Pet food recall: Liveblogging the FDA press conference
By Christie Keith
April 19, 2007
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There is an FDA teleconference for the media in a few minutes. I’ll be there and will liveblog it here. It starts at 4 PM Eastern Time.
I will be doing it in this thread, and will update a few times as it goes along, so just refresh the page to see any new material.
My liveblogging may contain typos, which I will correct afterwards, and also paraphrases. Only if something is in quotation marks should you consider it a direct quote.
Present are:
Stephen F. Sundlof, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine, FDA
Michael Rogers
Director, Division of Field Investigations
Office of Regulatory Affairs, FDA
Steven Solomon, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, Office of Regional Operations
Office of Regulatory Affairs, FDA
Coverage after the jump
The conference has not begun as of 4:07 PM ET.
And it’s still not begun, as of 4:10 PM ET.
And still nothing, at 4:20 PM ET.
It’s beginning at 4:21 PM ET.
Apologizing for delay. Briefing on FDA investigation into contaminated pet food. Introducing guests – added David Elder.
Dr. Sundlof begins.
Says they’ll be holding regular press calls. Latest developments now.
Says they understand how important pets are in Americans lives. That a lot of the information they put out is confusing and doesn’t contain all the information people would like. They are trying to get information out as soon as they get anything new to prevent deaths and loss of pets.
Recaps Wilbur-Ellis received rice protein concentrate with melamine in it – Wilbur-Ellis has tracked and recalled entire shipment. Says rice protein is not widely used, not as widely as wheat gluten.
Shipped to 5 US pet food manufacturers. Melamine only confirmed in Natural Balance pet foods. Venison-based, and they suspected the rice protein because it was new. Voluntarily recalled the products.
FDA sparing no resources. Testing all wheat gluten and rice protein coming in from China.
Inspections are aggressive… increased scrutiny on China.
“Pet and human food industries are working very closely together to identify and halt further contamination.” Sounds like more recalls will come.
Open to questions.
Boston Globe asked: Visa status for FDA officials?
Mike Rogers: Challenges with China. Not like domestic arena. Agency is actively pursuing investigation. FDA is trying to get the information to “initiate those inspections.” They expect the Chinese government to cooperate.
Boston Globe: Asked about tainted corn gluten?
Dr. Sundlof: Yes, we do have a report of contaminated corn gluten in South Africa. No evidence it went to the US.
Carrie Peyton Dahlberg of Sacramento Bee: Asked about other additives that might boost apparent protein content, and have you found other melamine, and how often?
Response: Nothing so far but wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate.
AP: Asked if melamine can be used to “spike” products to make them appear to have a higher protein level. Also, what was the concentration of melamine found in Wilbur-Ellis protein concentrate?
Response: “Spiking protein” is just a theory, but a plausible one. Concentration, they don’t know. Someone else says they have a range but don’t think it would be “fair” to name it. Might change. Not in a position to speculate if it was contamination from the bag, or actually added to some substance to make it look like rice protein concentrate. Info should be coming out after more testing.
ABC News followed up on Bee question re: border checks – says this last test only happened after dogs and cats were sick. What about border checks? And will there be more recalls?
David Elder: The finding of melamine in rice protein is a new development. Added to import screening criteria, so no, shipments offered for import, if any, since early this week until now, have not shown any contamination with melamine. Anything that comes in will be screened. If found, shipment will be condemened. Not found wheat gluten either.
Julie Schmit of USA Today: Followed up on unanswered question about more recalls.
Elder: He would expect companies to recall if made with contaminated rice protein. Investigations are ongoing. Investigators are in each plant. Expect companies when presented with information on positive samples to initiate the action.
Reuters: Update on number of illnesses or deaths?
Dr. Sundlof: No. We continue to get thousands of phone calls reporting cases. Have not had the opportunity to sit down and work our way through that. Are consulting with CDC. Also Banfield and vet group (check name?). At this point in time, we don’t even have a good estimate of what that number might be. Now over 15,000.
Reuters: Followed up asking on names of companies.
Elder: Said won’t release names. Won’t release until can confirm until they have confirmed they actually have manufactured with that concentrate.
The Nation: Why not screening corn gluten, given South African contamination?
Response: Maybe we’ll need to do that. At this time, have not announced all products that may be subject to retention and further testing. “Taking a number of proactive steps” not strictly limited to wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate.
Detroit Free Press: Since there are four other companies, what should pet owners do, just stop buying pet food? Make it themselves?
Response: We’re suggesting they check our website. As soon as we get new information, we put it there. We have reconfigured the website, we knew it was confusing. People can search on a single brand name to see if it’s part of the recall list. So before making a purchase, we encourage consumers to check the website. Also, check products you’re already feeding on the website. That’s pretty much the information they can offer the public at this time.
Follow up: What about the human food supply?
Response: All the consignees of Wilbur-Ellis are pet food companies. That doesn’t mean it couldn’t have gotten diverted to other products. We are tracing it. So far only pet foods.
ABC: Dancing around the issue. Is this an accident or intentional? Is “spiking” theory the focus of your investigation?
Response: Intent is to go into China and inspect the plants. It adds to the theory when you see other products labeled as “protein supplements,” in this case rice and in South Africa, corn, and previously wheat gluten… melamine found in all three, lends credibility to the theory it was intentional.
