Pet food recall: Changes coming, and you can help
By Gina Spadafori
April 19, 2007
- If you have a sick pet or a question on your pet’s health, call your veterinarian.
- If you’re new to the site, please check out our general information page (includes links to recalled foods).
- If you’d like suggestions on what to feed, click here.
- If you want to report a sick or deceased pet, click here.
David Lazarus from Sen. Durbin’s office has sent out a letter asking for suggestions as they develop legislation to overhaul the food-safety system. Their initial outline has a much of what has been discussed here, but has nothing on strengthening labeling requirements for country of origin, greater transparency on ingredients, etc. Stronger labeling MUST be a part of any reform, so consumers have the information they need to make informed choices on behalf of their pets.
Contact Mr. Lazarus with your suggestions. Here’s the letter:
Hello all,
I want to begin by thanking you all for your feedback and contributions on the pet food contamination issue. A lot of the success we’ve had moving forward with this issue is due to your energy and support.
As most of you know, yesterday Senator Durbin and Congresswoman DeLauro met with Commissioner von Eschenbach to discuss the ongoing investigation and what steps to take to ensure that we’re better prepared for these incidents and eventually prevent things like this from occuring again. In addition to the letter to the Chinese Ambassador that was sent, our offices are now working on legislation that we hope to introduce some time next week.
Senator Durbin has asked us to involve you early in the process to solicit your comments and advice.
To this end, below is a very rough outline of some of the goals we’d like to accomplish in the legislation. We would very much appreciate it if you would review our ideas and let us know if you see any problems or areas that we haven’t adequately addressed. In the meantime, I am going to work with our Leg Counsel to put together an initial draft. I will share this draft over the next couple of days and look forward to your help shaping the language.
Thanks,
Dave Lazarus
David_Lazarus@durbin.senate.govOUTLINE
- 1) an early warning system patterned on CDC’s human health database which would identify contaminations more quickly;
- 2) mandatory processing and ingredient standards to clean up the messy patchwork of voluntary guidelines, state regs, and state laws;
- 3) additional inspections of pet food processing plants (relevant stat here is 30% of pet food processing plants in the U.S. had been inspected at least once over the last 3 1/2 years);
- 4) adverse effect reporting standards and penalties for companies that don’t report possible contaminations;
- 5) international standards for pet food as well as human to incorporate increased trade and imports from countries that don’t have high standards;
- 6) mandatory recall authority to pull products immediately.
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Gina,
Couldn’t agree more about labeling requirements…with one caveat—extreme specificity with what is meant by “country of origin”.
Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 1:35 pm
I agree. I think the inspections of the food processing plants should be more often.
Comment by Jill — April 19, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
Gina - this is really encouraging. Thanks. I’m going to give it some thought over the next couple of days and send my response to Lazarus.
Comment by Cynthia — April 19, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
*Extreme* penalties for companies that fail to inform the public immedietly. Not just penalties. I think the penalties should be higher than the $ value of the recalled food. Maybe that would get their attention.
The reporting standards need to include more than just website anouncements. How many pets have died because owners hear a recall on the news and are then told to check the website? There’s a couple of seniors in my building that would be at a loss to do that and I’m pretty sure they aren’t the only 2 around . . .
For labeling requirements, perhaps they should look at some Certified Organic labeling . . . I want to KNOW if there is GM/Boi crap in my pets (AND MY!) food. I don’t care what country it comes from, I do NOT want to feed or eat it!
and I would like to see more transparency in Companies revealing their standards and Testing. If we are to trust companies and put their products in our pets and (our!) bodies, they should read like an open book and not be afraid to stand behind their written words.
I’m kinda digging this companies Quality info:
http://www.vitalnutrients.net/quality.asp
Comment by straybaby — April 19, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
How effective is a recall when the affected products remain on retail shelves for weeks?
Retailers must be required to pull all recalled products quickly AND post notice at the point of sale (shelf, e.g.) warning consumers that previously purchased products may be unsafe (specifically identifying those products). Failure to do either should be punished with a substantial fine, which increases significantly with repeated offenses.
This should apply for both human and pet food recalls.
Comment by David — April 19, 2007 @ 2:11 pm
I would like a fund , at least equal to, if not more, than all funds paid to lobbyists and paid spokespeople for the pet food industry (IE- whatever the esteemed weasel for the Pet Food Institute, Duane Ekedahl, the one who lied so unconvincingly during the Senate hearing, yeah, that one, whatever he gets paid and don’t forget Claudia Kirk ,also making an appearance at the Senate hearing as an “outside expert” yeah, right, and she got over 100k in grants in just 2 months) established to make available IMMEDIATE funds for testing and vet care for the victims of the next screw up.
If the pet food industry can pay for a cover your butt and spinfest of this scope, and evidently they can, they can certainly afford to make amends to those who not only paid for the tainted pet food in the first place but are paying STILL in blood, tears and Vet bills that will not wait for a long drawn out lawsuit.
And what I would like TODAY is an immediate apology from the FDA for repeated use of the incorrect death toll of 16 animals and an apology for all the times they said “Oh, the food on the stores shelves is fine” and it wasn’t . And I would like it to be as widely reported by the media as the insulting, inaccurate and extremely stressful reports that never should have been in the first place.
Two of my pets are already dead, I have others ill, and I have not had a decent nights sleep in over two months. Adding insult to my pain on a daily basis, for two months…unforgivable.
Just as there are many dead pets, and many more ill, there are many other pet parents like me and these reports, often calling us hysterical, confused pet owners, were beyond cruel.
That, Senator, you can start fixing TODAY.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 19, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
Gina,
Taking action always helps one’s despair. I look forward to our suggestions and comments being well-received by Sen. Durbin, and that we are able to truly contribute to major changes. Ours is a government for and by the people, I think. Maybe there’s still hope? I will be submitting my letter.
Thank you for this website.
Comment by Nadine Long — April 19, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
I think they should follow Dr. Hodgkins’ suggestions.
http://www.mousabilities.com/n.....in%202.doc
Why not just put “nutrition facts” like are on human foods? That would give me all the information I need. The stupid guaranteed analysis with just minimums and maximums, not an as-fed on dry matter basis is useless. No carbohydrate content or caloric information whatsoever.
Comment by Lynette — April 19, 2007 @ 2:55 pm
Mr. Lazarus, I was also going to send this same letter to Senator Durbin. This letter is far from complete, but it’s a start. I didn’t want to go over the word limit on Sen. Byrd’s site. In case an aide just glanced at the letter, I gave a header in capital letters to each paragraph. Thank you for asking for input. And please thank Senator Durbin for his continued interest.
April 19, 2007
Dear Senator Byrd:
Thank you for holding a Senate hearing on April 12, 2007, on the pet food recall horror that is still expanding week by week as one ingredient after another has been determined to be contaminated with melamine: first, wheat gluten; next, rice protein concentrate, and as of today, corn gluten, as reported from South Africa.
