Pet-food recall: USA Today reporting melamine found in rice protein
By Gina Spadafori
April 17, 2007
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As Itchmo pointed out, the Natural Balance pull of two dry foods has raised eyebrows because neither product contained wheat gluten.
In a story posted to the Web site just a few minutes ago, USA Today is reporting the melamine that has been the apparent problem in wheat gluten isn’t just in that substance:
Melamine is the chemical suspected of causing pet deaths and illnesses related to the Menu Foods recall, covering more than 60 million cans and pouches of wet dog and cat food from dozens of brands the past four weeks.
But Natural Balance doesn’t use wheat gluten, the ingredient contaminated with melamine in the Menu recall. Instead, it suspects that melamine was in a rice protein concentrate, a new ingredient used in the dry foods, said Natural Balance president Joey Herrick. “That was the only change in the product,” he says.
The concentrate is now being tested, he added. Melamine was detected in samples of the food. The recalled foods are: Venison & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food and Venison & Green Pea Dry Cat Foods.
Whether other pet food makers got the same rice protein concentrate is unclear at this time. Herrick says the food was made for Natural Balance by Diamond Pet Foods.
Update: Itchmo has confirmed that Natural Balance is pulling additional product, including canned foods and treats.
Update No. 2: The FDA has just posted the T.W. Enterprises recall of some of its dog chews. The problem? Salmonella contamination.
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Well, if other pet food makers didn’t get the protein concentrate, then people food makers did.
Still just the tip… (imho)
Comment by Kim — April 17, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
Well the man I spoke with yesterday at Natural Balance was right - God bless his heart for telling me the truth. I must admit I was frantic when I posted about it - okay hysterical making typos and leaving things out - my mind was in a big freeze - and nothing is safe, nothing. God have mercy on us.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
PS. I don’t trust the Sweet Potato either, because it can be made into a protein powder - and I know this sounds nuts but maybe that’s what all my dreams were about with the sacks of toxic junk in my closet. I won’t digress.
What is next?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
Makes you wonder, where the next shoe is going to fall…….. wheat-gluten,rice protein concentrate, and now I’m wondering what the culprit is in my dog’s food.
Katie
Comment by Katie — April 17, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
From the article: “Natural sent out the food Friday to be tested for the usual things that would cause animals to vomit, such as pesticides and heavy metals, Herrick says.”
So NB sent the food out for testing on Friday. when did the notice appear on the NB web site… Sunday? It’s better than the timeline for Menu’s waiting to tell the consumers, but if a single meal is toxic, then pets will suffer and perhaps die because they didn’t reveal this promptly. Hey, they could have done a Friday afternoon “taking out the trash” and dropped a press release at 7pm on Friday. That would have been more understandable than waiting for two more days.
Comment by CatLady — April 17, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
I would REALLY like to see ALL the pet food companies have their foods third party tested for melamine. Is that too much to ask? If nothing else, it would be a good marketing technique.
Comment by slt — April 17, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
I wonder if there is cause to suspect other rice ingredients other than the “rice protein concentrate”?
Also, from the article: “… Diamond (the makers of the NB formulas) got the rice protein concentrate from an American company, which he wouldn’t name.”
An American company he wouldn’t name? Wouldn’t name? Here we go again!?
Why for the love of all this is holy will this industry not just give us pertinent info in a timely manner? That is just the sort of elusiveness that delayed a lot recalls from the first go-round.
Comment by JM Leong — April 17, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
They are covering each other’s fannys - they may need favors or something. And if we knew the truth they would all go broke - just my guess on it.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
Errr, typo. I meant all THAT is holy. Whoops.
Comment by JM Leong — April 17, 2007 @ 2:44 pm
Why is rice protein in the dry Venison & Green Pea cat food? It’s supposed to be grain free. That’s one of the reasons people feed it to their cats — it’s a food for cats with allergies. The NB website even claims there are no grains in it — no wheat, no corn, no soy, no RICE. What gives? Have they been lying to their customers about this?
Comment by Teresa — April 17, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
Uhh…wait a minute…there’s no rice protein listed in the ingredients of the dry venison/pea cat food (yet the article claims 3-4 cats reported affected…less cats than dogs this time?).
Just seems unlikely that they’d put rice protein in a feline “allergy” food based on venison and green peas.
Comment by Gudewife — April 17, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
Wheat gluten. Rice protein concentrate. While wheat gluten is used to thicken gravy, it is also used to inflate a food’s protein content. Ditto for “rice protein concentrate.” What does this tell you about the quality and quantity of the meat used in commercial dog and cat food? Protein from grains and plants are “incomplete” proteins, i.e., they do not contain all 20 of the amino acids which humans need. This is why exogenous or synthetic taurine must be added to cat food—because the majority of the protein in both dog and cat food comes from plant or grain, neither of which contain the amino acid, taurine, which is only found in animal sources. If these companies were, as they claim, using high quality AND adequate amounts of animal protein in their formulas, and if they weren’t destroying all the nutrients by cooking the foods at upwards of 270-300 degrees, there would be no need to add these cheap sources of protein, as well as all the other vitamins and other nutrients you see listed on a pet food label. So when the Pet Food Industry or brain-washed vets blather on about the nutritional superiority of commercial food vs. homemade foods, they are selling you, I and most of all, our pets, a rotten bill of goods.
Comment by Nikki — April 17, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
It’s probably a concentrate of the pea - which is made too, and I can’t remember who posted a link about it, maybe Nadine did, and then using her link I found the sweet potato and that got me concerned for my dogs too.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
Wonder if there is any connection to Robert W. Luba, Menu Foods Chairman of the Board of Trustees; and some “ingredients” one of his companies is into. Mr. Luba is also a Director of six corporations, two of which are involved in providing capital to businesses for investment purposes. MDS Inc. here is one of them.
Have a look at this eye opener.
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=mdz
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 2:55 pm
What if all this is being added here in the U.S. by these companies trying to lower their costs and up their protein count and none of it involves China at all - corporate greed gone amuck???????
Linda MA
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
According to my memory and the petlover comment April 16 @ 3:36 (Monday morning food for thought), no ‘rice protein concentrate’ was listed on the dog venison and rice ingredients on the NB site yesterday. It is right now. And since the protein concentrate is from rice and not wheat, can still say ‘no grain’, and jack up the protein content with melamine. I’m definitely hysterical now (was feeding both cat and dog dry), and I feel free to trash NB at will.
Comment by Carol PW — April 17, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
We *have* got to get the 6-month leeway in changing labels removed, this is insane. (I won’t be buying commercial foods again, but needs to be done for everyone else’s sake…)
Comment by Kim — April 17, 2007 @ 3:06 pm
It’s getting pretty ugly. Meat and dairy products people consume every day are laced with antibiotics, growth hormones, fertility drugs and who the hell knows what else. All in the name of increasing profit and yield. And unfortunately to many farmers succumb to the pressures of competition and go with the “program”.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 3:07 pm
Sweet Potato? As in Lick Your Chops Turkey and Sweet Potato? I just started switching my cats to that. Oh Nooooooooooooooooooo. Tell me it isnt’ so?
Comment by Boopadaboo — April 17, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
It ain’t over yet folks…
what’s that famous movie line from Bette Davis…
“Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.”
Comment by Marcy — April 17, 2007 @ 3:10 pm
No, absolutely no company news on the Sweet Potato - none - it is just that one can make a concentrate out of it and add more protein to it - it’s a worry - too much of a worry for me and too much of a risk for my dogs.
I don’t trust any of it. But the man at Natural Balance that gave me the heads up on the Melamine said they have had no calls (that he knows of) about the sweet potato (I use the duck) but do you trust that? I don’t.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
Comment by Marcy — April 17, 2007 @ 3:10 pm
The dam has finally burst. No doubt about that.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
Guess I am just getting larger pots and buying bulk.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
I bought my bags two weeks ago and stored them in my middle bedroom (you know the one, the one with the dog spirits) - they said it was the batch since March 28th right?
But who knows. I trust nothing now.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
http://www.itchmo.com/ is reporting:
“Itchmo has confirmed with Natural Balance that their recall has expanded and now covers the following items for all dates:
Venison and Brown Rice Treats for Dogs (New today)
Venison and Brown Rice Canned Formula for Dogs (New today)”
Comment by JM Leong — April 17, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
wheat gluten, corn gluten, soy gluten, and now rice protein concentrate.
Looks like any substance that is a powder is not safe. Easy to mix a substance with.
I find it interesting that when something is being discovered (a breakthrough in this)…it’s hush, hush. Who are they protecting? Who’s ultimately behind all of this?
Most likely, imho, it’s “someone” with big bucks. That’s usually the way it is. Protect the big guy, and he will protect you. Any guesses?
There is so much corruption nowadays…who knows how far up it goes. Big business, deep pockets, profit-driven corporations…luring us all down the pathways, like sheep to the slaughter!
Comment by Marcy — April 17, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
It looks like the rice protein concentrate (rpc) is also a product of China. This article, from 12/2005, touted this NEW product as even cheaper than soy protein…
http://www.foodnavigator.com/n.....ce-protein
see howl911.com for article headline and comments.
Comment by Nikki — April 17, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
I don’t trust any of the grain powders right now.
Keep on the alert folks…keep checking what you’re feeding…don’t let your guard down ever…even when this blows over. They can add anything at anytime, without saying a word.
Comment by Marcy — April 17, 2007 @ 3:33 pm
Nikki - you’ve hit the hammer on the nail with your comments. Bottom line is that there IS NO healthy flesh/muscle protein included in any commercial dog food. It is 4D and rendered animal parts cooked to high hell heat and then protein and other so called “nutrients” are added back in.
There isn’t a so called **vet** alive that can convince me that healthy food I feed myself (fresh muscle meat chicken, steak, pork, etc, fresh fruits and veggies, freshly cooked rice) is less nutritionally sound than rotten, old, outdated waste products including 4D and rendered parts that they call pet food - give me a %&*^%$$& break - please!!! I’m just trying desperately to find at least one safe, wholesome, nutritionally sound pet product that I myself could eat - real muscle meat, real veggies, clean, wholesome grain like rice.
Comment by Kiki — April 17, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
What I want to know is how many companies are using this rice protein concentrate for their dry foods? Is this why animals are getting sick from different dry foods? Pet owners have been trying to tell these morons (at different pet food companies) for a while now that their animals are getting sick from their dry food but nobody will listen to them. They get the stock answer “only our wet foods have been recalled, everything else is perfectly safe to feed to your dog/cat”. Oh puuuullllleeeeezzzzz.
I vote for pulling all the food & testing it for melamine….whoever uses this mystery company to get the rice protein must know it could possibly be in their dry food & killing animals. Lordie, are the pet owners the only ones with any logic these days??????
Comment by Jan — April 17, 2007 @ 3:38 pm
I am SO sick of this crap. So sick of it. I just bought Natural Balance cat food for my recovering animals yesterday. No way am I giving them any more of it. I’ve been feeding this to them as they recover to supplement the home cooked meals.
Does anyone know anything about Hi-Tor? Or California Natural?
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
“… Diamond (the makers of the NB formulas) got the rice protein concentrate from an American company, which he wouldn’t name.”
And Menu Foods got the tainted wheat gluten from an American compnay: ChemNutra…
Comment by David — April 17, 2007 @ 3:45 pm
David - I think you are right. An American company. Maybe it was added here in the U.S.A.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
Nope. Trying to find safe food you can feel completely confident about right now seems like mission impossible.
Keep in mind your pets are probably getting adequate nutrition from your home prepared. It should help them cleanse their systems a bit also. The only solution for now is to keep seeking, and accept there is going to be some sacrifices on a personal level for a while.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
Yes Steve, like cleaning a bunch of dirty pots and pans. A few of my dogs have allergies so I can’t just cook up one pot for all - the ingredients need to be separate and stored separately etc. etc. etc.
But I love them much and I will do whatever it takes.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
I don’t know how the ingredient would be listed… is it just listed as “rice”? if so, are pets having problems with Wellness food too? or is that still to come? I think they use rice in their dry food. Sheesh. I am so tired of this.
Just an amusing aside: I’m getting my cats changed over from one dry food to another just because I’m now permanently paranoid about food, so I’ve made a mixture of 2 brands, the old one and the new one in order to change them over slowly. My cats are ‘sorting’ their dry food with an overwhelming preference for the new one… the old one is all over the kitchen floor… they flip it right off their tongues.
Comment by Cynthia — April 17, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
OH MY GOD, NOW rice !!!! WHAT’S NEXT?
Comment by Marry Ann — April 17, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
Cynthia - I hope that is good - flipping it right off their tongues -maybe they know something we don’t.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
IT’S TIME DHS GETS INVOVED IN THIS THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT.
Comment by Marry Ann — April 17, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
Yes the food situation doesn’t make our life any less stressful either with ours having FH also. But we’ve pretty faced the fact movies, diversions, unnecessary trips, and other amusements are out of the picture for a while.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Maybe here’s a heads up. Just got off the phone with a friend who has been feeding his elderly dog Nutro Lite—same as I was until all this happened.
I was telling him that I’m trying to catch up on all my reading here on the blogs. Mentioned that the Natural Balance was found to have the rice protein concentrate. He reminded me about a book we each were told to read called “Fateful Harvest” by Duff Wilson who is/(was?) a reporter with the Seattle Times. He was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. It’s about the fertilizer industry. Monsanto was involved. Also a company called Cenex. Patty Martin the then mayor of Quincy, Wash. stumbled on a secret about how toxic, hazardous waste was being used as fertilizer. This is my short version here. Have any of you read the book? If not, maybe you investigators out there may want to pick up a copy and let us know what you think. Do any of you think that Duff Wilson would be willing to help us?
Comment by VJ — April 17, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
OH CAP LOCK IS BROKE NOT YELLING
Comment by Marry Ann — April 17, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
This is the other shoe. Now, do you trust Diamond any guesses out there?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
SHARON ,I DROVE 2 HOURS TODAY FOR CAL. NATURAL THE DOGS KICKED IT OFF THE PLATE AND JUST ATE THEIR NUTRO. THE KIBBLE FELT VERY SANDY.THEY DIDN’T EVEN EAT 1 KIBBLE OF IT.
Comment by Marry Ann — April 17, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
Yet another food ingredient that could be in the human food chain….. If the article you posted is right, Nikki, and I’m sure it is, this stuff could be in baby formulas. If we as adults consume it, it might not be that big a deal as we are larger and don’t eat the same thing day in and day out, but what about infants? This could be what pushes this mess beyond our pets.
I’m really curious to know if the “American supplier” is ChemNutra on this ingredient. And where it originated from.
Comment by Dawn Turner — April 17, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
I don’t know the name of the man from Natural Balance that warned me yesterday, but thank you so much for telling me the truth, thank you for caring about my dogs and my sanity.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
I can’t be 100% sure, but I feel pretty certain that when I went on the Natural Balance website yesterday to double check the ingredients in the Venison & Green Pea dry cat food, rice protein concentrate was NOT listed. I just checked again now and it is. Considering that I had switched my cat to V&GP food because she has a sensitive stomach and I was trying to get food with absolutely no grains or derivatives of grains as possible, I really think that I would have noticed the word “rice” in the ingredients when I initially bought this a couple of weeks ago, and when I double checked yesterday. It isn’t even buried in the ingredients as the website now lists it, it’s like 5th or 6th. I would not have missed this, and I suspect they have updated their website today upon realizing that it was the culprit. This is especially heinous in my opinion in the case of the cat food, because it is touted as being absolutely grain free. I don’t care what the argument is about what gets removed from the rice before becoming rice protein concentrate, in my mind, if it says completely grain free, none of the ingredients are derived from any grains whatsoever.
Comment by cat — April 17, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
Mary Ann - no, they didn’t. Really, what’s up with that?
All US suppliers and products don’t mean anything I suppose. I’m depressed.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
What about Diamond? They make the Natural Balance and use Diamond’s ingredients?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 4:11 pm
A few interesting links about rice protein concentrate:
“Rice protein concentrate has advantages for food makers” (Not sure if Axion is the U.S. company that provided the rice protein concentrate to Natural Balance, but the “produced in China for US firm” part below is interesting.)
http://www.foodnavigator.com/n.....ce-protein
(A 2005 article in a food manufacturing industry journal, begins with “12/6/2005 - UK-based AMC Chemicals says a new rice protein concentrate can offer food makers a non-allergenic alternative to soy and whey that is better absorbed by the body than other vegetable-derived proteins.
The ingredient, produced in China for US firm Axiom Foods, is also likely to be cheaper than many of the proteins on the market.”
http://axiomfoods.com/
Another 2005 link -
http://ift.confex.com/ift/2005....._32362.htm
“OryzateinTM, a novel brown rice protein that may be used as a hypoallergenic replacement for soy, whey, and casein proteins currently used in any food applications
D. J. JANOW, Dept. of Research and Development, Axiom Foods, Inc., 1220 Yale St., Ste. 5, Santa Monica, CA 90404
OryzateinTM (Brown Rice Protein Concentrate) is a new functional protein ingredient that is processed using sprouted brown rice. There is a global abundance of rice. Brown rice is typically produced for its starch content, while the protein is discarded as animal feed. In brown rice, the protein content, distributed between the bran and endosperm layer, constitutes ~7% to 9% of the brown rice grain. OryzateinTM is hypoallergenic, has a sweet-bland taste, is highly digestible by infants and adults, and rich in all essential and non-essential amino acids. Most rice protein concentrates currently available have limited solubility and emulsification properties, poor taste and gritty texture, making it an unsuitable choice for beverages. Its limited availability makes it unreliable for use in a large scale product application. Because of allergens found in Soy protein, and the incomplete amino acid profile of Whey and Caseins, food technologists have been seeking an alternative protein source to these commercially available proteins. One of the many breakthroughs of OryzateinTM has been its solubility in beverages and its emulsification properties. OryzateinTM comes in various protein levels, from 60%-90%, making its protein content comparable to that of Soy, Whey and Casein. OryzateinTM comes in two solubility types, one which stays suspended in liquid without the gritty mouth feel, and one that dissolves in solution with no measurable precipitate. The protein quality of brown rice protein was assessed for absorption ratio(AR), biological value(BV), Protein Efficiency Ratio(PER), Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Scoring(PDCAAS) and net protein utilization(NPU) in growing rats. With values of 98.6% AR, 77% BV, >2.75 PER, 1.00 PDCAAS and 75.92% NPU, OryzateinTM is shown to be the complete protein. The functional capabilities of OryzateinTM are extensive; it offers a hypoallergenic alternative, a higher level of protein quality and absorption, and a better amino acid profile than existing commercial proteins. Because of its diverse use, it can fortify foods, dairy products, bars, protein mixes, and is well suited for use in supplements and nutraceuticals, making OryzateinTM the premiere protein for food ingredients.”
Comment by karen — April 17, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
Just realized I should have used tinyurl for that long url… my apologies.
Comment by karen — April 17, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
The entire pet food industry needs to be investigated, broad testing of all types of pet products, dry, wet, treats, recalled or not, and ultra strict regulations and steep fines put in place. These bastards are making me sick….
Comment by Kiki — April 17, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
I am copying this posted on another thread. Hope that is okay but it was not my original comment:
Natural Balance has updated the ingredients on their web page on both dry foods to now say “Rice Protein Concentrate”. It was NOT there before; I was comparing the ingredients of the Venison/Pea to their other foods last night. I really am disappointed about this Natural Balance recall; I thought I had found a brand I could trust, and my kitty really enjoyed the food. I’m moving to Kumpicat now for dry and still looking for a canned replacement.
Comment by auntie — April 17, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
These pet food companies are not listing the truth on their packages or on their web sites. If we are told lies, we can’t make an informed decision. There needs to be a law about this.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
Anyone happen to have any old cans/bags of pet food around? I am curious to know if someone was to test some old food, would it too contain melamine? I wonder how long it has been in pet food and if it’s in any human food.
Comment by slt — April 17, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
I have some old food - I’m also going to test other food that is not on the recalled list. I bet most, if not all, the pet food has contamination of some sort in it…
Comment by Kiki — April 17, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
I have a bag of Natural Balance V&GP dry cat that has an expiry date of I think June 08, which is considerably earlier than the dates NB seems to be focusing on. Ironically I just bought it about 2 weeks ago, but I guess my pet food store must not sell this too quickly. I would be curious if we were to find anything in slightly older food. If anyone knows where I can get a sample tested, please let me know, whether it’s somewhere I can ship some, or somewhere I can take it in NYC.
Comment by cat — April 17, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
I think UC Davis Veterinary School at Davis Ca is doing the testing - maybe you can google it. It was posted here but I don’t know on which thread.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
RE: New Balance food ingredients list
I just called about the Solid Gold dry Katz-n-Flocken cat food — and…..
