Pet-food recall: The hearing’s over, so what’s next?
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.
Sen. Durbin’s office just sent over a link to his call for better oversight on pet-food and food safety in general:
At a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing today, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) called on the Bush Administration and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take meaningful action in addressing problems in federal regulation of the pet food industry. The hearing comes in the wake of a widespread recall of contaminated pet food.
“Many cats, dogs and other pets, considered members of the family are now suffering as a result of a deeply flawed pet food inspection system,” said Durbin. “The FDA’s response to this situation has been wholly inadequate – we need to establish standardized inspections, impose penalties on companies who delay reporting health problems and increase communication between the FDA and the state inspectors so that we can catch potential problems more quickly. These sound like basics steps but the FDA has failed to put them in place.”
[...]
Durbin said the list of problems associated with food safety – both pet food and safety of the human food supply – is growing and the federal government must act.
The Illinois senator said legislation he has introduced to consolidate all federal food safety responsibilities into a single, independent agency has taken on new urgency because of a possibly heightened need to respond quickly and effectively to any acts of bioterrorism or agroterrorism. Currently, there are at least 12 different federal agencies and 35 different laws governing food safety. With overlapping jurisdictions, federal agencies often lack accountability on food safety-related issues.
“I did not call this hearing to create false concern, but we heard testimony today that the melamine-tainted wheat gluten was supplied as a ‘food grade’ additive and may have made it into the human food supply, but was pulled before anyone was harmed. This is very serious problem and we need to make changes to a system in which chronic shortcomings could turn critical,” Durbin said.
Here’s the rest. And don’t forget to tell Sen. Durbin that you support his efforts to improve the safety of our food and public-health systems.
Speaking of food safety, what kept the tainted wheat gluten from going into human food? Pretty much nothing but luck. CBS News has the report.
Meanwhile, some of the tainted food remains on the shelves. Want to help get it removed? Go here.
The Pet Food Institute is has announced a commission.
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It’s a shame the terrorism card is being played into this. Corporate greed and the ever increasing infatuation with cheap goods from countries with no oversight is the problem IMO. Why ban the spraying of toxic chemicals on crops here if it’s done in China and comes back in our plates?
Comment by Frank — April 12, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
One of the astounding things at today’s hearing for me was the testimony from the guy from AAFCO - you know that “seal of approval” we’re supposed to look for on a bag of food before we feed it to our pet? He testified that AAFCO has one employee and the rest are volunteers from the industry. Their sole source of income is sale of their publications - bought by the industry. And that AAFCO’s “nutritional adequacy” stamp basically means nothing - see http://tinyurl.com/ypnxnc
If you read the extremely minimal criteria for feed trials, you only have to feed 8 animals a food for 6 months and check some very basic health info at the end. I have 8 dogs. I’m pretty sure I could feed them corn flakes and frozen pizza for 6 months and have them pass the basic health checks (weight and blood test).
What kills me about this is that the vets keep telling us that we shouldn’t feed home prepared food because it’s very difficult to balance it properly and long term, it will have adverse health effects. The truth is, the commercial pet foods DO NOT KNOW if they can sustain healthy animals beyond 6 months. They are not tested for longer than that. So they’re saying we’re too stupid to feed our pets long term, telling us to buy their food instead which they hope we are stupid enough not to check that *no one knows if it can safely be fed long term*. Well I was stupid enough. Before.
Comment by slt — April 12, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
The amount of recalled food on the shelves is directly related to the massive numbers of varieties recalled.
I never have read a TOTAL number of varieties recalled. Out of curiosity, I went to a nifty little database and had it output ALL recalled pet food varieties. This is the answer it gave:
“Found 2485 products that match your search.”
http://data.tennessean.com/DB/.....od2007.php
Comment by Gracie — April 12, 2007 @ 7:30 pm
Found 4805 products that match your search.
Database last updated on April 11, 2007.
is what i got!
interesting side note, this was addressed at the hearing. i think it was durbin that questioned the FDA and lack of ability to pull up a list like this for the consumers. the FDA dude said they would get to work on it . . . .
Comment by straybaby — April 12, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
I agree, this is a great tool to use to quickly see the list. I’ve been sending easy to use links to everyone I can and this one is now on my list. I hope they keep updating in a timely manner.
The total count is awesome. Put’s it all in perspective when the “spins” try to say the recall isn’t that big - NOT!!!
Comment by Sindy — April 12, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
I dont know whats next….for me, today, has been quite disheartening and sad. We have been been learning that because our kitty died before the recall and didnt have a urinalysis done that her death wont be counted. This site that was helping put pressure on companies and news organizations will be closing. At the hearing, Mr Pet Food Institute executive director, made it clear to me that his salary comes from Menu Foods and he was allowed to sit there and spout his filth and lies. I dont know but I am very discouraged. I only hope that FDA and other groups that we were all putting the heat on dont read this site shutting down as a sign that things are calming down and people are going away. I think something like this is just what they were hoping for, at least Menu Foods certainly is.
I am so mad at these lying, greedy companies. My little cat is dead because of them and their filth touched her in the end and she didnt deserve that. I can only hope some day their filth will catch up with them and backfire.
Comment by Sandi K — April 12, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
“If you take one thing away from my remarks today, please understand this,” Ekedahl said in written testimony. “The answer to this problem is not additional regulation, rather it is enhanced communication.”
We know what the “new commission” will be fighting against: No Additional Regulation. They are going to show how wonderfully they all chat together and don’t need any interference in their elitist, self-regulating industry.
And by the way, what happened to the second (or third) toxin to yet be identified? Perhaps that will be when Sen. Durbin’s other shoe will drop on all of them.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 12, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
I’m sorry Sandi K about your kitty dying.
Linda MS.
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 7:52 pm
This is a quote from an article in the Kansas City Star published today, after the hearing. Steve provided a link in an earlier thread (Hearing Over …). This is a quote from the article: “On Thursday, Menu broadened its recall to include more private and branded types of canned cat food, including products made for supermarket chain Price Chopper and for branded labels, including Nutro.” I can’t find anything anywhere else about more recalls today. Does anyone know if this is just erroneous reporting, or have more products been added to the list today?
Comment by Pam — April 12, 2007 @ 7:52 pm
News Flash :http://www.cnbc.com/id/18066689/print/1/displaymode/1098/.
Norvantis confirms $5.5Billion Gerber Sale to Nestle-News-CNBC.com
Nestle,The(Killer Of My Dog From Alpo Prime Cuts),world’s largest food company,will buy the U.S. baby food giant Gerber from Novartis AG for $ 5.5 BILLION in CASH,becoming the world’s biggest baby food company.,….The SWISS based company,already the world’s biggest maker of infant formula(1999,2000 Recall of,V.European Union,U.N.I.C.F.,etc),now moves into the top position in the baby food as well through the Gerber buy.Globally expanding Gerber operations.Nestle recently bought SWISS -based Novartis’s medical nutrition business for $ 2.5 Billion,as it moves its earnings away from mass items like bottled milk to high-margin produts like made to order diet plans and HOSPITAL Food!,…..Where Did Hitler,The Third Reich,Russia,Iran,North Korea,China,Deposit their money? SWISS bank accounts.The Neutral Nation.History Repeats itself,if we let it!
Comment by joe Romano — April 12, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
I posted a link about the second and third toxic element Nadine.
I’ll try to find it and post it here. They are trying to identify them - but they think it will take weeks.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
Comment by Pam
Searched on it. KC Star article must be reporting on the Tuesday night recall:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmr.....04_07.html
Comment by Gracie — April 12, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
I think this is it Nadine:
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pi.....02101.html
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 8:06 pm
it was just on the scroll on CNN That the FDA said there will be more recalls and tommorrow is Black Fri. i know we will get more bad news. i heard on tv that menu foods had the man from PFI THERE for him. SEN.DURBIN was smokeing good at that hearing. we all should thank him.
Comment by MARY ANN — April 12, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
so what was accomplished from the hearing? I didn’t get to see it.
Comment by Eskie Lover — April 12, 2007 @ 8:14 pm
PFI would propose the text in the following section of the rule be modified to
expressly state the pet food sold through retailers, including veterinary clinics,
feed stores and online, is not subject to the recordkeeping provisions. The
specific section, 22 CFR $589.2000 (6) (4), currently reads as follows:
PFI would argue that any expectations that retailers should keep records on individual sales of
pet food products to consumers also “serves no useful purpose” in the efforts to prevent the
spread of BSE. On the contrary, it would only detract from the efforts needed to ensure
compliance with other sections of this rule.
http://tinyurl.com/3aj4e2
Comment by Steve — April 12, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
Sandi, I know how you feel. I have three older cats and because of their age, their kidney issues are being blamed on their ages and not the tainted food. However, I was the one cleaning up the vomit, I was the one crying over Maui being so sickly she could barely move. I was the one horrified that I had been feeding my cats poison during these later years of their lives when they need gentle and constant care.
I’m lucky, they are still here. But the length of their lives has been lessened. They are all still weak and no one knows the long term effects of this poisoning. What I know with absolute certainty is that whatever health problems my cats had before the recall, they were happy and playful and crotchety and fun! Now they are mere shadows of themselves and this is NOT simply a product of old age.
These people will never get another penny from me again. It is the only way to make this hurt them the most.
Prayers for you and your kitty.
Comment by Sharon — April 12, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
This situation with more recalls coming tomorrow when the Senator was told all the toxic pet food was off the shelves is making me sick.
It’s a nightmare of lies and cover-ups and admit no wrong and don’t rock the boat.
I read the stories about everyone’s little pets that they miss so much - because I think it honors the pets and gives them a voice and hearing about them helps us gather courage to go on in the face of so many obstacles.
Bye for now and best to everyone. Someone gave me a site for feverfew - thank you so very much.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 12, 2007 @ 8:17 pm
Re: Comment by slt — April 12, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
About AAFCO’s feeding trials/standards. AAFCO regs have to do with minimum standards. They always have. I DO think there needs to be someone there to enforce at least a minimum nutritional standard. Many many people just want to pick up a bag or can of food and not think about it. That may not be what you want, but it is what they want. The way these standards have been used by the PFI though is to make it seem like this is good food for a lifetime and makes it better than those not going through feeding trials, when it may only be the minimum needed to keep a pet alive, not foster health. If America is asking for those standards to change, they might.
Comment by CathyA — April 12, 2007 @ 8:19 pm
Is this site really shutting down??
For 3 weeks this has been one of the only true sources of information. The Senate hearing may have tried to bury this mess, but it is not finished yet. There is more crap to come.
I certainly hope that this site will continue to update on the information even if the blog part is not kept up.
And thank you to everyone here who has put such time and energy into trying to get justice for our pets.
Comment by mal — April 12, 2007 @ 8:41 pm
From http://www.Send2Press. com
Veterinary & Pets
Pet Food Recall Still Not Getting The Job Done, Says N.Y. Veterinarian
Edited by Carly Zander
Wed, 11 Apr 2007, 19:30:00 GMT
TRUMANSBURG, N.Y. - Apr. 11 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — In spite of the sincere
efforts on the part of dog and cat food manufacturers whose products have been
affected by the pet food recall to get the word out to their customers, cats
and dogs are still getting sick and dying. “It’s been almost three weeks since
the first news reports of deaths and illnesses occurring in our nation’s cats
and dogs from their having eaten potentially tainted pet foods and treats,”
says Upstate New York small animal veterinarian, Dr. Richard Orzeck, “But I’m
still seeing sick animals whose owners are still feeding-or even worst, still
buying recalled canned pet foods and treats.”
And it’s not their fault. The enormity of this senseless problem is almost
beyond comprehension. The original voluntary recall of March 17th by Canadian
pet food company, Menu Foods, listed 95 name brands of dog and cat food that
involved hundreds of individual varieties, lot numbers, and package sizes. On
March 30th, after learning that wheat gluten contaminated with melamine was
provided to them by the same company that also supplied Menu Foods, Nestle Purina
PetCare announced a voluntary recall of all sizes and varieties of its ALPO(R)
Prime Cuts in Gravy wet dog food with specific date codes. This involved about
30 different products.
On April 1st, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., voluntarily recalled the company’s
Prescription Diet(TM) m/d(TM) Feline Dry Food for the same reason. On April
6th, as precautionary measure, Sunshine Mills announced the recall that affected
about 20 brands and varieties of the company’s dog biscuits.
On April 6th, Del Monte Pet Products announced voluntary recall of about 15
of their pet treat products. “I feel it’s not humanly possible for a pet owner
to keep up with all of these updates, and therein lies my purpose for taking
the time and expense to write this release.”
In theory, with each of these voluntary recalls, the affected products should
be getting removed from the shelves. This is probably the case in the major
grocery and pet food outlets where communications between companies and
suppliers is standard operating procedure.
But what about the small country grocery store, the privately-owned
minimarts, or the independent pet shop who purchase their pet foods second or
third-hand from independent salesmen. What about the home-bound, the computer
un-friendly, or the traveler? How are they going to be able to keep up with the almost
hourly modifications of product or variety recall?