There is an INDUSTRY repsonsiblity here to know who your suppliers are, and exercise some diligence.
I asked: Blue Buffalo just pulled one of its foods during this conference. Is it one of the other four companies, and do you expect further recalls today?
Response: Confirmed, yes, Blue Buffalo was one of them. Said investigation is ongoing on others.
I asked a number of follow up questions – they basically said they were still investigating, and although I pressed until they cut me off, they didn’t give any more indication of who the other three companies are.
I missed who asked next question, but apparently some of the contaminated pet food seems to have been used as hog feed, and they are following it up.
David Goldstein: Asked question about testing process related to the protein spiking problem.
Response: Haven’t done that?
David: Wouldn’t that validate the theory?
Response: Our major concern is that no pets are affected, so that would help with the theory, but we’re more concerned about making sure contaminated pet foods are not available. We’ll work on the theory later.
David: Are there only two grades, edible and non-edible?
Reponse: We don’t know.
CBS News: What does it say to you that this Chinese company had a bag labeled melamine laying around, and what was their explanation of that?
Response: We can’t determine that until we investigate the plants in China?
Follow up: Theories on how long melamine has been going into these products? Why reports of sickness only started now?
Response: Wilbur-Ellis started receiving shipments from that Chinese company in July of 2006. So that appears to be at least at this point in the investigation – could change – appears that is the beginning of the relationship between W-E and new Chinese company.
Follow up: What does it say to you that they had that bag sitting around?
Response: We’ll be asking that question.
There are seven more questions, but they aren’t sure they’ll get to them.
South Florida Sentinel: Pet and human food shipments subject to same process?
Reponse: Yes.
Question: Consumers are frustrated by stream of recalls. Pets continue to get sick. I don’t know why you won’t proactively tell people what these companies are, even if it’s preliminary? Why risk pets getting sick?
Response: Our efforts are to disclose information about FINISHED PRODUCTS. There are a number of companies we have identified that POTENTIALLY rec’d that product. We want to find out of firms ACTUALLY used the products. Parallel track is to disclose to companies and the public. “We are expressing the facts that we know at this time.”
Baltimore Sun: More about nitrogen spiking.
Response: What we know from import records is that there are two sources in China. Our inspection we expect to initiate will be to identify the actual manufacturers, their raw materials and processes. We will ask questions to confirm our facts and identify how this happened, and how long they might have happened. And if these companies might direct us in other areas. We want to, when given permission, conduct inspections to get at the root cause of this. We will ask all of the appropriate questions and examine evidence, and be on site to observe practices, look at supplies. We’ll conduct a complete investigation. Eyes wide open. Exploring any theory or lead that’s appropriate.
Advertising Age: Has FDA looked into whether any pet food manufacturers have rec’d corn gluten from China?
FDA: At this time we have not. The rice protein contamination is causing us to look at other potential sources of melamine. Investigation continues.
Karen Roebuck of Pitts Tribune: What other products are you checking at the port, and what re you doing to check for human pork products that might be contaminated with melamine?
FDA: Working closely with USDA to track disposition of those pigs. Process is ongoing. Should have more info shortly.
Final question. Debbye Turner of CBS News: she did not respond, so no question. They say they’re still in the heat of the investigation and will be having Tues and Thurs briefings regularly from now on, or sooner if there is breaking info. Check fda.gov frequently.
The transcript and recording will be released shortly – not sure where.
That’s it.
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Oh man, thanks Christie. Did they announce the ‘topic’?
Comment by Kim — April 19, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
Yes thank you so much Christie -
Linda MA
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
It’s not even Friday! I hope they have some real answers.
Comment by Lisa C — April 19, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
No topic was announced… still waiting for it to begin.
Comment by Christie Keith — April 19, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
No topic announced - that’s odd - isn’t it. Maybe it’s more than just pet food - perish the thought!
Linda MA
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
It’s gotta be Linda, just gotta be.
Anywhere we can listen to it online?
Comment by Kim — April 19, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
On a more serious note, I continue to be thankful for this site and the great info they provide. Without it, I would have missed most of the recall announcements.
Comment by Lisa C — April 19, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
Well I’m scared. I’ve been real nervous about this more months - and now I’m really afraid.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 2:24 pm
CNN web site shows nothing on this.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
I’m having problems refreshing to read the feed.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
Linda MS,
I’m predicting that, by the end of the year, the FDA will have established “acceptable levels” of melamine in food products.
Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
Eva,
Please that’s too horrible to entertain.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
Don’t know if you can ask questions Christie but has a 2nd contaminant ever been found? or has this idea been abandoned?
Comment by Cynthia — April 19, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
Linda MS,
I know, I know. But look at what’s allowed now.
Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
What about the name of the four other companies for heavens sake.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
Blue Buffalo is recalling it’s dry kitten food. Only one of the four made with this rice protein from Wilbur.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Voluntary Recall of Spa Select Kitten Dry Food
Dear Pet Parents:
The Blue Buffalo Company has undertaken a voluntary recall of one production run of our Spa Select Kitten dry food. The production code on the recalled product is:
“Best Used By Mar. 07 08 B.”
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.
Of the 4,752 bags produced in this one run, we were able to prevent the majority from ever entering retail distribution. We are working closely with our retail partners to remove this product immediately and will be re-stocking the shelves with Spa Select Kitten dry food that was produced without any rice protein sourced from Wilbur-Ellis as soon as possible.
