Pet food recall: Blue Buffalo pulls a food
By Gina Spadafori
April 19, 2007
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While the FDA press conference is ongoing, Blue Buffalo has just pulled on of its products, Spa Select Kitten Dry Food, product code: “Best Used By Mar. 07 08 B.” The link, according to the company, is rice protein concentrate.
Blue Buffalo is here:
We have taken this action because the rice protein concentrate used for this run was obtained from Wilbur-Ellis, the same company who supplied this ingredient to Natural Balance. Test results received late last evening (4/18) indicated that this rice protein concentrate tested positive for melamine. This is the first and only time our manufacturing partner sourced an ingredient from Wilbur-Ellis, and we had no knowledge that they had imported the ingredients from China.
We have advised the FDA of this finding and will be working closely with them on this issue.
They may have advised the FDA, but the FDA just said they can’t reveal the companies that got the rice protein. They seemed kind of surprised when Christie mentioned it, confirmed it was one of the companies, and refused to release the names of the others.
Update from Christie: Carrie Peyton Dahlberg of the Sacramento Bee is still working on a story, but she posted this little teaser on the Bee website just now:
The chemical linked to cat and dog deaths on two continents has made it into pig feed, federal officials said Thursday, although it wasn’t immediately clear whether any pigs that ate the melamine were later eaten by people.
More when we have more.
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What in heck is so hard to determine. All the companies should recall every single bag of pet food made since they and all their suppliers contracted with Chinese companies. Go back to using companiesthat were being used BEFORE all this happened. Let’s get some sense of normalcy back and stop the craziness.
Comment by VJ — April 19, 2007 @ 2:46 pm
US of A is starting to look funny (as in hmm)for it’s handling of this matter. Too much overhead and no solutions as yet.
Get a grip !
Comment by Stefania — April 19, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
I just went and added a remaining can of Blue Buffalo to our cabinet of canned foods that I don’t consider safe so shouldn’t be fed. That’s right next to the closet with dry foods that are not safe. I will soon have enough not-actually-recalled-yet-suspicious food to keep a shelter going, but I wouldn’t feed it to them. I need to write that email to Durbin and tell him so.
Comment by CatLady — April 19, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
It just occurred to me after that last post…. From what we are hearing, melamine testing isn’t instant. It sounds like it takes a day or so.
That means that Blue Buffalo has known that they used the bad rice protein in a kitten food for some time (how long?!) and didn’t announce it. How many kittens died because they wanted to wait in case they could get out of a recall?
Comment by CatLady — April 19, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
Truly hesitant on the Blue Buffalo recall. I had just bought all Blue Buffalo products for the cat & dog, after putting Iams, Purina One(wheat gluten), and 9Lives (DelMonte) aside. I really can’t face the thought of researching again, especially since Blue Buffalo was already close to twice what I had been spending previously. Still, it’s cheaper than the vet bill we had for our cat, Angel. Both the cat & dog have been thriving on the food. Increased energy, beautiful, softer coats. I really don’t want to give it up. Is it just the dry kitten, on that one run? Do we dare believe them? I’ve already preached at work & home one recalled can was enough to ruin trust and leave the entire line behind, that’s why we abandoned Iams, Purina and Del Monte. i just really liked this food.
Comment by marianne — April 19, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
Does Blue Buffalo list the rice protein concentrate on its products?
Just avoid all rice protein concentrates or glutens and all other glutens - gluten anything - protein concentrate anything - call the companies and find out first hand, not by the back of the package.
You will be safe I believe if you do that.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
So here is what’s really ironic. A few weeks ago on Itchmo’s site, Blue Buffalo’s lawyer posted demanding that they immediately remove all postings with the companies name in it, because they didn’t want to be associated with Menu Foods. They threatened litigation if it wasn’t done immediately. I guess they’re closer to Menu than they thought.
Comment by Joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
What on earth are we all going to do with these POISON collections?
As expensive as they were to buy, even when you don’t factor in the Vet bills and worry, I wager a LOT of homes could now be considered as toxic waste sites now.
Melamine becomes cyanide under heat or interaction with acid. A dog burp could kill you, and the dog.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 19, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
I’m with you on the Blue Buffalo. I just switched my 1 remaining cat to it after she got sick on Iams dry and I lost my other cat to kidney failure from Menu foods canned food. I also switched my dogs treat biscuits to Blue Buffalo because her previous treats had wheat gluten (although not a brand on the recall list). I am switching all my animals to a home diet until we can be sure the pet food on the shelves are safe. Atleast I know if they get sick from the same food I eat, well, I won’t feel as guilty because I’d be getting sick from it too. I’m already living with the fact I had to put my 10 year old best friend to sleep after feeding her contaminated food day after day before a recall was even announced.
Comment by nikandboots — April 19, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
The bags & website say “whole ground brown rice”, but I don’t want to get stuck in a symantics issue, with my munchkin having already been to the vet hospital once. My moose dog could probably eat the bag that said melamine and shrug it off, like he does with trashcans, rugs and lamps, but she’s a little more delicate.
Comment by marianne — April 19, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
Whole grain brown rice does not sound like a protein concentrate - but to be sure call the company and ask and ask again and rephrase the question if needed until you are convinced.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
Comment to Joyce…..
I would like to contact that lawyer now to see what he has to say since Blue Buffalo’s name is all over the media with the recalls.
Comment by marcy — April 19, 2007 @ 3:16 pm
I talked with Blue Buffalo yesterday - they called me. They are very upfront and have always listed their ingredients. At the time I talked with her, she said they had not been contacted by the FDA but had initiated tests because they do use this stuff. She said their management was also tracing where it came from because they are not supposed to be receiving ingredients from China. She did say their test results would be back today. Seeing as how the food I am using doesn’t contain this protein or any wheat, soy, corn, etc. I plan to continue to use it.
I did ask her about the brown rice. When you list whole brown rice on the ingredients it indicates that they do not process it in any way, and she confirmed this.
So, they may have recalled their kitten food but this one food I am willing to take a bet on - there really isn’t much left to worry about. I have already abandoned Iams and withheld treats based on corn and wheat, but I actually do feel okay using this as a treat.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
My only advise now is practice mental control. Do not let your thoughts run amuck, and use developed discernment. The act or process of exhibiting keen insight and good judgment.
There is no easy way out of this mess.
Marcy I agree. But he’s an intellectual property lawyer. He should mind his own business and stick with something he knows about.
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
Hi Steve,
How have you been?
Comment by marcy — April 19, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Two other things…
Perhaps the situation with Buffalo’s lawyer wasn’t handled correctly, however I can somewhat understand their concern. There is so much information posted on the net right now and there is a ton of confusion as to what was recalled. Their bigger concern was that folks did not lump them in with the wheat gluten recall because of the proximity of the article.
Also, I did talk with again about menadione and they once again confirmed that they stopped using this in October 2006 after receiving concerns from customers. They felt is was not worth having it in there if folks were upset about it. They are aware that folks still claim that it is in there but there isn’t much the can do except keep telling them it is not.
As for the FDA, my guess on why they were surprised is because they probably were not aware at the time of the news conference that BB had finished testing and announced their results. I applaud BB for not waiting to tell everyone else in the world before the public.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
I guess I’ll write back to the lady at Wilbur-Ellis who e’d me this morning with: We believe the FDA will be announcing the 4 companies today.
: (
Comment by slt — April 19, 2007 @ 3:33 pm
OMH and Dr Fosters have yet to put out any news on this.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
Castor and Pollux:
Our hearts go out to those who have lost their four-legged best friend and to those whose favorite dog or cat is ill. As a team of pet parents, we all share your grief, sorrow and passion for those wagging tails and twitching whiskers. There is nothing better than that special greeting when you walk in the door, the snuggle on the couch, the expectant sit awaiting play time or treats, or those eyes that acknowledge your need for their love and devotion. We truly understand.
We want to assure you that our Organix and Natural Ultramix products are NOT affected by the canned food or dry food recalls. Organix and Natural Ultramix continue to be safe and healthy for your four-legged best friends.
We also want to assure you that NONE of our dry or canned Organix or Natural Ultramix foods or treats or Good Buddy Cookies contain wheat gluten (the ingredient associated with the original recalls).