SOLID GOLD DRY CAT FOOD **DOES NOT** USE RICE PROTEIN CONCENTRATE - THIS INFO WILL BE POSTED ON SOLID GOLD HEALTH PRODUCTS FOR PETS WEB SITE SHORTLY. THE CS REP KNEW ALL ABOUT THE NEW BALANCE RECALLS. SOLID GOLD RECEIVED A CERTIFIED LETTER FROM DIAMOND THAT THE RICE PROTEIN IS NOT USED IN THE SOLID GOLD DRY FOOD.
Getting back to what I originally was writing about…
Yes, that was my post about the New Balance food not mentioning the rice protein and asking if it were legal for New Balance to put something in that’s not listed.
My quote from yesterday of the ingredients list was highlighted and pasted directly from the New Balance web site.
Feel free to copy it. You may need it. ********************************
Who can you trust?
You know, I didn’t post this yet because I didn’t want to start a “theory,” but a woman in the pet food aisle a few weeks ago when the news broke about the nearly 100 brands of canned/wet food said to me, “You know, wouldn’t it be something if the companies knowingly (or were allowed) kept their dry foods on the shelves knowing that they, too, were contaminated — just so they could still have products to sell?” We both agreed that we knew that the recall was farrrrrrr from over.
Do all of you realize that rice protein powder/concentrate is also used in “health” drinks, especially for body builders who are watching their carbs.
Did I post a link to this yesterday/last night? I was reading that through the processing that enzymes destroy the carbohydrates and the protein remains high. I’ve read so much lately that maybe it was someone else who posted about the human drinks for body builders/carb counters. That was the sales pitch — high but CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP protein!
**********************************
*Quote from Carol PW at 2:59 p.m. April 17,***
any rice protein According to my memory and the petlover comment April 16 @ 3:36 (Monday morning food for thought), no ‘rice protein concentrate’ was listed on the dog venison and rice ingredients on the NB site yesterday. It is right now. And since the protein concentrate is from rice and not wheat, can still say ‘no grain’, and jack up the protein content with melamine. I’m definitely hysterical now (was feeding both cat and dog dry), and I feel free to trash NB at will.
Comment by Carol PW — April 17, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
Comment by petlover — April 17, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
Marry Ann, I’ve got my critters on Hi-Tor because of the kidney problems associated with this nightmare. So far, they are eating it but I’m expecting a kitty revolt very soon.
I’m still trying to cook for them too, Steve. But they are totally rejecting it. Will keep plugging away at it. But I think I’m going to wait a week or two when they are all feeling better. Cleo is finally starting to eat again - her thyroid was out of whack in addition to kidney failure, Maui is being persnickity but she’s never been my good eater, and Dude is still so skinny but loving his canned food. I think at least 2 of them are nibbling at the Chicken Soup cat chow. Good Lord, is that still okay?
My poor Mom just about had heart failure when I told her about the Natural Balance recall. She has 4 dogs eating that stuff :( And she threw away the chow bag (slams head against wall!!) I reminded her to hold onto the packaging of everything she is feeding her animals. Everyone needs to do that. If you transfer chow to a plastic container, just fold up the packaging and tuck it inside the container.
I was so hoping that my feeling that this was the tip of the iceberg was simply paranoia.
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
Testing at UC Davis:
http://cahfs.ucdavis.edu/
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 17, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
Chicken soups website says something very interesting…
Wheat, wheat gluten or rice protein concentrate is not used in any of our canned, dry or treat products.
OMG…
http://chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com/
The next nigthmare begins…
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
Sharon - what is the next nightmare tell me now so I can prepare?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
Rice protein suddenly showing up on the Natural Balance web site is a crock. The Google cache from Apr 12, 2007 13:08:33 GMT for the dry cat food page, for instance, is here: http://tinyurl.com/2875ac
Ingredients: “Peas, Venison Meal, Venison, Canola Oil, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Methionine, Choline Chloride, Inulin, Taurine, Natural Tocopherols, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B).”
That was 5 days ago that Google captured the page. Those of you who don’t remember seeing rice in the ingredients are NOT imagining it.
Comment by CatLady — April 17, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
Ok, I see that NB has updated their ingredient listing on the dry cat food (wondering about the canned V/P, though). I don’t quite get what rice protein concentrate was doing in a venison and pea allergy food, though.
I think we all need to get ready for the possibility that the rice protein concentrate issue (if that is, in fact, the problem) is going to hit a few of the holsitic/natural brands; right now, I’m doing some ingredient research for my next shelter food pull-and-shuffle (pretty soon those poor citters won’t have ANY food left, please donate to your local shelters), and it’s tracking differently than the Menu recall did.
Comment by Gudewife — April 17, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
T.W. Enterprises Issues Nationwide Recall of Dog Chews Due to Salmonella Contamination
Contact:
T.W. Enterprises
(360) 366-0408
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Ferndale, WA — April 16, 2007 — T.W. Enterprises of Ferndale, WA today alerted consumers that it is recalling certain dog chews it markets because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. Samples tested by FDA of the product indicate that the dog chew products manufactured by T.W. Enterprises may be contaminated. People handling these treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the chews or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Salmonella can potentially be transferred to people handling these pet treats, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Well animals can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
The following is a list of the recalled products (Product Name/ A.B. Dog Chew - Size / UPC):
A.B. Small Chew, 3 - 4 inch / 833234001105
A. B. Puppy Chew, 4 - 6 inch / 83323401112
A.B. Dog Chew Medium, 6 inch / 833234001051
A.B. Dog Chew Large, 10 inch / 833234001068
A. B. Dog Chew XL, 13 inch / 833234001075
A. B. Dog Chew Mega, 16 inch / 833234001082
A. B. Dog Chew Jumbo, 26 inch / 833234001099
T.W. Enterprises Inc. manufactured these dog chews and distributed them throughout the United States under its name. The affected products were distributed before March 22, 2007 to retail locations and are non-coded, i.e. they have no batch code or other identifying marks. T.W. Enterprises has made contact with all of its consignees and has been informed the affected product has been pulled from store shelves.
T.W. Enterprises has informed FDA of its action and is fully cooperating with the agency. The firm, FDA and other authorities are actively investigating this matter to determine the source of this problem, and will take any additional steps necessary to protect the public health. No reports of illness to date in connection with this problem.
Consumers who have the non-coded pet chews should not feed them to their pets, but should dispose of them in a safe manner (e.g., in a securely covered trash receptacle). Anyone who is experiencing the symptoms of Salmonella infection after having handled one of these pet products should seek medical attention, and report their use of the product and illness to the nearest FDA office.
People should thoroughly wash their hands after handling any pet treat – especially those made from animal protein such as meat — to help prevent infection. People may risk bacterial infection not only by handling the chews, but by contact with pets or surfaces exposed to the chews, so it is important that they thoroughly wash their hands with hot water and soap.
Since elderly people, young children, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk from exposure they should avoid handling these products.
Consumers with questions may contact T.W. Enterprises at 1-360-366-0408.
####
FDA’s Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts Page: http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html
Comment by Meghan — April 17, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
Oh Linda - I was so hoping the guy you talked to was wrong. So, what can this be besides dishonesty by NB? Not only is rice protein not on the cat food label, but as I mentioned they specifically state that the product doesn’t contain rice: Does not contain Corn, Soy, Wheat, Rice, Eggs, Dairy Products or Sunflower Oil.
So, what can they argue? Can’t argue substitution when they specifically state it isn’t there. What about incidental contact on the line (I just ate a pack of cookies that said may have come in contact with nuts - again my opinion is ‘no’ when they specifically state it isn’t there.
And that no Felidea I’ve been feeding to my cats for three days contains brown rice - should I be worried? One of the three cats is a bit tentative about it.
Don’t know what to think now. Sure does strike fear in my mind.
Comment by Jenny — April 17, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
What about corn gluten - corn gluten is used in lots of things - why not tell us the entire truth you bunch of pet food gutless liars out there.
I’m not nice - true - but killing are pets is so much worse.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
CatLady - and I copied from their web page yesterday - and no rice. And the comment I posted above saying ‘no rice’ is a claim on their web page.
Comment by Jenny — April 17, 2007 @ 4:39 pm
Linda,
“Wheat, wheat gluten, and rice protein concentrate”
We have all been focusing on wheat gluten. There are two items in that warning that we knew nothing about. I would take this as a clear indication that something else is going on.
I even asked my husband if I was reading it right cause maybe I was being a drama queen. He said it looked that way to him, bless his level-headed soul :(
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 4:39 pm
GIVE THANKS TO JULIE SCHMIT OF USA TODAY! We really should email her to thank her for her regular reporting on the pet food recall issue. She is GOOD and can get the news FAST! There is also another female reporter (I don’t recall the name now.) who deserves some credit as well.
I wonder if Julie could ask a vet (who could remain anonymous) if she could log into some of the veterinary discussion boards to see what’s really going on. (The vet discussion boards I’ve gone to all require membership or an account number, etc.)
Thank you, Julie Schmit. Keep the articles coming!
Comment by petlover — April 17, 2007 @ 4:40 pm
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
If it gets to bad go to the store and buy and roast a whole chicken, carve it into small bite sized pieces, mush it a little with water and feed them that for a few days. Rarely have I seen a cat who will refuse it. (Unless they are just to ill to eat.) This fiasco unfortuantely is still a huge MESS.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 4:40 pm
Comment by slt — April 17, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
I have the Pink Bag Natural Balance with about a cup left from about a month ago, I will be testing that along with the chicken broth (College Inn aka Heinze aka Del Monte) and anything else I find that could be tainted. Don’t think I’ll wait on the FDA to tell me what’s in pet/people food and how long it’s been there . . . .
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
It must be in the sweet pea form of concentrate.
They are adding something to up the protein count that simply must be it.
I wanted to be wrong too - I wanted to have misdialed the number and kept thinking about what the man said.
I think he picked up the phone by mistake, because he called me an endearing name, like he thought I was someone else and then he listened to me. I don’t believe he was in customer service but I don’t know anything else. Except for it scared me so much.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
Do you notice also that now the president of NB says that Diamond makes the food for Natural Balance. No more BS co-packaging and all that nonsense. Now that there is a problem Diamond makes the food. When they wanted us to believe that they made the food they threw this co-packaging nonsense at us.
I don’t know if this is pertinent to suppliers but I was reading on a legal food poisoning blog, which incidnetly reads much like this blog in terms of the broken system but as to our human food, that there are vegetable farmer libel laws enacted in 13 states that allows a farmer to sue over false statements regarding their products.
http://tinyurl.com/2qtz4t
Scroll down to California Bill etc. It is the third entry. Maybe that is why there is such silence on where the product came from until they are sure. They are afraid of being sued. They don’t care that they are killing out pets just that the farmers may sue them.
Take a look around the site I posted. It reports how thousands of people reported illness from Peter Pan, most not CDC confirmed ..sound familiar. If they don’t confirm the number, it doesn’t rise.
I especially liked this disturbing quote:
“Benjamin England, a former FDA lawyer who works with foreign exporters, was quoted as saying, “There hasn’t been a major food-borne illness outbreak from imports for several years, so it’s off the radar. But everybody is realizing they cannot ignore this elephant forever.”
Maybe now that the beautiful canaries in the coal mine are dead, dying and/or ill someone will finally see the elephant in the room.
And how do we know that there isn’t this protein in other foods that use rice and it just isn’t listed yet because they just added it.
This is just so depressing.
Comment by Garyn — April 17, 2007 @ 4:42 pm
Thinking constructively through my rage… this crap about their having six months to change their packaging pretty much lets these companies put whatever they want in. They can change it 5 months and 29 days later and stay within the guidelines, after all.
Maybe the answer is that these companies be required to put everything in there. If they want to swap grains… fine. Then list them. Shampoos and other things list ingredients as “(contains one or more of the following:)”. I should know because it’s usually one or more of the optional ingredients that sets off my skin allergies, and it took me a long time to figure out why I could sometimes use a product and other times not. Anyhow, if they are required to name EVERYTHING that goes in, even if they may not have it in this batch, then we consumers can make educated decisions about what we are feeding our pets. That’s all I’m asking… give me the information to make a decision. Just stop lying to me.
That bag of NB I bought last week is sitting in the only closet I have that the cats can’t get into, to be sure that they don’t decide they are hungry one day and tear into it before I can return it.
Comment by CatLady — April 17, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
I feel that they were using the VT shooting as a “smoke screen” when they released this info, maybe hoping (and knowing) that it is not going to make headline news.
They need to name that company where they got the stuff from. I bet they’re using China as a scapegoat. I’m not saying that China’s conditions aren’t deplorable, but hey, it’d be easy to blame it on China once they released those disgusting photos of the wheat gluten/storage facility.
A couple real good private detectives would come in handy right about now.
Comment by Jamie — April 17, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
I trust nothing now. I couldn’t lose my dogs. I wouldn’t survive if they all died on me. My little sweet Mercy, and my Big Boy Moses, and my sweet Snoopy and my Tulip the Red Bone coonhound. What would life be like without them - I can’t bear the thought.
Linda MS.
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
http://www.howl911.com/ 12/6/2005 - UK-based AMC Chemicals says a new rice protein concentrate can offer food makers a non-allergenic alternative to soy and whey that is better absorbed by the body than other vegetable-derived proteins.
The ingredient, produced in China for US firm Axiom Foods, is also likely to be cheaper than many of the proteins on the market.
“The price range on this product is much less than soy and whey, … said David Janow, president of Axiom Foods.
It is said to be the only wholegrain rice protein on the market, with the entire brown rice kernel being used in the processing. The process uses natural enzymes that digest the carbohydrate portion and leave the protein, with no traces of additives or chemicals.
“It is also gluten-free, sulphite and sulphate-free,” added Janow. “
Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 17, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 17, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
Since when did “THEY” decide Americans should be fed untested and unproven chemical and extract substitutes instead of real food because it’s cheap and maximizes profits.
Why do I keep getting and eerie feeling we are being experimented on? If not worse.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
These protein concentrates have melamine in them - or is it a problem with the protein being so concentrated that creates some type of chemical reaction?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
I checked the current version of the Natural Balance website against an archived version via a Wayback Machine search. The most recent version available from Wayback was dated April 24, 2006.
From the CURRENT version of the webpage, here is the ingredient list for the Venison & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food:
Venison, Brown Rice, Ground Rice, Rice Bran, Venison Meal, Rice Protein Concentrate, Peas, Canola Oil, Tomato Pomace, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Methionine, Inulin, Taurine, Natural Tocopherols, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B).
And here is the ingredient list for the same product from the April 24, 2006 archived version of the webpage:
Venison, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Rice Flour, Venison Meal, Rice Bran, Canola Oil (preserved With Mixed Tocopherols And Citric Acid), Natural Flavor, Flaxseed Oil, Kelp Meal, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Choline Chloride, L-lysine, Dl-methionine, Dicalcium Phosphate, Dried Parsley, Rosemary Extract, Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Manganese Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9).
Likewise, from the CURRENT webpage, here are the ingredients for the Venison & Green Pea Dry Cat Food:
Peas, Venison, Venison Meal, Rice Protein Concentrate, Canola Oil, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Methionine, Choline Chloride, Inulin, Taurine, Natural Tocopherols, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B).
And here are the ingredients for the same product on the April 24, 2006 webpage:
Venison, Whole Dried Green Peas, Venison Meal, Canola Oil, Venison Liver, Natural Flavor, Phosphoric Acid, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Kelp, DL Methionine, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Lysine, Rosemary Extract, Dried Parsley, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin C Supplement (Ascorbic Acid), Yucca Schidigera, Folic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Ethylene Dihydriodide, Sodium Selenite.
Looks like both formulas have changed pretty substantially, and not just from the inclusion of the rice protein concentrate.
Comment by cerridwen — April 17, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
I think that Axiom Foods could very well be the company that NB won’t name.
From http://www.npicenter.com/Listi.....nyId=24200
“We are the largest producers of Whole Grain Brown Rice Protein Concentrates and Isolates (ORYXATEINS) in the world today. We produce all rice based ingredients, including Whole Grain Brown Rice Syrup Solids (ORYZA), and Whole Grain Brown Rice Syrups (clear) (ORYZOSE). Our protein source is from the whole grain and we only use Non-GMO rice, kosher certified, organic compliant, and gluten free. Through patent pending technology, we can offer a complete suspendable, non-gritty bland tasting protein source to your products which can be used in nutritional fortifications, powdered drink mixes, smoothies, bars and anywhere soy or whey is being use at an economical cost savings.”
Comment by CatLady — April 17, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
David Goldstein at Huffington Post said an industry insider told him there was about to be a recall of rice gluten and corn gluten.
FYI, called Canidae and they don’t use rice protein.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
The pet food manufactures could be adding it themselves - what if it has nothing whatsoever to do with China.
How terrible to not name their source - morally reprehensible.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 5:00 pm
linda ms, they are eating it now,i put a little bit of chicken broth over the kibbles and they chowed it down.
Comment by Marry Ann — April 17, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
Linda MS
“David - I think you are right. An American company. Maybe it was added here in the U.S.A.”
That wasn’t my point Linda… the unnamed “American company” could be an *importer*, as ChemNutra (an American company) is.
Comment by David — April 17, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
I knew it. I just knew it. Corn Gluten and who in heavens name knows what else.
Our poor pets. And poor us. The stress of this is almost too much to take. I worry for not just my pets but for others too, for my neighbors and friends.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 5:02 pm
The bottom line is this has become mad science there is no way these artificially tweaked ingredients and additives can be tested for mid to long term and even probably short term health problems.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 5:02 pm
David, I knew what you meant, and I believe added here in the U.S. too.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 5:03 pm
Sorry, should have said “products containing tainted rice and corn gluten” were going to be recalled.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Natural Balance lied, Diamond lied, the sky is blue and water is wet.
Take back the food, file criminal fraud charges, and then get ready for the REAL storm to break.
While we have been looking for wheat gluten are you telling me that the FDA had NO idea that the rice was “contaminated”? NOT A CLUE.
Rice is in a LOT of food.
Paging Senator Durbin!
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 17, 2007 @ 5:07 pm
Watch, while it gets worse!
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
Mary Ann - good for kitties. Just keep them safe and happy!
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
Looks like they did sloppy editing on the cat food - above the ingredient list it still clearly says: Does not contain Corn, Soy, Wheat, Rice, Eggs, Dairy Products or Sunflower Oil.
Comment by Jenny — April 17, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
Eva - thanks for the note on Canidea - I assume the same is true for felidea since they are the same company?
Comment by Jenny — April 17, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
But Sweet Pea right Jenny? This protein junk can be added to anything.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
Look at POSILAC bovine somatotropin (bST), by Monsanto. A growth hormone that monsanto claims safely enhances milk production and helps dairy producers improve the efficiency of their operations.
The sale of Posilac is illegal in virtually every developed country with the exception of the United States. In the United States, the use of rbST has been approved by the FDA.
In Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, rbST is not approved for use.
The European Union declared the use of rbST as safe in 1990, but in 1993, a moratorium was placed on its sale by all 25 member nations.
Canada’s health board, Health Canada, refused to approve rBGH for use on Canadian dairies, citing concerns over animal health. The study they had commissioned, however, found “no biologically plausible reason for concern about human safety if rbST were to be approved for sale in Canada. The only exception to this statement is (possible hypersensitivity).”[24]
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
So I guess the question is, why has the United States Government stopped giving a sh*t about it’s own people? Have we gone that low?
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
Linda - peas are still there. And the note that it contains no rice. BUT the ingredient list now includes Rice Protein Concentrate as the 4th ingredient. Just added TODAY!!
Talk about dishonest.
Comment by Jenny — April 17, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
Linda MS,
I’m wondering if the “rice protein” was manufactured here, from rice bought elsewhere…China anyone?
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
yes Steve, we may have.
and this from an optimist! OY!
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
Oh, I didn’t see that. Sorry. They all are a bunch of lying opportunists and I bet Dick Van Patten is upset over this too!
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
hi everyone
just read about recall for natural balance, and of course its the food I decided to try after having dumped the nutro. I just looked at the canned CAT food, and the fish formula,turkey,salmon and tuna/shrimp contain RICE FLOUR!! So does Averderm, breeders choice..is rice flour same as rice gluten or what? This is getting crazy, and I am getting so pissed. If you go to PetFoodDirect.com or NationalPetPharmacy.com they have lots of food and they list all the ingredients…I just checked my labels, and InnovaEVO dry cat has NO grains, high meat content, my cats like it, all 6 of them. By Nature Oraganics canned, organic, all natural and no grains. both places deliver, it does take about 7-10 days, but at least you can check all ingredients. There is Timberwolf, at NationalPetPharmacy.com it supposedly is closest thing to feeding your pet in the wild. hope this helps a little, if anyone knows what RICE flour means would appreciate help. thanks
Comment by joyce — April 17, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Oh, maybe you are right Eva. I’m gonna puke!