If you currently have a bag of Spa Select Kitten dry food, please check the code date and if it matches the one shown above discontinue use immediately and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. If your cat has eaten any of the recalled food, please call your veterinarian immediately to discuss if there are any risks to your pet.
Should you have a specific question call our Customer Service Department at 1-800-919-2833 or email us at info@bluebuff.com. We understand your desire for immediate answers and we will be working to get back to you as quickly as we can.
No other Spa Select cat food or dog food, canned or dry, is included in this recall.
As a family owned company whose reason for being is to provide cats and dogs with the highest quality natural foods, we are extremely upset by this recall and can’t begin to apologize enough to our customers. From our perspective, it is unacceptable to produce even one bag of food with the potential to cause a pet to become ill, and we will further tighten our ingredient sourcing and quality assurance procedures as a result of this incident.
Sincerely,
Bill Bishop
President
The Blue Buffalo Company
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
Christie - you’re a good typist so far.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
One down, three to go.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
Thanks Carole for that info…
Comment by Kim — April 19, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
Statement by Nutro Products on
Rice Protein Concentrate Recall
City of Industry, CA (April 19, 2007)—In response to recent media inquiries regarding a pet food recall announced for certain Natural Balance products with rice protein concentrate containing melamine, Nutro Products wishes to provide the following important information:
(1) It has been reported that the recall is focused on products containing rice protein concentrate (also referred to as rice gluten) provided by Wilbur-Ellis Company.
(2) Nutro has never purchased or used rice protein concentrate from Wilbur-Ellis Company in any of our pet foods.
(3) Nutro uses rice protein concentrate in some of its products because it provides an important alternative source of protein for pets, especially for those with sensitivities to certain proteins.
(4) Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc. is not in any way affiliated with Nutro Products nor Nutro’s Natural Choice®, MAX® or Ultra® brands.
Nutro customers may check Nutro’s website (www.nutroproducts.com) or contact Nutro’s Consumer Hotline (800) 833-5330 for further information about its products. Nutro’s website will be updated as more information becomes available.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
Del Monte Pet Products Do Not Contain Rice Protein Concentrate
We would like you to know that Del Monte Pet Products for dogs and cats do not contain Rice Protein Concentrate, the ingredient at the center of the Natural Balance recall.
The safety and nutritional quality of our pet products is our top priority. All of our products currently on store shelves are safe and nutritious. And as pet parents, you can feel confident feeding our products to your pets.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
Scratch that , that’s a feed of something different. State Agriculture something?
Comment by Kim — April 19, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
It is possible that the rice protein concentrate is still warehoused and not in production - I know that’s possibly - but I’d like to know in any event - even if to save one pet’s life.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
This was just released on the AVMA website:
Breaking news
April 19, 2007 (12:55 pm CDT)
Wilbur-Ellis voluntarily recalls rice protein concentrate
Wilbur-Ellis Company is voluntarily recalling all lots of the rice protein concentrate the San Francisco company’s Feed Division has shipped to pet food manufacturers because of a risk that rice protein concentrate may have been contaminated by melamine.
Wilbur-Ellis noted that it obtained rice protein from a single source in China and shipped to a total of five U.S. pet food manufacturers located in Utah, N.Y., Kansas and two in Missouri.
For more information, see the press release on the FDA Web site at http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmr.....4_07.html.
Comment by marcy — April 19, 2007 @ 2:44 pm
I agree. I think that they should release the names of the companies and let the consumers decide. Wilbur-Ellis’s press release even said that the shipment initially tested negative and only more sensitive testing revealed the melanine. How do we know what tests the companies are using?
Comment by Lisa C — April 19, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
If Nutro is claiming not to have used rice protein from Wilbur-Ellis or the suspect wheat gluten then I am betting that there will be more bad news to come. There are too many complaints about their food.
Comment by ashlee — April 19, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
Industry Can Recall
In light of the unfortunate current pet food recall by other respectable pet food manufacturers, our phone lines and emails are tied up with concerned customers. We want you, our valued customer, to feel secure with the continued use of our products. CANIDAE® Pet Foods in no way is affected by the recall, nor are any of our products produced in any of the recalled production facilities.
It appears from the latest news within our industry that all recalls are from Glutens imported from China, a protein source that is extracted from Wheat or Rice. The wheat or rice is not the issue, but the glutens extracted, stored, and then imported from China. Again, CANIDAE does not use Glutens in any form, and we do not import any ingredients from China or overseas.
CANIDAE Pet Foods also does not produce cuts and gravies, pouches, and does not contain corn, wheat or soybeans in any of our products or formulations, and all ingredients are of US origin, meaning proudly raised and grown in the USA.
Our heartfelt concerns go out to all those affected by the recall.
CANIDAE Pet Foods
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Natura Statement:
No products manufactured by Natura Pet Products were implicated in the recent recalls, including the latest recall involving rice protein concentrate.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
This is maddening. They, the FDA, and others are protecting big businesses least they release the name of the companies and discover the toxic junk has not been used and then these poor companies might suffer - never mind that our pets are dying - just never mind that.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
Eventually we can narrow it down.
I just started using Blue Buffalo as a treat for my cats since I have withheld all other grain treats.