“The only hope your readers and listeners have to keep them informed in
keeping their pets safe are you owners and reporters and your media outlets. My
primary source of information is the AVMA website: http://www.avma.org. Or you’re
welcome to the information on my website,” says Orzeck, “where I (hopefully) discuss
in clear language the details of this recall: http://www.doctoroz. com.”
Comment by Lorna — April 12, 2007 @ 8:42 pm
Whatever these lying criminals do, remember, the consumer has the deciding vote by not buying their poison and keep spreading the word about their corruptions. Set up a website to announce their lies, put it on a advertising site like Google adwords or another engine. Show the truth about what goes into pet food, and perhaps a citizens lab test arrangement.
Comment by Gary — April 12, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
Pam, etc — Check Menu Foods site — They have an April 12th date next to Science Diet Savory Cuts, and an 11th date next to Pet Pride. No Press release for either….. they’re making you hunt (not nice)
Comment by GingerTom — April 12, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
Comment by Linda ? April 12, 2007 @ 8:17 pm
*Someone gave me a site for feverfew - thank you so very much.
Linda MS*
Your Welcome, Linda. Glad I could help. Here is my friends site:
http://www.letsbewellinc.com/
She started to use AIM’s products - http://letsbewellinc.myaimstore.com/about.htmlwhen she became very ill for 22 months.
I thought that I was going to lose her before she was introduced to the products.
In ‘98 she sent me some articles on the garbage that was in pet food.
So when I started reading about this latest pet food recall I called her.
She also writes a NewsLetter 4 times a year about health vs toxic issues - free download at:
http://www.letsbewellinc.com/s/p/NLDownload.html
Comment by Mary Smith — April 12, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
Edit (sorry)- Here is the correct url about AIM:
http://letsbewellinc.myaimstore.com/about.html
Comment by Mary Smith — April 12, 2007 @ 8:52 pm
for the record:
KUMPI DOG FOOD
KUMPIKAT CAT FOOD
one of the 3% of the pet food industry that is NOT a member of The Petfood Industry and proud of it!!
I am proud also to have a politically incorrect label, a dog food that most won’t try because the ‘industry nazis’ have fed the public such garbage false science, they actually started to believe it.
I fired corporate America nine years ago when I started my own pet food company and tonight, The New York State Canine Handling Unit, The MTA/NYC and The UN Amb. Security K9 Units are sleeping sweet when they do since they feed my dog food and know they are safe.
Ok, I got that out of the way. Sorry.
Sandi and to all who have suffered loss, I am so sorry for your wounds. I hurt when I KNOW this industry has the arrogance to put a dollar sign over a pet’s life and forgot that it’s very different from a profit margin. Shame on this industry for daring to put a price tag on life that is so sacred.
I have talked with many of you, who sat in veterinarian offices waiting to be seen while your heart sat in your arms or laid at your feet suffering and you felt so helpless; who didn’t even have the chance to make it to the veterinarians office in time; who got ‘the phone call’ you never should have gotten; who are still crying.
Please do not feel guilty. You trusted and should have been able to trust. You wouldn’t have thought for one minute that a trip to a pet store or grocery store would cost you so much. If you would have known, you know you wouldn’t have fed them the food. You are noble, you are loved, you are not alone in your loneliness, you are the hearts of us all combined who love a pet.
May grace be at your doorstep the rest of your lives and may peace watch over your souls as you mourn. There is a sorrow that there is no icon for us to gather around in your grief. I set flowers on the grave of every animal that has died and extend a warm hug to those who grieve their loss.
Comment by Evy — April 12, 2007 @ 8:54 pm
I see that Paws is on the recall list, but I can’t find that brand when I do an internet search. I noticed that Canidae has a “PAWS” logo? on it. Is this the same thing? I switched to Natural Balance and Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover Soul recently, but went out today and bought some Solid Gold, Pemium Edge, and Canidae thinking these are all ‘safe’ foods to feed my dogs. Any info or feedback is much appreciated.
Comment by FMtz — April 12, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
FMtz, I wouldn’t worry about the Canidae. It is not the same as the PAWS food. I would be shocked if they ever would be involved in a pet food recall with any of their products.
Comment by Evy — April 12, 2007 @ 9:06 pm
Thank you, Evy. I didn’t think so, as they don’t make cuts & gravy style food, but I wanted to be sure. Do you know who makes the “paws” that is recalled?
Comment by FMtz — April 12, 2007 @ 9:08 pm
FMtz
Comment by elliott — April 12, 2007 @ 9:08 pm
I’m pretty sure Paws is a store brand made by menu. There were many brands that I didn’t recognize on the list that are store/provate label types of food.
Canidae is still and should still be tomorrow ;) safe.
Comment by straybaby — April 12, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
Thank you so much, straybaby. How do you feel about the other foods I listed?
Comment by FMtz — April 12, 2007 @ 9:14 pm
I have a concern with Natural Balance. Bought 2 bags the other day. I saw Menadione (VitK) listed on label. 3 calls to the company. Was told each time that the package was old. Did not containe Menadione even though listed.
expirations on bags were May & June 2008. Website does’nt list this ingredient. Company said website was correct and packaging was old.
Comment by elliott — April 12, 2007 @ 9:15 pm
Organise … organise .. if america was taken
from king george 1776, we can takeout a few slimeballs.. i’l bet if you made it “uncomfortable” for a few nasty individuals, the rest would fold like wimps?
you see ,what you’v got here is a lot like spoiled rotten childern. you do what you must?
organise..
(it’s a big country, with a few million people
pissed , who’s too blame if a few bad things happen?).
Comment by johnypaycut — April 12, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
I remember reading something the other day about Menadione, but can’t recall exactly what, as I’ve been reading a TON of stuff lately, trying my best for my furbabies. Could you tell me what it is that’s bad about Menatione? Thank you.
Comment by FMtz — April 12, 2007 @ 9:24 pm
This site is NOT shutting down!
The way I understand this to read, Gina is saying that only the DATABASE of reported pet deaths is closing down, not the blogs and discussions on this issue. If I’m wrong Gina, speak up.
Gina’s words:
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.
Comment by Barb — April 12, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
FMtz - I am not sure that I have it right, but Menatione which is an artificial vitiam K3 is not good in pet food. Most no longer use this ingredient. Will check further. Anyone who can answer intelligently please do.
Does this have anything to do with the 6 month labeling “rule”?
Comment by elliott — April 12, 2007 @ 9:30 pm
FMtz -
google Menadione
Comment by elliott — April 12, 2007 @ 9:36 pm
Am I the only one who thinks pet food companies should stop using Menu Foods as a manufacturer—for good—or at least until ALL top management has been FIRED?
Menu Foods did not contaminate the wheat gluten and. BUT once it was clear there was a problem, Menu Foods only made it worse.
-They waited to inform companies and the public of the problem after it was known internally.
-They released information slowly and only under pressure.
-But the information was incomplete and inaccurate, resulting in more pet deaths, more vet bills, more distrust.
The recent snafu Menu Foods caused for Royal Canin pet foods is the last straw. “A clerical error”. Any reliable company would have had its records triple-checked by multiple personnel, INCLUDING top management. (Yes—when the mistake is this huge—that is exactly when executives are supposed to roll up their sleeves and do some dirty work!)
I cannot see why any pet food company is willing to deal with Menu Foods—given their history of dishonesty—and I won’t buy from any company that still gives them business.
Comment by Laura — April 12, 2007 @ 9:39 pm
I lost my dog Scout before the recall on Feb 25. She ate Iams Active Maturity beef in gravy. Her sister, BooBoo, has been on Natural Balance since the recall. She ate some Iams Weight Management prior to the recall. She has thrown up twice today. She has an appetite, although I have taken food away for the night. She seems to drink normally. She pooped properly. I don’t know if I’m paranoid or my baby is sick. It’s off to the vet in the morning.
Comment by Allison — April 12, 2007 @ 9:45 pm
I totally agree, Laura. That is why I chose the foods listed above, as they had nothing to do with Menu Foods. I researched Menadione and am learning more ‘truths’. Thank you all for being so helpful. I would like to ask what are ‘you’ feeding? Any and all of you?
Comment by FMtz — April 12, 2007 @ 9:45 pm
Gina
There seems to be lots of upset and confusion about the Pet Connection site.
Will only your pet death database be discontinued?
Will people still be able to continue to post and share information on this incredibly wonderful blog?
Please, please clarify for everyone. Thanks.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 12, 2007 @ 9:46 pm
Comment by straybaby — April 12, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
Thanks for checking and correcting!
Tennessean Recalled Pet Food Database:
http://data.tennessean.com/DB/.....od2007.php
Found 4805 products that match your search.
Database last updated on April 11, 2007.
4805 recalled pet food varieties…OMG…
Comment by Gracie — April 12, 2007 @ 9:46 pm
The way I understand this to read, Gina is saying that only the DATABASE of reported pet deaths is closing down, not the blogs and discussions on this issue. If I’m wrong Gina, speak up.
The site is absolutely not shutting down! We’re not even “shutting down” the database, just planning to close it to new entries… unless things change. Please don’t worry! We’re not going anywhere.
Comment by Christie Keith — April 12, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
There will be no changes whatsoever to this blog, either.
Comment by Christie Keith — April 12, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
FMtz- as of now, feeding canidae to dogs and
Felidae to cats. Tomorrow may be cooking my own.
Comment by elliott — April 12, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
What I’m curious about is some hear say from someone who works in a melamine plant in Louisiana who openly mentioned that he witnessed the FBI inspect the plant because the FBI tracked that they were supplying this melamine product to Canadian purchasers who in trucked it up to Canada then shipped it to China. So theoretically the melamine supposedly came from the States anyway. This is the underlying investigations that they’re not letting the public know about.
According to the source, they recall seeing many canadian licensed trucks going in and out of the plant over the past few months collecting this product, and the source was shocked when the FBI barged into their plant to investigate it. Hmmm
Comment by Merrick B. — April 12, 2007 @ 9:50 pm
This is an amazing site. Thank you Gina and Christie and everyone for all you’ve contributed. You are an awesome group!!!
Comment by Nadine Long — April 12, 2007 @ 9:52 pm
Elliot,
Why are you thinking you may be cooking your own soon, if you don’t mind me asking?
Comment by FMtz — April 12, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
FMtz - I’ve been feeding Canidae to my dogs also, for the past year and a half since I rescued them both. They have beautiful coats because of it too, which neither had prior!
Comment by Barb — April 12, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
FMtz - Cuz I don’t know what tomorrow brings. Just being paranoid!
Comment by elliott — April 12, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
FMtz~ all the foods you listed are pretty good. The only one I’ve used for my dog is Solid Gold and that was about 5 years ago. She has been home prepared since then. The cats are also on home prepared but I do keep some kibble in their diet and use Artemis, Evo, Felidae and NB. It all depends on which one my picky cat decides they should all snack on lol!~
Comment by straybaby — April 12, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
This just doesn’t need any words to describe what we all must think.
1. The stock symbol for Menu Foods on the TSX is, get this, MEW.UN
Mew? How ironic that they are killing this sound with their food.
2. “Menu’s operating tenets are to: satisfy the requirements of the ultimate consumers (i.e. dogs and cats)” from page 13 of their Annual Information Form.
I have a litter box of turd thoughts about this one provided by my very own, former Nutro customer who is stil able to ‘mew’.
Take care petconnection and don’t give up. It’s hard but that’s life. Right will prevail.
Comment by Sindy — April 12, 2007 @ 10:06 pm
The site is absolutely not shutting down! We’re not even “shutting down” the database, just planning to close it to new entries… unless things change. Please don’t worry! We’re not going anywhere.
Comment by Christie Keith — April 12, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
There will be no changes whatsoever to this blog, either. Comment by Christie Keith — April 12, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
Oh THANK GOODNESS! I was about to go into another tailspin! OK thats one good thing that has happened today, whew, I need to go get a stiff drink! (-:
Comment by Sandi K — April 12, 2007 @ 10:07 pm
FMtz,
The best thing I can tell you is to avoid using food from Menu Foods and Wheat Gluten. I can understand how you don’t know what to believe at this point since I find myself doing the same thing. I am second guessing everything pet food companies are claiming.
The hearings today has not really done much for me either, if anything I feel less “confident” (for lack of any other better words like I was before the hearing).
It sure has been an eye opener for us all I think; they have their work cut out for them to regain peoples trust. Not even sure that can be done. I still resist going on a home diet because I am so busy that I don’t think I could find the time to grind the food and keep it fresh / or defrost it. I still feel like I am rolling the dice everytime I get a new package of food.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 10:07 pm
Anyone check the new FDA recall spreadsheet yet?
50 pages….yikes! Won’t open in Excel for me.
