Comments on: Pet-food recall: Economic incentives focus of investigation http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/ Blogging by a team of pet-care experts led by Dr. Marty Becker. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:37:11 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Laura http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/comment-page-2/#comment-34083 Laura Fri, 20 Apr 2007 04:50:53 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/#comment-34083 Comment by Joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 1:40 pm I'm nowhere near the black helicopter type, either. But with the US and China squaring off tonight over access visas for FDA inspectors, I kinda have to wonder what this is really about. If China wants our business so badly, yet values pets so little, then why stonewall the American inspectors? Why not cop to the problem, say sorry, and move on to sell us even more stuff? That would be their most advantageous decision, from an economics standpoint anyway. Unless there's more to know that endangers people, not pets. Or unless the US is looking for some way to backtrack on the Most Favored Nation status it granted to China not long ago. Why? Because US manfacturing can't compete. We're too fond of earning a living wage here. I don't know. Like I said, I'm no one's conspiracy theorist. But the more the tension builds between the US and China over this, the more I have to wonder about potential political/economic motivation. Comment by Joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 1:40 pm

I’m nowhere near the black helicopter type, either. But with the US and China squaring off tonight over access visas for FDA inspectors, I kinda have to wonder what this is really about.

If China wants our business so badly, yet values pets so little, then why stonewall the American inspectors? Why not cop to the problem, say sorry, and move on to sell us even more stuff? That would be their most advantageous decision, from an economics standpoint anyway.

Unless there’s more to know that endangers people, not pets.

Or unless the US is looking for some way to backtrack on the Most Favored Nation status it granted to China not long ago. Why? Because US manfacturing can’t compete. We’re too fond of earning a living wage here.

I don’t know. Like I said, I’m no one’s conspiracy theorist. But the more the tension builds between the US and China over this, the more I have to wonder about potential political/economic motivation.

]]> By: Janet Lipa http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/comment-page-2/#comment-33972 Janet Lipa Fri, 20 Apr 2007 02:14:36 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/#comment-33972 My concern is the latest recall. Blue Buffalo cat food. How can a company that states all ingredients are from the United states except the New Zealand Lamb. They also state their ingredients are human grade. Please explain to me how in heaven's name do they use rice protein concentrate from China? So am I to assume that its ok to lie about source of origin? Isn't there a regulatory committee that oversees what is stated by a company and held to be the truth not a lie? What about AAFCO? Aren't they the ones who supposidly oversee the petfood industry? Aren't they the one's who make sure that whats in the food is really in the food, and what is said by the manufacturer is true and accurate? My concern is the latest recall. Blue Buffalo cat food. How can a company that states all ingredients are from the United states except the New Zealand Lamb. They also state their ingredients are human grade. Please explain to me how in heaven’s name do they use rice protein concentrate from China? So am I to assume that its ok to lie about source of origin? Isn’t there a regulatory committee that oversees what is stated by a company and held to be the truth not a lie? What about AAFCO? Aren’t they the ones who supposidly oversee the petfood industry? Aren’t they the one’s who make sure that whats in the food is really in the food, and what is said by the manufacturer is true and accurate?

]]> By: Sharon G http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/comment-page-2/#comment-33854 Sharon G Thu, 19 Apr 2007 23:52:50 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/#comment-33854 I don't understand chemical analyses at all, it's a bit hard for me to keep up. I'd say it's because I'm older than dirt, but us otd people are supposed to have learned more in school 60 years ago. Well, a lot has happened since then. re this Comment by Nadine Long ....."Could the “paper” bags that the chemicals were shipped in been in “wet strength bags” such as I described, or even ones with poly-fibers, giving off formaldehyde vapors and changing the urea in the gluten to melamine crystals? Being only 25-pound bags, that could be a lot of formaldehyde vapors spread over the bag." I've been thinking bags since they started talking about the "bags", one with melamine. Does this happen? I've researched Feline Chronic Renal Failure for 7 years, because that's how long I've been battling it with my 3 cats. I have one left. We who deal with CRF know that formaldehyde vapors are one of the many toxins that cause it, and pets have been dying of ARF, now related to the dry as well as the canned. In the canned, I was thinking that huge dose of urea can cause a spike in BUN (blood urea nitrogen) bad enough to kill or, if treated in time and brought down, leaving the animal with CRF. If this is a valid explanation of the wet strength bags containing the dry food (I'm not doubting you, I'm just not that smart) I wonder if Nadine really hit on a cause they can't seem to explain. Apologies again for my inadequacies at discussion here! I don’t understand chemical analyses at all, it’s a bit hard for me to keep up. I’d say it’s because I’m older than dirt, but us otd people are supposed to have learned more in school 60 years ago. Well, a lot has happened since then.