Fortunately I am not using one of their products with rice protein and there is not much left in their foods to present problems, not that every other company may also encounter.
I do give them credit for being upfront yesterday about testing even though they had not yet been contacted by the FDA. I have sent them an email with some follow up questions.
I still plan to use their other dry food, I’m just glad I didn’t purchase the kitten.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 2:55 pm
Rice Protein Used in Karma is 100% Safe - April 18, 2007
This is to confirm that the organic rice protein concentrate used in our Karma 95% organic formulation IS NOT PURCHASED FROM WILBUR-ELLIS, and Natura Pet Products is not one of the five pet food makers cited in the USA Today article. Natura guarantees that the organic rice protein concentrate used in Karma is not sourced from China and that it is 100% safe and absolutely free from melamine contamination.
Peter Atkins
President
Comment by Bonnie — April 19, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
I guess that 16 deaths statement is gonna stop showing up in every freaking press release now. Only off by, say, a thousand times 16 but who is counting?
I STILL want Sunny and his shiny face on the tube saying he was wrong and he apologizes!
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 19, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
July 2006? Ugh.
Comment by Kim — April 19, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
Just because it wasn’t purchased from Wilbur Ellis doesn’t mean it is safe - rice protein concentrate, wheat gluten protein concentrate - corn gluten protein concentrate from various sources ?????
I wonder what other shipments of this stuff is toxic??
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
Everything is 100% safe until our pets start dying and then it is - Ooops, sorry, guess we were wrong.
Just stay away from all of the protein concentrates and glutens etc.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
And thank you so much for doing this, Christie,
Forgive me for not saying it more often.
My manners seem to have become lost along with my pets, ability to sleep, being able to keep food down and the fact that if you ask me what time it is , I burst into tears.
Thank you and I promise to polish up my manners once I get over the nervous breakdown.
Comment by E. Hamilton — April 19, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
I know one thing, some of these smaller natural food companies are probably going to raise hell with their American suppliers. Their expectation is that none of their stuff should come from outside the US and now they are finding out it does.
On some levels this must suck for those companies that have been duped by their partners.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
Thanks Christine.
I hope they are starting to investigate Chinese exported pea powder, fish powder, fat powder and soy powder. Too horrible to think about but should be done since these are in pet foods.
Rose L.
Comment by Rose L — April 19, 2007 @ 3:06 pm
Pigs? Pork? where’d that come from?
Comment by Kim — April 19, 2007 @ 3:06 pm
Interesting who isn’t screaming they don’t have the tainted rice protein….I haven’t seen anything from Purina, or Hill’s.
I notice too they don’t mention corn gluten. Guess they just want to make us figure this all out the hard way.
Comment by Becky — April 19, 2007 @ 3:06 pm
TRANSCRIPTS of FDA press conferences are on pet recall page at FDA
Comment by CathyA — April 19, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
Thank you Christie for this report and for keeping us up to date.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
Great job Christie - thanks so much.
Comment by Kim — April 19, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
Thank you for doing this Christie! It is certainly appreciated by many of us pet parents.
Comment by Michelle — April 19, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Thank You Christie!!!!!
Comment by straybaby — April 19, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Purina put out notice that they did not use the rice protein concentrate from Wilbur-Ellis immediately. The information was in the original USA Today story about Natural Balance.
Comment by Linda P. — April 19, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
Hills is suspect in my book - only because I was feeding Hills Science Diet Lamb and Rice in November when my Mercy got so sick and then I started cooking her homemade and after about a month I switched over all the dogs to the NB Potato and Duck except my youngest one who was on the Nutra Natures Choice Puppy and Snoopy who was on the Innova Lamb and Rice. Everybody got sick until I went to NB and homemade.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
ChemNutra used to (still?) import Bacteria Gluten!!
Sounds yummy . . .
Vital Wheat Gluten
Rice Protein Concentrate
Bacteria Gluten
Corn Gluten Meal
Bean Gluten
Wheat Germ Meal
Soy Protein
http://web.archive.org/web/200.....oteins.htm
wonder if they still call it that?
Comment by straybaby — April 19, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
Kim— I was thinking the same thing about the reference to “those pigs.” Is there something else we don’t know? Should we humans now be worrying and watching our food supply?
Mary
Comment by Brooklyn Stargazer — April 19, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
So first it’s wheat gluten, then the rice, now it’s the corn. so i guess next it’s the fish, the lamb and lets not forget the chicken. if the FDA CAN’T GIVE US THE NAME ,i’ve lost faith in them. there was a 3 wk delay from menu and now this delay. how high do they want the death total to go? my nerves are shot to hell over this.
Comment by MARY ANN — April 19, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
There most certainly is something about the pigs - bacon????
I checked TimberWolf Organics as I had ordered two bags and what I ordered does have some fish meal in it - from Alaska - nothing at all ever from China.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
Christie or Gina,
What’s with the pigs?????
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
Thanks, Christie!! That was awesome being able to read as you feed! :)
Comment by Kat — April 19, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
look at the dog treats ,it has corn and wheat gluten in them
Comment by MARY ANN — April 19, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
Join the club - I try to be sane - but my one dog that was on Nutro Puppy Natures Choice is now having all sort of allergies to everything I feed him. I had to cook some scrambled eggs and sweet potatos for lunch and I don’t know what to feed him now. He can’t have chicken, and hamburger is out and all beef; I wonder if he ate something bad when he was very young, some of that Nutro, even though they say it is fine - still I don’t trust the protein concentrates or any gluten. I had given him one can of Trader Joes Menu toxic junk. He is such a sweet wonderful dog. It makes me sick to think that I could have fed them toxic waste.