Cut and pasted from the great http://www.howl911.com :
“The FDA has posted a list of the recalled pet foods on its Web site at http://www.fda.gov/ora/fed_sta.....Recall.xls
(Ed. note: Just a quick check of the FDA’s 50-page Excel spreadsheet revealed omissions and inaccuracies. Please do not rely on this list as a sole source for identifying recalled foods.)”
Comment by Gracie — April 12, 2007 @ 10:08 pm
Another vote for Canidae. Just switched my two dogs a couple of weeks ago (were previously fed Nutro Natural Choice, different formulations). I’m watching a host of problems disappearing with both dogs. I’m currently wildly enthusiastic about the product.
Comment by Eva — April 12, 2007 @ 10:09 pm
50 pages?!
Gee, maybe, just *maybe* that will open some eyes!
Comment by straybaby — April 12, 2007 @ 10:12 pm
MonkeyKitty,
I know what you mean. I’m having to spend so much time researching this. It seems I don’t have time for much else lately. I’m worried that if I stop reading the blogs so much I will miss something. I’ve been like this for about 3 weeks now. Oh, how I wish this would just stop and the FDA would shut down Menu Foods all together! Just hoping that tomorrow there won’t be another late Friday recall.
Comment by FMtz — April 12, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
I know I have said it before but thank you Pet Connection and everyone that put all their energy and effort into this, as far as blogs go this is something really cool.
I hope everyone does not loose focus; This needs be only the beginning. We need to continue to put pressure on law makers to make better laws and enforce/create FDA regulations.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
Aargh - I’m just burning up. Sandy - I feel so awful for you. Just the point I made on another one of the other stories here. The poor people who had pets die before the recall, or who fail because their vet can’t do certain tests, etc….So, they want everyone to forget! How sick.
Maryann - I wonder what the CNN story was? I had to turn off the TV at the start of the local news and heard them say that there may be many larger law suits from pet owners after the news today - I don’t know what that news was, though. I checked their web page and another local station - they had good stories about the senate hearing. Also, one of them is following the story of a local family that has a lawsuit against Iams, etc. But I didn’t see anything that fed into their story line.
Sharon - my heart goes out to you too. I was lucky and none of my three babies ate the affected food. I think they should err the other way. If the pets ate the food and had no documented case of renal failure, they should assume it is related to the food. I too have been doing a lot of research on foods that are not related to the recalls (thanks PetsitUSA) and do not plan on giving my money to these companies. I am surprised how many good companies there actually seem to be out there.
Thanks Evy for the touching tribute - it brought tears to my eyes.
Yes, Menadione is K3. Blue Buffalo was being targeted because they included it in their food. There could be some truth in Natural Balance not having it in their food anymore - they have 6 months to correct the labels. Don’t really know for sure.
I guess when I read Gina’s comments about shutting down, I wasn’t sure what she meant. Is that the blog, or just for reporting deaths? If just for reporting deaths, I think I agree with some other posters - close out to get the snapshot and start up again. As long as more recalls are coming, please don’t stop.
FMtv - I just started feeding my cats Solid Gold and Wellness. I’m still deciding about Wellness - some of their products are made by Manu Foods. Solid Gold has no link that I’m aware of. I’ve been doing a lot of research and am not done. You may want to check out Petsitusa.com - they have an excellent listing of foods not impacted by the recall. It includes where the foods are manufactured as well if the company provides that information. I’ve also done a lot of label analysis - converting protein/fat/carbs/ash to dry matter percentages so I can compare brands. Then checking out the ingredients themselves. I’m also considering Felidae (Canadae for cats) and Merrick. I got a few other companies from PetsitUSA that I want to check out as well.
Comment by Jenny — April 12, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
FMTZ,
Tell me about it, it feels like I am spending all my free time trying to keep my cats alive that and helping my neighbors and family do the same.
Even though I don’t buy food at the grocery store I think I have spent some quality time in a few stores isles ensuring they have pulled the food. Is a shame the FDA has no power to make a Mandatory recall, perhaps that is what the senators were getting at, I would imagine they have the power to pull it.
What I recommend is that you send a letter to Senator Durbin thanking him and asking him to help the FDA do their jobs by better funding and more power.
Given, I know they most likely made some mistakes. However they really do only have ~ 500 people in the entire country to do the job. Plus they have less funding than they did since 2002.
Pretty embarassing stuff if you ask me!
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 10:28 pm
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
You’ve been a hard-working contributor to this blog with lots of great input. Love your sense of humor too. We’re not giving up!
Comment by Nadine Long — April 12, 2007 @ 10:28 pm
I will think twice next time a candidate offers tax cuts, I am starting to see where the money comes from.
Our own da*n infrastructure, money isn’t good if we are all sick and without pets.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 10:33 pm
With losing our kitty, we dont have to worry about what food to feed at this time. But if we decide to get another kitty at some point down the road, does anyone have any suggestions for folks that live in a small town that dont carry many of the brands you are talking about. As far as purchasing from the store shelf, would Friskies or Fancy Feast be an OK alternative? We went to great lengths to unknowlingly feed our cat this toxic food, we were even have the poisoned Nutro California Chicken Supreme special ordered. They have to fly it in and it was very expensive to ship to Alaska, (we still arent considered part of the U.S. when it comes to shipping fees). So for an alternative brand that you can buy on store shelves, what would you suggest? Thank you to everyone, I dont know what I would do without this group of wonderful people right now! You all bring tears of happiness and gratefulness to my eyes.
Comment by Sandi K — April 12, 2007 @ 10:33 pm
Thank you, Jenny. I have been using Petsitusa.com, in fact I left my printed list with the lady at the pet store today along with this website, Itchmo.com, and howl911.com, so she could learn more too. She said that she’s had at least one person every other day or so come in that either had a pet that was sick or had lost their babies! I have cried so much just reading stories lately that I just want to scream! I definitely will be writing more letters.
Comment by FMtz — April 12, 2007 @ 10:36 pm
RE: Comment by Laura — April 12, 2007 @ 9:39 pm
Part of me wants them to stay in business until the class action lawsuits get settled, I think its a pretty much open and shut case. Perhaps that alone will force them into bankrupcy.
As far as the management who were the decision makers,,,,,,There isn’t a word for them, at least not one I am willing to post on this site:) I have called them every name in the book, I still think they should be replacing some of our Men and Women in Iraq, forced to clear IEDs or something(without kevlar). Thats what community service I have in mind for them.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 10:43 pm
MonkeyKitty,
That WOULD be a good way for them to do comminity service. I totally agree.
As for Menu Foods, you have an excellent point. They need to pay through the nose, then file bankrupcy.
Comment by FMtz — April 12, 2007 @ 10:50 pm
Comment by Sandi K — April 12, 2007 @ 10:33 pm
RE Petfood for Small Town
You can order online, Just get big bags, try finding a neighbor to split it with. Looks like there is a business opportunity in Alaska:)
Have you checked in Anchorage?
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 10:54 pm
FMtz,
Its still too good of a job for them. Honestly they should be charged criminally, perhaps Canada will do something with them.
They are below pond scum in the food chain.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 10:57 pm
I just just can’t get over the anger.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 10:57 pm
Comment by Sandi K — April 12, 2007 @ 10:33 pm
Keep in mind before someone had the bright idea to make pet food people were feeding their pets leftovers from the farm. I know making your own food is a pain, but at least you know what they are getting, not some other compainies cross contamination. As far as you know you WERE feeding them Friskies.
On top of everything I feel swindled, what a bunch of frauds.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 11:03 pm
Comment by Sandi K
So sorry about your cat. This has been a horrible situation…I lost one of mine and the local shelter has lost two due to poisoned Menu Food products, special kitty and Nutro fed more as a treat than as meals. All three died before the 1st Menu recall.
Lots of kitties out there that need a loving forever home like yours. I hope you are ready to take in another soon. You sound like a wonderful pet parent. I too live in the boonies and specialty foods are not available nor in the budget. (My 4 cats + a feral colony + fosters from the local shelter = lots of hungry kitty mouths to feed.)
I WISH I could afford to give them all premium specialty food. It is not possible. I can only tell you that I have not fed any Menu Foods products since the first recall. In fact haven’t fed any canned/pouch food period. The shelter cats have also had all Menu Foods products stopped. All of them at the shelter are on dry Science Diet and have done fine. Over 125 cats either in or placed thru the shelter in the last four months of recalled food on the market, the only ones with renal failure/kidney issues were given the tainted canned food as treats, same as my cat that died.
My cats and the ferals are fed dry also. I check to see if the label shows wheat gluten and won’t buy if it does since the recalls started. I fed mostly Purina cat chow, avoided Friskies as the purple bag “milk” flavor does contain wheat gluten, no Purina One as many of those formulations also have wheat gluten. I switched them all to Whiskas dry this week just trying to avoid any chance of cross contamination of wheat gluten from Purina factory. So far, all kitties are doing fine since the Menu Food’s Nutro canned stopped.
Like I said, I wish I could ship in the really good pricey food but that is not possible for many of us.
Comment by Gracie — April 12, 2007 @ 11:18 pm
I, too, heard on during the hearing that there would be another recall of pet food today. When I didn’t find any info on this site, I went to Menufood’s recall site, and, sure enough, there was a date of April 12 next to Science Diet Feline Special Cuts (I think I have that correct - in any case, it was Science Diet cat food). That was the only food with a date of April 12 noted next to it. Perhaps this is what was being referred to. There was no Press Release on the page for April 12 from Menufood. Maybe that will be on FRIDAY! Hope this answers some questions.
Comment by Linda P. — April 12, 2007 @ 11:23 pm
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/.....index.html
No agreement on how to ensure Fido’s food is safe
(CNN) — Government regulators, veterinarians and pet food industry representatives yelped and bared their teeth Thursday over the expanding recall of pet foods, yet failed to reach agreement on how to ensure such a problem does not recur.
The discussion came during an oversight meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture on the same day that the Food and Drug Administration warned consumers that tainted pet food may still be on store shelves and that further recalls may be announced and two days after Menu Foods of Ottawa added additional canned cat-food products to their list of recalled products.
The problem hit the news on March 15, when the Food and Drug Administration announced that Menu Foods of Ottawa was voluntarily recalling 60 million cans of wet dog and cat food.
Food tainted with melamine — a chemical used as a fertilizer in China and in the manufacture of kitchenware in the United States — has been blamed for the deaths of an undetermined number of pets, though the mechanism remains unclear. Melamine had not been known to be toxic to lab animals. (Posted 6:52 p.m.)
Comment by Stefania — April 12, 2007 @ 11:26 pm
Checked Menufood page. The food was Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts cans. Correction to my previous post.
Comment by Linda P. — April 12, 2007 @ 11:26 pm
Linda P.
I have lost track, I couldn’t tell you what was on the list versus what wasn’t. I wonder if they are banking on that now.
Does anyone have a more recent version of the recalls.
This is beyond stupid, mostly sad.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 11:37 pm
Linda P.
You may want to eamil someone at http://www.itchmo.com to send out an alert. I know that there are several people who have signed up.
I hope everyone stopped using Gluten by now…
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 12, 2007 @ 11:41 pm
Some good news. As a precaution, I am having full blood panels, thyroid & urine, done on my two cats. Just got results back on my 5 yr old Maine coon - no problems with kidneys, liver, etc. Macho man does not like crate, trip in car or having holes poked in him for blood draw and (horrors!) urine sample he does not deposit voluntarily! But the good news is, up until the recall his daily menue consisted of Nutro Natural Choice Indoor Complete Care & Innova Reduced Adult dry food (self feed) and splitting a can of Fancy Feast (3 variety 24 pk from WalMart - Grilled Beef, Turkey, Chicken in gravy [third ingredient wheat gluten] with his partner twice a day. Since recall, have switched to Flint River Ranch & Kumpicat dry and new Sheba “domes”. These results do substantiate the pet food claims of providing a balanced, healthy diet (as long as they are toxin free). Note: Both cats were switched to the new foods, “litteraly” overnight, with no intestinal problems, although one of them has had diarrhea from both Filiadae & Innova canned food in the past. After much reading, I feel a home made raw diet is really the way to go. Please share your experience/expertise in home made food on petconnection. Many thanks from Lincoln, Disco and their soon-to-be chef.
Comment by PM Hill — April 12, 2007 @ 11:54 pm
Comment by Linda P. — April 12, 2007 @ 11:26 pm
On the website for Hills they say its not new;
Not sure why it was updated for todays date.
Hard to believe any on the infromation they provide.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 12:07 am
AOL says tainted pet food still on the shelves
Comment by Eskie Lover — April 13, 2007 @ 12:10 am
CBS Channel 8 11:00 pm News in San Diego just said that 26 more brands have been recalled. Did that just happen today? I can’t find link to story on their website…yet. A vet was interviewed and said 20 animals in San Diego have died to date…first I’ve heard that.
Comment by Barb — April 13, 2007 @ 12:20 am
Comment by Eskie Lover — April 13, 2007
AOL says tainted pet food still on the shelves
like id beleive anything that AOL would spew out…iam surprised that you even posted that!
