Pet food recall: Pet owners wonder, what’s next?
By Christie Keith
April 17, 2007
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- 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.
Carrie Peyton Dahlberg of the Sacramento Bee is reporting tonight that:
Natural Balance, a Pacoima-based company, is “99.9 percent sure” that a rice protein made in Asia is responsible for the melamine detected Tuesday in some of its pet foods, company president Joey Herrick said.
“It was pretty shocking,” he said in a phone interview after the company recalled several of its venison-based foods. “I was livid.”Herrick declined to name the supplier of the rice protein or the country it came from, saying only that a large American company acquired the ingredient for Diamond Pet Foods, which makes venison products for Natural Balance.
Because both wheat gluten and rice protein enhance protein content of pet food, “It certainly is suspicious” that melamine now is associated with both, said Bob Poppenga, a UC Davis veterinary toxicology professor.
[....]
Local veterinarians who’ve been tracking kidney ailments nationwide also have tentatively identified five more foods, not at this point under any recall, that they plan to have tested as soon as possible.
The Veterinary Information Network, used by about 16,000 of the estimated 35,000 U.S. veterinarians, noticed the five foods kept recurring in vet-described disease reports, said Paul Pion, the Davis vet who co-founded the service.
He declined to name the foods, saying that would be premature, but described the issue as serious enough that his network decided to collect samples from the vets who treated ailing cats and dogs.
He said hopes to get them to the UC Davis-based California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory as early as Wednesday.
Read Carrie’s story in the Bee, and watch for more news tomorrow.
So many of my friends and family members don’t read blogs or participate in any form of pet-related online community. They aren’t crazy-obsessed with dog and cat nutrition the way I am, and have been mostly tolerant of the way this story has consumed my life for the last month. And today for the first time, I saw genuine fear in them, a real sense that this had finally crossed over into being a problem they couldn’t ignore. That just switching to another brand of pet food wasn’t enough. And when I told my sister-in-law, who is a pharmacist and was a strict vegetarian for most of her adult life, that they’d found melamine in rice protein powder, she burst out, “They what? That’s in everything!”
And I thought, that’s how I feel about this story. It gets into everything.
Just look at the headline on the Bee story: “Pet Food Recall Widens.” How many times have we seen a headline like that in the last month? I’ve lost count.
But I believed from day one of the recall that the implications of this story were far-reaching and being grossly underestimated and thus, under-reported. And as the scope of the recall has gotten broader with every passing week – more products, more production dates, more suspect ingredients, the actual toxin still somewhat in doubt, and always on the edge of our awareness the nagging question that no one has been able to answer with certainty: Is this in the human food supply too? – I’ve only come to believe more and more firmly that this story is huge.
It’s about the human-animal bond, and the human and animal suffering caused by illness, worry, and loss. And it’s also about all those issues that we’ve blogged about here, written about elsewhere, and that you all discuss so eloquently in the comments section, about food production and safety, corporate practices, ethics, good business practices, trust.
I’m putting a photo of my dog, Bran, on this entry. He died of acute kidney failure while in UC Davis for dialysis three years ago. It had nothing to do with the pet food recall; he was on a homemade diet all his life, and his kidney failure was almost certainly caused by Lyme nephritis, although we didn’t know it at the time. But I watched him die horribly over a period of ten days, and spent myself into huge debt to try to save him. He was only four years old.
Every story I’ve read here has reminded me of the pain and powerlessness I felt when Bran was dying. Lying next to him on the floor of the hospital trying to get him to eat, offering him anything I could think of – pizza, cooked chicken, chunks of cheddar cheese. And he’d refuse it all, or nibble a bite and then throw it up. If I had to think, as so many of you here have, that the very food I was begging him to eat was what had caused his illness and death, I can’t even imagine the guilt and pain that would have caused me.
I hope Gina doesn’t mind me hijacking the blog tonight for a personal story, but it’s been a hard day and I’m not feeling too optimistic about tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll turn out to be wrong about that.
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It just doesn’t end. What will tomorrow bring? The next day? The next?
To the manufacturers that have played fair throughtout - I’m sorry, but I have to boycott ALL commercial dog and cat food until this is resolved. All those in the pet food industry need to stop the production, stop the importing, clean the processing plants, and get to the bottom of this situation.
And to the manufacturers and importers and exporters AND government agencies that sat on information at the expense of our pets’ safety:
~ ~ ~ SHAME ON YOU! ~ ~ ~
I certainly don’t have the power to close down your operations, but rest assured that the consumers are restless. We can cripple your industry.
So be smart. Shut it all down. Get the answers. Take corrective action. And keep us in the communications loop.
Comment by Lynn — April 18, 2007 @ 12:38 am
They need to check the corn protein powder as well. Especially since the chinese company that supplied the wheat gluten supplies the corn protein powder as well.
I have found out that glutens are in almost EVERYTHING. Even medicine contains gluten. And there are so many humans that are allergic to gluten and don’t even know it. Celiac is seriously under diagnosed. If there are that many humans with this type of allergy then what on earth is it doing to our precious pets. I have read about wheat gluten studies done on animals way back in the early 1900’s and the animals became gravely ill and died. They found that wheat gluten was toxic to some animals. I’m sure they have come a long way with wheat gluten today and it is not the same components as it was back then. But to know that it even is a little toxic should be enough to take it out of our food supply. Americans need to demand better sources of food. I’m sick of going to the store and not being able to buy things because they are nothing but toxic waste with all the preservatives. I’m sick of the government telling us that hormone induced foods are safe when there has been no LONG term studies to back it up. Now they want us to eat cloned beef? Are they crazy? Where are the long term studies on that? Sensible people know that there are serious health problems associated with cloning. They tell us that the hormone they give dairy cows is safe and that the milk is no different from milk without it. How can that be when it is known that everything a nursing mother consumes is passed on to her baby. Isn’t it the same with cows? Hello! The hormone they give cows to produce more milk causes the cows to become hungry so they eat more. Is there a correlation between this and obesiety in children. Not saying that milk is causing children to be obese but it is one factor worth looking into. Almost everything we consume….even the good stuff like fruits and veggies, is contaminated in some shape or form. Do they honestly think that we can trust food industries that basically self inspect? I almost scared to put anything in my mouth anymore. They say we have the safest food supply in the world but I seriously doubt it. They don’t even have the manpower to check the majority of our food supply how the hell can they tell us it is the safest? If it is so safe then why are all of the poisonings happening so frequently? And last week there was a children’s mouthwash that was recalled because of deadly bacteria in it. I almost bought that mouthwash for my daughter the day before I found out it was recalled. I know someone in PA who’s granddaughter is very sick and think that it is from the mouthwash. I just wonder what is going to be next.
Comment by Tammy — April 18, 2007 @ 12:45 am
Here we go with “shocked” companies again. I’m not buying that excuse. Heard it too many times. Now Herrik tells us Diamond makes the food. I thought he or the he that I talked to on the phone said they had their own facilities and everything was American back in March.
Nope, not working for me.
So what’s Q up to anyway? Noticed most of their products have disappeared off the website today and I just looked at it a few days ago. Wonder if someone saved the original.
I think Sen. Durbi really needs to look into the wheat gluten-rice protein concentrate connection with melamine. Q’s starting to look like a deer caught in headlights to me.
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 12:59 am
I thought mouthwash was supposed to kill bacteria?
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 1:04 am
Who or what is Q? Sorry. I must have missed something.
Comment by Linda P. — April 18, 2007 @ 1:16 am
Christie,
Thank you for Bran’s story. I also went through ARF with a sweet senior kitty (17.5yo, severe infection, cleared up, due to bladder cancer) 2x’s. He lived another good 8mos. I’ve been reflecting back on the experience and it just pains me that others are going through this with their pets. And trying to feed some of these foods to bring them around. I relied on some of the gravy foods to get my kitty eating again or to hide meds. He was also on home prepared, but when it gets down to it, you do what it takes.
ARF is not something I would want to go through again with a pet, or would want anyone else to experience first hand. It just breaks my heart knowing what all these pet owners are going through. When my Rikki was battling Bladder cancer, his brother was battling Lymphoma. The pain and fear I felt then I feel again when I see posts from people with one or more pets going through this horrible (preventable!) time. I look at my 5 cats and 1 dog and thank dog we aren’t there (selfish, I know) because it is just too much.
This WAS preventable. Hopefully, this was not an exercise in futility and our pets (and ourselves) will be safer going forward. We need to make sure of that.
Comment by straybaby — April 18, 2007 @ 1:20 am
Linda P.
She is Sally Qing Miller, a chemical food engineer, Pesident and wife of CEO/Lawyer Stephen Miller of ChemNutra. The wheat gluten - rice protein concentrate supplier’s for Menu Foods.
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 1:28 am
to Tammy;
Beautifully said! And completely true. I’ve been yelling about all this for a long time and nobody was listening. I said a month ago what’s happening to our precious furbabies is just the tip of the iceberg. And that if it had started in humans instead, radical things would have been done fast. Now I’m not so sure.
Comment by Sharon G — April 18, 2007 @ 1:55 am
Am I crazy, or did Natural Balance change their website to add Rice Protein Conc to the ingredients on the two recalled diets?
Is it on the actual product bags?
If the answer is NO - we now have two problems - first, melamine contamination (blame this on China..) but secondly, illegal product labelling (Blame THIS on Natural Balance!!). If you use something - you MUST DECLARE IT. You can’t just decide you are going to sprinkle in some protein powder and ball it in with a whole ingredient like “brown rice”. That is not legal. But if you are using an expensive, hard to source ingredient like Venison, maybe you need this protein “crutch” for times when you can’t get enough venison. Not allowed.
How many other “holistic” diets is Diamond making that have added sprinkles that we don’t know about.
P.S - corn gluten meal is apparently a byproduct of the production of high fructose corn syrup and ethanol. We love our soda and drive SUV’s, so we have lots of domestic corn gluten - and corn gluten is also not used in human foods that I can tell (anyone seen it on a human label? I have never used it) whereas wheat gluten is so there is no competition for the ingredient, and it is cheaper than wheat gluten.
Comment by Food Scientist — April 18, 2007 @ 4:03 am
Also, NB’s claims that their products are all US as well as specific claims on their web page that the cat food did NOT contain rice. Liars. It is difficult to trust anyone.
Comment by Jenny — April 18, 2007 @ 4:26 am
Pion won’t reveal the 5 new products. Yeah right.
Let’s kill more pets to protect profits. What a way to wake up today. ANGER, ANGER, ANGER.
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 4:31 am
I still concerned about any news regarding the Heartguard chewables.
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 4:58 am
To Christie
I am so sorry about the loss of Bran, may you only remember the happy times.
God saw you were getting tired
And your cure was not meant to be
So he put his arms around you
And whispered “come to me”
A golden heart stopped beating
Adoring eyes went to rest
God broke our hearts to prove
He only takes the best!!
Hugs
Kelly
Comment by Kelly B — April 18, 2007 @ 4:59 am
So sorry Christie. Every death is so hard. Every day I get my fella up and moving is a thrill but the future is dim. Ache ache ache for everyone.
Comment by Nancy Nielsen — April 18, 2007 @ 5:34 am
“If you use something - you MUST DECLARE IT. You can’t just decide you are going to sprinkle in some protein powder and ball it in with a whole ingredient like “brown rice”. That is not legal. But if you are using an expensive, hard to source ingredient like Venison, maybe you need this protein “crutch” for times when you can’t get enough venison. Not allowed.”
Unfortunately, this is perfectly legal. Pet food regulations give companies 6-9 months to change their product label after they change ingredients.
Comment by Joy — April 18, 2007 @ 5:45 am
The Manufacturers didn’t play fair throughout because they waited for our pets to die first and waited and waited. They kept killer food on the shelves and never took it off. They should have removed everything. Where were you when this was going on? As for the Manufacturers I don’t care if they go broke. It is high time that people realize as a consumer we are the guiny pigs for them and we have no one to blame but ourselves because we allow this?
