over to organic and home cooking for her pets. So add three more to the list instead of one.
Comment by straybaby — April 9, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
Thanks so much for the Forbes article and the follow on to it. Re: the hearings, I would imagine that it will be open. I can’t think of a reason why it wouldn’t be open to the public. But often the hearing rooms will fill up and you can’t get in. I am going to try to get up there on Thursday. I am not expecting to hear anything particular earthshaking. I posted this back when Mr. PFI sent his letter. My comments still stand.
“Mr. Pet Food Institute, I appreciate that your members were taken by surprise that someone would poison a raw ingredient. But those same members should have had procedures in place to prevent such an occurence. I understand that melamine doesn’t belong in the wheat gluten, but your members should have been be looking for anything that did not belong in the raw ingredients that make up our pets food. And they shouldn’t have delayed telling us that something was wrong. Your members should know their suppliers, and the suppliers supplier and they should examine their ingredients before they are put into products that we trusted would keep our pets alive. And certainly, your members should have had even more stringent quality controls in place when suppliers were new. And I suspect that your members should have put more stock in the consumer complaints that they were receiving early on about sick and dying pets as a result of the food that they were eating. You ask us to trust you again? Just like that? Not until you tell me that you are taking steps to know your suppliers and that you will not buy dangerous crap from China or anybody else. And finally, I would like to know Mr. Pet Food Institute what else your members bought from ChemNutra that might be tainting our pet food? Did you look at what ChemNutra is selling beside wheat gluten? Is any of it in your pets’ food, mine? Have your members checked? And lastly, while I hope I have your attention, I would like your members to label each of their products so that I as a consumer know who actually put the food in the can or bag and where. As it turns out Made in the USA doesn’t mean *****. From now on I am going to read labels and research whatever I put into my pets tummy and do my best to ignore your absolutely amazing marketing. And Mr. Pet Food Institute, I was lucky, my pet is healthy so far.”
Comment by Shawn — April 9, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
I know that my local humane society has ALL foods donated by Science Diet and they ~ shelter ~ only have to pay shipping. Sounds so compassionate, but how many people continue to feed Science Diet because that’s the food their pet was on when they adopted? Wonder how many other shelters/humane societies Science Diet is “helping”?
Comment by dottie — April 9, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
Can anyone kindly point the way to good home cooked recipes for dogs? - I live on an island in the Caribbean, all our dog food is imported from the US and we can get no organic or premium brands - all of the brands available contain wheat glutin. I checked some of the organic/premium brands in the US and they won’t ship because they cannot guarantee the shipping standards. I don’t want to feed raw, as - well the same problem - nothing much is fresh. There are plenty of websites with recipes - but which one to choose? Having read up on what goes into commercial pet food - I am no longer happy feeding that to my beloved Golden. Here in the supermarket - since it’s a different demographic than in the US - we can get plenty that may not be generally available in supermarkets in the US - pigs ears, trotters, tripe - all for human consumption, I just need to know how to use it. Please help.
Gigi’s Mom
Comment by Keala — April 9, 2007 @ 5:50 pm
Comment by Sindy — April 9, 2007 @ 5:38 pm
Sindy, I will gladly post the dates on the bottom of the cans when we get home, thats a good idea, thank you. Especially now that this nice gentleman I met thru Howl 911 has kitties with kidney problems that are only 2 years old, is seems very suspicious to me….
Comment by Sandi K — April 9, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
Comment by Sindy — April 9, 2007 @ 5:38 pm
Sindy, I hope your pets are OK. Would you mind e:mailing me with the results of their lab tests? And make sure you get a urinalyis done too as sometime that is an indicator. My e:mail is srshaw@gci.net. Thank you and Im wishing the very best outcome for your kitties.
Comment by Sandi K — April 9, 2007 @ 5:58 pm
SD is used at a few shelters here in NYC. And at one point Iams was also involved (still is?). I can’t remember which brand we would put it the adoption packets at the city shelter, but we did send adopters home with some. I really don’t have too much of a problem with that. With funds being so tight for shelters, the food is needed. They would also usually pony up for fundraisers and adoption events.
