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Pet food recall: Wilbur-Ellis recalls rice protein, urges pet food manufacturers to do the same

By Christie Keith

April 19, 2007

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Wilbur-Ellis release is here. Update: Release on FDA site is up now.

Over the last few days, as news of this has circulated, we’ve been hearing a tremendous clamoring to have the companies to whom the concentrate was shipped named publicly. And Wilbur-Ellis is asking those companies to stand up and do the right thing. But Wilbur-Ellis knows who they are, and presumably so does the FDA; why are we having to shame the companies into naming themselves? Isn’t the FDA supposed to be protecting us? I listened in on the FDA press conference a few Fridays ago, in which we were assured that they’d let us know anything they found out as soon as possible. They haven’t so far, and they aren’t now.

How many of you out there would like to know the names of those other companies, so you can decide for yourself if you want to risk feeding their products to your pets? I’m just curious.

Update: USA Today’s Julie Schmit just reported that “Procter & Gamble (PG), owner of the Iams and Eukanuba brands, has set out its ‘promise’ to consumers that it will, in effect, exert more control over Menu Foods, the Canadian company that makes the Iams and Eukanuba wet foods for P&G.” She wrote:

    Menu says its recalled food was contaminated by wheat gluten that contained a prohibited chemical and that happened after it switched to a new wheat gluten supplier. P&G says its new policy forbids its suppliers from obtaining raw ingredients from different sources unless P&G has checked out that supplier and OK’d the switch…. P&G is Menu’s biggest customer, accounting for 21% of Menu’s 2006 revenue.

Update 2, the Christie never sleeps edition: Carrie Peyton Dahlberg of the Sacramento Bee, who has been doing great work on this story, just reported:

    Wilbur-Ellis said although its customers requested that their names be withheld for now, they are expected to become public as they begin their own recalls shortly.
    [....]
    Since July, Wilbur-Ellis has imported 336 metric tons of rice protein from one Chinese company, Binzhou Futian Biology Technology and has shipped just under half to the five pet food makers.

So it looks like we’ll be hearing those names “shortly”… when the companies begin their recalls, on their timetable. Meanwhile, what should pet owners do?

Murl Bailey, a toxicology professor at Texas A&M’s college of veterinary medicine, said at this point pet owners should add a new step to their shopping routine: Before each shopping trip, check the 5,000-plus-item recall list to make sure something they’ve bought before isn’t now among the recalled items.

I don’t mean to simply quote all of Carrie’s article — there’s much more and you should read the whole thing. But I can’t leave this out, as it’s a bit more information on her story from last night, and something I know a lot of people have questions about:

In Davis, the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory was checking an ever-growing array of food submitted by veterinarians who’ve treated ailing cats and dogs.

“It’s been crazy with phone calls and triaging,” said toxicology professor Birgit Puschner. The lab has not yet received food that’s been gathered by the Davis-based Veterinary Information Network after reports on its Web site of animal illnesses.

Paul Pion, who heads that service, said he plans to take five foods to the Davis lab today. He said he has arranged the tests out of an excess of caution.

“They are not strong patterns, but we don’t want to miss anything,” Pion said, adding that if he were sure that the foods were contributing to illness, he would already have named them.

Update 3, Gina has moderator access to all posts edition: Itchmo is collecting the names of pet-foods with rice protein in them on his pet-food forum, and is asking for help from pet-owners.

Filed under: 2007 food recall,animals: pets,news — Christie Keith @ 12:33 am

201 Comments »

  1. AMERICAN NUTRITION? SEE COMMENT TOWARD END OF THE ARTICLE.
    They have plants in Kansas and Utah.

    New owner replacing equipment at Emporia Plant
    By Scott Rochat (Contact)
    Wednesday, April 4, 2007

    American Nutrition has taken over the former Safeway pet food plant and has begun to put in more modern equipment.

    Work on the plant began Monday and could run to more than $1 million in improvements, according to Ron Haws, the chief financial officer of American Nutrition.

    “We hope to be up and running as soon as possible,” Haws said. “The target is next month, but it could take five to six weeks.”

    He said that once the retooling is complete, the capacity of Emporia Pet Products should be about 50,000 tons of dry pet food a year. That’s up slightly from the plant’s days under Safeway.

    The plant’s existing equipment goes back to its founding in 1980. American Nutrition plans to completely replace the plant’s extruder — the equipment used to actually produce the food — and make some modifications elsewhere.

    At the time of the sale to American Nutrition, which was announced in January, the plant had 43 employees. That’s down to about 35 now, Haws said, adding that he hoped to bring the numbers back up as soon as possible.

    “Some of those that left were ready for retirement and we had a few we extended offers to that didn’t want to continue,” he said. “But from what I understand, morale at the plant is pretty high.”

    The takeover moves Emporia from the periphery of one company and onto the cutting edge of another. As part of Safeway, the Emporia plant was part of a national chain that had mostly pulled back to the West Coast. As part of American Nutrition, it’s now the easternmost point for a regional pet food producer in the West that wants to expand its national presence.

    Emporia’s status as the eastern frontier won’t last, because American Nutrition is building another plant in Pennsylvania. The idea, Haws said, is to keep transportation costs reasonable for the plants, something that hurt Safeway before the sale.

    “I think (the Emporia workers) knew at some point that the plant didn’t make sense for Safeway,” Haws said. “To have a little plant like that distribute to California locations with fuel costs the way they are — it’s too expensive to ship bulky products out that far. We’re placing plants within a logical shipping distance.”

    American Nutrition, or ANI, has its headquarters in Ogden, Utah, where 50 percent of its products are produced. The rest are made by subsidiaries in Phoenix, Ariz., and Woodland, Wash. According to the company’s Web site, it produces more than 290,000 tons of pet food and snacks a year.

    ANI’s brands are Atta Boy, Atta Cat, Basic Plus, Natural Harmony, Maintain Chunks, Vita Snacks and Vita Bone. None of those brands has been involved in the recent series of recalls by U.S. and Canadian pet food companies, which began with Canadian-owned Menu Foods. Those recalls have been blamed on tainted wheat gluten.

    “We use a little bit of gluten in one of our products, but we only buy human grade,” Haws said. “I’m very glad we’re not associated with that, but I feel bad for those guys.”

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 19, 2007 @ 12:55 am

  2. APPROVED PROCESSING PLANTS

    This is interesting. Is this where the chicken and fish in our pet foods come from?

    http://tinyurl.com/245o27

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 19, 2007 @ 1:12 am

  3. As a consumer, I feel that I have the right to know what plants
    recieved shipments of this rice. Let us make up our minds if we want
    to pull the food from our pet’s dishes!! This is sooo unfair!!
    If this were human food and people were dying, well you finish . . .

    Comment by Mary Smith — April 19, 2007 @ 2:00 am

  4. Hey everyone. Wilbur-Ellis is in SF. I’m willing to call him and ask him point blank on the air for podcasting. WHY he won’t name them.

    What do you think? I have the tools to record the conversation. I would ask to record and then I would post it. I think others might want to hear it.

    It would be an opportunity for Wilbur-Ellis to do the right thing or explain WHY he can’t tell us.
    He can tell us the logic and reasoning behind his holding back the info. They might have a very good reason. It would be interesting to know.