Comment by Georgeann Heckman — April 18, 2007 @ 5:49 am
Whats next? More of the same. While “THEY” jet set around the globe, golf at the country club, sail on their 100 ft private yachts, and pat each other on the back about all the great new gizmo’s and technology they are going to sell us in Chicago today, we’ll continue to endure pain, suffering, and death.
Thats the facts.
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 6:09 am
Timeline
Feb 20th - Menu Foods receives first reports of problems with pet food.
Feb 26th - Menu foods commence tests on 50 animals.
Feb 26th & 27th - Menus CFO sells half his shares for $102,900.
March 16th - Recall announced. Share price plunges
April 10th - CFO calls this a “horrible coincidence”
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 6:15 am
It’s a good time for everyone to explore a raw diet. I’ve been feeding it to my dogs for 4 years now and the benefits are immense. Of course a new benefit is not having to worry about any of these recent recalls.
Go to http://www.rawmeatybones.com and download a free copy of “Work Wonders, Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones” by Dr. Tom Lonsdale. Then join the yahoo group called “rawfeeding”. There are 6000+ members there who are more than happy to answer your every question and get your carnivores eating appropriately. Here are some other useful websites:
http://www.rawfed.com
http://www.rawlearning.com
Comment by Diane — April 18, 2007 @ 6:16 am
Pardon my “ignorance” here but I’m sure I’ve read in more than one publication especially over the past year that food (human) producing companies can add like 300 ingredients/substances into foods without having to specify them on the labels. Am I wrong? Until some company proves me wrong, I will stay with this premise.
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 6:19 am
Christie,
So sorry to read about your loss. The pain never really goes away - there is
always a large hole in the heart that was full while that pet was alive.
Once again, I’m reading this blog through tears for all of the lost precious pets.
It’s never easy to let go of a loved one, but to have one die as the
result of human neglegience in the powerful corporate world where money rules
is so very hard.
**He declined to name the foods, saying that would be premature**
WHAT??!! **premature** When pets lives could be saved - every minute counts!
Tell us what these food are!! This is just inexcusable!
Comment by Mary Smith — April 18, 2007 @ 6:24 am
Todays Schedule. (Closed to the Public)
Wednesday, April 18
7:00-8:00 am - Breakfast
7:30-10:30 am - Exhibits open
8:00-9:30 am
General session—executive roundtable: Doug Cahill of Mars Inc., Ladd Hardy of Nutro Products, Marcel Blok of Breakthrough Consulting and Brian Connolly of Castor & Pollux share their insights on the petfood industry today and tomorrow.
9:30-10:10 am - Break
10:15-10:55 am
General session—what pet owners want: An executive from Petco shares consumer needs from the pet retailing perspective.
11:00-11:40 am
General session—the petfood industry in 2011: David Lummis of Packaged Facts provides highlights of exclusive, in-depth research on the future of the industry.
11:45 am-2:00 pm - Luncheon
Pet Food Industry Conference, Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel, Chicago, IL
Monday, April 16: 1:00 - 7:30 pm CDT
Tuesday, April 17: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm, CDT
Wednesday, April 18: 7:00 am - 2:00 pm, CDT
Thursday, April 19: 7:00 am - 11:50 am, CDT
http://www.wattnet.com/petfoodforum/home.cfm
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 6:26 am
Oh check this one out.
A Glance into the Future
Nutro has no intention of going public. As a privately owned operation, we can continue to maintain our high quality standards. Like Ladd Hardy says, “You can’t create the kind of products we do with investors looking over your shoulder talking about profit margins and market shares.”
Makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time.
http://www.nutroproducts.com/nutroshistory.asp
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 6:30 am
Christie sorry for your loss - our pets forever live in our hearts - immortal.
We know almost all the companies - people have posted about it here, but we need to know the official truth. Shame on these vets etc. protecting big business and not our pets.
What are they afraid of - bad publicity?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 6:37 am
I’m afraid for our human food supply now. Anyone here agree? What if our food companies are lying too - seems that they could easily?
Linda MS.
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 6:44 am
Bet me the subjects of this week’s meeting of pet food manufacturers have changed from the above. Like “how to save our million dollar salaries & bonuses while still snowing the public on how wholesome our products are”. I can’t believe this subject has not come up…..how to save their sorry asses once the dust has settled.
As for me, I personally feel they should at least warn us about those other five companies. To withhold this information from pet owners is absolutely the worst of the worst…..it’s about time everyone stopped covering up & helping big business screw the people of this great country.
We can really put it to them big time if we stay away from the products from all these companies. If we, as consumers, just take our business elsewhere, you know it’s going to hurt their profits. I would never trust them again after all I’ve read so each one of them can kiss me goodbye as a customer of theirs.
We can wear tees saying this or that & parade in front of the hotel but nothing is going to get to them except loss of business & profits. The pet owners of America can tuck it to them the way they’ve been tucking it to us for so many years.
How about it?
Comment by Jan — April 18, 2007 @ 6:49 am
NUTRO iS NEXT I Bet ,ole roy ,nutro and IAms most pet owners wrote that the dry was makeing their pets sick.[for dog food] i switch to caliifornia natural rice and lamb meal, it only has brown rice ,lamb meal and rice they are on the reduced calorie. i’m glad i wised up and made the change and took them off nutro, they were drinking so much water now they aren’t drinking all that water .
Comment by Marry Ann — April 18, 2007 @ 6:52 am
Nutro has no intention of going public. As a privately owned operation, we can continue to maintain our high quality standards. Like Ladd Hardy says, “You can’t create the kind of products we do with investors looking over your shoulder talking about profit margins and market shares.”
———————————————————————-
Oh puullllleeeezzzzz…..gag me with a spoon.
They are the worst of the bunch, having been told that other products were sickening & killing animals & they chose not to recall it. Then, when the pet owner sent the food to them, they had the gall to report back that the food was fine. However, when the pet owners didn’t believe them (good for them) & sent it to another lab, they found melamine. Oh gee, what a surprise…..then & only then did they recall it. There’s a company off my list forever. I think what they did was even worse than the rest of these morons.
Comment by Jan — April 18, 2007 @ 6:53 am
I wonder if we could find out who is catering the food at the convention. Then perhaps get a list of the waiters and waitresses. Maybe one of them could tell us what the discussions were about. Just because they are wait staff doesn’t mean they aren’t taking mental notes about what’s going on there.
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 6:57 am
Comment by Jan — April 18, 2007 @ 6:53 am
The company marketing “evangelists” are probably worse then the Luba’s, Sallys, and all the others because they actually believe the bullsh*t they are pitching.
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 7:05 am
I’d put Science Diet in the mix, can you imagine the repurcussions of a vet coming out against Science Diet? We already know that two have been pulled.
We need to make some lists: We already know it is Natural Balance, Menu and their buddies, SD, and has to be IAMS, and Nutro from all the people blogging -
What do you all think?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 7:07 am
I am so upset. I’ve spent the past hour or so writing to 15+ elected officials, Senators, Governor, FDA, Attorney General. And, I’m still writing. This has got to stop and stop now. This is what I wrote:
With reference to this ever expanding pet food recall, as each day passes my anxiety continues to increase. At this point, I am afraid to buy commercially made pet food due to the manufacturer’s ever changing stories and the fact that this pet food industry is completely unregulated.
As of today there is concern regarding wheat gluten and now rice protein. As this scandal continues to unfold I find myself as a law abiding, tax paying citizen, fearful that in addition to inadvertantly poisoning my pets I may also be poisoning my human family members.
I never thought that as a American I would suddenly find myself fearful that food available in a grocery store could harm or even kill those that I hold near and dear.
Let me know what I, as an American citizen, can do to facilitate a dramatic change in the laws that govern the content and quality of the food that makes its way into my home.
Comment by Lorraine T — April 18, 2007 @ 7:24 am
RE: Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 6:44 am
Linda you comment mirrors my fears exactly. If you look at the bungling and coverups and total lack of concern for the quality of the product, all in the name of $$$$$$$$ then how can we possibly believe any of them about our foods.
Most of the companies, if not all, involved in this pet food scandal, also produce human food in another one of their subsiduaries. This is not just about the 26 BILLION $$$ pet food industry..it goes far deeper than that and I for one am VERY VERY scared!!
Comment by mal — April 18, 2007 @ 7:24 am
Has anyone listened to Andrew Lewis’ video? Anyone
thinking of subscribing to purchase the information he speaks about? Wondering if it would be worthwhile. Any comments?
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 7:27 am
Linda MS ,You are so right SD,IAMS and NUTRO, OLE ROY we heard the most of how so many pets died or got sick from.i’m glad i took them off nutro,they stopped drinking all the water and so mamy people were saying how thier pets were drinking so much water on Nutro. these bastards better start careing about our pets instead of $$$$$$$$$$. they are loseing more and more customers every day.
Comment by Marry Ann — April 18, 2007 @ 7:28 am
Royal Canin is there too!
As to the human supply, go natural and certified organic and try not to buy pre-made items and buy local farmers the best one can, and the rest I just don’t know what to do.
I fear for the young mothers too.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 7:29 am
Linda MS - My guess it is Purina. Remember the blurb on the VIN page about “rumors” being discussed on VIN boards? Purina was one. This is probably as much as the vets can say about it without proof. That they went public with that hint and followed it up with testing is stellar. They’re NOT the pet food companies OR the FDA. They’re doing what they can to protect pets from contaminated food. Thank you VIN for the heads up and for being proactive in this situation.
Comment by CathyA — April 18, 2007 @ 7:29 am
Cathy A - I thought of Purina this morning - that it might be them. I kept thinking Purina was safe in that we hadn’t heard so much of it on here too.
Lots of people use Purina. How tragic.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 7:32 am
If I read that press release correctly, NB was one of five companies that got the same rice protein concentrate. Which means there are four out there with that crap in their pet food & we could be serving it to our pets right now.
This is criminal….they should at least warn us about these products. Instead, more animals will die until they get their tests done, as slowly as possible so these companies can sell yet more food to us, & then we’ll get the word…..probably a week down the road.
Not good enough….not even close.
I think I can pretty much figure out who the other four are….just judging from people I know who lost cats to dry food & reading all the blogs. They are sleaze ball companies because they had to know that their new ingredient(s) were causing all these pets to get sick/die & they kept telling us their products were safe. However, I have heard, more than once, about late night trips into pet stores to pull dry food & replace with other bags…..all without going public. Nice, huh?
I hate to sling mud but I am so angry about all that I’ve heard. How the management at these companies can live with themselves is beyond me, all the while collecting their big fat paychecks.
My dog had blood tests & they were ok but I was feeding her Nutro Ultra dry which was not recalled but the wet food was. I have the strongest feeling that I was feeding my dog a poisoned dry food…..she has had some of the symptoms so I still think something is wrong.
Comment by Jan — April 18, 2007 @ 7:32 am
Comment by Lorraine T — April 18, 2007 @ 7:24 am
Good on you! The Prez is discussing the budget today. If the Senate Appropriations Ag sub committee is not on the list, might be a good idea to hammer the nail home with them. There are clickable links to all of them at this page:
http://appropriations.senate.gov/hearings.cfm
Comment by CathyA — April 18, 2007 @ 7:34 am
I realize I’ve been a little over the top about this but I think its warranted really - and now I am paranoid - it is true. My dogs were drinking tons of water on IAMS and then I switched to SD and didn’t like that so much and finally settled on NB.
But my youngest dog was on Nutro and I’m so glad I stopped. Thank goodness he is okay.
Linda MS
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 7:34 am
Jan,
I’m so sorry about your dog. I took my youngest to the Vet after feeding him the Nutro Natures Choice I think - it was for puppy, his liver panel was high, and he had a fever. She switched him to SD I/D but I wouldn’t feed it to him - I went homemade. He is a wonderful dog and I love him and can’t imagine if he were to die.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 7:38 am
If it’s Purina - they’ll be a huge cry of outrage - maybe that will get some attention.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 7:40 am
Thanks, Linda….I hope she’s ok too. She’s my little baby girl!!!!!!