Rice Protein Concentrate is NOT used in our Organix formulas and is NOT used in Natural Ultramix Adult Canine Formula or Natural Ultramix Adult Feline Formula. Certified Organic Rice Protein Concentrate is used in our Organix Organic Feline Canned Turkey, Brown Rice and Chicken Formula but is not affected. The Rice Protein Concentrate used in our Natural Ultramix Puppy Formula, Natural Ultramix Kitten Formula, Natural Ultramix Weight Management Formula and Natural Ultramix Indoor Feline Formula has already been tested and there is NO trace of melamine.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 3:37 pm
Do you know that there is such a thing as potato protein concentrate - I wonder if it is the same junk as the glutens?????
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:37 pm
PetGuard:
PetGuard Natural and USDA certified Organic products are NOT affected by the recall. PetGuard does NOT use wheat gluten or source ingredients from China. The ORGANIC Rice Protein Concentrate used in PetGuard products IS NOT sourced from WILBUR-ELLIS. All PetGuard products are safe for your pet(s) to enjoy.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
Thank you for the answer on the brown rice question. I think I’m going to take Blue on faith also. My considerably lighter cat now greets me in the morning by flinging her empty food bowl at me to be refilled. That’s a really good feeling when she wouldn’t eat less than a month ago. I also think they’ve been more upfront. I’ve tried multiple times to access Purina websites to check coworkers foods, and not been able to get in. Iams has actually removed the recall from their main page, you now have to search for it and sort through tons of unrelated company jargon. When I went to Blue’s site after the announcement, their pop-up doesn’t let you do anything but read it first. And they’ve actually apologized, which I don’t remember seeing on anyone else’s site. They were all “saddened” by what happened to all of us, but no one that I saw had actually been sorry for what they’ve done.
Comment by marianne — April 19, 2007 @ 3:45 pm
howl911.com offers some brand name speculation based on mfr state named by fda
Comment by Cynthia — April 19, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
I just posted this an another thread that must be done before I saw this one:
Yesterday I bought my kitty a 1.5 lb “trial size” bag of dry Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul that was a low price and a big new display in the local dog and cat boutique. Read the label carefully; besides the first listed chicken, salmon and chicken meal, it lists cracked barley, white rice, whole grain brown rice; no glutens or mixes.
(I see the post above about whole grain brown rice being okay, but what about “white rice”?)
Today I see in the abc news story linked above that the Diamond plant in Meta, Mo. got some of the contaminated rice protein mixture. That’s who “proudly made” this food, says the bag. My Phelicity has taken a few bites and seemed to like it; I was hopeful. She’s mostly on wet food as she needs to be with CRF. I can’t tell if the little she had affected her any, because she’s not doing too well right now. She had to get subcu fluids today. I can’t stand the fear any more. The dry food stops, all dry, and the assisted feeding with baby food mixtures exclusively starts today.
Comment by Sharon G — April 19, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
I switched my cats (5) and dogs (2) to Innova Evo, since it is labeled “grain free,” but then got concerned after the NB recall that perhaps grain free wasn’t really grain free…so I just called to confirm that there are NO grains or grain derivatives in the Evo (she said there aren’t), but I also asked about the Karma rice protein. Rep said that the rice used in their rice protein is grown in the US, not imported. You’d think they’d put that on the website along with their claim that the Karma rice protein is safe, though. I’m just hoping that the Evo is truly safe, that I can believe them. I haven’t had any problems with my babies so far, but I’m watching them closely. Before we switched they were on Nutro. Yikes.
Comment by Kelli — April 19, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
Sharon,
it is such a worry. I would use the baby food too. I’m terrified that the bottom line is going to be so awful for our pets.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
PS
I don’t even suggest other foods really to my friends - I feel terrible that they were feeding the venison etc. from NB at my suggestion and now their pets are ill.
It’s too much for me to handle. I am trying the TimberWolf Organic as a supplement for a couple of my dogs just to see. The company assured me nothing whatsoever was from China - no glutens or protein concnetrates.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
I believe we expect the news we are waiting for tomorrow since it’s ….FRIDAY.
Comment by Janet — April 19, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
The company assured me nothing whatsoever was from China - no glutens or protein concnetrates.
Blue Buffalo thought the same thing about their products, however it turns out that their manufacturer purchased it from Wilbur Ellis, hence China.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
Never have tried Timberwolf Organics but I don’t like that they sell their food with the word “Organics” in the name and their ingredients are NOT organic. Strikes me as terribly misleading.
Comment by slt — April 19, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
Oh well, I called them and I’m satisfied. Organic doesn’t mean much unless it is certified but I like the rest of what I heard. So I won’t dismiss a company because of a name quibble, names aren’t too important right now. Ingredients are to me.
I have to feed my dogs something and have two I will probably always need to home cook for but the others can and 1/2 and 1/2.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
Well they don’t use protein concentrates or glutens of any kind.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
There is one good thing about this recent deal…
It was caught early and would appear that not a lot of the food was actually bought or distributed. And it is being corrected at once by the involved companies.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
Comment by marcy — April 19, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Stress City Marcy. As if the Pet Food isn’t enough April came down with FH last week so I had to vanish for a few days or so to be the home Doc.
We saw the Vet today, Aprils going to be fine but we have an eye medicine regime we need to do over the next few days.
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
From Forbes.com:
The FDA and Agriculture Department also were investigating whether some pet food made by one of the five companies supplied by Wilbur-Ellis was diverted for use as hog feed after it was found unsuitable for pet consumption.
“We understand it did make it into some hog feed and we are following up on that as well,” Sundlof said.
Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 4:26 pm
It seems like most people have forgotten that melamine might not be the actual cause of kidney failure. If it’s merely a co-contaminant, then just because a shipment tests negative for melamine doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe.
The only other option is that melamine is more harmful than was previously thought.
Comment by Lisa C — April 19, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 4:26 pm
Not good news for Pork Rind fans.
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
Please someone help me! I just bought several bags of Blue Spa Select for my four cats on Monday and they have been eating it ever since. On the bag it says, whole brown rice-that’s it. I bought the adult formula not the kitten, but at this point—I’m at a complete loss! I feel so sick about this whole thing and am completely fed up. Does anyone know how long it takes for signs to show up? It’s been three days now! No signs but that doesn’t stop my worry. Can someone give me some tips/suggestions on this? Please?
Comment by Shannon — April 19, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
Did you check the exact name and the date codes?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:31 pm
Spa Select Kitten Dry Food, product code: “Best Used By Mar. 07 08 B.
Look for the “B”.
also
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
Call the company right now Shannon and talk to them. Also stop feeding the food.
Are they drinking excessive water, laying around too much, throwing up - if you were using this product - I’d have them checked at the vets as soon as possible.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
Greed in all it’s dispicable glory. +0.20 (4.69%)
http://finance.google.com/finance?q=TSE:MEW.UN
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
I’ve been feeding my three cats Blue Spa Indoor for the last five days and they are fine.
Out of the four foods they make with rice protein, only one, the Kitten, was made with the bad batch of protein. And only in a certain run…from what we are hearing this all happened within the last week of food being distributed.
Their other food doesn’t contain this protein or any other grain except the whole rice which is not processed. Their rice comes from the US.
I plan to continue to feed my three the Indoor food.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
Shannon,
Very important look at the product code for the use by date for the letter “B”.
If you are in doubt call the company.
Have your kitties checked at the vet.
Do not feed this food.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
Yes, it is the kitten food.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
I’ve been keeping contact with this website, and just noticed the Blue Buffalo recall! Unbelievable! I really can’t take this anymore…Does anyone know of any products that ARE actually safe? I just started my cat on Blue Buffalo, considering they responded to an my e-mail stating that they do not use any suppliers outside of the US, except for New Zeland lamb - obviously a lie.
Comment by Teresa — April 19, 2007 @ 4:39 pm
At this point, I wish someone from Wilbur-Ellis would just “leak” the names of the other companies, especially since they thought the other companies would be named today.
Not especially ethical, I know, but neither is harming people’s pets.
Comment by Lisa C — April 19, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
So we have one. The other four will be when. Friday Night?
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
Can someone give me some tips/suggestions on this? Please?
Comment by Shannon — April 19, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
Shannon, if it were me and this is my personal opinion, I would stop feeding the product and call your vet and ask them. You might want to go ahead and get their kidneys/urine tested just to be on the safe side, I probably would. I dont know how long it takes to show signs but I do know once they show symptoms that can mean there is considerable damage, the kidneys have to be damaged for it to show in the lab work so you dont want to wait for symptoms. And save your package of food for proof later on if you need it. All I can tell you is this is what we would have done if we had a second chance which we dont as our kitty is dead. I would error on the side of caution.