    Comment by spocko — April 19, 2007 @ 2:16 am

  5. just out of curiosity, isn’t that illegal? I think you could actually be indicted for that, if I’m not mistaken.

    Comment by joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 2:22 am

  6. That IS interesting Nadine. God only knows what the “chicken” REALLY is. Coming from China I would bet the so called chicken and fish is anything BUT chicken and fish. If any of it actually contains chicken and fish it’s probably only trace amounts and possibly contaminated with God knows what.

    Found this blurb:

    * Lack of inspections. The Emporia, Kansas Menu Foods facility where many of these products were made had never been inspected by the FDA. The agency has been relying on the states to conduct inspections, but the FDA has jurisdiction over all pet food manufacturing facilities and the ultimate responsibility to ensure facilities comply with FDA standards. Where there should be federal regulation, there is instead a patchwork of state inspection systems and voluntary guidance. Durbin wants to require the FDA to work with the states to establish a standardized set of regulations and inspection requirements.

    Hmmmmm…..I find this hard to believe. I used to live near Emporia, Kansas and there is a beef processing plant down the road from the pet food plant and I know for a fact that FDA inspectors go to the beef plant. Why can’t they drive a mile in a half down the road and inspect the pet food plant. That plant is considered fairly new, it’s been open since 1996 I believe (but I could be off by a year or so).

    Comment by Tammy — April 19, 2007 @ 2:27 am

  7. Joyce. Nope. I just tell them that I would like to record it and get their permission.

    If I recorded and posted with out permission it would be a problem.

    I’d be acting just like a radio news person.

    So, that said, what questions do you want to have answered?

    Comment by spocko — April 19, 2007 @ 2:29 am

  8. I for one would like to know the names of those pet food companies who bought and presumably used Wilbur-Ellis rice protein concentrate. That is really not asking for a lot…not at this point in time. One of my cats is already dead. I just want to know how to avoid poisoning my other cats and dogs. A lot of us want to do the same, I believe, but then again, I still have a heart and this is all about money— stocks, income gains, and an industry that appears to have become incestuous with such.

    I also heard the FDA press conference a few Fridays ago, in which we were assured that they’d let us know anything they found out as soon as possible. And you, Christie, are very right, they have not let us know. Anyone wanting to argue that point would have to have no brain left. The federal government agencies and the corporate pet food industries have done nothing to truly voluntarily give us the information we need to know to keep from feeding our pets poison. And we are supposed to forget the guarantees, implied and expressed, on those pet food labels, guarantees that are outright fraud in the wake of all this.

    It has always amazed me when information was released that it was done at first with late Friday press release drop and runs. That only changed last week with the melamine-positive results of the CA pet owner who privately tested her 3 varieties of previously unrecalled Nutro canned foods which led to the recall which included 31 additional foods. Is anyone else stunned at the bad behavior here? We have the largest mass recall in modern history. 5500+ pet food products are recalled as listed on the FDA excel spreadsheet on their own website and it isn’t over. And the best the mass media has to say lately is only that it was dumb luck that it isn’t in human food. Are we really sure it is not? Let’s not forget it wouldn’t be the first time the FDA was not forthcoming in recent past. Where is the disconnect to our mass intelligence?

    So start talking importers and corporate pet food people! We know some of you are reading this. And to major media, Menugate is going to win someone a Pulitzer prize. But in the meantime, I just don’t want to poison any more of my pets.

    Comment by Laurie — April 19, 2007 @ 2:35 am

  9. I’d like to know the name of all five companies. I’d like to know when they got the supposedly contaminated shipment. And how much they got. But mostly I would like to know the names.

    Comment by Christie Keith — April 19, 2007 @ 2:36 am

  10. Comment by spocko

    Yep, all 5 names and when they got it…

    Comment by Laurie — April 19, 2007 @ 2:40 am

  11. Spocko,

    I would love to hear his response. I want to know why he is asking the 5 companies to do the ‘right thing’ when he himself is not willing to do the ‘right thing’.

    If he felt so strongly about these companies doing the right thing and then they don’t do it, he would do it himself by blowing the whistle on them. This information can help save lives and if he doesn’t devulge the critical information he knows , then he is just as guilty as all the others.

    Wouldn’t he be protected by the Federal Whistle Blowers Act (or whatever it is called)?

    Comment by Tammy — April 19, 2007 @ 2:42 am

  12. Just got up, don’t know if this has been posted yet. Very interesting read from Canada Free Press. Makes for lots of connections you’re currently discussing.
    http://tinyurl.com/375ad6
    Seems to expand on some background info. And may explain why U.S. media seems to lack any interest.

    Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 2:43 am

  13. Kathi,
    Good article.

    Really good quote at the end:
    “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?”“

    Comment by Laurie — April 19, 2007 @ 2:51 am

  14. Note: It’s also a little embarrassing, since I’m distantly related to Barbara Pierce Bush. We are both related to President Franklin Pierce. Well, at least my side of the family has a clean record! (Sigh!)

    Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 2:57 am

  15. So many dirty hands.

    Comment by Tammy — April 19, 2007 @ 3:01 am

  16. My gut still tells me there is more to ChemNutra story and the sudden disappearance of most of their product list from their webpage. I have the list hand-copied in my notebook. Wished I’d have saved the webpage. Hopefully someone did.
    I know I’ve had it in for the Miller’s, but it’s what I feel that drives me. So I guess I won’t apologize for dogging them.

    Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 3:06 am

  17. Well, I WAS considering buying Nature’s Logic tomorrow, but not anymore…their plant is in Kansas! Also, anything made by Diamond, ie. Chicken Soup for the pet lover’s soul, Premium Edge, Solid Gold, etc. is out because American Nutrition has plants in Kansas & Utah. I guess I’ll stick with dry from Canidae for now. Their offices are in California and although they wouldn’t tell me the name of the plant where their food is made, they DID tell me it is in West Texas. I honestly hope that is the truth, and they are not lying to me like Natural Balance did! Although, I am stil not comfortable with them withholding that information when I am putting my babies live’s in their hands. The rest of my dogs are now on a B.A.R.F (raw) diet and doing great on it! These companies are really dumb for not comming clean by now. Don’t they know many, many of us are going to boycott them forever after their terrible response to this horrific situation. Bless all our fur-babies and may the fur-parents make the best choices possible to protect them. And on we march…..

    Comment by FMtz — April 19, 2007 @ 3:12 am

  18. Comment by Kathi
    No embarrassment necessary!

    Good article indeed, very interesting connections.
    http://tinyurl.com/375ad6

    Comment by Laurie — April 19, 2007 @ 3:15 am

  19. FMtz,
    “Don’t they know many, many of us are going to boycott them forever after their terrible response to this horrific situation. Bless all our fur-babies and may the fur-parents make the best choices possible to protect them. And on we march…..” AMEN

    Comment by Laurie — April 19, 2007 @ 3:18 am

  20. Correction:
    Nature’s Logic uses Crosswind Industries to make their dry food and Crosswind Industries is in Kansas. Link: http://www.crosswindindustries.com/index.htm

    Comment by FMtz — April 19, 2007 @ 3:23 am

  21. Also, Nature’s Logic’s canned foods manufactured by Menu Foods! Ahhggg!
    Mommy is heard screaming again…

    Comment by FMtz — April 19, 2007 @ 3:27 am

  22. Don’t these companies know the longer they wait, the greater the backlash?

    It’s one thing to unintentionally put your label on a product that is deadly or could possibly be deadly.