Comment by . — April 13, 2007 @ 12:28 am
Ya the Hills site says its not new news in response to Linda P.
Who could possibly keep track of it all, why not just pull all the wet food made by menu at this point.
No wonder the grocery stores can’t keep track of it all.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 12:29 am
There IS still tainted food on the shelves. I pulled several cans off myself this afternoon.
Why not leave your name?
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 12:34 am
Comment by MonkeyKitty
Why not leave your name?
and as far as who i’am i can only leave you with this.
Comment by Hollywood — April 13, 2007 @ 1:00 am
Barb, it could have been the brands/varieties they recalled earlier in the week that never hit the news. The hearing today seemed to make the recall blip on the media again.
That said, check here tomorrow!
Comment by straybaby — April 13, 2007 @ 1:01 am
Looks like the press is warming up to “our” views as far as the senate recall hearings go.
From what I have read Duane Ekedahl doesn’t look all that impressive at this point.
I also have noticed that when I do a google search companies have advertisments saying their food is “FDA certified safe”. Not sure what that really means.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 1:15 am
The PEDIGREE® Brand Is Not Part of
Recall. Confirmed Safe by the FDA.
Not sure if that has any meaning to me…hummm
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 1:16 am
The WHISKAS® Brand Is Not Part of
the Recall. Confimed Safe by FDA.
Sounds like a good opportunistic marketing effort to me!
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 1:18 am
The link to the channel 8 recall list is:
http://www.cbs8.com/hot_button.....2007-04-12
After midnight the hot button site cleared and you would have to go to previous day to see the link. Anyway on the above page scroll down a little to find the story and link to the recall list. When you get to the list, be sure to review the whole thing. Towards the end things get a little out of order. Cat listing in with the dog listings etc. Hopefully tomorrow they will finish cleaning it up. More additions tomorrow maybe?
Comment by Lauren — April 13, 2007 @ 1:24 am
LOL
http://www.emediawire.com/rele.....518587.htm
I think this the LAST solution we want to attempt.
(this is a personal opinion)
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 1:41 am
Re: I think this the LAST solution we want to attempt.
You’re correct…it’s pathetic,but go figure..that’s our America…one hell of an opportunistic society.
Comment by Barb — April 13, 2007 @ 1:51 am
I haven’t heard anything either good or bad from people who are feeding Bil-Jac. Anyone out there have any experiences / opinions about that food? I’m going to switch to that unless I hear reasons not to. Thanks in advance!
Comment by Marilyn — April 13, 2007 @ 1:58 am
Regarding the difficulty in finding out which foods have been recalled — I am a vet tech and I question every client that comes in (regardless of their reason for coming in to the clinic) about which foods and treats they have been giving their pets. It is way past the point where I can keep all the recalled products in my head and it now takes way too much time to scroll down through the lists to look for a food that may or may not be on the lists. Clients don’t always know the full name or the manufacturer. What I really need at this point is a searchable data base so that I can search on whatever part of a name people can give me. Can anyone out there point me to such a thing?
Comment by Marilyn — April 13, 2007 @ 2:05 am
SHOULD PET FOOD MANUFACTURERS STOP USING MENU FOODS…..
To Laura [9:39PM 04-12-2007]:
Catch-22 answer, but I’ll play devil’s advocate.
As much as I’d like to see it happen, I think it’s unrealistic to think that pet food companies can switch to another processor, even on a temporary basis. Let’s face it, Menu Foods is not solely to blame; I think every single manufacturer, US and international government agencies, exporters and importers, veterinary groups, and even the consumer shares the blame of a really bad “system” turning into a nightmare. [Yes! Even we, the animal lovers, are to blame for being naiive enough to trust that the foods were safe.]
From a financial point of view, the pet food companies will be hard-pressed to arrange for different subcontractors to process their foods. And even if they could do this in a timely manner, it appears that there are a limited number of facilities that do food processing. This means that food manufacturers will be competing for “plant time”; eventually one opportunistic plant is going to overload the schedule and then cut corners to meet deadlines. Another crisis in the making. That’s the scene that plays out in my head, for what it’s worth.
So what’s the solution? Beats me. My dream is even more over the top than yours. I’m guilty of dreaming that:
1. ALL pet food is knocked off the shelves EVERYWHERE, whether on the recall list or not. This would force pet owners to make their own food for several weeks. [Many are doing this already.]
2. Force all existing processing facilities to perform total washdowns.
3. Wave a magic wand and create one agency in each country that controls everything having to do with pet food.
4. Create an early warning system with ONE international website with a webpage for each country.
5. Build a high tech testing lab in every plant. Nothing goes inside the plant without complete testing.
6. Staff every lab with round the clock inspectors who are well trained.
7. Train personnel in record keeping.
8. Establish all regulations, criteria, penalties, enforcement, training…….
I would think that those companies that outsource their food processing and have contracts already in place with processors other than Menu Foods’ plants will be arranging to shift all their processing to that plant.
While, in my opinion, Menu Foods was the entity most at fault in this entire ordeal, I can’t help but feel that receiving a bad wheat gluten supply could have happened to any manufacturer. As was stated in the Pet Food Recall hearing Thursday, there’s no uniformity in manufacturing processes in this industry. [However, if it can be proven that Menu Foods specifically wanted adulterated wheat gluten…..then I’d give them 99% of the blame.]
As much as we would like to make them evaporate……business still goes on.
Comment by Lynn — April 13, 2007 @ 2:06 am
I have not seen anything regarding Bil-Jac nor have I heard of it. I wouldn’t use ANYTHING with wheat gluten at this point.
Thats my stance.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 2:07 am
I’ve seen reports of more recalls on Thur the 12th such as:
http://www.kansascity.com/194/story/68947.html
According to the list available on the Menu Foods site, on 4/12 Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts in Cans was added to the recall (quietly, I might add). This appears to be the only add I can find. (Can anyone confirm?)
My sincere condolences to anyone who has lost a pet or had one sickened. Although my dog eats Nutro Ultra dry kibble, a variety not affected by the recall, I have been so disgusted with Nutro’s handling of the situation that I will not be buying any more of their products, and sent a letter to their CEO saying so.
I never thought much about my dog’s food before all this - I just fed her what the vet said was good. I’ve been doing a lot of research on dog food in the past few days. Quite the eye-opener.
Comment by John Sibley — April 13, 2007 @ 2:09 am
Oh, and for anyone who cares, I’ve switched to Innova Evo. No gluten.
Comment by John Sibley — April 13, 2007 @ 2:12 am
Marilyn, the list is LONG. You could use this Data base that was posted here earlier tonight and do it by cat/dog
http://data.tennessean.com/DB/.....od2007.php
and the FDA posted an excel file today, but it’s 50 pages . . .
Maybe have some print outs of the list you can give your patients to take home if they are unsure and they can call when they get back home so it can be added to their chart?
Comment by straybaby — April 13, 2007 @ 2:12 am
Comment by Lynn — April 13, 2007 @ 2:06 am
Be careful what you wish for, there would be starving or poorly nourished pets if everyone had to rely on making food.
Not everyone is in the same socio-economic group as most of us here. I say this in the most respectful possible way too.
Logistically it doesn’t pan out. I do however think Menu should pull it all, they shouldn’t beable to liquidate any assets either so we can sue them.
Its not a money thing, but people need to recover pet bills and make good law in the process.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 2:13 am
I bet someone big tries to buy them out and then gut the corporation.
I actually hope Menu stays in buisiness…lol
Just to give the poor victims their day in court.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 2:15 am
Thanks, Straybaby. That is the first searchable format I have seen. I do wish it allowed me to put in a name or part of a name as often that is all a client can give me. I do give people lists, but I know that some of them will have difficulty searching through it. I have seen their eyes go wide when they see me looking through my many-paged list to try to find their food in there somewhere. And I do advise them to read the lists of ingredients on their package, and if it contains wheat gluten do not feed it whether it is on the list or not.
Comment by Marilyn — April 13, 2007 @ 2:31 am
To: MonkeyKitty:
The cruel truth is that there’s not one answer that will be acceptable to all of us that the manufacturers could possibly offer us. The sad reality is that the companies are in the business to make a buck and by golly, as soon as this is out of the media limelight, it will be back to business as usual. [Unless some magical plans are put in place and agreed to by all.]
So maybe for tonight, just because my hands are cramped and it’s been a really full day, I’ll delude myself and add one thing to my list in my 2:06 AM message:
1. Provide world class chefs for all pet owners, as well as Grade A untainted human food supplies, to make gourmet dinners for pets everywhere.
Hey, why not? They deserve it.
Comment by Lynn — April 13, 2007 @ 2:31 am
Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., the white-haired eldest statesman of the Senate, stopped into the meeting long enough to make sure everyone realized just how important pets are.
“There is a unique special relationship between pets and their owners. I’m talking because I know,” said Byrd, who has a shih-tzu named Trouble that was named by his late wife Irma. Byrd calls the dog Baby.
I also think Byrd wasn’t so “feeble” when he told that story. He is trying to pave the way for new law, meaning that we hopefully are not just owners but guardians.
I know people were wondering what he was talking about asking for people to be sworn in and claiming that he wasn’t up for re-election.
I don’t think we gave him enough credit as a group. This will open the door to give us more rights and stricter FDA regulations and oversight. If anything the press is quoting him well!!!
You don’t stay a senator for 50 years for no reason. I have a lot of respect for him.
Just my two cents
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 2:32 am
I decided not to use Bil-Jac because their food has corn and by-products. I’m not using any food with wheat, corn, or soy, or any that associate with Menu Foods.
Comment by FMtz — April 13, 2007 @ 2:33 am
LAB RESULTS BACK YET?
Does anyone have any idea as to when we should be hearing something from the labs still doing extensive testing [as far as identifying other toxins]?
Comment by Lynn — April 13, 2007 @ 2:34 am
I hear ya Lynn,
Ya my cats hover when I cook, spoiled brats. I am glad I didn’t spoil them too bad or they would be dead right now.
We stopped feeding Iams Wet 3 months before the “Novemeber” recall because they were throwing up.
I think the food should be USDA inspected at least.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 2:38 am
ROBERT BYRD
I watched the hearing on Thursday and after 5 minutes of Byrd’s oratory, well…….
But then he mentioned his dog, “Trouble.” [Did you know that he gave a moving tribute to another of his dogs, a Maltese, some years prior?] In the end he mentioned “Trouble” more than half a dozen times …… he also mentioned his credentials in the political arena.
So I got to thinking - you know, this 90 year-old is a hell of a lot smarter than we give him credit for. Because he’s “paid his dues” he can just about command any platform. So rather than come off as someone who rambled on and on…..I choose to think he had an agenda: to make sure people knew that highly respected people love their pets.
Hurrah for Robert Byrd. He sure commanded that floor!
Comment by Lynn — April 13, 2007 @ 2:40 am
I think the senate just put the proverbial foot in the arse.
I noticed a recall concerning food not being pulled just posted on the site today.
So far I am very pleased with the way the senate hearings went. I still don’t know why they have to go to Bush for more funds.
That concerns me, but not going there on this blog. We made a pac not to go there and I shall abide.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 2:41 am
I tried getting the book “the Whole Pet Diet” - all the bookstores in the area sold out of ALL pet diet-related books. Ordered online. Half expect it to be backlogged, too.
I know the University in the next city has a huge bio med library. Will go over there tomorrow and check out Kirk’s “Current Veterinary Therapy.” They always have a section on pet nutrition written by veterinary nutritionists.
Comment by Lynn — April 13, 2007 @ 2:43 am
Having a “pet” is as american as apple pie and fourth of July. We honor them so why can’t the people that provide them food.
Wholesome my arse, If I hear Wholesome one more bloody time I am going to loose it!!!
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 2:45 am
I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that I wasn’t surprised that Bush’s family friend Andrew von Eschenbach wasn’t present at the hearing.
But you’re right - this isn’t the place to get into political agendas. Got to stay focused.
Comment by Lynn — April 13, 2007 @ 2:46 am
Ya Lynn,
There is too much of that in Washington right now.
I will say I am counting the months —17
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 2:50 am
We now need to find a good pres to be. Obama and Clinton is a good call and then email them like crazy.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 2:51 am
And send letters as well. I fear this is just going to get lost, CNN has already gone A.D.D on us.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 2:52 am
If they can spin it so can we, last time I check we have to eat also.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 2:52 am
This actually could be one of the only accomplishments that the White House has contributed, hey thats a good spin!
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 2:54 am
lol!~ That would be an interesting take, the admin finally gets it right. yeah, I’ll dream on that one as i go off to sleep ;)
and sweet dreams to everyone and the little dog Trouble :)
Comment by straybaby — April 13, 2007 @ 3:07 am
“GW saves little dog Trouble”
I will get that out to the AP ASAP.
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 3:12 am
I know there is a bored reporter out there.
