Pet-food recall: Get the food off the shelves
By Gina Spadafori
April 11, 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.
Every day since the first recall was announced on March 17, we here at Pet Connection have been informal members of a team of Web sites whose owners wanted to help. None of us ever heard of the other before, but we all somehow found our niche and together, we provided more support than any one of us alone could have. Itchmo, Howl911, PetFoodTracker, The Pet Food List, Spocko’s Brain and more — we’ve all pitched in together to get the information out there.
One thing we couldn’t do, though, was provide much help for those without Internet access. The other Web sites worked together, and have now come up with downloadable, printable PDFs of recalled foods. And they’ve issued a challenge to us all: Help get this food off the shelves.
Details here, with links to the other Web sites involved in this team effort. Volunteers are needed to print out the information, check stores and report safe stores so others can find them. The PDFs are also great for giving to people you know don’t have Internet access. Got an elderly neighbor (as I do: Babe is 94!)? Walk down with the information and make sure she isn’t feeding a recalled food. (Babe wasn’t, thank heavens.)
Can you help? You know that stuff’s still out there. Let’s find it!
Update: Oregon’s courageous public-health veterinarian, Dr. Emilio DeBess, has updated that state’s numbers again:
[...T]here have been at least 114 suspected cases of cats and dogs in the state who have consumed recalled Menu Foods pet food and who have experienced various stages of kidney dysfunction.
Of the 114 suspected cases, 43 are dogs and 71 are cats.
Of the 114 suspected cases, at least 44 pets have died.
Oregon has 1.2 percent of the nation’s population, in case you were wondering.
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And send a bill to the Pet Food Brand packed in a big block of cement labeled . . .
Bill for Services Rendered Enclosed
Please Remit Immediately
Comment by Steve — April 11, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Why aren’t the pet food manufacturers and the Pet Food Institute running full page newspaper ads, radio announcements and television spots about the recall? If they really cared about our pets like they say they do then THEY should be getting the word out.
Kudos to the volunteers who are getting the word out, they do really care.
Comment by MFEMFEM — April 11, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
Comment by MFEMFEM — April 11, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
I think the fact that people have to take this matter into their own hands to make sure things get done and done right says a lot about how much this industry cares about it’s customers.
Comment by Steve — April 11, 2007 @ 7:07 pm
They will just run ads to buy their products and show wonderful photos of healthy cats and dogs.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 11, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
I just wanted to comment. I have notified the Oregon Veterinary Association of the death of my cat on March 28. He died from the recalled food, Priority. I have internet access but a lot of the folks in my area do not so I have printed off the list of recalled foods and shared it with others. I am heartsick about my cat and I hope I have helped others to save their pets. I wish I had known about the foods 2 weeks earlier and I could have saved my cat’s life. No vet out here where I live so had to take matters into my own hands and tried the best I could to save him. He was a joy to have around and is greatly missed. Thanks for all your efforts.
Comment by Linda Tsatskowski — April 11, 2007 @ 7:29 pm
Linda Tsatskowski -
I’m so sorry for the loss of your Kitty.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 11, 2007 @ 7:36 pm
The main purpose and reason for having a centralized government is to provide protection for the people, for the united people of many states, to protect us from dangers infiltrating - either from sea, or air, or mail, we organize and vote and pay people to protect us - the common defense - so what’s up now? Why can’t our United Government protect us and our pets from being poisoned? First, we shouldn’t allow anything edible to be imported from China and Secondly, we need to solve this horrible problem of non-safe food products and put in some process to protect us.
Otherwise the United Government is a failure and all we have left is our state government. But they look so much to the Federal system, asking each states to help stop poison food is a real long shot.
I’m fed up with big business hurting us and our pets. I’m tired of crying and the nightmares and the worry. We should vote every representative out of office if they aren’t willing to make drastic changes.
Linda MS.
Comment by Linda — April 11, 2007 @ 7:46 pm
With Oregon reporting those numbers, I have a question, who bought off Banfield? That whole schitzo switch Banfield pulled is getting me call after call and email after email from people asking if they can trust their pets to Banfield and right now , I simply cannot say that Banfield is OK.
If Menu Foods has spare boxcars full of cash to throw around I want to hear about it.
If the Men In Black are strongarming Banfield, I want to hear that too.
Anyone have any idea what is going on?
This is so spooky it has fed the conspiracy theory to new levels.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 11, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
Anyone have any idea what is going on?
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 11, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
Probably exactly what you suspect.
Comment by Steve — April 11, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
Thier attorney probably advised them to tone it down. It’s all liability - everyone is afraid of their shadow.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 11, 2007 @ 8:04 pm
Does anyone know if there is a plant that Menu has that food hasn’t been recalled yet?
Do we even know all their plants?
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
Who would they be afraid of, Menu Foods?
For the love of heaven, Menu Foods can’t keep track of their own inventory, the CFO has no idea what is going on in the company, by their own admission, and is handsomely compensated for that and near as I can tell, clueless to 6 decimal places is a job requirement!
I was shocked to hear they have 2,000 employees because I had the impression it was a few half drunk guys who threw diseased roadkill and whatever scrap melamine they had lying around in a cuisinart and slapped a label on it.
And THAT bunch is gonna sue?
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 11, 2007 @ 8:17 pm
Anderson Cooper may be due for another email drive, he seems to lost focus.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 8:17 pm
I just got back so haven’t read previous posts yet.
Very interesting catching a moment of IMUS being let go from MSNBC. Personally I couldn’t care less. B-u-t, guess what got him fired? Proctor & Gamble and multiple companies pulled their ads right off the show as Imus was talking.
I said on earlier posts that “moneyspeak” is the way to go.
We must contact P&G and all the other parent companies and tell them we will buy NO products from them not just the dog food. That includes Domino’s Pizza (Bain-Nutro), fabric softeners, cleaning products, frozen foods. Whatever products and sub companies they have we must make it clear we will not buy until all CEO’s are fired and changes made immediately on where food comes from, how processed, quality, ingredients, etc.
Leaving this up to government is not very useful at this moment.
“The customer is ALWAYS right.”
So let’s make sure they hear that loud and clear
Comment by Kathi — April 11, 2007 @ 8:19 pm
Here’s a news article about pet owners turning to Organic foods: (sorry if you have seen this before. I don’t mean to be behind things.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/11/us/11pets.html
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 11, 2007 @ 8:22 pm
Is their any News agency that is owned by big business?
Sheesh
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 8:24 pm
Kathi,
I’m only buying from my Health Food Co-op or items from Trader Joes that are not imported from China, including cleaning products. I refuse to buy these corporations products -their soap or whatever. My make-up comes from Germany and not China. I do have some Olay products but not anymore.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 11, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
Is their any News agency that ISN’t owned by big business…. rather?
Sheesh
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
Christian Science Monitor but that’s small.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 11, 2007 @ 8:28 pm
When you look at the size of all the players involved it is no wonder that the coverups are getting bigger and bigger.
Menu Foods is a major manufacturer for all these companies. Menu Foods was not in the healthiest financial position to begin with before all the recalls happened. If Menu Foods folds, who will make the food for all those BIG companies? The big companies will be protecting their a$$ets by protecting Menu Foods and taking part in the coverup/conspiracy/secrecy.
Comment by mal — April 11, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
RE: Comment by E. Hamilton — April 11, 2007 @ 7:56 pm as to WHO BOUGHT OFF BANFIELD?
They’re already bought. Funny, I just got done looking this up!
Petsmart = The Company
http://sec.edgar-online.com/20.....ction7.asp
Long Term Investments: Petsmart
The Company has an investment in MMI Holdings, Inc., or MMIH, a provider of
veterinary and other pet-related services. MMIH, through a wholly owned
subsidiary, Medical Management International, Inc., or MMI, operates
full-service veterinary hospitals and wellness hospitals inside approximately
440 of the Company’s stores, under the name Banfield, The Pet Hospital
(“Banfield”). Philip L. Francis, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, and Robert F. Moran, the Company’s President and Chief Operating
Officer, are members of the board of directors of MMIH. The Company’s investment
consists of common and convertible preferred stock. As of May 1, 2005, the
Company owned approximately 16.5% of the voting stock, and approximately 35.9%
of the combined voting and non-voting stock of MMIH.
http://media.corporate-ir.net/.....5Proxy.pdf.
Petsmart notice of annual stockholders meeting 2006
In addition, Mr. Francis and Mr. Moran are both members of the board of directors of MMI Holdings, Inc.
which, through its subsidiary Medical Management International, Inc., conducts business in our PetSmart stores as
Banfield, The Pet Hospital. For a more detailed description of the relationship with Medical Management International, Inc., please see our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on April 10, 2006.
Medical Management International, Inc.,
http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/111/111412.html
And finally:
http://phoenix.bizjournals.com.....ily26.html
The pet supplies retailer also said it will increase its portion of the voting shares of MMI Holdings Inc., which operates the Banfield veterinary hospitals inside many PetSmart stores. That will result in PetSmart accounting for its share in MMI by using the equity method of accounting. As part of its agreement, PetSmart said it would sell some of its shares to Mars Inc., which owns the largest portion of MMI.
Comment by CathyA — April 11, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
mal,
they’ll just change the name, hire new managers, keep the old staff, and continue with a new name.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 11, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
How come the media has not reported the sale of stocks by the CFO of Menu?? Is this not newsworthy??? OR, are we going to hear about this Friday afternoon? I just don’t understand, it’s insane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Sandi Schreiber — April 11, 2007 @ 8:35 pm
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.ac.html?10
Might be worth sending some feedback on Anderson’s Show tonight. Doesn’t look like he is going to be covering the latest recall.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
Mars, eh?
wonder where their WG came from . . .
Comment by straybaby — April 11, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
Comment by Sandi Schreiber — April 11, 2007 @ 8:35 pm
It’s not compelling entertainment.
Comment by Steve — April 11, 2007 @ 8:39 pm
Thank you MonkeyKitty for the encouragement. I sent my comment to the link you provided. I so appreciate the reminder.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 11, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
Spocko, whats on your mind? Pet Stuff?
Comment by Steve — April 11, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
It doesn’t matter if you buy their products or not.