re this Comment by Nadine Long …..”Could the “paper” bags that the chemicals were shipped in been in “wet strength bags” such as I described, or even ones with poly-fibers, giving off formaldehyde vapors and changing the urea in the gluten to melamine crystals? Being only 25-pound bags, that could be a lot of formaldehyde vapors spread over the bag.”

I’ve been thinking bags since they started talking about the “bags”, one with melamine. Does this happen? I’ve researched Feline Chronic Renal Failure for 7 years, because that’s how long I’ve been battling it with my 3 cats. I have one left. We who deal with CRF know that formaldehyde vapors are one of the many toxins that cause it, and pets have been dying of ARF, now related to the dry as well as the canned. In the canned, I was thinking that huge dose of urea can cause a spike in BUN (blood urea nitrogen) bad enough to kill or, if treated in time and brought down, leaving the animal with CRF. If this is a valid explanation of the wet strength bags containing the dry food (I’m not doubting you, I’m just not that smart) I wonder if Nadine really hit on a cause they can’t seem to explain.

Apologies again for my inadequacies at discussion here!

]]> By: Kat http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/comment-page-2/#comment-33652 Kat Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:37:25 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/#comment-33652 I use diatomaceous earth all the time. You need food grade. I dust for ants, fleas, scorpions, red mites in the weeds. We live in a rural area & TRY to be as organic as we can. I dust the dogs & cats about once every 2-3 weeks, but they probably need it more often. I've also used canola oil on them. That suffocates the fleas. You can treat internal parasites with it too. It desolves in water, so it has to be done fairly often. Good luck! I use diatomaceous earth all the time. You need food grade. I dust for ants, fleas, scorpions, red mites in the weeds. We live in a rural area & TRY to be as organic as we can.

I dust the dogs & cats about once every 2-3 weeks, but they probably need it more often. I’ve also used canola oil on them. That suffocates the fleas.

You can treat internal parasites with it too.

It desolves in water, so it has to be done fairly often. Good luck!

]]> By: Gary http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/comment-page-2/#comment-33629 Gary Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:20:49 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/#comment-33629 Comment by barbara "anyone with info about diomactious earth for flea treatments? it won’t dehydrate the pets, right? i don’t think the Advantage is working for more than two weeks, and my one boy has a “flea allergy” the vet said. . . [the vet may just be wanting money]" I know diatomacious earth will kill fleas, I used to dust the garden with it using a rotary duster. I'm not sure what effects it would have on kitty, but think it's low toxicity. Flea allergy is very real. I have a kitty that is hyper allergic. Just one flea will cause breakouts, so needless to say, she is a indoor kitty. Comment by barbara

“anyone with info about diomactious earth for flea treatments? it won’t dehydrate the pets, right? i don’t think the Advantage is working for more than two weeks, and my one boy has a “flea allergy” the vet said. . . [the vet may just be wanting money]”

I know diatomacious earth will kill fleas, I used to dust the garden with it using a rotary duster. I’m not sure what effects it would have on kitty, but think it’s low toxicity.

Flea allergy is very real. I have a kitty that is hyper allergic. Just one flea will cause breakouts, so needless to say, she is a indoor kitty.

]]> By: Mike http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/comment-page-2/#comment-33623 Mike Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:13:15 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/#comment-33623 re: the Heartgard rumour From the Merial website: NO WHEAT GLUTEN HEARTGARD® (ivermectin) brand products do not contain wheat gluten. You can continue to use them with confidence. If you have any additional questions, please call 1-888-MERIAL-1, option 3. http://heartgard.us.merial.com/home/ I've recently purchased a 6 mo supply for 4 dogs and I'm still not comfortable giving it to them now...don't know who to trust anymore! Maybe if Merial had said no glutens whatsoever? Nope! No can trust, no can trust, no can trust... re: the Heartgard rumour

From the Merial website:
NO WHEAT GLUTEN
HEARTGARD® (ivermectin) brand products do not contain wheat gluten.
You can continue to use them with confidence.

