Pet-food recall: Senate hearing today
By Gina Spadafori
April 12, 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.
The Senate hearing is today at 2 p.m. ET. The Webcast will be here, and C-SPAN will also be carrying it. Let’s hope some real questions are asked, and we take a big step toward getting some changes — a national reporting system for veterinarians, and better labeling requirements for food companies. Integrating veterinarians into the public-health system is as much about human health as animal health, since animals have long served as the “canary in the coal mine” for people, since … well, since miners first took canaries down with them to give them warning of toxic gases. (Not helpful for the canaries: The gases killed them, but the death of a canary gave the miners warning to get out.) From Sen. Durbin’s office:
Witnesses will include FDA officials who will be questioned on the timeline of the investigation, the source of the contamination, and the agency’s regulatory and inspection responsibilities. The hearing will also include outside experts who will discuss the current state of the pet food industry, as well as regulatory or resource shortfalls that led to the widespread recall of tainted pet food.
There’s still time to e-mail, fax and call the offices of the senators on the committee. Touch base with ‘em all — collect the whole series. Here’s the link.
And while you’re in the go-getting frame of mind, don’t forget the volunteer effort to help retailers spot recalled food and get it off the shelf. Here’s the link.
We’ve been continuing to update our PetConnection.com self-reported database of recall-affected pets. I’m horrified to say that today we may well hit the 4,000 death mark. Now, these reports in no way confirmed, and we’ve said all along that they indicate only that the trends are far higher than the official reports. If only a fraction could be confirmed, we’d still be talking about hundred to thousands of pet deaths.
How accurate is that? No one will ever know, and that’s a big part of the problem. It’s also why veterinarians need to be a more respected and fully integrated part of the public health system. How can we begin to analyze a threat without knowing how big it is? So … 16 dead pets? … hundreds? … or thousands? Best we can hope for with what we know now is a range that’s intelligently derived. For that, we go back to the independent Veterinary Information Network and Dr. Paul Pion. Dr. Pion surveyed VIN member veterinarians (about half of all small-animal practitioners) and extrapolated a range of deaths between 2,000 and 7,000, and veterinary costs between $2 million and $20 million. Here’s that story.
Final note on our database: We will be closing it to new entries at the 30-day mark, April 18, although pending future developments (such many more recalls, or findings of more tainted wheat gluten,etc.), we may need to keep it open. As it stands, though, we feel the 30-day snapshot offered by our database served us all well in keeping this story from being a forgotten media release dropped on a Friday night — and countless uncounted and seemingly unrelated pet deaths.
Closing the Pet Connection database doesn’t mean we’ll stop following the story of this recall, and of pet-food issues in general. It does mean, however, that we believe that unless further recalls are announced the entries will become problematic . So … we’ve thought long and hard about it, and decided the 30-day mark was the time to close it to new entries.
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Can someone record this or offer a transcript or link.
As much as I would like to devote every second, every minute, everyday, every breath to this it’s not possible at this point.
Comment by Steve — April 12, 2007 @ 9:02 am
Another goal at local levels should be to develop, cultivate, and create focus groups at your local pet clubs and organizations.
Bring these issues to the attention of attendees and have literature available to hand out.Take it upon yourself to be a guest speaker if you are up to it and on top of this. The local parks where people gather for pet events on weekends is also a good place to start also.
Comment by Steve — April 12, 2007 @ 9:15 am
Royal Canin Vets Choice DRY food recalled in South Africa. “In a joint statement to all vets around the country, Sava (SA Veterinary Assoc) president Gerhard Steenkamp and Royal Canin South Africa’s MD, Gregory Watine, said there have been 19 confirmed cases in the past few days — in Johannesburg and Cape Town — of dogs presenting with acute renal failure.” (Reported today in the Mail and Guardian and other places - search Google News for “Vets Choice Renal Failure” brings up several articles.)
I wasn’t sure where to report this, but it is significant in several ways - at the very least it might unfortunately be too early to close the data base. The problem of poisonous pet food appears to be spreading.
Comment by Susanne — April 12, 2007 @ 9:51 am
Also, the health issues of the country of origin become our health issues too. Even though hepatitis B is transferred through blood and sex, I wonder if a cut finger and blood in edible products will transmit it? I hope not.