The point is to threaten not to buy from all companies even remotely associated. Like Samsonite. While Samsonite is not owned by Nutro, it is owned by Bain who owns Nutro. Bain also owns Domino’s Pizza. So you contact Bain and threaten not to do business with any of their owned companies. Bain Capital Private Equity is a very, very large buy-out company. What is known as hostile takeover for companies who are nearly bankrupt. They invested in Domino’s and Nutro. I’m sure they’d rather fire Dave Kravis than lose any $$$$ from their consumers. Then we also tell Bain what we want in a petfood product. They either listen or lose business.
Comment by Kathi — April 11, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
NPR is another one I have been spamming I actually got a non pre canned response. Its worth sending to them. I wrote to All Things Considered.
I would say to be polite and factual, but this group doesn’t need to be told that. Either that Pet Connection is good at monitoring posts:)
http://www.npr.org/about/pitch/
Is NPRs pitch page for all shows….At least they don’t have big corporate sponsors (that I know of).
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 8:48 pm
BANFIELD
When I read the latest it was like a slap in the face. WHOA!!!
Comment by Lynn — April 11, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
Regarding this volunteer effort here is an open letter to retailers and distributors Cross posted from Spocko’s Brain:
Dear Retailers and Distributors of pet food:
The current pet food recall is one of the largest in history and has put a time-critical burden on your companies, distribution network and staff. You have moved quickly to get the recalled pet food off your shelves. However, due to the size of the recall and continuing expansion of recalled products and dates, it can be confusing for both you and your customers.
Our Shared Priority: Getting All Recalled Pet Food Off Shelves
At this stage of the recall, the current priority is ensuring that all recalled pet food is off the shelves around the country.
In most cases your standard recall procedures went into effect to ensure that products involved were removed from your shelves and not offered for sale. However, in a recall of this size and scope it is possible that some products may be missed.
Since we all share the same goal of only safe products on your shelves, we have suggested ways to let your customers, a highly-motivated group of concerned people, assist you in the recall process. We have created the following tools to help:
Recall Tools and Reporting Methods
1) A printable list of recalled pet foods with new extended recall dates and additional recall items at http://www.petfoodtracker.com (link)
Because this is a complex process the list will also contain some contact numbers of major retailers to speed coordination between local stores and their headquarters.
We also have contacted the FDA to determine how best to report the information collected.
2) A central online forum where people can self report what they have found out in their state and city at http://www.itchmo/forums (link)
The online forum will give people a place to share information and to avoid duplication of effort. It will also be helpful for any retailers who want to communicate directly with their customers and inform them of their specific processes, procedures and steps already taken in this crisis.
A Polite Reporting Process for People
We are directing people to alert your in-store management if they have questions about items on the shelf. We understand you have standard procedures and internal verification methods to follow and have advised people to be polite in the event of confusion. To that end if you would like to provide us with a special national number or group to contact within your organization (such as the recall coordinator) we will include that info on our websites and printed materials.
Retailers and Customers: Working Together to Protect Pets
We respect your desire to always do the right thing with it comes to food safety and hope you will understand our need to ensure the well being of our pets. We want to emphasize that we are not trying to play gotcha with mistakes or oversights but to simply ensure that all recalled pet food is off the shelves around the country.
This pet food recall has left many of your customers feeling frightened and powerless. By allowing them to assist in this process you can demonstrate your genuine concern for their pets as well as their business.
Sincerely,
The Pet Food Safety Working Group*
Spocko, Spocko’s Brain
*Who are we?
As Gina at Petconnection says: We are an “informal members of a team of Web sites whose owners wanted to help. None of us ever heard of the other before, but we all somehow found our niche and together, we provided more support than any one of us alone could have. Itchmo, Howl911, PetFoodTracker, The Pet Food List and more — we’ve all pitched in together to get the information out there.”
To read more about our call for volunteers to get the recalled food off the shelves. See Call for volunteers.
Comment by spocko — April 11, 2007 @ 8:52 pm
PET FOOD INSTITUTE
Re comment by MFEMFEM — April 11, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
I’m not sure which group turns me off more: FDA or PFI. Oh, heck, I’ll give them both the honor.
Comment by Lynn — April 11, 2007 @ 8:53 pm
The hole just gets bigger.
So Petsmart is invested with MMI who operates Banfield, and MMI is largely owned by Mars Inc (who owns Doanes-who makes Pedigree Caesar Sheba Waltham Whiskas Buckeye).
No wonder we can’t get real numbers or information from Banfield..they weren’t paid off..they are owned by the pet food companies!!!
Comment by mal — April 11, 2007 @ 8:53 pm
Sounds good to me Kathi
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 11, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
Mal,
what do you mean “is invested with”?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 11, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
PET FOOD INSTITUTE
When it comes down to it most major chains are owned by few major corporations. The issue is they have money and they contribute to election campaigns.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
And the poor shmuck who told the truth about the numbers from Banfield?, I bet he is now having a lovely time at the newest Banfield in Bumf*** .
Plenty of victims to go around it seems.
Dr. DeBess better watch his back, accidents happen and is something happens to him it will be no accident!
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 11, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
Sorry, if, IF something happens to Dr. DeBess.
Nah, the PFI hiring hitmen?
Unlikely, though perhaps not impossible.
They DO know how to kill pets.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 11, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
What does MMI stand for?
Sorry to be behind things - but I can’t stay glued to this computer 24/7
Linda MS.
Comment by Linda — April 11, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
Hate to say it, but I was a little amazed Banfield was so pro-active in the first place. It figures that the management (i.e. Mars Inc) hadn’t yet figured out how deep IT was in this mess.
Now they know….so we don’t. :(
Well, at least it’s not as though they’ve ruined their pristine reputation. There’s a reason good vets don’t stay long with the company, and it ain’t just the pay.
Comment by Laura — April 11, 2007 @ 9:08 pm
Linda MS
The petsmart story was posted above by Cathy A
“The pet supplies retailer also said it will increase its portion of the voting shares of MMI Holdings Inc., which operates the Banfield veterinary hospitals inside many PetSmart stores. That will result in PetSmart accounting for its share in MMI by using the equity method of accounting. As part of its agreement, PetSmart said it would sell some of its shares to Mars Inc., which owns the largest portion of MMI. “
I was more or less summarizing the longer story Cathy A dug up
Comment by mal — April 11, 2007 @ 9:08 pm
re: How come the media has not reported the sale of stocks by the CFO of Menu??
CNN did do a short report on Menu Foods CFO selling off his stock. Heard it sometime between 4-6pm today.
Comment by Barb — April 11, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
Oh, guess I missed that one. Thanks Mal. I try to read everything.
Linda
Comment by Linda — April 11, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
Today, I bought a meat grinder for extruding my pet food concoction, into kibble. I have a report on how it is coming along —
it isn’t. :(
!!! WARNING !!!
DO NOT BUY ~ UNIVERSAL #301 Gourmet Meat Chopper.
METAL FLAKES ARE COMING OFF THE BLADE & ELSEWHERE.
Luckily, I noticed this BEFORE & added any food.
The store I purchased from is 70 miles away. ugh!
Comment by Kat — April 11, 2007 @ 9:33 pm
This is still not good, not good at all. I don’t know why the managers don’t order a pulling of all the brands associated to be on the safe side.
Comment by Eskie Lover — April 11, 2007 @ 9:35 pm
Kitchen Aid Mixer works well if you already happen to have one, just buy the meat grinder attachment.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 9:37 pm
RE: Comment by Kat — April 11, 2007 @ 9:33 pm
Try Northern Tools for an electric meat grinder.
Comment by CathyA — April 11, 2007 @ 9:41 pm
Good deal! I’ll be more than glad to participate! I was already starting to copy all this mess off anyway.
I live in a rural area & it will be interesting to see if they even know about the recall…
THANKS!
Comment by Kat — April 11, 2007 @ 9:43 pm
I have the kitchen aid w/grinder and it does work well. i also bought a heavy duty electric grinder because i grind bone. i got mine off ebay, but northern tool and others have them.
if i’m going to mess up an appliance grinding bone, i don’t want it to be my kitchen aid! i do like the grinding attachment though. sausage anyone? it would also be a good way to do pet sausage meals for freezing.
Comment by straybaby — April 11, 2007 @ 9:43 pm
There is really only one solution I can see to the lack of media coverage.
Steve is gonna have to take one for the team and go knock up some bimbo who is bound to take an overdose.
We will all say WE are the father, a stretch in my case but maybe if I strap the bosom down real good, then we will all fight it out on TV and say the pet food made us do it!
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 11, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18045055/from/RS.4/
I found a link on MSNBC concerning the latest (but problalby not last) recall.
Sorry if someone has already posted it:)
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
That or do a recalled food eating contest, see who kicks the bucket first.
KIDDING!!!
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
A little earlier I posted about home made food on what is probably the wrong thread. It is the last comment on on the old thread called Pet Food Recall: Recall expanded again. I think it’s message may be more appropriate on this discussion. Does anyone know how to move an existing comment or repost one without retyping the whole thing? Thanks.
Comment by elizabeth R — April 11, 2007 @ 9:50 pm
Ya good call straybaby, too bad they don’t make cheaper wood chippers (the movie fargo comes to mind)
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
This whole thing is about the money.
Banfield, the petfood companies, the media.
The rest of us are consumers.
The first thing I learned in Economics class: the world = trade (money). Goes all the way back to the caveman.
Writing to parent companies is our bargaining chip. We (us) trade with You (them).
When they agree to our terms!!!
In the mean time while we are negotiating our terms of trade, we will only buy from reputable companies or make food ourselves.
MSNBC was NOT planning to fire Imus, only suspend him for two weeks. People got busy, called the shows sponsors, gave sponsors their terms of negotiation. Sponsers told MSNBC: Fire Imus or else and started pulling ads to emphasize their point. Imus all gone now. People win!!!
Comment by Kathi — April 11, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
Hey MK, that’s not a bad idea. It could be the Brands against the Parent Corps. Think of the MSM coverage that could bring! ;)
*insert apology here, i really do know better*
Comment by straybaby — April 11, 2007 @ 9:55 pm
RE: It’s not compelling entertainment.
Comment by Steve — April 11, 2007 @ 8:39 pm
———————————
I think if some reporter was out there stalking a few choice people for some answers — that would be compelling entertainment.