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
Think lower, Steve.
Did they EVER care?
Was it always a lie?
We are just unrequited patriots and our votes don’t count and never did.
We exist to be lied to, provide money for the “elected” and they wish we would do it more quietly.
I think I woke up in North Korea this morning, I don’t much like it.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 17, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
No kidding. Every day and in every way it seems the dam has broken and ordinary people are waking up to the fact that they have awoken into a nightmare where everything they thought and held dear about their government/nation was based on bullsh*t. Please excuse my choice of words. I know it’s never been perfect but this has been a real serious wake up call for me. Something has gone seriously wrong.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
Jenny,
Yeah, you know I actually thought about the fact that I’ve only been talking to them about the dog food. Pretty thoughtless of me really, given all the cat parents on this site.
I spoke with the company rep AT LENGTH and she assured me that their COMPANY doesn’t use “rice protein”—said it (and wheat protein) were added to pet foods as a cheap protein source.
Give them a call, they don’t mind being grilled…if her reaction to my call was any indication.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
I see it now - what a bunch of lying fools they are. Well they can all just go broke. I’m returning all four bags of Duck and Sweet Potato tomorrow - who knows what’s in it.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
I checked the Wellness brand ingredients; the cat foods do not “seem” to include any rice proteins, but at least 2 of the dog foods (venison formulas for allergies)contain “brown rice proteins”. Just an fyi if anyone is feeding their dogs this food. I had hoped to move to Wellness…but they will not tell me where the dry food is manufactured (they said it’s not menu foods but “confidential”) and the non-grain free canned cat food is made by menu.
Comment by auntie — April 17, 2007 @ 5:24 pm
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 17, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
Yes there has always been exploitation but apparently the true nature of the beast is rearing it’s ugly head now. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Country dearly but I am beginning feel like a man without a Country.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 5:24 pm
Steve,
I didn’t want to believe the worst. But in truth, I blame our U.S. companies - they knew what they were doing and it bit them in the fanny but in the process killed our beloved pets and that is worse than wrong - it is criminal.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 5:25 pm
Linda MS,
You were probably kidding about puking, but I honestly feel like I might. Brain’s just spinning its wheels right now…and that’s bad for me. I tend to “intellectualize” traumatic things, you know. Research compulsively, get more information, some illusion of positive action/measure of control.
When I called Canidae, my voice was shaking. Combination of mounting rage, fear and fighting back tears. I’m not a crier, so I’m now dealing with the immediate emotions and, additionally, my reactions to my emotions. If that makes any sense.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 5:29 pm
COMPANIES CHANGING DRY FOOD FORMULAS. CHECK.
I’M SEEING THE WORDS “POTATO PROTEIN” IN SOLID GOLD. I’M NOT SAYING THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH POTATO PROTEIN OR WITH SOLID GOLD. My ears just perked up with the words “potato protein,” especially after New Balance just recalled an item with RICE PROTEIN.
It looks as if more than one brand has changed its dry food formulas, and apparently Natural Balance has had a recall of a product due to rice protein. Was there recently a trade show or trade journal promoting all of these PROTEIN this and PROTEIN that products?
I’m on the Solid Gold site (Solid Gold Health Products for Pets - company name), and they have a page, titled “News and Announcements,” telling about dry food formula changes.
I’m seeing that word “PROTEIN” again, in this case, POTATO PROTEIN in the BARKING AT THE MOON formula.
I’m not saying there is anything wrong with POTATO PROTEIN (or with Solid Gold products for that matter), which they state is sourced *IN* Europe, but I cringe when I see the word “protein” now. I need to know about these formula changes because I feed my cat one of their dry products.
STICK WITH ME. I NEED YOUR OPINION ON THIS:
I’m just wondering about the pronoun usage in these two sentences. Tell me how you read each one, as in -where does each one of the two ingredients definitely come from?- from the “News and Announcements” page under the section titled, “Ingredient Sourcing”:
The lamb meal used in our dry foods is sourced *FROM* New Zealand, which produces some of the cleanest meat in the world. The potato protein used in Barking at the Moon is sourced *IN* Europe. [Capital letters/ asterisks are mine for emphasis.]
In short, from the News and Announcements page:
***potato protein*** used in Barking at the Moon is sourced in Europe.
New Barking at the Moon Ingredients:
Salmon Meal, Beef, Potatoes, ***Potato Protein***, Canola Oil, Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil (Source of DHA), Choline Chloride, Taurine, Dried Chicory Root, Parsley Flakes, Pumpkin Meal, Almond Oil, Sesame Oil, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Thyme, Blueberries, Cranberries, Carrots, Broccoli, Vitamins and Minerals
**************END OF INGREDIENTS LIST********
I just wonder why, if potatoes are in the food, why potato protein is added? …
Comment by petlover — April 17, 2007 @ 5:30 pm
Here is a press release from Natural Balance on the recall. I’m new to this, I hope I post the url correctly.
Comment by auntie — April 17, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
So, everyone is editing their ingredient lists now. Get to find out who lies and who doesn’t. For NB, they can’t even use a 6 month rule when they specifically say the ingredient isn’t there.
Comment by Jenny — April 17, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
woops, the link went to ‘auntie’ sorry.
Comment by auntie — April 17, 2007 @ 5:37 pm
Get those changing web pages saved! Do it now, this is proof and we cannot afford to have it vanish.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 17, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
Thanks Eva!
Comment by Jenny — April 17, 2007 @ 5:42 pm
NOW SOMEBODY TELL ME. WHY ISN’T IAMS SAVORY GRAVY NOT ON THE SHELVES AT THE STORES? IT’S NOT ON IAMS RECALL LIST? IS THERE A STORE RECALL LIST THAT THE STORES GET AND WE DON’T? THE STORES ARE NOT STOCKING THE IAMS SAVORY GRAVY IN A BOTTLE? WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?
Comment by Georgeann Heckman — April 17, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 5:25 pm
Corporations are running amuck. Out of control.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
Cat - I have AOL on my home computer and it will only take me to the NB cached site. Last night I was cursing & complaining because I couldn’t see their recall notice on their home page (still can’t). Anyone else having this problem? Anyway, that means I’m seeing the original page from a few days ago that lists the ingredients in the Venison and Green Pea Dry Formula for cats. The one I’m reading has NO Rice Protein Concentrate in the ingredients. Here’s the ingredients list that I just copied from their web page:
INGREDIENT LISTING
Venison, Venison Broth, Venison Liver, Pea Flour, Venison Meal, Salmon Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Kelp, Flaxseed, Guar Gum, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Methionine, Taurine, Parsley, Dried Cranberries, Yucca Schidigera, Sodium Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate,Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate,Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12.
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein 9.0% minimum
Crude Fat 5.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 1.0% maximum
Moisture 78.0% maximum
Magnesium 0.025% maximum
Taurine 0.05% minimum
I can’t find Rice Protein Concentrate anywhere in this ingredient list. Could this be a matter of NB not changing labels after a change in ingredients? If so, they didn’t change the ingredients list on their website either. IMO, not changing labels or putting the changes on their website is very misleading (and dishonest).
Comment by Teresa — April 17, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
Yeah, just went to Natural Balance website to look at their recall “update”. Love how kidney “problems” has morphed into kidney “failure”. JEEZ!!!
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
Thanks to the person who posted about Canidae. I tried calling them but got voice mail and they haven’t called back.
I also called Natura about Innova. I asked if their products contain rice protein concentrate under a different name, and two people said they didn’t know. But the second person did tell me that all of their ingredients are tested for melamine and other things before putting them into the food and that none of their ingredients have tested positive for melamine.
Comment by Sandy — April 17, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
Comment by petlover — April 17, 2007 @ 5:30 pm
”***potato protein*** used in Barking at the Moon is sourced in Europe.”
Probably Dutch, from Holland
Comment by Stefania — April 17, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
Comment by Teresa — April 17, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
Everyone has problems your not alone. Even just reading an ingredient label the first thing I think is, “did these ingredients and additives and supplements come from China?”
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 5:54 pm
Ok. I want to donate food to local shelters and have NO idea what is “safe” anymore. Can someone post something recommended here for me? I am sure others are wondering the same.
Comment by Shelli — April 17, 2007 @ 5:54 pm
Teresa,
Surely 9.0% protein can’t be right. For CATS!?!!
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 5:54 pm
petlover: There really isn’t anything one can say. You have to get the company to answr those questions. The first question you need to ask is if they EVER change the formula and don’t change the label. That goes for everyone, the label doesn’t reflect what’s in the bag. Ask your chosen company questions. If you don’t like the answers you’re getting from the person on the phone ask to speak to their boss. Demand they stop changing forumla without changing the label. Oh, and go buy a book on making your own pet food.
I posted part of this on another thread - to do with South Africa’s recall:
http://www.royalcanin.us/artic.....luten.html
Today, corn gluten represents an interesting alternative choice among the different protein sources. Because of the actual difficulties encountered on the protein market, incorporation of vegetable proteins becomes more and more necessary. Among them, corn gluten has real qualities that complete those of animal proteins: it supplies valuable proteins, without ash or fiber in excess that would depreciate the digestibility.
There you have it - the “difficulties encountered on the protein market”. Either they’re talking BSE or money or both.
A protein from a grain/vegetable is still a protein from a grain/vegetable. The only reason it’s in there is to increase the protein number on the bag.
And by the way the Royal Canin food that was pulled first was Vet’s Choice Large Puppy Dry, which has NO wheat or rice gluten but does have corn gluten. I don’t think I ever found out what was in the first recall in South AFrica of Woolworth branded food. I just remember they had to test it twice to find antifreeze. Now I’m wondering if it wasn’t melamine. I hope they’ll go back and test it. So stay tuned for the “next” shoe to drop, the Royal Canin food was shipped to Germany for testing. My guess is they’ll find melamine. Unless they’re dragging their feet, it should be out by the end of the week.
Comment by CathyA — April 17, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
Cathy,
Royal Canin/Vets Choice also has traces of ethylene glycol.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
What in the hell is ethylene glycol doing in pet food? Thats outrageous.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
Cathy,
Nevermind, just realized it’s canned and mostly moisture. Protein’s over 40% of what’s left.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
Eva,
This is worst than a nightmare. I can’t explain it but you feel it too!
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
Steve,
Good question! Another good question: why was AquaNutro (the last SA food to kill pets with EG) allowed to announce that ethylene glycol was found in their food with having to explain which ingredient had the EG, who their local supplier was and (more importantly) who the original “european” supplier was.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
Re: Comment by Sandy
Natura doesn’t know if their product contains rice protein concentrate??????????? Did they test for melamine in December and January and February and March??? The answer I am sure is no.
And I just looked and Fancy Feast has soy protein concentrate.
I think I am going to find out very soon what killed my cat.
%^$&*()) &^%$*( )(*&^%
Comment by Garyn — April 17, 2007 @ 6:07 pm
Crap! I went to look for my dog’s food the other day and everyone was sold out. I almost bought Natural Balance, but when I saw Solid Gold’s Barking at the Moon, it seemed better, so I bought a small bag of it to hold us over until I could get his other food shipped in. It contains “potato protein”. I don’t trust any of these “proteins” right now.
Comment by Sandy — April 17, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
Rice protein powder must be the up and coming thing…genetically-modified rice is going to be grown in Kansas, and the rice will be made into a powder to be added to “pharmaceutical” products:
“Scientists will grind the rice and extract a pharmaceutical protein that will be packaged as powder to be added to fluids.”
http://tinyurl.com/36cqja
Comment by Valerie — April 17, 2007 @ 6:12 pm
Teresa: Maybe deleting your cookies would help. Here’s the page the recall is listed on:
http://www.naturalbalanceinc.c.....lease.html
Comment by Kat — April 17, 2007 @ 6:12 pm
PRINT OFF THE INGREDIENTS LISTS OF FOODS YOU FEED YOUR PETS. NOW!
Apparently, the dry food formula change recalls are about to happen, and some companies are changing their ingredients lists.
Take a few minutes, if you already haven’t saved the pages, and print out what’s supposed to be in the foods you feed your pets.
BTW, I’m feeding Solid Gold now, but I noticed on their website they said they DON’T use Menu Foods for any products. True.
I also NOTICED WHAT THEY DIDN’T SAY: They never mentioned that they use DIAMOND for processing their dry foods because of Diamond’s tainted reputation over the amofloxin (fungus) tainted food (2005?)that killed a lot of dogs. The people who are in charge of public relations/press releases who write this information for the web master to put on the site are sharp and know how to distance themselves from anything negative. It’s called a “Teflon personality” — every thing slides off of them and on to someone else!
START PRINTING! This is probably the beginning of the dry food recalls!
Thank you for the info about IAMS SAVORY SAUCE in the bottle not being on store shelves, although it’s not on the recall list. I just checked yesterday to see if it was on recall, and it was not there. I just threw out a bottle that I’m retrieving right now.
Comment by petlover — April 17, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
Eva — That’s what it says. Crude Protein Minimum 9.0%. Way, way too low for cats.
Comment by Teresa — April 17, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
Apparently torture is the only method that will get an answer from these guys in the Pet Food Industry at this point.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
Can someone go to the NB website and check the ingredients in the canned Ultra Formula, Tuna & Shrimp and Chicken & Liver Pate cat foods? Because I can only get the cached site, I can’t check to see if the company has added Rice Protein to the ingredients list on their website. I’ve been feeding those foods to my cats and I’m worried sick. The Ultra Formula and Tuna & Shrimp should only have brown rice flour and the Chicken & Liver Pate is supposed to be grainless. Thank you!
Comment by Teresa — April 17, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
go to gmcontaminationregister.org for some interesting reading about rice…coincidence?…I’m not a chemist or biologist just a lowly social worker so what would I know…but it’s interesting reading just the same.
Comment by Phyllis — April 17, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
Re: Comment by Garyn
Yeah, I couldn’t believe that they didn’t know if it might be in their product under a different name or not. They didn’t say whether they tested for melamine prior to the recall or if the testing has only been since the recall. I wish I had remembered to ask.
Comment by Sandy — April 17, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
Steve,
You’ll also be delighted to learn (as was I) that South Africa has it’s very own Pet Food Institute. Not surprisingly, AquaNutro is on the Board.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
Canadian author Ann N. Martin, who researched the pet food industry for five years, called Natural Balance’s recall “very upsetting.”
In earlier interviews with ConsumerAffairs.com, Martin said Natural Balance is one of the few pet foods on the market made with “human grade” ingredients.
“These are ingredients that have been inspected and passed for human consumption,” says Martin, author of “Food Pets Die For … Shocking Facts About Pet Food,” and “Protect Your Pets … More Shocking Facts.” Martin says she feeds her dog Natural Balance Premium food when she boards him at the kennel.
When ConsumerAffairs.com contacted Martin late Monday night about Natural Balance’s recall, she said: “I had heard about this yesterday morning and can’t figure out what the heck is going on. If there is something wrong with this food, and it is one of the top foods on the market, I will just forget telling people what foods they should feed their pets. This is very upsetting. “
http://www.consumeraffairs.com.....all28.html
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
Menu Foods just updated their list — Natural Life canned:
http://tinyurl.com/yrj9lv
Comment by Kat — April 17, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
there is nada in the news about this at all. people are feeding their poor pets this.
Comment by Marry Ann — April 17, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
ULTRA PREMIUM CANNED CAT FOOD..
Ult Cat CannedNatural Balance® Ultra-Premium Canned Cat Food is the finest cat food in America today, now in vibrant new can labels, in 6 oz. and NEW 3 oz. cans! 5 NEW Varieties Just Added:
• Chicken & Liver Paté Formula
• Salmon Formula
• Tuna with Shrimp Formula
• Indoor Cat Formula with Parsley & Yucca Schidigera
• Venison & Green Pea Allergy Formula
COMPLETE AND BALANCED FOR ALL BREEDS AND LIFE STAGES.
Product Information Guaranteed Analysis
Feeding Guidelines for Kittens Feeding Guidelines for Cats
INGREDIENTS PANELS:
NEW! Venison & Green Pea NEW! Chicken & Liver Paté
NEW! Tuna with Shrimp NEW! Indoor Cat Formula
NEW! Salmon Formula Turkey and Giblet
Ultra Formula Ocean Fish Formula
Natural Balance® Ultra Premium Cat Canned Food comes in 6 oz. and NEW! 3 oz.cans
PRODUCT INFORMATION
KittenNATURAL BALANCE®: THE FOOD FOR A LIFETIME! SM
Natural Balance® Canned Cat Food is a complete and balanced premium cat food, with meat from USDA approved plants and no by-products. Take a look at our EIGHT varieties: NEW! Chicken & Liver Paté Formula, Salmon Formula, and Tuna with Shrimp Formula - these three delicious new flavors are all made with the same quality and palatability you can count on with Natural Balance® Pet Foods! 3 oz. SizeOur Indoor Cat Formula (formerly Hairball Management) has added oat bran, parsley, and yucca schidigera to aid digestive health for indoor cats. And don’t forget our proven classics: Ultra Formula is a combination of chicken, duck, and salmon, and we also have Turkey and Giblets and Ocean Fish, popular flavors that cats love! All formulas contain dried cranberries as well, which is great for maintaining a healthy urinary tract. And now, all eight Natural Balance® Canned Cat Formulas come in a convenient 3 oz. size!
VenisonOur Allergy Line of Canned food: NEW! Venison & Green Pea Formula canned food has been formulated to complement our Venison & Green Pea Formula Dry Food, so cats with allergies can now have a complete allergen-free diet.
All Natural Balance pet foods have been developed by veterinarians and animal nutritionists. How is Natural Balance® good for All Life Stages? Click HERE.
SUGGESTED DAILY FEEDING GUIDE FOR KITTENS
Feeding Kittens Kittens should be fed free choice, or 3 times a day as much as they want, to promote healthy growth and adequate weight gain. Food intake requirement may vary depending on age, activity, and environment, and should be adjusted accordingly.
We recommend that you do not add vitamins, minerals or any other supplements, except upon the advice of a veterinarian. The maintenance of proper body weight is most important for your cat’s health. Consult your veterinarian for specific weight recommendations for your cat. Remember, fresh clean water should be available at all times!
FEEDING GUIDELINES (Based on a 6 oz. Can)
Feeding CatsAdult Cats: Feed One 6 oz. Can (or Two 3 oz. Cans) Daily per 8 lbs. body weight.
Pregnant Queens: Feed 1.25 Can (or 2.5 - 3 oz. Cans) Daily per 8 lbs. body weight.
Lactating Queens: Feed 1.25 Can (or 2.5 - 3 oz. Cans) Daily per 8 lbs. body weight.
Older Cats: A reduction in food intake is recommended for less active and older cats.
Note: Feeding amounts are intended as guidelines only. The food intake should be adjusted according to the age, weight and activity of your cat. It is important for your cat’s health to maintain a proper body weight. Consult a veterinarian for specific weight recommendations.
FEEDING MANAGEMENT
Cat• Serve at room temperature.
• Any unused portion should be covered and refrigerated.
• Fresh water should be available at all times.
When switching your cat’s diet, the change should be made gradually, by replacing the current food with increasing portions of Natural Balance® Ultra Premium Canned Cat Food. The change should be completed after 3 to 5 days.The food intake should be adjusted according to the age, weight and activity of your cat. It is important for your cat’s health to maintain a proper body weight. Consult a veterinarian for specific weight recommendations.