>CALL FOR SECOND PET FOOD INDUSTRY SENATE HEARING
I am calling on you, Senator Byrd, to once again, hold a deeper investigation into the pet food industry horror and to place under oath the following: the CEO of Menu Foods, the CEO of Chem Nutra, the CEO of Wilbur-Ellis, and the CEO’s of every pet food label that has had a recall. We need a full, public disclosure “on the record” of who knew what, when, and exactly what they did. I am appalled by the “Teflon personalities” (letting the blame slide off of you and on to someone else) exhibited to date.
>HALT THE “HONOR SYSTEM” UNDER WHICH THE PET FOOD INDUSTRY CURRENTLY OPERATES
I watched the two-hour proceedings of the first pet food hearing with interest on CSPAN and was touched by your recounting of the story of “Here comes ‘Trouble’,” your own dog, and I am asking that in your Trouble’s name and the names and faces of all of our pets, both alive and now deceased as a result of this catastrophe, that you insist on holding another Senate hearing to investigate the entire pet food industry, which for the past month, has clearly been exposed to be in complete shambles due to its being on the “honor system” with no true regulations or checks and balances, as evidenced by Senator Durbin’s questioning of Mr. Ekedahl of the Pet Food Industry and the representative of AAFCO during the first hearing.
>TRANSPARENCY IN INGREDIENT PROCUREMENT AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS
The pet food industry (not to mention our human food supply) needs to be closely regulated because the “honor system,” under which the pet food industry currently operates because it is considered a “low risk of contamination,” needs to be abruptly halted. Many companies are looking for the cheapest way to boost the protein level in their food, using untested ingredients with unknown consequences, with the least expenditure from their wallets. There appear to be few checks and balances with little to no accountability. The heavy shroud of secrecy and silence until a company is “called out,” sometimes through private testing of food samples, must stop.
Only when companies agree to become as transparent as possible in their procurement of ingredients (country of origin) and in their manufacturing process with all of its documented checks and balances, will consumers once again be able to begin to trust the pet food industry. It is up to the U.S. government to enact laws and demand regulations and compliance from this seemingly maverick industry.
>ACCOUNTABILITY WITH SEVERE FINANCIAL AND CRIMINAL CONSEQUENCES
Accountability measures and strict record keeping for each ingredient procured and each step of the manufacturing process should be the norm, with heavy financial and criminal consequences (jail sentences) for those companies and people in charge who do not follow these measures. Written documentation that can trace the origin and distribution of every single ingredient around the country or globe and records that show a history of testing and results for every step of the manufacturing process is the only way to do business and regain the public’s trust. These records need to be available for inspection or faxing to a controlling agency at a moment’s notice, not weeks after contaminated ingredients have been distributed nationally and globally.
>TIMELY COMMUNICATION TO A CENTRAL REPORTING AGENCY THAT ALSO REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC
Timely communication of tainted products has been slow and frustrating at best. There needs to be immediate reporting to a centralized agency that also, more importantly, communicates this information directly to the consumer once any possible contamination of any pet food sample is taken or any single ingredient procured shows that it is potentially harmful.
>PLANT CLOSURES, FINES, & PUBLIC PROBATION FOR COMPANY INFRACTIONS
Since the only language understood by the pet food companies and manufacturers is that of “profit and loss,” I recommend that we largely speak their language by assigning six-figure *daily* fines against any company with infractions, that there be criminal prosecution against those in charge of procurement and operations when they’re at fault, and complete closure of any manufacturing plant until it has been demonstrated beyond doubt through inspections, testing, and additional compliance measures, that steps have been taken to correct the problem. This company should be placed on “probation” that is made public to both consumers and investors.
>TEMPORARY FOOD & GRAIN BAN FROM CHINA
The pet food industry (as well as the human food industry) is crying out for reform. Citizens need to feel confident in feeding pets and themselves once again. I recommend nothing short of a temporary ban on all food products from China, especially grain and grain-related products, until China’s food producers, processing plants, and government officials can adhere to some safety standards and assure the U.S. people that their products are safe. If China is unable to do this, I recommend expulsion from the World Trade Organization. If the European Union can have more stringent food quality standards, so can we, and I demand this for our pet food as well as our human food.
Senator Byrd, I could go on and on about reforms that are needed in the pet food industry (as well as our human food industry), but my list will at least provide a start. Please conduct a solid investigation of this industry — as lives are at stake the longer this catastrophe is allowed to continue in the name of protecting suppliers, brand name companies, and the manufacturing plants. Enough is enough. The recall has gone on for over one month, and it’s time for our government, the body that is supposed to protect us, to take action.
I applaud your efforts thus far in helping to expose the lack of regulation in the pet food industry, which needs to be brought to its knees and forced to comply with stringent regulations immediately. It’s time for government action and industry accountability with severe consequences for infractions — and I’m not merely speaking of a “warning letter” from the FDA.
Thank you, Senator Byrd, for taking time to read my letter and for being an integral force in delving even more deeply into the pet food industry catastrophe. I applaud your efforts.
Sincerely,
Comment by petlover — April 19, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
Mr. Lazarus, please include a private right of action for pet owners whose pets are harmed by a pet food manufacturer’s unlawful conduct. THIS IS IMPORTANT!
Comment by LakeCtyILAtty — April 19, 2007 @ 5:04 pm
Country of origin labeling as mentioned. Some sort of certificate that is passed along with each raw material certifying where that product originated. It is never acceptable for a company to not know where it’s source materials came from.
Also, since cats need ANIMAL protein, not plant….I want to know percentage of protein from animal versus other sources. I want to know what I am really getting for my money.
Comment by Jenny — April 19, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
Bravo petlover - short, concise & to the point.
Comment by Stefania — April 19, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
Petlover, that was great. I couldn’t have worded it all so concisely. Can I edit it and send it to my representatives? Obviously I would leave out the parts that are specific to Senator Byrd. I think I will put the call to ban imports from China at the top, since it seems like that is the absolutely most pressing issue, to keep more poison from coming to the US.
Comment by Joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
Wow! After the awful continuing events of the past few days, this is definitely a ray of hope.
I plan on making copies of the whole letter and handing them out……..let them hear us woof and meow!
Comment by CathyA — April 19, 2007 @ 6:22 pm
JOYCE & ALL: Yes, please feel free to use all or parts of what I’ve written a few posts above. My writing is far from great, and I’ve edited this since I first wrote it because I’m getting so many good ideas from other posts here.
I try to post a few things I write so that others can use parts or the entire piece to send to someone. I know that people are leading very hectic lives and may not have time to actually sit down and compose from scratch.
Also, see whatLakeCtyILAtty wrote Apr. 19 5:04 p.m. about a “private right of action for pet owners…” Excellent!
Let’s keep the ideas coming.
****************************
Petlover, that was great. I couldn’t have worded it all so concisely. Can I edit it and send it to my representatives? Obviously I would leave out the parts that are specific to Senator Byrd. I think I will put the call to ban imports from China at the top, since it seems like that is the absolutely most pressing issue, to keep more poison from coming to the US.
Comment by Joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
**************************************
Mr. Lazarus, please include a private right of action for pet owners whose pets are harmed by a pet food manufacturer’s unlawful conduct. THIS IS IMPORTANT!