Nearly 500,000 Chinese Die of Hepatitis B Annually
Xinhua News, Apr. 9, 2007 - China has become the country with the world’s largest population of hepatitis B patients, said an official with the country’s Hepatitis Prevention Foundation Sunday. Wang Zhao, head of the foundation, said that nearly 500,000 Chinese are killed every year by liver damage and hepatocirrhosis triggered by chronical hepatitis B. He pointed out that about 120 million Chinese have positive reaction for hepatitis, which has become a severe public health problem in the country. His foundation and Novartis pharmaceutical company are working together in pushing forward education project on hepatitis prevention, including 120 lectures covering major cities.
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Susanne,
Is that dry Royal Canin on our recall list? I think they had a problem earlier with too much Vit. D.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 9:54 am
It was excess Vit. D in their prescription line of food.
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 9:55 am
Nice little article about China’s food problems and Wal-Mart brings most of it’s food in from China:
http://walmartwatch.com/blog/a.....es_threat/
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 9:59 am
Gina wouldn’t it be wiser to make a final decision on closing the database after we see what happens this afternoon.
Comment by VJ — April 12, 2007 @ 10:00 am
RE: Royal Canin - South AFrica
Comment by Susanne — April 12, 2007 @ 9:51 am
There’s no date on what you copied, nor a source. Please provide links and dates. Otherwise this is more fodder for the rumor mill.
Comment by CathyA — April 12, 2007 @ 10:00 am
Resources: All dated April 12, 2007
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.....365C521953
http://www.news24.com/News24/S.....08,00.html
http://www.mg.co.za/articlepag.....eid=304526
If the links dont work I’ll have to go to tinyurl, but as I said earlier, you can find these artticles by searching google news for Vets Choice Renal Failure.
Comment by Susanne — April 12, 2007 @ 10:04 am
Cathy A - I just tried to reply including links, I may have to go to tinyurl to get them posted. Meanwhile if you search Google News for Vets Choice Renal Failure you will find several artciles from differnet sources, all dated April 12, 2007. Royal Canin’s SA website describes Vets Choice as a dry food, no mention of wet food products NOR and mention of a recall - I was suspicious at first but found several articles reporting the same thing.
Comment by Susanne — April 12, 2007 @ 10:08 am
This link works for the webcast of the pet food hearing today. From Howl911
http://appropriations.senate.gov/
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 10:11 am
Closing the data base sends chills down my spine. I understand why, but it’s like an alter to our lost pets, their names are gathered and we grieve over them. Sounds a little silly I know, but with each added number, I remember so many are passing. I just don’t want us to forget.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 10:13 am
??? It’s not like you have a trickle coming in — you still have some good size leaps. You all are the ONLY CONSISTENT SOURCE — on a national scale.
How about closing when you get down to 2 or 3 new entries per day??
This thing is far from over.
This is puzzling & troubling….
I am shocked!
Comment by Kat — April 12, 2007 @ 10:42 am
If you want “windows”, show at 30 days we had this # of deaths; at 60 days this number… etc. But I encourage you to keep this thing open. You have 1000’s of people counting on you.
Hopefully, the sicknesses & deaths will slow down — soon. How about waiting until THAT happens???
Comment by Kat — April 12, 2007 @ 10:46 am
Or, even closing when you have NO ENTRIES for 2 weeks. That sounds even better….
Did you all decide to post that — just to see how many people came unglued???
Comment by Kat — April 12, 2007 @ 10:48 am
I know, it bothers me too.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 10:48 am
CLOSING PET CONNECTION DATA BASE
Gina,
If you go forward and close the database as planned, I would urge you to do one more thing: create a new database and ask those who logged info in on the first database to return to the new one and provide retrospective information, such as:
1. Is the pet still living?
2. What was the final diagnosis for the pet’s medical problem?
3. What was the weight of your pet?
4. What was the age of your pet?
5. Did your veterinarian think the problem was caused by contaminated food?
6. If you had bloodtests done, did they evidence abnormal kidney function levels?
Comment by Lynn — April 12, 2007 @ 10:59 am
It bothers me also that this database is closing, it was the only place to have people join together and help prompt action in the news media, and government. We have all been concerned that this story is going to go away and is already being reported less on the news. Im afraid when this is shut down, that will only help it go away that much faster. I hope you will reconsider, it seems too early especially when we are right in the middle of still finding answers as to the other toxin, source of the contamination, possible cover-ups, etc. Still so many unanswered questions. Please dont let our pets be forgotten!