VENISON & GREEN PEA FORMULA
VenisonVenison, Venison Broth, Venison Liver, Pea Flour, Venison Meal, Salmon Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Kelp, Flaxseed, Guar Gum, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Methionine, Taurine, Parsley, Dried Cranberries, Yucca Schidigera, Sodium Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate,Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate,Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
CHICKEN & LIVER Paté FORMULA
ChickenChicken, Poultry Liver, Chicken Broth, Carrots, Eggs, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Lecithin, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Guar Gum, Taurine, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
TUNA WITH SHRIMP FORMULA
TunaTuna, Whitefish, Fish Broth, Poultry Liver, Brown Rice Flour, Carrots, Shrimp, Eggs, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Lecithin, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Guar Gum, Taurine, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
SALMON FORMULA
SalmonSalmon, Whitefish, Fish Broth, Poultry Liver, Brown Rice Flour, Carrots, Eggs, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Lecithin, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Guar Gum, Taurine, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
TURKEY & GIBLETS FORMULA
TurkeyTurkey, Turkey Broth, Chicken Liver, Poultry Giblets, Carrots, Brown Rice Flour, Fish Meal, Lecithin, Dried Cranberries, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
ULTRA FORMULA
UltraChicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Duck, Salmon, Carrots, Brown Rice Flour, Fish Meal, Lecithin, Dried Cranberries, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
OCEAN FISH FORMULA
Ocean FishOcean Fish, Fish Broth, Turkey, Chicken Liver, Brown Rice Flour, Carrots, Fish Meal, Lecithin, Dried Cranberries, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
INDOOR CAT FORMULA (FORMERLY HAIRBALL MANAGEMENT)
IndoorChicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Ocean Fish, Oat Bran, Brown Rice Flour, Lecithin, Dried Cranberries, Parsley, Dicalcium Phosphate, Yucca Schidigera,Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
ULTRA, OCEAN FISH, AND TURKEY & GIBLETS
Crude Protein 9.0% minimum
Crude Fat 5.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 1.0% maximum
Moisture 78% maximum
Taurine 0.05% minimum
Magnesium 0.025% maximum
SALMON FORMULA
Crude Protein 10.0% minimum
Crude Fat 6.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 1.5% maximum
Moisture 78% maximum
Taurine 0.05% minimum
Magnesium 0.025% maximum
TUNA WITH SHRIMP FORMULA
Crude Protein 10.0% minimum
Crude Fat 6.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 1.5% maximum
Moisture 78% maximum
Taurine 0.05% minimum
Magnesium 0.025% maximum
CHICKEN & LIVER Paté FORMULA
Crude Protein 9.0% minimum
Crude Fat 6.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 1.5% maximum
Moisture 78% maximum
Taurine 0.05% minimum
Magnesium 0.025% maximum
INDOOR CAT FORMULA
Crude Protein 9.0% minimum
Crude Fat 5.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 2.0% maximum
Moisture 78% maximum
Taurine 0.05% minimum
Magnesium 0.025% maximum
Natural Balance Ultra Premium Cat Food Canned Formulas are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles for all life stages.
(BACK TO TOP)
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 6:28 pm
When do you think we should organize on this site to look for a well-known spokesperson to speak out about what is going on? Silence from the actors, musicians….
Comment by petlover — April 17, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
Yes indeed The Pet Food Institute. I can’t even find words to describe what I think about this institution at this point. I’d have to voluntarily ban myself from this blog if I did express my true feelings about it.
By the way. How’s that Pet Food Industry in Chicago going today? Lots’ of nervous hand shaking and nervous side glances and twitching rather then direct eye contact?
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
Comment by Marry Ann:
News still hasn’t caught up the Natural Balance details…don’t hold your breath on Natural Life.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
April 17, 2007
Menu Foods Refines Recall List
TORONTO, ONTARIO—(April 17, 2007) - Menu Foods
Attention Business/Financial Editors
Menu Foods has previously recalled wet cat and dog food produced with adulterated wheat gluten supplied by ChemNutra Inc. Over the past several days, Menu Foods continued a detailed analysis of production records at its Emporia, Kansas, plant as part of the US Food and Drug Administration’s ongoing investigation of this adulterated wheat gluten. As a result of this work, Menu Foods advises the public:
- One additional item has been added to the recall list and is shown below
- Two additional production dates of eight varieties of pet food have been added to the recall list. These eight varieties of pet food had previously been withdrawn from the market and should already be off the retailer shelves.
An updated list of the recalled products, including this addition, is available at the Menu Foods website at http://www.menufoods.com.
Comment by Kat — April 17, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
Teresa,
Here it is:
VENISON & GREEN PEA FORMULA
VenisonVenison, Venison Broth, Venison Liver, Pea Flour, Venison Meal, Salmon Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Kelp, Flaxseed, Guar Gum, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Methionine, Taurine, Parsley, Dried Cranberries, Yucca Schidigera, Sodium Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate,Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate,Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
CHICKEN & LIVER Paté FORMULA
ChickenChicken, Poultry Liver, Chicken Broth, Carrots, Eggs, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Lecithin, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Guar Gum, Taurine, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
TUNA WITH SHRIMP FORMULA
TunaTuna, Whitefish, Fish Broth, Poultry Liver, Brown Rice Flour, Carrots, Shrimp, Eggs, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Lecithin, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Guar Gum, Taurine, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
SALMON FORMULA
SalmonSalmon, Whitefish, Fish Broth, Poultry Liver, Brown Rice Flour, Carrots, Eggs, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Lecithin, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Guar Gum, Taurine, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
TURKEY & GIBLETS FORMULA
TurkeyTurkey, Turkey Broth, Chicken Liver, Poultry Giblets, Carrots, Brown Rice Flour, Fish Meal, Lecithin, Dried Cranberries, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
ULTRA FORMULA
UltraChicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Duck, Salmon, Carrots, Brown Rice Flour, Fish Meal, Lecithin, Dried Cranberries, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
OCEAN FISH FORMULA
Ocean FishOcean Fish, Fish Broth, Turkey, Chicken Liver, Brown Rice Flour, Carrots, Fish Meal, Lecithin, Dried Cranberries, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
INDOOR CAT FORMULA (FORMERLY HAIRBALL MANAGEMENT)
IndoorChicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Ocean Fish, Oat Bran, Brown Rice Flour, Lecithin, Dried Cranberries, Parsley, Dicalcium Phosphate, Yucca Schidigera,Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
ULTRA, OCEAN FISH, AND TURKEY & GIBLETS
Crude Protein 9.0% minimum
Crude Fat 5.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 1.0% maximum
Moisture 78% maximum
Taurine 0.05% minimum
Magnesium 0.025% maximum
SALMON FORMULA
Crude Protein 10.0% minimum
Crude Fat 6.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 1.5% maximum
Moisture 78% maximum
Taurine 0.05% minimum
Magnesium 0.025% maximum
TUNA WITH SHRIMP FORMULA
Crude Protein 10.0% minimum
Crude Fat 6.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 1.5% maximum
Moisture 78% maximum
Taurine 0.05% minimum
Magnesium 0.025% maximum
CHICKEN & LIVER Paté FORMULA
Crude Protein 9.0% minimum
Crude Fat 6.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 1.5% maximum
Moisture 78% maximum
Taurine 0.05% minimum
Magnesium 0.025% maximum
INDOOR CAT FORMULA
Crude Protein 9.0% minimum
Crude Fat 5.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 2.0% maximum
Moisture 78% maximum
Taurine 0.05% minimum
Magnesium 0.025% maximum
Natural Balance Ultra Premium Cat Food Canned Formulas are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles for all life stages.
(BACK TO TOP)
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
Comment by Kat — April 17, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
This is criminal. No other words can accurately describe it.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
RE: COMMENT FROM STEVE PET FOOD INDUSTRY MEETING IN CHICAGO TONIGHT
How’s that Pet Food Industry in Chicago going today? Lots’ of nervous hand shaking and nervous side glances and twitching rather then direct eye contact?
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
*******************************
They’re probably worried that their pockets won’t be quite as full after this. Do you think their dinner entree will be in the “cuts and gravy” style format?
Comment by petlover — April 17, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
I’ll pass. This enough warning for me.
http://tinyurl.com/yrj9lv
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
Natural Life HAD a big box message, half covering the doggie on the front page of their website — stating they had done 3rd party testing of their products & NO MELAMINE! And, stated that no products were from Menu Foods!!!
NOW THEY HAVE TAKEN THAT BOX DOWN!!! I even saw it yesterday when I was on that site.
That message was the whole reason I switched to them.
UNBELIEVABLE!
Comment by Kat — April 17, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
Comment by petlover — April 17, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
It’s a three day trade show. They are pitching all the latest gimmicks and snake oils to each other.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
For Comment by Teresa — April 17, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
Here’s what Natural Balance’s canned cat food page lists for each (canned cat food) formula, as of this evening
http://www.naturalbalanceinc.c.....anned.html
VENISON & GREEN PEA FORMULA
Venison, Venison Broth, Venison Liver, Pea Flour, Venison Meal, Salmon Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Kelp, Flaxseed, Guar Gum, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Methionine, Taurine, Parsley, Dried Cranberries, Yucca Schidigera, Sodium Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate,Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate,Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
CHICKEN & LIVER Paté FORMULA
Chicken, Poultry Liver, Chicken Broth, Carrots, Eggs, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Lecithin, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Guar Gum, Taurine, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
TUNA WITH SHRIMP FORMULA
Tuna, Whitefish, Fish Broth, Poultry Liver, Brown Rice Flour, Carrots, Shrimp, Eggs, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Lecithin, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Guar Gum, Taurine, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
SALMON FORMULA
Salmon, Whitefish, Fish Broth, Poultry Liver, Brown Rice Flour, Carrots, Eggs, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Lecithin, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Guar Gum, Taurine, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
TURKEY & GIBLETS FORMULA
Turkey, Turkey Broth, Chicken Liver, Poultry Giblets, Carrots, Brown Rice Flour, Fish Meal, Lecithin, Dried Cranberries, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
ULTRA FORMULA
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Duck, Salmon, Carrots, Brown Rice Flour, Fish Meal, Lecithin, Dried Cranberries, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
OCEAN FISH FORMULA
Ocean Fish, Fish Broth, Turkey, Chicken Liver, Brown Rice Flour, Carrots, Fish Meal, Lecithin, Dried Cranberries, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
INDOOR CAT FORMULA (FORMERLY HAIRBALL MANAGEMENT)
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Ocean Fish, Oat Bran, Brown Rice Flour, Lecithin, Dried Cranberries, Parsley, Dicalcium Phosphate, Yucca Schidigera,Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
Comment by karen — April 17, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
RE: STEVE 6:36 p.m. April 17
It’s a three day trade show. They are pitching all the latest gimmicks and snake oils to each other.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
**************************************
And over dinner, wiping their foreheads, trying to come up with ways to put more spin on what’s about to come out with the dry food.
Comment by petlover — April 17, 2007 @ 6:38 pm
Putting aside, for a moment, the issue of pets, my husband is a vegan. I’ve been nervously eyeing all the Boca and Morning Star Farms “fake meat” products in our freezer. Chocked full of soy protein, wheat gluten and the like. Maybe we should all go to our respective docs and get our kidney function tested.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
Darn, can -I- get away with the same crappy record keeping that Menu Foods uses? This seems great, I can say it was a “clerical error” that I “somehow made a mistake ” and claimed the entire population of Nevada on my tax return as allowable deductions. Guess who is getting a BIG refund!!
Menu foods got right on that problem didn’t they?
Is this the 26th or the 27th excuse?
Must have missed a file cabinet when the shredding started, how embarrassing.
I supported the Pet Food Institute
and all I got was a dead cat!
Great T-Shirt idea.
Wonder if it would sell in Chicago?
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 17, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
Teresa - 9 % protein is correct. Converted to dry matter 100 - 78 % moisture = 22 % dry matter. 9/22 = 40.9 5 protein.
Comment by Jenny — April 17, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
Should have beem 40.9 % protein
Comment by Jenny — April 17, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
E. Hamilton,
Thanks. I really, really needed to laugh about something right now.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
Steve,SEN. Durbin Needs To Beaware Of This.
Comment by Marry Ann — April 17, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
I’m So mad i can’t think straight. Sen. Durbin Needs To Know This
Comment by Marry Ann — April 17, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 17, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
E. you see the latest?
http://tinyurl.com/yrj9lv
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
Saw it, have not calmed down enough to say anything this site will allow me to post.
Maybe, this t-shirt.
MENU FOODS
Solving the pet overpopulation problem
one cat at a time!
Humans next!
Feel free to steal my idea and hawk it outside the Chicago hotel. Please.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 17, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
Menu Foods has expanded dates of numerous foods PLUS added Natural Life.
….because they are still researching their plants records….
Isn’t this about the 8th week since their doggies died??
Comment by Kat — April 17, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
EH,
I’m in the same boat as you. WAY too angry.
the pet overpopulation elimination also passed through my mind a bit ago. SO sad that so many pets have and are going to die from this.
I’m just sick.
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
The clowns at Menu Foods have records?
They did not have any the last time that they could find. These “clerical errors” must be ..contagious.
Do they have Jethro out there in the dumpster with a bottle of Elmers glue?
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 17, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
Menu Foods - Incompetent or Lying? Um, gee, what do you all think?
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Comment by Kim — April 17, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 17, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
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 17, 2007 @ 7:03 pm
We need to find some young hottie with a nice rack ( Gloria Steinem forgive me!) in Chicago and get her out front (ok, EVERYONE forgive me)wearing a T-shirt with some slogan IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL THAT THE SLEAZEBALLS ARE INFESTING. And we need to do it tonight. Tonight!!!
Betty White is a wonderful spokesperson for animal rights but I think we need a hottie for this.
Get the Pic, take it viral.
This is the net, folks, use what you have.
What we have is us and the net, work it!!
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 17, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
E. Hamilton,
No offense, but what are you…12?
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
I guess they thought we would just forget. Like nothing ever happened.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
Just a stray thought here: I remember some years ago there was a scare about a preservative that was common in many pet foods (Ethoxyquin). I learned that it was almost impossible to find out which pet foods contained it because if the company MAKING the food did not add it, they were not required by law to list it as an ingredient. If it was added by whoever supplied the animal carcasses they used the petfood company came out a double winner….they were able to use ‘iffy’ carcasses and then legally say “we don’t add ethoxyquin to our product”. I have no idea if this little story is relevant at all, but it’s not a bad idea to be aware that our laws can allow things to be said that are perfectly legal while not entirely true.
Comment by Quackers — April 17, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
Actually, E. Hamilton, I think you are correct. Young, attractive celebrities of both sexes will draw attention more than Betty White.
What about Pam Anderson, didn’t she do alot of activist activities for Peta or some other org.? And how about Bono or some other big name.
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:12 pm
I also saved the bag of dry food my cat was eating….
Not for any reason, I had no idea there was a recall when she died on March 4. I just couldn’t bring myself to throw out anything having to do with her. I actually forgot I still had the dry. But I just found it.
Comment by Garyn — April 17, 2007 @ 7:12 pm
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
Actually E. lost pets. And has provided a needed perspective since March here.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 7:12 pm
E. Hamilton…
I needed a good laugh. I swear I would buy a shirt like that.
Comment by Christi Alcox — April 17, 2007 @ 7:12 pm
march 16 th was the first recall and it’s beeb a dam nightmare for pet owners. alot of people took their pets off old food and put them on nb and now they have a recall. WHAT’S NEXT I’m so SCARED to find out.
Comment by Marry Ann — April 17, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
Absolutely…you’re both right…what was I thinking? Nothing says “thoughtful, measured, intelligent response” like a tight T-shirt on a “nice rack”.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
I just emailed Blue Buffalo and Merrick inquiring about their use of rice protein and any gluten that may not be named in the ingredients.
I saw someone else post that Innova does not contain any grains or unlisted ingredients, which is a relief.
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
Actually, he did made me laugh too :)
It’s sick, but true. Maybe we should pool some money and send these with petitions to the PFI?
Or bumper stickers?
How about hats?
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 7:17 pm
If you want attention, why not use photos of our pets that have died or are ill on big posters marching around.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 7:17 pm
Sadly, I think we need a celebrity or two to help with this cause.
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
Like the thoughtful response the pet food industry has offered? Face it. Their corrupt to the core.
Thats reality. Booze and Babes is probably one of the few things that would get these pet food execs attention.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
Noting the timeline above regarding Menu Foods and what they knew and when. The early stories from the Canadian press (when the recall was announced in March) was that the problem was first “noticed” by MF in mid-December when a splattering of complaints were in the air.
In other words, the canary in the coal mine coughed, but didn’t die — it took another two months for enough complaints to arrive to risk the recall and the loss of business there from. Pity!
Comment by Jay — April 17, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
More importantly, the glam of the celebs will get people to see the folks holding the signs of their dead pets, and learn about this tragedy, and how it might be affecting the human food supply too!
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
I just check NB website to see if they have changed the ingredients of the Potato and Duck, well it’s the same but don’t hold your breath.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
Natural Life’s website has nothing about the recall on it.
http://www.nlpp.com/index.html
I think Linda is on to something. Everyone who marches on April 28th should have a big poster made of their pet who is sick or dead.
There’s isn’t a march near washington or I’d be there with bells on and pics of Cleo, Maui and Dude.
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
catlover:
I hope Merrick answers you.
I emailed them over a week ago, asking about the mercury content of their fish products…no answer as yet.
Comment by Marcy — April 17, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
Sadly, many people I know just do not feel this is a big issue.
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
I just bought a big bag of Felidae and my cat didnt seem to want it but he ate some anyway and immediately started throwing up!!!! my god this too? I tried calling them, offices are closed. what now?
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
I will certainly post back when(if) I hear from these companies.
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
pamela anderson keep s a regular blog.
here’s her main web page
http://www.pamelaanderson.com/.....ubpageNo=1
At the bottom, there’s a “contact us” link.
We shoudl all ask for her help in this.
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
Nothing will get their attention except the action you have already proposed…don’t give them your money. I just have visions of CNN showing up and featuring a video of Pammy in the T-shirt…having that visual “represent” our reaction to a mostly uninformed public.
I’d definitely buy the “solving the pet population” Tee, just let me know when you start printing them.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
Another animal loving celeb is Sarah McLaughlin, she does ads for the SPCA.
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
I wouldn’t count on that. Not a single celeb has stepped up for the cause and it has been 30 days since this disaster began.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 7:26 pm
And I saw Pamela Andrson receive an award (for Peta?) from Paul McCartney not too long ago,he is also a big animal activist.
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:26 pm
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
Well knowing the way the media has handled this they probably would put the focus on a Pam event rather then where it really belongs.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 7:27 pm
Just a note, I am well past middle age but I use the net and am aware of the world I live in, faults and all, it IS what it is.
Always was.
I EARNED every gray hair I have and twenty years ago I would not have been looking for a hottie to pose in front of a hotel in Chicago because I would be doing it myself.
What planet are you on that you think a 12 year old would know who Gloria Steinem is?
Move on.
We NEED someone in front of that hotel, an image we can use.
We NEED a face we can sell, an image to grab the news.
If we don’t work on getting one then none of the research is going to see the light of day.
There are celebrity animal rights actors who NEED us as much as we NEED them.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 17, 2007 @ 7:28 pm
And once again, the press release is for financial/business editors instead of main news editors. I’m sure they’re hoping it’ll get hidden in the business section of the paper, that much of the population doesn’t even read. Some papers only publish business news once a week. If these pet food manufacturers really cared about our pets, they’d want the news to reach all people as fast as possible.
Comment by Sandy — April 17, 2007 @ 7:28 pm
Greed:
Solving Pet Overpopulation
One Brand At A Time
think I’ll put my graphic skills to that and work out some of my anger . . . .
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 7:35 pm
E. Hamilton,
I didn’t say anything about Gloria Steinem. Why drag poor Gloria into this?
I just think it’s a bad idea, strategically, and should have stated THAT at the outset. It’s just that your suggestion took me aback.
I’ll match you gray hair for gray hair. Twenty years ago we’d likely have been protesting the same things…so, let’s be friends.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
Absolutely…you’re both right…what was I thinking? Nothing says “thoughtful, measured, intelligent response” like a tight T-shirt on a “nice rack”.
Comment by Eva
Eva, hon,
Face facts, the thoughtful measured intelligent response is not gonna work , it has not worked yet and it is not suddenly going to start working.
I will reason ,where reason works. I will plead, when pleading might work. But when it comes to a situation like this, well, I will do what it takes to win.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 17, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
eh, that should say ‘Corporate Greed:’
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
E. Hamilton, cupcake,
I’m all for winning this thing. Let’s just be careful how we go about it.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 7:39 pm
MY CAT STARTED THROWING UP AFTER EATING FROM THE NEW BAG OF FELIDAE!!! HOW DO I CONTACT THEM? THEIR OFFICES ARE CLOSED NOW
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
I have a bag of Natural Balance Venison and Pea dry cat food. No rice of any kind is listed in the ingredients. Further, on the front of the bag, printed in large letters, it says: “SINGLE SOURCE PROTEIN / SINGLE SOURCE CARBOHYDRATE” On the back of the bag, in bold print it reads: “NO ADDED PRESERVATIVES, FLAVORS, COLORS, OR BLEACHED INGREDIENTS. DOES NOT CONTAIN CORN, SOY, WHEAT, RICE, EGGS, DAIRY PRODUCTS OR SUNFLOWER OIL.” Repeat: “no rice”. This is an allergy formula!