Of all times to hear this, the news just announced that the meat & milk from cloned animals will soon be hitting the stores……without anything to tell us it’s from cloned animals. I was typing so didn’t hear the whole thing but somebody is trying to get them to label it as from cloned animals.
Something has to be done about what these companies can do to us & our pets & not be honest on their labels.
God help us all.
Comment by Jan — April 18, 2007 @ 7:43 am
Royal Canin - 25 cases in South Africa of renal failure.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 7:44 am
Does anyone know where Purina is made?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 7:47 am
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 7:47 am
Shun Nestle Purina. Do not support. Avoid deliberately. Keep away from. It’s an out of control globalist corporation.
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 7:57 am
I was wondering where they make their food and if another company uses their plants - might give us a clue as to what else to avoid.
Linda MS.
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 7:58 am
I know they have 17 manufacturing plants.
I’m checking…
Comment by Sharon — April 18, 2007 @ 7:59 am
Christie, thank you for sharing your story with all of us, I am sorry for your loss and I know the heartache of watching a dear pet waste away in front of your eyes. And I hope you hijack the blog anytime you feel like it, you and Gina always have things that are most wonderful to read.
Steve and others, I cant help but feel that Nutro may not have been in the middle of this if they hadnt sold their company to Baine Capital in 2005 (or was it in 2006). They started out being a small company privately owned and I think they went downhill when Baine Capital bought them and profit was the bottom-line.
Comment by Sandi K — April 18, 2007 @ 7:59 am
More info on Natural Balance:
I was checking out the ingredients in the wet canned cat foods. Interstingly they all contain
Sodium Tripolyphosphate. This is a dangerous casutic poison that can cause stomach irritation and vomiting.
Safety data for sodium tripolyphosphate
Toxicology
Irritant. Caustic.
http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS.....phate.html
A lot of the other chemicals in these goods have no nutritional value and are not good. The sodium trisphosphate was just a major BAD BAD POISON that I researched. Many of the others are not much better.
This is the “quality” food they are producing??? There were previous posters that said not to bash the company. Obviously they were company shills, as the company is in fact bashing itself.
We are just becoming better educated and starting to recognize the lies and deceits that all the companies are participating in.
I AM SO ANGRY!!!
Comment by mal — April 18, 2007 @ 8:00 am
I thought that too Mal and attacked me for being upset and believe me I have spent lots of money at NB - lots and it strikes fear in my heart.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 8:05 am
There’s something operated by Purina in St. joseph, Missouri
Kansas is Hills, Natural Life, Menu Foods, Del Monte
I just used the national yellow pages…
Linda, the disturbing part about this is the outsourcing of producing these things. Who knows who is making the food.
Comment by Sharon — April 18, 2007 @ 8:05 am
Fogot to mention. Sodium triphosphate is actually sodium tripolyphosphate:
Sodium tripolyphosphate MSDS
Synonym: Sodium triphosphate
http://tinyurl.com/39d658
Comment by mal — April 18, 2007 @ 8:06 am
Comment by Sandi K — April 18, 2007 @ 7:59 am
Yes they sold out. I wonder what kind of Pet Food Brands the Industry Kahunas are feeding their pets today?
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 8:07 am
Comment by CathyA — April 18, 2007 @ 7:34 am
Many thanks for the link, have written to each member. I am so upset.
Comment by Lorraine T — April 18, 2007 @ 8:07 am
Does everyone know about the South Africa pet food recall?
http://allafrica.com/stories/200704170211.html
Comment by Kat — April 18, 2007 @ 8:09 am
ChemNutra sliding off radar screen?
By Judi McLeod
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
http://www.canadafreepress.com.....041807.htm
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 8:11 am
Yahoo!!! Paydirt!!!
This is a link to a list of rendering plants that make pet food. Appears to be the manufacturer’s directory :) :)
http://www.macraesbluebook.com.....de=9008852
Comment by Sharon — April 18, 2007 @ 8:11 am
We can find out - you guys are so good at uncovering the truth - so very good at it. More later, must run. I so appreciate this blog and Gina and Christi and all the detectives who know the truth - even if I didn’t want to believe it - I believe it now.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 8:11 am
Pet owners emailing Canada Free Press (CFP) complain that their questions are met with the same response: “What is the purpose of this query?”
PR flaks are paid to protect clients but the silence from ChemNutra CEO Stephen S. Miller and his wife Sally Qing Miller is deafening.
According to its website, ChemNutra qualifies as a “Woman and Minority-owned Company”, meaning that it qualifies for government funding. In other words, Chem-Nutra is attempting to secure or has already landed government funding.
http://www.canadafreepress.com.....041807.htm
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 8:14 am
Here is a link to all the rendering companies. If you do an internal search for “pet” it shows all the companies involved in pet food ingredients:
http://www.renderers.org/Membe...../index.htm
Comment by mal — April 18, 2007 @ 8:17 am
Dang. I’m sorry, but the shootings are over, done.
Look how much time is being spent on that yesterday and today on TV. The pet community still has pets becoming ill. There still is poisoned food out there for them as well as there may be for us humans. Is the newsmedia concerned. Not. I am so sick of all this.
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 8:18 am
VJ, the media needs to learn that the news doesn’t need to be one or the other. It can be both and not lose in the telling.
mal, please see this link to the “indutrial yellow pages. http://www.macraesbluebook.com.....et%20foods
You can do a specific product search at the top.
Comment by Sharon — April 18, 2007 @ 8:24 am
Iams is offering a free bag of dog or cat food.
http://iamspromise.com/
How cute. A bribe.
Let The Buyer Beware It’s A Jungle Out There
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 8:28 am
I’ve been feeding my cats Innova Evo dry food from Natura. Does anyone know if this a good food? (they had the Iams from the recall for 3 days back in March)…
Comment by Bonnie — April 18, 2007 @ 8:30 am
What about “The View”. I dislike Rosie but she has pets and so does Joy Behar and Barbara. Maybe we can get them to discuss this. I’m going to try to email them now. Anyone else want to email them too? May be worth a try.
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 8:30 am
I feed mine Flint River Ranch- Lamb,Rice and Millet…I thought it was okay but now ?? Anyone know about this company?
Comment by Cher — April 18, 2007 @ 8:31 am
Comment by Bonnie — April 18, 2007 @ 8:30 am
You be the judge. Welcome to the “club” known as Stress City.
Published: April 4, 2007
Although not implicated in the recent Menu Foods canned food recall, Natura Pet Products announced it will acquire or build its own canning plant in order to completely control its product lines, according to a company statement.
Natura’s canned foods are made exclusively at Menu Foods South Dakota in North Sioux City, not in the affected Kansas and New Jersey plants, according to the statement.
Natura will place its own quality control employees in the South Dakota plant to oversee production until Natura begins its canning operation.
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 8:33 am
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 8:30 am
I’ve written off Celebrities completely.
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 8:34 am
To say the least I am disappointed not ONE SINGLE celebrity has been willing to give us the time of day. Another illusion-delusion popped like a bubble.
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 8:47 am
Amy Jo … and anyone else who thinks you can starve a pet into changing foods:
DON’T DO IT, especially with cats!
An abrupt switch of diet that triggers a hunger strike in cats can in fact trigger a LETHAL bout of hepatic lipidosis, a/k/a fatty liver disease. Here’s information on HL, from VIN’s VeterinaryPartner.com site:
http://tinyurl.com/35ybf9
And here’s Christie’s piece from SFGate.com on helping cats through a change of diets:
http://tinyurl.com/2dakuy
ALSO: I know some of you are letting off steam, but I’ll be deleting any suggestion of poisoning the food of pet-industry execs. Death threats are not acceptable, under any circumstances.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 18, 2007 @ 8:48 am
Here is more on Sodium tripolyphosphate. It’s used as a preservative in a lot of things.
http://tinyurl.com/yoz7yp
Comment by Elderta — April 18, 2007 @ 8:54 am
From Wikipedia:
“It is used in various applications such as a preservative for seafood, meats, poultry and pet foods. It is also used in toothpaste and as a builder in soaps and detergents, improving their cleansing ability. The United States Food and Drug Administration lists STPP as “generally recognized as safe”, along with salt, vinegar, and baking powder. An excessive amount of STPP in food has the disadvantage for consumers that products sold by weight contain more water than products without STPP.”
Comment by Elderta — April 18, 2007 @ 8:54 am
Jan,
Even though your dog’s blood work looks okay, as your vet to do 2 urine tests. One is a urine specific gravity and the other is a microalbuminaria test. They are pretty accurate for microscopic crystallization.
Comment by Peg — April 18, 2007 @ 8:56 am
“If it’s Purina - they’ll be a huge cry of outrage - maybe that will get some attention”
They opened a plant in China at the beginning of Feb.this years.I’ve lost the link but it was posted here a while ago.
Say no more,say no more.
Lorna
Comment by Lorna — April 18, 2007 @ 9:03 am
It is a real shame that with a lot of the big players in a known location in Chicago that nobody in Illinois thought to file criminal charges and have a “perp walk” photo op.
Steve,
We NEED a celeb to get the news out, Durbin is OK but he let that esteemed weasel for the PFI, Duane, sit there and bald faced lie at a Senate hearing. If you or I had tried to pull that kind of thing we would be prison and all our assets would be seized before close of business that very day!
Right now, as I type this, these scum of the earth are making money from making poison!
And getting away with it.
And oh yes, Purina is bad, I have been saying for months that the dry food is also “contaminated”, if you can call it that because at this point I think they did it on purpose.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 18, 2007 @ 9:04 am
One thing I noticed about the new dog treat recall — they want you to THROW THE PRODUCT AWAY! NOPE! TAKE IT BACK TO THE RETAILER & GET YOUR MONEY BACK! MAKE ‘EM PAY!
Comment by Kat — April 18, 2007 @ 9:06 am
I have a solution for any company that switches ingredients but still has lots of boxes, bags, and/or can labels listing the old ingredients. Use stickers with the updated ingredients list! I’ve seen them used on Dr. Bronner’s liquid soaps, California Baby’s products, and one or two others. It adds a little time and a little money, but it sure improves trust. Hire temp workers to apply the stickers on the boxes, bags, and/or can lables either before or after the packages are filled. Problem solved!!!
Comment by Pamela J. Betz-Baron — April 18, 2007 @ 9:06 am
…and that goes for ANY information that changes, like country of origin of ingredients, name and contact information for the manufacturer, etc.
Comment by Pamela J. Betz-Baron — April 18, 2007 @ 9:10 am
I just called my “Cat Hospital”. One of the vets there belongs to the Veterinary Information Network.
I told the secretary that I can’t access the site and asked her to have the vet who belongs to the VIN to please try and find out what the 5 other suspect foods are. I have such a gut feeling that Purina is one.
Secretary said she would get back to me. When I find out, I’ll post it here.
Comment by Peg — April 18, 2007 @ 9:11 am
Thanks Steve! I emailed Natura to verify that they do not use hidden rice protein’s in their “grain free” dry foods, haven’t heard back…
I had been emailing Oprah everyday trying to get her to support the cause and do a show, didnt hear back. Since then I’ve emailed her comments like this:
“I cant begin to say how dissapointed I am in the fact that Oprah has not stated her opinion or done a show regarding the pet food recalls. I’ve been a huge fan of the Oprah show, magazine and Oprah herself for a long time. I have to say that I am beginning to lose faith in her at this point. I thought she cared. I thought she cared about animals and their owners. I am beginning to think I was mistaken. “.
Sadly, I’m sure it will make no difference, but I did feel better.
Comment by Bonnie — April 18, 2007 @ 9:12 am
…and I love how we find out that there are five more suspect foods, but no one will tell us what they are. I know they are doing a legal CYA, but I soo wish TPTB could all agree that helping us is more impportant right now than possibly tarnishing a brand’s reputation.