I got your headline,
“Can Bush save little dog ‘Trouble’?”
I am sure it would make a great feature piece for you. The only thing is that I ask is you please be factual and beg the question to the Whitehouse “what can be more important than out ouwn food supply”
Bed for me as well,
Night everyone!
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 3:18 am
http://www.germanshepherds.com.....ain=850958
Comment by Tammy — April 13, 2007 @ 4:03 am
RE: Comment by Marilyn — April 13, 2007 @ 2:31 am
“I have seen their eyes go wide when they see me looking through my many-paged list to try to find their food in there somewhere.”
Why am I surprised that most people don’t know the scope of the recalls? Still, it’s breath taking that they don’t. Hope they went home and told everyone. Word of mouth can still get stuff done.
Comment by CathyA — April 13, 2007 @ 4:11 am
RE: Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 13, 2007 @ 2:32 am
About Sen Byrd. Swearing in a govt employee was the smartest thing I’ve ever seen. Highly placed govt employees are forced to wear two hats - one bowing to the political, the other their real job. He made him put it on the line so that we, the people, could have some amount of trust in what he said.
Comment by CathyA — April 13, 2007 @ 4:18 am
Lynn - the only problem I have is I don’t think it is fair to pull ALL food. There are quite a few small pet food companies out there that have no tie to Menu Foods at all. I don’t think they should suffer too. In fact, I’m hoping their business goes up - perhaps they can help us make a change.
Comment by Jenny — April 13, 2007 @ 4:26 am
I posted the video from the hearing of Sen. Dick Durbin questioning Duane Ekedahl, Executive Director of the Pet Food Institute on my blog spockosbrain.com
Here is the link
Durbin states the case then Grills Ekedahl of PFI
I’m adding this video to my education archive of how to ask good questions in a senate hearing.
Comment by spocko — April 13, 2007 @ 4:39 am
http://www.kansascity.com/194/story/68947.html
“Menu Foods said early on that it suspected the wheat gluten was the cause of an untold number of pet deaths and illnesses because it coincided with a switch to a new supplier of that ingredient.
But that theory became clouded last week when Menu Foods expanded the dates of its initial recall from food made beginning on Dec. 3 back to Nov. 8. Answers to questions e-mailed to the company did not clarify when Menu started using the new supplier. Inquiries to the FDA as to when Menu first used wheat gluten from the new supplier were not answered.”
—————-
If you saw the hearings here is a Q & A on that subject - Byrd to Sundlof:
Byrd Q: Do we know how long bad food was sold to the public?
Sundlof A: We know the wheat gluten came into the country in early Nov
2006.
————
If MenuFoods was a US company we might be taking his office apart at this point. Hope the Canadians pick up the ball and run with it.
Comment by CathyA — April 13, 2007 @ 4:46 am
More paid for media spin:
http://publications.mediapost......_aid=58672
“The on-line survey, conducted April 9-11, found that 95% of Americans are aware that pets have died recently because of tainted pet food. Among owners of dogs and cats, awareness reached 100%. Most of them are following the story: 80.4% of cat owners and 74.8% of dog owners say they know which brands are associated with this issue. And of the pet owners, 13.1% said the brand they usually buy has been recalled.
[..]
In a pet-crazed country that spends $16 billion a year on pet food, that’s not dramatic behavior modification. “It’s been a big scare, but maybe overblown. After all, fewer than 20 pets have died,” says Tom Mularz, senior vice president at Synovate E-Nation. “For the most part, people feel their pets were unaffected by the recall.”
Comment by CathyA — April 13, 2007 @ 5:50 am
Pet food problem in South Africa still appears to be ethylene glycol:
http://www.businessday.co.za/a.....BD4A436466
Posted to the web on: 13 April 2007
Killer pet food gets vets, industry talking
Nicola Mawson
Royal Canin withdrew the food as it was a common factor in all the dogs reported ill. Steenkamp said one dog on a Vets Choice diet had died, and a postmortem found ethylene-glycol.
Previous stories on pet food problem in South Africa: http://www.wikio.com/news/AquaNutro
Comment by CathyA — April 13, 2007 @ 5:53 am
“Why am I surprised that most people don’t know the scope of the recalls? Still, it’s breath taking that they don’t.” Comment by Cathy A.
Probably because of reports that the recalls are only 1% of all food available, that there is plenty of food available, etc. Also because more people do feed dry foods and only one of those has been recalled. The people I see at our vet clinic are people who care about their pets — that’s why they bring them in for care in the first place, so not knowing the scope of the recall is not an issue of not caring. I believe it is because not enough emphasis has been placed on just that — the SCOPE — of the recall. How can all pet lovers everywhere understand the need for action when the issue is being minimized? I have heard a reporter or two say that this is the biggest recall in history, and that the FDA has gotten more calls about this issue than they usually get in total in the past two years. But we need more reporting that emphasizes that, otherwise people will not know the significance of this and will not push for change.
Comment by Marilyn — April 13, 2007 @ 5:56 am
Marilyn,
And here it IS! The FDA has put actual transcripts of press conferences up on their site:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/h.....tfood.html
I read the Ap 5 one. This is information that would have been invaluable to those of us frustrated with the PRESS response to this issue. And would have let everyone know how much is left out of stories in the paper.
Thank you FDA! And I mean that. Talk to your public directly. It’s the same thing I’ve been telling local government. Hello? We’re here - waving hands. We’re glad you’re listening and hope you continue to do so.
Comment by CathyA — April 13, 2007 @ 6:26 am
Personally, I cook for my pets and have for 16 years. At least I know what I am feeding them. There are some pet foods on the market that do use human grade ingredients, Natural Balance, Newman’s Own, Spot’s Stew (canned) made by Halo.
Did Elizabeth Hodgkins have much to say at the hearings? Have not seen much info on her input.
Thanks.
Comment by Ann Martin — April 13, 2007 @ 6:30 am
Here’s my note to Senator Byrd…Have also send a note to Senator Durbin…Also was extremely impressed with Elizabeth Hodgkins…
Well done!
Dear Senator Byrd,
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to join the hearing on regulating the Pet Food Industry.
Please continue the momentum and do all possible to ensure the Pet food industry is FINALLY regulated.
As the owner of several cats and dogs, these past few weeks, almost a month, have been most frustrating for me due to the uncertainty of whether or not I was inadvertantly poisoning my pets.
To live in such a wonderful country and suddenly find myself wondering if the food I am buying in a store is poisoning my pets is unacceptable.
So please, continue the march and do all within your power to ensure our companion animals are safe.
By the way, I am the proud owner of two wonderful little Shih Tzu’s boys, Max and Sparky. I can well understand your devotion to ‘Trouble aka Baby’
All the best and (pardon this expression) kick butt!
Sincerely
Lorraine Takahashi
Comment by Lorraine Takahashi — April 13, 2007 @ 6:36 am
E. Hodgkins seemed to be the only voice of reason at the hearing IMO. She advocated for major labelling changes on pet foods so that the public truly understands what it is they are buying. Everyone else seemed to be in “Everything is fine, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain” mode.
Comment by slt — April 13, 2007 @ 6:45 am
When Senator Durbin asked if the Gluten’s were safe the answer he got was yes.
Glutens, corn and wheat, should not be fed to dogs or cats in any form according to Dr. J DVM and the e-mail I received.
Also, Dr. J. said we had so many harmful ingredients in pet food to worry about, including milk additives, that he thought we should care about removing these known toxins and not worry so much about the unusual, that was the jest of his comments.
What hope is there for us when the representatives before a congressional hearing parrot - all is fine?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 13, 2007 @ 6:52 am
RE: Comment by Ann Martin
E. Hodgkins had a lot to say. Some of today’s newspaper reports actually had pieces of her testimony. http://www.doggedblog.com and http://www.itchmo.com both produced rough handwritten transcripts. She talked very fast. I’m hoping that eventually the FDA (you still there?) will put transcripts of at least their remarks before questioning on their website.
Comment by CathyA — April 13, 2007 @ 6:53 am
Maybe our national radio station,the CBC, is going to get on board after all.This morning I heard them report,among other things on this topic, that the Chinese company has no idea how its label got on the sacks of poisoned wheat gluten,and that there have been dozens and maybe HUNDREDS of pet sickness and deaths.That beats the 16 they’ve been parroting up til now.
Maybe we’ll hear them talking about *thousands* if they dig further.
Comment by Lorna — April 13, 2007 @ 7:01 am
Comment by Lorna — April 13, 2007 @ 7:01 am
the Chinese company has no idea how its label got on the sacks of poisoned wheat gluten
WHAAAAA? Well this is a novel form of denial for this whole mess.
Comment by slt — April 13, 2007 @ 7:04 am
RE: Comment by Linda MS
“What hope is there for us when the representatives before a congressional hearing parrot - all is fine?”
I guess I didn’t feel that way. Even Nelson from AAFCO made it very clear (after the PFI guy kept saying pet food is highly and well regulated) that their regulation of pet food is POST-production, not process. He said that more than once. He also made it quite clear that their Model Feed Safety Program wasn’t cutting it because “guidance” and self-regulation of pet food companies isn’t enough, need mandatory regs, which they’re working on.
As much as I disagree with Kirk on some basic things, even she had good points: our food supply is at risk, poor tracking of ingredients, we need more research into tests that allow us to find contaminants more easily, we need an animal CDC because adverse events are not reported to a central place so prompt recognition of adverse events is not possible; self-monitoring of pet food production is not uniform, should be mandatory reporting of incidents by companies.
And everyone’s statements saying this event showed that our human food supply is not safe is not downplaying the importance of our pets. It’s a way to get people to wake up. A centralized food safety system such as Durbin wants will protect us and even our pets better. I found it all hopeful. Won’t happen though unless we keep writing letters - to everyone and his chicken. Trouble, trouble you say?
Comment by CathyA — April 13, 2007 @ 7:15 am
Cathy A:
What I meant is that those in charge now do not want to admit that anything is wrong and are not willing to face this issue - they want the things to remain the same.
So even though the Congressional hearing brought up obvious lies and denials, it takes much momentum for Congress to make changes. A hearing is nice but the voting process, the compromises, result eventually in legislation that the pet food companies might tweak to their own benefit and our success will be achieved through a long hard battle if at all.
That is just the way things work. Here in my county the pound sold dogs to U.C. Davis Veterinary School to be cut up as practice subjects for the vets in training. It was a horrible thing and then the animals were euthanized afterwards. We were the only county in the State doing this - it took years and much much public pressure to change this, just recently too.
Now only animals in need of surgery will be sent to U.C. Davis and then healed and put up for adoption or if not adoptable I suppose then euthanized.
So, a hearing is nice - results are something else again.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 13, 2007 @ 7:25 am
Re: Comment by Linda MS
“So, a hearing is nice - results are something else again.”
Yes quite true, but I’ve found it’s helpful to neither invest in a good nor a bad outcome, just keep going forward with intent.
At least the press has something more meaningful to chew on after the hearing.
Comment by CathyA — April 13, 2007 @ 7:32 am
SEN. BYRD: PLAY ON WORDS? HERE COMES “TROUBLE”!
I thought that Sen. Byrd, although he appeared infirm in some ways, was actually quite clever, using a play on words about his dog named “Trouble.” He kept repeating the line “Here comes Trouble.” I think it was SENATOR BYRD’S WAY OF ALERTING THE PET FOOD INDUSTRY THAT TROUBLE IS COMING TO THEM!
Yes, he has some medical issues and repeats himself, but I saw the twinkle in his eye, and the man definitely knows what points he wants to get across, although it may take him some time to say them! I’ll wait and listen. The man should be revered by us, as is he by his colleagues. He’s the eldest senator and did and should get the floor for as long as he desires. He’s clearly a pet lover!
His point is “on the record” to the public that animals are an important part of the family, not just a possession. He put the human touch to the story, something it needed.
Did anyone else think he was using the “Here comes ‘TROUBLE’” story line repeatedly as a warning to the Pet Food Industry? I think there was more to it than just his forgetting he had already told the story. To people who said the microphone should have been taken away from him… I completely disagree.
And his point “HERE COMES TROUBLE!” is also “on the record. Hats off to Sen. Byrd!
My vision of a cartoon: Picture Senator Byrd’s little Shih Tzu named “Trouble,” teeth bared, chewing on and tugging on the leg of the Pet Food Industry, pulling it closer and closer to a huge dumpster, which is labeled “Consumer Demand.” Any cartoonists out there?
Comment by petlover — April 13, 2007 @ 7:36 am
Sent an email to Rep Kucinich just now asking if he had received a response from MenuFoods on the 15 items he had asked. Also requested that he and his staff let the public - pet owners know what response, if any MF gives. Requested that he and his staff please remain on this issue to see that there are no further poisonings of our pets. Suggest others write to him and request he push MF for answers.