Linda MS
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
Hill’s statement: http://www.hillspet.com
Comment by Jackie — April 19, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
and if the fda website is ‘the place’ to check for pet food recall updates, do you think it might be possible for them to be a little quicker about it??? What is the big delay for them to TYPE A COUPLE OF NAMES? I don’t even see Natural Balance posted on their combined list yet, and that’s already old news… Sheesh!
Comment by Cynthia — April 19, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
Nutro statement is just cya bs8it. One of their dry catfoods contains the corn gluten meal that gave my cat the severe *recall* symptoms end of Dec.! HEY NUTRO FESS UP: WHERE DOES YOUR CORN GLUTEN REALLY COME FROM LIARS?
CHEMNUTRA????
SUPPLIES
Vital Wheat Gluten
Rice Protein Concentrate
Bacteria Gluten
Corn Gluten Meal
Bean Gluten
Wheat Germ Meal
Soy Protein
Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 19, 2007 @ 3:33 pm
Jackie,
What if they didn’t use the sensitive test and what about the SA corn gluten -
I have lost all confidence until the FDA tests are completed.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
OMG! they actually mentioned the recall on the news! not a lot but second contaminated ingredient from China (glad they are calling that out!) and that there are even more foods on the list now.
ABC local news NYC.
Comment by straybaby — April 19, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
Your damn right. If I was the CEO of any of these Brands involved I would be saying to these vendors and producer partners, “I thought you told me you knew what in the hell you were doing. You’ve just destroyed my business.”
It never ceases to amaze me how these CEO’s always pull the “I didn’t know” card. If they are that gullible and naive, how the heck did these people ever become CEO’s and Presidents of a Major Corporations? Never mind, I already know that answer.
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 3:38 pm
Linda-
It’s my understanding that Hill’s used the FDA protocol in testing the rice gluten. Haven’t yet heard whether they will test corn.
Jackie
Comment by Jackie — April 19, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
thanks again for covering the conf and keeping this site going….
FDA is worthless - bunch of cya bs nothing to say. Go get em Durbin.
e hamilton and i need xtra sleep soon. I’m lucky: my cat survived. so far.
Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 19, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
linda ms check nutro web page my friend just called and he said nutro lamb and rice his it . since i took my dogs off nutro and put them on cal.natural they are doing so much better. and they are not drinking all that water. see if u can get cal. natural.so now i got over a $100.00 of nutro food i refuse to use. my dogs life is more important to me
Comment by MARY ANN — April 19, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
Well I tell you I knew something was so wrong - I just knew it.
Thank you Mary Ann.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
Well thank you Jackie. They need to test the corn gluten. Mercy got real sick after I switched her to SD and with no explanation. She is only three years old.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
With all of the denials, it should become clear pretty soon who the other companies are.
Comment by Lisa C — April 19, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
Lisa, who are they now.?
I’ve lost track and I’m getting confused. We now need three others.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
i read yesterday someone said he was told wellness might be next.it was on the pc.blogs last night.
Comment by MARY ANN — April 19, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
I wonder if Menu uses this rice protein concentrate and we’ll have another round of the wet recall.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
so now i got over a $100.00 of nutro food i refuse to use. my dogs life is more important to me
Comment by MARY ANN — April 19, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
Mary Ann, I have over $200.00 of Nutro fed left and a dead kitty so good for you, dont end up like we did. That $100.00 of food you have left should be saved if I were you just in case you need it for proof.
Comment by Sandi K — April 19, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
Christie, thank you very much for doing all of this for us! Christie, if there is another conference, can you ask them where they are at in the testing for the other toxin they are suspicious of and cant seem to pinpoint? Thank you for everything you do!
Comment by Sandi K — April 19, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Hill’s is not testing corn gluten. I notified the company that they needed to test all imports from China for melamine and that corn gluten was now suspect. The person I talked to said it was the first they had heard of it.
Comment by Sharon — April 19, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Company statements are being posted on the Buffalo link as we find them.
Hopefully we can start narrowing this down.
So far we know that it’s not Hills, Castor and Pollux, Del Monte, PetGuard, Nutro and Purina.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
I would strongly urge everyone to email your friends and families overseas. Many of them have no idea of the problem we have had here in the US. They need to know so they can protect their pets.
Now go and send emails….and tell them to mass email to THEIR friends, co-workers, families…
Comment by Lynn — April 19, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
Purina is not testing corn gluten. I spoke with a very nasty person with the company this morning. I’m not surprised since virtually ALL of their dry food products have corn gluten meal as 1 of the top two ingredients. When I called their Dunkirk, NY plant this morning, I was told they didn’t have time to talk to me because they were having a company picnic. These are the people that kept asking me if I was “with the media”.
Comment by Sharon — April 19, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
Great job, Pet Connection.com
You really are life-savers.
Comment by Lynn — April 19, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
The three pet food producers that received the tainted rice protein concentrate have had well over 24 hours to figure out if they used it or not. That should be more than enough time. An FDA having teeth would give them a deadline (say 8 hours) to give a definitive answer, and if they fail to meet it, announce to the public that the tainted RCP was delivered to them, but it is still unknown if it was used in a product.