Comment by Pamela J. Betz-Baron — April 18, 2007 @ 9:21 am
Wondered if any human food had rice protein concentrate listed in their ingredients. Here is what Rice Dream has to say about their labels. We know the pet food companies don’t adhere to this policy, but how many food companies actually do what Rice Dream does? I believe that truth in labeling is “supposed” to happen with people food, but who knows?
http://www.tastethedream.com/p.....43/204.php
The most accurate information is always on the label on the actual product. We periodically update our labels based on new nutritional analysis to verify natural variations from crop to crop and at times formula revisions. The website does not necessarily get updated at the same time. The values on the website are intended to be a general guide to consumers. For absolute values, the actual label on the product at hand should be relied on.
Comment by CathyA — April 18, 2007 @ 9:21 am
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 18, 2007 @ 9:04 am
Stephen Miller includes E.F. Hutton & Company and Smith Barney as former employers on the ChemNutra website. Could it be that former Hutton vice president, ChemNutra’s Stephen S. Miller has FDA protection that originates from the highest office of the land?
“It was not until the president of the brokerage firm, Scott Pierce (the brother of Barbara Bush, wife of then-vice-president of the U.S.) entered his corporation’s guilty plea to 2000 criminal counts of federal mail and wire fraud in 1985, that the Hutton conglomerate fell apart.”
Scott Pierce II (b. 1930, New York City) is the youngest child of Marvin and Pauline (Robinson) Pierce, and brother of former First Lady Barbara Bush, wife of George Herbert Walker Bush. Pierce is named for his grandfather, who was an insurance salesman in Dayton, Ohio. His father was chairman of McCall Corporation. Upon graduation from Miami University and marriage to Janice Chamberlaine in 1954, he joined Phelps, Fenn and Company, a prominent municipal bond house. In 1966, Pierce was made a partner of G.H. Walker & Co., a company founded by Bush’s grandfather, George Herbert Walker. He left the firm in 1974 to join Blyth, Eastman, Dillon and Company as a senior vice president of public finance. In the fall of 1975, he moved to E. F. Hutton & Co. where in 1982 he became President. Prior to his election, some Hutton offices engaged in an aggressive cash management scheme. On 2 May 1985 the company pleaded guilty to 2,000 counts of mail fraud; Mr. Pierce was in no way implicated in the scandal. Pierce left the company two years later to head PAMCO, a division of Prudential. He is currently retired and serving as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Manhattanville College.
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 9:24 am
Yes, don’t throw the food away. Take it back for a refund. BUT, keep some in a safe place in case it needs to be tested later. Than you will have some of the “evidence”.
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 9:33 am
“Nutro has no intention of going public. As a privately owned operation, we can continue to maintain our high quality standards. Like Ladd Hardy says, ‘You can’t create the kind of products we do with investors looking over your shoulder talking about profit margins and market shares.’”
Then why were they using a manufacturer that WAS public?
OTOH, Nutro has been doing well by me/us these days. Their insurance is set to cover *all* our expenses related to the food - Bubbles’ medical and cremation expenses AND Daisy May’s first and second precautionary tests (some of her results were a bit off the first time, a month ago, so our vet is rechecking her tomorrow). That notwithstanding, I will never again buy their products.
Comment by Pamela J. Betz-Baron — April 18, 2007 @ 9:38 am
One of my dogs has extensive training for search and rescue and losing him to toxic pet food is not an option. We have trained for hours and hours and hours - years really.
This toxic food affects so many dogs, service dogs for the blind and diabled, rescue dogs for many many agencies, and then just extraordinary lovable pets.
We need to focus and move forward to help protect them.
On another note, I must have missed a few things this morning after reading Gina’s comment - ummmm….
Well, we need the truth and now is the time for all these companies to step forward and face lost sales and hopefully they will smarten up and do better.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 9:40 am
China’s state wheat auction sells 10.22 million tons.
Shanghai. March 20. 07 INTERFAX-CHINA - Wheat sold in China’s state wheat auctions amounted to 10.218 million tons following the 16th auction on March 15 in the provinces of Anhui and Henan, according to the National Grain & Oil Trade Center.
http://tinyurl.com/ys3z8z
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 9:42 am
On another note, I wondered where NB was getting all the venison for their pet food and (duck too) and I just wonder if their supply was somewhat thin so they needed to up the protein count by using this toxic junk rice protein concentrate?
There can’t be that many deer around or even duck for all the dog food they produce. Just idle musings I had while staring at their bags in Pet Club a few weeks ago.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 9:43 am
bonnie,call natura they open at 9am pt 12pm on the east coast 1-800-532-7261
Comment by Marry Ann — April 18, 2007 @ 9:43 am
vj - what is wrong w/heartguard ?
Comment by Marry Ann — April 18, 2007 @ 9:44 am
US gluten suppliers say subsidies help foreign companies dominate
By Diedtra Henderson, Boston Globe April 18, 2007
http://tinyurl.com/27qwlk
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 9:44 am
Chewable heartguard supposedly has some kind of “Gluten” in it.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 9:46 am
“And oh yes, Purina is bad, I have been saying for months that the dry food is also “contaminated”, if you can call it that because at this point I think they did it on purpose.”
I don’t understand this comment. I cannot think of a single valid reason why they would do this on purpose. And no, money is not one. No company like this is willing to put their reputation on the line by intentionally poisoning animals over some dollars.
Regardless of how much you may dislike them or distrust them, they are in business and want to stay that way. They are not stupid enough to intentionally commit busines suicide.
Comment by Carole — April 18, 2007 @ 9:47 am
To Christie,
Sorry to hear about your sweet dog. It is a bad way to die. Be glad you do not know the pain and guilt of FORCE FEEDING poison to the pet you had been feeding poison, I do and it is everything you can imagine and worse.
I am not a young woman and have had pets every day of my life. I have put pets down before, and will again, this is a part of having pets that I came to terms with many years ago. That I could make the end of life less painful for them was a blessing and that is how I tried to look at it.
Feeding them poison, torturing them for a few ghastly weeks and THEN giving the order to kill them, well, that part was new. Seeing them come to hate me because I was forcing more poison down their sick little bodies, that was new.
Having to put two down on one day? New.
This nightmare that has been the last two months, that was new.
And it is making me old.
Don’t let it do the same to you
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 18, 2007 @ 9:48 am
If it weren’t for this blog I would be so behind, especially waiting on the news media to do a story. It is only because of Pet Connection that my pets are alive now. I firmly believe that with all my heart.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 9:49 am
MarryAnn re: post 9:44 Also see Linda MS 9:46 response. Yesterday there was a comment that the Heartguard Chewables may also be involved due to
gluten.
Still waiting for this one.
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 9:54 am
I just called Wellness to see if they use this rice protein - no one answered - only a recording and they wanted my name and number and that was all.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 9:55 am
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 9:55 am
Another Company that has some serious questions to answer to.
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 9:57 am
When these companies don’t disclose where they distributed grains, it’s probably because it went to Human food companies. Perhaps they even call those companies and tell them to shred, clean machines, and get rid of evidence.
Comment by Gary — April 18, 2007 @ 9:57 am
Peg:
Thanks for your concern….will call vet but I believe they did at least one urine test on her. The also did a full panel on her blood & checked everything….thyroid a little high but not sure if that’s an issue connected to this.
Unfortunately, at the same time as all this was going on, she had a rash on her belly (still not sure if it’s food or airborne allergies) so vet gave her a cortisone shot. Apparently she had a bad reaction to it because she was drinking buckets of water & urinating way too frequently compared to before the shot….but also a symptom of renal failure. Then she got lethargic…..not my Lab…..she’s extremely active. That was when we went in for tests.
I pray she’s ok.
Comment by Jan — April 18, 2007 @ 9:58 am
Dam, this is unbelivable !!!
Comment by Marry Ann — April 18, 2007 @ 9:58 am
So I just went to Paul Newmans Organic company to find out if they use rice protein or any protein and there is no phone number just an e-mail so I sent one.
What is up with this run around?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 9:59 am
Wonder how Paws with a Cause is handling all this.
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 10:01 am
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 9:59 am
The reason they have shut out the public from communication is because “They” want to position themselves beyond touch or harm or need or want or effective reproach or punishment. “We” of course will suffer, for what we have “learned”, all the outrages that attend to mass die-off, and it will all be totally without even the slightest meaningful blow having ever been delivered against “THEM”.
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 10:03 am
Is there a 100% clean pet food company today? it’s probably safe to assume, 99.5% had some dirty dealings.
Comment by Gary — April 18, 2007 @ 10:04 am
I called Timber Wolf Organics, and they are a little pricey, but that is not my first priority. They do ship out free delivery even on their 33 lbs bags, and they uses no glutens or protein concentrates of any kind.
So, I think I may have found something I can use in addition to fresh -
Any thoughts on this company so appreciated.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 10:09 am
To see why Rosie O’Donnell is our least likely celebrity spokes-, um, ruminant, read this March 27 piece by Ed Martin on mediavillage.com
http://tinyurl.com/yoked4
Someone remarked earlier that Oprah is probably reluctant to take on food industries because of the lawsuit stemming from her comments about the safety of beef. I can’t blame her, in a way. But Oprah must have more money than God, so you’d think she could find a creative, low-risk-of-litigation way to put together a show about this. But I also think that if Oprah doesn’t “get” an issue, you can’t persuade her.
Maybe some of the celebrities associated with shelter animals and rescues would come forward to make this story more visible. Though you’d think if they cared, they would have been out there by now. Lots of celebs over at http://www.1-800-save-a-pet.com/
Anyone consider contacting any of those people?
I guess Dick van Patten isn’t available - or credible - right now.
Comment by cerridwen — April 18, 2007 @ 10:17 am
Linda,
I tried samples from Timberwolf and both my cat and dog liked it. My neighbors have their black lab on it and have before the pet food recall. He looks very healthy and fit. I like that it is a small company. It even smells better. I have our new puppy on the Lamb and Apples.
Comment by Julie — April 18, 2007 @ 10:21 am
Carole said: Regardless of how much you may dislike them or distrust them, they are in business and want to stay that way. They are not stupid enough to intentionally commit busines suicide.”
I, too, believed that until yesterday, when we watched Natural Balance change all their online ingredients to what is actually in there. They claimed there was no RICE in their cat food, but after the actual ingredients were posted, it was obvious there was.
They are all too stupid to realize that not putting the actual ingredients on the label is literally killing their business. So, for the 3rd or 4th or 5th time, I want to know if there are ANY pet food businesses out there that actually have labels that don’t lag months behind actual ingredients and are willing to say so. If not, who among you will be the first to step up and usher in a new era of truth in labeling for pet food? Anyone? Hello? Hello?
Comment by CathyA — April 18, 2007 @ 10:24 am
Thank you Julie. I will put all dogs on it and see if it works, as I say two I had totally on homemade because of stomach problems and the rest on the NB and partial homemade and now all are on homemade - it is not that easy working and feeding my large dogs homemade.
But I will order at least one bag via UPS and see if they like it. They should.
The closest store to me that sells it is 70 miles away.
Thank you again. And they actually answered the phone and answered all my questions and were very very polite too.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 10:25 am
But who makes Timber Wolf
It was once made by Diamond Food but they use a different “undisclosed” company now:
Is Timberwolf Organics, Inc. owned by Diamond Pet Foods, Inc.?
No. We are a private, independently owned company. At one time, Diamond Pet Foods manufactured our food; however, we have moved production to another facility owned by another company (we cannot give this information out, as it is proprietary). They specialize in manufacturing specialty formulas of pet foods and meet our high standards for exceptional quality production.
We are certain that Diamond Pet Foods, Inc. is a fine company, but to answer the above question, we have no business affiliation with them.
http://tinyurl.com/3y7u6t
I fail to see how giving the name of the plant it is produced at is “proprietary”. Only the formula should be proprietary.
Sounds like more double talk to me.
Comment by mal — April 18, 2007 @ 10:26 am
I just called Natural Life — 1-800-367-2391 & told them various things:
1) 24-hours later & they STILL DO NOT have anything on the recall posted on their website. She said they don’t do the website there. An outside source does their website & it’s coming.
2) That I had switched to Natural Life based on the big box statement they HAD posted on their front page stating they had tested for aminopterin & melamine. They stated within that box they had a document stating their product was safe.
3) I told her I was going to return the products back to the merchant (WalMart) based on the fact that they lied on their website.