Comment by Sandi K — April 12, 2007 @ 11:02 am
I need to add that this was the only place we found that reported the recent addition to the recall, I have not heard about it on any news. How many more things will happen that we will all fail to learn about, please reconsider!
Comment by Sandi K — April 12, 2007 @ 11:04 am
And what if another problem comes up - stored toxic wheat gluten is put into use - and it starts over again……
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 11:05 am
Latest release from the FDA…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
P07-63
April 12, 2007
FDA Warns Consumers That Retailers May Still Have Recalled Pet Food on Shelves
Menu Foods Expands Recall to More Cat Food
FDA is advising pet owners that recalled pet food may still be on the shelves in some retail establishments. FDA urges retailers across the country to be vigilant in removing all products associated with the pet food recall, which began on March 16, 2007.
To verify the effectiveness of the recall, FDA has conducted approximately 400 checks of retail stores across the country. Based on the checks, FDA believes most companies have removed the recalled product; however, some have not. FDA will continue to monitor retailers’ efforts to remove these items from the shelves.
“FDA’s priority is to make sure that cats and dogs have safe food to eat, said Stephen Sundlof, D.V.M., director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.” Many of us are pet owners and animal lovers, and we want pet owners to feel assured that we are doing everything we can to make sure that all contaminated food is off the shelves.”
In related news, Menu Foods, Inc., a private label manufacturer based in Streetsville, Ontario, Canada, expanded its recall on Tuesday, April 10, to cat food not previously subject to the recall. The varieties of cat food in the United States and Canada now being recalled are included in the list at the bottom of this news release. A complete list of Menu Foods’ recalled products, including the new items, can be reviewed at http://www.menufoods.com.
The company acted after receiving information from FDA, which had confirmed test results it received from a laboratory at University of California, Davis. The UC-Davis lab found that canned cat food which had not been included in Menu Food’s earlier recalls tested positive for melamine, a chemical used as a fertilizer and in the manufacture of cutlery and kitchenware.
The company informed FDA that it had shipped wheat gluten purchased from China and contaminated with melamine from its Emporia, Kansas plant to its plant in Streetsville. Some of the products produced with the contaminated wheat gluten also were shipped to the United States. FDA investigators and officials with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency were in the Ontario facility on April 10.
Since March 16, recalls of pet food products, including certain varieties of dog food, have been conducted by Menu Foods, Inc., Hill’s Pet Nutrition, P&G Pet Care, Nestle Purina PetCare Company, Del Monte Pet Products, and Sunshine Mills, Inc. Extensive information about the current pet food situation can be found at the FDA Web site, http://www.fda.gov. There is now a single list of all recalled pet food located at http://www.fda.gov/ora/fed_sta.....Recall.xls which will be updated with any new recall information when announced.
Comment by Carole — April 12, 2007 @ 11:06 am
ROYAL CANIN ADDITION TO RECALL LIST [AFRICA]:
It’s not on today’s FDA’s list of added products - but then they probably don’t report African-related recalls.
Also, some Hill’s products were also recalled in Africa. See link:
http://www.news24.com/News24/S.....08,00.html
Comment by Lynn — April 12, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Our database was not and is not meant to be a perpetual one for suspected pet-food related health problems. We put it together to deal specifically with this recall. And we believe that — barring future developments — the vast majority of recalled foods will be off the shelves soon, if it’s not already.
There is a true need for a Web site to serve solely as a source for pet-food issues of all kinds, including tracking health problems. We can’t be that site, although we will continue to report this story and others like it going forward.