    It’s quite another to purposely keep that information a secret.

    Comment by JM Leong — April 19, 2007 @ 3:31 am

  23. I found this article this morning. Wondering about the visa’s and why China’s holding off?
    http://tinyurl.com27ss83
    Is China holding out or is FDA dragging feet?
    The really big question is: Why is this dragging on with so little response and so much disregard?

    Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 3:33 am

  24. That’s right, JM Leong. That’s what I told Wilbur-Ellis when I called them yesterday. I told them that the longer they waited the more it was going to hurt their business. It won’t look good and it will make people wary of the way you do business in the future. I don’t want all these poor employees who work for these companies to lose their jobs. I’m sure they have pets and families as well. But…I DO want the heads of these companies to step up to the plate and explain, PRONTO!!

    Comment by FMtz — April 19, 2007 @ 3:36 am

  25. Does anyone know what info is on those certificates that the suppliers provide?
    Does it list country of origin. Because I find it difficult that companies didn’t know where the product came from.
    Wouldn’t you think as president or CEO, you would question your supplier about the products before you agree to purchase or am I just being too much of a perfectionist. Been accused of that a lot just before quitting all those QC jobs I had.

    Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 3:50 am

  26. Kathi,
    You’d think that would be the case, and that should be the case, but who knows what these greedy corporate *&%@^# do. They can seem to magically make things disappear or play dumb at will. I think that’s why they are dragging their feet…because they know we will like them even less if we hear the truth!

    Comment by FMtz — April 19, 2007 @ 3:55 am

  27. Anna May, my 4.5# Peke/Chi has been trying to type a message here.
    She wants to know why we are trading with a communist country in the first place.
    And she wants to know why these companies are not telling us who they are.
    She says she misses all her friends and doesn’t understand why these companies don’t seem to care.
    She wants to ask Senator Durbin to plow forward and demand answers now to save the rest of her friends from being poisoned.
    She says she loves everyone at petconnection for digging (her favorite activity) for the truth.
    BARK-BARK and MEOW-MEOW
    Anna May & Beans

    Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 4:02 am

  28. Anna May & Beans,

    The U.S. trades with China because they own a huge portion of our National debt, and funding two wars is expensive.

    And President Bush says it’s OK!

    Comment by Tammy — April 19, 2007 @ 4:17 am

  29. Like I said earlier, it’s embarrassing being distantly related to Bush’s mother.
    I am a Patriot. I’ve always believed in the principles of this country. Things have changed since the 60’s.
    I for one did not approve of Nixon going to China. I felt like he would be opening a Pandora’s Box.
    Our forefather’s through blood, sweat and tears made this a great nation.
    The defining moment of America’s history was the Boston Tea Party.
    I fear if if our leaders do not listen to us, we may need to repeat what those men did to fight for our independence once again.
    What is happening to our babies can easily happen to all of us unless we demand our leaders listen and take action.

    Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 4:33 am

  30. Do you really believe it’s a coincidence that melamine has been accidently spilled into two separate ingredients.
    Do you really believe that the Chinese suppliers would not know that melamine is not a food substance. And that it would not be harmful?
    For those Idealists who believe we can persuade communist countries to become more democratic by trading with them and welcoming them, think again.
    Communist leaders do not care about their underlings. And I fear we may have such a problem here when we see that we are getting very little response about the poisoning of our babies.
    It is vital that we keep demanding answers and keep searching for the truth.
    If we as a people stand together and refuse to buy foreign foodstuffs, the markets will hear us loud and clear.

    Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 4:49 am

  31. To FMtz: If you have questions or concerns about Nature’s Logic foods, send an e-mail to info@natureslogic.com. They are very responsive — in fact, I have found that company to be one of the most open about answering questions and responding to concerns. As I have posted here, my dogs began eating Nature’s Logic Chicken Fare on Friday and had some gastrointestinal problems 2 days ago. They spent the day at the vet yesterday and all the urinalysis & blood work was okay. After consultation with the vet and Nature’s Logic, we believe that the 7-day transition period I used was insufficient. I began feeding them a tablespoon of the Nature’s Logic kibble, mixed with their homemade food, last night and again this morning. So far, no problems at all. The dogs really love the food, and they use no glutens or synthetic vitamins or minerals. I don’t have anything to do with the company and in fact had never heard of it until a couple of weeks ago.

    Comment by Pam — April 19, 2007 @ 4:51 am

  32. Thank you. I think I WILL ask them if they get any of their products from Wilbur-Ellis?

    Comment by FMtz — April 19, 2007 @ 5:04 am

  33. FMtz: I talked to them yesterday and they told me they don’t use any protein boosters or glutens, so I would be very surprised. I also got this information in an e-mail: “We use no forms of gluten; no wheat, rice, or corn. We only use whole food ingredients. We also use no chemically synthesized vitamins or minerals which can also be a source of contamination and toxins to pets. Our dry food is made at Crosswind Industries in Sabetha, KS.” I did a lot of research before I bought food from them, and I really hope I made the right decision. Out of 4 sample kibbles I tried, theirs was the only one my dogs would eat. I’m going to continue the transition, very very slowly. Apparently their food is so much more wholesome than the SD kibble my dogs used to eat that it has shocked their little systems.

    Comment by Pam — April 19, 2007 @ 5:09 am

  34. RE: FDA inspections
    Comment by Tammy — April 19, 2007 @ 2:27 am

    One of the biggest worries the FDA has is BSE (mad cow disease). They have a very full plate.

    The other part of the problem is that self-regulation by state officials is not working. Even the AAFCO guy admitted that.

    Comment by CathyA — April 19, 2007 @ 5:16 am

  35. I hope this tinyurl works. An interesting story about U.S. wheat gluten and how Kansas wheat growers and mills feel about being undercut by foreign wheat gluten.
    http://tinyurl.com/27qwlk
    So why are the tariffs so low U.S. growers can’t compete? Who decided to keep it so low?

    Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 5:19 am

  36. Spoko, I want to know if the supplier is under any legal mandate to tell the FDA he found contamination. Did he also directly notify the pet food companies? Does his company test products - for anything? Is anyone from his company actually in China looking at products or is all this done with paper analysis (guarantee) of the product? And yes, I want to know the names of the companies.

    Comment by CathyA — April 19, 2007 @ 5:21 am

  37. FMtz: in case you haven’t seen it, the Pet Food List, http://www.petfoodlist.com, listing non-recalled foods, has been updated to include information from Nature’s Logic based on a phone conversation with the owner/manager yesterday.

    Comment by Pam — April 19, 2007 @ 5:22 am

  38. I made a typo on the tinyurl earlier. Here is my post again:
    Wondering about the visa’s and why China’s slow to respond:
    http://tinyurl.com/27ss83
    So is China holding out or is FDA dragging feet?
    The big question is:
    Why is this dragging on with so little response and so much disregard?

    Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 5:32 am

  39. Yes, I know. I’m the one who e-mailed thepetfoodlist.com and asked them for more information on Nature’s Logic. And even though I believe their product may be very good, I’ve decided to stay away from them for now because Menu Foods makes their cans and Crosswind Industries makes their dry in Kansas, and it was posted above earlier that: “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.” Sorry, but until I know for sure that Crosswind Industries is NOT one of those companies I’ve decided to stay away from that brand for now. Just trying to do the best with what I know and make an informed decision for my fur-babies.

    Comment by FMtz — April 19, 2007 @ 5:36 am

  40. Steve
    You asked about the Miller’s slipping under the radar. Read this:
    http://tinyurl.com/375ad6
    Interesting connections.
    I wonder if this ties into Bernie and Lynn’s stuff somehow. It just seems like there might be a connection. Just a hinky I have. I’ve said in the past to look at the lawyer and follow the money.

    Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 5:46 am

  41. Spocko
    Count me in on naming names. We want to know before one more pet has to suffer.

    Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 5:49 am

  42. Lynn and Bernie
    Look at post I left for Steve at 5:46 AM Apr 19 here on Wilbur-Ellis.
    Maybe there is some connection to your China guy.
    It just seems strange about the connections to gov agencies.

    Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 5:55 am

  43. Re: Martha’s comment on “Dirty Bag” blog April 18,2007 @8:19 PM
    I noticed also while reading the news the two different dates Thacher gave: July and April and wondered which is it or has it happened both times?
    We need some answers about this. I’m going to check the news again and see if I can find those two articles I read earlier.

    Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 6:30 am

  44. Kathi:

    I see nothing strange about their connection to the gov’t. Every head of big business is either related to or a buddy of the current administration…..which is why we’re in such deep poo-poo when it’s us against them. They have the gov’t backing them up, we don’t.

    I’m hoping that those companies identify themselves today so we will all know for sure that what we are serving our pets is not killing them (what a horrible thought). They would look a lot better to do it on their own without being pressured to id themselves. I just don’t see what the big deal is to own up to the fact that they unknowingly bought/added contaminated rice protein concentrate & recall their food….just to make pet owners feel a little better about what they have in their homes.

    I can only hope & pray that this rpc will be the last of the tainted ingredients.

    And I also pray that the truth in labeling act will apply to pet food WHEN they change the ingredients, not six months after. If you pick up your favorite pet food & there is a change in the ingredients, you can make a choice about whether or not you still want to buy it. If & when any changes are made, there should be a sticker on the bag/can……that the formula has been changed & then make it clear what has changed. Wouldn’t that be great? Geez, I’d even volunteer to go to the plant & put all the damn stickers on…..for free!!!!!!!

    Comment by Jan — April 19, 2007 @ 6:46 am

  45. The pet food manufacturers have asked Wilbur-Ellis not to name names? And that’s ok? Not by me! If you sold possibly contaminated ingredients, then tell to whom you sold it! The manufacturers can have their products third party tested and certified melamine free is they want. C’mon, this isn’t hearsay - tell who you sold to!

    Comment by slt — April 19, 2007 @ 6:49 am

  46. ********I guess I’ll stick with dry from Canidae for now. Their offices are in California and although they wouldn’t tell me the name of the plant where their food is made, they DID tell me it is in West Texas. I honestly hope that is the truth******

    I have never posted before, but have read as much as I have time for. I feed a local brand here in Texas. He delivers to my home. I asked him about all this food recall. He told me Canidae was made at the same plant that his food was made at. The Chicken in his food is from Tyson. Its the Pied Piper plant, I think near Hamlin.

    Comment by pamela — April 19, 2007 @ 6:55 am

  47. This Is MURDER, they ARE killing our pets,makeing them sick. menu waited 3 weeks and i wonder how many pets would of been saved. guess they will wise up when there is a boycott on ALL PET FOOD, this is a disgrace they are risking our pets life. untill i know the names I wILL NOT FEED MY DOGS ANY PET FOOD. My Nerves can’t this any more.how many more pets have to die before they care?????

    Comment by Marry Ann — April 19, 2007 @ 7:06 am

  48. Any thoughts on why ChemNutra removed most products from their website but left wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate?
    Is there something they don’t want us to see?
    I still have my handwritten list of their products before they changed the website.
    They had vitamins and minerals and veterinary medicines in their original product list.

    Comment by Kathi — April 19, 2007 @ 7:06 am

  49. Marry Ann - thank you for voicing the concern of my heart.

    I apologize for offending anyone here about the NB issue and I too do not agree with the junk/toxic we are receiving from China that is not blocked by the FDA.

    These pet food companies are thinking of their reputation, and maybe some haven’t used it yet, but all need to be honest about it now.

    I’m making all my dogs food and it is very tiring but at least they aren’t dying on me.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 7:10 am

  50. And what is with all these manufacturers refusing to name where their food is made? Seems fishy, as if they have something to hide. Sorry, but if you can’t tell where the food is made, I’m not buying it.

    Comment by slt — April 19, 2007 @ 7:15 am

  51. Linda, you needn’t apologize. I read over the whole thing last night and I couldn’t find anything that you may have said that would be offensive in any way. It’s clear you are upset, we all are…

    I just don’t understand how these companies think they can continue to do this. Full disclosure is needed immediately. It’s way past the CYA point. Don’t they realize that we would notice if our animals continued to get sick.

    Comment by Sharon — April 19, 2007 @ 7:18 am

  52. Spocko, Can’t The FDA Demand Them Say Who The Other CO’S are ? Sen Durbin Can He Get A Court order to get the names?

    Comment by Marry Ann — April 19, 2007 @ 7:22 am

  53. I just read that ChemNutra supplies vet meds. That sent a shudder through me big time.

    Three weeks ago I brought my Lab to the vet for a wicked rash on her belly. I’m not sure if it was from food or airborne allergens. She also had a slight ear infection.

    She was given a shot of cortisone (can’t remember the medical name for it but that’s basically what it was). I was told she would drink lots of water & urinate more frequently. Any other time, I probably wouldn’t have even thought twice about it but these are also signs of ARF.

    About three or four days later she was drinking huge bowls of water at a time, going outside constantly & then she got lethargic….anyone who knows anything about Labs knows this is not normal. She even looked sick. I rushed her back to the vets because it was now nearly a week since she had that shot so I thought I may have unknowingly fed her tainted food.

    Everything was normal (blood & urine tests) but it took almost three weeks for things to go back to normal. Was there possibly something wrong with the cortisone? Oh my God, what a terrible thought.

    It cost me $400 for both visits. This in addition to all the food I threw out, not knowing if it was tainted. I’m sure all of you have the very same complaint but I can ill afford what this mess has cost me…..who is going to pay me back for this? I know many of you rushed your animals to the vet & paid for expensive tests….none of us would have done this had it not been for us being in the dark as to which foods were contaminated.

    Comment by Jan — April 19, 2007 @ 7:25 am

  54. Thank you Sharon. It’s difficult to be rational and sane in these crazy times.

    Jan, the pet meds worry me terribly too. I know all about throwing out food and vet trips.