Comment by Boot — April 17, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
I posted this a few days ago of a moving poster, linked from itchmo . com. Click on the poster to make it bigger to see some of the faces of pets that died.
http://i9.tinypic.com/334i35u.jpg
Poster creator is unknown. We could do something similar and email photos to someone here who could do the graphics work.
Comment by petlover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
I apologize. The poster link is NOT from itchmo. IT WAS HOWL911 . com.
Comment by petlover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
I went to sir Paul’s website but can’t find a way to email them. If anybody else has better luck, post the information and I will be glad to contact him. He might be too big, though. We may be better off with a younger celeb.
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
BW, has the cat stopped throwing up yet?
You need to look for other signs as well.
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
PetLover,
A standard graphic could be created and uploaded somewhere so people could DL it and put their pet’s imagine in. an email size could be done (for a mass blast) and a poster size for the March on the 28th.
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 7:46 pm
SITE LISTING CELEBRITIES WHO SPEAK OUT ON ANIMAL RIGHTS
All listed by category: actors, musicians, authors, etc.
http://animalliberationfront.c.....sAlive.htm
Comment by petlover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
RE: FELIDAE
IT LISTS BROWN RICE AS AN INGREDIENT.
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
If poster size is to difficult, have people blow up the images to page size. Even if they just carry that, it has impact. Or they could put multiple pictures on a poster board if they don’t have access to poster size printer facilities.
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
Thank you, petlover. Will check out that site.
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
BW,
Did the cat eat it quickly? My cats will sometimes get too excited about new food and do the gulp and puke routine.
Boot,
SAVE THAT BAG.
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
BW,
Any other signs of renal failure? If so, do you have an emergency clinic nearby? If not, take away the food and go to a 24 hour grocery. I saw that other cat parents were feeding baby food in a pinch. If felidae/canidae are bad, I’m screwed. Keep posting…PLEASE.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 7:39 pm
Eva we’ve seen it all here. Spin, half baked sob stories from the Pet Food Industries PR firms, Hacker attempts on Pet Connection. Threats of legal action on partner sites Howl And Itchmo for revealing the truth in a straight forward manner. Fact is we are dealing with white collar thugs in suits who could care less about our sensitivities. Your appreciated though so don’t take it personal. We need all the expertise we can get.
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
Eva, give it a break, I dated myself when I called on Gloria to forgive my calling on the mighty “nice rack”. That you did not pick up on that, um,
made me figure you were “of a certain age” and getting personal about an issue that needs your effort elsewhere.
If “nice rack” will get it done, then thank you mighty mammaries! Not the first time I have made use of the ability of a fine set to get the attention required and though, sadly, my own mighties are past the neck snapping stage I have no problem whatsoever using the new gen of nice ones! If that bothers you then look away.
So, any pretty ladies in Chicago willing to paint their face and hike their puppies for a good cause?
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 17, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
PERSON KNOWLEDGEABLE IN GRAPHICS NEEDED:
WHO WANTS TO VOLUNTEER?
PetLover,
A standard graphic could be created and uploaded somewhere so people could DL it and put their pet’s imagine in. an email size could be done (for a mass blast) and a poster size for the March on the 28th.
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 7:46 pm
************************************
The tech needed for this is way beyond me.
Volunteers?
Comment by petlover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
BW, brown rice is a common ingredient. Don’t panic please. The cat simply could be throwing up from the difference in foods. You switched recently, right?
My cat Dude, who was exposed to the tainted food, unloaded copious amounts of food on the floor just a few days ago and it’s been 4 weeks since he had the bad food.
It might simply be an upset tummy.
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
Can anyone give me any information regarding the march on April 28th? I heard that people were marching on Sacramento and Washington, and I want to be there!
Comment by Joyce — April 17, 2007 @ 7:51 pm
How come it took Natural Balance less time to find out what was going on with their dog food and it took Menu Foods I don’t know how long.
Comment by Eskie Lover — April 17, 2007 @ 7:51 pm
he is justing laying there not throwing up anymore, but my other cat will not go near the food, I am not paranoid they used to love it..something is not right with it.Just bought it today.
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 7:52 pm
Catlover take a look at Sandy’s post. Natura reps don’t even know if this rice protein concentrate ingredient is in their food.
Comment by Sandy:
“Thanks to the person who posted about Canidae. I tried calling them but got voice mail and they haven’t called back.
I also called Natura about Innova. I asked if their products contain rice protein concentrate under a different name, and two people said they didn’t know. But the second person did tell me that all of their ingredients are tested for melamine and other things before putting them into the food and that none of their ingredients have tested positive for melamine.
Comment by Sandy — April 17, 2007 @
There is no way I will believe that they tested for anything including Melamine in their wet cat food made by menu prior to March 16. And I doubt they tested for melamine in their dry food prior to the recall since it seems well established that NO ONE tested for this ever before this recall.
My cat died March fourth eating Natura wet and dry and Fancy Feast wet. She stopped eating the Innoiva in December and I continued to feed it and she ate some of it until her death. I will learn the truth soon I am sure.
Comment by Garyn — April 17, 2007 @ 7:53 pm
PetLover,
I can do the graphics. Something simple bold and strong? I don’t have a place to upload it for DL at the moment though . . . .
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Sharon and Karen — THANK YOU!!
Comment by Teresa — April 17, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Click on the link at the beginning of this thread entitled “Itchmo has confirmed that Natural Balance is pulling additional products”.
This posts states that “rice protein concentrate” is described by the company as RICE GLUTEN.
I have posted on Pet Connection several times that my 15 year old cat suddenly developed the obvious signs of kidney failure after eating a Nutro product that contains RICE GLUTEN in Dec 2006. I have ALWAYS felt that rice gluten was also a culprit.
So, rice protein concentrate is actually RICE GLUTEN.
Comment by Janet — April 17, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
EH
I don’t even care anymore. A rest it has been given.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
BW, I switched my cats from Wellness to Felidae about a three weeks ago. Unlike Wellness the Felidae does not contain probiotics. If you can get some probiotics it may help with the switch. I use probiotics on my horses, dog and cats, when changing food or any stressful situation. I am now on my second bag of Felidae and both cats, one 15 years and one 3 years, are doing fine. Young monster cat hated it for the first week or so, ate it but not in front of me. I too looked hard at the brown rice in it. But I think that is different than the rice protein.
Comment by Robin — April 17, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
ACCORDING TO USA Today, the rice protein was imported by Wilbur-Ellis… and was sent to five pet food manufacturers.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/.....lled_N.htm
Comment by Lori Lee — April 17, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
ACCORDING TO USA Today, the rice protein was imported by Wilbur-Ellis… and was sent to five pet food manufacturers.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/32nnoy
Comment by Lori Lee — April 17, 2007 @ 8:01 pm
“he is justing laying there not throwing up anymore, but my other cat will not go near the food, I am not paranoid they used to love it..something is not right with it.Just bought it today.
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 7:52 pm”
Alright. Remove the food, wash the bowls completely and run them through the dishwasher. Don’t throw the food out. Just put it someplace safe where no one will use it by accident or if it’s a bag, where other pets can get into it.
If you don’t have any safe pet food in the house, find a people food chicken breast or something like that. Have you got any chicken in the house?
BW, please relax. You need a cool head right now. How is kitty doing right now?
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 8:03 pm
STRAYBABY VOLUNTEERED TO DO GRAPHICS/POSTER FOR US!
Thank you Straybaby for volunteering. We do need a graphic & message out there that we can send around & show. I like something similar to the poster linked from howl911 . com because it showed faces of pets w/ their names, a bold simple message “We Are the Victims: 2007 Pet Food Recall,” and the names of all of the companies with recalled pet food around the side margins. Of course we could add the Pet Food Industry, Menu Foods, ChemNutra, AAFCO (labeling related), etc.
POSTER: Please click http://i9.tinypic.com/334i35u.jpg
Maybe someone else here has a place it could be uploaded to? Again, this tech is beyond what I understand. Thank you, again, so much.
THIS TOPIC DESERVES A SEPARATE BLOG TOPIC. DOES A MODERATOR START THE NEW TOPICS?
I have to post one more message about drugs that help with kidney disease, and then I have to sign off for the night. I’ll check in tomorrow. Thanks so much, Straybaby. I think the graphci/poster can help us move forward to gain a stronger visual and voice.
**********************************
PetLover,
I can do the graphics. Something simple bold and strong? I don’t have a place to upload it for DL at the moment though . . . .
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Comment by petlover — April 17, 2007 @ 8:03 pm
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Incorporated in 1921, Wilbur-Ellis Company has grown to become a leading international marketer and distributor of agricultural and industrial products, with sales exceeding $1.710 billion in 2006. The Company remains privately held, with ownership concentrated primarily within the founding family.
To support our diverse customer base, we maintain a multinational marketing/distribution network of offices, formulation facilities, retail centers, and warehouses strategically located throughout North America and the Pacific Rim. Whether transporting fertilizers from warehouses to fields, supplying chemicals to paint factories in Asia, or exporting compressed hay bales from the Western United States and Canada to Japan, we have the technology, experience, integrity, and relationships to deliver what we promise.
http://webprod.wecon.com/WECOW.....erview.htm
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 8:05 pm
Sorry if this is already posted…
USA today has reported that the rice protein concentrate was imported from China by another company.
____________
“
Natural Balance Pet Foods said Tuesday it found melamine in samples of some of its food, which led to a recall. The company suspects melamine was in a rice protein concentrate used as an ingredient, said President Joey Herrick in an interview.
Melamine is the chief suspect related to the Menu Foods recall, first announced four weeks ago for more than 60 million cans and pouches of wet dog and cat food. The melamine in Menu’s products was in wheat gluten imported from China and sold to Menu and several other pet-food makers, which also did recalls.
The rice protein concentrate was imported from China by San Francisco-based Wilbur-Ellis. Herrick says the concentrate, which is being tested, is suspected to have melamine, as it was the only new ingredient. Recalled Natural Balance products include Venison and Brown Rice canned and dry dog foods, dog treats and Venison and Green Pea dry cat food.”
Comment by Natalie — April 17, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
About starting new topics. A blog doesn’t really work like a forum or bulletin board, and that has had some drawbacks here.
I suggest starting a topic just for organizing over on Itchmo’s new forum:
http://64.79.216.38/~itchmo/forums/
Not trying to send you elsewhere, mind you, but recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of the blog.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 17, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
I just switched to EaglePack (cats couldn’t stand blue buffalo), not remembering that the wet was manufactured by Menu (too much research - I have now started to take notes). There are no “Protiens or glutens” of any kind listed, but there is brown rice and rolled oats and oatmeal. Is that the same? Is that a big risk too? I bought a couple cans of Wellness, but I didn’t try them yet. I have looked and looked but there always seems to be at least one thing that concerns me about all of the products. It’s giving me a stomach ache. Any answers/suggestions?
Comment by Chelsea — April 17, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
Sales exceeding $1.710 billion in 2006. Privately owned. Probably pays less taxes then you or I. And these guys and their cohorts can’t produce foods that doesn’t kill our pets?
Comment by Steve — April 17, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
Lori Lee,
Thank you! I’m getting just a little bit sick of this imperious “I’m not going to tell you” response from manufacturers, suppliers, FDA, etc. Where the hell do they get off with their “who’s your daddy”, “need to know only” bull$hit!?!!
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
BW, how is your kitty????
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
Don’t know if anyone put this up yet. If someone did, sorry.
http://www.axiomfoods.com
rice protein concentrate - look towards bottom in text paragragh. Also click on small print at bottom of upper right box.
Axiom Foods, Inc
12100 Wilshire Blvd Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90025
1-800-711-3587
I don’t know if this is the American company referred to or not but the others appear to be International.
Comment by Kathi — April 17, 2007 @ 8:14 pm
Janet - that is what the man at Natural Balance was trying to tell me yesterday it’s all the same stuff
.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 8:14 pm
BW, I hope your cat is OK!
I just emailed Innova & Canidae/Felidae asking if their food has rice protein or any glutens not listed in the ingredients, since there does not seem to be consensus as to what they have said today. Earlier, I contacted Blue Buffalo & Merrick. I will post back if I hear from any of them.
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
It’s the personal tragic photos of the dead and dying animals that will touch the heart strings of even the most hardened politician.
My fear touched the heart of the man at Natural Balance. It’s the human element that makes all the difference.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 8:17 pm
A site with pet food ingredient definitions:
http://www.sniksnak.com/ac/petfooddefinitions.html
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
FYI - alot of the non-recalled Nutro canned for cats has rice gluten in it.
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 8:19 pm
I’M Shocked that OPRAH hasn’t done a show on this. CAL. NATURAL by natura only has brown rice ,lamb meal and rice on the reduced. i just read it off the bag. oh,my dogs were drinking so much water 5 gal in 2 days i took them off nutro and they all stop drinking all that water ,so it had to be the dam food. they love cal. natural http://www.naturapet.com
Comment by Marry Ann — April 17, 2007 @ 8:19 pm
I looked up “gluten” on Wikipedia. I don’t pretend to understand the science of this or what “rice “protein” is compared to “rice gluten” but Wikipedia says no gluten is contained in rice:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluten
“Gluten is found in some cereals (e.g., wheat, rye, barley) and their end products. Wheat grown in countries with extreme weather conditions, such as Canada, tends to have a higher gluten content than wheat grown in countries where the winter is milder. Wheat flour with a high gluten content is called “strong” or “hard” flour, and is used for breads, whereas flour with a lower gluten content is called “soft” flour, and is used for cakes. NO GLUTEN IS CONTAINED IN RICE (EVEN GLUTINOUS RICE), wild rice, maize (corn), millets, buckwheat, quinoa, sorghum, or amaranth. Oats and teff do not contain gluten, but are sometimes grown directly adjacent to, and/or milled on the same equipment as other grains that do contain gluten, and so are commonly contaminated…”
Comment by Maureen — April 17, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
Catlover,
Are Felidae/Canidae and Innova made by the same people?
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
My 3 dogs have eaten Science Diet Adult Small Bites for years. When I opened a new bag a couple of weeks ago, all 3 got sick after eating only a small amount. Their symptoms were vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and blood-flecked urine. They also drank large quantities of water. I stopped feeding them the food immediately, took them to the vet, and samples of the food were sent for testing, with complaints made to Hill’s & the FDA. I fed them homemade, mixed with small amounts of 4 different kinds of kibble, varied from day to day to see which they would eat. With the exception of Nature’s Logic chicken formula, they wouldn’t eat any of the other kibbles I tried. I gradually transitioned them from the mixture to all kibble and they ate their first meal of the kibble alone on Friday night. They seemed to love it, and I was so relieved. Everything has been fine until today. When I arrived home from work this afternoon, there were large piles of loose stool intermixed with a yellowish colored liquid with flecks of blood interspersed throughout. My peek-a-poos’ tails are dragging the ground, and the schnauzer isn’t her usual exuberant self. I know that Science Diet contains corn gluten, but the Nature’s Logic chicken formula, according to the label, contains no rice, wheat, soy, corn or glutens. I’m taking them to the vet before work in the morning and going back to all homemade again. Has anyone else had any problems with these brands?
Comment by Pam — April 17, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
Eva, no, they are 2 different companies, you can google them then click on Contact Us or About Us, then contact them.
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
BW
If the cat feels better and wants to eat try some canned chicken. If you think cat has problem get it to vet asap. Please keep us informed as I too use Felidae.
Comment by Robin — April 17, 2007 @ 8:24 pm
I don’t believe a word the pet food companies are saying right now, especially those that have lied. If I had to believe one, I’d chose one that wasn’t in any recall and had never lied to me - no gluten anything, rice or corn or wheat in any form.
But right now, I’m staying clear of them all. Maybe by summer we’ll know the truth.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 8:24 pm
Catlover,
I’ve been very concerned about Nutro products generally—was feeding their dry dog food to my two babies and observing very troublesome and escalating symptoms. They stopped when I started the Canidae…that’s why I’ve been so excited about that product.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 8:25 pm
Do NOT feed Nutro under any circumstances!!! They waited a month to recall their last batch of food, probably leading to many pets sickened and died. I would never do business with them again.
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
Catlover,
OK, good. The person I spoke with at Canidae said they were a wholly independent company. Was freaking there for a minute.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 8:28 pm
I fed one can of the Felidae so far, 3 cats were not crazy about it. I still have another flavor to try. I have been feeding them Merrick the last 3 days. They like it better than the Felidae.
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
I just started feeding (in small amounts) Innova Evo dry, and my 3 cats love it.
Comment by catlover — April 17, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
I switched to NB V&GP during the recall. I mentioned to the vet that since I changed, Jeffrey (one of 3 pets) has been throwing up, drinking more, peeing more.
The vet tech reassured me that there had been no deaths in their office and that the throwing up was probably because of my switching the food.
And BTW, Rice is absolutely not on the ingredient list. The package says “No grains, such as wheat, corn…” But they do not mention RICE
The allergy formula was meant mainly for Buck, my cerebellar hypoplasia kitty (think CP in human). Oddly, his itching didn’t improve on this $13 per 3lb bag GARBAGE!
Comment by Lori Lee — April 17, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
Okay -what if the wheat gluten was all along the rice gluten - or the wheat gluten and rice gluten come from the same company in China?
maybe the protein concentrate is just one thing? I know that sounds backwards - but who knows. At this moment I can believe almost anything.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 8:31 pm
Garbage toxic waste junk gluten is killing our pets you morons in suits and fancy cars.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 8:32 pm
Reference original Itchmo post…
»BREAKING NEWS: Natural Balance Recall Expands to Canned Food and Treats
Itchmo has confirmed with Natural Balance that their recall has expanded and now covers the following items for all dates:
Venison and Brown Rice Treats for Dogs (New today)
Venison and Brown Rice Canned Formula for Dogs (New today)
Venison and Brown Rice Dry Food for Dogs (Reported Sunday)
Venison and Green Pea Dry Food for Cats (Reported Sunday)
The problem stems from melamine found in the rice protein concentrate (described by the company as rice gluten) used by Natural Balance. They confirmed that FDA testing has found melamine in the rice protein concentrate. The ingredient was produced by a US vendor, according to Natural Balance. Natural Balance recommends avoiding all rice protein in their products.
Comment by Janet — April 17, 2007 @ 8:33 pm
Just a wild thought here - do you think reporters read this blog and get ideas - like the melamine in the rice protein - ummmmmmm and then they check out their sources???? Steve what do you think?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 8:35 pm
Robin, how do you get probiotics to mix in with cat food?
Comment by Jenny — April 17, 2007 @ 8:35 pm
EVE,INNOVA IS made by natura pet they also make cal.natural http://www.naturapet.com
Comment by Marry Ann — April 17, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
Linda MS,
Seems I remember someone posting here (it’s been a while ago) who spoke with authority about pet food companies blithely substituting “glutens” during manufacturing. Based, I assume, upon shifting availability of one gluten over another.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 8:37 pm
With my dogs, I give it in cheese or drop it into the bowl. I use the pearl but my dogs are big, so I don’t know how it works for a little itty bitty kitty.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 8:38 pm
uh, duh….
http://tinyurl.com/yr4a2x
CFIA Asked to Review Pet Food Rules
Josh Pringle
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is being asked to review whether pet food should be regulated.
Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl points out that regulations in the United States didn’t prevent the recent deaths of pets from tainted food.
Agriculture officials say the CFIA will look at whether to regulate pet food, but can also recommend other unspecified options for monitoring food ingredients.
But Strahl notes the review doesn’t necessarily mean it should be regulated.
Comment by Kat — April 17, 2007 @ 8:38 pm
Eva, well that probably is what happens and they don’t change the label and maybe it doesn’t matter but it seems that rice gluten and corn gluten is different but maybe they are just the same thing in some way.
Yeah, I remember that too now that I think about it.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
Eva, I thought I had read last week that the one dog who died from Royal Canin Vets Choice had antifreeze in his kidneys. But now I think they’re looking for melamine - just in case. Report due at end of week.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200704170211.html
So far, said Steenkamp, 25 dogs had been reported ill and the death toll may have gone up from the one dog reported last week.
The dead dog was found to have traces of ethylene-glycol, or antifreeze, in its system. However, Steenkamp said the company had not ruled out other possible contaminants as renal failure could be caused by several toxins.
Comment by CathyA — April 17, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
One big problem NB - you aren’t listing rice gluten on your bags of dry food - so how are we to avoid what you aren’t telling us is there in the first place???????
Oh, I see, we get on a computer and check your website to see what changes your lawyers are telling you to make and don’t bother reading the labels - silly me here I was taking a magnifying glass to the pet store.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
About probiotics. If anyone’s interested, I get Lifeway’s lowfat kefir for myself and occasionally pour a little over the doggies’ food. They love it. Called the Lifeway people a bit ago to find out about their product. Antibiotic free, growth hormone free, milk from Amish cows (seriously). Or at least that’s the claim.