Comment by LakeCtyILAtty — April 19, 2007 @ 5:04 pm
Comment by petlover — April 19, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
First of all, thank you and blessings to the tireless who manage this website and put such great info for us. It has been my only sustaining lifeline.
I have written twice to Senator Durbin and this is what I wrote to Mr. Lazarus:
My suggestion is first to do something to help us out now - I am one of thousands with both my cats in renal failure and the vet bills are astronomical. To save money I am doing subcutaneous dialysis every other day myself at home for both cats - and I am exhausted, frustrated, heartbroken and incensed.
I cannot get reimbursed for the vet bills because I do not have PROOF that the renal failure of both cats, within 2 weeks of each other, in late February and early March were caused by food. My cats’ food is not yet listed and both Purina and Del Monte insist that their products fed to my cats were not contaminated. They never tested them, but I have to prove they caused it. How can I do that?
They need to be made accountable, now, for this crisis. All pets that have renal failure should have free lab testing of blood and urine and the foods we still have left tested, and this should be arranged and paid for by the pet food industry. My bills are over $2,000 and rising - I will soon be forced to put my cats down because I cannot afford to keep them alive and cannot prove the food was contaminated. Many treat bags were purchased during this time period, consumed and thrown away. How can I prove anything? New contaminated foods are being brought to surface every day - how dare they say they are not responsible when they have not tested their food?
The veternarians are no help, the FDA is a waste of time. Please help us and make them test every product they make and provide testing for our sick pets.
Incidentally, Purina (Nestle Purina) just bought Gerber baby food. May God help us.
If these corporations are so certain that their pet food products are safe, then I want to see them feed these food products to their children.
Sincerely,
Comment by Pat — April 19, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
Pat,
There may be a way to prove you bought the contaminated food.
I agree that Senator Durbin needs to be aware of the IMMEDIATE needs -it was a point in my post above. Many are in a fix with money for these bills that will not wait.
Now hang in there a minute with me.
There are more foods that are GOING TO BE RECALLED, I promise you that, complaints are building and samples of some you mentioned are being tested now.
The damage to your pets can be confirmed by having the vets keep urine samples for testing.
The damage has a pretty clear marker I think, getting that info to your pet can help buy you and your pets some time.
Now, do you have receipts in your purse, your car, do you use a frequent shopper card, or a credit card to buy things?
All those things can get you the records you need.Take a deep breath and think about that, security cameras can help. Get a pen and paper and think about where you got those items, call stores in the morning.
It is very hard for you right now, I KNOW, you are not alone and everyone here will help, a very nice bunch.
You need sleep, some relief and an end to the frustration.
Good thoughts heading your way.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 19, 2007 @ 9:38 pm
Straight and 2 the point:
If the Chinese refuse to allow Inspection - SIMPLE - stop the importing of glutens and grains.
A. This alarms the Feds, since China owns a HUGE CHUNK of the American Debt.
B. Its a LOT CHEAPER - tax dollar wise - then FINDING and testing each shipment imported.
C. The Pet Food Industry will revolt (of course, prices might rise closer to those of the Super Premium Foods - HHHMMM)
D. Food for thought (pun intended)
E. Vote with your wallet, avoid all food with Soy, Rice types (flour, gluten, protein Concentrate - all labels unless they say whole grain brown/white rice), Wheat (flour, gluten meal - any processed wheat), and Corn (anything corn, gluten, meal - animals are not meant to be digesting Corn). All foods sold off the shelf at Safeway, Albertsons, Walmart, QFC, etc. (Trust me on This) Some foods at Petco are Okay, research FIRST. Costco has a great brand - Kirkland. Animal Feed Stores sell the Super Premium (be careful here, as Natural Balance was recalled - so reasearch and know your ingredients). However, have had very successful results with the Animal/Specialty Pet Food Suppliers.
Comment by Concerned Pet Owner — April 19, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
For those of you who need help with your pet’s medical expenses, itchmo.com has a list of charities at http://itchmo.com/read/pets-me.....p_20070410
Comment by Marilyn — April 20, 2007 @ 3:02 am
As always it takes a tragedy for something to change. As with human food now it is our beloved pets, will we ever feel safe again? I doubt it I personally am totally disgusted and paranoid about buying food for my dogs now, I find myself constantly looking for symptoms my blood pressure has mushroomed over this whole situation. Something should be done immediately and why I want to know why as rich in resources America is are pet food companies buying these products overseas and not checking quality especially countries such as China who have NO quality control or are not being made accountable for poisoning our beloved pets.
We have no way of knowing by the ingredients where they come from I think we should have a choice, I would never knowingly buy pet food that the ingredients had been imported.
Comment by Jeannie Overbay — April 20, 2007 @ 6:51 am
- 4) adverse effect reporting standards and penalties for companies that don’t report possible contaminations;
Comment: Let’s do this now. People need to go to jail. Check out the MEMU foods guy. No QC experience, but lots of experience with toxic materials. Could this have been an inside job?
- 6) mandatory recall authority to pull products immediately.
Comment: We ALREADY have a 2002 rule giving FDA the authority. The problem is we don’t enforce the rules. Too many lobbyists!!!
“The Food and Drug Administration today announced the final rule establishing procedures for administrative detention of food under the authority of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (Bioterrorism Act). This new authority applies to food for which the agency has credible evidence or information that it presents a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals”
See Link: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/.....01073.html
Please add to your list:
7) Improved Labeling - Labels must show country of origin. Identify any off shore ingredients. Name, address, & phone number of manufacturer and distributer.
8) Accurate Ingredients - List of ingredients must reflect what’s really in the bag (Natural Balance reformulated, added Rice Protein Concentrate, didn’t list it on the bag. That’s FRAUD)
9) When EPA/FDA eliminates a test (as they did for Melamine in 1999) they need to tell the pet food makers. Pet food makers could then add the test to their incoming inspection procedures.
Here’s how the recall happened:
In 1999 Novartis petitioned EPA to increased allowed levels of Cypromazine. At the same time FDA eliminated test requirement for melamine. See Link: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EP.....p24047.htm
HERE’S THE HEADLINE: We changed our incoming test standards, decided not to test for melamine, announced the change in the Federal Register, and put the Federal Register on line for all the world to see.
The China companies data-mined the Federal Register (it’s on line) and took advantage of our own stupidity.
10) Licensing requirements for feed mills - Make requirements tougher. Not everyone should be in the feed mill business!
Comment by 5CatMom — April 20, 2007 @ 9:09 am
Sorry, that should be “cyromazine” not “cypromazine”
Comment by 5CatMom — April 20, 2007 @ 9:11 am
If the Chinese want to stall, then all commerce/trade etc should go on stall from our side. So what if they own a part of our debt - since when is it mandatory to repay for faulty, degraded, contaminated, inferior products. Every country welches on us, let us try to gain some leverage. What will they do?
Attack us? This is another form of terrorism, and with the current thought of deliberate tainting, how can one defend themself and save face?
So far my food has not been recalled, but a few months ago my dog became extremely ill, kidney related, stayed 3 days with vet, sent home w/IV’s that I learned to administer and Science Diet. He recovered, but this aged this 4 yr. old several years. Before my eyes, he aged and those in the vet’s office thought he was much older than 4.