However, I have heard that others believe they can be that essential resource for the pet-loving community, and we will share that information when it’s more solid.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 12, 2007 @ 11:13 am
Gina, thousands of people, not to mention other sites, are looking to Petconnection for numbers, albeit self-reported. Please wait before closing the database this early. Not that I want to see the numbers rise, but there are so many owners’ pets on medical therapy now that could have shortened lives as a result of the adulterated wheat gluten/other compounds, and the owners will want their pets’ numbers registered as well. Let’s think of the pets still fighting and the owners that are still working hard to give them the best care.
Comment by petlover — April 12, 2007 @ 11:15 am
FDA RECALL LIST
Here’s another fine example of how inconsistent and lacking in disseminating complete info the FDA actually is.
Take a look at their homepage:
http://www.fda.gov/default.htm
Note the topics that are listed in the section entitled, “FDA News”:
~ The uppermost topic entry is today’s [04-12-2007] additions to the FDA recall list.
~ The lowest topic entry is “Recall of Pet Foods Manufactured by Menu Foods, Inc. [List of Foods]” which gives data they released on 2007-03-17
No where in that section is there a list that provides information about foods recalled between 2007-03-17 and 2007-04-12.
Nice going, FDA!!!
FDA Newsroom | Recalls
Recall of Pet Foods of topics on the home page is their recall list……..DATED
Comment by Lynn — April 12, 2007 @ 11:16 am
okie, dokie ! see ya!
Comment by Kat — April 12, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Well, I understand sort of.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 11:24 am
update: How lucky am I that my Senator cared enough to start congressional hearing into the pet food recall. My research is done and within the next day or so I will request a meeting with my Senator to present enough docs and scientific data that will show him that XX XXX 2005 presentation to XXX is outdated and lacks specific scientific data in relation to the effect of GM on Humans. My bottom line goal; labeling all products for human/animal consumption that contain any GM ingredients. Also, in relation to the recent tainted pet food, this is a public forum and would not be prudent for me to say one word about that part of my presentation to him.
Comment by Annie — April 12, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Gina, I do understand and we thank you for all the effort and long hours you and the crew here have spent in helping bring this to everyone. I do hope there is another source that can take us, the “refugees”, after it is shut down. Maybe Itchmo? Maybe Howl 911? Although I do understand that this was not mean to be a perpetual site for the recall, this is the biggest pet food recall in the history of the U.S.. While I would never expect that this site could bear the burden of running it perpetually, it just seems that its a little hasty to shut it down at this point in time with the very answers to the questions people are seeking have not been answered but might be close to being answered. I know for myself I so appreciate you and everyone at the site for bringing it to us in the first place and I will always be thankful for your help in getting the answers for our deceased pet.
Comment by Sandi K — April 12, 2007 @ 11:49 am
I understand too. I will just miss it that’s all. We will forever carry the stories posted here in our hearts and the numbers in our souls.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 11:51 am
I am recording it so if anyone has a place I can post it let me know.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 12:02 pm
http://appropriations.senate.gov/agriculture.cfm
Hearing is HERE - LISTEN
Comment by CathyA — April 12, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
Gina,
Even though I understand the decision to close, I, too, feel that it may be a little soon. I continue to direct people to this site for vital information,conversation and to read up on the diligent research performed by grieving and angry pet owners. This site is a safe haven for us - its our home base.
I am so very, very grateful for all that the Pet Connection staff has contributed to this cause. All of you are heroes in my book. You helped save countless lives in the past few weeks.
Sincerely,
Jamie
Comment by Jamie — April 12, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
Hi Gina,
I would like to put my 2 cents in on the database closing…
I own a cat who is currently fighting for her life still from being poisoned twice by her pet food. So the jury is still out on her fate.
Are there others like her out there? If so, and they don’t make it…without this website recording it, they will not be counted.
I personally disagree, like the others, in closing this down right now. It’s too soon…as the residual effects are still being felt by all of us.
If you close it down now, we will never really know the full impact of this situation on our animals. It seems that no one else is posting the “true” numbers.
Comment by Marcy — April 12, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
Looks like Congress is really listening!
I can’t help but to think Pet Connection played a major role in this.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
Gina,
Why are you closing the database? Is it a legal issue, lack of funds?
Please reconsider.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 12:13 pm
Yes - please don’t close. It is too early and new developments coming in quickly. You have been a key resource for this. Is there some other issue as monkeykitty asks?