If you have any additional questions, please call
1-888-MERIAL-1, option 3.
http://heartgard.us.merial.com/home/

I’ve recently purchased a 6 mo supply for 4 dogs and I’m still not comfortable giving it to them now…don’t know who to trust anymore!
Maybe if Merial had said no glutens whatsoever? Nope! No can trust, no can trust, no can trust…

]]> By: Nadine Long http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/comment-page-2/#comment-33621 Nadine Long Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:07:40 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/#comment-33621 Comment by Joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 1:40 pm I would prefer not to think it conspiracy, but in the wake of any fear of mass destruction, who knows what the whole bunch could be up to? At this point I rule out nothing. Comment by Joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 1:40 pm

I would prefer not to think it conspiracy, but in the wake of any fear of mass destruction, who knows what the whole bunch could be up to? At this point I rule out nothing.

]]> By: Katie http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/comment-page-2/#comment-33619 Katie Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:01:04 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/#comment-33619 Bernie, I hope you are still here and can answer my questions? If a food bag mentions no glutens of any kind on the label - would that make them safe. My second question - are "meals" (corn,fish,flax,etc.)safe,is there anyway they could be boosted or any reason for them to be boosted. Only asking, trying to be an informed consumer trying to figure what product I should buy next. My head hurts from spining all this week - everytime I log on in the AM,I wonder what "shoe is dropping next". If companies are monitoring this site - please come forward and let us know what is going on! Why should more pets suffer and die. This is so unfair. Katie Bernie, I hope you are still here and can answer my questions? If a food bag mentions no glutens of any kind on the label - would that make them safe. My second question - are “meals” (corn,fish,flax,etc.)safe,is there anyway they could be boosted or any reason for them to be boosted. Only asking, trying to be an informed consumer trying to figure what product I should buy
next.

My head hurts from spining all this week - everytime I log on in the AM,I wonder what “shoe is dropping next”. If companies are monitoring this site - please come forward and let us know what is going on! Why should more pets suffer and die.

This is so unfair.
Katie

]]> By: Eva http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/comment-page-2/#comment-33618 Eva Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:58:53 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/#comment-33618 Tammy, I'm on it!!!! Later. Tammy,

I’m on it!!!! Later.

]]> By: Kat http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/comment-page-2/#comment-33617 Kat Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:58:27 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/19/pet-food-recall-economic-incentives-focus-of-investigation/#comment-33617 Here is Senator Durbins Contact Page: http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm From there you can email, snail mail, or call to your heart's content! The MORE THEY HEAR FROM US -- THE MORE THEY WILL REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS. Unlike the FDA's perpetual 16 dead -- I guess they think if they minimize the numbers, people AND MEDIA will think it's no big deal. Don't forget to look up your own Senator. Here is the link to the Appropriations Committee: http://appropriations.senate.gov/ Here is the link to the Senate. Find Your Senator is upper right hand corner: http://senate.gov/ Or, Senator lookup: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm Here is the link to the House of Representatives. Zip Code lookup is on the left side of banner: http://www.house.gov/ Or, write to Representative: http://www.house.gov/writerep/ ********** All you have to do is come up with one good letter, copy it to some place where you can get to it easily -- email it to yourself, or build on a text editor software program -- then, copy/paste & email it all over the place. :) Here is Senator Durbins Contact Page:

http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm

From there you can email, snail mail, or call to your heart’s content! The MORE THEY HEAR FROM US — THE MORE THEY WILL REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.

Unlike the FDA’s perpetual 16 dead — I guess they think if they minimize the numbers, people AND MEDIA will think it’s no big deal.

Don’t forget to look up your own Senator.

Here is the link to the Appropriations Committee:

http://appropriations.senate.gov/

Here is the link to the Senate. Find Your Senator is upper right hand corner:

http://senate.gov/

Or, Senator lookup:

http://www.senate.gov/general/.....rs_cfm.cfm

Here is the link to the House of Representatives. Zip Code lookup is on the left side of banner:

http://www.house.gov/

Or, write to Representative:

http://www.house.gov/writerep/

**********
All you have to do is come up with one good letter, copy it to some place where you can get to it easily — email it to yourself, or build on a text editor software program — then, copy/paste & email it all over the place.

:)

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