At that time, the vet said I should go all natural - give him a live chicken, being the best food. Since I am city dweller, astounded me, but changes were made to his diet. Yes, cooking for the animals is time consuming, but so is tv, and many other pursuits. One just has to decide what is important and schedule oneself accordingly.
My heart goes out to all in pain of loss of life or quality of life of their loved ones.
Comment by jba — April 20, 2007 @ 10:00 am
BTW: vet kept asking about foods: Iams, Nutro. Never did get clear diagnosis - confounded all. Just no reason, hope,pray and IV’s.
Comment by jba — April 20, 2007 @ 10:25 am
I have lost 3 of my family members and still was is still in renal failure. On Feb 6th Eric, my 15 year old red tabby Persian had to be euthanized for renal failure. He had a BUN in the 300s and a Creatinine of 9.9. Last summer, I had blood work on him to screen his thyroid, pancreas and kidneys prior to an amputation. All were normal! Also, as Eric was sick my 12 year old cocker spaniel was not eating and drinking and appeared confused, walking around and barking. The day after I lost Eric, I had Kali euthanized also. We did not do any tests. We did not know at that time that all my pets were receiving poisoned food, Special Kitty and Ol’Roy moist packet foods. I am sure that she also probably had renal failure as the 2 cats did. Now my 5 year old Black Lab has renal failure and is respomding well to treatment with Science Diet K/D and Azodyl. Please keep him in your prayers. I also have others who need close watching.
As far as changes in the laws, they definitely need to be strengthened and I really feel that as the Breadbasket of the World we, both humans and our pets, should eat American grown grain only. Capitalism is great but America and Americans need to come first and the rich need to take lower profits so that the farmers can make a healthy income for their hard work and keep the prices of our human and pet foods reasonable. When I first heard this whole China connection I was shocked that we even imported grain from China. The country with some of the worst human rights crimes in the world community, why? For owners and stockholders to have a greater profit margin. Come on, where is their community spirit. I do hope that this nightmare is about over. I miss Eric, TJ and Kali every day. I inmplore all Members of Congress to please protect us and our pets and make strict laws and regulations to protect our nation’s food sources.
Comment by Joan Mullin — April 20, 2007 @ 8:14 pm
Yes, please, please investigate the tainted pet food tragedy and enact legislation to make changes in reporting and inspections. To many of us our pets are part of our family. This has been heartbreaking for so many pets and their pet owners.
It was reported that the company, Menu Foods delayed reporting the tainted pet food and during that delay they sold (dumped) a lot of the stock they owned in the company. This is criminal and heartless and they should be held accountable.
Comment by Gail Mohn — April 21, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
Silent Recalls.
I’ve been looking for the blog I read previously from someone who worked for large national pet food chain who discribed Science Diet and other major brand reps who have been removing and replacing pet food products on store shelves. I believe they were ‘updating’. I believe I also read that store employees helped some with ‘updating’. I’m sure a certain amount of this may be normal protocal but what a convenient way to carry out a silent recall. If the company suspects or knows of a problem with the food and they can get it off of the store shelves before it is tested by an outside source then they avoid a costly and embarasing recall. They also avoid being financially responsible for any deaths or illnesses and it keeps the overall numbers of confirmed cases of tainted pet food numbers lower.
It may be that we don’t hear from the other two purchasers of the contaminated RPC (Rice Protein Concentrate) they may have already removed it from the store shelves while no one was noticing. Perhaps it was caught in house and the food diverted and sold as ‘salvage’ and ended up at a hog farm in California!
I would love to find that blog again, if anyone knows anything about this can you please help me?
Carole
Comment by CMc (wegie mom) — April 21, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
! A Blockbuster !
Source: McLeod, Judy. “Poisoned pet food scare: ChemNutra sliding off radar screen?” Canada Free Press . com (CFR) Online. 18Apr07. Accessed: 21Apr07.
POSTED FOR FAIR USE PURPOSES ONLY
Archival. Copyright intact.
http://www.canadafreepress.com.....041807.htm
“…
Poisoned pet food scare:
ChemNutra sliding off radar screen? By Judi McLeod
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Even with no conclusive answers from the Food and Drug Association (FDA) on which particular poison is sickening what respectable veterinarian associations claim could be “thousands” of pets, ChemNutra, the U.S. company that imported the tainted wheat gluten from China seems to have disappeared off the radar screen.
All questions to ChemNutra are now being fielded by Stern and Company, a Las Vegas-based public relations firm.
Pet owners emailing Canada Free Press (CFP) complain that their questions are met with the same response: “What is the purpose of this query?”
PR flaks are paid to protect clients but the silence from ChemNutra CEO Stephen S. Miller and his wife Sally Qing Miller is deafening.
According to its website, ChemNutra qualifies as a “Woman and Minority-owned Company”, meaning that it qualifies for government funding. In other words, Chem-Nutra is attempting to secure or has already landed government funding.
In a letter posted to the ChemNutra website on the weekend, company CEO Stephen S. Miller said ChemNutra had been victimized by its Chinese supplier, XuZhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. Ltd. and said he was “appalled” that Ontario-based Menu Foods took so long to recall the contaminated pet food.
Why haven’t the Millers been called to testify at Senator Dick Durbin’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, World Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies in Washington, D.C.?
Stephen Miller includes E.F. Hutton & Company and Smith Barney as former employers on the ChemNutra website.
Once the respected second largest brokerage firm in the United States, E.F. Hutton & Co. went down in flames.
“The brokerage house was the principal component of what grew into a conglomerate of companies owned by E.F. Hutton Group Inc., listed on the NYSE.” (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). “Other subsidiaries of that Delaware-charted holding company were E.F. Hutton Trust Company (now “Smith Barney Corporate Trust Company” and owned by Citigroup), E.F. Hutton Life Insurance Company and E.F. Hutton Bank.
“In the 1980s, the conglomerate disintegrated due to corporate misconduct, mostly by the brokerage firm. The firm had knowingly engaged in money laundering for organized crime (the so-called “Pizza Connection” because money was sometimes delivered in pizza boxes.
“It was not until the president of the brokerage firm, Scott Pierce (the brother of Barbara Bush, wife of then-vice-president of the U.S.) entered his corporation’s guilty plea to 2000 criminal counts of federal mail and wire fraud in 1985, that the Hutton conglomerate fell apart.”
Could it be that former Hutton vice president, ChemNutra’s Stephen S. Miller has FDA protection that originates from the highest office of the land?
In a frustrating and even frightening environment in now the five-week-old pet food scare, there are more questions than answers for worried North American consumers.
The mainstream media seems to have all but abandoned the poisoned pet food story and only http://www.consumeraffairs.com has been diligent in keeping consumers informed.
The angst for pet owners lives on.
On Tuesday, Menu Foods added yet another dog food product to its list of recalled tainted pet food.
The company said the item was added after it analyzed production records at its plant in Emporia, Kansas as part of the FDA’s investigation of tainted wheat gluten.