They are just lazy. They want to READ the news — not INVESTIGATE the news.
Comment by Kat — April 11, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
Can’t you just buy bone meal and use that? I know vitamin shops carry it for humans.
Not sure if its the same thing or if its ok for Cats and Dogs.
Not a nutritionist for Cats or Dogs. Perhaps someone else knows on this post.
My luck it came from China too.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
Straybaby — I just wanted it for extruding. You know those holes that are at the end? I wanted to make my own kibble.
Comment by Kat — April 11, 2007 @ 9:58 pm
I agree Kathi. I was noticing that today. It was the P/G statement in regards to pulling their ads that made me listen. Something about caring for their consumer (no, I did not pit my drink on the keyboard!)
Instead of saying Nutro/Iams/SD killed/sickened my pet, we should be using the Parent Co.’s name in there also. Would be nice to get that in the media coverage . . .
Comment by straybaby — April 11, 2007 @ 9:59 pm
I started considering all the products I buy and who I could personally impact the most. I was looking at P&G to “discover” all the brands I had no idea about. I came across the company’s mission statement:
http://www.pg.com/company/who_we_are/ppv.jhtml
Almost humorous. Maybe they need to be reminded of their own “statements”.
“Trust
We respect our P&G colleagues, customers, and consumers, and treat them as we want to be treated.
We have confidence in each other’s capabilities and intentions.
We believe that people work best when there is a foundation of trust.”
Sickening.
Comment by Natalie Sharpes — April 11, 2007 @ 10:00 pm
Thanks for all the tips. I’ll check out Northern Tool & a restaurant supply co in San Antonio. I bought this piece o’junk at Kitchen Collection, at an Outlet Mall in San Marcos, TX.
Comment by Kat — April 11, 2007 @ 10:01 pm
P/G threw Menu Foods under the bus, thats why they avoided having their name associated with the recall.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
Kat it was problalby made in China…
I bet you money on that….lol
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 10:03 pm
MK, I do (did?!) use bone meal for some of the food, but I also like to do fresh ground for the cats. Unprocessed and real ;) Not all my cats will chew body parts! lol!~ And Grinding Night is always a treat for them as some try and steal meat before it hits the grinder, and others like to steal it on it’s way out!
I have been researching bone meal and think I have found some sources that are US and *safe*, because yes, many of the supplements we use for ourselves and in our petfood is being exported out of China *sigh*
Comment by straybaby — April 11, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
RE: list — we need to be able to print out UPC & Good ‘til dates to know if the recalled items are still on the shelf. Links don’t work for me.
Comment by Kat — April 11, 2007 @ 10:06 pm
Kat Go TO QVC.COM And save the gas.i’m sure u can find it there. Good Luck.
Comment by MARY ANN — April 11, 2007 @ 10:14 pm
As regards the pet food companies, the CFO who dumped stocks and Banfield’s bouncing number game. I think the’ve been eating too much “Mad Cow” beef for dinner, hence the memory loss syndrome.
Maybe they need to eat more Anying carrots for their poor eyesight.
Comment by Kathi — April 11, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
Wouldn’t it be better not to have UPC’s and dates? They still haven’t finalized what the problem is, where the freaking WG is (even though they *say* it’s under control) and they keep expanding the recall which includes the dates.
When the Nutro article came out Monday night, I emailed the small pet supply by me and suggested pulling it all. the owner had been thinking about not carrying it anymore (it was their lower end option) and then they recalled how many more late yesterday ?!
I spoke with a friend tonight who had checked their site on Monday AM and thought everything was fine. She hadn’t heard of the expanded recall last night or today from any media sources.
Comment by straybaby — April 11, 2007 @ 10:18 pm
I’ve had this page up quite a while, so possibly someone someone else has mentioned this; forgive me if so. The founder of Bain Capital was Mitt Romney and he still “leads” the company, per an article in the April News Max print edition magazine. Besides Domino’s and what I’ve seen mentioned, they acquired or launched Staples, Sealy, Brookstone, and The Sports Authority. Bain Capital now manages $40 billion - yup, with a B, Billions. And they own Nutro? Wouldn’t you think that’s small potatoes to them? Or are lying and coverup just in their blood.
The investigation you all have done is amazing. My brain is on stun. I’ve managed to protect my one little kitty, thank you.
Comment by Sharon G — April 11, 2007 @ 10:22 pm
http://www.americaneaglemachin.....inder.html
Here is a powerfull grinder, it would appear to have the correct types of blades for bone.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 10:28 pm
MonkeyKitty: The box SAYS: Sold by Universal Trading, Inc….Elk Grove Village, Il
That PROBABLY means they are the distributor for China. Box also says Since 1850 Universal.
But, Hodgson Mill says they’ve been milling since 1882. That is a lie. I bought their wheat gluten (back before we knew where it came from) so I could add to my dog biscuits & stew.
I don’t know if you read my prior posts about those people. At first they wouldn’t tell me who their source was, then finally they said it was from the US…. I haven’t used it since & I sent an email to Whole Foods, HEB & SunHarvest about them. They lie. False advertising on box.
Comment by Kat — April 11, 2007 @ 10:53 pm
I have become so disillusioned with our manufacturing companies….
Even the one’s from the health food stores.
Comment by Kat — April 11, 2007 @ 10:57 pm
MODERATORS:
Please read the post at this link (post #25): http://www.freerepublic.com/fo.....page=25#25
This person would like to get the word out to pet owners who’s pets now have compromised kidney function that it’s not difficult or expensive (around $20 per month) to give even daily fluids to a cat (dogs are probably comparable in price, depending on size of dog). But there isn’t much public knowledge of this, so many pet owners might euthanize their pets rather than choose to do home health care. Perhaps you could make a separate posting about it? Anything to help spread the word to pet owners that they CAN care for their pets with compromised kidneys, and it doesn’t have to cost hundreds monthly. Then we need a way to get the word out to all the pet owners who aren’t reading this blog or who aren’t on the internet.
Comment by Sarah — April 11, 2007 @ 10:58 pm
AND THE COVERUP GOES ON!!!!
Food-linked pet deaths dwindling; most cat victims survived
Reported cases of death and illness among animals due to eating tainted pet food have greatly diminished, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Banfield, the Pet Hospital.
The good news is that reports of thousands of pets dying at Banfield hospitals because of poisoned food are false. The number of pet deaths nationwide may turn out to be in the hundreds, not thousands.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizo.....d0412.html
The FDA and Banefield are working hand in hand to bury this mess!!!!!!!!!! We need to get the news of the connection between Banefield and Mars aka Doanne aka Pet Food Manufacturer out to some legitimate news agencies
Comment by mal — April 11, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
MonkeyKitty: Those blades look just like the same crap that Universal has. I am finding, even with some knives I bought recently, that when they say “stainless steel” is is really a plating they are putting on. Not like the REAL solid stainless steel we used to get. Some cheap version!
What really gripes me — is the quality of stuff anymore is poor, yet the price has gone up. I guess the cargo liners have to make a few bucks too.
Comment by Kat — April 11, 2007 @ 11:04 pm
Another news article on Banefield lies:
“It is important to us, as we know it is for the FDA, to provide Pet owners and the veterinary community as well as the general public with the most accurate information from this data,” says Scott Campbell, DVM, Banfield CEO. “It is our goal to help the FDA better understand the extent of this problem so it can promptly address this issue and put in place processes and a surveillance system to help prevent a similar situation in the future.”
Banfield and the FDA are continuing to perform thorough analyses of all the medical data as it is collected on affected Pets regarding the Pet food recall.
http://sev.prnewswire.com/heal.....007-1.html
MAJOR damage control going on here!!!
Comment by mal — April 11, 2007 @ 11:06 pm
Sharon G - April 11, 2007 @ 10:22 pm
That’s why I said to threaten their other companies like Domino’s so they fire Dave Kraus.
This statement by Dave Kraus really gets me: “Petowners are fed up with confusing information regarding the Menu Foods Recall.”
What the “H” is he smoking?!!!
He’s the Pres. & CEO. What about all the phone calls with complaints to Nutro that something in the food was making our babies sick. And Nutro’s repeated messages that the food is safe when it was already revealed about aminoptrin and melamine in wheat gluten.
Where the “H” has he been for the past three weeks, in the Bahamas popping pills with that lawyer who da baby daddy? No wonder Bain had to bail Nutro out. Duh doesn’t seem to know what’s going on.
Comment by Kathi — April 11, 2007 @ 11:06 pm
Menu Foods does more back peddling too!!
When it first announced the recall, Menu says, it had no evidence wheat gluten was the problem, but it was a suspect because it came from a new supplier.
Last week, Menu first expanded the recall to include products made from Nov. 8, 2006 - instead of the original Dec. 3 date - to March 6. Menu says it used some of the suspect wheat gluten in the pet food along with other wheat gluten before Dec. 3 - and used the suspect wheat gluten only after Dec. 3. It was dropped once concerns arose.
Menu extended the recall’s date range after the gluten importer, ChemNutra, said on April 3 that it had begun wheat gluten shipments on Nov. 9.
Menu’s mixing of gluten from multiple sources also surprised foodmaking consultants. “It’s odd,” says Peter Clark of Oak Park, Ill.
He says manufacturers generally avoid that so they can more easily trace the source of problems in finished products. That helps companies limit the size of recalls.
http://www.jconline.com/apps/p.....9/70411040
If I remember correctly Menu announced that the reason the wheat gluten was suspect was because they started using a “new” supplier in December..now it is November..what will it be next week?? The story just keeps changing and changing…..
Comment by mal — April 11, 2007 @ 11:11 pm
More Spin
‘Mistake’ delayed latest pet-food recall
04-11-07 11:33 PM EST
By USA TODAY
Menu Foods said Wednesday that a “clerical error” caused the company to overlook that it shipped potentially contaminated wheat gluten from one of its U.S. plants to one in Canada, delaying the recall of some Canadian-made cat foods.
“Humans are not perfect. Someone made a mistake,” spokesman Sam Bornstein said in an e-mailed response to questions. “We were shocked.”
http://tinyurl.com/2xlxys
Comment by Steve — April 11, 2007 @ 11:20 pm
Comment by mal — April 11, 2007 @ 11:11 pm
ya beat me to it!