4) I told her I hoped they go bankrupt & rot in hell for lying.
Comment by Kat — April 18, 2007 @ 10:27 am
Cathy A…
No one will refute that labeling can certainly be an issue.
I take issue with the use of the phrase ‘on purpose’. Not having updated info or whatever does not infer that anyone is intentionally trying to poison anyone.
Comment by Carole — April 18, 2007 @ 10:30 am
I too am surprised no one famous has come forward to speak out. But I think the reason is because they are all afraid of getting sued. I’d bet that’s why Oprah hasn’t done it. She’s already dealt with the beef industry, she don’t wanna take on the pet food industry.
Comment by Tammy — April 18, 2007 @ 10:35 am
Well I used Natural Balance and knew it was manufactured out of a Diamond Plant, so that doesn’t bother me as much. What bothers me is the protein concerntrates that I will avoid at all costs.
And they use foil lined bags -
I certainly don’t trust Nutra no matter if they make CA Natural or whatver. I just don’t trust them, but that’s me.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 10:36 am
First, as this is my first comment, I want to thank everyone involved with this website, from the angels who run it to the tireless pet advocates who comment here.
Now for my question: Does anyone have any information on Canidae/Felidae, either pro or con?
We are going to a homecooked diet for our babies, but since there is a learning curve, we want to supplement with some sort of commercial at first.
Thanks again for everything!
Comment by Chris — April 18, 2007 @ 10:44 am
Carole said: No one will refute that labeling can certainly be an issue.
Not AN issue, it’s one of the biggest issues. If a pet owner was trying to avoid certain products due to allergies and the label doesn’t reflect changes in the formulation, this could end up costing vet bills as they search for the reason the animal is sick, having discounted the food because it LOOKED like it was the same. One has to wonder about the number of animals placed on prescription food because they couldn’t tolerate regular food. And the countless owners who have switched brands again and again, having researched the label and tried various brands based on the label.
You can’t tell me that when the wheat gluten thing came out that various companies weren’t starting to test their food and their protein powders. In the end, we’re going to find out how many companies have been sitting on information. If a company has tested all lots of their food and their protein powders or are “in the process of” testing, why aren’t they speaking? Wouldn’t that be the greatest selling point ever? The silence is deafening. But I can still hear that tree fall.
And I did not feel this way 2 days ago. I was willing to give people the benefit of the doubt.
Comment by CathyA — April 18, 2007 @ 10:45 am
Do not feed the troll! I have no idea who the troll works for, I suspect it is Purina.
I don’t much care which of the big bad pet food makers is paying the troll. You should not care either.
Another sign of the deception is someone being paid to come here.
Just ignore the troll!!
If the pet food industry wants to know what bothers us, aside from the dead and dying pets and the lies, let them come here and IDENTIFY themselves and those in their pay who are here and STOP THIS DECEPTION!
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 18, 2007 @ 10:54 am
And Gina , the IP , make sure Black Dog gets the IP of the trolls, it may be a legal issue.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 18, 2007 @ 10:56 am
Whose the troll - I’m missing something here.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 10:57 am
Forget all these celebrities. We need the guys from the movie The Yes Men to put up a fake PFI website, then go out and do fake lectures.
If you’ve not seen this movie, it’s a guaranteed laugh - even today, at this time, more than a month into this “fiasco”.
Comment by CathyA — April 18, 2007 @ 10:59 am
I’m going to try the TimberWolf Organic and I hope it works as I am besides myself with fear over all this. (I will cook some homemade too). I haven’t heard anything bad about them and they are out of Florida and they were nice and even put me on hold while they got the answers for me.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 11:01 am
Agree with Jan. Nutro is the worst of a bad lot. No conscience, no morals, no shame. They had NUMEROUS reports of illnesses from their canned food (including mine) and refused to recall until a private citizen went and got the food independently tested. Then, the Nutro CEO, Dave “The Dispicable” Kravis, has the unmitigated gall to announce that they are being “pro-active” and—get this—precautionary(!) by recalling SOME of the canned products. Good grief! Why doesn’t he just come out and say what he’s obviously thinking: “You moronic, lemming pet owners will believe whatever I tell you, so just keep lining my pockets with the blood of your silly animals.”
Comment by Russell — April 18, 2007 @ 11:01 am
If it comes out that Purina is using this rice protein powder, and has anyone called them to ask, and a recall comes out - well you can just kiss confidence is most major brands.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 11:05 am
I am only against Nutro because of the people that have reported illness using it - that is the only reason - and my youngest dog was on it and had a fever and high liver enzymnes - but I don’t know why - but it worried enough that I took him off it.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 11:08 am
I am only against Nutro because of the people that have reported illness using it - that is the only reason - and my youngest dog was on it and had a fever and high liver enzymnes - but I don’t know why - but it worried enough that I took him off it.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 11:08 am
Wow, this is forum where thoughts and ideas are exchanged. I don’t agree with everything written here but so what, that’s what makes this work.
Again, I agree that labeling is an issue but I don’t agree it is the number one issue - and that’s my opinion. All the inferences about who and what I do won’t change that.
I don’t doubt for a second that Natural Balance is going to catch hell for updating their website, but I also won’t be surprised if we learn of some loophole that allows them to that. It seems there are all kinds of loopholes here.
I have my own issues with certain companies, I just don’t have an issue with every one of them, and even though that may not be a popular opinion on this board, so what. It’s my opinion.
And yes, there are pet food companies reading these blogs but I would be willing to bet that not one of them would actually post something - that would be a bad move for them. But hey, you never know.
Comment by Carole — April 18, 2007 @ 11:09 am
“Along with Diamond, pet-food makers Nestlé Purina PetCare and Procter & Gamble said Tuesday that they don’t use rice protein concentrate in their foods.”
Apparently USA Today got this info from someone - so if in fact Purina does use it, then someone is going to have to explain this statement.
Comment by Carole — April 18, 2007 @ 11:14 am
Thank you Marry Ann! I called Natura and someone answered right away. For any of you who use this product… She assured me that they do not use rice protien in their Innova Evo grain free dry cat food…
Comment by Bonnie — April 18, 2007 @ 11:14 am
I am getting more and more unnerved by this every day. We are being kept in the dark more than we know, of that I am positive.
I was in Raley’s yesterday looking at the bags of Edamame (soybeans) that I love. Said “distributed by” on the package, so right away flags went up. Looked harder, and there it was. PRODUCT OF CHINA. Checked the other brand of soybeans, same thing. This is ridiculous - why in the world would I want to consume garbage from a country that could care less how much toxic residue they include in our foods? How has this been allowed to happen.
At least it was labeled, probably only because they were required to, but just think how much soy products are in everything we eat (and our pets).
Comment by Becky — April 18, 2007 @ 11:15 am
REQUEST THAT THE SELLER WILBUR-ELLIS OF RICE PROTEIN DIVULGE THE FIVE COMPANIES IT SOLD TO. I DID at 10:30 a.m. EST.
Warning: graphic details of my dog’s death -
Sorry if it offends anyone. This is the first time I’ve actually described HOW my dog looked/died. I thought maybe if the CEO knew what pets go through, that he would release the names of the 5 pet food companies that bought the food. It was VERY difficult to revisit these images, which I will NEVER forget.
Comment by petlover — April 18, 2007 @ 7:36 am
I just emailed Wilbur-Ellis asking that the four names of the other pet food companies that bought the protein concentrate be revealed. I could not find an email link to contact John Thacher, CEO, so I just wrote to the first person in the drop-down menu, Ted Skinner. Hopefully, my message will get forwarded.
*********
Mr. Skinner, please forward this to John Thacher, CEO of Wilbur-Ellis. Thank you.
Dear Mr. Thacher, CEO of Wilbur-Ellis,
I am a concerned owner of 3 pets (including two newly adopted puppies). I already had one dog die a horrible painful death, who couldn’t walk all of a sudden, with his back arched up in pain (picture the sharply curved spine of a Halloween cat showing fright to get an accurate graphic), his back legs straight and stiff as a board, no urination for 2 days, a horrible stench surrounding him for 3 days that lingered for hours, and upon death, less than a half ounce of urine came from his penis, the urine drying into salt-like crystals - picture road salt used on snowy roads that has dried). We found him less than 2 hours after he died. This was in early February before any pet food recalls were announced. We were baffled by his sudden, unexpected death. (I have never put into words what my dog’s death looked like because it was to difficult to revisit. I did so, hoping that you will please tell what you know.)
Mr. Thacher, you MUST DISCLOSE THE NAMES OF ALL FIVE (5) OF THE PET FOOD COMPANIES THAT YOU SOLD THE RICE PROTEIN CONCENTRATE TO IN ORDER TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS SUCH AS WHAT I DESCRIBED.
IF YOU ALSO SOLD POTATO PROTEIN OR ANY OTHER KIND OF PROTEIN CONCENTRATE OR PROTEIN POWDER, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND TELL WHAT YOU KNOW.
A company that discloses information to the public as quickly as possible is one that will keep the public’s trust, even if you made a mistake. It is up to YOU to DO THE RIGHT THING so that THE DEATHS OF FUTURE PETS ARE NOT ON YOUR CONSCIENCE. I know that the pet food companies buy ingredients in bulk to save money and that many of the companies are “in together” for manufacturing. You must let the media and FDA know so that proper action can be taken to avoid more pet deaths.
Secretaries reading Mr. Thacher’s email: Please ask him to divulge this information or do so yourself.
Thank you.
Comment by petlover — April 18, 2007 @ 8:23 am
Comment by petlover — April 18, 2007 @ 11:26 am
I too want to thank the awesome people who post here and give us all information that is not to be found anywhere in the mainstream media. I think you are saving many, many lives.
My wonderful kitty Isis is right now at the vet for a battery of tests after vomiting last night. (This is a 10 year old cat I’ve had since she was a baby, who has vomited maybe twice before in her entire life. She has always been very, very healthy—doesn’t even have any dental problems like most cats her age.) She was a Nutro eater until about a month ago; when Nutro pulled the packets I stopped feeding my cats the small cans as a precaution; turns out I was right because they pulled them later.
I thought she would be OK because she had never eaten very much of the canned food offered, never had the packets, and had absolutely no symptoms. The vet said last week that since she was without symptoms up to that point she was probably in the clear.
Up until a week ago she was eating a mix of Nutro dry and Iams Active Maturity dry, but based on comments here, I was doing a gradual switch to different dry foods that were more likely to be safe. A week ago I stopped the gradual switch-over and just started the new holistic foods. She was in great shape until last night, and my other 3 cats so far appear fine. She has not vomited again, but appears unusually obsessed with food? again, not like her. And my intuition tells me something is wrong.
What they have found so far is a heart murmur and possible arrhythmia that was not there at her last regular checkup approximately one year ago. I’ll find out more from the blood and urine test results later today.
I hope that she has just gotten into a plant or something that irritated her stomach and is going to be OK. But if not, I am going to join the ranks of those who believe in conspiracy. I am beginning to agree that there is still a lot of unidentified toxic food out there and we are still feeding it. My friends, who are continuing to feed their pets the stuff that is still on the shelves, think I am paranoid.
If any of you are praying people, please pray for Isis.
Comment by Debra — April 18, 2007 @ 11:28 am
Sorry to hear about Isis Debra. Keep us posted.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 11:34 am
I have used Purina for 22 years with no Problem and I should be getting a call from them the next day or so.
Comment by Jill — April 18, 2007 @ 11:35 am
Wellness - my friend just switched her cats to Wellness and now that they are entirely on Welness, they have begun drinking and peeing like crazy. Of course I told her to stop the food, but has anyone heard anything about Wellness? Ingredients don’t list gluten or rice protein, but do include garlic, which isn’t good for kitties.
Comment by Becky — April 18, 2007 @ 11:36 am
Wellness - my friend just switched her cats to Wellness and now that they are entirely on Welness, they have begun drinking and peeing like crazy. Of course I told her to stop the food, but has anyone heard anything about Wellness? Ingredients don’t list gluten or rice protein, but do include garlic, which isn’t good for kitties.