The eight varieties had previously been withdrawn from the market and should already be off market shelves, according to Menu Foods.
The product added to the recall list was Natural Life Dog Food with a date on the bottom of the can of Nov/22/09 and UPC # 12344-07114.
Worried pet owners can get an updated list of the recalled Menu Foods products at HYPERLINK “” http://www.menufoods.com/.
And if that weren’t enough, yet another company reports it is worried about a tainted concentrate imported from another company in China.
Wilbur-Ellis CEO John Thacher said his company sold a tainted concentrate to five pet-food makers—but that most of it went to two firms. (www.floridatoday.com). One of the primary companies Wilbur-Ellis sold to was Diamond Pet Foods, which packs some of the Natural Balance product—but doesn’t use the concentrate in any Diamond-made foods, according to Diamond spokesman Jim Fallon. The other major customer was not revealed by Thacher.
So, who are the four other pet food makers?
FDA offered no comment Tuesday, but said Monday that Natural Balance had informed them of the issue. Yet 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. According to Thacher, Wilbur-Ellis has ceased importing the ingredient from the Chinese firm, Binzhou Futian Biology Technology.
As one readers asks CFP, “When is the FDA going to start acting like it’s responsible for protecting consumers…When is the FDA going to start reporting to consumers?”
Canada Free Press founding editor Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck and The Rant. Judi can be reached at: letters@canadafreepress.com. Other articles by Judi McLeod
Comment by Pat Gantt — April 21, 2007 @ 3:17 pm
Words don’t express how dedicated those on these lists (except the trolls) are!
We have come a very long way digging to the truth.
Make sure that all read Itchmo and Pet Connection Daily.
I will be adding to my independent site as fast as I can just the hottest of this HUGE emerging story so people have the best resources to begin their search or to extend their searches.
I have to update my backups to my harddrive should it go away too.
But then I have other servers to use too LOL!
If I disappear off the radar screen I may have been forced to eat wheat, rice, and corn gluten :P !
I keep getting the pages I put up on one particular wiki Political Party’s site deleted.
I keep asking questions trying to get some leadership out of them on the food supply emergency.
No explanation. .. pages disappear.
Others have been ignored thus far from my emails to my direct representation and a large cable network.
Anyone else experiencing the deafening silence too?
Now that I have read the blockbuster our southcarolina correspondent posted, it is clear why the censorship.
The government all levels, agencies, and traditional news outlets dismiss the pet poisonings and refuse to dig.
They certainly dismiss the true power of the Internet to bring together the grassroots from all states and nations.
We love our pets. We love them without reservation!
Here’s a story quickly of just how much we love our dogs.
When Neyll was 4 months old, my husband and I went over to his parent’s house one Sunday. While we were there our sister-in-law called. Said the local news just announced a train derailment that was carrying toxic chemicals. Just two miles from our house. My husband and I immediately got in our car. Made it home at record speed to scoup up our lil Neyll from her crate. Grabbed her food and we even forgot to pack our clothes or take our medications with us. It was all Neyll our concern.
All were told to evacuate our area. There were reports of the toxic chemicals in the air. We still raced home to rescue our new baby. We were willing to be poisoned ourselves to save her little life. God was with us the normally West blowing wind was blowing Southward. All in our area were shut out for several days until the all clear was given neighborhood residents could go home.
Much more to the story but I think the readers can see where I am going with this… we would lay down our lives for our beloveds. I don’t think the politicians and other dispassionate others understand the love we feel for the sweet creatures that are capable of pure, unconditional love.
What are your stories out there? Pet lovers tell us just how much your babies mean to you. Those who have sickened and dead animals… tell us their stories!
Next speaker please….
Comment by Pat Gantt — April 21, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
What can I do to protect my family?
1. Go through your frozen, dry, and canned foods human and pet.
2. Discontinue eating all food with wheat gluten, rice concentrate (gluten), and corn gluten.
3. Save the food and packaging.
4. Save your grocery and pet food receipts.
5. Subscribe to Itchmo and FDA alert lists you receive in your email. Itchmo adds alerts before the FDA for both human and pet products.
6. Consider homefeeding for all pets.
7. Do a search for human food and other substances you should not feed your pets before making pet food.
8. Check all pet treats, supplements, and products such as Heartguard preventative for rice or wheat gluten. Discontinue feeding these to your pets immediately.
9. If you suspect your animal has been poisoned join the Menu Foods Class Action Yahoo Group (other foods also) so you can keep up on the very first reports of sickenings and pet deaths both pulled and not yet pulled from shelves.
10. If you suspect your animal has been poisoned enter your pet’s records on the Menu Foods Class Action Yahoo Group Database, The Pet Connection Database, and the FDA Database. Information listed above can be verified by the FDA, various blogs, and Menu Foods Yahoo Group.
11. Be aware the government agencies and news media is extremely slow in reporting on this important human and pet poisoning story! They are ill informed and thus far have failed to cover recalls or potential recalls as deeply as they should.
12. Make sure you write, call, the media and your direct representation after you have done your research to the food supply that is in possible jeopardy.
13. Don’t depend on 1- 12
Do your own research! Come to your own educated well informed decisions. Knowledge is power and you may just be saving your families lives. Better too cautious or be sorry later.
Stay informed …
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Comment by Pat Gantt — April 21, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
Approximately 2-3 weeks ago, in response to the pet food recall, I started my 12.5 year old cat, “Miss Kitty” on Natural Balance foods. After intense research Natural Balance appeared both safe and nutritional.
Surprise! Surprise!! Last Sunday, 4/15/07, our baby girl Kitty, started marathon vomiting, crouching and hiding. She had been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism earlier in the year, but was on medication, and was fine. We rushed her to a local pet hospital ER, and she’s been there ever since.
Life saving and incredibly expensive measures were implemented and maintained. God bless these gifted animal medical personnel. 7 days later, she is still there and she has just started to eat. No vomiting up to this hour, but it is still touch-and go. Her Vet team only today realized when I told them again about the food, and what I had read today about the rice protein concentrate added. Last week, when she was admitted, the Natural Balance hadn’t been recalled. I mentioned the brand again today, and they are reporting it.
It breaks my heart for all the “Pet Parents” and their families, both two and four legged. I’m not sure how to proceed with this, but I’ve already signed the list for the FDA here at Pet Connection. Monday I will call the FDA directly. To all of you suffering loss, as well as those of you who persist in your research, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Despite Kitty’s outcome, which is looking brighter today, I will not let this pass without some noise… We must be the voices of those who suffer. Thanks for hearing me out…M.C.
I
Comment by Margaret Chiusano — April 21, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
There is just no excuse for our having to deal with circimstances such as these. How do the pet food companies dare to learn about contamination only through the deaths of our pets? No routine testing? Buying cheap fillers from China? A long drawn out delay in recalls. Not sure why I ever trusted any of them. They obviously through large donations and such have what should be animal advocates in their pocket. Comprehensive control over these corporations is clearly needed by some government agency capable of moving faster than the FDA’s snail’s pace. We need to make sure these companies stop profiting at the expense of our pets. They are not animal lovers as their web sites would like to claim. Their love is for the almighty dollar. I sure hope Senator Durbin continues his efforts and succeeds.