Comment by David — April 19, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
MaryAnn, I’ve had a funny feeling about Wellness. They so carefully word all of their statements that they make me nervous. They’re phrasing things in a tricky way. I suspect that a number of their ingredients are coming from China based on the way they scoot around giving straight answers.
Comment by Cynthia — April 19, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
Maybe Menu and Wellness and then what would the other be?????
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
Linda,
howl911.com offers some speculation as to who the manufacturers and brands might be due to the names of states listed during the FDA conference.
Comment by Cynthia — April 19, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
Christie-thanks for covering the press conference. What is this about tracing pigs tainted with melamine????
Comment by Shawn — April 19, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
Thanks Cynthia.
The pig reference was to pig feed. They think some of it went into pig feed.
Poor pigs.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
Apparently, and this is the first I heard of it as well, some of the contaminated pet food was used to feed, or may have been used to feed, some pigs being raised for meat.
The FDA is tracking it and will let us know as soon as… well, I have no idea.
Comment by Christie Keith — April 19, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
And just when Menu said their food was safe and started producing again….it is in Kansas and if Hills is safe what does that leave us with?????
The New York one is a mystery to me.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
Cynthia,
I had been feeding the Wellness dry to my 2 cats and dobe. To be clear they all were doing fine on it. After all this broke last month, I e-mailed them and asked where and by whom made their dry food. First e-mail back was that none of their products was under recall, I sent back that was not what I had asked. Then they e-mailed back with the dry was made in a plant in Oklahoma. I changed then to Canidae/Felidae as I don’t want to hear double talk from any of these companies. Answer all my questions if they want my business.
Comment by Robin — April 19, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
Please note: Wellness, Old Mother Hubbard, and Neura products are NOT affected by the recent pet food product recalls. We do not use wheat gluten and do not source ingredients from the supplier in China who has been implicated in the recent pet food recall. This applies to all of our products, including canned, dry, treats, and supplements. All of our products can be enjoyed safely.
This is dated today yet makes no mention of the rice issue.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
sandi, i’m sorry about your pet passing away.every time i read a post about another inocent pet lost because of this recall i just break down. this is so Sad.
Comment by MARY ANN — April 19, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
My turkey bacon is tasting better & better!
Comment by Patricia Hill — April 19, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
Has anyone thought about what those companies in China are doing while our FDA guys are waiting for those visas? How long do you suppose it would take to get rid of any evidence and clean up the plants that may have been adding melamine to the gluten? I think that when they finally give permission for FDA to go in, any ounce of possible evidence certainly wouldnt be there anymore, now would it? So if FDA goes in and finds nothing, then what?
Comment by Sandi K — April 19, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
All these companies need to say where all the ingredients came from, like what country and what supplier.
Comment by Robin — April 19, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
Maybe we can just hope that in the future our products will be clean - because we will be on the lookout????
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
I will never buy anything in the future from any of the companies who are testing before recalling. They need to tell the public to stop using the product until the testing is complete and they know for sure the product is safe. The only thing these people understand is their pocket-books.
Comment by Robin — April 19, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
RE Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
Linda, Linda, Linda……how I wish I could share your optimism.
Comment by Lynn — April 19, 2007 @ 4:42 pm
You know, what sickens me is ALL the LIES from these companies! When the 1st recall bagan and I decided to switch to Natural Balance, I called them first. I asked them if ANY of their products used in their foods get imported from China. They assured me that ALL their products were grown in the US only! I said I was very worried about any imported product from China…they said they understand completely and that is why they only use US products and ALL food are human grade…hmmm, so rice gluten with melamine is human grade…and not from China…..PROVEN WRONG and LYING!
I am now using Fromm’s Dry food and weaning my cats to Nature’s Variety Raw food. If anyone has any suggestions about these foods, please let me know. Also, what do you all think about Prowl by The Honest Kitchen?
Comment by Jeanna — April 19, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
Well I just think China has a lot to lose too! I can’t imagine that their government, communist or not, will want this type of problem with their exported goods.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
The New York one is a mystery to me.
Seeing as how Blue Buffalo is out of CT, I have to wonder if they weren’t the New York connection.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
Oh, that might be. So then who are the others?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
Found on howl911.com. . .
“It is said to be the only wholegrain rice protein on the market, with the entire brown rice kernel being used in the processing.”
Does this mean that wholegrain rice is suspect also or that womthing coule be labeled as such and actually be rice protein?
12/6/2005 - UK-based AMC Chemicals says a new rice protein concentrate can offer food makers a non-allergenic alternative to soy and whey that is better absorbed by the body than other vegetable-derived proteins.
The ingredient, produced in China for US firm Axiom Foods, is also likely to be cheaper than many of the proteins on the market.
“The price range on this product is much less than soy and whey, … said David Janow, president of Axiom Foods.
It is said to be the only wholegrain rice protein on the market, with the entire brown rice kernel being used in the processing. The process uses natural enzymes that digest the carbohydrate portion and leave the protein, with no traces of additives or chemicals.
“It is also gluten-free, sulphite and sulphate-free,” added Janow.
Comment by ashlee — April 19, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
“Apparently, and this is the first I heard of it as well, some of the contaminated pet food was used to feed, or may have been used to feed, some pigs being raised for meat”
Only PIGS,they say???