Comment by Sandi K — April 19, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
She needs to make sure that it is the kitten food with the code and the “B” on it.
Unless you think that all is suspect? Is that what you think Sandi K??????
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
I just got off the phone with my vets office and needless to say, I will be switching vets after going to them for the past 20 yrs. They said that they had all of the updated list and Blue was not one of them. I advised of the most recent update. They didn’t respond very well. I spent the remaining part of the time administering a verbal lashing. Then I called the Blue Buffalo company. After about 910 attempts and receiving a busy signal, I finally got thru. I received a nice little message that all reps were busy and to leave my name and number and they would call back sometime…….ARG!!!!!!
Comment by Shannon — April 19, 2007 @ 5:00 pm
It’s absolutely sickening that The Pet Food Industry would do this to millions upon millions upon millions of Americans who have dedicated their lives to making this a better country.
It’s beyond sickening.
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
Teresa, they don’t use suppliers outside of the US.
The problem is that their manufacturer chose to use a US supplier who imported product from China.
It may seem like word games, but actually it’s not. The problem is that the company is trusting their manufacturing partner to do the right thing - and unfortunately that is not happening.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
I bought the adult food, not the kitten food however at this point, I don’t trust any company. I am heartsick, anxious, heartbroken for the people that lost their beloved, and mad as hell at this companies who were so eager to trust someone else. Do these companies not test these things? and how often? Just once every so often isn’t acceptable to me.
Comment by Shannon — April 19, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Comment by Shannon — April 19, 2007 @ 5:00 pm
Not everyone knows what they are doing. If there is anyone it’s us people here and on the partner sites who have been involved with this cliff hanger since March 16. What is even more astonishing is there are still people who are absolutely clueless their is even a pet food crisis of this magnitude. And if you say something they look at you as if you are nuts.
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Excuse my spelling. It’s there not their.
Calming Down
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 5:07 pm
I can’t belive that Blue is just “taking messages”. Wait a minute, I take that back. I do belive it, but am still wondering how these people sleep at night. When all of this began, I yanked the Iams from my girls bowls and switched to Blue b/c I thought it was ‘safe’. Now, I’m really floored. What you said Steve is correct…..some people still don’t know and what’s worse, some don’t care b/c it’s just cats and dogs. Maybe these people should try testing the food?
Comment by Shannon — April 19, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
Ok, now it’s me. It’s believe not belive…..
Comment by Shannon — April 19, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
Shannon, I also tried to get thru to Blue yesterday and was flustered. I then realized that a lot of folks are calling them and they are a much smaller company without the resources of Iams or Purina (who seem to be clueless).
Eventually I did leave them a message and they called me back within an hour, which totally surprised me. And they were willing to answer any question I had.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
If they call me back and answer my food questions, then the only question that I will have left for them is exactly what is the name of the person that I am going to knock out if anything happens to any of my babies.
Comment by Shannon — April 19, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
is just “taking messages”.
Comment by Shannon — April 19, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
You best believe the PFI is operating from hardened bunkers. Chemutra replies to email with,
“What is the purpose of this inquiry”.
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
To my mind, the companies have an obligation to know and in fact, to demand by contractual agreement, that the ingredients used in their foods are from whatever sources the pet food company wants. It shouldn’t be left up to the supplier to shop around for cheaper ingredients and fail to notify the pet food company if they switch sources. And the pet food companies should be working to specifically prevent this from happening.
Comment by slt — April 19, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
Here is where this whole thing gets tricky, in my opinion.
Companies can put all the testing procedures in place, however if there is a new toxin in one of their ingredients, it does not show up during their routine testing.
So if we don’t know it’s there, how can we test for it? Unfortunately there isn’t one big generic test for all substances.
Now everyone will test for melamine but what about the next toxin? If it is unfamiliar, how does it get identified?
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
Shannon - I can hardly believe your vets response. Shameful. What do they think our brains left our heads????
Were you feeding the Kitten Dry with the dates and “B” code?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
Sorry, I see you bought the adult not the kitten.
Well I wouldn’t be so worried. Thank goodness.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
I just got back from the petfood store. NOT a “generic” store (like petsmart or petco). I was returning my Natural Balance. I have to admit Natural Balance was extremely responsive- they Fed Ex’d overnight some materials to me. I never heard a word from Nutro
Anyway, The pet store had 2 new Grain free product 1)Wellness CORE, and 2)Nature’s Variety.
I’ll have to determine that they don’t do business with Menu…….
If I can go on Atkins diet, so can my CATS!
Comment by Lori Lee — April 19, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
I agree that manufacturers need to comply with these companies and I believe we will see some change, and some pissed off companies.
Because this seems to be associated more with smaller companies (so far), I think you will see resolution faster. They don’t have the attitude and they will do whatever they need to do to keep both their reputation and their company.
So in that respect, be glad it wasn’t Purina or IAMS, etc. I think you’d see a little different response.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
Personally, I’m betting Castor and Pollux is one of the unnamed companies.
Their statement says that their rice protein has tested negative for melamine. It DOES NOT say that they don’t use Wilbur-Ellis as a supplier.
Very suspicious!
Comment by Lisa C — April 19, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
No. I bought two 7 lb bags of the Adult formula. One is Chicken and Brown Rice and the other is Salmon and Brown Rice. However, my whole reason for going with them was because of Iams. Even though Iams dry isn’t on the ‘list’, their companies name is and that was good enough for me to switch. Now I’ve managed to run into the same wall. I’m just very angry and frustrated. I know that many people (probably most) have human children. I do not. Not to offend anyone but I have never in my life wanted this. My have four kids who happen to come with paws instead of fingers and toes. When I feel as if their lives have been or will be threatened….I tend to snap.
Comment by Shannon — April 19, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
Blue still hasn’t updated their website….nothing like being on the ball!
Comment by Shannon — April 19, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
Shannon,
I feel the same way about mine and I have a son and a family. But my son is grown and on his own and when I go home, it’s my dogs that smile and wag tails and are happy to see me. They play ball and we go for walks and they cuddle while I watch TV - really, they are like lovable adorable children and they need us to make the right decisions for their well being.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
But at least you weren’t using the kitten. The vets can do a blood test right? What is the big deal about that?
I told my vet I wanted Snoopy checked and his Innova wasn’t even on the recall - but he was drinking lots of water and had lose stools, very lose, and they said fine - bring him in. No questions no problem.
Linda MS.
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 5:25 pm
Lori Lee,
Wellness does use Menu for its canned food.
Comment by Lisa C — April 19, 2007 @ 5:28 pm
Comment by Lisa,
Good for you. We have to learn to be aware of what these companies aren’t saying. For example, Nutro says they didn’t buy rice protein from W-E. They don’t say what domestic supplier they did use, where that supplier bought the RP or whether they had tested the RP for melamine.
Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 5:30 pm
I wish Petguard would be more forthcoming with their information. I see that they still have not provided any information to thepetfood list. Also, a local store has quit selling their product as they won’t provide any information.
Comment by Jenny — April 19, 2007 @ 5:32 pm
Has it occurred to the Pet Food Industry yet it’s likely they won’t be able to weasel their way out of this?
Arouse the wrath of the people and you have BIG PROBLEMS.
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
Or I should say, Wellness uses Menu for some of its canned food. Personally, I didn’t want to support Menu indirectly by giving money to a company that works with them. I think it’s a personal choice.
Comment by Lisa C — April 19, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
Steve,
it’s getting a tad insulting, eh? WTF are they thinking?! it’s not a couple of bad cans they can write off, it’s a Nation Wide PROBLEM. are we not supposed to notice?!
Comment by straybaby — April 19, 2007 @ 5:38 pm
The number quoted in one article by blue buffalo is 4752 bags produced and said they got most of them before shipment. This article indicates 5500 bags. http://www.guardian.co.uk/usla.....79,00.html
Comment by Bonnie — April 19, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
Comment by straybaby — April 19, 2007 @ 5:38 pm
if it wasn’t for the internet pets would be dying all over the place in mass and people wouldn’t even have a clue.