Comment by Steve — April 11, 2007 @ 11:21 pm
mal, I remember that also. And I seem to remember *somebody said they switched suppliers 18mos ago*. I *think* it may have been the former supplier to Menu foods?
How much freaking back peddling are these *people* going to attempt?! Do they not understand the internet? UGH! The AZ article is also very upsetting/depressing/(insert anger management here).
Comment by straybaby — April 11, 2007 @ 11:25 pm
“clerical error”?!?! Are they SERIOUS?!?!
gee, between their clerical errors and unfortunate coincindences, I don’t know how much more I can take.
Comment by straybaby — April 11, 2007 @ 11:27 pm
Mal: thanks for posting that article. I see Steve Dale doesn’t post a link with his name — CHICKEN! Did he just wake up from a coma??
Comment by Kat — April 11, 2007 @ 11:28 pm
Comment by mal — April 11, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
That is one of the worst-written “articles” I’ve read yet on this recall. That author clearly doesn’t know how to read or interpret statistics whatsoever, and he clearly believes this whole thing was one massive over-reaction by crazy pet owners. His personal bias shows in what and how he wrote to such a degree that if I were his writing professor, he would get a massive F—- on that article.
“Most of the pets survived” — well duh, if you have 51% of them surviving, then that is a true statement. And since the death rate appears to be in the range of 35-38%, then clearly “most” of the pets survived. What a slanted way of writing that statistic, especially when we’re talking thousands of animals.
“The good news is that reports of thousands of pets dying at Banfield hospitals because of poisoned food are false.” — First of all, there were never any reports of thousands of pets dying at Banfield hospitals! What an idiot. Banfield’s report of “thousands” of dead/dying pets was an extrapolated number that included all pets nationwide, NOT just pets seen at Banfield’s hospitals. So his entire sentence is wrong because there were never any such reports in the first place!
What a lousy job of “reporting”, Mr. Steve Dale, SHAME ON YOU, and please go back to Journalism 101 before you publish any more of your incompetent DISINFORMATION.
Comment by Sarah — April 11, 2007 @ 11:30 pm
Yeah I’m just so shocked I think I shocked myself with that one and the bouncing numbers.
Won’t they really be shocked once we get them fired.
Comment by Kathi — April 11, 2007 @ 11:31 pm
My belief is that with the Senate hearings happening later today (very heavily populated with “experts” from the major pet food companies) every effort is being made to down play the seriousness of this recall.
All of a sudden Banfield is downplaying the numbers reported and everyone has their own little explanations for all the continuing recalls. The pet food companies and the associated government agencies have been working very hard to get the real truth in a deep hole and cover it up before the hearings. I suspect that nothing will come out of the hearings..it will just be another whitewash!!
Comment by mal — April 11, 2007 @ 11:32 pm
Since Mr. Dale didn’t leave his email, I guess we should just tell his bosses what we think?
Comment by straybaby — April 11, 2007 @ 11:33 pm
dOES ANYONE KNOW IF THE SENATE HEARINGS WILL BE PLAYED LATER ON AGAIN IN THE EVENING?
Comment by lori anderson — April 11, 2007 @ 11:35 pm
I was looking for “Steve Dale” of McClatchy-Tribune News Service and if you google the service it’s just that—a service, not an actual newspaper. They provide “content” to newspapers nationwide. Want to have your “content” published? Just send it to them.
That’s not journalism. It’s just a business that pretends to be. McClatchy was a huge name here in Sacramento that used to mean something. Sad how far they’ve fallen.
Comment by carly — April 11, 2007 @ 11:36 pm
Could Bainfield be playing down the numbers because Mars is recalling next (aside from the other reasons)?
Comment by straybaby — April 11, 2007 @ 11:36 pm
I am going to record the hearing using media center. If anyone can post it let me know. It may be too long for youtube. I can put it up on FTP so you can grab it. Let me know.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 11:40 pm
I was mortified when that 39,000 deaths popped up the other day, as was everyone else.
When they start using estimates & percentages of the visits, I think that is reckless. I don’t know where they got their information. I didn’t & can’t believe it’s that high.
But, I can guarantee you, from all the posts on various boards the count is way over than being in the hundreds, as Steve Dale states.
And, the ones posted on the internet don’t even include the people without a computer.
Comment by Kat — April 11, 2007 @ 11:41 pm
The media silence is almost deafening. And non-existant in my area. No mention over a week now and executive producers say they’ll check into it, but don’t. It’s very frustrating. Unless they’re being squeezed like Fox News with Steve Wilson and wife a few years back over the BGH/Monsanto expose.
Comment by Kathi — April 11, 2007 @ 11:42 pm
I don’t think it was deaths (if i remember correctly), but affected.
Comment by straybaby — April 11, 2007 @ 11:44 pm
re: my post @11:42
meant to say Anchor Steve Wilson. Tired I guess.
Comment by Kathi — April 11, 2007 @ 11:47 pm
You know… I had gone to bed 1 1/2 hours ago and couldn’t sleep just thinking about what else I might be able to dig up, so I got back on the net to see what was happening. Now everything I have read in the lst hour has just made me feel so sick that I want to puke!!
The media is reporting based on what they are “told” to. The facts and figures are all being manipulated and changed. Do the BIG GUYS out there think that we are all such mindless idiots that we can’t remember what was said 3 days ago or a week ago or 3 weeks ago.
The problem is that there are not a lot of people like myself and the other “regulars” here who live, breathe, eat, and sleep “pet food recall scandal”. The other people will listen to the news or read their paper and no news is good news.
Keeping this situation quiet is the BIG GUYS way of letting this story die. If there is no news then people forget and other issues take center stage.
Comment by mal — April 11, 2007 @ 11:47 pm
I sent the following comment to the Editor of The Arizona Republic via their Letters to the Editor comment page:
Regarding Mr. Steve Dale’s so-called “reporting” on the pet food recall, in his April 12, 2007 article titled “Food-linked pet deaths dwindling; most cat victims survived”:
That is one of the worst-written “articles” I’ve read to-date on this recall. Mr. Dale clearly doesn’t know how to read or interpret statistics whatsoever, and he clearly believes this whole thing was one massive over-reaction by crazy pet owners. His personal bias shows in what and how he wrote to such a degree that if I were his writing professor, or his editor, he would receive a massive red “F minus” on that article.
Mr Dale states: “Most of the pets survived” — well duh, 51% of anything is “most”. At this time, it appears that roughly 63-65% of animals are surviving, so yes, that means “most” of them are surviving. But that is such a slanted way of stating that statistic that it downplays the massive numbers of dead and sick pets, which are well into the thousands and potentially well over 10,000 sick and dead combined.
Mr. Dale states: “The good news is that reports of thousands of pets dying at Banfield hospitals because of poisoned food are false.” — First of all, there were never any reports of thousands of pets dying at Banfield hospitals in the first place! So unless Mr. Dale personally mis-heard or mis-interpreted the actual reports, I don’t know what planet he is on. Banfield Hospital’s report of “thousands” of dead/dying pets was an extrapolated number that included all pets nationwide, NOT just pets seen at Banfield’s hospitals. So Mr. Dale’s entire sentence is based on a false premise. That is just grade-school-level incompetence in reporting. Period.
Mr. Steve Dale: What a lousy job of “reporting”. SHAME ON YOU. And shame on The Arizona Republic for hiring and publishing such incompetence and DISinformation that minimizes the severity and urgency of this pet food recall. Don’t you realize that thousands of worried pet owners depend on the media to get this information RIGHT so they can make the right decisions in the best interest of their pets? You have a RESPONSIBILITY TO GET IT RIGHT, every time you report, and ESPECIALLY in matters that are life and death. SHAME ON YOU !!
Comment by Sarah — April 11, 2007 @ 11:49 pm
The new FDA Enforcement Notice is out today:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/.....00999.html
Comment by Kat — April 11, 2007 @ 11:52 pm
Comment by Kat — April 11, 2007 @ 11:41 pm
Kat, it wasn’t 39,000 deaths, it was total sickened and dead, and it was just an estimate, an extrapolation, based on very limited data from their database.
And regarding Mr. Dale’s article, you’ll notice he doesn’t cite any sources when he makes the most blatant incorrect statements. He clearly wrote a DISinformation piece, and it never should have passed through any decent editor to make it to their website. So I let them know exactly how I felt about it.
Comment by Sarah — April 11, 2007 @ 11:52 pm
whoooo-weeeee! That’s a good one, Sarah!
Comment by Kat — April 11, 2007 @ 11:53 pm
That Steve Dale article was one of the worst I have seen yet. What a Tool!
I know I wouldn’t take my kitties to Banfield even before this. Petco and Petsmart are off my list now too, I would rather support a local Mom and Pop anyway. It beats some pimple faced kid who doesn’t care if the food on the shelves could kill someones cat or dog.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 11:54 pm
Re:Comment by Sarah
Bravo Sarah. That is what is needed.
I have been sending letters to my local newspapers almost daily..eventually I hope to get some response.
I think everyone needs to do the same..bombard the media with informed and well presented materials about the on-going scandal.
Comment by mal — April 11, 2007 @ 11:54 pm
I can’t find the link that Bain Capital owns Nutro. Can the person who found that info post where they got it? Nutro web site says they’re a privately owned company, but in truth, doesn’t actually say by who.
I did see that Bain Capital also owns Clear Channel Communications, which owns hundreds of radio (and tv?) stations.
Comment by carly — April 11, 2007 @ 11:55 pm
Even if this “only” impacted 1% of the cats or dogs in the US and Canada that number would be huge.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 11, 2007 @ 11:58 pm
mal @ 11:47
The other problem is the Katrina Syndrome. Waiting for Government to tell them what to do. I live in Hurricane beach area, I see it coming, I move out of the way - not wait for the “expert” knuckleheads to determine if it just might miss us and we’d get mud on our faces. Even an old friend of mine wouldn’t listen when I told her to stop using Nutro MaxCat in cans during the first recall. She insisted if it’s not on the list it’s okay. I have those same numbered cans sitting in the back of the cabinet. I’m afraid to call her now. I don’t think I could handle it.
Comment by Kathi — April 11, 2007 @ 11:58 pm
Re:Comment by carly
I found this article on Bain/Nutro doing a google. There are probably more.