I’m nursing a profound paranoia and no longer know what to believe.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 8:44 pm
I love Lifeway’s lowfat kefir and use it too sometimes. Just a little though.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
Any thoughts on this. . .??
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/biorice.html
CFSAN/Office of Food Additive Safety
August 2006
U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s
Statement on Report of Bioengineered Rice in the Food Supply
Bayer CropScience recently notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that trace amounts of a bioengineered variety of rice were detected in samples of commercial rice seed, and may have entered the food and feed supply in the United States. The bioengineered variety of rice, called LLRICE601, expresses the phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase (PAT) protein which provides tolerance to glufosinate-ammonium herbicide. This rice variety, not intended for commercialization, was not submitted to FDA for evaluation under the Agency’s voluntary biotechnology consultation process. However, crops containing the PAT protein have previously been evaluated for safety by FDA on a number of occasions through the Agency’s voluntary biotechnology consultation process. Bayer has informed the Agency that LLRICE601 is present in some samples of commercial rice seed at low levels. In addition, Bayer has provided information about the safety of the PAT protein, molecular characterization, and nutritional composition of grain from LLRICE601. Based on the available data and information, FDA has concluded that the presence of this bioengineered rice variety in the food and feed supply poses no food or feed safety concerns.
7
Comment by ashlee — April 17, 2007 @ 8:48 pm
I’ve been gone all day and trying to catch up. Its been challenging getting my two cats to eat people food.
Fresh cooked chicken=no go.
Tiny cubed raw beef=yes.
Tuna=yes.
Sardines in water=yes.
Cooked chicken liver=sometimes.
Baby food=sometimes. At least eight different varities tried only two with marginal success.
Hope that may help someone. My next move is using the fishy food mixed with other meats and organ meats to transition them over.
Right now they are working off the rest off a giant sized Purina One dry cat food. I have stuck with that only because they got sick in mid Feb and I took all wet food away. They continued on the dry one month before the recall and are doing good and recovering. They were seen by a vet.
When they run out of dry next week it is human food only.
Comment by DeeAnn — April 17, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
Linda MS: Of course they’re reading, saves on the research! And I bet the pet food companies are reading too. But are they listening? No, they sure aren’t. But I’ll ask once again, just in case there might be someone with half a brain out there. Stop the 6 month lag in labeling change to reflect what’s in the bag. Just stop it. Print up a bunch of stick on labels and correct the misinformation on the bag. Show us you’ve got some b*lls. Before you have no customers.
But I would like to thank the FDA - who apparently ARE listening. Website is much improved, please clarify the current situation as soon as you can, which would be ASAP, politicks be danged. Well, I’m off to pay my taxes…..hint hint.
Comment by CathyA — April 17, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
REMEMBER THE SIX MONTH PACKAGING CHANGE RULE!
Comment by elliott — April 17, 2007 @ 8:58 pm
Linda MS,
Absolutely…drizzle it over food. Though I sometimes just pour a tad in each bowl and let them eat it that way. We now live in Florida (with two substantial shaggy dogs) and I gave them that doggy ice cream in the summer to cool off. Soy product, ‘nuf said. I’ve been thinking about mixing a little Lifeway with some yoghurt and freezing it for a summer treat. Give them something to eat when we enter “hunker mode” during hurricane season.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 8:58 pm
Eva,
Cool idea, paron the pun. Slurp slurp.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
I think Canidae or Felidae is a good bet right now. I noticed that Omas Pride who sells only raw foods (which I am switching to raw in the mornning I paid for coaching and am diving in) lists this food for sale on their website. It is the only kibble food it sells. The ingredients look good to me also. There are three meals (which contain more meat than a non meal which is mostly water) in the first five ingredients. Obviously there is no way to know if it has a problem but I haven’t heard anything bad about it yet….
Comment by Garyn — April 17, 2007 @ 9:04 pm
okay sorry so long getting back, trying to feed something to the cats, seems okay (sofar) they will not eat anything else, tried some chicken, tuna, sardines. I will let them be for now, and see how it is tomorrow, I have had such a hard time finding something they will eat..they are completely non-human food eaters, and strictly dry food, I was so glad when they liked the Felidae, which they started on a couple of weeks ago. I do not trust the labels anymore, god only knows what is really in all of this food. I do not know what kind I will turn to now.
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
A poster on another site was wondering how it was possible that melamine ended up in pet food on two different continents, at the same time. Another poster replied: “All it would take is one TH in both places. Dont ask what that stands for. I wont be able to post it on the board. Some of you can probably figure it out.”
Comment by Julia — April 17, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
BW,
So glad your kitties seem fine :-)
Comment by Julia — April 17, 2007 @ 9:07 pm
Btw, just started mine on Felidae and she’s ok so far. Seems to like it, but hey my cat will eat anything lol.
Comment by Julia — April 17, 2007 @ 9:09 pm
Newman’s Own Organics has also changed their
formulas and ingredients sometime between 3/20/07 and today 4/17/07. What in the world is going on here?
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
OMG I take that back. I didn’t see the post above where the cat was throwing up on Felidae. Never mind.
Comment by Garyn — April 17, 2007 @ 9:14 pm
Julia,
I’m stumped! TH? On the other hand, I just threw caution to the wind and poured myself a wee portion of Scotland’s finest (and fully) grain-based beverage…neat. Fairly confident it’s gluten-free.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 9:15 pm
Garyn, I called Canidae and asked today if they use any rice protein (its NOT listed but I wanted to be sure). They said they use only whole grain rice.
Comment by Bonnie — April 17, 2007 @ 9:15 pm
Bonnie,
Ditto.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
I just started my dog on Hund-n-Flocken & then I find out it’s made at Diamond & about had a stroke. I sent an email to Solid Gold Health & he gave me a pretty good explanation on how they make this “rice protein concentrate”….like I’m no scientist & don’t understand a lot of what I’ve been reading but this is pretty easy to follow so I thought I’d post it:
At this point I am 100% confident that the foods are safe and I continue to feed my 2 dogs and three cats Solid Gold.
We have no protein concentrate or glutens in any of our foods.
Gluten is the protein portion of a grain while bran is the fibrous outer covering. AAFCO defines gluten as the “tough viscid nitrogenous substance remaining when the flour of wheat or other grain is washed to remove starch”.
Technically rice is gluten-free, however if they are washing the rice to remove the starch then they are probably calling the leftover “gluten” or “rice protein concentrate” as I have seen it on their labels.
It is during this washing process which the gluten or protein concentrate apparently becomes contaminated. We do not wash any of our grains in any way, we prefer to use the whole grain, the bran (outer pericap, technically speaking) or the pearled (dehulled) form.
I have been in contact with the QA at our mill and I am assured that there are no concerns over our food, nor is there any anticipated concern.
If you have further questions, please feel free to call us at 800-364-4863.
Best regards,
Solid Gold
Comment by Jan — April 17, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
Ochratoxin A
It can survive the “glutenizing” process too.
Read this and google Ohcratoxin A and see what you think…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochratoxin_A
Comment by Sharon — April 17, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
I’m stumped by TH also. Can we get a hint? Sounds like?
Eva, you may want to ring the Scots and ask. I think I saw somewhere where gluten is used in wine production . . . .
That said, I’ll risk a nice chilled glass in hopes of relaxing before bed ;)
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
http://tinyurl.com/32nnoy
By Julie Schmit and Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY
The industrial chemical melamine has been found in more pet food, and suspicion is falling on a second pet-food ingredient imported from China as the source of the contamination.
Natural Balance Pet Foods said Tuesday it found melamine in samples of some of its food, which led to a recall. The company suspects melamine was in a rice protein concentrate used as an ingredient, said President Joey Herrick in an interview.
Melamine is the chief suspect related to the Menu Foods recall, first announced four weeks ago for more than 60 million cans and pouches of wet dog and cat food. The melamine in Menu’s products was in wheat gluten imported from China and sold to Menu and several other pet-food makers, which also did recalls.
The rice protein concentrate was imported from China by San Francisco-based Wilbur-Ellis. Herrick says the concentrate, which is being tested, is suspected to have melamine, as it was the only new ingredient. Recalled Natural Balance products include Venison and Brown Rice canned and dry dog foods, dog treats and Venison and Green Pea dry cat food.
Wilbur-Ellis CEO John Thacher said his company sold the concentrate to five pet-food makers, but that most of it went to two firms. One of the primary companies was Diamond Pet Foods, which packs some of the Natural Balance product but doesn’t use the concentrate in any Diamond-made foods, says Diamond spokesman Jim Fallon. The other major customer, which Thacher would not name, tested the rice protein and found no melamine, Thacher says. Natural Balance’s rice protein concentrate is mixed with venison meal, Thacher says.
Natural Balance has received about 10 reports of sick pets, mostly dogs, since Thursday, Herrick says. It started testing the foods Friday, when it also asked retailers to pull the products. As in the Menu recall, some of the pets developed kidney failure, Natural says.
Natural Balance was co-founded in 1989 by actor Dick Van Patten, according to the company’s website.
The Food and Drug Administration offered no comment Tuesday. It said Monday that Natural Balance had informed the agency of the issue. Thacher says it told the FDA on Sunday that it had detected melamine in some rice protein concentrate imported from China about a week ago. Wilbur-Ellis has ceased importing the ingredient from the Chinese firm, Binzhou Futian Biology Technology, Thacher says.
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.
No other Natural Balance products include the ingredient, the company says.
Melamine is not allowed in human or pet food. It is an industrial chemical used in plastics worldwide and also sometimes as a fertilizer in Asia, the FDA says.
While melamine is not highly toxic, the FDA is investigating whether it, or something related to it, is responsible for pet deaths in the Menu recall.
———————-
So this went to a total of 5 manufacturers. I wonder who the other “major” one is and how why was theirs not tainted if they received the same ingredient. No word about the other 3 companies that received it either.
Comment by Sandy — April 17, 2007 @ 9:24 pm
Straybaby,
Yep, I’m ready to buy a vowel.
I went looking for some wine, but I like white and didn’t want to wait for it to chill. I’m on eastern time and will going to bed soon.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 9:26 pm
Sandy, Gina blogged that USA Today article earlier today …
Comment by Christie Keith — April 17, 2007 @ 9:30 pm
So four out of five manufacturers remain undisclosed.
I guess it’s the ol’ “If we’re not mentioned, we’re safe” line, then.
Yeah, because that’s worked out so well over the past four weeks.
Comment by JM Leong — April 17, 2007 @ 9:33 pm
they are all lying, it might be a protein concentrate that is being used with wheat,corn and rice or even just added on its own to up the protein amount and it came from the same contaminated source and since it seems all the food companies are supplied by the same corporations it might have gone into many many of the pet foods. hell even the so called natural-grain free companies have to get there supplement ingredients from somewhere, and it probably is from monopoly suppliers.
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 9:36 pm
Am having good luck w/2 cats & a 15 yr old Maltese (all pronounced OK w/full blood panels, urinalsyis, etc.) feeding Evo (Innova), Flint River Ranch & Kumpi. NONE of these foods contain any kind of gluten. Am looking for a supportive vet in my area (Lincoln CA - outside Sacramento) to get a cattery bred (read “food comes out of a can or bag only”) Maine Coon & a 7yr old feral rescue (“I’ll eat anything!”) indoor cat on a raw/home made diet. If you have a holistic vet in the Lincoln, Loomis, Rocklin, Roseville area, pls contact me w/details. Many thanks.
Comment by Patricia Hill — April 17, 2007 @ 9:43 pm
Anyone using Newman’s Own Organic dry pet food, and are you having any problems?
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 9:43 pm
Do you guys think it would be okay to give the cats a little Activa yogurt? I have some, don’t know if they would eat it anyway. Can’t believe they will not even eat any sardines for goodness sake!
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 9:45 pm
To clarify, I am as intrigued by “TH” as you are. I hope the original poster will elaborate.
Comment by Julia — April 17, 2007 @ 9:46 pm
Ok, can’t keep up with reading all said, but someone wrote earlier about aol and getting old ingredient list for NB V&GP. I went to petfooddirect and it said DRIED grean Peas, but I thought who wrote about aol said pea powder?
Comment by Kathi — April 17, 2007 @ 9:47 pm
I agree BW.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 9:47 pm
Re: Comment by Kathi — April 17, 2007 @ 8:14 pm
You posted a link to Axiom Foods in Los Angeles. The company’s website says:
“Axiom Foods is an international leader in the food, beverage, nutraceutical and specialty foods industries. At Axiom Foods, we’re dedicated to developing and producing the finest ingredients. We recently introduced a line of rice protein concentrates (Oryzatein™), rice sweetener syrups (Oryzose™) and rice sweetener powders (Oryza™). Not only are they superior in taste, our rice-based products are hypoallergenic, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, non-GMO and maintain the highest level of nutrients.”
One wonders who these people are who run these companies that make or import or market these products, such as ChemNutra, the wheat gluten importer from China. The principals of that company appeared to have to prior food background. The principal involved in Axiom Foods is a 37 yr. old lawyer named David Jay Janow, who appears to be based in westside, Los Angeles. The co. was incorporated in Ca in 2005. Janow filed a lawsuit in late 2005 against Rice Protein Technologies and others. (I don’t know what the lawsuit is about, just know it was filed.) The addresses for Mr. Janow are hardly in the agricultural heartland of America; recent addresses are in Marina Del Rey and Brentwood in the laid back westside of Los Angeles.
No editorial comment here…but I’m becoming afraid of what I feed my dogs, cat, or myself — and that fear is obviously rational with what we’re learning about what we’ve been feeding the ‘bottom rung’ of the food chain, our dear pets. If anyone reading this has resources to follow up on this, I look forward to reading your findings.
Comment by Maureen — April 17, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
BW,
I don’t see why not, as long as it’s just a little. Might help settle their tummies.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
Eastern time here also, Eva. I went out and picked up chilled earlier. Must try not to hit the hay this stressed.
I’m off to do something productive (the graphics) and watch Bravo while sipping and designing. Should push all the horrible news of these past few days (and weeks) out of the way until tomorrow . . .
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
Christie, when I clicked Gina’s link earlier today it went to an earlier USA Today article that did not have the information on the supplier or that it was supplied to 5 manufacturers. That’s why I posted it. I didn’t know the link now goes to the updated article or I would not have posted.
Comment by Sandy — April 17, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
Jenny,
I buy the six-pack of the canned chicken breasts from Costco. I eat it, use it to flavor up by dobe’s dry food and get his vits down. Just mix a little probiotic powder into the chicken and broth and both my cats lap it right up. I’ve never tried it with cats but canned pumpkin works great for dog’s upset tummy or when changing diets etc. I’ve been using the product by,Animal Essentials, Plant Enzymes and Probiotics for the dog and cats. My Mother had old cat, lived to be 22 and we found this for her during her last couple of years. It’s a white powder but they don’t seem to mind it if mixed into the chicken. Mom used to mix it in the canned food and her old cat ate it up. I use it all the time as I feed one meal per day raw to both cats and dog. If this keeps up they will be on raw period.
Comment by Robin — April 17, 2007 @ 9:50 pm
I tried the canned Newman’s Own, one licked at it the other wouldn’t touch it. Haven’t tried the dry.I also tried Pet Promise canned one ate some of it and the other didnt touch it. Frustrating to say the least, I have alot of food in my cabinet they will not eat. They were alittle okay with Chicken Soup for the cat lovers soul, I might try that again.
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
This is making me sick. I trust not one pet food company - yes some are safe - it’s like playing Russian Roulette - and if you lose, your beloved pet dies. Well thanks, but no thanks.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 17, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
Big omission of the word “no” in my last post at 9:48:
One wonders who these people are who run these companies that make or import or market these products, such as ChemNutra, the wheat gluten importer from China. The principals of that company appeared to have NO prior food background.
Comment by Maureen — April 17, 2007 @ 9:54 pm
Be aware that rice is not listed as a “grain” because it is not a “cereal grain”! Another wonderful labeling loop-hole! COME ON CORPORATE PIGS!!!!
Those of us who have been lucky (at least at this point) in what is now Russian Roulette are also paying more for our pet foods! The small feed/pet store I frequent raised the price of my kitty-girls’ food by $3.33 per 20lb. bag! Their shelves are nearly empty after all this malarky - they have to make it up somewhere! Now you can start keeping track of all the “Other” victims of this mess! Unemployed with a husband, 2 kids, 4 kitty-girls, and 2 fish, and a parott! What am I suppose to do? What in the world am I suppose to feed all of them?
Comment by PJ — April 17, 2007 @ 9:54 pm
Can one get this Probiotic powder locally or does it have to be ordered?
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
BW,
Just a comment on Pet’s Promise, I *think* it’s made by Purina. It is certified organic, so it should be safe. I will say, my concept of safe is getting pretty damn shattered when it comes to food though!
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 9:58 pm
http://webprod.wecon.com/WECOW.....erview.htm
Top honchos seem to be John Thacher and Carter Thacher.
I’ll just say—I know we’re all angry. But try to be polite if you contact them—you generally get more information that way. Also, the lower-level employees are not the ones making the decisions not to reveal the 2nd company. Persistence and volume of contact will do much more than invectives.
Contact Us:
Wilbur-Ellis Company
345 California Street
27th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
U.S.A.
or contact a Division:
* Agribusiness Division
1801 Oakland Blvd.
Suite 210
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
* Connell Bros. Co., Ltd.
345 California Street
27th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
* Feed Division
1200 N.W. Naito Parkway
Suite 140
Portland, OR 97209
Phone 415/772-4000
Fax 415/772-4011
Email contactus@wecon.com
Phone 415/772-4060
Fax 415/772-9821
Email contactus@wecon.com
Phone 415/772-4000
Fax 415/772-4011
Email contactus@wecon.com
Phone 503/227-2661
Fax 503/274-2518
Email contactus@wecon.com
Comment by Lola — April 17, 2007 @ 9:59 pm
After feeding my 8lb red toy poodle the recalled cans of Nutro “holistic” Ultra for the longest time, I immediately took her to our vet. Her kidney levels were all abnormal and elevated, but only by a minimal amount. After two weeks of more testing she has come back down to the normal range. After changing her diet, returning the cans AND the bags of Ultra Dry food (and the bags for my two cats as well), I have now resorted to cooking for them, and supplementing with Solid Gold Dry, and I include SG seameal as extra vitamins. However, what I cook, I hope, is packed with what they need. I boil chicken, salmon, sweet potato, rice (which I’m now wondering about), carrots, alittle fresh garlic and some greens. I’ve been freezing everything in ice cube trays after mashing, then putting in a large freezer bag, and then a tupperware and it stays ice free for the month. At least I know what I’m giving them. I pray I won’t hear that Solid Gold starts with the recall. I read this website every evening and get sick and heartbroken along with everyone else.
Comment by Marcy P — April 17, 2007 @ 10:04 pm
OMG my computer died last week and for the last couple of days I’ve had no internet access.
I had heard rumors about NB but as of Sunday night when I last could get on line there was nothing in the news. My son has a 4 month German Shephard that has been eating the NB Duck and Potato food till last week when he decided to try the Bill Jac food. I’m not sure any food is right these days.
My dogs eat home cooked exclusively now but I’m in a quandry about the cats. They eat Purina One Urinary Health and I’ve been unable to find an alternative food or find what I could feed them that would keep the ash and magnesium low. I really don’t know what to do about the poor cats.
My vets office called today to get my dogs info for a report to the FDA so that is the only bright spot.
Maureen
Comment by Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's mom) — April 17, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
Also, I’m very upset today because I called NB at noon PT, 2pmET. The CSR started reading script, I interrupted and said, “I just heard about melamine and animals dying.” She said “No.” I said, “But this person said Joey Herrick just called and confirmed that the test sample contained melamine.” She told me to hold the line while she went to office. She came back on the line and said “it is a rumor. We’re not done testing yet. Mr. Herrick is having a press conference later this afternoon.”
I called my friend and told her something was up because they denied having melamine - but- were going to have a press release later this afternoon???? I said to her “why would they have a press release if they’re not done with the tests that doesn’t make sense.”
Needless to say, when I saw USA Today, my knees nearly buckled and I felt very sick. Then I screamed, “You dirty, lying, ******, #####. I was even angrier because I had called them March 16 and grilled them about their products and if they had any connection to Menu and where was their product made.
I do not like liars.
And I don’t like feeling so angry. It frightens me when I feel this way.
Comment by Kathi — April 17, 2007 @ 10:06 pm
BW,
the yogurt is fine. My Dobe loves it and always talks me out of part of mine. Don’t know if my picky cats would eat it or not.