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 5:41 pm
For everyone trying to keep up with the latest info, I’d like to mention thepetfoodlist.com They’ve been doing a wonderful job of updating their list with all of the companies’ most recent statements.
Comment by Lisa C — April 19, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
Unless you think that all is suspect? Is that what you think Sandi K??????
Linda MS
Linda, I have no way of knowing but I personally, if I still had our kitty, would not be using anything with wheat gluten, corn gluten, or rice protein at this time. All I can tell you is we suspected our Nutro food backin january but kept feeding it. If we had stopped our kitty might be here with us today so I can only go on our personal experience. I dont want to create a panic and suggest food is bad that isnt on the recall list but that is exactly what happened to us.
Comment by Sandi K — April 19, 2007 @ 5:44 pm
My dear, beautiful cat is dead. It has been one month since he died from eating poisoned commercial cat food. I don’t trust any of the companies and I won’t until there is INDEPENDENT third-party testing and STRICT regulation with CRIMINAL penalities.
Nothing will bring him back, nothing will take the grief away. My survivor is getting home cooked meat with vitamins and mineral supplements added. I feel good cooking it and the extra time isn’t such a great burden.
There is still plenty of deception in the industry. Statements like “none of our products contain … from” mean they do contain …, only from a different source.
The pet food industry doesn’t deserve anyone’s trust. My beautiful friend is dead one month now. All of the pet food companies with their denials, slick advertising, and hollow promises can’t bring him back, can’t dry the tears.
Comment by MFEMFEM — April 19, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
So, the company is saying the Rice protein concentrate was shipped to Diamond Pet Foods plus 4 others located in Utah, NY, Kansas and 2 in Missouri.
I don’t know if this will help but, according to the FDA website, these are all the firms registered as a “Pet Food Manufacturer” in those remaining four states.
KANAS
C J Foods Inc. Bern, KS
Conex, LLC. Newton, KS
Crosswind Petfoods. Sabetha, KS
Del Monte Pet Products. Topeka, KS
Fairview Mills Inc. Fairview, KS
Heinz Pet Products. Lawrence, KS
Hills Pet Nutrition Inc. Topeka, KS
Legacy Foods LLC. Hutchinson, KS
Lortscher Agri Service Inc. Bern, KS
Menu Foods Midwest Corp. Emporia, KS
MGP Ingredients Inc. Kansas City, KS
Pro-Pet LLC. Kansas City, KS
Triple T Foods. Frontenac, KS
US Energy Partners LLC. Russell, KS
Xtra Factors. Pratt, KS
NEW YORK
Arco Pet Foods Div Am Renderng. Binghamton, NY
Blue Seal Feeds Inc. Arcade, NY
Chenango Valley Pet Foods Inc. Sherburne, NY
Flemming HelleskovHillandale Farm. Canaan, NY
Hagen Pet Foods Inc. Waverly,NY
JM Renderables. Strykersville, NY
Nestle Purina Petcare. Dunkirk, NY
Nutra Vet Research Corp. Poughkeepsie, NY
Reisdorf Bros Inc. North Java, NY
MISSOURI
Acutek Inc. Odessa, MO
American Dehydrated Foods. Verona, MO
Applied Food Biotechnology Inc. O Fallon, MO
Bed & Biscuits. Weldon, MO
Lin Enterprises Inc. Saint Joseph, MO
Central Missouri Plastics. Kansas City, MO
Crouch Meats. Verona, MO
Doane Pet Care. Butler, MO
Doane Pet Care Inc. Dexter, MO
Doane Products Co Inc. Joplin, MO
Everlast Manufacturing Company. Mexico, MO
Hampshire Pet Products. Joplin, MO
Mars Petcare Usa. Joplin, MO
McCarthy, Caroll1. Independence, MO
Mid America Packaging. Plattsburg, MO
Nestle Purina Petcare. Saint Louis, MO
Nestle Purina Pet Care. Saint Joseph, MO (x 2 plants)
Nestle Purina Pet Care Co. Saint Joseph, MO
Paws-itive Image. Jefferson City, MO
Pet Chef Express. Farmington, MO
Pet-Pro Products. Middletown, MO
Phoenix Packaging. Kansas City, MO
Royal Canin Usa Inc. Rolla, MO
S&M NuTec LLC. Kansas City, MO
Simmons Feed Ingredient, Inc. SW City, MO
Spectrum Pet Foods Inc. Montgomery City, MO
Three Dog Bakery. Kansas City, MO
UTAH
American Nutrition Inc. Ogden, UT
HBH Enterprises. Springville, UT
Mountain Country Foods, Inc. Spanish Fork, UT
Comment by Joy — April 19, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
Comment by MFEMFEM
I am so sorry, please know that we share the grief of every parent on this site and are determined to get justice for all of them, no matter how long it takes. It is what gives many of us the will to see this through - and the pet food industry is only now learning how absolutely serious and determined we are.
Comment by Empress 60 — April 19, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
MFEMFEM, I am so sorry. I can only imagine how heart broken you must be.
Comment by Jenny — April 19, 2007 @ 5:58 pm
The good news is that kitties LOVE the Atkins diet. The bad news is that mommies are really tired of cooking for the pets and the kids.
Does anyone know if Blue Buffalo listed rice protein concentrate in their list of ingredients prior to the recall? It is there now, and so is the recall info.
I just got my hopes crashed. I called Artemis, and had all my questions answered. They have no protein glutens or concentrates. All the protein is human grade. All products are GROWN in the US (I was really specific about that) except the lamb. The rice is whole brown rice. Supposedly even the vitamin are made here in the US, because I asked. The bad news is that the dry is produced either by Diamond or Eagle Pack. I wouldn’t touch anything produced by Diamond right now, and Eagle Pack has their canned food produced by Menu, so as far as I’m concerned, that’s out too. Their canned food is made be Evangers in Indiana, whom I’m not familiar with. I was so excited for a few minutes anyway. My cats have continued on their NB dry, but I am thinking about cooking for them too. At least 2 of them would like it.
Comment by Joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
Steve
I posted this early this morning. Don’t know if you got a chance to look at it. You’ve asked several times about the Miller’s slipping under the radar.
http://tinyurl.com/375ad6
Lots of info on Millers and other connections.
If you find it interesting, pass it along to Bernie and Lynn. I wonder if there is a connection to Bernie and Lynn’s China guy.
Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
MFEMFEM; I am SO sorry for your loss. Many of us know the incredible pain you are in, made much worse by the facts of your dear friend’s death.
The cheap bastards should pay, and pay dearly.
Lisa S; Thanks for reminding me about Wellness. I had thought that too, when dealing with the poor girl at the pet store. I was a tad P’Od…stating very loudly that I wanted nothing to do with any company that had anything to do with Menu Foods.
Any forward motion on getting our own farmers back in the game?
Comment by Lori Lee — April 19, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
One has to wonder what became of the companies that were used for their glutens BEFORE all these companies switched to the other supplier. You think they were mad enough at losing such a big contract… to contaminate others supplies?
Let’s use our own farmers from now on!
Comment by Lori Lee — April 19, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
As for our “own farmers” here’s a good link to explain why we import wheat gluten.
http://www.slate.com/id/2163235/
For rice, it makes more sense why a lot of it is imported.
Comment by Lisa C — April 19, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
Joyce,
Blue Buffalo did have rice protein concentrate listed as an ingredient prior to the recall. It’s only in the kitten and hairball formulas.
Comment by Carie — April 19, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
Menu Foods certainly knows how to poison pets and really tick people off.
And they suck so bad at public relations that I just can’t figure why nobody has up and slapped them before now!
There are some other pet food makers who are not far behind in that.
I have had two really annoying non responsive type emails from Diamond and they can do without my business. The man at the pet food store got really huffy with me today and said Diamond was this and that and only made the pet food the way Natural Balance WANTED it made and I said that if they make any poison, for themselves or others stupid enough to trust them well, they just are not trustworthy to me.
Just one more ugly incident in a situation that has been one long string of ugly days.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 19, 2007 @ 6:42 pm
RE: not using suppliers outside of US
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
Yeah, that’s it exactly. They bought it from a US company, but that co. got it from China. I’m wondering how this manufacturing thing works. Do they sign a contract with the plant to produce their food for X number of dollars? So the plant sticks to that, and when prices go up, they look for cheaper (lower quality) stuff? How can they NOT know they’ll be going abroad for goods? Do they really think that having a large manufacturing plant make your stuff and buying in bulk is really going to keep the costs so low they’ll never have to make up the difference with cheap stuff?