Nutro Products hopes to become a big part of Fido’s dinnertime ritual. The company formulates and manufactures dry and canned food, biscuits, and treats for dogs and cats. Brand names include Natural Choice, MAX, and Gourmet Classics. Its products are available in feed stores and pet supply shops (such as Petco and PetSmart) across the US and Canada. Nutro’s products are also distributed worldwide. Bought from a British entrepreneur in 1926 and transplanted to Southern California, Nutro Products operated as a family-run company from its founding until its eventual purchase in 1976. Bain Capital announced in late 2005 that it is buying Nutro.
http://www.smartbrief.com/news.....nyId=39162
Comment by mal — April 12, 2007 @ 12:00 am
Kathi:
I am afraid you are right. I too have kept my friends up to date on all the events. When I said that it may be wise not to use certain brand names the reply is “well..it’s not on the list” and I DO keep them up to date on what is happening with changes and additional recalls becoming the norm.
So sad that it will be the pets that pay for their blindness
Comment by mal — April 12, 2007 @ 12:03 am
Bain Capital Sponsors Management-Led
Buyout of Nutro Products, Inc.
http://www.nutroproducts.com/press122005.asp
this is actually right on their website
Comment by mal — April 12, 2007 @ 12:06 am
OK. I sent them an email too, saying he was lazy & didn’t do any research.
Comment by Kat — April 12, 2007 @ 12:07 am
RE: ‘Mistake’ delayed latest pet-food recall
If all the companies don’t pull their food from Menu then they don’t have much business since. I wonder if they broke some contracts by using the same exact ingredients across all the brands.
This only helps the class action, not sure they need any more shovels, and it would seem their hole is already deep enough.
Does anyone know how Menu found that they had shipped the gluten to the Canada plant? I wonder if one of their customers actually had done the testing and approached Menu Foods about what they found.
Unbelievable……..at this point they should pull everything that Menu had made off of shelves and start turning off the machines in EVERY plant.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 12:12 am
What if we need to purchase vitamins for our home-made pet food. Will this have an impact?
FDA attempting to regulate supplements, herbs and juices as “drugs”
Details of a new FDA “final solution” plan to utterly destroy natural medicine by regulating herbs, supplements, vitamins and even massage oils as drugs while criminalizing anyone who sells such products.
http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKE.....ld0001.pdf In section IV page 11 it states: To illustrate how these definitions might apply, consider an herbal product that is
intended to treat arthritis in humans. The herbal product, which would be a “biologically
based practice” insofar as CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) domains are concerned, would be a “drug” under section 201 (g)(l)(B) of the Act because it is intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease (arthritis) in man.
A new FDA “guidance” document, published on the FDA’s website, reveals plans to reclassify virtually all vitamins, supplements, herbs and even vegetable juices as FDA-regulated drugs. Massage oils and massage rocks will be classified as “medical devices” and require FDA approval. The document is called Docket No. 2006D-0480. Draft Guidance for Industry on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Products and Their Regulation by the Food and Drug Administration.
http://www.newstarget.com/021789.html
The FDA is accepting public comments on the docket until April 30th. They tried to sneak this under the radar, but word got out and now the natural health community is up in arms over this rule. If you wish to protect your access to nutritional supplements, herbs, essential oils, homeopathic medicine or any other “complementary” or “alternative” modality, it is crucial that you take action to post your comments with the FDA right now and write your representatives in Washington to put a stop to this outrageous effort to destroy natural medicine. (And be sure to really write them. Just sending an email has virtually no impact compared to writing a physical letter in your own words.)
Comment by DeeAnn — April 12, 2007 @ 12:14 am
So sad that it will be the pets that pay for their blindness
could be that alot of people just aren’t as paranoid as most are here.
Comment by . — April 12, 2007 @ 12:15 am
No one will ever know the true number of deaths or illnesses caused by these poisoned foods. Think how long pets have been eating it. Since at least early December like our kitty. (Although I guess it isnt known whether it really goes back alot further and that will be dropped to everyone on another Friday)…Some pets lasted for months and then died, others only last for days. So think about all the pets that have died prior to the recall, lthat will never get included in these numbers because bun/creatinine werent done or if those were done and showed normal a urinalysis was never done. Or they had other illnesses and what is actually being written off as some other cause was actually death due to poison food ingestion…..I believe it is in the thousands. And how many more will die as time goes on? No one knows the true effects of melamine & this other yet to be announced chemical so hopefully those pets doing better now will continue that way but there is no study showing what will happen.
Comment by Sandi K — April 12, 2007 @ 12:15 am
Why would anyone think, at this point in the game, that THIS forum is free from masterfully orchestrated corrupt outside influences?
HELLO!!!!
Do the work for yourself. If you really love your four-legged (or three-legged) companions, you MUST find a way to rise above this abysmal pit of deceit and poison that is going to drag on forever. NOTHING will change tomorrow. WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!
You can do it. DO IT!!
Comment by Lois Kimball — April 12, 2007 @ 12:17 am
mal
I do keep her updated via our mutual friend. She was feeding the MaxCat cans to her three Papillons (or however ya spell it). I already lost my Shepherd last Sept and my best friend’s death anniversary was yesterday and my murdered daughter’s death anniversary is on the 21st so I’m just hoping our mutual friend doesn’t give me any bad news about the dogs.
Comment by Kathi — April 12, 2007 @ 12:22 am
Mal—
You are good at research. I talked about the Doane connection to Menu and Mars last week with my story of how they were related and websights to post my findings.
Look what I just discocered:
It is still in infancy in research but much too interesting to ignore—-
http://www.organicconsumers.or....._wheat.cfm
ROUND UP WHEAT is biotech wheat that was grown in Montana. Sell most of its wheat to the Aisan Pacific Relm as said Michael DOANE, director of industry affairs for the St. Louis-based corporation, who asked that the exact location not be revealed.
What is that St. Louis based corporation probably? Check this out—-
http://www.allbusiness.com/agr.....699-1.html
DOANE AGRICULTURAL SERVICES CO.
Joe Prochaska has been hired as a consultant to Doane Agricultural Services Co., St. Louis. Joe will be working to build a new client base in the agribusiness and agrifood industries for Doane’s existing products
Kinda FISHY? TOO Conincindental? Weird?
Comment by pet owner research — April 12, 2007 @ 12:22 am
I think the best advice you can give anyone is to not use any pet food with Wheat Gluten PERIOD.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 12:23 am
MonkeyKitty:
I suspect the UC-Davis find was what prompted that recall. I’ll betcha those 3 cans they tested was from a different mfg plant they had “conveniently” overlooked. That’s my best guess. I haven’t read anything about how they knew — other than the feeble “clerical error” that’s now out.
Comment by Kat — April 12, 2007 @ 12:24 am
It seems that the PFI and the FDA and the “big money” got the fix all in JUST before the Senate hearing. That reporter , Steve Dale, do you REALLY believe he just decided to put that piece in tonight for no reason? Or that the “story” he wrote won’t be in every paper in the world tomorrow? Count on it. And I bet he got a nice chunk of change to do it.
Good timing on their part, the fuss dies down, it was just a bunch of hysterical owners, none of our pets really died, evidence vanishes and the Senate dog and pony show is seen as solving the little problem no one ever hears about anymore.
Until the next time.
Hey, you gotta give credit where credit is due.
They know, and we know, that the same people who won’t spay or neuter their pets will just go back to buying whatever pet food is on sale.
Thus assuring yet another bumper crop of unwanted cats to eat crappy food and die and enrich Iams and Purina.
Vets will still sell Science Diet and all will be well in the Menu Foods world yet again.
I have to go curl up in a fetal position on the couch for a while now.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 12, 2007 @ 12:30 am
Just to show how deep things go:
Bain owns Nutro.
Bain also owns Blue Ridge Pharmaceuticals/IDEXX
http://tinyurl.com/29pheh
Pet Food Recall: IDEXX Responds to Questions Regarding Diagnostic Testing
Letter to Veterinary Customers, March 23, 2007
In response to questions from Veterinarians, IDEXX is offering testing options to help you screen healthy pets for any evidence of renal damage and help diagnose ill pets with renal disease that have or are suspected of ingesting one of the recalled foods.
http://www.idexx.com/animalhea.....recall.jsp
So if they can’t make money selling the poisoned Nutro they can make money selling their testing products.
Too much..my brain is reeling!!
Comment by mal — April 12, 2007 @ 12:33 am
http://www.northcountrygazette.....hToll.html
Another article that just came out. At least its better than the mass media.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 12:34 am
I’m pretty sure it had more to do with all the Canadian complaints I heard while visiting several small town media around the country and Canada towards the end of March. They wanted to know if their pets illnesses might be the same as American illnesses. I don’t believe at the time any reported a death. Just vomiting and lethargy.
Comment by Kathi — April 12, 2007 @ 12:35 am
Thank you to the person or persons who posted the article regarding Menu Foods saying the most recent food re-call was delayed due to a mistake. I called Menu Foods 3 times and Nutro 3 times immediately after the 3-16 initial recall. Each time I spoke with a person and I explained that our cat had died of with mostly all the symptoms and she was eating Nutro Max Cat. I said the Nutro Max Cat does have the little square “cuts” of meat and the “gravy” in it and it does contain wheat gluten. I told them I was seriously concerned. Each time I was told “that is not on the recall list”. Each time I said EXACTLY MY POINT, IT NEEDS TO BE!!!!! Do you think anyone called me back? Nada! Not one person. “Clerical error” and a “mistake” are hogwash. It was total mishandling and their “mistake” and “clerical error” cost additional deaths and illnesses that didnt have to happen. I guess I dont understand how FDA allows a company that has shown themselves to be irresponsible and a danger to society, to stay in business? If this was a smaller company they would have been shut down in an instant until they could prove their operations were safe. If FDA cant do that, where is Dept of Labor OSHA? They shut down companies for less violations than this.
Comment by Sandi K — April 12, 2007 @ 12:58 am
Here’s an update on Cleo, the kitty who was sickened by the Nutro. More about when they contacted Nutro — sending samples to them too.