    I do believe my Mercy’s leaking urine all over and liver problems was a pet food issue - now that she is on homecooked - no more urine leaking all over my bed, and I had to buy a new mattress and box springs, not to mention the tests that revealed nothing they could find except the liver problems. She is only three years old. But things are better and yesterday I was trying to find a good pet food as the home cooking night and day (long term) for my crew is a bit much even for me.

    I can’t wait till we know the truth of the five pet food companies. I bet Wellness is one - I always liked them. All the treats I bought were Wellness yogurt and apple. But I stopped around Christmas time, the dogs were almost fighting over them.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 7:32 am

  55. Couldn’t an employee of Wilbur-Ellis come forward and name the companies who got the rice protein under protection as a whistle blower? Or maybe an employee of a pet food manufacturer who bought rice protein from Wilbur-Ellis? FDA, Dept. of Homeland Security, anyone? Will no one step up and do the right thing?

    Comment by slt — April 19, 2007 @ 7:40 am

  56. Name names!! I have a dead dog and a sick dog. I want to know everyone and anyone who is involved. I have 8 grandpuppies. I want to know!

    Re: labeling: furniture made in China is made from wood ripped out of the forests of Burma, Russia, etc., illegally harvested and exported, and what amazes me most is that eveyone keeps ledgers accounting for the bribes that they’ve paid to facilitate this. If you think that a “made in XXX” label means anything, you’re wrong. A man wiser than I said, “everything’s hitched to everything else”.

    But we can try. Naming names is a start.

    Comment by Nancy Nielsen — April 19, 2007 @ 7:42 am

  57. slt, that’s the thing that is absolutely astounding me. No one has stepped up and done the right damn thing.

    My God, it took ASPCA 30 days and thousands of ill and dead pets before they even put a statement out!!!

    What is wrong with people?!?!?!?

    Comment by Sharon — April 19, 2007 @ 7:43 am

  58. ON abc news web site there is a big story on this ,under TOP HEADLINE http://www.abcnews.com

    Comment by Marry Ann — April 19, 2007 @ 7:47 am

  59. Thanks for the link Marry Ann. They started shipping this rice protein from the company in China in July of last year.

    That is so scary. White bag, pink bag, something isn’t right about this pink bag stuff.

    The pet food companies are between a rock and a hard place and anything they do now is will not be good for business - but they simply must bite the bullet and come forward - to save pets.

    When Mercy started leaking urine she was on SD Lamb and Rice formula, I knew enough to stay away from wheat and corn, but who would have thought rice too?

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 7:55 am

  60. Isn’t it time we STOP importing “the unknown” from China in the name of squeaking a few more cents profit out of each can or bag of pet food?

    How much longer will it take? Turn back every single cargo ship from China!

    Comment by petlover — April 19, 2007 @ 7:57 am

  61. First it is wheat gluten, now rice protein/gluten, and some companies are saying they do not ship from the same supplier as NB, but does that matter now?

    We have two different suppliers and two different, supposedly different protein concentrates, from different locals ??? with the same contamination - and we are to believe it is from dirty bags?

    I don’t buy that. I question if we can trust any of it - any of these poweder concentrates from China.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 8:01 am

  62. Spocko, I would like to know if they have reported the names to FDA? We are all speculating that they have but we dont know for a fact. It was my understanding they are required to report any concerns of tainted food to FDA immediately. Its also my understanding there are no penalties in place if they dont report their concerns to FDA.

    Comment by Sandi K — April 19, 2007 @ 8:01 am

  63. “Wilbur-Ellis first detected melamine in one of the bags that was pink — while all the other bags were white — and had “melamine” stenciled on the outside. When Wilbur-Ellis asked the Chinese firm about why a rice protein concentrate would show up in a bag marked melamine, Wilbur-Ellis was told that the rice protein concentrate had simply been put in a wrong — but new — bag after its original bag broke during loading, says Thacher.”

    I really can’t say anything about the above without using profanity so i’ll restrain myself from commenting further. They must think we’re stupid.

    EMAIL WILBUR-ELLIS to RELEASE the NAMES of ALL MANUFACTURERS the RICE PROTEIN WAS SUPPLIED TO. I agree with JM Leong - how do we know to stop using something that we don’t know if the product is even in? Natural Balance, to name just one, didn’t even have it on THE LABEL!!!!! This is outrageous!!

    I sent out emails to both women below. PLEASE EMAIL THEM AS WELL and DEMAND TO KNOW WHO THE OTHER 4 ARE:

    Ann Barlow for Wilbur-Ellis
    415-438-9826 or 925-200-6539
    abarlow@peppercom.com
    or
    Deborah Brown for Wilbur-Ellis
    212-931-6113
    dbrown@peppercom.com

    Comment by Monika — April 19, 2007 @ 8:17 am

  64. From Natura’s website:

    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 Sharon — April 19, 2007 @ 8:17 am

  65. Why isn’t Homeland Security all over this? I consider both the pet and human food supply to be in danger and no one is doing a damn thing.

    FDA = FEMA

    Comment by Sharon — April 19, 2007 @ 8:21 am

  66. My God, it took ASPCA 30 days and thousands of ill and dead pets before they even put a statement out!!!

    What is wrong with people?!?!?!?

    Comment by Sharon — April 19, 2007 @ 7:43 am

    ******************************
    I just wrote to the ASPCA.

    To Whom It May Concern:

    I am shocked that it took over one month for the ASPCA to release a “warning” statement about the pet food recall horror. I would have thought, and maybe you still will, that the organization (weeks ago) would have taken a strong stand, in both print and broadcast media outlets, to be a major voice for our nation’s animals and demand a thorough inquiry into pet food industry practices and ask for major reforms, because clearly, there is a crisis here.

    I hope that your press release on your web site of 04/18/07 is only the initial step in your becoming a strong and visible leader in demanding strict regulatory reform throughout all stages of the pet food manufacturing process. And no, I’m not an animal activist, just the proud owner of, now four, shelter animals.

    Thank you for your current press release, and I hope to see many more in the mainstream media outlets. Please be the voice for the animals in our shelters across the U.S. and beyond its borders.