Comment by Fran — April 21, 2007 @ 8:14 pm
Sir,
I lost my best friend to a compny that thought about money then the clients they served. Purina. My heart has been broken…my best friend murderd and no answers in sight!
Do I or will I ever trust these companies again? I think not!
Comment by Joanne F. Bishop — April 22, 2007 @ 10:56 am
Thes companies should be closed! Purina included! My Cat only ate Purina products!
Comment by Joanne F. Bishop — April 22, 2007 @ 10:57 am
Give the FDA some type of exemption from lawsuits when a company is suspected of producing tainted food and it is named. It is unconscionable that the FDA KNOWS which firms received contaminated product and it will not release the company names to the public. It sits back and waits for the companies to announce it themselves. Who are the other three companies who imported the contaminated rice protein solution? We are STILL WAITING to hear.
Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 10:14 pm
Like every other government agency and USG sub-contractor, the FDA can’t go to the next square on the Monopoly board until every little i has been dotted and all the t’s have been crossed.
It sucks.
Comment by Lynn — April 22, 2007 @ 11:48 pm
Pet Lover,
Relative to your letter to Senator Byrd….What about the CEO’s of all the other Pet Food Companies that did not come forward until weeks after Menu Foods did? Why is Menu Foods the only pet food company that is being singled out and blamed? Purina, Hills, Del Monte, Sunshine Mills, all the dry manufacturers that have yet to be named for the dry pet food recall last week…all of them cowards. Menu Foods was the first to hit the news and took the heat for all the recalls thusfar. I understand that they were the only company to contact the FDA, the other waited and hoped they didnt have to. This is not about ONE company, it’s an industry issue.
Comment by Rocky — April 23, 2007 @ 5:34 am
the message board on here, for the tainted food HAS TO KEEP GOING!! people cannot forget what happened over this mess. putting labels on foods? will that tell us, if the food is poisoned? i have written to all the senators, on that panel. i suggest EVERYONE do the same, including ones from your own state. do u really think this will just go away? these stores still have bad foods on the shelves. on sale, no less! do they think we are that stupid? they must pay, whether it’s monetary or not. One of my main questions i have asked over time is; WHERE ARE THEY GETTING RID OF THESE PRODUCTS?? it had better be canada and china! send them back! and, it’s time to stop relying on a country that cares about nothing-china.
Comment by diana — April 24, 2007 @ 5:42 am
Rocky, it’s the chain of events that has to occur. If you think it through chronologically, it will make a little more sense.
Presumably (and it’s what we have to presume, because - so far - there is no confirmed information to indicate otherwise) the FIRST thing that happened in the chanin of events was that MenuFoods began receiving reports of dogs getting sick/dying after eating food they had produced.
What did they do? Nothing. They waited.
They had a “quarterly feeding trial” coming up in a couple of months, and so they waited until then, while still collecting reports.
Upon conducting their quarterly feeding trial, the (fifteen?) cats and (one?) dog died. Then, and ONLY then did they contact the FDA.
THAT’S when the trackback to all the affected companies started happening. Not three or four months before when it COULD have been happening if MenuFoods hadn’t been saving a buck by sitting on the information until the next quarter rolled around and they could confirm it for themselves.
If you wonder why the finger continues to point so strongly towards MenuFoods, it’s because they’re the first domino in this ugly little game. Until they “told” there was nothing to “tell”. Because melamine is not on the list of “usual suspects” and no one was looking for it.
But they would have been. At least a couple months sooner than they did, but for the actions - or lack thereof - of MenuFoods.
Comment by Pat — April 24, 2007 @ 6:45 am
I have read all the previous comments and agree. I can’t believe our feelings and love for our pets are not valued. I too lost a cat from a food not recalled. Obviously death of a pet should be dramatic enough to to get the appropriate attention and action to prevent this contamination in the future. I want to know what in the world was in our tried and true dry commercial pet foods even when our animals were alive that caused hair loss. I finally switched to a local milling company in our state for pet food. My cats and dogs within three weeks have shiny coats and quit shedding altogether. What other health benefits are being realized with this change. I may never trust the major commercial pet food companies again.
Comment by Sharon — April 24, 2007 @ 10:09 am
I think one thing that needs to be addressed is how to get all the food off the shelves, including in rural areas like where I live, in a time
Comment by janet — April 24, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
I lost Baby cat 1 week before recall. As soon as we found out about the recall our vet said we should have Max tested since Baby died or kidney failure. Well Max (pure bred Siamese)also is in renal failure. He has been hospitalized 2 times for weeks at a time. Now we have nothing left to do. They say to bring him home. Make him comfortable and happy and to make good memories with him.Well how in the world do you have good memories of your furry family gying? I hate Menu foods and I know God will have His vengence. I would love for it to be mine. I do not know how they live with themselves. I don’t know how I am going to live without my babies.My vet bills are high and I don’t know what to do I am having to buy perscription food for Max from the vet. Thank God he is stilleating. I would give up groceries for us to buy his food. Please I beg you to get us some help. I want these bills paid. My vet has been fantastic.He is waiting to collect from me until I hear from someone about compensation from Menufoods. I also think they should give us money to pay for a new pet if we ever choose to. i don’t know if I would ever trust to feed another cat. I have 2 dogs who are not acting right. I need so bad to have them tested but I am afraid of te outcome. Is there anyone reading these who cares??????
Comment by Brenda Woody — April 24, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
Pet parents are terrified that their beloved dogs and cats are being” murdered” by the foods we as pet parents have purchased and fed . I cannot understand the FDAs inability to control the shipping and the removal of dangerous foods -and -or food ingredients -Depending on the producers and vendors of foods to moniter their products is clearly not working, it seems as though the “almighty” $$$ is of utmost concern I will gladly support ANY bill that will change the laws governing ALL food and food ingredients -I feel that buying from our own farmers would help insure the safety of pet and human food stuffs I beleive the companies involved in this massive recall should accept financial liability for this
horrific scourge —as well as issuing up to date information along with apologies
Comment by Judy Boone — April 24, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
I cant believe the media….It’s as though they’re nonexistant…where is everyone? We continue on like nothing is happening…Our pets are still in recovery. Were scared to shop for pet foods,I feel like I’m traveling blind. Is our media so controled by stock holders, that their money hungry values,does wholesale slaughter on our precious pets…I blame the media for their support of the nyse..big companys, big bucks. THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR
Comment by Busters Mom — April 24, 2007 @ 11:00 pm
OUTLINE
- 1) an early warning system patterned on CDC’s human health database which would identify contaminations more quickly;
- 2) mandatory processing and ingredient standards to clean up the messy patchwork of voluntary guidelines, state regs, and state laws;
- 3) additional inspections of pet food processing plants (relevant stat here is 30% of pet food processing plants in the U.S. had been inspected at least once over the last 3 1/2 years);
- 4) adverse effect reporting standards and penalties for companies that don’t report possible contaminations;
- 5) international standards for pet food as well as human to incorporate increased trade and imports from countries that don’t have high standards;
- 6) mandatory recall authority to pull products immediately.