”..Kellie Little, Cleo’s owner, said she purchased the food from Pet Club in Corte Madera on March 19. She said she has been in contact with Nutro officials about six times over the past two weeks, but she was told that only the cat food in pouches had been recalled, not the canned cat food. She provided two samples to the company’s office in addition to the samples sent to UC Davis…”
Comment by Kat — April 12, 2007 @ 1:01 am
ooops! Here’s Cleo’s link:
http://www.marinij.com/ci_5630208
Comment by Kat — April 12, 2007 @ 1:02 am
The lyin’ sack’s of crap! “Uh, lady we only had the recall on the pouches. Best I can guess is your cat must have eaten a bad rat, or something… Our stuff id ‘non-poisonous’ — cause that’s what Anying said…. “
Comment by Kat — April 12, 2007 @ 1:09 am
Sandi K
Look at mal - last post and pet owner research post
This goes way out there. The big M is in FDA. Former M employees are Rumsfel.. ya know who and Ashcro.. him too, and all the others holding the big jobs in the big houses that are supposed to be serving us. M has media by the short ones and has internet interests too. We went to Iraq for a reson other than war. Iraq has a huge seed storage facility that M wanted and probably has by now. They are there and so is Halibur… yeah VP Hal.
That why pres wants to stay until they finish agri business. Hal has food too
Comment by Kathi — April 12, 2007 @ 1:11 am
RE:Comment by pet owner research — April 12, 2007 @ 12:22 am
So far could only find this loose connection betwen Monsanto and Doane Agricultural
“You can save money on the cost of crop protection, and it gives us more flexibility,” said Stemme, who, like many U.S. farmers, is planting bioengineered crops like never before.
Thirty-three percent of U.S. corn acres, 44 percent of the soybean crop and 55 percent of cotton fields this year will be filled with plants that have been altered to fight pests and/or tolerate weedkillers. Monsanto’s technology accounts for most of the new crops.
This sharp growth — there were no commercial plantings in 1995 — shows that U.S. farmers believe biotechnology provides an advantage.
“Today’s products offer farmers reduced costs and easier management, and that has fueled the rapid adoption,” said Richard Pottorf, chief economist for Doane Agricultural Services Co. of St. Louis.
http://www.biotech-info.net/favor_onthe_farm.html
will do some more searching tomorrow..or rathr later today
Comment by mal — April 12, 2007 @ 1:13 am
Comment by Sandi K — April 12, 2007 @ 12:58 a
Sandi: Get a copy of your phone records to show documentation that you called them on X dates and spoke for X amount of time. Write down as much of what you remember saying as you can, including the name of any specific person you spoke with, if you can remember. And of course keep all records related to your cat and the food eaten. If you don’t have evidence of the food eaten, try to go to the store where you purchased the food (if you bought it on a credit card) and see if you can get someone to print you out an itemized copy of your receipts for the food. Make a copy of all of this documentation, and send a copy to whomever eventually investigates any culpability. Right now, I think all the “investigation” is related to the food itself and preventing any further sickness/death. But at some point, an investigation into the culpability will be in full force, and that’s when your documentation of attempting to tell them about another product sooner will be important. You may even contact some of the class action lawyers and ask if they are interested in your documentation (though the current class action cases aren’t related to who knew what and when, they are just related to dead/sick animals, period).
I’m sorry for your loss. :-(
Comment by Sarah — April 12, 2007 @ 1:16 am
Forgot to mention M is also regulatory fda. Goes back over twenty years. We tried to stop it but they had more heavy duty players than us silly little dumbass farmers. Took us out one at a time and now doing it on a global scale. M owns the patents on the genes. Farmers must pay duty fees for R-Ready. Seeds won’t work without it.
Comment by Kathi — April 12, 2007 @ 1:18 am
Someone mentioned earlier there was a poisoning in China. Here’s the link — and it’s rat poison:
chinadaily.com —
http://tinyurl.com/27ec2f
Hospital poisoning case intentional
(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-04-12 13:48
A food poisoning case which killed one person and sickened more than 200 others who ate a hospital breakfast contaminated with rat poison was intentional, state television said Thursday.
China Central Television said police in Harbin in northeastern China found the rat poison in the vomit of the victims.
“According to the investigation, the food poisoning case on April 9 is a case of someone intentionally spreading dangerous material,” Song Chunhua, deputy head of the criminal investigation department of the Harbin Public Security Bureau, was quoted as saying. No other details were given.
The victims included patients and staff at the Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. They all ate porridge at the hospital’s restaurant Monday.
Most complained of nausea and diarrhea, but one 77-year-old patient died.
Mass poisonings are common in China, which has been struggling to improve a dismal food safety record.
Xinhua News Agency said the hospital is one of the largest and best hospitals in the provincial capital of Harbin.
Comment by Kat — April 12, 2007 @ 1:25 am
Don’t believe M pr releases. Don’t plan on the BIG court for help either. M has a sitting C. Thomas short one on the cola can.
Did I mention only seeds allowed to be used are M’s especially if they drift on your field. They will sue for patent infringement. Once they do and you’re forced to sign you cannot create your own seeds any longer. They’re in more states than Mont, they own Cargill and DeKalb too. They went global a while back.
Comment by Kathi — April 12, 2007 @ 1:28 am
Well, well, well…. here’s another rat poisoning in China…
http://tinyurl.com/2e4xs4
50,000-yuan reward posted for clues to food poisoning
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-04-05 20:45
HANGZHOU - Police in Yongkong, east China’s Zhejiang Province, have offered a 50,000-yuan reward hoping it will lead to the arrest of people who deliberately poisoned 57 diners last week.
Police say someone put rat poison into the breakfast being served at a restaurant in Xixi township.
The 57 victims including a number of students who felt nauseous and suffered stomachaches after eating breakfast last Thursday. They were hospitalized and were examined by a panel of experts.
Eighteen people are still in hospital while 39 others were treated and released, doctors said Thursday.
Also in Zhejiang Province, 36 students were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon suffering similar symptoms after they eating beef soup served for lunch at a snack bar in Cangnan county.
Test on soup samples showed the students were poisoned by excessive amount of nitrite.
The students were all out of danger by Wednesday night and some have been discharged from the hospital.
The investigation into the cause of the food poisoning is still underway.
Comment by Kat — April 12, 2007 @ 1:32 am
Norway passed a law back in 1993 to keep out GE wheat. They’re afraid some day they will have to comply with M because they won’t be able to trade on the markets.
Japan has a ban on the stuff. Waiting to see how it affects us first. Canada caved some time ago. M guy offered a sweet deal for a vote.
Comment by Kathi — April 12, 2007 @ 1:33 am
Wheat Fungus - Fusarium
http://news.uns.purdue.edu/htm.....arium.html
Ronald Wempem MD April 10 9:19 AM and I both talked about the Wheat Fungus toxicity and sick pets.
Also notice products by ChemNutra: ESB protein powder, it’s a mycoprotein which is also Fusarium a deadly wheat fungus.
Comment by Kathi — April 12, 2007 @ 1:52 am
Hi all… Catching up on posts here. Gotta rant a little before I can even try to sleep.
The UC-Davis melamine find definitely prompted the newest Menu Foods recall last night. IMO they would have not have issued that recall unless forced. By publishing melamine test results of those 3oz. Nutro cans in the Marin Co. newspaper, and those results reported to the FDA, Menu Foods had no choice but recall. It wasn’t voluntary. They had no other option.
Menu seems to like to throw out more names of the less $ brands first for recall. Less financial loss for Menu to sacrifice those cheaper brands and the lessor $ contracts that go with them. They assume they will keep or renegotiate new contracts for them as those are only based on quantity rather than quality.
When those results that Nutro still had bad food out there, covered up for almost a month, canned by Menu, a big $ cash cow contract,you really know a scandal is/has brewed.
It is not believable that the remaining canned foods they keep/kept deeming safe have not been tested. I cannot believe that Nutro corporate did not test their branded food. (Wasn’t just a couple Nutro 3oz cans that were recalled yesterday.) The fingers keep pointing to the dirty Chinese supplier but it stretches far beyond that.
“Whoops…Office paperwork mixup. Some of the bad stuff did get to the Canada plant” We forgot, we don’t know, I dumped my stock in the company weeks before the sh*t hit the fan by coincidence. Yah right, Menu. And 34 MORE recalled varieties recalled… I truly believe not a word of it. And I also don’t believe the big contract pet food companies, example here Nutro, don’t know what is going on. It has gotten well past scandalous actions and into criminal intent, action and deception.
When they all start pointing the fingers at each other we will start to get to the very bottom of the dirty deals they have done in the dark. Heads will start to roll when more light gets shed. Dirty players won’t make loyal cronies. This is all about making fast bucks…
We can force changes. Boycotting the pet food companies involved in the scandal is a start, but as some of the earlier posts tonight discussed, we need to go to the top of the corporate chains and down to all their holdings in our boycotting. Our money as consumers IS our power. And no matter how large these corporations are, we can hit them where it hurts. I keep reminding myself, too, that those in the government can be voted out if the necessary changes in the system are not made and enforced.
Keep fighting the good fight. Remember, Strength in Numbers!
Comment by Laurie — April 12, 2007 @ 2:06 am
No till is RoundupReady/Monsanto GE plants (patented) - aka the problem.
See my last post’s URL
Do you not think it interesting that the fungus is identical to ChemNutra ESB protein powder? A mycoprotein aka mycotoxin.
One or two Universities is still looking for another unnamed toxin.
Comment by Kathi — April 12, 2007 @ 2:41 am
The biggest hurdle is getting the word out to mail the parent companies.
In the Imus case, Sharpton and Jackson had good media coverage.
We’ve got deadly silence and altered figures and major butt coverings with ooops and “coincidentals.”
Local Southeastern media is zilch. The executive producers promise to look into it but don’t report anything.
Comment by Kathi — April 12, 2007 @ 2:50 am
Mailing the parent company might work better if we try The Pet Food Crusade approach like when we emailed the senators. Choose a couple at a time with a few vital companies listed to include in the parent companies email something like:
Bain Capital = Domino’s Pizza, etc with reason mentioned: Fire Dave Kravis and a few of our demands for quality foods.
Then another parent company with similar platform. There are only a handful of parent companies anyway so it wouldn’t be complicated.