Comment by VJ — April 13, 2007 @ 7:42 am
Re: Comment by petlover — April 13, 2007 @ 7:36 am
Yep, never underestimate someone like Byrd, someone who’s been swimming in political waters for half a century. Wish I could have seen him.
Love your cartoon idea, but I don’t think Trouble should touch meat-by-products. ;-)
Comment by CathyA — April 13, 2007 @ 7:47 am
Just got this from the Assoc. Press.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,265846,00.html
SHANGHAI, China — The list of Chinese food exports rejected at American ports reads like a chef’s nightmare: pesticide-laden pea pods, drug-laced catfish, filthy plums and crawfish contaminated with salmonella.
Yet, it took a much more obscure item, contaminated wheat gluten, to focus U.S. public attention on a very real and frightening fact: China’s chronic food safety woes are now an international concern.
In recent weeks, scores of cats and dogs in America have died of kidney failure blamed on eating pet food containing gluten from China that was tainted with melamine, a chemical used in plastics, fertilizers and flame retardants. While humans aren’t believed at risk, the incident has sharpened concerns over China’s food exports and the limited ability of U.S. inspectors to catch problem shipments.
“This really shows the risks of food purity problems combining with international trade,” said Michiel Keyzer, director of the Center for World Food Studies at Amsterdam’s Vrije Universiteit.
Just as with manufactured goods, exports of meat, produce, and processed foods from China have soared in recent years, prompting outcries from foreign farm sectors that are feeling pinched by low Chinese prices.
Worried about losing access to foreign markets and stung by tainted food products scandals at home, China has in recent years tried to improve inspections, with limited success.
The problems the government faces are legion. Pesticides and chemical fertilizers are used in excess to boost yields while harmful antibiotics are widely administered to control disease in seafood and livestock. Rampant industrial pollution risks introducing heavy metals into the food chain.
Farmers have used cancer-causing industrial dye Sudan Red to boost the value of their eggs and fed an asthma medication to pigs to produce leaner meat. In a case that galvanized the public’s and government’s attention, shoddy infant formula with little or no nutritional value has been blamed for causing severe malnutrition in hundreds of babies and killing at least 12.
China’s Health Ministry reported almost 34,000 food-related illnesses in 2005, with spoiled food accounting for the largest number, followed by poisonous plants or animals and use of agricultural chemicals.
With China increasingly intertwined in global trade, Chinese exporters are paying a price for unsafe practices. Excessive antibiotic or pesticide residues have caused bans in Europe and Japan on Chinese shrimp, honey and other products. Hong Kong blocked imports of turbot last year after inspectors found traces of malachite green, a possibly cancer-causing chemical used to treat fungal infections, in some fish.
One source of the problem is China’s fractured farming sector, comprised of small landholdings which make regulation difficult, experts said.
Small farms ship to market with little documentation. Testing of the safety and purity of farm products such as milk is often haphazard, hampered by fuzzy lines of authority among regulators. Only about 6 percent of agricultural products were considered pollution-free in 2005, while safer, better quality food officially stamped as “green” accounts for just 1 percent of the total, according to figures compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For foreign importers, the answer is to know your suppliers and test thoroughly, food industry experts said.
“You just have to hope that your system is strong enough and your producers are careful enough,” said Todd Meyer, China director for the U.S. Grains Council.
Health Ministry officials acknowledge problems, but have described scandals such as the 2004 baby formula deaths as isolated incidents. Neither the ministry nor the State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, responsible for overall food safety standards, responded to questions submitted to them in writing as requested.
Over the past 25 years, Chinese agricultural exports to the U.S. surged nearly 20-fold to US$2.26 billion last year, led by poultry products, sausage casings, shellfish, spices and apple juice.
Inspectors from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are able to inspect only a tiny percentage of the millions of shipments that enter the U.S. each year.
Even so, shipments from China were rejected at the rate of about 200 per month this year, the largest from any country, compared to about 18 for Thailand, and 35 for Italy, also big exporters to the U.S., according to data posted on the FDA’s Web site.
Chinese products are bounced for containing pesticides, antibiotics and other potentially harmful chemicals, and false or incomplete labeling that sometimes omits the producer’s name.
To protect its foreign markets, China is trying to set up a dedicated export supply chain, sealed off from the domestic market, said Keyzer. Systems for tracking and tracing vegetables have been set up, although doing so for meat products is harder, he said.
Large producers targeting foreign markets have also moved to gain greater control over supplies by expanding their operations instead of buying from individual farmers.
The tainted pet food scandal is likely to increase this momentum. More than 100 brands of pet foods and treats have been recalled, one of the largest pet food recalls in history. Menu Foods was the first of at least six companies to recall pet food, beginning in mid-March, after reported cases of cats and dogs developing kidney failure after eating the affected products.
How the contaminated wheat gluten got into the product cycle is not yet known. The gluten was traced to a company outside Shanghai, Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co.
The company and the government’s inspection and quarantine administration are investigating. But a company sales manager, Geng Xiujuan, said Xuzhou Anying was only a middleman, buying the gluten, commonly used as a thickener in pet food, from companies in neighboring provinces and selling it to a separate trading company.
While no investigation results have been announced, industry experts said they suspect the gluten might have been contaminated by having been processed or stored in machines or containers also used for melamine. Such anomalies show just how difficult it is to ensure purity, they said.
“It’s just really hard to test for everything,” Meyer said.
We are making a difference. The news is still going strong!!!!! I can’t eat anything from China again thought and neither will my cat.
Comment by Sindy — April 13, 2007 @ 8:21 am
Great find, Sindy.
a·nom·a·ly(-nm-l)
1. Deviation or departure from the normal or common order, form, or rule.
However, for China, tainted, contaminated food that sicken people is hardly an anomaly!
As a result of this wake-up call, I’m not buying anything from China or several other countries. I’ve never been a U.S. flag-waver, believe me, and have questioned our own government’s truthfulness about several issues and do not accept things at face value, but I think it’s time to look inside our own U.S. borders for our food as well as other products. Yes, U.S. consumers want bargains and the best deal, BUT AT WHAT PRICE TO OUR (and our pets’) HEALTH?
I’m questioning ALL products/ingredients in those products that I buy. RELENTLESS CONSUMER QUESTIONS AND DEMAND WILL EFFECT CHANGE ONCE WE USE THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF MONEY TO SPEAK FOR US.
Comment by petlover — April 13, 2007 @ 8:37 am
Well how do we *know* where the ingredients come from in any can of soup or frozen pizza or box of cereal…?
Comment by slt — April 13, 2007 @ 8:43 am
Sindy, this was such a great AP article that you found. It’s just a shame that the smaller newspapers that most people read only pick up a few to several initial paragraphs of a long story in order to make room for other news. Keep the articles coming.
Also, on a side note… Congratulations to www dot petconnection dot com for being mentioned verbally by Senator Durbin during the Senate hearing and also for its web address being placed on the screen at the conclusion of the hearing. Great job, Petconnection!
Comment by petlover — April 13, 2007 @ 8:45 am
Comment by petlover — April 13, 2007 @ 7:36 am
I’m with you. Senator Byrd is a very clever man. His chant was slow and deliberate. He knew very well what he was doing.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 13, 2007 @ 9:01 am
From slt:
Well how do we *know* where the ingredients come from in any can of soup or frozen pizza or box of cereal…?
Comment by slt — April 13, 2007 @ 8:43 am
******
We can question companies about where they source their individual ingredients, each and every one. They either tell us or they don’t, and we decide if we want to take a chance on that particular product.
I questioned DelMonte about their individual ingredients in March and got enough information (the lack thereof) to know that I was not going to feed my cat their food. The recall of certain DelMonte products came the very next day.
I realize that the global importation of individual ingredients to make “the whole” will make our job more difficult in finding out this information, but if the questions come and the food industry knows that we’re demanding answers that they should be able to answer, maybe we can achieve some degree of transparency/disclosure of where our food comes from and what standards of care were taken.
Of course, this is no guarantee of safety, but our voices can make a difference. Maybe packaging of those companies who want to assure us of “better” products will change to list “Only U.S. ingredients used,” “All ingredients tested and inspected before manufacturing,” etc. There is no easy answer, but we can question and demand answers.
With the pet food industry, we’re already seeing a surge in sales of foods that can say “no by-products,” “ingredients from U.S.,” “ingredients are not sourced overseas,” “no wheat or grains,” etc. Watch the future changes on pet food packaging by individual companies to advertise their consumer-demanded disclosures. Companies may still use their bags and cans that have already been printed to date to use up the current inventory, but I see more business going to the printing industry. A lot of the “smaller, premium” pet food companies are going to be much bigger players. I hope they are able to expand to meet the higher demands.
Comment by petlover — April 13, 2007 @ 9:02 am
A lot of the “smaller, premium” pet food companies are going to be much bigger players. I hope they are able to expand to meet the higher demands.
petlover: If we all were to buy their products exclusively, they will be in a better financial position to expand.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 13, 2007 @ 9:11 am
I am so thankful that this website is not closing down…..kudos to all of you. Glad I found you.
I am no more than a dog owner so I know little about dog food….but boy am I ever learning.
I never had my dog on wet food (supplement dry with cottage cheese & rice & chicken that I make) but she was on Nutro Ultra dry before the recall. I pulled her off before I even heard their wet food was recalled because of what I felt were reactions to that food.
Went to Solid Gold & talked to the owner. She really knows her stuff. Took out a huge binder that has all the dry food & ingredients & went over some of them with me. Menadione (sp?) is in a lot of dry food….not good. Lecithin is soybean & also in dry food, even those that claim “no soy”. My dog had a reaction to the dry I used after Nutro, having both lecithin & menadione in it. Loose stool & bad rash on her belly. Vet thought it was airborne allergies, I think it’s the dry food.
Switched to Hund-n-Flocken & flaxseed oil without hexane….in a matter of a week, what a difference in my dog. No more loose stool, no more red splotches on her belly & her energy level has gone up. And I’m still mixing the old & new dry, switching her over slowly to avoid digestive upset. Go to the sold gold website & look at the ingredients & compare them to the other dry foods.
My heart goes out to all of you who have lost pets or have a sick pet due to this horrible situation. Read labels & be careful what your fur baby ingests. Had to throw out a bunch of treats….nothing on the recall list but all had wheat gluten & some were made in China.
Again, thanks to all for your input, especially that website that has all the recalled foods in an easy to read format.
Comment by jan — April 13, 2007 @ 9:34 am
A few statistics I saw on a web site, maybe it was Menu Foods and the page was since taken down??? … I don’t recall
There is a blogger (can’t remember the name), but he/she is REALLY on top of this entire pet food issue and digs up great information on what person is in with the pet food industry that speaks as an independent voice). I posted info on this blogger yesterday, who has also “captured” screen shots of many of MenuFoods’ financial reports before they were pulled off the Web. I know that I somehow Googled and found some reports that I can’t find now.
Statistics:
Nestle/Purina holds 30% of the pet food market
Proctor & Gamble (Iams, Eukanuba) holds 17%
Also, in listening to the web audio broadcast (available for 1 year, for which I posted a URL a few days ago) of Menu Foods Income Fund 2006 Fourth Quarter Results, a call-in board member (share holder??) asked who the biggest player was in the industry, and the Menu Foods presenter (either the CEO or Mark Wiens)said, “Nestle.” Nestle and Purina are now in together, and I can’t begin to tell you all of the names of pet food they have. Someone said they now bought Gerber, which produces baby food.
If consumers can demand that Nestle/Purina disclose its info, improve their products, refuse to buy any of their products, maybe a statement can be made. For change to occur, these companies need to be hit (and hit hard) in the wallet. We cannot go back to the status quo and business as usual.
A person, a few days ago, put out a call to boycott Iams/Eukanuba. Believe me, I know how Iams/Eukanuba advertises and reaches in to court the veterinary schools because I saw workers?/vet students at Cornell University walk out with bag after bag of dog and cat food and case after case of food with my own eyes when my dog was going to Cornell for procedures and treatments. I wondered what was going on with all of the Iams going out the door when the day was done. Now, after hearing from others that vet students can buy the food for next to nothing, I guess I know. What food does your vet recommend?
My dog that died used to eat Iams, and I even started my newly adopted shelter puppies on Iams Puppy Large Breed dry food, but now I know that the food is no better than many of the “lesser” brands (for lack of a better word). The Iams canned food was made in the same plant as the other brands with probably much the same formula, with no oversight or testing of ingredients by Iams/Proctor and Gamble before the food was made. Not any more. After I questioned DelMonte about their 9 Lives cat food and got the answers I did or didn’t get, I vowed that my fur family would only get brands that could tell me where their ingredients came from.
On March 30, after I spoke to DelMonte, I vowed to never buy pet food from a company…
1. that used wheat/wheat gluten
2. that sourced its ingredients from overseas (namely China)
3.that had even one type of food recalled, if even a different food format, and especially,
4. that used Menu Foods as a manufacturer.
I put my money where my mouth is. I hope everyone else does the same. Thanks for listening.