Right.We’ll see.
Comment by Lorna — April 19, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
Oh, so much for safety of the whole-grain rice - terminology.
Semantics are killing us.
Well Paul Newman Organics - what do you have to say to this little twist?
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
We probably won’t know till Friday night when everyones preoccupied with the weekend activities and not doing any internet surfing.
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 4:53 pm
Natural Balance lied to me also. Stone cold lie. They promised me they oversaw all of their own manufaturing, right there in their own plants and had nothing to do with Menu Foods. That part was true- instead they used Diamond!
My dog has been on an IV for 2 days.
Comment by KMWM — April 19, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
Yeah. That’s right. Some post tucked away that’s hard to find.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
Whole grain rice…
Let me attempt to explain…
Rice protein, for example, is made by processing rice. And in the above example they are stating that they use the entire grain for processing. And by processing the grain they obtain a powder. That is what supposedly makes it so nutritional…that they use the entire grain.
This is different than whole brown rice listed an ingredient. The whole brown rice in an uprocessed ingredient. It is used in its original form - not processed before use. Were it processed before use, it would no longer be whole grain rice.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
I still think Iams had some of the bad rice stuff in their dry lamb and rice dog food. It seems to me there have been quite a few complaints about dry Iams since before the first of the year and almost always it was not the regular chunks but the lamb and rice variety that was mentioned by pet owners whose animals were dead or sick. This appeared here and on a number of chat rooms and websites around the web. Am I the only one who remembers this?
Comment by elizabeth R — April 19, 2007 @ 5:29 pm
I’ve never heard of Wilbur-Ellis before this recall, but I took a look at their website and it seems suspicious to me. The two types of products they seem to deal in are food (including pet food) and plastics/chemical products (isn’t this what melamine is used in?).(see http://www.wilbur-ellisfeed.co.....division/)
Additionally, some of the wording on the description of what they do is just strange to me:
“…Wilbur-Ellis traditionally has excelled in assisting food processors by locating markets for unwanted by-products. Through creative solutions, we can often transform an expensive disposal problem into profit-making venture for the manufacturer…”
http://www.wilbur-ellisfeed.co.....alliances/
“Many manufacturers produce a by-product that can be an expensive disposal problem, complicated by an increasing number of government regulations. Often, our merchandise specialists, who are constantly looking for new opportunities, can convert this same by-product into a revenue generator.”
http://www.wilbur-ellisfeed.co....._division/
Maybe, it’s just in light of the recent information on the contamination of rice protein, but the wording makes it sound as if finding ways to “slip in” cheap waste products is what they do. Is this just a case of unfortunate wording?
Comment by Kat — April 19, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
I’m posting this to a few different blogs so people see it.
This email was sent to multiple animal groups, I received it a few hours ago.
Please feel free to cross post:
Jay Edelson, the attorney who is suing Menu Foods and the pet companies, wants to hear from anyone and everyone whose pet was sick or died as a result of the recall food.
He needs to hear from shelters and independent rescue groups who lost pets.
Bear in mind we are getting complaints of deaths that go back to November, with speculation that food was tainted as early as last September.
So please post an announcement to all of your many groups to contact Attorney Jay Edelson, jay@blimlaw.com .
His firm has filed suit, has been before Congress, and will be going back to Congress and will be filing more suits. We need ALL THE AMMUNITION we can get. We need to also round up as much tainted food as possible. The companies are destroying evidence.
So post everywhere you know to post to have anyone contact Jay. I know there are other law firms involved, but since Jay’s firm has already filed suit and has direct contact with Congress, that is our single best resource to get action.
Even if they only have tainted unopened food, they need to contact Jay. If they suspect illness or death, have them contact Jay.
Aaron Davis
Pet Advocate, Volunteer
Washington State
Comment by Barb — April 19, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
I never see pedigree food mentioned either for good or bad. any comments?
Comment by nancy s — April 19, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
Thank you for this website and ALL the hard
work all of you are doing. I lost my pom
just before all this information hit the news.
It has been really hard on me as it had been
just him and me. I have been on this site
everyday since I got the web address from the
CNN site. This has been the only site to let
me actually report his death so he could be
counted in the numbers. Thank you for every
thing.
Comment by Cathleah Bergey (Cathy) — April 19, 2007 @ 6:16 pm
I totally agree with you Cathy! I find this website a true comfort not only because I was able to report my 4 year old Sheltie, Roxy’s death after the news broke, she died before the recall on February 23 but because I feel the information flow here is timely; detailed and caring. This is a valuable resource for all pet owners.
I keep telling everyone I know that they need to be careful because the recall is still expanding. I have been interviewed by our local paper and the Chicago Tribune. I am trying to keep the topic front and center so people don’t forget this is an on going problem…let’s be serious an on going dangerous threat.
On another note I have written to Senator Dick Durbin, D/IL who I am happy to say is my Senator. I am glad he is trying to get to the bottom of this.
Comment by Greer H. — April 19, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
Is it just me or did the liveblogging text that used to be in this entry disappear?
Comment by JM Leong — April 19, 2007 @ 7:29 pm
Thank you for this wonderful summary and for this site.