Also a page for us to mass email targeted media to get the pages out there so others can join in. Be sure to include parent address for the ones who want to send letters and phone numbers, too.
We really do need media help. And we need more than a handful of people to get their attention.
Comment by Kathi — April 12, 2007 @ 3:09 am
This is a little of subject of this topic but I wasn’t sure where to post. My husband and I are stationed in Europe and we get most everything at the commissary. Slowly they have taken almost all the dog food off the shelf. We are picking up our brand new lab puppy tomorrow and dalmation next Saturday. We bought Hill Science Diet puppy food because it was about the only thing on the shelf and because I thought it was safe. After reading some posts about Hills I’m scared to feed it to them. I’m sure puppies systems would crash quickly if it is contaminated. Since all we have is hills and purina, does anyone know of any puppy foods sold in Europe that are good, or if purina, pedigree…sold in Europe is safe? The Hills we got does not have corn, corn gluten, wheat, wheat gluten or wheat flour but still…..any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
Comment by Paige — April 12, 2007 @ 3:44 am
I would recommend home cooking for your puppy. Before pet food companies existed, pets were fed what people ate. We have been brainwashed to think the pet food manufacturers know what is best. They don’t. They are only interested in making money. They do not have our pets’ best interests at heart. There are many sources on line to help you know what to cook as well as many books available. Dr. Pitcairn has a good book as do lots of others. I think http://www.howl911.com lists several books, but you can just google in something like recipes for dog food, etc. and find lots of recipes on line. Please avoid commercial foods of any kind. Good luck with your new puppy.
Comment by Janice — April 12, 2007 @ 4:15 am
Paige
I agree with Janice and if you reach a website with a contact or email for home cook be sure to mention breed, age and weight. Also compare home cook recipes. And use a little variety to get the best nutrients.
Comment by Kathi — April 12, 2007 @ 4:32 am
I don’t know if this has been posted before or not, but here is a connection for G.D. Searle, Donald Rumsfeld, Aspartame, Monsanto.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.....p;_Company
Lots of stories about the history of Aspartame.
So who do you think owns the World, Mmmmmmmmm.
Comment by Kathi — April 12, 2007 @ 4:40 am
Kathi,
This is for you. According to blog polite rules - it is just the main body of the e-mail I received from a very nice man:
Hi Linda,
It’s good to hear from you. These are good and common questions that I get asked on a pretty regular basis. There are some high-profile, inflammatory expose’ type articles out there that suggest some horrible atrocities taking place in the pet food industry, such as using road-kill and kitchen-sink type ingredients in pet food. My answer is that I cannot verify those allegations and do not believe that many are true. Large, established companies such as Purina, Hills, etc. would be VERY slow to do something so grossly offensive and jeopardize their reputation.In today’s world, there are waaaay too many whistle-blowers that make something like the use road kill common and indisputable knowledge. These companies are being watched very carefully by special interest groups, more so than the FDA.
The point is that their foods are bad enough with the “approved” ingredients- the gluten grains, soy, corn and now dairy products…again. That last one is insane, after we took all dairy out 20 years ago and for good reason. The pets are being sickened by these “staple” but totally unnatural ingredients every single day, with or without rat bait or plastic contaminants. We don’t need to be looking for overtly offensive additives to explain the problems we are seeing, although it is painfully clear that we need to for the safety of our pets…and us.
They are supposed to list all ingredients in the food, starting with the most abundant. Whether some “secret”ingredients exist is unlikely, especially in the case of the bigger companies, buuuut….stranger things have happened. :(
I hope this helps
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 6:21 am
Please, anyone wanting to make pet food, get a book or join a reputable group. It’s OK to feed unbalanced food for a while, but if you’re going to be doing this for a while, please read up. No sense in reinventing the wheel.
Comment by CathyA — April 12, 2007 @ 6:23 am
Just catching up to posts. Regarding mal’s post at 11:47p, 4-11, yes unfortunately people have very short attention span and figure no news is good news. What they don’t hear or read to them means it no longer exists. Hate to feel this way, but I personally think there is just a small group who is vehemently fighting this scandal. Wish things were different and more people would get off their collective asses.
Comment by VJ — April 12, 2007 @ 6:24 am
Side Comment about Pet Food:
I have several large dogs and I am feeding them home-made meals and also using up the remainder of my better dog food - Natural Balance. (I threw away the rest.)
My dogs sure are appreciating me more these days - delighted to eat the meals, love the smells in the kitchen, coats are nicer, and all related issues I had - allergies, loose stools, dull coats, have virtually vanished. I don’t know for sure why - but seems to work for us.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 6:26 am
RE: POSTING IN WRONG THREAD
Comment by elizabeth R — April 11, 2007 @ 9:50 pm
Elizabeth, just click on the time of the post and you’ll get an url for the post which you can repost where you want. You’ll have to tiny URL it though.
Comment by CathyA — April 12, 2007 @ 6:27 am
I think the FDA is working as hard as it can out in the field. They are never going to say anything different until they get all the data, and that is as it should be in a sense. If they were set up like the CDC we would be getting suspected illness numbers. The Banfield statistics aren’t any different, just the slant. Forbes did report the 200+ number of more than usual kidney failure on 4/11, which is really more to the point. Some of these affected animals won’t make it, others will be living with chronic illness for the rest of their lives, others may opt to euthanize because they can’t afford continual treatment. Also, one is trusting every employee in the Banfield operation to enter data correctly so the numbers actually reflect reality. This isn’t a science experiment with controls, just humans punching info into computers. Banfield may be an “organization”, but my guess is staff competence varies wildly between buildings as they’re really separate practices.
I don’t think you can take Banfield as an a marker for the whole US. They’re only a piece of the data. For one I think they get a specific clientele. Oregon’s numbers are being reported as the CDC would human numbers - suspected illnesses. Still I don’t think you can extrapolate those numbers to the whole US. It gives you a better idea of the numbers, that’s all. The failure of the press to add the Oregon and Michigan data to every release concerning numbers is the real issue. Most of the press thinks people are stupid. Quite frankly I’m sick and tired of reading incomplete stories. They need to keep repeating ALL the facts every time they have a new slant on anything. That, quite frankly is the definition of news.
And to my knowledge no one has gone back to crunch data on late 2006. No one will ever know the true numbers, as Dr. Pion said. AFAIC the 39,000 figure Banfield threw out there was more hurtful than helpful. Anyone pressed to extrapolate should politely decline and state why: cats and small dogs eat more canned food, cats better at hiding illness, regional differences in sales, distribution factors, the issue of chronic renal failure in cats, etc.
Not to be repetitive, but I still think that the FDA is busy checking human food also and there is some pressure from the govt on news agencies to downplay this right now until they’re done. In the face of all of this, I applaud Oregon for just going about their job and putting it on paper (so to speak).
Comment by CathyA — April 12, 2007 @ 6:58 am
My neighbor died overnight of a massive coronary. Died on his wife’s birthday, yesterday. He had gone to the doctor to get a prescription for allergies & told them he had bad reactions to antihistimines.
So, what does the doctor give him>>>>? an antihistimine !! I know they always add a counter med — some version or similarity to pseudoephedrine.
Well, he died right before her eyes! She did CPR, but he was gone.
Comment by Kat — April 12, 2007 @ 7:20 am
Big Corporation Banfield. We personally have had bad experiences, at the cost of our kids, 1.e. overvacinating, with Banfield. Again it’s all about the mighty dollar. We wouldn’t take an earthworm to them.
Comment by elliott — April 12, 2007 @ 8:09 am
People, this problem is much worse and farther reaching than what’s been admitted. My dog got severely ill in 2004 with the same symptoms as this latest recall, and we nearly lost her. Thankfully, I noticed the connection to the food and pulled her off. After a week of feeding her hamburger and rice, she did get better. But, I’m now doubtful that her severe arthritis at a young age isn’t somehow related. The vet had never heard of an animal getting so sick off dog food. Remember, this was 3 years ago.
I have an email from Purina that confirms it’s an “unusual occurrence” so they are/were aware of the possibility of animals getting sick. Purina One is what she was on. Purina also did not reimburse me for my vet bills, but did send me a coupon for more pet food.
Comment by D — April 12, 2007 @ 8:17 am
Paige,
I have been following European pet blogs, mainly in my native language Dutch(but also in German and French)practically none of the tainted pet food was imported into Western Europe. No panic in Europe. Most big American pet food companies have their own manufacturing plants in Europe. Exception ofcourse are American commissaries who get most of their stuff from the USA. There were some cases of Nutro Choice pouches imported into Belgium and Italy, but are of have been tracked down. The only petfood I noticed being questioned as to safety on the blogs is Purina’s Beneful which is basically junk anyway and not related to the melamine recall. Donot know where you are located in Europe but maybe you want to avoid ” made in the USA or made in Canada” for the time being and buy the same brand but made in European plants.
Hope this helps.
Comment by Serijna — April 12, 2007 @ 9:05 am
Regarding the mechanics of a recall… shouldn’t each company marketing food under its name be REQUIRED to issue its own recall notice? In this case, allowing Menu Foods to issue the recall notice allows dozens of brands to avoid the bad press of having their name associated with a recall.
How any people continued feeding their pets tainted food because they didn’t realize that their brand was affected?
The entire recall process needs a big overhaul. Right now the rules seem to be skewed against the consumer.
Comment by David — April 12, 2007 @ 9:07 am
Serijna,
Thank you!! Im in Limburg province, netherlands and everything I find online is in Dutch…havent learned it yet. I know a lot of people dont like to recommend food, but the one my breeder uses is only available in belgium. Any opinions would be appreciated.
Comment by Paige — April 12, 2007 @ 9:29 am
Kat,
I’m sorry to read about your neighbor’s death, what a terrible tragedy and his poor wife, on his wife’s birthday too.
Life is so precious. I know he will be missed.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 9:38 am
Thanks Linda MS. She has his two grown daughters there. They are all from Ft. Worth. She is a psychologist, & trying to hold it together, but she’s so distraught. One of our neighbor’s came & performed CPR, then the medics too. He was gone in the bath tub — no coming back.
He was a very nice man. We live in a very rural area. He was always helping others….”cause that’s what neighbors do.”
They have a feral dog, a house poodle & a feral raccoon they feed.