I’m having trouble interpreting Solid Gold Barking at the Moon potato starch. What exactly does it mean to say they “source” it in Europe? Some of the chinese wheat gluten was shipped from the Netherlands - is that “sourced” in Europe? They need to use plain and simple language. Potatoes grown in….., potato starch made in……. I told someone to ask and hope she gets me the answers to this question. I know someone here asked the same thing.
And someone over on Itchmo called Purina and asked about corn gluten and wondered if they’d heard about S. AFrica pet food. She got transferred twice and within minutes was told they were checking their records to see who their supplier was and would email her back tonight or tomorrow. Wow, I thought pretty good service. But then I went to the Purina website and saw that they said they didn’t buy anything from the supplier who sold the bad rice prot conc. Uh…..OK, but do you buy ANYTHING else from China? There are many companies saying the same thing. We didn’t buy from THAT supplier. None of them seem willing to say they haven’t bought soy protein or corn gluten meal, etc. from China. They should and they should be checking for melamine. Because answering the wrong question won’t cut it.
Comment by CathyA — April 19, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
Blue Buffalo has always listed the Rice Protein as an ingredient on the 4 items that contain it. One of them is the Dry Kitten Food just recalled. It is listed as the 7th ingredient. And they said yesterday they werenot contacted by FDA, but were testing these 4 products & checking their mfg’s sources anyway to ensure it was not from China. It was posted here by a couple of people.
I am wondering when the FDA said 4 companies - are they referring to the Pet Food co or the Manufacturer??? Because I believe the Blue Buff Dry is made by CJ Foods in Kansas. Maybe the FDA contacted them.
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
Here is some good Blue Buff news for those of you that have been feeding the adult cat food. My 3 cats were eating it exclusively since 3/16 - Dry Chicken & Brown Rice, Dry Salmon & brown Rice, canned salmon&lentils, canned turkey&chicken, & canned chicken hairball. On 3/18 I had them all tested by my vet because they ate food from the 2nd Nutro recall (prior to 3/16). All 3 cats are fine. No symptoms, and their blood work came back all normal.
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
oops, correction, my cats were tested on 4/18 after eating Blue Buff for a month.
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
my bad, they were tested on 4/11 last Wednesday - sorry about that.
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 7:03 pm
If the FDA means 4 manufacturers then there could be alot of pet food companies affected. This is very disturbing. Does anyone have clarification on this?
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
Steve, yes, that’s exactly what the PFI thinks, that eventually we’ll go away because we’re not quite rational. My guess is all their phones are ringing off the hook.
I just don’t get why these companies, large and small, all thought it wouldn’t happen to them. If they aren’t ALL testing their vegetable proteins they’re just plain nuts. If anything else comes to light - like corn gluten meal, they won’t have any customers left.
Comment by CathyA — April 19, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
I got an email from Innova Evo today replying back to my inquiry about whether their product could contain any unnamed gluten or rice protein not listed on the label. Here is their response:
Dear pet lover,
Thank you for contacting us about our products. The EVO is 100% grains free, therefore, it does not contain wheat gluten or rice protein. All of our formulas are fixed formula which means that they will not change.
Please feel free to contact me if you need any additional information or if you have any questions.
Veronica Moreno
Natura Pet Products
800-532-7261
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
As far as I’m concerned the Millers are just two in a substantial lineup of suspects who know more then they want to admit.
Durbin should call the Millers and put them the hot seat. It would be interesting to see them sweat.
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
I’ve been sounding the alarm at work, where my co-workers have missed all signs of this pet food recall. I’ve seriously freaked people out when I mentioned that I read somewhere that pet food can be made with animal shelter casualties. That, and the fact that that there is little transparency with this recall, really unnerved people.
There was a link somewhere on this site to a paper someone wrote, where they researched the pet food industry and uncovered all sorts of disgusting facts, but I can’t find it anywhere. Can anyone tell me where I can find it? I plan on sending a blast email to everyone I know with that link.
Thanks!
Comment by Sheriden — April 19, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
RE: I wish someone from Wilbur-Ellis would just “leak” the names
Lisa C
Perhaps a midnight dumpster dive might find a special piece of paper…….
Comment by CathyA — April 19, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
The 5 Companies:
CJ Foods is in Kansas.
1 co in UT
1 co in NY
2 co’s in MO: is Diamond one of them?
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
So we have one. The other four will be when. Friday Night?
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
Steve, for some reason my gut is telling me the 4 names will be slipped in in the middle of the night tonight when everyone is in bed having their pet food recall nightmares (seriously, I have had them every night since we learned our kitty at the bad food)
Comment by Sandi K — April 19, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
Does anybody know which mfg. makes the Natural Balance recalled yesterday?
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
On that list of pet food companies in Missouri, why is “Central Missouri Plastics. Kansas City, MO” listed as one? I looked at their website and they produce injection moulded plastic machinery and replacement parts. According to wiki, injection molding is done with thermosetting ingredients. Melamine is a particularly durable thermosetting plastic. Therefore, it is likely this company uses melamine. Now I really would like to know what they have to do with pet food.
Comment by Angie — April 19, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Comment by Sandi K — April 19, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
I know every morning I wake up the first thing I do is shudder when I think, is ours going to be on the list today? It’s like waking up and finding yourself in hell. And I’m not even superstitious.
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 7:29 pm
Sheridan try this article. http://www.api4animals.org/fac.....amp;more=1
Comment by Shawn — April 19, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
from CJ Foods website:
C. J. Foods today supported a voluntarily recall of pet food made with rice protein concentrate previously thought to be unaffected by the melamine contamination.
The contamination was linked to a single bag of rice protein concentrate which was found to contain melamine, a substance not approved for use in food. The contamination was limited to a single product.
The rice protein concentrate in question was approved for use and provided by Wilbur-Ellis, a grain and food company. The contamination was discovered during special testing for melamine by C. J. Foods and Lortscher Agri Service, a supplier of raw materials. The contamination was limited to a single bag of rice protein concentrate and a single production run. Most affected bags of product did not reach retail shelves and those that did are now being recalled.
The company immediately notified the Food & Drug Administration and our client to initiate a voluntarily recall of the affected brand and to notify retailers and pet owners of the situation.
“This situation is especially disappointing given our 20 years of quality pet food production without incident,” said John Kuenzi, Chief Executive Officer. “We are taking this matter very seriously and have taken a number of steps to further ensure the safety and quality of our customers’ products moving forward.”
The steps include:
· No longer using protein sources from exotic locations.
· Implementing additional testing procedures to detect the presence of melamine or other contaminants
· Participating in a task force of industry and university experts to explore more stringent “source of origin” labeling.
If you have questions about this recall, please contact Jerry Kreuger Vice President at 402-239-9589
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
Re Comment by CathyA — April 19, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
The companies never thought they’d get caught with their pants down because we, the consumers, were too complacent all these years. Plus they know that the FDA really has no power.
Comment by Lynn — April 19, 2007 @ 7:35 pm
I cannot find a working contact number for Central Missouri Plastics to ask them what they have to do with pet food. Can anyone locate one?
Comment by Angie — April 19, 2007 @ 7:38 pm
KATHY A KATHY A KATHY A KATHY A KATHY A
New formula CHANGE for BARKING AT THE MOON dry dog food. I noticed it last night:
http://solidgoldhealth.com/news/
Barking at the Moon Formula Change
Solid Gold has made exciting new changes to Barking at the Moon.
We replaced turkey with beef to maintain the high protein content. Beef has an excellent amino acid profile, is highly digestible, and extremely palatable for dogs.
Barking at the Moon now contains salmon oil and taurine!
Salmon Oil is an excellent source of DHA, an Omega 3 fatty acid important for brain and central nervous development. DHA also helps support proper retinal function.
Taurine is an amino acid essential for heart health.
We also added healthy new oils such as almond oil, canola oil, and sesame oil.
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
Crude Protein 41% Minimum
Crude Fat 20% Minimum
Crude Fiber 4% Maximum
Moisture 10% Maximum
Calorie Content 465 kcal / cup
***************END OF QUOTE************
You were also asking about “sourced in” and “sourced from.” I questioned those exact terms and asked others here how they read those words.