——————————————————
None of this addresses what could have prevented this problem.
1. We need mandatory lab testing of pet food products. When an ingredient or foreign supplier of an ingredient is changed, mandatory testing needs to be required before that product is released into the market place.
2. After the trials are complete and results are reported to the FDA or the AAFCO , these new ingredients need to be accounted for on the package before the product is released in the market place, not six months later.
Proper testing and labeling will eliminate massive recalls and place the burden where it belongs, on the pet food industry. Please draft legislation that will solve this problem. Please do not pander to those with an animal rights agenda and refer to themselves as “pet guardians” and “pet parents”. This is the movement that has pressured the industry to end testing of their products on live animals in a lab environment. Please use a common sense, not an animal rights approach when drafting this legislation.
Comment by Kathy Hash — April 25, 2007 @ 10:39 am
I emailed and called Hills Pet Foods and asked them where they get the ingredient Corn Gluten for their dog food. They couldn’t answer me correctly. They said that info was part of their recipe, and they didn’t have that info available. I think that all ingredient origins should be posted somewhere where everyone can see it, if not on the container, then on their website. I don’t think I should have to wonder if Corn gluten is next on the list of contaminated ingredients, esp. when it has been contaminated in South Africa. My dog’s food has corn gluten in it. Unfortuneatly, it’s vet prescibed. I can’t just choose another kind. I am very disappointed in the Hills company. I am still waiting for an answer.
Comment by Jackie St.Cyr — April 25, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
If it’s possible to map a stain on a blue dress down to its last atom, why can’t the same be done for a can of cat food?
Comment by Don — April 26, 2007 @ 3:16 am
It seems evident to me that U.S. lawmakers are framing a rather lame industry-too-friendly response to this crisis. For example, giving the FDA the mere authority to declare a recall is not enough.
The case in point here is the list of recalled products itself, the informational use of which has been effectively limited by both Menu Foods and the U.S. FDA in presenting it first as web pages by product and brand, and then in the case of the FDA hidden under a database interface. The effect is to both hide the total list in terms of its immensity AND to make it hard to get one list that one can use TO AVOID the killer products.
So, a requirement for prompt recalls with stiff penalties for failure to do so, plus complete meaningful disclosure should also be required, as in a requirement for an at-one-glance single consolidated list of killer products.
The FDA seems to have such a list but it is tucked away and virtually hidden at their database page last I checked. The direct URL is however:
http://www.fda.gov/ora/fed_sta.....Recall.xls
I recommend frequent redownloading of the list as the FDA has been a bit like the Keystone Cops in getting its head around this recall.
I plan to avoid all products on that list perpetually. That’s my starter solution.
Comment by Keith Risler — April 26, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
For anyone who feels they cannot prove they bought the recalled food…I returned some Iams on the recall list to Petco. Then realized my cat had died and we never did any tests to prove that melamine existed in her tissue because we didn’t know yet. I called Petco and they told me they keep records of the return. You can possibly access those records if you have a transaction number on a credit card statement or something. In my case, I have a petco gift card with the credit on it that ties to the recall.
Comment by Sandra — April 26, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
The pet food saga is costing the pet food co’s their profits and they know it. 70plus class action lawsuits as of today. I heard that some new companies formed by pet parents are happening, so they will list the real ingredients, no fillers. Until some calm arrives, I am feeding my cat food I make myself. My dog died from Nutro Max; when I called them with the UPC off the can she ate they told me it was safe! I have brought the published recall list to several stores only to find recalled food still out. Some stores have a sign saying if it is on the shelf it is safe! I do not trust any of the food; Why do pet food companies have to buy ingredients from foreign countries that no one checked out before the purchase? My guess is that the price determines what is bought, and the profit for the stockholders rules everything. I will never get over losing my little Shih Tzu; she died a painfull death because I did not know like all the other pet parents that I was killing her with the food. I’m just not buying any pet food until major changes are in place. Do I put the food down and wonder if my cat will get sick too? The other comments before this are so worrisome and heartbreaking. Will anyone listen? I hope so; we humans are the next to get sick!
Comment by Carol Brown — April 26, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
According to the NY Times, the Chinese company, Xuzhou Anying Bio-technology Development Company, was buying up large quantities of melamine…and “But lax food-safety regulation and standards are a problem; food producers sometimes dye meats to make them look fresher and even sell fake milk powder for babies.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04.....mp;ei=5070
Comment by Cheryl Hansen — April 26, 2007 @ 10:06 pm
If these two companies have tainted products, then why does the USA allow them to continue to export their other products to us? Check out what else is coming into our country from them:
http://www.21food.com/showroom.....,Ltd..html
http://www.21food.com/showroom.....,Ltd..html
and, while we’re looking at exports from China, let’s look at the PET FOOD that they are making. I can only wonder which companies are using it, and just putting their own label on these:
http://www.21food.com/product/.....Foods.html
It’s time to get really noisy to your legislature and senators!
Comment by Cheryl Hansen — April 26, 2007 @ 10:41 pm
We can get our foods tested at
Dairy One - http://www.dairyone.com
Litchfield Labs - http://www.litchlab.com/
They do a lot of forage testing and you’ll see a lot of verbiage about that, but they’ll test just about anything. I use Dairy One a lot, I even test my water. You’ll be hard pressed to find something you CAN’T test. If you have any questions just email them. Excellent customer service. Not expensive at all. We don’t have to feed our animals blindly. If you still have food that you suspect killed your fur kid, you can send it there, too for testing. Hope this helps.
Comment by shelly — April 27, 2007 @ 8:28 am
Our two 12 year old Shih Tzus, the loves of our lives, have become ill from eating the Iams pouches cuts in gravy. We just noticed a little more drinking and some vomiting with one of our little guys,”Sammy”,and decided to get a blood test for both(Sammy & Billy). We were shocked to find their kidney ensyme levels were high. In November “06, they both had a complete physical and kidney anyalis and all other functions were normal. They were fed only the Iams December, Jan, Feb, & March up to the recall. I understand that the Menu Foods knew that the Pet Food was poisen back in December, but didn’t tell anyone, and sold their stock just before the recall. That is horrible!! My little guys have never ever been sick, we’ve taken such good care of them and would lay down our lives for them, now, how do you think we feel that we’ve been feedin them poisen. Sammy eats twice as much as Billy, so he has more problems. They were admitted to the hospital and had to have IV’s in their tiny little bodys to flush out their kidneys. At the end of the first round, Billy’s levels came down, but Sammy’s did not..he had to go for another round of IV fluids. The Vet also ran some x-rays on Sammy and found an unbielable amount of “stones” in his bladder and kidneys..now he has to have surgery. The vet says she’s never seen so may stones. Sammy is very brave, but now he’s crying and spasming in pain. These ceo’s at menu fooods should be forced to sit for hours and hours, as we have been doing and watch their beloved children suffer because of their greed. I just wanted to tell you all, so that our babies illness is also being reported. thanx for listening. good luck to all you.