    Comment by petlover — April 19, 2007 @ 8:26 am

  67. Sharon,since march 16 alot of people have been saying where the hell is homeland security !!!

    Comment by Marry Ann — April 19, 2007 @ 8:32 am

  68. I know this is a little delayed, it’s based on comments to another article I blogged about last night. I also know Gina commented that no one should be accused of working for a pet food company. However, I just got to see those comments now, and wanted to respond and clear the air.
    I do NOT work for a pet food company. I don’t appreciate any insinuation that I do just because I said I still have confidence in NB. I am a cat owner, whose boyfriend and his mother run an animal rescue in Philly. I know many people who have pets. I am a college student and work part-time at a Honda dealership (making appointments). So why did I stand up for NB? As I said in my comment, my Uncle switched one of his dogs to it since she was affected by the original recall, and has seen vast improvements in the older one’s health. His current spendings on taking them to the vet prior to the recall and later testings exceed $1500.00. I have been updating about 30 people via e-mails, and 3 who lack internet access. Were my cats affected? No, only the treats recall affected them. Does that make me any less scared? No. Especially since my one has several heart conditions, for which he’s on daily meds and goes to a cardiologist. These are my babies, and I fear for them with every new can or bag I open. I have no stocks and do not know any employees of a food company. I just want to be helpful. In fact, if you look back at my blogs, though they are infrequent, I have commented since the beginning. I think actually that I was the first to mention the Nationwide March on April 28 on here.
    I am an animal lover, surrounded by animal lovers, whose heart is breaking at the thought of all these poor pets. Whose scared about what is safe. And who just wants to help. I may not comment every day, but between work and school, I’m extremely busy and barely have the time to keep up on reading everything. But trust me, I’m reading sites like this at least once a day. Please don’t insinuate I’m a plant. I just care.
    Thank you

    Comment by Krystal Kubichek — April 19, 2007 @ 8:35 am

  69. It’s time to narrow these down and figure out who these 5 companies are. It’s clear they are the “natural” companies supposedly producing all natural foods.

    Innova
    Evo
    California Natural
    Mother Nature
    Healthwise
    Karma
    …..All Natura products (see above statement by President of company stating specifically that they aren’t part of this).

    Let’s see who else is man enough to quit this CYA game…

    Comment by Sharon — April 19, 2007 @ 8:38 am

  70. RE: Jan
    Corticosteroids (prednisone or prednisolone) cause increased drinking an peeing. This isn’t abnormal. They also interfere with the adrenal glands normal production of corticosteroids, so sometimes it might take a while for them to recover.

    About labeling. I think if we keep asking for it during this time of crisis, that we might be closer to getting it. I plan on writing the AVMA and asking they step up and ask too. Obviously not knowing what’s in the bag hampers being able to treat pets.

    Comment by CathyA — April 19, 2007 @ 8:41 am

  71. Canidae and Felidae
    …See the following from the front page of their website:

    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.

    Comment by Sharon — April 19, 2007 @ 8:41 am

  72. Why isn’t Homeland Security all over this? I consider both the pet and human food supply to be in danger and no one is doing a damn thing.

    FDA = FEMA

    Comment by Sharon — April 19, 2007 @ 8:21 am
    *******************
    Sharon,since march 16 alot of people have been saying where the hell is homeland security !!!

    Comment by Marry Ann — April 19, 2007 @ 8:32 am
    *****************************

    Weeks ago when the only culprit known was wheat gluten, human grade by the way, the CDC was told to monitor for any upswing in human kidney problems… although we were assured that there is no evidence that the human grade wheat gluten made its way into the human food supply.

    I’m not trying to start a conspiracy theory here, but quite a few others here and on other boards have suggested… do you think the government would want to start a panic about the human food supply? The entire economy would come crashing down.

    Comment by petlover — April 19, 2007 @ 8:41 am

  73. The bottom line is Durbin and the U.S. Senate really needs to get serious and begin reigning in these Global Corporates.

    We also as a country need to consider that “Corporate Citizenship” should be an award for good behavior. NOT A RIGHT.

    The Rank and File of Industry are totally irresponsible to the point of being a threat to the welfare and safety of society.

    If a nation of citizens can’t count on a central government to watch out for them in the face of the most egregious behaviors by private enterprise, then you really got nothing… No responsible government, no stable society.. Nothing… Not a good thing for a purported democracy.

    And by the way, Communist China is not a DEMOCRACY. No matter how they paint their image and hype up their system. They got a LONG WAY TO GO before they can claim bragging rights as an advanced progressive society that has it’s act together. This American no longer buys the HYPE.

    Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 8:47 am

  74. Itchmo is compiling a list of foods containing rice protein or rice gluten.

    Comment by Janet — April 19, 2007 @ 8:54 am

  75. The reason the CDC was asked to monitor human cases was because tainted wheat gluten did make it into the food supply. Someone from the FDA told CBS News that it was isolated, tested, and found to be ok. When the story was later reprinted by others that part was left out and the title of the article was changed to dumb luck kept it out of the human food supply. I wish I had printed out the original story as it appears to have now been wiped clean from the internet.

    Comment by Sharon — April 19, 2007 @ 8:56 am

  76. I recently switched my cat and dog to Kumpi dry food and I just got an email from Evy at Kumpi saying that the food is safe and they use “WHOLE foods and NO derivations of grains.”

    I had emailed Evy this morning when I read that one of the manufacturers that received the rice protein concentrate was in Kansas. Kumpi is made at Crosswind. I wanted to let ya’ll know in case anybody else was worried about the Kumpi food, that Evy had emailed me and said it is safe. My cat likes this food too.

    Comment by Michelle — April 19, 2007 @ 8:59 am

  77. Behind the whole scandal is the fact that these suppliers have NO motive to provide a product of benefit to “consumers” (I won’t even say people/pets because we’re only $ to them) but only a motive to make more and more and more money. Corporations need to have their rights as “citizens” revoked and be issued charters again by the PEOPLE they are supposed to benefit. If they do not provide benefit or break the public trust, their charter should be revoked. WE ARE CITIZENS HERE AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE TO US. AND SO IS OUR “GOVERNMENT”……

    Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 19, 2007 @ 9:23 am

  78. And another thing this says to me: It’s time we take back our government and make it a government of the people by the people for the people instead of a horr for corporate criminals. Corporations have hijacked our democratic process. And this is the result.
    Agencies posing as public servants are nothing but industry horrs.

    Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 19, 2007 @ 9:28 am

  79. I truly believe that the real root of the issue with food or anything else from China is the basic difference in thinking. They have millions of people to feed and house. Life is cheap. The government has knowingly allowed villages to continue using contaminated water because I guess, what’s a few less people? Forced third trimester abortions are still being performed. (I am prochoice, but the key word here is choice) Last year thousands of dogs were clubbed to death because of a rabies scare. If a government doesn’t care about the lives of their own people, the lives or health of people or animals so far away really don’t matter. Under communism, individuality is frowned upon. Everything is for the good of the whole. So a sacrifice of a few lives is insignificant. I don’t believe that the contamination is deliberate, or a plot, but rather a matter of just not caring at all. To me, that’s almost scarier.

    Comment by Joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 9:29 am

  80. to the poster dismayed to learn that ChemNutra supplied vet meds: BE AFRAID. The labelling and testing of vaccines is no less of a stinking swamp than the petfood scandal. The facts are out there - start reading.

    Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 19, 2007 @ 9:31 am

  81. Royal Canin/Vet’s Choice recall in South Africa:

    CORN GLUTEN from China, contains melamine. I sent the story directly to the PC email address.

    Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 9:35 am

  82. PAUL NEWMAN’S ORGANIC PET FOOD:

    I just received an e-mail reply - from a Dr Brown that is representing the above, and the rice they put in their products is whole grain and they do not use any rice protein concentrate.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 9:36 am

  83. Regarding ChemNutra’s old website pages being taken down: remember, there are web archives.

    http://web.archive.org/web/200.....oducts.htm

    http://web.archive.org/web/200.....oducts.htm

    You just go to http://www.archive.org/web/web.php and enter the website URL & you’ll get a historical listing. You sometimes need to mess around in there to get the right pages as coding extensions may change during a website redesign, but usually if you put in the main corporate URL and then you can browse in the old website.