Comment by Becky — April 18, 2007 @ 11:36 am
I have had no problem with Purina at all and I have used it for 22 years.
Comment by Jill — April 18, 2007 @ 11:41 am
Someone suggested having posters made up of the pets who have died for the April 28th march.And maybe the pets who are still trying to recover as well.
I think being able to put faces to the horrendous numbers is a powerful tool.Maybe there are other ways these posters could be helpful as well.
Comment by Lorna — April 18, 2007 @ 11:41 am
CathyA:
I’m with you 100%. If you can’t look at a bag/can of pet food & tell what’s in it, that’s downright dangerous. There are allergies, besides all these toxic glutens that are now coming to light. So how do you choose a food that’s safe for your pet? I’d say it’s a crap shoot right now.
I believe a lot of companies have been fooling around with the ingredients & have not changed their ingredients on the outside of the container, only because the powers that be give them six months in which to do so. God forbid they should have to spend money to print up new labels….that’s money out of the CEO’s huge salary/bonus. One less Porsche in the driveway.
I am researching the list of safe foods from petfoodlist & as I receive emails back from any of these “premium” pet food manufacturers, I’ll post them. The only way we can find out is to ask & pray a lot that they are being honest with us. Just hearing & reading too much lately about these “premium” foods, most of which are made at Diamond. I’d like to find a small company that makes their own & knows what goes into their product.
Lots of thanks go to Pet Connection for all their timely info & to all the pet owners who post some great links & info. I think you’re all wonderful.
Comment by Jan — April 18, 2007 @ 11:43 am
Wellness is one of the dry foods I was gradually switching to, based on a friend’s recommendation. Interestingly, since a week ago when I began offering Eagle Pak and Chicken Soup, none of my cats will eat the Wellness. I think if Isis turns out to be in trouble, it would be from the Wellness more likely than anything. I no longer trust it at all.
Comment by Debra — April 18, 2007 @ 11:46 am
I do think labeling is a big issue. And I think we are probably still being ‘fooled’ by some companies. Don’t want grain to be the first ingredient? - use two or three different ones - then the miniscule amount of ‘chicken’ or whatever can be listed first.
One of my cats cannot tolerate corn. I read labels and I think that in exchange for my hard-earned $$s, I am entitled to know exactly what’s in her food. And as someone with food allergies - I now wonder if human food companies do this delayed label changing as well.
I hope that the few good companies out there (and a few that have gone astray) will realize that there is money to be made in a food that 1) uses at human grade ingredients, 2)does not use any grain or grain derived products 3)has natural preservatives and 4)costs less than a T-bone steak.
I don’t want to cook for my pets, hey, I don’t cook for me (unfortunately, my cats don’t care for PB&J sandwiches or salads). But I’m willing to spend a little more to get a product that is SAFE & NUTRITIOUS for my cats.
Comment by Andrea — April 18, 2007 @ 11:54 am
Another recall from Menu:
Natural Life
Nov/22/09
Vegetarian 13.2oz
Can
13.2oz
12344-07114
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 11:56 am
Here’s Wilbur-Ellis’ Feed - Pet Food Brochure — scary to think about — read between the lines:
http://www.wilbur-ellisfeed.co.....ochure.pdf
Comment by Kat — April 18, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
Does anyone know if the ingredient rice protein powder is listed as such on the ingredients list or does it go by another ingrdient name on the product? I am feeding Pedigree canned Chicken and Rice, no wheat or wheat glutens. Now, the rice thing. This is a nightmare.
Comment by Deanna — April 18, 2007 @ 12:02 pm
Organic products?
Oh, but my head hurts now. God bless you all for the fine work.
I’m out of here. If I hear from Purina I’ll post it.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
Call the company and ask.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
I am so confused now. I switched to Natural Balance about 3 weeks ago based on the recalls etc. My cat got sick this past weekend and although her kidneys are fine according to cbc etc, I really think it was the NB Ultra Premium eventhough it is not part of the recall. She is on a bland diet of chicken and rice for now but I need to find a safe, healty dry food for her. Is there anything that I can feed her and feel confident that they won’t recall it in a week? Any recommendations?
Comment by Ginger — April 18, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
OK, I called MARS, the manufacturer of Pedigree. They said they did not know how the ingredient rice powder would be listed on the ingredients, but that their products are safe and used none of the food sources that are causing recalls. They are stating their products are 100% safe! The way I see it, no pet food is 100% safe at this time.
Comment by Deanna — April 18, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
Carole, I don’t know what trolls they’re talking about. There are many issues that need to be dealt with, but right now, at this minute, the label is the biggest issue. If every bag and can out there truthfully put rice protein concentrate on it if it was in the food, we wouldn’t be sitting around waiting for a bunch of vets who coughed up their own money to get food tested. We would already know it wouldn’t be a good idea to feed this food until it had been cleared of contamination by the pet food companies involved. We might even be willing to feed that food again if the companies reported negative findings. But right now, at this minute, no one knows who the companies are nor which foods this rice stuff might be in.
AFter watching MenuFoods self-destruct on corporate responsibilty and sheer ineptness, it is finally………just too much.
And to all the people asking about foods and which are safe or good, call the company and ask. Give them your email address and tell them you want a listing of ingredients for your preferred food “in writing”. The actual ingredients, not what’s on the label. You can get any number of people on the phone, many of which are not too knowledgable. Get it in writing. And if it turns out that corn gluten is next, it is not enough for them to say they don’t have wheat gluten or rice powder in their food. AFter all that’s what Natural Balance said - no wheat. You need to know exactly what’s in the food.
Comment by CathyA — April 18, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
I called Purina this morning about their Kitten ProPlan classic. It has brewer’s rice in it. I wanted to know if brewer’s rice was a concern or had any connection to rice protein concenterate. The first two people I spoke to only wanted to read me a “printed statement” that Purina Pro Plan is not involved in the recall. I kept trying to explain that I wanted clarification on these two ingredients. The second person became quite rude. I asked to be transfered to sdomeone whoncould answer my questions. The third person said (after putting me on hold and conferring with her supervisor) that they were not familiar with these ingredients and would get back to me in 5-7 days!!! Does anyone know anything about “brewer’s rice” and any relation to rice protein? All three people said they were not familair with the recent tainted rice protein concentrate.
Comment by Judy — April 18, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
To Linda MS -
Purina announced on the very first day we heard about the rice protein concentrate that they did not use it in any of their products. Believe I saw that on howl911.
Comment by Linda P. — April 18, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
Becky: Drinking and peeing like crazy is RENAL FAILURE. Tell your friend not only to stop feeding them the food but to GET TO A VET IMMEDIATELY.
Comment by Russell — April 18, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
Becky: WELLNESS IS MADE AT MENU FOODS. It may not contain the tainted ingredients but cross-contamination due to common equipment is a distinct possibility.
Comment by Russell — April 18, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
This is a crosspost from another pet forum I’m on. Thought it worth posting here, gives some insight into how Natural Balance was misled, if it’s really true that is.
Cross-posted from a pet rescue website I’m associated with…I know this member of our pet rescue forum has spent countless hours contacting food companies…here’s here account of the discussion with the President of NB, Inc.:
Quote:
Not only did I finally get a hold of them, I talked to Joey Harrick (sp?) who is the President of the company. He started this company 20yrs ago and at that time was hand delivering every bag of food himself. Needless to say he’s beyond furious.
This was a long phonecall, so this post is going to be lengthy, sorry.
NB tests for micro toxins like aflatoxin and volatoxin (sp?) on a constant basis. Midwest Labs supplies them with testkits for those.
We talked about the Diamnond recall a couple of years ago, and he said that microtoxins are basically THE contaminant you would expect if there is one. Not melamine in a million years.
He called Midwest Labs about three weeks ago, when the menufoods recall was in full swing, and asked them to send him some Melamine test kits just in case. Lab didn’t have them. Since this is not something you would expect to be in petfood, the tests didn’t exist. They told him it would take a few weeks to disign a test for it.
Midwest has now been testing for melamine for 10 days.
NB gets their Venison from New Zealand, but it’s not consistent in protein. He said that because the protein fluctuates too much for his liking, he told his nutritionists to find a way to fix it. Enter Rice Protein.
The Rice Protein was bought from a 1.7 billion dollaar US company. It came with a letter of certification.
He was under the impression that being certified, he had a good product.
Turns out that this US Company got this particular product from Asia.
Gluten and those types of grain products are typically imported from India, Asia and Pakistan.
The supplier can at this time not be named publically, but the FDA and other authorities have names and they’re going after them.
Like I said, Joey’s pi22ed.
The product was added March 28th.
He is recalling everything venison, regardless if it was made before or after, just to keep retailers from getting lazy and leaving the wrong thing on the shelf.
He said he will start a new run, but it will be about a month and he’s not in a hurry to get the venison back on the shelf before that.
He will call me when the new run is available and it will be with all new product. He said he’d rather eat a bunch of product than have anything like this happen again. I asked him if he would retest the returned product and reuse what’s unaffected and he said no, he’s starting over with everything new.
He’s also wanting to reformulate the venison products with possibly a different suppler for the venison to have a more stable protein level.
He has instructed all of his staff that he will have NOTHING bought anymore that is not US certified and will not purchase anything that comes from out of country to a US company.
I asked him if he can keep up his production numbers since he told me the US is not capable of producing enough of the gluten type stuff to meet the demand, and that’s why it’s imported. He said he didn’t care if his quantities went down as long as he could guarantee it’s safe.
He also told me that the last batch with the Rice Protein is still packed in the OLD bags and won’t list the Rice Protein as an ingredient. That’s another reason he’s recalling everything. The bags will still show the old ingredients and have NOTHING on them about Rice Protein.
He also told me when I asked that the Venison and Ultras are the only one that have any grain type anythings in them.
The fish and duck formulas have no grains whatsoever.
If I’m forgetting anything ask me. I minght have missed something.
Comment by Becky — April 18, 2007 @ 12:36 pm
So, Kat
re: Wibur-Ellis brochure. Would I be wrong to suggest NB’s claims to U.S. products would be loosely defined considering their supplier is a U.S. company? The brochure strangely lists products that appear to be the same as NB’s ingredients.
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
Hey, they are not supposed to be adding rice protein to the products - I know the company must feel terrible and I spend over $300 a month on pet food, and I wonder if they feels as bad as I do thinking my pets were in danger, and now it is going to TimberWolf Organic.
Linda MS.
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 12:40 pm
The only good thing coming out of this for me is the realization that I have to be much more keen and cautious with regards to what I buy for my family, including my furkids. I can no longer (never could really) be just a mindless consumer who briefly checks things, and figures I should be okay. Must be safeguards in place, right?
Yes, I knew we had trade with China, Mexico, and plenty of places that don’t have the same standards or interest in QC as we do. Or place the same value on pet lives, or even people lives. I am looking at the opening of pet food manufacturing plants in China with open eyes now.
I was stupidly naive to not have put it together better than I did & far earlier - maybe getting thing “cheap” is okay for trinkets, furniture, and other material goods, but obviously not too cool with food chain items. And to have “trusted” that the USA had procedures in place that would allow me to only cursorily check things out that I buy on grocery shelves.
The only person who gives a damn about my family is me. And about yours? Is you. Thinking that way will at least help avoid the majority of issues, but truly we are never not at risk for something or the other. I can do better with my odds though, and that is the valuable lesson I learned in this crisis.
Comment by TC — April 18, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
To Becky -
I previously e-mailed Wellness regarding the garlic. They replied that due to customer inquires and concerns they would be removing it in the next production run. This reply was yesterday.
Comment by Linda P. — April 18, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
Oh Judy, you got through and got the run around. Well, I just wonder what’s going on.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 12:45 pm
Linda P. - thanks, I saw your post about the garlic. But I’m wondering if there is something else in there not listed (yes, I’ve asked, no response yet) because my friends cats were migrated slowly but now that they are entirely on wellness their water and pee consumption went wayyyy up.