Comment by Jenny — April 12, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
There was a story on TV just now about a black man with a maltese dog who said the pet food company was refusing to reimburse him for expenses. Sorry. Don’t intend to offend anyone. Just want to make sure someone may have seen the same news story.
My point is. On top of all the other lies, is this another lie the companies are throwing at us.
Comment by VJ — April 12, 2007 @ 3:32 pm
I really appreciated this website as my sweetheart of a cat was fading away. I am happy to donate to your website to thank you for your support. I would also like you to keep the database going a while longer. I do feel that without that reporting, the hearing today would not have happened, and the media would have just let it go. I am surprised by the media apathy but sponsors are more important than real news, I guess.
Comment by Shelli Godfrey — April 12, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
Sheli … we have done this for every animal like yours who suffered and everyone who ever loved a pet. If you want to donate, give of time or money to your local shelter, and that would be great by us.
The staff of the Pet Connection covers pet-related issues in more than 60 newspapers every week. Our pet-care page is syndicated through Universal Press. (Click on “About” up above for more.) If you’d like your local newspaper to carry it, let ‘em know.
We have pets, we love pets and everything we do here is for pets and their people who care about and for them.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 12, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
I would like to add my comments. I have not had a chance yet to listen to the hearing. I just want to thank Pet Connection for being there. I live in a remote area and there are just no resources available here. The information you have given to all pet owners has been invaluable to me and I am sure to them also. I want to thank you so very much. I lost one of my kitties but the other is just fine as he did not eat the same kind of foods. My dog is also ok. I will greatly miss my little companion. Keep up the good work and please don’t close the database too soon. This things just keeps going on and on and who knows where it will end!
Comment by Linda Tsatskowski — April 12, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
Gina,
Please don’t close the site. This is the only place where information has been collected and been given quickly. I keep mentioning this site as the place to go to get timely information. The media needs a place to continue following the story and the numbers.
After watching the hearing today, it looks like more questions than answers. No one can give 100% assurance the product is safe!
This is the first time through the internet and one site that cases of sick dogs and cats across the country really raised concern - before this a number of sick animals in NY were never linked to a few more in Oregon to a few more in Mich, etc.
Without Pet Connection and all the fine work done here,I believe this issue would have been swept under the rug and never noticed.
Kudos to you and your staff for all your hard work and time.
Katie
Comment by Katie — April 12, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
PLEASE NO!
Comment by elliott — April 12, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
I have to post again on the closure issue.
I don’t know…I feel like we’re accomplishing something here - we’re actually making a difference, contributing to the cause. Every one of us who gathers here is a pet lover. We come from different walks, different regions, different jobs, religions, beliefs. But, two things we have in common is our love for our pets and our purpose - to save their lives.
Before I go to bed at night, I come here. When I wake in the morning, I come here. When I have a few minutes at work, I come here. As I said before, this is our Home Base. This is an information center like no other. No other site can compete with the valuable input and research that has taken place here.
Please, don’t take this from us…not yet.
Comment by Jamie — April 12, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
Gina,
First of all, I thank you and the entire Pet
Connection staff for the work you have done. This website has provided so much for so many in the last month. The site has educated and consoled many of us in what has become an unprecedented crisis for those of us who want to keep our pets alive and healthy.And I truly believe it has been integral in getting the ball rolling for making changes that we need to make to keep both pets and people healthy.
Please, please reconsider the plans of closing
the database. We desperately need to keep the
database open. When the FDA press release dated
today, April 12, states that recalled food is
still on shelves being sold and asks*consumers*
to police pet food sales venues to remove
recalled foods, the crisis is not over. We have a distinct need to keep the database open at least until the Menu Foods recalls have ended and the food off the shelves. The Pet Connection database is as relevant and needed today as it was when it began nearly a month ago. The numbers are important to many and as long as the tainted food is still out there, the sick and dead pets still need to be counted in.
The database numbers are what attracted much of the initial attention from both major media and political forces. And unfortunately those numbers will be what keeps or loses the attention of many of them, despite all of our individual efforts. The goal is long term changes rather than a long term database, that I understand. But to get those changes, I believe that an open database currently remains relevant.
Comment by Laurie — April 13, 2007 @ 12:54 am