    Comment by hornblower — April 19, 2007 @ 9:38 am

  84. The man at NB told me on the phone that I was the one making a mistake - it is all the same protein concentrate - and it has melamine in it.

    He kept repeating it to me - as if the grain used didn’t matter - so now I wonder maybe he was making a point I missed and all the glutens no matter what is tainted with this melamine and I doubt if it could have been from dirty bags -

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 9:38 am

  85. Raises hand: I want to know!!!!!

    Comment by Elderta — April 19, 2007 @ 9:38 am

  86. LIST OF PET FOOD MANUFACTURERS IMPLICATED IN WILBUR-ELLIS RICE PROTEIN CONCENTRATE RECALL: Utah, NY, Kansas, and Missouri

    I found the following list of pet food manufactuers from the Pet Food Institute’s Active Members list (makers of dry, canned, and semi-moist dog and cat foods and treats for dogs and cats). I’m not suggesting that is a comprehensive list. But at least it’s a start.

    UTAH:
    American Nutrition, Inc.
    P.O. Box 1405
    2813 Wall Avenue
    Ogden, UT 84401
    Phone: (801)394-3477
    website: http://www.anibrands.com/products.htm

    NY:
    Chenango Valley Pet Foods
    P.O. Box 720
    8 West State Street
    Sherburne, NY 13460
    Phone: (607)674-2121

    Eight In One Pet Products, Inc
    2100 Pacific Street
    Hauppauge, NY 11788
    Phone: (516)232-1200
    Website:www.eightinonepet.com

    KANSAS:
    Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. (claims their rice protein not sourced by Wilbur-Ellis)
    P.O. Box 148
    Topeka, KS 66601
    Phone: (785)368-8523
    Website:www.hillspet.com

    Natural Life Pet Products (already outted - Natural Balance)
    1601 W. McKay
    P.O. Box 943
    Frontenac, KS 66763
    Phone: (316)231-7711
    Website:www.fament.com/natlife

    MISSOURI:
    Land O’Lakes Purina LLC
    10380 Executive Hills Boulevard
    Kansas City, MO 64153
    Phone: (816)459-6000

    Nestle Purina PetCare Company
    Checkerboard Square
    St. Louis, MO 63164
    Phone: (314)982-1000
    Website:www.purina.com

    Comment by SymbaandTrooper — April 19, 2007 @ 9:38 am

  87. China is trying to come up with an alternate protein source, probably for its people too, and maybe our pets are the big test.

    Oh my………

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 9:40 am

  88. I e-mailed Wilbur-Ellis and asked them to release the names of the other 4 companies who got the rice protein. Just got a reply stating they believe the FDA will be releasing the info today.

    Comment by slt — April 19, 2007 @ 9:42 am

  89. Eva - wonderful catch on the corn gluten. Looks like all the grain concentrates from China have been adulterated with melamine.

    Comment by Carol PW — April 19, 2007 @ 9:42 am

  90. I am not challenging the claims of any particular pet food company that says it uses whole grains, but isn’t this rice protein concentrate touted for benefits because the WHOLE grain of rice IS used? My understanding is that during processing of the whole grain rice that enzymes breakdown (eat) the carbohydrates and leave the high protein.

    With our loose labeling requirements, would a company still be allowed to say “whole grains” because the entire grain WAS used to make the concentrate? Again, I’m not saying that any companies are actually wiggling around on the “whole grain” issue, just asking if anyone else could read this “protein concentrate” the same way, if I’m recalling correctly what we read from the Axiom Co. article about the process.

    Comment by petlover — April 19, 2007 @ 9:42 am

  91. I’m wondering about pet medications also. As my cat has recently been diagnosed with diabetes, and is displaying symptoms resembling those related to pet recalls, I am wondering if anyone has any info or experience with Vet-sulin, the insulin that my cat is on. It is animal based.

    Comment by keith — April 19, 2007 @ 9:43 am

  92. ALL GLUTENS ARE THE SAME THING:

    What I think is happening that if these concentrates are supposed to be allergy free - than the element that makes them allergic is missing - as one comment person posted about yesterday and I can’t remember her name to give her credit for her fine reserach - but then the gultens become benign so to speak and perhaps just universal - so a order is put in for rice xxxxx and it is filled with this toxic gluten, and another order for corn xxxxxx - and it is filled etc etc.

    Just musings.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 9:43 am

  93. Petlover - exactly exract of whole gain can still be considered from whole grain.

    And extract of “Organic” can still be claimed to be organic.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 9:45 am

  94. Pet-food deaths: Owners to receive compensation

    Mail & Guardian Online reporter and Sapa | Johannesburg, South Africa

    19 April 2007 04:35

    Pet owners will be compensated for animals that died from eating contaminated pet food, Royal Canin pet-food manufacturers said on Thursday.

    This follows the deaths of 30 animals to date after a batch of the company’s pet food was found to be contaminated with a substance called melamine.

    “Results of the tests have confirmed that Vets Choice and Royal Canin dog and cat dry pet food products contained corn gluten contaminated with melamine,” a company statement on Thursday said.

    “First, we are sharing their distress. We are pet lovers; we are a responsible company. We will take action,” said Royal Canin MD Gregory Watine.

    He said the company will take full responsibility if pets are found to have died after consuming the contaminated food.

    It is still under investigation whether pet owners whose animals fell ill but did not die will be compensated for their veterinary costs.

    The products subject to the current recall were manufactured by Royal Canin South Africa in its Johannesburg plant between March 8 and April 11 this year, and were sold exclusively in South Africa and Namibia.

    “All other Vets Choice and Royal Canin products (including products made in South Africa before March 8 2007 and products made outside South Africa) are not affected and can be safely fed to the pets,” the company said.

    An independent pathologist, Professor Fred Reyers, said the outbreak may not be an isolated incident. He believes there is sufficient evidence to suggest a link between this outbreak and a similar one in Cape Town as well as one in the United States.

    “The contaminated corn gluten was delivered to Royal Canin by a South African third-party supplier and appears to have originated from China,” the Royal Canin statement said.

    Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 9:46 am

  95. howl911.com has a list of the pet food companies that have rice protein concentrate in them. Obviously they are not recalled YET, but be suspicious.
    Go to “list of recalled brands and labels” and scroll to the bottom. I used the Nutro dry and my cat is sick now. I will never, ever buy from that company again…first wheat gluten, now rpc.

    Comment by Sindy — April 19, 2007 @ 9:46 am

  96. What I want is for one of the large pet food companies to stand up and declare that they will no longer import ingredients from China. Of course, I’m probably just dreaming. I just wish someone would take responsibility for realizing that what they’re doing right now IS NOT SAFE!!!

    Comment by Lisa C — April 19, 2007 @ 9:47 am

  97. EMAIL FROM PAUL NEWMANS ORGANIC PET FOOD COMPANY:

    Linda,

    We do NOT. We use whole grain rice.