One thing that struck me from the conference is that the FDA isn’t testing corn gluten. It is one of the ingredients in the Science Diet dog food that my dogs got sick after eating. I tried to call Hills today to ask them if they were testing the corn gluten that they use in so many of their products and the consumer affairs rep. acted as though he had no idea what I was talking about. I told him they needed to test it and post the results on their website.
These companies need to be made aware constantly that we are watching them carefully and that we demand better from them tban they have been providing. They don’t need to wait for the FDA before testing something, and their silence only makes people more suspicious that they have something to hide.
Comment by Pam — April 19, 2007 @ 7:29 pm
I wonder how long it will be until I hear about Nature’s Recipe Lamb and Rice being on the list
Comment by Kristi — April 19, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
Yes, where’s the liveblogging text? I saw it earlier.
Comment by Lynn — April 19, 2007 @ 7:57 pm
Updated information on the Wellness Webpage:
Like many of you, we were upset to learn that the presence of an illegal contaminant has again been found in the pet-food supply, this time involving rice protein concentrate.
We have no reason to believe that any Wellness or Old Mother Hubbard products are affected in any way. In fact:
We do not source rice protein concentrate from Binzhou Futian Biological Technology, the manufacturer of the contaminated rice protein concentrate used in the Natural Balance products. We do not purchase rice protein concentrate from Wilbur-Ellis. We have visited the plants where we source our rice protein concentrate, and they have consistently met our stringent standards. We have been purchasing from them for several years and have not recently added any new suppliers.
We wanted to make you aware of the facts concerning our ingredients and quality assurance program.
Why We Use Rice Protein Concentrate
Rice protein concentrate is an expensive, premium and natural ingredient that is used in, for example, cereal, baked goods, and in some premium, natural pet foods. At Wellness, we use rice protein concentrate in a handful of products that are formulated for allergies, including:
Simple Food Solutions
Two flavors of the WellBars (Fish and Sweet Potato and Yogurt, Apple and Bananas)
Old Mother Hubbard Puppy Treats
These are our only products that contain rice protein concentrate.
Comment by auntie — April 19, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
The FDA needs to test corn gluten. My dogs were getting sick off of SD Lamb and Rice.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 8:03 pm
re Wellness:
what they don’t say is that they don’t purchase their ingredients from China and if the plants they source from actually produce it or if they are middleman places (and where these plants are!).
just saying they aren’t involved with the current 2 companies doesn’t mean jack as recent history shows . . .
and this is REAL reassuring: “We have no reason to believe . . . “
yeppers . . . .
Comment by straybaby — April 19, 2007 @ 8:10 pm
CATHLEAH,
I’m so sorry for the loss of your Pom. My heart goes out to you and all the others…. Again, I’ll go to bed crying because of this senseless tragedy! I’ll keep you in my prayers.
Comment by Karla T. — April 19, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
The liveblogging text is still there, we just “hid” it behind a jump… click in the word “MORE” and you’ll get it all.
Comment by Christie Keith — April 19, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
It looks like we’re running out of pet foods given all the disclaimers we are seeing.
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
Comment by Carole — April 19, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
Why, Carole, what do you mean? It’s just 1 percent, right?
The FDA is apparently as bad at math as it is at testing.
I’m just so angry, I don’t know what to say anymore. Even the “good guys” are no good. This isn’t insulted snobbishness about expensive food made in cheap factories. It’s just despair at finding anything really safe to eat for my four legged kids.
If any of these companies had ingredient integrity AND two gray cells to rub together, they’d run with it as far and as fast as they could. We’re talking full-page ads, presence on national shows, etc.
Only nobody is. Which leads me to think either a) none are completely confident their food is safe, or b) they don’t think anyone’s paying enough attention to make a “safe food” campaign worth their while.
I’m not sure which would be worse.
Comment by Laura — April 19, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
Jeanna
The same thing happened to me. My friend and I pored over all the websites and information, ultimately chosing NB because it really seemed to be one of the safest and best. All of that information is missing from their website now. No corrections or anything, just gone. And they still haven’t replied to mu email.
Comment by joyce — April 20, 2007 @ 2:24 am
What about Newman’s Own? I haven’t seen much if anything about it.
Comment by sharon — April 20, 2007 @ 8:03 am
So here’s another story. I drink Diet Coke and have liked the one flavored with lime. I shop at Walmart and haven’t seen it there for weeks. My first thought was “OMG-is that recalled now too?” This whole thing has me probably overly cautious, but with information changing and products being recalled daily, you can’t help but wonder if everything we eat now has something added to it…..
Comment by sharon — April 20, 2007 @ 8:05 am
Nutro had the suspect wheat gluten. My dog died from it, and it looks like they will be reimbursing us for his vet expenses and those for our other dog (just precautionary testing so far for her) who finished his last can.
Comment by Pamela J. Betz-Baron — April 20, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
Hi. I just stumbled on your blog and found it very interesting. I wanted to let you know that I found a website that is giving away free samples of a pet food that is made by Life’s Abundance. It’s derived from organically fed animals and has no wheat or wheat by-products. The site is http://www.precious-pets-paradise.com and you can get it from there. I just went ahead and bought the small size bag and was glad I did, my dog loves it and I feel much safer giving my pet something that is so natural and is not on the recall list! I’ve already got more and will continue to use this product. Thought you might want to know! - Bob Knuck
Comment by Bob Knuck — April 20, 2007 @ 6:04 pm