Below is a paragraph from my letter to Senator Durbin and others asking for clarification and disclosure:
Anyone here, feel free to copy it for your own letters.
*******************
For too long, consumers have been duped by companies claiming that their ingredients are sourced from the U.S., falsely leading them to think that the ingredients were grown or produced in the U.S., when in fact “sourcing” may mean that a supplier was sitting on U.S. soil making a phone call to China to ship some ingredients that are produced on Chinese soil. This playing with semantics has to stop and a clearly defined route of procurement and distribution needs to be disclosed to the suppliers, pet food companies, manufacturers, and consumers — the informed public who will then make the decision as to whether or not they want to buy the product.
Comment by petlover — April 19, 2007 @ 7:38 pm
PLASTICS COMPANY
re Comment by Angie — April 19, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Diversification - the American way. :-(
Comment by Lynn — April 19, 2007 @ 7:39 pm
CENTRAL MISSOURI PLASTICS
http://www.macraesbluebook.com.....any=565953
Comment by Lynn — April 19, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
KATHY A KATHY A KATHY A KATHY A
I forgot to say that the Barking at the Moon food NOW CONTAINS POTATO PROTEIN, just thought I’d mention it in case you want to ask further questions of the company.
Comment by petlover — April 19, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
We are definitely in pet food hell……….
I know Diamond manufactered the NB, does anyone know what plant it was?
Comment by Joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
That phone number they have listed does not work
Comment by Angie — April 19, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
CENTRAL MISSOURI PLASTICS
Whoa!!!! I just googled the street address without anything else and it comes up in Kansas Missouri under “McKesson Drug Company, Kansas City.”
http://www.healthcaredistribut.....BFinal.pdf
Comment by Lynn — April 19, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
Sorry, I forgot to say that on all of their company profiles, it says they ONLY make injection moulded plastics. No indication of pet food at all.
Comment by Angie — April 19, 2007 @ 7:51 pm
Crude Protein 41% Minimum in new Barkng at the Moon recipe????
Is that for ‘working’ dogs then ?
Comment by Lorna — April 19, 2007 @ 7:53 pm
If Diamond makes the NB, then why does their website say they are not involved in the pet food recall???
http://www.diamondpet.com/
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Perhaps NB buys their own ingredients, then ships them to Diamond to be manufactured? If so, then maybe the FDA contacted NB directly?
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 7:57 pm
I am just so incredibly disheartened over all this. Two companies did what was right - Natural Balance and Blue Buffalo.
And they are testing rice protein - what if they already used up all the bad stuff and what they have on hand is good? Then what? Are they testing the pet food too or just the raw product?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 7:59 pm
Maybe the plastics company makes the lining for the bags - or the closures for the sacks or something like that - maybe they make containers for the pet food.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 8:01 pm
RE: SHERIDEN
I know which one your looking for, but I can’t find it either. This one is an excellent, but longer version. Sorry, I don’t know how to provide the link. It’s listed under “Whats Really In Petfood” at the Animal Protection Institute sight.
Comment by Karla T. — April 19, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
Im not into recommending any products but Ive seen lots of posts about what people are feeding their pets. We dont have our girl any longer but we have a co-worker who feeds their dog Precise pet food. I went to their website and they say none of the ingredients in their plant comes from China. They dont have wheat gluten. It says they inspect each ingredient they buy and they inspect each batch of food they make many times a day with equipment rivaling that used in most modern research laboratories. They use no artifical chemical preservatives. But anyhow, for those of you that still have pets, I suppose its worth a read on their site….and no I dont reprsent Precise, I just saw alot of folks talking about pet foods and wanted to mention it.
Comment by Sandi K — April 19, 2007 @ 8:04 pm
Im not into recommending any products but Ive seen lots of posts about what people are feeding their pets. We dont have our girl any longer but we have a co-worker who feeds their dog Precise pet food. I went to their website and they say none of the ingredients in their plant comes from China. They dont have wheat gluten. It says they inspect each ingredient they buy and they inspect each batch of food they make many times a day with equipment rivaling that used in most modern research laboratories. They use no artifical chemical preservatives. But anyhow, for those of you that still have pets, I suppose its worth a read on their site….and no I dont represent Precise, I just saw alot of folks talking about pet foods and wanted to mention it.
Comment by Sandi K — April 19, 2007 @ 8:06 pm
Oh geez, I posted twice, sorry!! And no that doesnt mean Im doubly recommending it. 30 lashes with a wet noodle for me.
Comment by Sandi K — April 19, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
I saw further up the thread (but can’t find now) someone asking about where Blue Buffalo is produced. According to someone in the Itchmo comments:
“Blue Buffalo was telling people right after the first recall where there food was manufactured and then a few days later said it was confidential. Dry food manufactured by C.J. Foods in Kansas, and wet food manufactured at American Nutrition in Utah. I stopped feeding Blue Buffalo when I called C.J foods and asked about outsourcing. They couldnt guarantee that their suppliers didnt outsource to other countries. So I stopped using it. They also asked how I heard that they manufacture Blue Buffalo. They sounded upset that I knew.”
Comment by CatLady — April 19, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
The 5 Companies:
CJ Foods in Kansas
1 co in UT
1 co in NY
2 co’s in MO: Diamond and ???
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
FYI, I was taking a bag of Blue Buffalo back before this recall because of the email post below sent to me regarding MENADIONE in Blue Buffalo Foods - some type of Vit K substitute that may be harmful.
THE DOG FOOD PROJECT: MENADIONE IN BLUE BUFFALO FOODS 04/02/07 Unrelated to the Menu Foods recall, The Dog Food Project website posted the following Blue Buffalo Dog Food notice on 03/30/07: In a news update from 10/12/06 (which has been removed from the News Archive as of today), I posted that menadione had been removed from Blue Buffalo dog food products labeled with a “Best used by” date of October 07 and thereafter.
Unfortunately this information appears to be incorrect, and menadione is apparently still present in at least some, if not all of Blue Buffalo’s dry and canned dog and cat foods, as well as “health bar” biscuits …
If you are concerned about menadione in your dog’s diet, it’s probably best to avoid these Blue Buffalo products as long as you still see either menadione in any form or “vitamin K supplement” listed on the label.
Not that I’m very happy with the state of pet food regulation in this country to begin with, but it would be nice if we could rely on all companies at least being familiar with the AAFCO manual.
What is menadione? Menadione, also known as vitamin K3, is a synthetic version of vitamin K
Menadione is added as an inexpensive vitamin K supplement in commercial foods … The common statement as to why it is added is “to help with blood clotting”, yet it is scientifically proven that the effectivity of menadione on blood clotting is inferior.
The National Research Council was not able to demonstrate a dietary requirement for vitamin K in dogs during tests when natural ingredients were fed.
has never been researched or specifically approved for long term use, such as in pet food
has been banned from use in food and supplements for human use in many European countries due to serious side effects, including permanent damage and deaths
FDA has banned synthetic vitamin K from over-the-counter supplements because of its high toxicity
Menadione side effects include::
causes cytotoxicity in liver cells
causes formation of radicals from enzymes of leucocytes, with the consequence of cytotoxic reactions
considerably weakens the immune system
possible mutagenic effects
damages the natural vitamin K cycle
has no effect on coumarin derivatives, which are often present in commercial food due to mold contamination (toxic when ingested)
causes hemolytic anemia and hyperbilirubinemia, not just linked to large doses
disturbs the level of calcium ions (Ca2+) in the body, which is an important factor fibrinolysis
is directly toxic in high doses (vomiting, albuminuria), unlike natural vitamin K
builds up in tissue and has been detected in eggs, meat and milk of animals supplemented with menadione derivatives
causes irritation of skin and mucous membranes
causes allergic reactions and eczema
Comment by george — April 19, 2007 @ 8:25 pm
I have decided to not buy any commercial foods for now. I’m making Dog food and Cat food. It’s really not that difficult to make and the animals love it!
I’m going to make them pay with my pocket book, and I hope most people in here will too.
The pet food business is a multi billion $$$ business, if only 20% of us refuse to buy until things change, they will be forced to change. As a matter of fact, I won’t stop until we know where our food is comming from too, our human food.Until I have a choice to buy where my food comes from. China can GO*(&%_)@#%&&^!@~_)^&*$%(*#$?> ITSELF!!!! I’m boycotting them as much as I can, for a lifetime!! This is B.S. and I am so angry, I hope they all go bankrupt! I’m going to buy as much as I can from the local growers where I live.