Hopefully things will change in how the food is manufactured and the companies involved with the shelters clean up their act a bit (lot!).
Comment by straybaby — April 9, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
This is an incredible video of PETA’s call for FDA to expand pet food recall of dry & criminal charges. The audio is terrible, but lots of good stuff on it. It’s in several parts & lasts about 5? mins.
KDKA.com — http://tinyurl.com/3x7llw
Comment by Kat — April 9, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
Comment by spocko
“This employee was supported in his actions, but for all we know there was an employee with in Menu who tried to do the same thing and was over ruled. For a week or more.
Whistle blowers in industry often have an especially tough time. “
I found an article (local paper from the town where Menu Food is) with Menu staffs comments attached and another article where pet owners commented. Apparently I didn’t save the link but it’s there if someone can/wants to look for it
Comment by Stefania — April 9, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
I have an appointment booked for tomorrow and the vet indicated the results would be ready the next day. I’ll email you Sandi K when I have them.
I am now wondering if a separate blog should be set up on Max Cat California Chicken Supreme 3oz cans to track our codes, dates, city purchased at, and whether our pet is OK or not. Then howl911 might want to reference the list too since they have this information on referenced on their Recall List.
I still think that these press releases are somehow connected to the timing of documents filed by Menu Foods to affect their share prices. See http://www.sedar.com and go to public company documents,
Comment by Sindy — April 9, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
The pet food manufacturers have lost the trust of tens of thousands of pet owners - their former loyal customers. How can we ever again trust them? And then their industry association says new regulation isn’t needed; they can police themselves! WRONG - they need to be heavily regulated, they need to be monitored, and there needs to be laws with HEAVY penalties put in place to temper their greed and carelessness.
They have, by their own actions, shown that they do not deserve the trust of their customers. I’m enjoying cooking my surviving pet’s food. As to the beautiful, gentle soul I lost - never again will I buy a product from any company that had any association with Menu Foods.
Comment by MFEMFEM — April 9, 2007 @ 6:48 pm
Comment by Sindy — April 9, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
Sindy, I hope that this doesnt end up being r unncessary tests because with our kitty we have no proof, other than her symptoms and our very early suspicions in Jan of a food problem & then or course her death 5 days before the recall. But with this other man I met, his one cat showed symptoms so he took it in & had it tested which is what led him to Howl 911 and Nikki there got us in touch with each other. That how I found out he had been feeding his kitties the same thing. He had his other cat also tested, both 2 year olds. That kitty wasnt showing any symptoms and it also had slight kidney problems so their vet kept them to flush their kidneys. It was apparently mild thank goodness. I on one hand dont want to cause alarm but on the other hand I feel obligated to pass on what I know. If it were me and we still had our kitty & I had talked to this man, I would have also took our kitty in for kidney testing. So I hope I havent caused undo testing but my husband feels its better to be safe than sorry. Its not that we havent tried to contact Nutro and Menu Foods, we have several times and no one has called us back. We also called FDA and I can give you his name and phone number depending on what you find out. He would want to know Im pretty sure.
Anyhow the dates on the bottom of our Nutro Max Cat California Chicken Supreme, 3 oz cans, that we have are:
May 16 09 0707C1
Sep 05 09 1741C1
Sep 19 09 0846C1
Nov 21 09 1432C1
I was so suspicious of the May group that I didnt even donate it to the animal shelter (we donated the food on 3-12 the day after our kitty died but then at FDA’s urging, we went and picked it up last Friday, thankfully they had not used any of it.
Comment by Sandi K — April 9, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
“Pet foods are one of the most highly regulated food products.” The Pet Food Institute website.
The Forbes Magazine comments hit the nail on the head. The above PFI propaganda shows that many of the pet food manufactures only care about nurturing one thing, their own GREED. Do they really think we are that stupid?