Comment by Stacia & Bill McCauley — April 27, 2007 @ 8:30 am
My Jack Russell died as a result of Menu’s mistakes. I have a few questions/thoughts on any food not just pet foods.
1st being WHY would we import foods from countrys that dont have the same controlls we do? Isnt the idea of keeping our fertlizers and such safe part of the reasion we have banned the bad ones? Yet we go buy them? Somehow this dosent make sence to me.
2nd is we trusted Menu to provide safe foods.After loosing Keeper I started doing my homework and learned that all these fancy words like by product and gluten are nothing more then the garbage thats left over boiled to a pulp. Sawdust soaked with blood? Ok feathers and hooves I can see but sawdust? It makes you wonder what else is hidden behind names we dont understand just to save a buck.
I also feel that Menu knowingly killed my dog simply by delaying their anouncment if nothing else. If they had let us know when they knew how many other pets would still be alive? All for the sake of a buck…what a shame
Comment by Dianna — April 27, 2007 @ 11:16 am
I just do not understand why they are importing the grains? Why can’t they grow their own , right here in the U.S.A? Wouldn’t the shipping of the grains[gluton] cost more to ship overseas than growing here? Not only is it killing our animals, it’s killing our country, by putting a lot of people out of work, and how do we know , for sure, it’s not being put in human food too? Maybe the amounts of these things killing the animals just slowly killing us ,too? I am scared for everybody. All living things. they really do need to list every single ingredient , and all nutritional amounts per serving. thank you for letting me sound off. God Bless us everyone.. J.Crane
Comment by J.CRANE — April 29, 2007 @ 12:07 am
Animals are part of our family and should be treated as such. There is a lack of adequate information about this whole saga until animals have died. Why is the FDA not taking more of a proactive approach to investigating and stop the imports if they can’t abide by the standards for animal food. If one of their own pets were affected or died from the results would have been different. Stop the imports from other countries until the solution and new standards are in place Thank you for letting me expressing my feelings
Comment by Bobbie Butler — April 30, 2007 @ 1:23 pm
My first job was as a food inspector,now Iam retired but I understand that many of the controls that we had have been given to the private industry.The problem is not only what can happen to our loved pets ,but what can happen to our children,and everyone else.
This sound like some type of testing on how much damage can be done to people in general,in other words this is a form of terrorism.
Who is behind all this , just guess, but I undrestand that the enemy is more closer than we think,
We are fighting a war outside but we must start to br more vigilant in our own backyards
Comment by Ediltrudis Romero — May 1, 2007 @ 10:12 am
Poisoned pet food is just the tip of the iceberg – tainted food from China has seeped into the human supply through melamine-laced hog food. America has a weakened food safety bureaucracy and while we urgently need to make changes, today Americans cannot rely solely on the FDA to protect our pets or our families.
Poisoned pet food is just a peek into the ugly hidden world of America’s abundant, cheap, and easy food. Not counting farm use, processed food manufacturing and transportation gulps down one fifth of America’s oil. A massive Gulf of Mexico dead zone has grown from pesticide and fertilizer run off down the Mississippi River. The image of a sunny red barn has been replaced by acres of soulless buildings full stinking cages to produce our veal, eggs, and ham. Feed lots discovered beef fattened faster on corn feed mixed with dried animal parts and antibiotics. And, according to a 2006 study by the United Nations, factory farm animal confinement and unnatural feeds today create more greenhouse gases than all our cars combined.
Over the past fifty years we, and our pets, became a Corporate Feed Lot: digesting unintended chemicals, addicted to petroleum, growing obese, and polluting our water.
OK – so we may not like the idea of food production that is not sustainable, makes our pets and our families sick, damages the environment, or mistreats farm animals, but we still need to eat.
There is a simple, grass roots alternative to this artificial food Matrix - vote with your purchase. Whenever possible, buy natural or organic produce and meat. Every time we spend outside the current food construct, it’s a vote for personal and environmental preventative medicine.
The term “organic” has traveled a long way from Hippie brown rice. It’s now blessed by the FDA as food grown without hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, radiation or bioengineering. I have not found recalled organic pet food on the FDA web site - I’d be interested to hear if anyone has found an organic pet food recall.
Local farms may offer fresh, natural food, but not be USDA organic certified - it can be a complicated and expensive process. I search for the foods remembered from my rural childhood in the 50s: fruits and vegetables grown without pesticides in naturally enriched soils, and milk, meat and eggs raised on natural feed by ranchers who care about the treatment of their animals.
Shopping for fresh, natural food for our pets and our families is not always easy – Many of us live around cities where we spend long hours at work, or in the car, or with commitments outside our jobs. I no longer have space for a big vegetable garden, organic groceries cost more, and pet food takes time to cook. Fortunately grocery stores are paying attention and so are restaurant chefs – organic, natural food is the fastest growing American food sector.
Along with specialty grocers Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and Wild Oats, other stores such as Wal-Mart and Safeway are beginning to sell organic products. Also check out your community farmers market - a smaller petrochemical cost for transporting locally grown foods. Ask where and how produce and meat is grown. Visit http://www.usda.gov/farmersmarkets or http://www.localharvest.org to find farmers markets in your area.
All of us who love our pets and our families can force a change by what we buy.
Comment by Karen Barr — May 1, 2007 @ 10:19 am
unfortuneatly,my Molly is no longer with us.12 years just wasnt enough.At the time when she became ill this was not known.Intstinal virus Chemotherapy,vitamin k,antibiotics.The stuff we had to give could not be handled without gloves and immediate scrubbing of hands.Our vet tried all she could called other doctors in to recheck her findings and diagnosis.Massive blood and lab work,doctors who were set up to see her even on the weekends.Money was no issue.We lost.So now Costco admits “MAYBE?” The govt.s buddies the chinese well noo,this is not our problem your animals are dying lying bas—-ds ENOUGH ITS TIME FOR US TO SAY NO,NO TO CHINA AND ANY OF THE CROOKED POLITICINS PROTECTING ALL THIER BUTTS.NO JUST SAY NO,NO MONEY NO VOTES.What is next our children.Check your baby food,maybe they dont need a war hell just poison us after all its in our govts best intrest to maintain good relations whith our asian trading partners,was that trading or TRAITORS? As admiral Nimitz said “the world wonders.” SO DO I. TOM HUBBLE
Comment by Tom Hubble — May 5, 2007 @ 11:15 pm
Well now it’s back to bite us. I hope we all learned a vaulable lesson here. Manufactures and Companies send our production jobs over to China and take away from our people here in the U.S. because its cheaper for them. They make more of a profit. This should be outlawed and not allowed by OUR GOVERNMENT. BUT OUR GOVERNMENT IS SOLELY TO BLAME. THEY ARE DISTROYING OUR U.S. FROM WITHIN. You see whats happening here. Everything is being produced by China. A COMMUNIST COUNTRY. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE UNITED STATES. UNITED WE STAND HA HA HA HOW CAN WE BE UNITED ANYMORE WHEN GOVERNMENT ONLY WANTS TO GREASE THEIR POCKETS ALL THE TIME.
Comment by Georgeann Heckman — May 6, 2007 @ 7:24 am