Comment by petlover — April 13, 2007 @ 9:53 am
(…)”Inquiries to the FDA as to when Menu first used wheat gluten from the new supplier were not answered.”
This is disturbing to me. Very early on in the sequence of this tragedy unfolding, I remember reading that the Chinese supplier began shipping through ChemNutro to the U.S. in JANUARY 2006!
My question is this: how many pet deaths went unnoticed last year that were actually caused by tainted wheat gluten from this same Chinese supplier?
My dog had to be euthanized in SEPTEMBER 2006 due to acute renal failure. His death was preceded by switching his DRY prescription food three times since he wouldn’t eat the food beginning in March; he also consumed three cans of WET prescription food with black flecks in it. It was from our vet, so I didn’t question it.
My suspicion has always been that there was something wrong with the food, even way back in March 2006. I had saved the three dry foods “just in case” and my vet has complete test records, including ultrasound.
I feel very strongly that the target shipment dates should be reevaluated, all the way back to the first reported shipment from the Chinese company in January 2006.
Is there anyone else out there who has had, or heard of, a similar experience in an earlier time frame?
Comment by Nadine Long — April 13, 2007 @ 10:17 am
Nadine, I had not known your story before. You do have very important information and circumstances that does need better review.
To answer your question, Yes, I have read many concerns and stories about a much earlier time frame of people suspecting the pet food. I wish people would repost their stories of that nature and see if they have any pet food in their possession for conclusive testing.
I have read your kinds of suspicion on other boards as well, so I don’t remember exactly where it has come up.
I am with you on this.
Comment by DeeAnn — April 13, 2007 @ 10:56 am
RE: Comment by Nadine Long — April 13, 2007 @ 10:17 am
Natalie I think it was clear from the Q & A yesterday when Byrd asked that question that the FDA doesn’t know. The shipment in question for the recalled food came in early Nov 06. Since Menu Foods quit using MGP US wheat gluten 18 months ago, my guess is that’s when they went to int’l markets. My guess is the FDA is in the process of trying to find that stuff out. You would think the actual food plants would have that information. Wonder how cooperative Menu Foods is being with their records. And how this whole thing plays out as far as jurisdiction when the Corporate office is in Canada. If you look at the scope of the investigation the FDA is saddled with on so many fronts, it’s no wonder info isn’t forthcoming every day. I certainly hope they keep pursuing this line of thought.
How much food do you have? Could you have your vet to contact the UC Davis lab and get it tested? I think they needed 500 grams, don’t remember now. If you have a lot, perhaps worth a shot.
Comment by CathyA — April 13, 2007 @ 11:01 am
Yes, get it tested.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 13, 2007 @ 11:06 am
Comment by CathyA — April 13, 2007 @ 11:01 am
I too am hoping they continue pursuing this. I have a substantial amount of the three foods as well as the original packaging. I believe my vet would be willing to contact the Davis lab, but I’m not sure if Davis, at this time, would be willing to test food prior to the current recall. The FDA told me to hold on to it but was not testing anything prior to the recall unless they had many requests. I’m sure most everyone tossed all the food from a year ago already, except of course moi.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 13, 2007 @ 11:15 am
Nadine,
they don’t need to know dates, just have your vet send it with a request for testing - suspicion of being toxic.
your vet can get it done - don’t give up or post objections - just be strong and you want it done NOW!
Linda MS.
Comment by Linda — April 13, 2007 @ 11:18 am
Comment by Linda — April 13, 2007 @ 11:18 am
Thanks all. I’ll follow through on this.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 13, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Would you list what pet foods you fed, at that point in time? I can go digging to lots of pet boards (as time permits) to ferret out posts about renal failure. Perhaps people posted what they were feeding. If not, I can post the question and see if the same people come back to answer. Worth a shot.
Comment by DeeAnn — April 13, 2007 @ 11:22 am
To Nadine:
Read this article which was posted on Itchmo and I believe originally on Howl 911.
http://www.itchmo.com/read/for.....e_20070330
I am sorry I don’t know how to do the tinyurl.
It is by an ex-factory worker. Near the end he talks about the dark flecks. This stuck in my mind when I read it because my Innova wet had black flecks last year. Several cans in a batch that I bought had these flecks. I threw them away and didn’t feed it.
My cat died on March 4, 2007 at age five eating Innova wet (menu) and Fancy Feast with wheat gluten. She died suddenly without any noticeable (to me at the time) symptoms. I used litter pearls which absorbs and evaporates urine so there is no urine in the litter box ever. It disappears. So I wouldn’t have known if she urinated alot. Don’t use this product for this reason. And she preferred to drink from the dogs bowl so I didn’t notice her water in her bowl being less. But there must have been signs that I missed. It was my first cat. I failed her. I will be haunted by this forever.
I can’t get past the cross contamination possibility. She loved the Innova wet, just LOVED it until December 2006, when she stopped loving it and I continued to feed it. I still have the foods but no vet records (we buried her on a Sunday so I don’t know if they will test it.) I am going to talk to my vet about testing.
Mabel: February 28,2002-March 4,2007. We miss you every day. Run free sweet girl and take good care of all the babies.
Comment by Garyn — April 13, 2007 @ 11:59 am
The AAFCO certification and pet food labels are a HUGE problem! Someone asked about the person who would just grab a can/bag and not look… WELL - we trust that person to feed themselves and their children based on FACTUAL nutritional information on human foods - without some assurance that the food meets nutritional minimums and maximums - WHY do we assume they can’t feed their pets?
By having only a minimum/maximum analysis - one that will keep SIX of EIGHT animals alive for SIX months - those of us that ARE informed have no information to make good decisions! For example, it has been scientifically shown with studies that CARBOHYDRATES are responsible for diabetes and obesity and urinary crystals in cats - but is there ANY information on CARBOHYDRATES on pet food labels - NO!
I do not want my animals to survive six months - I do not want minimal nutrition - I want OPTIMAL nutrition!
Contact Senator Durbin: http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Contact Senator Kohl: http://kohl.senate.gov/gen_contact.html
Senator Bennett: http://bennett.senate.gov/contact/emailmain.html
Senator Byrd: http://byrd.senate.gov/byrd_email.html
Comment by Lynette — April 13, 2007 @ 11:59 am
ARGH! This makes my blood boil!
http://www.petfoodreport.com/
Quotes:
The pet food industry remains a partner in the investigation with the FDA and has
cooperated with state and federal regulators since evidence leading to the recall
first surfaced. [b]The industry will continue cooperate fully with any other official
investigations relating to this incident.[/b]
[i] No more 3-week delays, then?[/i]
The FDA’s investigation is ongoing and has not reached any conclusions about how
any foreign substances entered the process. [b]I think it’s presumptuous to additional
regulatory measures at this time. [/b]Only when we have this information can we make
an accurate and informed decision.
[i]Because the system is obviously perfect now?[/i]
http://www.petfoodreport.com/whatweknow.htm
How Pet Foods Are Regulated
[b]Pet foods are one of the most highly regulated food products. ]They are required
by law to provide on their labels more information than most human foods. [/b]State
departments of agriculture provide standards and enforcement policies for regulation
of manufacture of pet foods resulting in safe foods. Ingredients in pet food must
be acceptable to state authorities. In the March 23 press conference Sundlof also
stated that regulation of pet foods is the same as human foods.
[i]BULL! No information on carbohydrates, for example. [/i]
Pet food manufacturers are responsible for producing safe products. The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration and state governments provide the rules, guidance and oversight
under which safe pet food is produced. [b]FDA requires pet food to be wholesome, contain
no harmful or deleterious substances, and to be truthfully labeled.[/b]
[i]Except that they can claim anything they want - such as weight loss or urinary tract health without any support for those statements[/i]
How Ingredients and Finished Pet Foods Are Tested
[b]Pet food ingredients undergo significant testing for safety and quality assurance
including screening for mycotoxins (including aflatoxin), bacteria (including Salmonella
and E.Coli) and nutrient content. [/b]Furthermore the finished product is analyzed to
ensure appropriate nutrient levels, evaluating protein (including 11 amino acids),
fat, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
[i]Then why have we had THREE deadly recalls since 2005?[/i]
http://www.petfoodreport.com/r.....esting.htm
[b]Veterinarians agree that pets are living longer, healthier lives since the use of
commercially prepared pet foods became widespread. [/b]Decades of research have gone
into the development of pet food to make sure the special nutrition needs of pet
dogs and cats are met.
[i]Not ALL veterinarians - Dr. Hodgkins, for example, says pets are living longer DESPITE poor nutrition - just like humans are living longer DESPITE all the processed foods out there now - because of medical advances.[/i]
Question
What does “complete and balanced” mean?
Answer
Unlike most foods for people, many pet food products are designed to be the sole
source of nutrition for a pet dog or cat. [b]Products that are labeled “complete
and balanced,” as defined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials
(AAFCO), have been tested to make sure they meet the complex nutritional requirements
of a healthy dog or cat. [/b]
[i]FOR SIX MONTHS[/i]
Question
What does it mean on a pet food label that a product has been tested using animal
feeding trials?
Answer
There are two ways a pet food company can test the nutrition of its products. One
method is the use of standardized animal feeding trials, designed by the Association
of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), to make sure their products meet the
complex nutritional requirements of dogs and cats. [b]The animals in these tests are
fed the food for six months and are closely monitored to make sure they stay healthy.[/b]
A product using this test will have language similar to the following on the label
- “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Nancy’s
Food for Dogs provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages.”
[i]BULL! As long as they don’t lose a significant amount of weight - and SIX of the EIGHT complete the trial, it’s good![/i]
Question
Are fillers used in pet food?
Answer
[b]Every ingredient used in pet food is there for a reason. [/b]Decades of research have
gone into making pet foods that meet the nutritional needs of dogs and cats. The
makers of pet food do not put in anything that’s not needed.
[i]Oh, then CELLULOSE - which is SAWDUST is needed???[/i]
Question
What is ingredient “splitting?”
Answer
Some people incorrectly believe pet food makers split up ingredients to give the
illusion that some ingredients are at higher concentrations than others. Pet food
makers are required to carefully label their products according to stringent government
regulations. Just as the case with food for people, pet foods must clearly state
what ingredients are included in the product. Each ingredient in pet food is there
for a reason and to serve a nutritional purpose.
[i]Okay - I guess they put corn starch & corn gluten separately - use rice and corn… for other reasons, not so there’s not a grain as the first ingredient?[/i]
http://www.petfoodreport.com/a.....rnutrition
Comment by Lynette — April 13, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
Garyn,
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Nadine,
Go after the tests like you do searching out the truth of ChemNutra - like a mother bear.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 13, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
It would be interesting to know exactly when Menu knew there was a real problem. Various reports state pet owners were calling late in December and early January. Considering Mark Wiens sold nearly half his stock in the company on Feb. 26th and 27th you have to wonder how much he knew.
Comment by Ann Martin — April 13, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
I tried to send Menu an e-mail. Couldn’t find anything on their site.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 13, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
Linda MS
LOL - thanks. I will. Trust me!
Comment by Nadine Long — April 13, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
Menu Foods admits to knowledge that pets were dying from their toxic products as early as February 20th, yet they didn’t recall product and tell the FDA until March 16th.
This was a cruel act perpetrated on over 4000 pets at great expense and even greater grief to pet owners.
Menu Foods executives who had the authority and responsibility to quickly pull toxic product from the market, should be held criminally accountable for thousands of acts of animal cruelty.
Here in Maryland animal cruelty is a crime under Maryland Code § 10-606(a)1 which says:
Prohibited:
(a) A person may not”
(1) Intentionally mutilate, torture, cruelly beat, or cruelly kill an animal.
Penalty:
(b)(1) A person who violates this section is guilty of the felony of aggravated cruelty to animals and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both
Most states have similar laws.
Continuing the manufacture, sale and distribution of foods known to cause animals injury, suffering or death weeks after due notice is animal cruelty. The first pet who died were an accident. Those pets that could have been saved through responsible corporate action are viscious crimes.
I hope pet owners will contact their own state attorney general and their State Senators and ask that these executives at Menu Foods be brought to justice for their criminal conduct.
This is not the first recall of foods that injured or killed pets. Only if corporate executives believe that their failure to act promptly will be criminally punished, will executives make the correct future decisions to take due care with our pets.
Comment by Larry — April 13, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
Comment by Garyn — April 13, 2007 @ 11:59 am
Thank you!
Comment by Nadine Long — April 13, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
Comment by DeeAnn — April 13, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Yes…I’ll get the info for you in just a bit. Thank you sooooo much!
Comment by Nadine Long — April 13, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
PET FOOD SALES
Re Comment by CathyA — April 13, 2007 @ 5:50 am
The article state that in 4 weeks of March, dog and cat food sales were:
Data in M$
Cats: 77.5 + 70.8
Dogs: 236.9
Total for 4 weeks: 385.2
I don’t know if this covers treats, but even if it does NOT, the data extrapolates over 52 weeks to $5 billion annually, which is a far cry from $16 billion. Even if I’m missing pet treats, that’s a huge difference.