Comment by MFEMFEM — April 9, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
I feel that keeping the food is a better thing to do for now. Especially since a definite answer has not been given to us. I am also keeping the bags of dry with some sample left until this is settled. That way I will know exactly what he ate. Tigger is now on Merrick, Grammy’s Pot Pie. He preferred the way the slices felt when he ate them but he did learn to eat loaf style eventually, he really didn’t have a choice.
I have wanted to get the vet tests done anyways since I’ve read about the Max Cat Calif. Chicken 3oz cans on the web in various sites and I would rather be safe than sorry. If my cat was to look sick, then I may be too late and wished I could have done something sooner. I think many of us wish we had that chance too.
Our pets are not just animals to many of us and Menu foods knew that by how much money they had made by manufacturing pet food. I hope they now realize how much money the ‘new’ wheat gluten really saved them - NOT!
Comment by Sindy — April 9, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
Here’s a new article from Science Daily:
Cornell Details Effect Of Pet Food Contaminant, Melamine
http://www.sciencedaily.com/re.....185542.htm
Comment by Kat — April 9, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
WOW! This article states 39,000 sick or dead:
Tainted pet food may have sickened tens of thousands of cats and dogs
WASHINGTON — Pet food contaminated with an industrial chemical may have sickened or killed 39,000 cats and dogs nationwide, based on an extrapolation from data released Monday by one of the nation’s largest chains of veterinary hospitals.
Banfield, The Pet Hospital, said an analysis of its database, compiled from records collected by its more than 615 veterinary hospitals, suggests that three out of every 10,000 cats and dogs that ate the pet food contaminated with melamine developed kidney failure. There are an estimated 60 million dogs and 70 million cats in the United States, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Here’s the link for the rest of the article:
http://www.startribune.com/484/story/1110143.html
Comment by Kat — April 9, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
Kat, those numbers are staggering and depressing and sickening. I cant find words for how awful this all is. I just remember our kitty taking her last breath in my arms, there is no excuse for this to happen to any pet. I feel nauseas from seeing these numbers.
Comment by Sandi K — April 9, 2007 @ 7:52 pm
Garyn,
I’m so sorry you had to find your kitty like that.
((hug))
Comment by Pamela J. Betz-Baron — April 9, 2007 @ 8:32 pm
I know Sandi — it felt like a sock in the gut, when I read the story. I came over here & posted it immediately.
Comment by Kat — April 9, 2007 @ 9:37 pm
The latest Federal District Court lawsuit filings against Menu Foods can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/2k57sm It would be good to save the food if anyone is contemplating any legal action. And, maybe even just for the potential ability to link pet deaths to this in the event the FDA might want to do further testing. This might help verify and provide evidence that the true number of pets harmed by this is far greater than the small number of dogs and cats tested at Menu Foods, that have been confirmed to be directly linked to the foods by the FDA. This could potentially provide better support for the product liability issues and help prevent this terrible tragedy in the future. Maybe it would be nice to have a centralized type of test results reporting for this, such as Banfield has done.
Comment by Sue Dunn — April 9, 2007 @ 11:34 pm
How’s this for bad PR:
Feb 20th - Menu Foods receives first reports of problems with pet food.
Feb 26th - Menu foods commence tests on 50 animals.
Feb 26th & 27th - Menus CFO sells half his shares for $102,900.
March 16th - Recall announced. Share price plunges
CFO calls this a “horrible coincidence”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com.....y/Business
Thanks itchmo
Comment by Phil from England — April 10, 2007 @ 4:40 am
In regards to the email in Call to Action from the lady so upset over the loss of her cat due to the C/D diet, Linda or Kat, wasn’t there something posted earlier about a fund set up by a vet group to assist people monetarily ($50,000). I have to leave shortly. So could someone check this out. Maybe we can help this lady.
Comment by VJ — April 10, 2007 @ 5:07 am