Comment by Kat — April 12, 2007 @ 10:32 am
I had already posted this under the Time Line thread but given the relevance Im re-posing a slightly modified version here.
It deals with what I have seen from the beginning as the rather astounding lack of due diligence on the part of the Vet community as well as retailers that goes well beyond the negligence of Menu Foods in first not promptly reporting and then dribbling the information out with a painfully SLOW reveal of the full extent of the contamination. (assuming we even have that now).
I did a call in to the Larry Mieller Show on Wisconsin Public Radio this week when the guest was Dr. Sandy Sawchuk DVM from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. I voiced the issued I had with my dog Brandy’s death with her and essentially got the same line I have been getting from my vet (who I believe attended UW Madison. i.e. That in all likelihood, Brandy died of her pre-existing condition even though it was highly coincident with eating just a few cans of one of the identified products and that her symptoms were spot on with those identified with those associated with the poisoning.
Sure, maybe this was the case. Maybe. On the other hand we have a known mass poisoning event and an animal has become acutely ill and there was ZERO concern registered that maybe other dogs might still be a risk.
Listen to the show here: http://wpr.org/webcasting/audi.....m?Code=mlr
I wanted to listen to the show again to I googled up WPR and Sandy Sawchuk again and found the following archived shows with another host from March 22nd while the recall was still raging (and changing daily).
Locate the 3/22 broadcase archive here: http://wpr.org/webcasting/audi.....m?Code=jca
You might be a bit shocked at her comments. In the beginning she jokes that when she and others heard of the pet food recall that “we thought it must be a slow news day…”.
She goes on to state that until recently the ENTIRE pet nutrition program at the UW Vet school consisted of guest lectures by a rep from Hills! And, that even that has been cut now to a single 50 minute lecture (by her)… something to keep in mind the next time your vet (maybe a Madison graduate?) is hawking the benefits of Science Diet to you.
The first part of the show is also interesting offering another guest from a regional pet food chain who (on March 22nd) personally certifies that the recall is both complete and “accurate”.
Outside of the vets identified here on petconection.com I have not seen or heard ANY vets or retail stores including the one identified in this interview that have taken what I would call a properly pro-active stance in stemming the tide of damage from this dissaster.
Another thread talks about Katrina pet victims. I think was we have been seeing here is yet another example of the Katrina syndrome - reckless indifference at the highest levels.
Listen to the audio archives at WPR - and wonder!
Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — April 12, 2007 @ 10:38 am
Paige,
If you like Hills pet food, the Dutch manufactured Hills Pet Nutrition products should be readily available in the local pet stores. The Hills pet nutrition manufacturing plant is only a stone’s throw away from you, in Etten-Leur(near Breda, in the province of Noord Brabant) Also Limburg borders Belgium and buying the pet food that your breeder uses, should not be that inconvenient either.
Good luck learning Dutch. Although as you probably have found out already, most Dutch speak English also, which make it harder to learn Dutch.Also the best with your new puppies.
Comment by Serijna — April 12, 2007 @ 10:53 am
This could make a reporter famous, so much of the investigation has been done by the good people here, the elections are coming up, the rot goes so deep, and the human interest story of how a group like this is having to pull bad food off shelves, well, where are Woodward and Bernstein now that we really need them?
There HAS to be a hungry reporter out there who could run with this!
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 12, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
Comment by CathyA — April 12, 2007 @ 6:58 am
Very well-written post Cathy. I do think it’s valuable and necessary to extrapolate to the larger numbers, however, because it is the only way the urgency, severity, and magnitude of this issue can/will be conveyed or taken seriously. But as you said, the appropriate caveats should always be noted with any extrapolation.
Comment by Sarah — April 12, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 12, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
How could you resist….
“PetfoodGate 2007”
Comment by Sarah — April 12, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
As long as we are all emailing and calling, working on this, why not send links and info to reporters, political investigative reporters?
There is plenty of juicy bait here, even Durbin admits this blog did a better job than the lame FDA and CONTAMINATED WHEAT MADE IT INTO HUMAN FOOD!!!
With that and the links to political biggies and the coverup it really is a good story.
I found a reporter that I like, he scares them, and he might be able to help.
Please send info and links to this guy.
http://www.gregpalast.com/
If he can’t help, maybe he will know someone who will.
Heck, send info and links to every reporter YOU like- someone will be brave enough- I sure hope someone will be brave enough.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 12, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
And we had all better hurry because THIS was just announced. Do you want a company that kills pets to make BABYFOOD!!!!???
Nestle to Buy Gerber for $5.5 Billion
GENEVA (AP) - Nestle SA, the world’s biggest food and drink company, said Thursday it will buy Gerber Products Co. from pharmaceutical maker Novartis SA for $5.5 billion, giving it the largest share of the global baby food market.
The acquisition helps further Nestle’s recent focus on health and nutrition, following its purchases of the U.S. weight control company Jenny Craig and Novartis Medical Nutrition.
Nestle, which owns brands such as Nescafe, Perrier and Dreyer’s, is also the world’s largest manufacturer of infant nutritional products - largely through its leading positions in developing countries such as Brazil and China - but had no presence in baby food in the United States.
Gerber, which Nestle has coveted for more than a decade, dominates the U.S. baby-food market, with a 79 percent share, according to Morgan Stanley. (MS)
“The acquisition of Gerber is the perfect complementary fit,” said Nestle Chairman and CEO Peter Brabeck-Letmathe. “It not only gives Nestle the leadership position in baby food, but it also constitutes a decisive step to establish Nestle Nutrition as the undisputed global leader in the nutrition field.”
Adding Gerber will help the company’s nutrition business generate annual sales of close to $8.2 billion. The company said it expects Gerber to generate sales of around $1.95 billion this year.
Nestle shares fell 0.7 percent to 406.05 Swiss francs in Zurich, where Novartis shares were up at 67.35 francs ($55.27).
Nestle first tried to acquire Gerber in 1994, but lost to Sandoz AG, which later merged with Ciba-Geigy to form Novartis. Since then, Novartis has taken steps to broaden Gerber’s business beyond jarred foods.
In 2000, Gerber began selling a line of powders, oils and other toiletries for children, and in 2002 it launched microwavable meals for older toddlers. It also has a life-insurance unit. But the baby-food business has never been a good fit for a parent company that mainly sells medications.
Novartis, based in Basel, has shed several noncore businesses in recent years. In December, Novartis sold its medical-nutrition division to Nestle for $2.5 billion. Novartis is focusing on three main areas: inventing new prescription medicines, vaccines, and selling low-cost generic drugs and over-the-counter medicines.
“This transaction is also the right move for Gerber, as it will become a priority business in a leading global nutrition company,” Novartis Chairman and CEO Daniel Vasella said in a statement.
Analysts said although the price appeared high at first sight, it was in line with similar deals.
“Added to Nestle’s existing baby food business in the U.S. and its overall North American business, this makes Nestle a very clear leader in infant nutrition in the U.S., where, unlike Western Europe, having babies remains in vogue,” said Rob Mann, a Collins Stewart food analyst in London.
The purchase is expected to be completed during the second half of this year, subject to approval by regulatory authorities, Nestle said.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 12, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
If you aren’t already watching, turn on C-SPAN NOW!
Comment by Barb — April 12, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
If you aren’t already watching, turn on C-SPAN NOW!
Comment by Barb — April 12, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
If you aren’t already watching, turn on C-SPAN NOW! Pet Food Regulation - Senate Appropriations Subcomte.
Duane Ekedahl speaking now.
Comment by Barb — April 12, 2007 @ 1:23 pm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18076803/
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 12, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
MSNBC has a story about the tainted food still being on the shelves.
Make sure your local reporters know that.
A TV camera pointing at tainted food will get more of it pulled than we ever could.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 12, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
Pet Food Recall Still Not Getting The Job Done, says N.Y. Vet
http://www.send2press.com/news.....-005.shtml
Comment by Barb — April 12, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
Go tell a local reporter that the tainted food is still on the shelf. MSNBC has a story on it.
That will get more food pulled than we can.
Send a thank you note to Durbin.
And then tell people about the tainted wheat that got into people food, Durbin says it got pulled but with bad pet food on the shelf, who knows?
Keep putting the news in the hands of both local and national reporters.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 12, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
E. Hamilton:
What I found amazing is that at the hearing someone said all the tainted food was off the shelves - I think it might have been the FDA rep. but don’t quote me on this.
Senator Durbin asked the question and the answer he got was all the tainted food had been removed.
Either this person is clueless or lying on purpose - probably just saying what he was told to say.
So sad and pitiful and I hope no more animals die.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
To E. Hamilton:
I have REPEATEDLY tried to make that clear to the reporter from http://www.nbc26.com and not even in the initial report for which they interviewed me did they broadcast that fact. As I posted before, they are NOT INTERESTED in fact, they are interested in info-tainment. An old guy barely able to contain his grief on camera gets a lot more ratings than telling people not to be lulled into believing that their pets are now save - especially when an advertizer might get offended…
Given all that, it is all the more infuriating when you have one of the top vets at the UW vet school characterizing even these lame reports as “… as slow news day.” (See post and documenting links above).
Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — April 13, 2007 @ 9:11 am
I run the Safe Pet Food Blog and a woman posted a comment about her dog having eaten a non-recalled lot number of Alpo Prime Cuts…he threw up blood, was extremely sick, but ultimately pulled through. Someone else that she knew had a dog who ate Alpo Prime Cuts… it threw up blood and died. So she called all the pet food and grocery stores in town and asked them to remove it from the shelves (which they did).
Vomiting blood within a few hours of eating is not a symptom of either rat poison or kidney failure.
Has anyone heard of this sort of thing? Maybe an unrelated toxin? (I read here on PetConnection that Menu Foods thought there might be four toxins). Any ideas?
Teresa Holladay
The Safe Pet Food Blog
healthfulpetzone@yahoo.com
http://IsYourPetFoodSafe.com
Comment by Teresa Holladay — April 13, 2007 @ 10:46 pm
Teresa Holladay
I found 4 references to blood in urine of cats eating Special Kitty Dry, 5 cats total in Wilmington, NC according to comments posted at WWAY TV 3.
Comment by Kathi — April 14, 2007 @ 12:08 am