Comment by Robin — April 17, 2007 @ 10:08 pm
Here is what “THEY” want.
“They” will have positioned themselves beyond touch or harm or need or want or effective reproach or punishment. “We” 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 17, 2007 @ 10:08 pm
Maureen
I wonder if Axioms lawyer is a buddy to ChemNutra lawyer/CEO Miller.
Comment by Kathi — April 17, 2007 @ 10:11 pm
The posts are getting way ahead of my reading. My eyes are bugging out. Switched my dogs over to Solid Gold although I’m leary of Diamond mfg it, Holistic Blendz. Wasn’t sure if I wanted to try it because as many of you have been posting tonight, it’s advertised as “new”. What is this with all the “NEW” foods or new blends of food. Wonder what exactly they have been changing or adding that is so different. One would think the companies should be able to research what they have just put into their products and take that and test it. Sorry if this doesn’t make sense. It’s after midnight and I’ve been on the computer way too long trying to read everyone’s comments.
Comment by VJ — April 17, 2007 @ 10:12 pm
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 9:45 pm
Yogurt is great, if they like it…but just a little, and only if it has no nutrasweet. I don’t know what the Activia has in it, but if it’s “human” flora, I’d be careful.
I do know my old renal patient kitty used to love plain old yogurt.
Re not eating - there’s a good chance your kitties are picking up on your well-founded and totally understandable anxiety. :) So if they won’t eat tonight, try to breathe, get a little sleep, and then try again in the morning.
Good luck, BW. I hope they eat…
Laura
Comment by Laura — April 17, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
Straybaby,
the cans say made by Natural pet nutrition in Westminister CO.
is that a Purina company? like I said they are all probably supplied by the same monopolies. OMG! my kitty just brought in a mouse, and is chowing down..guess I know what they will eat now! lol
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
Re Comment by Pam — April 17, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
Pam, I can’t remember having read anything negative about Nature’s Logic. But you’re doing the right thing. Anytime you see poos like that, it’s off to the vet. It could just be that you’re transitioning them to kibble from homecooked after a few weeks, but I think I’d want to check it out, too!
Good luck at the vets’….
Comment by Laura — April 17, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
Kathi,
Reading about you experience with NB, along with the duplicity they’ve shown the last couple of days, is really disheartening. They were on my “short list” of dog foods to try after abandoning Nutro.
I dread tomorrow. It begins…again.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 10:25 pm
And, the plot thickens — SACBEE
http://www.sacbee.com/102/story/156792.html
Experts said the new finding makes it difficult to tell people what to safely feed their pets. It also fuels suspicions that the chemical melamine is being deliberately added to some pet food ingredients to bolster their apparent protein content…
…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…
…Melamine isn’t an edible protein, but it has plenty of nitrogen, which can be used as a marker for protein in chemical analyses.
This means that if someone wanted to use less of some pricey sources of vegetable protein, such as wheat gluten, and throw in cheaper starches instead, adding melamine to that mix would still make it look like a protein-rich product.
…
Comment by Kat — April 17, 2007 @ 10:25 pm
Kat,
Don’t know why I hadn’t put that together. It would make it “test” like a protein-rich product. (e.g., Natural Balance’s “guaranteed analysis”—breakdown of protein, fat, etc.)
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 10:29 pm
Comment by joyce — April 17, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Re by Nature organics
I’m feeding the dry chicken formula (“no wheat, no corn, no soy”) to my kitties right now. Just checked the bag: organic brown rice, but no glutens or mystery “___ protein” of any kind. (So they say, anyway. I’m hesitant to trust any label after NB’s bomb today.)
My cats don’t love it, after years of grain-based kitty junk food, but they’ll eat it. (Then again, mine are NOT picky eaters, so actual mileage may differ.) But their coats already feel better, especially my big marmalade tom I used to call “Broom-butt”
for his scratchy fur. :)
I’m neither an “organic” proponent nor prone to seeing improvements that aren’t there. But I’m becoming a believer.
Comment by Laura — April 17, 2007 @ 10:32 pm
Wilbur-Ellis has an agribusiness division; a feed division; and an international division (Connell Bros Company Ltd. or CBC) which deals in foodstuffs, plastics, chemicals, etc.
From what I read, they own companies that own companies that or do business with lots of companies. Take a look at the website; they are big, big, big and they supply companies all over the world. About 1 of the 3 divisions:
Connell Brothers Company, Ltd. (CBC) Import Department …[we] import and supply chemicals, plastics and packaging products; primarily from Asian countries, Our commitment to our customers is to provide high quality, competitively priced products from the most reliable manufacturers in the world….
There are many pitfalls in the import business. Poor quality, container demurrage, truck detention, security inspections and customs exams are just a few of the challenges that add to the cost of importing product. CBC navigates this maze of problems by delivering quality product without any hidden fees or additional costs. Our customers receive what they want, when they want it at the price agreed upon when the order is placed. We honor every agreement and stand behind every container of product we sell.
Comment by Lola — April 17, 2007 @ 10:37 pm
Does anyone know about BLUE BUFFALO products? Who makes their food? Does Diamond or Menu Foods make their food?
I am really pissed right now. I had recently switched to Natural Balance “Reduced Calories” dry cat food. It is not currently listed as containing Rice Protein concentrate, but I am still worried.
Comment by Bobo — April 17, 2007 @ 10:37 pm
Laura,
I too wasn’t a big believer, but even in the 4 weeks my cats have been off the corn loaded crap, I have seen a difference in their fur. I think I might believe ‘a little’ now, if only we could trust these companies to be truthfull in what they are putting in the food, I would feel a whole lot better.
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
The melamine/protein additive theory has been floating around for a couple of weeks. Glad to see UC-Davis comment.
Comment by Kat — April 17, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
Comment by Kat — April 17, 2007 @ 10:25 pm
THANK you for the link - excellent article.
But if Herrick’s so “shocked” and “livid,” why won’t he say where he got the crap, or where it went?
I’m so tired of “shocked and saddened.” Could someone in the industry PLEASE grow a pair and tell the truth?
And re the suggestion sometime this afternoon (sorry - lotta posts here) that companies offer to have their food independently tested - yes, please! After the past month, I would willingly pay a buck or two extra to know what I’m feeding my furry family is safe. I know I’m not alone.
If any pet food company types are reading tonight, please take note….
Comment by Laura — April 17, 2007 @ 10:41 pm
Things can be read two ways…based
on grammar used.
From the USA Today article…7
“Natural Balance has received about 10 reports of sick pets, mostly dogs, since Thursday, Herrick says.”
“It said Monday that Natural Balance had informed the agency of the issue. Thacher says it told the FDA on Sunday that it had detected melamine in some rice protein concentrate imported from China about a week ago.”
One way to take this…
“According to Thacher, the melamine contamination was reported to the FDA a week ago.”
Now when I read the article, I took it to mean that they imported the product about a week ago. Unfortunately there are some that take this to mean that they told the FDA about a week ago, even though it clearly says they told the FDA on Sunday, which fits with the timing.
Just a minor point in how human interpretation can vary.
Comment by Carole — April 17, 2007 @ 10:43 pm
Yeah, I was posting on the melamine protein as well. Mostly wondering if some protein product meant for ruminants had found its way into pet food. All along, I’d assumed that the pet food companies were adding it because they legitimately wanted adequate protein in their food—even if it was cheap, inferior protein. But your post made me realize that it might be added just to fulfill some “analysis” requirements. It may seem like a meaningless distinction, but if it’s the latter they may give even less of a flying fig about the quality of the protein.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 10:47 pm
By “adding it” I meant adding gluten.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 10:51 pm
So the USA Today article says they sold to five companies, Natural Balance and Diamond being two. While they do not mention the others there, further down is this part. . . does that mean these two got some of the rice protein? If not, why bring them up?
“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.”
Comment by Bonnie — April 17, 2007 @ 10:53 pm
Could this be the same Axiom lawyer/owner:
http://tinyurl.com/329wvv
ChemNutra lawyer/CEO is also a NY lawyer.
I wonder if Stephen Miller and David Jay Janow are buddies???
Comment by Kathi — April 17, 2007 @ 10:55 pm
BW,
I’m not 100% sure they are a Purina co, that’s why I said *thinks*. I seem to remember seeing on one of these blogs/pet sites towards the begining of the first recall. It stuck out because after all the links etc I passed on to my mom, she decided on it because it was certified organic. I’ll do some hunting around, but Certified Organic should be ok no matter who makes it (and I believe in the Easter Bunny . . .)
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
Nite all. Nearly 1:00…very tired. Thanks for commiserating.
Comment by Eva — April 17, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
BW
You can try smearing some “new” food on their mouth that they will have to lick off. It starts the introduction and they may go further.
Try it gently more than one time, at different times/days. Good Luck.
Comment by DeeAnn — April 17, 2007 @ 10:57 pm
ok some help on this tinyurl.com stuff??? so I can get it posted here.
Comment by Kathi — April 17, 2007 @ 11:01 pm
Straybaby,
I honestly do not believe any of them anymore, I am going to do my best to see if I can get them to eat home cooked, even if it takes months or years. This is all so disheartning, all the poor innocent souls, that trusted us to just keep them fed.
well I am off now to have more nightmares.
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
The USA Today article states where it came from… They are not afraid…
http://tinyurl.com/38chdn
…The rice protein concentrate was imported from China by San Francisco-based Wilbur-Ellis. Herrick says the concentrate, which is being tested, is suspected to have melamine, as it was the only new ingredient. Recalled Natural Balance products include Venison and Brown Rice canned and dry dog foods, dog treats and Venison and Green Pea dry cat food.
Wilbur-Ellis CEO John Thacher said his company sold the concentrate to five pet-food makers, but that most of it went to two firms. One of the primary companies was Diamond Pet Foods, which packs some of the Natural Balance product but doesn’t use the concentrate in any Diamond-made foods, says Diamond spokesman Jim Fallon. The other major customer, which Thacher would not name, tested the rice protein and found no melamine, Thacher says. Natural Balance’s rice protein concentrate is mixed with venison meal, Thacher says.
The Food and Drug Administration offered no comment Tuesday. It said Monday that Natural Balance had informed the agency of the issue. Thacher says it told the FDA on Sunday that it had detected melamine in some rice protein concentrate imported from China about a week ago. Wilbur-Ellis has ceased importing the ingredient from the Chinese firm, Binzhou Futian Biology Technology, Thacher says.
Comment by Kat — April 17, 2007 @ 11:03 pm
Natural Nutrition is Pet Promise, and they are not associated with Purina. They are an independent pet food maker founded by three individuals.
Comment by Carole — April 17, 2007 @ 11:03 pm
I have a theory about the melamine/protein connection that’s been mentioned a few times here before. One article I read commented that melamine might be a “marker” rather than the problem toxin.
Gluten products, when infested with fungus, loose protein content as these organisms consume the food value. Low protein content is a symptom or side effect of fungal contamination.
If the gluten assayed for a low protein count the theory is the assay was bolstered up with melmaine additive to make it “spec complient”. It is likely that impacted gluten products low in protein content were also fumigated or otherwise chemically treated to kill the fungus or other organisms it contained.
I think melamine might be a “marker” for spoiled food ingredients that were fumigated, adulterated to pass assay and sent to market even though unsuited.
Comment by Larry — April 17, 2007 @ 11:04 pm
DeeAnn,
yes I have tried that too, cats are so set in their ways and both of mine adopted me 2 and 3 years ago and are older, so have been addicted to the commercial crap for many years. But I am not going to give up, what I have learned in the last several weeks has convinced me commercial food is not safe or good for them.
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 11:08 pm
BW and Carole:
http://tinyurl.com/yqwccp
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 11:08 pm
Comment by Kat — April 17, 2007 @ 11:03 pm
but not where it went…like the other major pet food maker? Who? Iams? Hills?
At this point, is this guy really more interested in keeping his customers than in getting his @$$ sued off?!
Comment by Laura — April 17, 2007 @ 11:08 pm
Kathi - go to http://www.tinyurl.com
Paste in the URL of the article etc you want to link to.
The site will generate a smaller URL for you.
Copy that and paste it into your post here.
Hope that makes sense….
Comment by Laura — April 17, 2007 @ 11:12 pm
So Purina just recently acquired them…I did not know that.
It’s kind of like seven degrees of separation -
Doesn’t change much for me that Purina owns them. Not everything Purina owns should fall under the umbrella of suspicion.
Comment by Carole — April 17, 2007 @ 11:15 pm
ok some help on this tinyurl.com stuff??? so I can get it posted here.
Comment by Kathi — April 17, 2007 @ 11:01 pm
When you are on a webpage you want to Tinyurl, Right click your browsers address and copy.
Go to Tinyurl.com and Right click and paste the website in the first box. Then click the make Tinyurl box on the right. The first “Open in new windows” words you read in blue lettering Right click and copy. Then you can paste it into this comment box or anywhere else.
**********************
BW, It is trial and error with mine also.
Comment by DeeAnn — April 17, 2007 @ 11:15 pm
Kat
Thanks for finding that US Today article. But it’s still disturbing because now it says canned venison & rice dog food and yet ANOTHER mysterious company that tested okay. Tested what product and what version of that product. Human or pet. And how do we know it’s actually safe or will yet another test of this new mystery company come back “ooops”.
Comment by Kathi — April 17, 2007 @ 11:16 pm
I take it to mean that they tested the batch of rice protein and did not find any melamine. If that is the case, then I am guessing they don’t feel the need to test food if the protein they use tests negative.
It does seems odd that some would test positive and some negative but since we don’t know enough about the shipment, etc. it is hard to draw conclusions.
Comment by Carole — April 17, 2007 @ 11:19 pm
Thanks Straybaby, Pet Promise is now eighty sixed. Jeeze, pretty soon one corporation is going to own everything.
Comment by BW — April 17, 2007 @ 11:21 pm
“Not everything Purina owns should fall under the umbrella of suspicion.”
generally I agree with that, but I am into full disclosure with all these companies these days. It’s a choice as to supporting them by buying their product or not. Purina did have some recalled product, and they, they alone are accountable for that. It’s their responsibility to provide us with safe foods. I don’t care that they got new ingredients, it’s THEIR responsibility to not pass on something that could kill my pet or child, loved one, etc.
These folks (everyone in this) need a lesson in customer service, QC ,etc.
Totally unacceptable.
Comment by straybaby — April 17, 2007 @ 11:24 pm
I am so disgusted with this whole thing. I, too, believe full disclosure is in order here.
I don’t like loose ends. As far as NB is concerned, I would have expected them to check out their products when this whole thing began. That goes for all of them. Not just sit back and wait for customers to complain. But I guess that’s just the way my mind works.
I may have had just a small business, but I at least gave my customers my very best and was proud of it.
This makes two companies I trusted. Not happening again!!
Now I have to figure out how to please my soon to be 8 yr old cat who hates anything different, with something homecooked and good to eat.
Comment by Kathi — April 17, 2007 @ 11:48 pm
Here’s something to turn your stomach — if it isn’t churning already…
http://www.tbo.com/news/money/MGBK6GQLL0F.html
The Good Earth?
Skip directly to the full story.
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN The Associated Press
Published: Apr 17, 2007
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TBO.com Site Search | Tribune archive from 1990
SHANGHAI, CHINA - The list of Chinese food exports rejected at American ports reads like a chef’s nightmare: pesticide-laden pea pods, drug-laced catfish, filthy plums and crawfish contaminated with salmonella…
…China’s Health Ministry reported almost 34,000 food-related illnesses in 2005, with spoiled food accounting for the largest number, followed by poisonous plants or animals and use of agricultural chemicals.
With China increasingly intertwined in global trade, Chinese exporters are paying a price for unsafe practices.
Excessive antibiotic or pesticide residues have caused bans in Europe and Japan on Chinese shrimp, honey and other products. Hong Kong blocked imports of turbot last year after inspectors found traces of malachite green, a possibly cancer-causing chemical used to treat fungal infections, in some fish.
One source of the problem is China’s fractured farming sector, comprised of small landholdings that make regulation difficult, experts said…
…Chinese products are bounced for containing pesticides, antibiotics and other potentially harmful chemicals, and false or incomplete labeling that sometimes omits the producer’s name….
Comment by Kat — April 17, 2007 @ 11:57 pm
Have you visited ChemNutra site today?
Most of their products have disappeared!
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 12:08 am
No, but I’ve been wondering if their “boasting” page was still up. His “wife?” has been a China liason for 13(?) yrs.
Comment by Kat — April 18, 2007 @ 12:15 am
RE:Have you visited ChemNutra site today?
Most of their products have disappeared!
Good!!!!
Less for the Federal Government to deal with. Perhaps they need to reconsider their business and suppliers.
As far as I am concerned if it is agriculture based and the origin is china it is all suspect.
I doubt they would aloow the FDA to take soil tests from where the food is grown.
As I have said before if it is near a watershed environment and within 400 miles of the coast it is a superfund site. Toxic waste dumping ground. They can’t even treat wastewater for their own people.
UGH!
Comment by MonkeyKitty — April 18, 2007 @ 12:18 am
Kat
Do you recall where ESB protein powder was listed, ChemNutra or Anying?
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 12:18 am
Yep, their “boasting” page is still up:
http://www.chemnutra.com/pricipals.htm
She has 12 years experience in China. Makes ya wonder if she probably knew about the melamine addition…
She must have known about all the food hazards there.
Comment by Kat — April 18, 2007 @ 12:19 am
I wrote down their list of vitamins, minerals and vet medicine in one of my notebooks. Glad I did in case another mystery agent shows up.
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 12:22 am
ChemNutra sells Rice Protein Concentrate too:
http://www.chemnutra.com/feed.htm
Still nothing on Natural Life about the recall. They don’t even have an email address or web form for contact. That box is gone that stated their products had been tested for melamine.
Comment by Kat — April 18, 2007 @ 12:23 am
I think Ms Q knows a lot about “What’s in the beef”. She visits there.
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 12:25 am
I think I will too. I do not want to consume ANYTHING they have….never, ever.
Comment by Kat — April 18, 2007 @ 12:26 am
She’s a chemical food engineer. Sounds like hands on job to me.
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 12:26 am
Their two primary products were wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate. Just a coincidence that they both contain melamine. What’s Q been up to anyway.
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 12:28 am
that is SO WRONG!!! does anyone know how to do the archive links?!
I spent a whole freakin’ weekend looking for safe supplements based on what they USED to have on their site.
I’ll admit I’m in totally shock yet again. And they want us to believe their sappy A$$ apology and innocence?!
*screaming from the roof tops!*
Comment by straybaby — April 18, 2007 @ 12:29 am
I think Durbin needs to know about this immediately.
Maybe someone else put it in a text file. Wish I had.
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 12:32 am
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
Comment by Lynn — April 18, 2007 @ 12:43 am
yeah, I didn’t text it either :(
DAMN! I can’t tell you how ticked I am at myself. I had been wondering if after they changed their profiles, they changed the quality on the Wheat Gluten. And I didn’t save their product pages at that point!!
Their list was long and included zinc etc. *funny* how they only have 3 amino’s now. HOW STUPID DO THEY THINK EVERYONE IS?!
So ChemNutro, WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?! Are you shredding your butts off at the moment?!
Comment by straybaby — April 18, 2007 @ 12:50 am
I hear ya Lynn. And if they don’t do full disclosure, yup, massive boycotting.
Don’t they realize we can *see* them now?!
Comment by straybaby — April 18, 2007 @ 12:54 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 @ 12:58 am
I say BOYCOTT ALL CHINESE PRODUCTS!!!!
as mentioned above they sell crap.. the only thing they think about is getting your cash and running away before you can tell you got ripped off…
MADE IN CHINA = TRASH!!!!
The hoards of recalled harmful products (like my powerbar which was faked to look like a CSA approved one) catching fire with only 1 small lamp plugged into it….
Now all the problems with menu foods and their chinese infected wheat gluten…. and of course the crappy Rice Concentrate the chinese sold Natural Balance….
If it is made in china it is CRAP!!!!
BOYCOTT ALL CHINESE PRODUCTS!!!! BOYCOTT ALL CHINESE PRODUCTS!!!! BOYCOTT ALL CHINESE PRODUCTS!!!! BOYCOTT ALL CHINESE PRODUCTS!!!! BOYCOTT ALL CHINESE PRODUCTS!!!! BOYCOTT ALL CHINESE PRODUCTS!!!! BOYCOTT ALL CHINESE PRODUCTS!!!!
Comment by Meester Guido Sarducci — April 18, 2007 @ 12:58 am
OMG I am really angry regarding the NB food debacle. I very deliberately researched their food. Their website previously claimed that they manufactured all their food in one plant, and shipped it for packaging to another. They stated that all their food except the New Zealand lamb was grown or produced in the US. Now all that information is gone…….making me wonder if this is all a bad dream. This feels worse than menu foods, since I really expected ethical behavior from NB. Guess I’m a ninny.