Comment by lori anderson — April 19, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
>> 2 co’s in MO: Diamond and ???
If I were a betting person I’d say Nestle Purina.
Comment by Lorna — April 19, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
What about Menu using it in their wet food since the wheat gluten was such a fiasco? Did WE saw it was only to dry pet food manufactures?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
From Purina’s website today:
Do you use rice protein concentrate in any of your products?
No. Nestlé Purina PetCare Company does not use rice protein concentrate in any of its U.S. or Canadian pet food products.
Do you source any other ingredients from the Chinese supplier of the rice protein concentrate in question?
No.
Where do you source rice used in Purina brand pet foods?
All rice used in Purina brand pet foods is sourced from North America.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
Someone asked, is there a Diamond plant in Missouri. Yes, in Meta, Missouri. They just sent out the new Soup For the Cat Lover’s Soul dry food, Adult cat formula, in trial sizes in the last few days. I live in Mo., it was a big new display in my cat food store and I’m waiting for the recall because I gave it my baby last night. Their phone no. on the bag is 1-800-658-0624. I don’t know if that’s the main Diamond office or the Meta, Mo. plant. I’m calling them in the morning.
Comment by Sharon G — April 19, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
I should have added I’m calling Diamond about the Chicken Soup dry in the morning if I don’t have to take my baby to the vet hospital; she’s not doing well.
Comment by Sharon G — April 19, 2007 @ 8:37 pm
Sharon, I am very sorry about your baby. I wonder how many pet food companies Diamond makes food for? I shudder to think each of the 5 Co’s could be making pet food for all of the small companies.
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 8:42 pm
I went thru a whole bag of Chicken Soup dry in the last 2 weeks, it was the only one of the ’ grain free ’ foods that my cat seemed to like, but I did notice him drinking more water, I thought it was because he was on dry now instead of wet food, I received some samples of Felidae last weekend and he like it so I bought a large bag on Tuesday, when I opened the bag he didnt seem to want it but ate some anyway then threw it up. I pulled it and emailed Felidae, they responded by asking for the RM # on the bag and then stated they would test an unopened bag and let me know. I responded to that by asking them to test from my bag. I will see what they say next. They never said anything like ’ we do not use the contaminated products in question or our product is safe. I went back to the Chicken Soup, but I am not sure now what to feed him.
Comment by Brenda — April 19, 2007 @ 8:44 pm
I got a reply from Canidae/Felidae yesterday, as follows:
Safety is purchasing commodities from a supplier you trust. We do not purchase any ingredients from China or any other foreign country. All ingredient are from the US. Unfortunately, It appears as though the most recent recall was from Rice Gluten that was imported from China as well. To reiterate, we do not import any ingredients nor do we use any glutens.
Sincerely,
Team Canidae
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 8:48 pm
I bought 2 types of Felidae canned last weekend, and so far my cats DO NOT like it at all. I also bought several types of Merrick, and they like it. I have not heard back from Merrick yet, though.
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
Merrick is from Texas and they make their own food both canned & dry in TX, so I’m guessing they are not one of the FDA’s 5.
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
So after reading the info from CJ Foods, it would appear that Blue Buffalo was indeed telling the truth when I talked with them. They did say they had not been contacted by the FDA and that they were testing their products.
Apparently they do testing of all products for general toxins prior to making the food and they do testing after the food is made. Now, like everyone else, they have added the melamine test.
I’m glad to see that I was not wrong in believing that they were being upfront.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 8:58 pm
Oh catlady - that is not good at all - what are they afraid of.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
Sheridan - Try NEXUS Pet Food Industry Practices
Comment by elliott — April 19, 2007 @ 9:00 pm
I know it might seem odd to some that I still choose to use Blue Buffalo but when you think about it, it’s really not.
They make a dry food that doesn’t contain any wheat, corn, soy, rice, etc. that could and has proven to be a problem. This fact does not change.
The rice protein was not in the food I am using, in fact it is only in a few of their products. Therefore I don’t really have any reason to suspect it any more than I would have when I bought it.
The ingredients haven’t changed therefore it doesn’t make any sense for me to stop using it. Now if I were using one of the ones with rice protein, obviously I would stop.
I guess if I felt it was safe enough and healthy enough to use five days ago then I don’t see how that has changed.
Unlike Iams, when I had wet food from Menu and the recall lots, etc., I couldn’t bring myself to use it anymore because there were so many factors…same plant, wheat gluten in other products, etc.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
I also think it is telling that CJ Foods handles this recall entirely different than Menu Foods. At least they address the issue, have a plan, and their website in fully intact. In fact, they even supply one of their management folk’s names.
Totally opposite from Menu.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 9:07 pm
Catlover, it says the same on the Diamond website as the Chicken Soup site
http://www.chickensoupforthepe.....otes/dogs/
Q: Is the rice used in your food safe? A: Yes - our white rice, brown rice,
rice bran, rice flour, and brewers rice that we use in various formulas are
all safe and free from melamine contamination. Q: How do you know that the
rice protein concentrate did not contaminate other foods? A: We have
procedures for cleaning out our equipment between batches, to avoid cross
contamination. We were recently audited by Silliker Labs, a company that
evaluates human grade manufacturing facilities. We scored 100% for
prevention of cross contamination, something we are very proud of. Q: What
is rice protein concentrate? A: Rice protein concentrate is a by-product of
the rice syrup industry. Unlike other rice ingredients, it is very high in
protein. It is not the same ingredient as white rice, brown rice, brewers
rice, rice bran or rice flour. Q: Do you use wheat gluten or rice protein
concentrate in your foods? A: We do not use these ingredients in any of our
own brands. We did use rice protein concentrate in two Natural Balance
recipes that have been recalled - Natural Balance Venison & Brown Rice dry
dog food and Natural Balance Venison & Green Pea dry cat food.
Comment by Mike — April 19, 2007 @ 9:09 pm
Linda’s comment:
From Purina’s website today:
Do you use rice protein concentrate in any of your products?
No. Nestlé Purina PetCare Company does not use rice protein concentrate in any of its U.S. or Canadian pet food products.
**And I wonder about other protein concentrate**
Do you source any other ingredients from the Chinese supplier of the rice protein concentrate in question?
No.
**And I wonder about a different Chinese supplier**
Where do you source rice used in Purina brand pet foods?
All rice used in Purina brand pet foods is sourced from North America.
**And I wonder if this means what someone else has said about how this could mean we make the phone call from N.A.to the actual source**
I wonder what they produce in their China plant?
Just me being overly cynical probably.(don’t know why THAT would be)
Linda MS
Comment by Lorna — April 19, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
To Carole - I am just finishing up 2 bags of dry Blue Buff and I know it’s ok because my cats were tested after eating it full time for almost a month. But I must admit, the thought of a new bag gives me the heebie-jeebies.
I won’t know how I feel about new cans until we hear who the remaining 3 companies are.
I don’t know what the heck to feed them anymore, this fiasco is getting exponentially larger by the minute!
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 9:27 pm
On the bright side, I bought some EVO last weekend (dry) and my cats love it. It has no grains.
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
Oh no, the Chicken Soup might be next. Sharon said her cat was not acting right after eating it, and it’s made by Diamond.
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 9:30 pm
Chicken Soup is NOT next!!!
http://www.chickensoupforthepe.....otes/dogs/
Q: Do you use wheat gluten or rice protein
concentrate in your foods? A: We do not use these ingredients in any of our
own brands. We did use rice protein concentrate in two Natural Balance
recipes that have been recalled
Comment by Mike — April 19, 2007 @ 9:35 pm
Mike, very sorry, I misread your last post. It’s past my bedtime, I need to turn in.
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 9:37 pm
Catlover..
I’m not concerned with using Blue’s indoor food, it never did and still does not contain any of the questionable ingredients, therefore I cannot rationalize discontinuing it based on them having produced bad kitten food.
The reality is that their food is no different than some of the other natural foods folks are trying to find.
I guess in this situation I cannot see changing companies entirely when the majority of their food is not impacted nor contains any of the questionable ingredients.
It is mostly psychological…and that is easy to understand.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 9:42 pm
Comment by catlover — April 19, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
I like how they refer to ‘a single contaminated bag’. and leave out that the bag is a 1 metric ton bag.
and China is an exotic location now instead of a country with questionable food export standards?!
would they ALL JUST CUT THE CRAP!