Is it possible that those people that DID pay attention to the news and did NOT buy pet food of any kind since the first recall announcement on March 16th made that huge an impact?
Source: http://publications.mediapost......_aid=58672
Comment by Lynn — April 13, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
Nadine
Check that food out for D3 toxicity, too.
Comment by Lynn — April 13, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
Comment by Garyn — April 13, 2007 @ 11:59 am
I’m so very deeply sorry for your loss of Mabel.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 13, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
Was the Royal Canine recall (the other one) for D3 toxicity? Or was it K3? Either way, ChemNutra imports both . .
Comment by straybaby — April 13, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
Comment by DeeAnn — April 13, 2007 @ 11:22 am
These are the foods my dog consumed:
3/16/06 - Science Diet I/D wet, (black
flecks)1/4 can added to dinner for several days
3/30/06 - Hill’s Prescription Diet, Canine T/D
6/24/06 - Hill’s Prescription Diet, Canine W/D
6/30/06 - Eukanuba Vet. Diet, Low-Residue Adult
Anything you can uncover would be greatly appreciated.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 13, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
Thank you Nadine and Linda MS, and Nadine I am so very very sorry for the loss of your beloved dog… and for everyones loss.
Nadine I hope you find the answers regarding your dog.
Comment by Garyn — April 13, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
Has anyone else noticed that Nutro canned products suddenly went “on sale—manufacturer special price” at their local pet food stores just a few weeks before the recalls began? Where I shop, Nutro cat food packets went on sale in late Nov./early Dec. and the cans in early March. I bought some. Of course both were subsequently recalled. Makes me very, very suspicious about what Nutro may have known before anything was announced. Like they were trying to dump as much product as possible because a problem was suspected.
I should also add that my 4 discrimimating felines began refusing all or most of Nutro canned foods (which thank goodness were only a small extra and not their whole diet)in 2006. My very intelligent and insightful Manx, who used to eat Nutro wet eagerly, began refusing it completely in Feb. 2006 or thereabouts. What did she know?
Thank heaven my cats are all currently fine and lab work has not shown any signs of kidney damage at this point, even though there is a possibility that they may have consumed or been offered some of the bad food. I’ve always had a policy of feeding my cats an assortment of brands of both canned and dry foods, and I think this also helped minimize any impact. But I truly believe that they saved themselves, because they knew better than I did.
Comment by Debra — April 13, 2007 @ 3:16 pm
I believe that animals were dying last year from poisoned food & I also think a lot of problems came from dry food and/or treats, most of which have not been recalled.
My neighbor across the street fed her cat only Iams dry…..cat stopped eating & had all the symptoms we know about now….except this was around Nov of last year, long before any recall & long before MF claims they were getting tainted wheat gluten…..like I’d believe anything that comes from them anyway.
It was sad enough for my neighbors to lose their beloved cat but then she turned around & gave the bag to another neighbor….I mean, really, who would even suspect the dry food had poisoned her cat.
The next person in this story had three kittens & an adult cat. They were all fed from this bag of Iams. She did say now & then she did feed a small amount of wet but can’t recall now what it was….but primarily the Iams dry. The kittens all died & the adult cat got very sick with urinary problems….all last year long before any recall.
I’ve been reading tons & tons from several websites but I do remember reading somewhere that MF was getting calls back in Nov-Dec about people suspecting something was wrong with the food & they chose to ignore them. Took them until Jan-Feb to get off their fat, rich fannies & even test & then more than a month to get the word out to the public. Of course, we do have to allow time for the CEO & probably a lot more fat, rich executives of MF to dump their stock before they went public with the news. What a bunch of morons.
I can only wish that their stock nosedives & people stop buying their food….the only thing I want to see from MF is money to reimburse all these animal parents who are stuck with huge vet bills…..let that come out of their multi-million dollar bonuses.
Comment by Jan — April 13, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
Comment by Jan — April 13, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
Thanks, Jan. Will make a note of this.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 13, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
WHAT WILL THE NEXT HEARING LOOK LIKE?
Speakers:
1. Vets who saw an increase in ARF and treated sick pets (VIN ? Vet info network ?)
2. A longgggg line of owners whose pets died, walking in w/ photos, collars, and favorite toys, (cans of the killer food?) filing past a microphone one by one & telling their pets’ stories in 7 seconds each. (Owners close to Washington, DC, especially, but representative of the entire country as well)
3. Close-up camera shot of a poster showing pictures of numerous dead/sick pets, such as this one linked from howl911 dot com http://i9.tinypic.com/334i35u.jpg
If the Pet Food Industry can hold up a large copy of the USA Today article saying that they are creating a new pet food commission, we can certainly have a poster to show the magnitude of the loss.
BTW, I’d like to see this poster (creator unknown) made into a full-page color ad in the NY TIMES. I’d contribute money to help get it published there. Many others would as well, I’m sure.
4. Menu Foods CEO there to be grilled.
5. The big 3 - 5 pet food companies there to answer questions about testing of ingredients before manufacturing, inspections, nutrition, etc.
6. Ok. Your turn…
Comment by petlover — April 13, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
Re: Pet FOOD Sales
Comment by Lynn — April 13, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
…..yeah, like I said, that was a media spin article and it wouldn’t surprise me if there was a pretty big slump in pet food sales this past month. PFI head said yesterday that the consumer had increasing confidence in pet food WRT safety issue. I think he lives in an alternate universe. Saying that won’t make it so. I don’t care what the pet food industry says. It’s of no importance whatsoever. We’re the ones with the bucks they want. If anyone thinks they’re going to wake up and say anything meaningful, well I’ve got a bridge…..
Most people will go back to feeding commercial food though, as they don’t have time or inclination to think about what cats and dogs need. I hope that if they got scared enough during this thing to quit feeding commercial food for a while, that the next time their animal looks ill or acts funny they’ll promptly consider the food as a possible source instead of making the assumption that commercial food couldn’t possibly be contaminated.
I don’t care what people feed. It’s really none of my business nor is it my right to tell them. My job is to take care of my own pets. Most of the time I feed raw, the cats get canned occasionally and a few pieces of kibble to get them in the house at night. I think people need to feed what they’re most comfortable with, but if they’re buying a bag or can at least it shouldn’t have poison in it.
Comment by CathyA — April 13, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
Go to itchmo and read:
ChemNutra CEO: Rat Poison Never Found in Wheat Gluten, Cuts Ties With Supplier
April 13th, 2007
ChemNutra, the US broker of wheat gluten, sent us an email about their reactions and a timeline related to the pet food recall.
Interesting items from the ChemNutra timeline:
Aminopterin (rat poison) identified in Menu Foods products was never found in the wheat gluten. So where did it come from?
Menu Foods told them they were changing wheat gluten suppliers because of “water absorption factor”, not because of contamination.
Menu Foods suspected 4 toxins for more than a week before issuing the recall.
Email highlights are below:
We are appalled and distressed that Menu Foods took so long to recall its products, although it clearly suspected there was a problem for weeks prior to the first recall. And it wasn’t until eight days before they issued their first recall that Menu Foods told us that wheat gluten was one of many ingredients it was investigating… We had no idea that melamine was an issue until being notified by the FDA on March 29. In fact, we had never heard of melamine before… We assure you that we will never again do business with the supplier of the suspect wheat gluten, XuZhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. Ltd.
Entire letter after the jump. The timeline they referenced is here.
Read the rest of this entry »
Comment by Linda — April 13, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
Comment by petlover — April 13, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
RE The Next Hearing
They’ll also have to arrange to bring in a Steinway grand piano for Elton John to sing his (yet to be written) new song dedicated to all the pets who were poisoned and died at the hands of corporate greed.
Elton, how about a concert for the cause?
Comment by Nadine Long — April 13, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
A MEMORIAL CONCERT & TELETHON TO RAISE FUNDS FOR ONGOING WORK IN THE FIELD OF PET NUTRITION & SAFETY
Why not?
Comment by Nadine Long — April 13, 2007 @ 5:07 pm
WHAT SHOULD THE NEXT HEARING LOOK LIKE?
Speaking of celebrities, are there a few actors/actresses who would be willing to appear before a panel? There have to be some pet lovers out there. Celebrities, before, have testified before bodies for a cause.
Names? Do we need some fame behind us to bring these issues to the forefront? What about contacting a celebrity about doing a 30-second commercial about the issue? Perhaps going in with some non-profits to share costs? Just brain-storming here. We need to keep the issue out there.
Comment by petlover — April 13, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Comment by petlover — April 13, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Wish I wasn’t right in the middle of a big move.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 13, 2007 @ 5:30 pm
What “poll” were they talking about at the hearing?
I wonderif it was this one:
http://publications.mediapost......_aid=58672
” “It’s been a big scare, but maybe overblown. After all, fewer than 20 pets have died,” says Tom Mularz, senior vice president at Synovate E-Nation. “For the most part, people feel their pets were unaffected by the recall.”
I think some of these folks live in the dark ages.
Ann
Comment by Ann H — April 13, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
MERRICK B.ANY MORE INFO ON MELAMINE LOUSISIANA PLANT?
****************************
From Merrick B. on April 12, 9:50 p.m.
What I’m curious about is some hear say from someone who works in a melamine plant in Louisiana who openly mentioned that he witnessed the FBI inspect the plant because the FBI tracked that they were supplying this melamine product to Canadian purchasers who in trucked it up to Canada then shipped it to China. So theoretically the melamine supposedly came from the States anyway. This is the underlying investigations that they’re not letting the public know about.
According to the source, they recall seeing many canadian licensed trucks going in and out of the plant over the past few months collecting this product, and the source was shocked when the FBI barged into their plant to investigate it. Hmmm****END OF QUOTE****
**************************************
I hadn’t heard this before. I realize it is hearsay, but any follow ups?
I’m still wondering about the rat poison findings that have mysteriously disappeared since the melamine story broke: This is printed on CNN’s site from Mar. 23:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/.....index.html
Scientists at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University and at the New York State Food Laboratory tested three cat food samples provided by the manufacturer and found aminopterin in two of them. The two labs are part of a network created after the September 11 terrorist attacks to keep the nation’s animals and food supply safe.
“Any amount of this product is too much in food,” Hooker said.
Aminopterin is highly toxic in high doses. It inhibits the growth of malignant cells and suppresses the immune system. In dogs and cats, the amount of aminopterin found — 40 parts per million — can cause kidney failure, according to Bruce Akey, director of Cornell’s diagnostic center.
“It’s there in substantial amounts,” Akey said.
Donald Smith, dean of Cornell’s veterinary school, said he expected the number of pet deaths to increase. “Based on what we’ve heard the last couple days, 16 is a low number,” Smith said.
Aminopterin is no longer marketed as a cancer drug, but is still used in research, said Andre Rosowsky, a chemist with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
Rosowsky speculated that the substance would not show up in pet food “unless somebody put it there.”
Paul Henderson, chief executive of Ontario, Canada-based Menu Foods, said the company does not believe the food was tampered with because the recalled food came from two different plants, one in Kansas, one in New Jersey. Menu continues to produce food at the two plants.
*****END OF QUOTE FROM CNN . COM ***********
How can two different diagnostic lab centers, set up deliberately after 9/11 to diagnose potential attacks against our (and our pets’) food supply be wrong about aminopterin (rat poison) being found in two out of three samples of food from two different pet food manufacturing plants?
I would think that Cornell’s diagnostic center (Ithaca, NY) and the NYS Food Lab (Albany, NY)would be quite well equipped (and state of the art) to identify rat poison, since companion animals as well as farm animals (I’ve seen dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, birds, horses… you name it!) are treated at Cornell. How many animals do you think are rushed there because they’ve consumed rat poison that has been kept on a farm? I would think it’s somewhat common considering that Ithaca (NY) is a beautiful two-college town with a surrounding area (for miles) that is quite rural with considerable farm land. I do not think that Cornell or the New York State Food Lab in Albany (NY) were wrong in their findings.
Again, I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but wouldn’t the public be much more alarmed if rat poison were found to be part of the “adulterated” wheat gluten, rather than an “Oops! An industrial ingredient, melamine, was mistakenly in there”?
As someone earlier suggested, maybe the aminopterin was in there because it was used as a marker for genetically modified wheat (if this is the case). Well, discussion of the rat poison findings has disappeared since the melamine story broke. However, we’ve read that melamine would not necessarily cause the symptoms we’ve seen in pets because a variety of reports have said that it’s relatively non-toxic, unless cats and dogs seem more sensitive to it. Anyone have more info? Any scientists want to jump in here?
Comment by petlover — April 15, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
I’m SO SORRY…my computer didn’t paste the correct website about the Menufoods CEO…
http://network.bestfriends.org/dc/news/14009.html
Comment by Lisa B — April 17, 2007 @ 12:07 am