Russell - she is getting them to the vets, they’ve only been on it for a week. This is unreal. But it’s not canned food, it’s the dry, which Wellness said was not made at Menu Foods plant. And I don’t want to panic other Wellness feeders, this could be nothing. Or it could be very bad.
I’ll keep up with her cats and update.
Thank you!
Comment by Becky — April 18, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
Thanks for that info Becky. I hope he elaborates on what he meant by believing that being “certified” meant it was a “good” product. Let’s do better than that - what exactly does this “certification” by Wilbur Ellis mean?
Certifed what? As to country of origin? As to testing done to ensure lack of contaminants? As to level of quality? And what the heck does “good” product mean? No more silly talk or talking down - we’ve been told that pet food companies know better how to make food than we do. But I can ask better questions than this, and it isn’t just my legal background, either.
Comment by TC — April 18, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
I just read Becky’s comment. What about the Ultra’s? Is Herrick certain there is no RPC in them? And what about last night’s USA Today article that said Diamond acquired the RPC, unless I misread it. Need more answers here!
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
Short while ago, I had a conversation with a gentleman from Solid Gold. Had spoken to him when this recall began as I wanted then to get off the Nutro dry dog. He read me a statement that had just been received from Diamond assuring Solid Gold that no wheat or rice gluten was contaminated. Solid Gold does not use corn gluten. He further stated that employees had been told to be honest with all inquiries made by customers. (my comment here)…as in any situation, some questions cannot be answered. Maybe not immediately. I’m sure if the employee were asked to attempt to find the answer for you, they would be willing to do so and get back to you. At least I hope this would be true. Yes, the food companies are reading what is being written here. Yes companies will go out of business. Right now along with the veggies and chicken or beef or venison, I am using small quantities of Solid Gold Holistic Blendz for my dogs. I feel a teensy bit more comfortable in doing this for now.
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
My three cats have been eating Wellness Turkey and Salmon for about three weeks now. No problems. It is not their main food. I do not see garlic on this one.
Comment by Jenny — April 18, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
VJ: spoke to lauren at heartguard yesterday and she said there is no wheat gluten in heartguard but they do have it in some of the treats they give to the Vets. I double checked with my vet about the heartguard and there is no wheat gluten in the once a mo. chewable. Since the first day of the Nutro recall (I was feeding dry sm. bites) I started home cooking but I was adding a bit of NB which of course I have stopped. Solid Gold is also run thru the Diamond plant and who knows what others. If it wasn’t for this site and Ichmo we would still be in the dark like so many others who love their pets.
Comment by Margot Ann — April 18, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
Here are a few links re: Rice Protein Concentrate, aka Rice Protein Meal:
Here is Yahoo’s search results: http://tinyurl.com/2tffwf
Here is Alibaba’s world-wide results for marketing/sales contacts: http://tinyurl.com/2shfug
Here is Binzhou Futian Biology Technology, on Alibaba: http://jinnuo.en.alibaba.com/
And, their website: http://www.sdjinhaiwan.com/
Comment by Kat — April 18, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
Comment to Becky’s post at 12:15
Basically the man at Solid Gold said that ingredients must be accompanied by a certification. When I commented that someone could fudge that, he emphatically declared “then someone would be going to jail”.
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
Sorry the comment is to Becky’s post at 12:36
My bad. Getting bug-eyed here.
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 1:23 pm
I’ve searched all the blogs going and haven’t found anyone complaining about Wellness so maybe it is the garlic in the food making them drink, or maybe it’s just the new food itself going from poor quality to better.
There’s nothing in the ingredients to make you suspicious but still…
Oh, and in response to VJ - http://www.petconnection.com/b.....ment-32902
I didn’t talk to Herrick myself, it was cross-post from another forum, but I think he is referring to the Category 3 EU Certified foods that Wilbur-Ellis provides their customers. Now what does EU Certified mean (European Union?)
Comment by Becky — April 18, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
Margo’s comment at 1:05p
Thanks Margo for checking on the Heartguard. That’s a load off my mind. Dogs go in next week for heartworm check. Whew!
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
The lady is nice enough to check and I can’t even get her name right. Margot Ann. Time to take a break and go start dinner.
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
I can’t help but be freaked out that these companies have a “letter of certification” from these suppliers & that’s it. Does this letter tell them that the product it supplies comes from China or do they omit that information? Doesn’t anyone test a new ingredient? I was also told that Hund-n-Flocken had a letter of certification…..which scares me even more. I was feeding Blue Buffalo but she wasn’t doing well so I turned to HnF, which I have since found out uses Diamond. Can’t figure out which is the lesser of two evils.
The more I read, the more I fear for my dog & what I’m feeding her. I’m getting fuzzy-eyed from all the reading but all this info is priceless to any pet owner. So many people getting info from the different pet food companies…..this is all valuable info to those of us who just don’t know what to feed our animals or who we can trust to be honest about what’s in their food.
I did get an email back from HnF & he did assure me that the food was safe, no glutens of any kind, & he had this letter of certification which is probably not worth the paper it was printed on. Oh my, where do we go from here?
Comment by Jan — April 18, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
“I can’t help but be freaked out that these companies have a “letter of certification” from these suppliers & that’s it”
I’m with you Jan.
If they are telling us food is wholesome/healthy/safe based on a piece of paper and no research or testing beyond finding a supplier that will get them a good deal, isn’t that fraud? If they aren’t running proper QC and testing raw ingredients for safety/quality . . . .
Comment by straybaby — April 18, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
Isis—my cat who went in for vomiting this morning—is home and the first round of lab tests showed no problems of any kind, thank heaven. The more in-depth tests go to another lab and will be back tomorrow. She did show an irregular heartbeat a few times on the EKG—but she is a very shy cat and was terrified out of her mind by all the procedures. Irregular heartbeat could be a problem she has developed due to aging, or could be plant toxicity, which would go away as the plant gets out of her system, if she nibbled a houseplant.
My vet is more concerned about the heartbeat than the thought of poisoned food at this point. (I should mention that she is a specialist who treats only cats, and I’ve been using her for 20 years.)
But I am still throwing out all the Wellness dry, except for a sample I will keep in case it ever comes to needing it tested. And yes, I agree that the person whose cats are drinking and peeing like crazy on Wellness should get them to a vet ASAP.
Thanks for your support and help, everyone.
Comment by Debra — April 18, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
thyroid a little high but not sure if that’s an issue connected to this.
Jan, this can be connected in an off way. Elevated thryoid can mask underlying kidney problems so please make sure a urinalysis is done and if your vet clinic is a small one, I would suggest asking them to send it to an outside lab to have them study it to make sure anything including the crystals isnt being missed.
Comment by Sandi K — April 18, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
From upstream: “I agree that the person whose cats are drinking and peeing like crazy on Wellness should get them to a vet ASAP.”
==
Folks, it DOESN’T MATTER what you’re feeding. If your pet is “drinking and peeing like crazy” on ANYTHING, you have a veterinary emegency. Get your pet to the vet!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 18, 2007 @ 3:10 pm
Well do I feel like an idiot. I just kept changing pet foods. It must be something to do with all of them then.
Now they are fine. No peeing extra, no drinking extra, no fevers, happy. I’m going to have them tested anyway.
I did take Mercy in my female Doberman and I asked the vet if it was the SD and he said no, SD is great - well I didn’t trust it and started homecooking and she got better. We ran a bunch of test, everything, bile….liver…aspirated the liver….. more blood test….
they couldn’t find anything. But I am going to take Snoopy in for a test just to make sure.
Linda MS
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
PS
That is why this blog is so great - and thank you Gina for giving us access to your wisdom.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
I think we got folks in the pet food industry caught with their pants down. The CEO selling half his shares so soon before the recall announced looks guilty. And then the melamine in the wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate; well I think some folks dealing with these foodstuffs were after the higher prices the increased protein could bring in for their produce/crops.
How long will it be that we will find human products having the same problems.
The pet food industry is in need of big changes in order to gain back the trust of the consumers they once had.
I would like to see all foodstuffs (animal and human) have labeling which tells us what land the ingredients come from. I would prefer to never buy foodstuffs from China or other places that have even more lax regulations then we have here in the USA. As for the US food supply (both pets and humans) deserve to have our food manucaturing/producing companies regulated better. Deregulation policies have hurt us.
When will we feel safe to eat fresh produce without having to worry that us or are loved ones will get sick from it? We keep getting E. Coli, Salmonella, Listeria outbreaks. Why can’t we start irradiating the produce and meats so there will be fewer outbreaks.
When will the food producers stop using the “same vat” way of food production to produce foods—— probably never because they make more profits this way. Just think, the hamburger you ate has meat from thousands of cows in it. Yum? Not good at all!The threat of Mad Cow Disease is for real… I sense it is only a matter of time we start seeing more cases of it (MCD) in the US.
Our pets are more than likely imo to be the proverbial “canaries in the mine”—- what is happening to their food supplies sould happen to our food supply if actions are not taken to make sure the food we eat poses fewer risks.
Any death or illness from food bourne illnesses is a preventable one. That is why everyone who buys, eats, or feeds food to their loved ones needs to be very concerned about the food recalls, and food bourne illness outbreaks that happen far too often.
Why did I write this posting? Because I fed my dog some of the venison/rice Natural Balance foods (canned and dry); I had switched her to it (after my two cats died )to that brand as I used it in the past and I am mad that this new product of NB may have rice protein concentrate
in it that has melamine.
No wonder she wasn’t crazy about the venison flavored Natural Balance, compared to the other flavors of NB. I should have listened to her. I didn’t buy any more of it when we ran out—- just because I thought she didn’t like the flavor. She’d leave food in her bowl, and had to be coaxed to eat more. She was smart enough to show a preference for the other canned flavors. But she ate enough or the food at my urging to make me worried. She will be tested to be safe, but so far she seems ok.
Now who can we trust? The list keeps growing bigger. It gives me a sickening feeling.
—- My prayers go out for the folks of the VT school mass murders; horrible senseless tragedy for all of us to grasp. May God be with them in their time of need as they grieve.
Comment by Grace — April 18, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
This morning I woke up to find a lot of vomit ~ and since I just opened a new bag of California Natural, went into a complete meltdown. After picking up all the food and calming down I called Natura. Spoke with Veronica for quite a while and feel much better. There is no rice gluten/protein in Cal Nat dry (for cats) and they are sending forms for me to have some of it tested. She told me about their testing procedures, and they sound good. She also assured me that Natura is NOT one of the unnamed companies. Also suggested that I return the opened bag and get a different batch number. I was confident enough after the conversation that I will continue . . . unless the vomiting continues or increases. Since I have 5 cats, it’s not always easy to tell who does what so will watch them all carefully.
I wish this would end!
Thanks to PetConnection and all of you who have walked through this nightmare with me. You are very much appreciated.
Comment by dottie — April 18, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
BTW the only Natural Balance products in the recall are the ones with rice protein concentrate listed. The new Venison/Rice allergy NB dry and canned. Also the the green pea food for cats. The words “rice protein concentrate” are clearly listed in the ingredients on these recalled products.
Most of these products are their newest products.
The original ultra premium formula for cats only lists brown rice and not any “rice protein concentrate”. The last can of Venison and brown rice dog food I have hear has “rice protein concentrate” listed.
I would like to know if DVP’s Nat. Balance gets their ingredients from sources outside of the USA. And if menu foods has any connection to their foods. If so, I will be angry to be honest. I trusted them with my animal’s life.
Comment by Grace — April 18, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
Dottie,
I would keep some of that food before sending the whole bag. I would recommend getting it tested through your vet, especially if the vomitting continues. Just in case they are not being completly honest with you about testing the food. How convenient it would be for that bag of food to disappear.
Comment by Tammy — April 18, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
There are two companies out there that I feel are trust-worthy right now:
http://www.beowulfs.com which produces “back to basics”
the website explains why corn and garlic are used in their products. Pretty straightforward to me. I like what they say. Hope my dog likes the way it tastes. They are sending a free dog food sample to me. Spoke with Gary on the phone who said their grains come from Quaker Oatmeal and Uncle Ben’s Rice.