Comment by straybaby — April 19, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
I found the use of exotic rather humorous…but only because of how we think of exotic.
We tend to forget that exotic simply means that it is not native.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
No problem catlover, it’s all for the best…
Since their earlier aflatoxin recall, Diamond, producers of Kirkland, are under more control and restrictions and are also changing everything they do (depending on employees to REALLY do their job) then most companies. They also do not use imported ingredients. Diamond Foods also packages Solid Gold…and a few other products. And btw Kirkland utilizes corn gluten in some formulas.
Comment by Mike — April 19, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
very true that it means not native, but they are speaking to *us* who think of exotic as something else.
I would much rather hear they are importing ingredients with certain standards vs non exoctic locations. but that might be too much to ask ;)
Comment by straybaby — April 19, 2007 @ 9:54 pm
Actually I think I am most irritated about the fact that China still has not issued VISAS to our government yet.
I’m not a ‘black helicopter’ person but I do wonder why they are stalling.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 9:59 pm
Oh, it is all doubletalk to hide the truth and to give them time to cover their sorry little bare fannys.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 10:00 pm
yeah, I love how they want our business, but step foot on their soil to check out the product/manufacturers . . . they don’t think so!
i guess they need some time to run those *dirty bags* through the washer a couple of times . . .
kinda pointless to go over now. we should just test ALL China product before entry. maybe if a bunch of their contaminated crap lands back on their shores and the $$$ goes away, they’ll get a clue.
Comment by straybaby — April 19, 2007 @ 10:11 pm
The US just needs to take a stance with China and cut off all grain imports, etc. I know they are not willing to entertain this because we need their stuff, but they could at least tell China that is their plan.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
I don’t endorse turning this into an international nightmare, however if the United Nations had any real power other than to write resolutions that they can’t enforce, they could ping China on this.
Seeing as how one of their functions is to promote health and socio-economic stability throughout the world, and seeing as how China is a permanent member, the UN should sit them down and ask them what the hell their problem is.
But I’ve always said the UN is the equivalent of Queen Elizabeth.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 9:42 pm
I think it’s interesting that when one of the big producers like Menu or Purina screws up, everyone swears off everything they produce, forever and ever, amen…
but when it’s a “good guy” producer like Blue Buffalo, many folks here and on itchmo say, “well, it’s just one product. The rest are okay.”
So how does THAT work?
I’m sorry, but I think they’re all crooks. Cheap crap in big sacks, or boutique-label crap in small sacks. It’s all made by the same profit-driven producers in the same unregulated factories.
Why, exactly, should Blue Buffalo get a mulligan? Just curious.
Comment by Laura — April 19, 2007 @ 10:30 pm
Actually I quit IAMS only because we were using wet food and were not comfortable with the Menu Food lots we had. And those not that were not Menu Food lots had gluten.
I switched over to Purina wet and am still using it with no problem. So, I don’t have a problem with Purina other than the fact that I have not used the dry I purchased because it contains gluten of some sort.
Personally, I am not basing my decisions on company. I am basing it on product and what is best for my cats. I took them off all gluten of any kind back in March and am glad I did given the recent news.
The point I was trying to make about Blue Buffalo is that their food met my criteria by not having anything I was concerned about. That has not changed. I was not using a product with the rice protein or any other sort of gluten so it’s no less safe today than it was five days ago.
Folks have to go with what they are comfortable with. Just because Blue Buffalo had to recall their kitten food with rice protein doesn’t mean the entire company and every product they make is all of a sudden tainted.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 10:40 pm
“Thacher declined to identify his company’s other four customers, except to say two tested the ingredient and found no melamine. Wilbur-Ellis has not heard from the other two, both of whom received limited amounts of the ingredient, Thacher said.”
If two of these companies did test and found nothing, who is to say that we will ever hear anything out of them?
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 10:48 pm
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 10:40 pm
Your move away from gluten was flat-out prescient. Good for you!
And sorry - I didn’t mean to pick on you specifically about the brand issue. But it’s a big issue here.
There are dozens of folks who’ve sworn off anything Menu or Purina or DelMonte makes, recalled or not. Yet, if it’s a boutique food, it’s another story. Why is that so?
Like I said above, I don’t buy anymore that there’s much if any difference, except in our perception that more expensive equals better. They’re all made at the same places, using the same stuff (witness the original recall list, ranging from Nutro to Safeway brand. The same crap went into both.) If the last month hasn’t proved that, what would it take?
Comment by Laura — April 19, 2007 @ 10:59 pm
In some ways, it’s actually a good thing that Menu Foods has operated in such an underhanded way since the recall. If they had been honest and forthright, this whole thing might have died down prematurely. It might have taken a lot longer to make the connection in these new contamination cases, and even more pets would have died. Of course, that doesn’t excuse them.
Comment by joyce — April 20, 2007 @ 2:14 am
My husband believes im paranoid now that all of this is going on. I’ve never believed that our government would purposely do something like this. Knowing for days or weeks and then finally telling us just what they wanted us to know. Luckily we are in Europe right now (hubby military) and can get food easily with no wheat, rice, corn…I just wanted to say my heart goes out to all of you who have lost your “babies”. Wish I could do more.
Comment by Paige — April 20, 2007 @ 5:41 am
In support of Carole, and in answer to Laura, about Blue Buffalo. I’m actually one of those who turned off of Purina in a BIG way, but am not leaving Blue Buffalo. I have a few reasons with the Purina. When I put all the Iams away, I bought Purina One dry for both the cat and dog, and Alpo Prime Cuts & Gravy for the dog. I had that Alpo for two weeks before the recall of it was anonunced. I bought their products because when they rcalled the Mighty Dog pouches they assured the safety of everything else they make because it’s made in house. I read the multiple concerns of pet owners with sick pets from Alpo, one week before the recall, and had stopped using it based on their reports. The Purina One dry cat food has wheat gluten in it. I stopped that for obvious reasons, before the Alpo thing. When they recalled the Alpo, which was safe the week before because they make everything else in house, remember? I decided that I was done with Purina. The six month label rule, the probable exchange of glutens when they’re shorter on one than another. The dogs Purina One has corn gluten in it, but I had dumped it on suspicion already, or as my husband also calls it, paranoia. Now I feel like Nostradomus.
I’m not leaving Blue Buffalo for multiple reasons also. They were upfront. From the moment the rice news broke, they made no guarantees except to say “We don’t know, we’re checking the source of our rice , and we’re testing the food just to be safe.” Not a false promise. Within 24hrs of the news breaking, they recalled their food. Without the FDA calling them, on their own. No vet had to get the food independently tested and then wave the results in their face, like other companies. They are not blithely assuring their food is safe without testing, despite multiple consumer concerns. They do not have their heads stuck inthe sand STILL when it comes to their dry foods like Iams and Purina. They’re still not testing, all their food is safe. Funny, all of Purina’s food has corn gluten. I know, I checked. I wonder if they listened to people about their dry food when PETA wanted the testing done, we’d also know about the corn gluten issue, not playing catch up. Yes, there are pet food nightmares. I had them before Blue. I’ve had them again this week. But I’m sticking with them because they’ve never hidden their ingredients, and the ones I’m using don’t have wheat gluten, corn gluten or rice protein concentrate. I have no reason to change. If I did change, can you tell me who else would be safer, Laura? Probably not. none of us can, we’re all caught in this together.
Comment by marianne — April 20, 2007 @ 9:18 am
Well now we have a better clue as to what has happened to the recalled pet food. Sold to pig farmers? Ya think? Why else would melamine be appearing in pig urine? Has this any ramifications for the human food industry?
I’m also still wondering why that wheat gluten / rice protein concentrate was labeled for pet food use only. Could it be that it came from genetically engineered grain? That’s legal in China, you know. And genetically engineered grain produces its’ own pesticides internally.
the below paragraph was snipped from this website:
http://tinyurl.com/28r4ud
“The ‘plastic’, ‘wood preservative’, contaminant melamine, the parent chemical for a potent insecticide cyromazine, could possibly have been manufactured WITHIN the wheat plants themselves as a genetically engineered pesticide.”
Food for thought?
Shari
Comment by Shari Mann — April 20, 2007 @ 11:53 am