Does anyone want to pass on links for cooking for dogs and cats? I actually have the dog part under control, but don’t know what to do about the cats. I keep waiting for the hamster food to be recalled too.
Gotta go….timer went off for the dog food…you guessed it, I’m cooking for the dog again.
This sucks
Comment by joyce — April 18, 2007 @ 1:00 am
I’m waiting for a response from Eagle Pack regarding their Holistic brand as far as menu and various grain issues. I’m at a loss. I tried Blue Buffalo and referred them to all my friends. My cats hate it as do my firends and families pets. I told my mom its like choosing between doritoes and celery sticks. Who wouldn’t like the doritoes better. I don’t know. This whole thing is a mess and brains smarter then mine certainly haven’t figured it out. I just wish all the companies could all just come out and start from scratch. No lies, no tainted products. I keep thinking I should have just given my babies friskies and let them enjoy the non-recalled “doritoes.”
Comment by Chelsea — April 18, 2007 @ 1:09 am
I could use some help with cat food recipes. Typically Beans likes whitefish and salmon. But I think if I mash food good enough and add water she might try a little chix or beef mixed in. I just don’t know what else is good for her. I’ve always had dogs until she joined us.
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 1:11 am
Comment by Carole — April 17, 2007 @ 11:03 pm:
thepetfoodlist.com states that: Pet Promise is a Purina product
Comment by FMtz — April 18, 2007 @ 1:11 am
I wonder who the other 5 non-recalled products are that’s waiting to be tested. This isn’t right. They should let us know before we buy another product.
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 1:15 am
I defend my right to be tough on NB. They lied to me just moments brfore the press release when I asked about the dead pets in Texas and the phone call to the owner stating melamine was found in the food. I do not like liars.
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 1:22 am
Comment by Tammy — April 18, 2007 @ 12:58 am
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.
Agent Cool Blue Mouthwash (Made by Listerine) for children has been recalled. My child has some of this, but hasn’t used it in quite a while. I sure hope she is going to be okay.
Here is the link:
http://www.agentcoolblue.com/
Gee, I won’t if it contains any glutens or (rice) proteins???
Comment by FMtz — April 18, 2007 @ 1:24 am
They lied on their website also, unfortunately. A lot of information has been removed that was there in March….
Comment by joyce — April 18, 2007 @ 1:25 am
Opps, I meant to say I ‘wonder’ if it contains any glutens or (rice) proteins. Sorry.
Comment by FMtz — April 18, 2007 @ 1:27 am
Kathi,
for transitioning my cats off of commercial, i did use fish mixed with chicken.
you can check out Dr Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Cats and Dogs for recipes or
http://www.catnutrition.org/
there are many others, but those are a good start.
Comment by straybaby — April 18, 2007 @ 1:32 am
Ya know FMtz I wouldn’t doubt it. Nothing is surprising anymore. I’ve always considered myself an optimist but now I have become a pessimist.
We ate the recalled Peanut Butter and of course didn’t know it until half the damn jar was empty. Good thing no one got sick. And I’m not buying their explanation for the contamination…..it’s BS. I bet my left ovary that they have NO idea what caused it….and yes I still have my left ovary to bet LOL.
Comment by Tammy — April 18, 2007 @ 1:38 am
STEVE and BERNIE:
A long shot - the USDA has ARS stations in various parts of the world. Funding and project employment for scientists and others; joint ventures with companies in those foreign countries.
Wonder if USDA funding facilitated part of this forsaken nightmare. It sure would explain the “disappearance” of certain research scientists who came to the US from China, then worked in the US for USDA field stations, then show up back in China. I would hate to think we did “this” to ourselves.
Did you notice that CBC ships Citric Acid , Malic Acid, Fumaric Acid, Tartaric Acid, and food phosphates to south Africa? They’re also involved with alcohol. Gee…..connect the dots.
Comment by Lynn — April 18, 2007 @ 1:38 am
straybaby
Thanks. She’s suspicious of everything. Can’t blame her. She got sick on Nutro MaxCat, ya know the one in the can that wasn’t recalled for so long. Of course I took her off it day of 1st recall. So what do I buy? NB. I’ve been sick for several days. Queasy!! Just waiting for the next announcement.
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 1:39 am
STEVE:
Regarding the link you provided for MDS Inc. http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=mdz
Note terms and phrases:
• Pharmaceutical
• Cancer
• analytical instruments
• pre-clinical development to Phase II(a) clinical trials for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
Now – let me add a few more names and terms:
• Aminopterin
• John Zebala, CEO of Syntrix
• Phase II clinical trials for cancer drug aminopterin
Pharmaceutical business is cut-throat.
Comment by Lynn — April 18, 2007 @ 2:26 am
MENU FOODS - LUBA
Steve - check out http://onourradar.blogspot.com.....0W.%20Luba
Comment by Lynn — April 18, 2007 @ 2:29 am
I was going to try Nature’s Logic, but after pams post (Comment by Pam — April 17, 2007 @ 8:21 pm) I don’t know what to do. I have six…no, seven different dry dogs foods in my house and the only one I’m feeding now is Canidae, but that one has me worried too after BW’s posts above. I’ve put my two little dogs on a B.A.R.F. diet, but I can’t afford this for my big guys. Does anyone have any suggestions? The big dogs only have enough Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul for two more nights. They have been fine on this one, but after what has happened with NB and Diamond I don’t want to buy any more Diamond products either! My, Oh, My….what to do…what to do???
Comment by FMtz — April 18, 2007 @ 2:33 am
MENU FOODS - LUBA
03-15-2007 appointed to board of Softchoice.com
Mr. Luba, a Chartered Accountant by profession, is the President and founder of Luba Financial Inc. During his distinguished 30-year career, Mr. Luba has held several senior level executive management positions, including President and CEO of Royal Bank Investment Management Inc., President of Crown Life Insurance Company, and Vice-President, Finance & CFO of John Labatt Ltd. Mr. Luba serves as a Corporate Director of Aim/Trimark Mutual Funds, ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc., MDS Inc., Menu Foods and KCP Income Fund. Mr. Luba is also a member of the advisory board of the John P. Robarts Research Institute, and Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Lewar Centre of Excellence.
Comment by Lynn — April 18, 2007 @ 2:39 am
This is a little off topic, but still in reguards to China imports. I take vitamins and herbs, and was always pretty cautious about ing. listed, and avoided a lot of products because of all the unnessary ing. added as fillers. Because of all the education I am getting regarding pet food and ingredients in them, I have made up my mind for my health’s sake to purchase only supplements for us that are top notch, all items come from the US, and they are quality checked by a third company. One that I have used for over 10 yr. is Thorne products, and most likely will be using more of their products now. This pet food info is spilling over into my own food choices now, thankfully, I cook everything from scratch because of so many allergies to ing. that are put in ready to use products.
Comment by darlene — April 18, 2007 @ 3:16 am
APRIL 28TH - REMEMBRANCE DAY
Perhaps this is a terrible idea - but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
What if the KOPS Marches on the 28th, in addition to memorializing our pets,launched a week of “quiet protest” in the form of ceasing to buy any commercial pet food for one week? Show the manufacturers that unless they pull their act together that we simply aren’t buying. I know this will create a hardship on many but I don’t know a better way to make them understand we are not putting up with this. Comments?
Comment by Lynn — April 18, 2007 @ 3:33 am
I’ve been told by someone who works at a store that sells Natural Balance that their sales rep told them on Tuesday that NB recently added brown rice bran to their Venison formulas, and this brown rice bran has tested positive for melamine. It was made in the U.S. and is a HUMAN GRADE product…
I haven’t gotten permission to forward her whole post, but that’s what NB is telling its retail base.
Tammy Kinkade
Eyota Danes - http://www.eyotadanes.k9snaturally.com
K9’s Naturally, NW Ohio’s raw food place - http://www.k9snaturally.com
Comment by Tammy K — April 18, 2007 @ 3:42 am
To FMtz: Please don’t avoid Nature’s Logic because of what I posted. Their owner has assured me that their product does not contain any protein content boosters such as glutens or protein powders and no synthetic vitamins or other additives. I do not know what is causing my dogs’ problems. Although it is, of course, very tempting to blame it on the food, there could be any number of other causes. They are going to the vet in about an hour and I will post here if the vet thinks there is any possibility that the food could be a problem. It may be just that this food is so much more wholesome that it is causing some gastrointestinal problems until they become accustomed to eating it.
Comment by Pam — April 18, 2007 @ 5:01 am
Comment by Lynn — April 18, 2007 @ 2:26 am
Wouldn’t shock me a bit if we found out these guys were using our pets as experimental subjects. And who knows what else.
“They will do anything to materialize their every wish”
Comment by Steve — April 18, 2007 @ 5:49 am
To Kathi post 12:08am and Monkeykitty 12:18
I did run a copy of ChemNutra’s product lists.
Thankfully before my copier broke. If you have any questions, I’ll be happy to refer to it.
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 5:53 am
Whoa. I just checked the ChemNutra site after posting a comment at 5:53am. They sure did remove list of a lot—-a lot of products! Scabs!
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 5:56 am
My three year old Yorkie was sick approx. one month ago with bloody diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy. His food was NB with chicken, brown rice, duck, lamb. Vet bills ran to approx. 450 and they never could tell me what was wrong. He is ok now.
Comment by laura — April 18, 2007 @ 6:05 am
My Dogs WERE on Nutro ,They Were Drinking SO much water,their urine had a bad smell ,they won’t vomit now and then and straining to do no 2 i decieded after reading some mamey horror stories i made up my mind to take them off nutro,i was going to put them on canidae but there were to maney ingeredients. i deceided to go with california natural, i put them on it at 1 pm on tues i mixed it in with nutro, last nite i just put a very little chicken in it.the dogs stop drinking all the water,they seem happier ,ate all the food. i have them on the reduced calorie rice and lamb meal. brown rice,lamb meal, and rice ,is all thats in the food. i’m so happy i took them off nutro. http://www.naturapet.com they also make innova but i wanted to put them on something with less ingredidients,canidae has yucca what the hell do they need yucca? i’m so happy i listen to all these smart people writing in and i’m so dam mad at myshelf it took me so long to change their .i will never ever put them on NUTRO !!!!!!!
Comment by Marry Ann — April 18, 2007 @ 6:36 am
addition to my post: the exact name of the NB dry formula I was using is NB Ultra Premium Dog Food.
Comment by laura — April 18, 2007 @ 6:55 am
I believed NB lies and it put my pets at risk. I almost bought the Vension and Rice because they were out of the Potato and Duck and I looked at the bag and thought no, I just love deers too much to feed it to my dog.
And that’s what makes me so upset over all this. I have no hate grudge against Natural Balance but from what we’ve been discovering and finding out here, these lies and cheap products simply have to stop. We’ve been duped by slick ads and Dick Van Pattens smiling face and I always liked him too. I don’t blame him, but lying about pet ingredients is wrong.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 7:15 am
Kat
Do you recall where ESB protein powder was listed, ChemNutra or Anying?
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 12:18 am
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I remember clearly it was Anying who had the ESB. I remember seeing it on at least one market board.
Here they are listed on Made-in-China.com:
http://tinyurl.com/29qbo4
Comment by Kat — April 18, 2007 @ 7:15 am
Does anyone know what pet food is safe here?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 7:23 am
RE: Comment by Tammy K — April 18, 2007 @ 3:42 am
!!!! THAT IS SCARY !!!!
Wonder when we’ll know WHICH foods they’ve placed THAT batch in?? After 1200 people die? In 6 months, after they’ve taken their sweet-_ _ _ time?
Made in the US?? For some reason, I doubt that. OR~ just don’t WANT to believe it, is more likely. I’ll bet it is made in China & distributed by the US — as the rest of the crap.
Anyway, looks like even MORE recalls are coming, on top of the other 3 or 4 undisclosed rice protein concentrate users.
Comment by Kat — April 18, 2007 @ 7:27 am
It looks as though several brands at the same time changed their dry food formulas to add “protein concentrate of any kind,” in my opinion, to save money on adding “real protein,” however that may be defined. Companies are out to make their products as cheaply as possible. This “rice protein” probably sounded safe to them, thinking it was wholesome. They could boost their protein count for the “guaranteed analysis” and saved a ton of money. NOT ONE OF THE COMPANIES THOUGHT TO TEST THE PRODUCT FIRST.
http://www.foodnavigator.com/n.....ce-protein
************QUOTES FROM ARTICLE LINKED ABOVE***
These prices are creating strong demand for alternative protein sources. Overall, food makers are using greater quantities of protein as the nutrient is shown to offer health benefits, and consumers question the role of carbohydrates. This increase in demand, in conjunction with an increase in demand from the animal feed industry, is putting pressure on traditional protein sources like soy and whey, raising prices.
First launched at Supply Side West, the product was on display at FiE in Paris last week.
While brown rice flour is already available, as well as rice starch, rice protein is not yet well-established as a food ingredient, particularly in highly concentrated form.
It is said to be the only wholegrain rice protein on the market, with the entire brown rice kernel being used in the processing. The process uses natural enzymes that digest the carbohydrate portion and leave the protein, with no traces of additives or chemicals.
Oryzatein contains nine essential amino acids, plus other non-essential amino acids, giving it a 98 per cent correlation to mother’s milk, according to Axiom. This makes it suitable for infant formula.
**************END OF QUOTES**************
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
Good goin’ petlover. Keep us informed, even if it is nothing.
Comment by Kat — April 18, 2007 @ 8:42 am
Will do. Off to the vet with the cat for fluid therapy — kidney values are higher than normal — may or may not be due to the food.
Comment by petlover — April 18, 2007 @ 8:49 am
Comment by straybaby - Pet Promise
“Just a comment on Pet’s Promise, I *think* it’s made by Purina. It is certified organic, so it should be safe.”
Yes, it’s confirmed, Purina makes some of Pet Promise food. (don’t know which foods) I called them a few days ago and they said yes, Purina.
Comment by Gary — April 18, 2007 @ 9:12 am
I feel so duped by NB. I researched petfoods so carefully, and I finally settled on NB because they were manufactured in one plant, and claimed that the only foreign made ingredients were New Zealand lamb. The only thing that made me nervous was the fact that it was shipped to a different plant for packaging. I honestly just stopped home cooked food and changed over. Now all that information about where it’s made etc is gone from the website, poof! The bottom line is…they lied to us. As pet owners, and personally as an owner of a dog recovering from ARF, we were in such a vunerable state. They were not honest with us in our time of need. I think that is a bigger betrayal than Menu Foods. Menu heartless corporate comglomerate. NB is supposed to be different…..I must have been crazy to believe anything anyone says. I am making food for my dog again for now, but the cats won’t touch home made food. The list keeps geting shorter and shorter.
Comment by Joyce — April 18, 2007 @ 9:28 am
Ditto, Joyce! I feel the same way about Natural Life.
I am still making homemade. I haven’t stopped. But, I was adding about 1/2 rations of the kibble to my homemade. I have one 113 lb dog & a small kitchen & refrig.
Comment by Kat — April 18, 2007 @ 11:40 am
What I wrote above sounds like I only have 1 pet. I have 5. 2 dogs, which includes 1 big, 1 med + 3 cats.
The dogs love what I make, the cats will rarely touch it. I’ve used different things as the main ingredient.
Comment by Kat — April 18, 2007 @ 11:44 am
NO RESPONSE YET FROM WIBUR-ELLIS, SELLER OF RICE PROTEIN TO 5 PET FOOD COMPANIES. MY EMAIL, BELOW, WAS SENT 10:30 AM EST.
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 @ 11:54 am
TO KAT: NO RESPONSE YET FROM WILBUR-ELLIS CO. ASKING JOHN THACHER TO RELEASE THE OTHER 4 NAMES OF THE PET FOOD COMPANIES HE SOLD THE RICE PROTEIN TO.
For some reason, I am not able to copy and paste the email from this site to Wilbur-Ellis, which is 6 or 7 posts above this. I was wondering if this was being blocked for a reason? I used the proper medical term to describe “private parts” when I described my dog’s death and always use acceptable language here. Just wondering if this was blocked for some reason… moderator?
Comment by petlover — April 18, 2007 @ 12:45 pm
petlover, are you highlighting, then right clicking to copy?
Comment by Kat — April 18, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
So, here is another dilemma I am facing. I went to buy pet vitamins to add to the homemade food for the dog. i had 2 choices for canine multivitamins. One was made by Wellness, and since I have taken a solemn vow not to purchase any products from pet food companies who do business with Menu, Wellness is out. The other multivitamin had…you guess it, wheat gluten! I left the pet store without buying anything. I then bought organic childrens gummi chewables, and thought I could feed them to Rupert like treats. He spit it out. So now I am back to square one. Any ideas?
I sent a rather strongly worded but civil email to NB at 2 am this morning. I will post any response I get.
Oh, and BTW, I called Menu Foods for the 4th time yesterday. I initially reported my dogs illness on day two of the recall, still no call back. I’m sure I’m not the only one who isn’t surprised.
Comment by Joyce — April 18, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
I called Wilbur-Ellis, they haven’t taken their phone number off their website yet. They took my name, number, and email address. When I asked if Purina was one of the unnamed pet food companies they would not confirm or deny it. I’ve been feeding my cat their “naturals” dry kibble since avoiding products with wheat gluten. She is also eating wet food from Hill’s sold to me by my vet. On their website they issued a statement saying which of their products contain that ingredient and that it came from a different supplier. They also say they have tested the ingredients for melamine. I have more faith in the companies that seem to be proactive and not afraid to talk to consumers. My cat has already lost 20% of her body weight from being jerked around between commercial products and homemade food. I don’t know what to do. All I know is Purina is not answering their customer hotline anymore.
Comment by Sharon — April 18, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
I hope this won’t come across as negative or rude. I just think people here are doing such a great job of sleuthing and digging up great info, I would hate for it all to be lost again due to relying only on TinyURLs.
Tinyurls expire. Sometimes within a few weeks. And when they do, no one will have any idea what you were pointing to. With a “real” address, even if the actual page no longer exists, or has changed, it is still possible to search for an old copy in the Google (or other search engine) cache. With a dead Tinyurl, you have nothing to go on.
Tinyurls are hardly ever necessary. If you’re trying to post a very long URL and the website cuts off part of it, then Tinyurl might be the best option. Even then, it’s a good idea to post the entire address in addition, even if it doesn’t come out as a clickable link, unless you’re pretty sure it’s something no one will care about a month from now.
Don’t worry about posting longish URLs - it’s not bad Netiquette at all and as long as the info is there and people can find what you’re pointing to, it’s fine.
Comment by Katie — April 18, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
The problem with long URLs is not one of ‘Netiquette. They blow our layout apart and make the blog hard to read in Firefox.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 18, 2007 @ 6:28 pm
Thanks for clarifying, Gina. As a Firefox user, I appreciate that.
Comment by Katie — April 18, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
To all who are reading please be cautious about feeding your dogs Wellness Wellbars with Yogurt, Apples & Bananas as one of the ingredients are Brown Rice Protein Concentrate!
My lab just recently consumed a full box of these treats. Sure hope that she will not be affected by this contaminated rice protein concentrate.
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
Thank you Linda. I was wondering if the Yogurt and Apples etc treats also had the rice protein in it.
I used to feed my dogs these quite often and they really loved them too.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 18, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Linda: When I spoke with the people at Wellness today, they told me this (It’s up to us whether we believe it or not). They do not use Rice Protein in any of their cat foods. I asked about the dog allergy formulas and the treats you mention because I saw that Brown Rice Protein in their ingredients and the Woman at Wellness told me that they do not use the same supplier that was contaminated. It is so hard to figure out what to believe and not to be worried.
Comment by auntie — April 18, 2007 @ 7:28 pm
Comment from Joyce 1:28pm
Regarding vitamins…have you considered Missing Link. It’s powdered form. Had to go through old notes that I refer to often from illnesses of pets that have passed on. Come in handy often. Sorry I just threw my copy of Foster & Smith away last week so I can’t tell you ingredients.
Comment by VJ — April 18, 2007 @ 7:29 pm
Tinyurls expire. Sometimes within a few weeks.
Not according to their site… they say they NEVER expire:
Welcome to TinyURL!™
Are you sick of posting URLs in emails only to have it break when sent causing the recipient to have to cut and paste it back together? Then you’ve come to the right place. By entering in a URL in the text field below, we will create a tiny URL that will not break in email postings and never expires.
http://www.tinyurl.com
Comment by Christie Keith — April 18, 2007 @ 7:31 pm