The other: NaturaPet.com which has several different brands. Read what the web site says. They even have a NO GRAIN food. My dog will be trying several of their foods. He’s a very picky eater.
He prefers Bil_jac —not great quality I guess, but it’s been referred to as CRACK for dogs because they like it so much. Must be the Molasses?
Comment by Rhonda — April 18, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
Dottie wrote: This morning I woke up to find a lot of vomit ~ and since I just opened a new bag of California Natural, went into a complete meltdown. After picking up all the food and calming down I called Natura. Spoke with Veronica for quite a while and feel much better. There is no rice gluten/protein in Cal Nat dry (for cats) and they are sending forms for me to have some of it tested. She told me about their testing procedures, and they sound good. She also assured me that Natura is NOT one of the unnamed companies. Also suggested that I return the opened bag and get a different batch number. I was confident enough after the conversation that I will continue . . . unless the vomiting continues or increases. Since I have 5 cats, it’s not always easy to tell who does what so will watch them all carefully.
I wish this would end!
REPLY TO DOTTIE: Dottie, vomiting in cats can turn out to be a serious concern in a hurry . Cats can get dehydrated very quickly, so watch for signs of dehydration. Look up dehydration in felines on the net for the signs to watch for. One quick test you can try; If you pull up the cats scruff and it doesn’t snap back right away as it should, well that is often a tell tale sign of dehydration.
Also watch out for any cats not eating, their livers can be effected rather quickly when they stop eating. Cats need to eat regularly.
Watch out for the signs listed in other pages here and on the web about what to look for as far as melamine poisoning. Look up the signs of renal failure in felines and print them out and keep them handy.
You have 5 kitties so maybe find a way to separate the most suspect ones.
When I had multiple cats I checked them each out every day. I also worked as an animal care tech for a large animal shelter, so I got pretty experienced at picking out the sick kitties and doggies who needed vet. attention in the kennel/shelter. I generally looked for the following signs in the cats I owned or have taken care of at work:
1.sudden appetite changes (increased/decreased)
2.water intake changes (increased/decreased);
test the “scruff” (it should spring quickly back to place).
2. increased/decreased urination
3. Changes in the appearance of the eyes
4. gum color changes, does the color come back after I press their upper gums (blood capillaries refill after releasing the finger).
5. various behavior changes like a cat starts hiding or seeking to be near heat sources, suddenly missing the litter box, acting “crazy”.
6. stool changes
7. panting or acting if having difficulty breathing
8. bloating, swelling, lumps, skin changes, open wounds, coat changes, rashes etc
9.signs of infection or frequent infections
10. signs of weight loss or gain
11. Any other sign that seems not normal for the animal, like a racing heart beat (eg. my hyper-thyroid cat’s heart rate would increase at times, and the cat would go “psycho” running across the house and into windows for no reason whenever his throid levels were off on the high side of normal).
Personally if I found lots of vomit (not hairball stuff) around in the am in a house with five cats; I’d try to figure out which cat or cats it was asap and get to a vet asap. If I didn’t know what cat vomited at my home place (at the shelter the cats were caged), I’d check each one out carefully for signs of illness such as dehydration , increased thirst.
And like you said, “watch them like a hawk” for signs of trouble. Ideally, you should consider taking all those who ate the food in to the doctor. But at todays pricey vet. costs, I can see why you would want to figure out which ones threw up and take them in first.
Vomiting can be caused by many things, btw.
If the expense of bringing in 5 cats to be checked out because of vomiting is too much, call your vet and ask if something can be worked out. If your gut instincts tell you their is something wrong, you should consider following what your gut is telling you. Cats can get real sick in a hurry, and so sick cats need to be seen promptly.
If a pet has eaten any of the recalled products, it has been recommended that they be seen by a vet. Especially if they show possible signs of poisoning like renal failure.
I hope this post helps. Take care. I hope your kitties will turn out to be in good health.
JMO. Keep in mind that I am not a vet, I just care for lots of critters. Your best source for medical information regarding your pets is a qualified veternarian. Take care.
Comment by Grace — April 18, 2007 @ 4:57 pm
Oh.. Almost forgot..Canidae. (Make that 3 companines). Check out that website also. All Life Stages Formula sounds good.
Comment by Rhonda — April 18, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
I’ve tried Instinctive Choice, Felidae, Innova
Evo, Spots Stew all to no avail…my 2 kitties won’t touch them…they want their Friskies wet food…I’ve just ordered online from Merrick…has anyone tried this brand or do you have any info on it…I’ve tried every meat and fish known to man and also sardines etc. but they will not eat it…currently, I’m feeding Dad’s Dry for urinary tract health…they are male neutered 2 yrs old and never get dry….any comments or suggestions…thanks
Comment by jeannie — April 18, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
Merrick runs a rendering plant,so nothing they make is coming into MY house. Dead cats and dogs is not what I want in a pet food.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 18, 2007 @ 5:38 pm
where did you get the information about Merrick’s rendering plant? They of course claim to use human quality food. I was actually looking at them, since I am now on round 3 or 4 of the great pet food search. I can’t decide if it’s safer to keep my cats on NB dry (not the recalled one) or switch them to Solid Gold, which is made by Diamond, and who knows if there is contamination?
Comment by Joyce — April 18, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
I was afraid I was poisoning my cat by giving her Purina products with wheat gluten in them so I switched to a brand sold by my vet that didn’t include that ingredient on the label. Now I’m afraid I substituted a poison brand for a non-poison one. Does anyone else have a problem with the fact that veternarians are in the business of selling commercial pet food? It seems life a conflict of interest under these circumstances. I took her in on Saturday for tests but won’t get lab results until next week because my vet is at a conference. It makes me wonder if she’s in Chicago. I’m scared.
Comment by Sharon — April 18, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
re: Merrick’s
from what I could google, it appears they raise hereford cattle, a slaughterhouse & rendering plant. They make treats such as the hooves, rawhide from the cattle. Looks like they have 2 petfood companies, Merrick 5star which is human grade ingredients, and Blue Sky. They have their own canning facility. I believe they can for other petfood companies too.
From what I can gather, most large rendering plants do not accept dead pets, but some of the smaller ones do. Let’s hope Merrick’s does not. And if I had a dog I would rather feed it rawhide treats made from TX cattle as opposed to imported stuff.
Anyone know how to find out which rendering plants accept dead pets?
Comment by catlover — April 18, 2007 @ 7:52 pm
We are angry and hate ourselves: we’ve poisoned our beloved 11 yr. old furchild (Choc.Lab/Chesapeake mix) FOR A 2ND TIME. On March 17th, we immediately took him off recalled Nutro Natural Choice pouches - which he ate 3 pouches a day mixed with dry food. Fortunately kidney labwork March 19th and recheck March 26th were okay. BUT, the food we switched him to March 17th: DVP Natural Balance Venison and Rice dry, and as his treats….CVP Natural Balance Venison and Rice. He vomited last Fri.April 13th and Sat. April 14th, not Sun or Mon or Tues though. We did not see the recall until yesterday (Tues) afternoon, when we literally screamed - left work in midday - grabbed him up and drove him back to the vets’ to have kidney values checked AGAIN for the 3rd time. We will recheck again for a 4th time in a week.
We’re still hating ourselves. For feeling sooooo goooood about no wheat, corn or soy. For feeling soooooo goooood about only rice with the venison. We specifically went with the DVP NB Venison and Brown Rice formula, because our vets’ said he would probably get gas from the potato in the Ultra, Reduced Calorie, Duck and Potato, Sweet Potato and Fish. So we set him up with the one specific formula which was poisoned.
It feels like we’ve been hit by lightning — not once, but twice — and both times were entirely our fault.
Eva B.
Comment by Eva B. — April 18, 2007 @ 8:14 pm
Eva, You cannot blame yourselfs’ for this at all. How could you know. I am so sorry that this has happened!! Hope your baby is OK.
Comment by lori anderson — April 18, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
I’m feeding candaie, but am now in the process of making my own food, cat food and dog food.
I’m not feeding processed food anymore, Until this gets straightened out, and until the food is not comming from another country.
Comment by lori anderson — April 18, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
ALL I CAN SAY NOW,…. ALL OF THIS IS JUST TOO EIRIE. IS THIS DELIBERATLY HAPPENING? AND WHY?
I STILL THINK ABOUT OUR HUMAN FOOD SUPPLY AND WONDER WHAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING.
Comment by lori anderson — April 18, 2007 @ 8:33 pm
Lori - thank you for hoping he’s okay. His kidney values (BUN, creatinine) were up, but still inside normal range. No crystals found in urine. So maybe we survived lightning a second time around……. WE FELT SO SAFE and SO RIGHT going with the DVP NB Venison and Rice last month — and it’s the one specific formula poisoned. He threw up Fri and Sat, but we never, ever thought it could be from the food…..
Eva B.
Eva B.
Comment by Eva B. — April 18, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
Tell me if this sounds hokey. I was thinking we could adopt animal print ribbons (like the pink breast cancer awareness ribbons) as a symbol of the need for pet food legislative reform. Obviously pet food isn’t as serious as breast cancer, but quite a few causes have similar ribbons in different colors. The blogs regarding celebrities made me think of it, and if we wore them, people most likely would ask about the significance. Would give us an opportunity to educate the general public. Be kind if you think it’s stupid or frivolous.
I am also still trying to get info regarding the March on April 28.
Comment by joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 1:41 am
Ok,so I just went to the howl911 site, and they are using chocolate brown ribbons. Guess I’m not so brilliant after all. There still isn’t anything posted about San Diego or Orange Co
Comment by joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 2:20 am
Here’s a great indepth look at China’s export — and the poor quality — per Yale.ude/Wall Street Journal’s view:
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=9053
Who’s Monitoring Chinese Food Exports?
HONG KONG — Tainted foods from China are becoming a growing problem as the country plays a greater part in the global food chain. Chemical use is high, regulations are lax, and while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has the authority to check imports for contaminants that are in violation of U.S. law, it is able to physically inspect only a small fraction of them….
click link to read more…
Comment by Kat — April 19, 2007 @ 9:13 am
Yale.edu rather.. ooops!
Comment by Kat — April 19, 2007 @ 9:16 am
Royal Canin sold in South Africa has been recalled due to melamine in corn gluten….what do we make of this ? I’m sure corn gluten is next for US…that doesn’t leave much food okay for eating does it?
http://tinyurl.com/2tbogq
Comment by Lori Lee — April 19, 2007 @ 10:02 am
Yes Lori, I saw that article too, on another website. Your post is more detailed.
Last week they were saying it was antifreeze that was found in Royal Canin.
Wheat, rice, corn….. WHAT ELSE???????
Comment by Kat — April 19, 2007 @ 10:13 am
So if I go with a home made cat diet…where do I get Taurine capsules? I mean the ones that weren’t made in CHINA?
…
I hope the FDA is looking at baby formula, don’t they use rice protein???
If the FDA is anything similar to FEMA….this is going to get far uglier.
God Help Us all.
Comment by Lori Lee — April 19, 2007 @ 10:16 am
I haven’t looked but taurine can probably be found at the health food store. It’s naturally found in fish, eggs, meat & milk.
The times I’ve looked on the pet food labels, it’s a minimum of .10% of the ingredients…per serving.
Comment by Kat — April 19, 2007 @ 11:35 am
Thanks Kat! I thought I had dodged a bullet switching from Nutro to Natural Balance V&GP and Royal Canin Skin….not so sure anymore.
I am looking at a cat food recipe and it suggests adding Taurine if not using Heart meats.http://www.catnutrition.org/recipes.html
I remember Mom in the 70s giving our cats calves liver as a treat (probably because we wouldn’t eat it) …I guess I could start there, see how my modern guys like it…..I see more chicken livers in the market than cow. They love turkey, but only deli turkey…
It’s as if we fed them McDonald-esque food all this time, and nobody told us
Comment by Lori Lee — April 19, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Thankyou all for the info on Merrick’s. Eva, so sorry to hear all you’ve been going through.
I hope and pray your beloved is well.
Comment by jeannie — April 20, 2007 @ 6:42 pm