    L. Phillips Brown DVM

    1920 N. Harrison Blvd.
    Boise, ID 87302

    email: philbrowndvm@cableone.net

    ——-Original Message——-
    Conversation: ‘Talk To Us’ Information Sent!
    Subject: ‘Talk To Us’ Information Sent!

    This was sent from the ‘Talk To Us’ page of the Newman’s Own Organics
    website.

    Name: Linda

    Do you use rice protein concentrate or any protein concentrate in your
    products?

    I need to switch from Natural Balance and I own a S&R dog and I must be
    careful.

    Linda

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 9:47 am

  98. DAMNITDAMNITDAMNIT!!!!!!

    Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 9:49 am

  99. Michelle, thanks for contacting and posting Evy’s info. I switched both cats and dog to Kumpi, Flint River Ranch & EVO about 2 weeks ago. I’ve fed our critters at least 2 - 4 different foods for the past 25 yrs, plus small amounts of deli turkey for treats. Drives the pet food reps crazy! But they don’t get hooked on one food, I feel they get a more balanced diet and it’s easier to get them on a new food if necessary.

    Know some furkids parents are looking for alternatives to pet food & grocery stores and waiting for mail order only foods. Ben’s Bark Ave. Bistro in Lincoln, CA, is an excellent alternative (www.bensbistro.com).

    Lastly, is anyone feeding their dog Fargo FarMore raw (frozen) dog food out of Sanger, Texas? Found this yesterday at Ben’s. Have been reading a lot of nutrition info lately extolling the virtues of raw diet for both cats and dogs, but I’m still hesitant to try.

    Comment by Patricia Hill — April 19, 2007 @ 9:49 am

  100. Comment by Marry Ann

    Sharon,since march 16 alot of people have been saying where the hell is homeland security !!!

    There are people not associated with the recall but in other matters of the country, asking where is DHS and Michael Chertoff. Seems he disappeared off the planet. What a failure these departments and people.

    Comment by Gary — April 19, 2007 @ 9:50 am

  101. I am fully prepared that “THEY” will if at all possible wait till Friday Night to release the names of the next batch of brands to be recalled.

    Bad habits are hard to break.

    Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 9:50 am

  102. I was using Nutro Puppy Dry Slow Growth and my dog had a fever and also high liver enzymes blood panal and he is now on homecooked.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 9:50 am

  103. Eva, Mega Dittos. Steve, Mega Dittos.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 9:51 am

  104. Wilbur-Ellis is probably being threatened with lawsuits if they name the customers they sent it to. If these were small customers, I would guess that wouldn’t stop them.

    So through deductive reasoning, I suspect these are some big companies that have the funds to threaten Wilbur-Ellis into silence.

    BUT, the FDA can and already should have forced a recall. No excuse there.

    Comment by Kathy — April 19, 2007 @ 9:54 am

  105. Carol PW,

    Thanks. I’ve been following the RC/VC story in SA for two reasons.

    Personally, my cousin has a mini dachshund that I love like my own and is on Royal Canin.

    Generally, I’ve assumed for some time that “glutens” and mystery “proteins” were going to create further problems and was waiting to see what proved to be the source of contamination in SA.

    Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 9:54 am

  106. Comment by Gary — April 19, 2007 @ 9:50 am

    You have to understand that these are the “privileged elite leadership” who watched Americans float down the street face down in New Orleans then waited for a photo opportunity after the carnage was cleared and then took credit for having done NOTHING.

    Comment by Steve — April 19, 2007 @ 9:55 am

  107. So what is the ingredient in Vet’s Choice food that Royal Canin makes for South Africa? Symptoms are exactly the same…

    http://preview.tinyurl.com/32ch46

    Some excerpts:

    Pet food manufacturer Royal Canin SA announced on Thursday that it was testing the Vet’s Choice range after 19 dogs in Johannesburg and Cape Town suffered acute kidney failure.

    Just a few hours after Henderson fed her two dogs their Vet’s Choice three weeks ago, they showed worrying symptoms: excessive drinking, urination and lethargy. They had been on the brand for eight years.

    Comment by Becky — April 19, 2007 @ 9:56 am

  108. One possible way to tell if your food may be affected is to see what your food’s web site is or isn’t saying. I went to Hill’s and they say there are 4 products w/ rice protein, they get their rice protein from another supplier and they have already tested them and that they are melamine free. Now, I know we’ve heard that one before, but I’d be inclined to think any pet food site that doesn’t mention the rice recall might be suspect. But I may just be overly cynical at this point.

    My sister’s formerly healthy cat ate Iams cuts and gravy (Iams confirmed it was from a tainted batch) and ended up in the hospital for 7 days. She is lucky since we caught it early. My sister did not trust any foods when her kitty came home, and after doing research, decided on Natural Balance. Fortunately she didn’t feed her any of the affected products but can you imagine!

    Comment by Karen — April 19, 2007 @ 9:58 am

  109. Are there any glutens/protein powders/whatever that Chinese suppliers DO NOT add melamine to? Or should we be wary of ALL glutens from China? O yeah, and exactly HOW are we supposed to know if an ingredient was bought from China - doh!

    Comment by slt — April 19, 2007 @ 9:58 am

  110. Worth bumping again:

    IS THERE A LINK FOR THE CORN GLUTEN RECALL?

    Royal Canin/Vet’s Choice recall in South Africa:

    CORN GLUTEN from China, contains melamine. I sent the story directly to the PC email address.

    Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 9:35 am
    **********************
    Think of the dogs from years and years ago that ate nothing but table scraps mixed with bread and drank from the cat’s milk bowl in the barn (remembering my grandmother’s stories of life in the olden days). They lived long lives.

    With all of the glutens/protein concentrates (and who knows what else will follow) being suspect, what’s wrong with this feeding style for a couple of months until the pet food companies who want to rise above the others and disclose anything and everything about the manufacturing of their food and procurement of their ingredients want to stand out, prove their food’s safety through documentation, and ask their customers to come back. (Please do not think I am debating homemade vs. commercial vs. raw vs. cooked.) I’m just pointing out that dogs used to eat what we did, and the food was “stretched” by adding bread.

    Comment by petlover — April 19, 2007 @ 9:58 am

  111. Hi, too many of Our Fur BABIES ARE dIEING NEEDLESSLY.. All Pet Food Companies/Every Plant/ Every Can /Every Pouch./Every Retail Store.. Needs to test this highly potential Poisoned Food NOW!!! Lets Petition our Gov’t and the People?? Who can Be Trusted I Say STOP THE MURDERS NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

    Comment by kelly B — April 19, 2007 @ 9:58 am

  112. Lets Get All that Garbage Food TESTED NOW in North America.. Before more dNeedless Deaths take Place!!

    Comment by kelly B — April 19, 2007 @ 10:00 am

  113. Eva -that was a great find!

    http://www.702.co.za/news/news.asp

    Royal Canin reveals toxin in pet food
    Royal Canin South Africa says it has isolated the substance that contaminated some of its dry pet foods, leading to the deaths of dozens of dogs in South Africa in recent weeks.

    All the dogs were being fed Vet’s Choice and developed serious renal problems.

    MD of Royal Canin South Africa, Gregory Watine, says extensive independent testing has found corn gluten, a raw material imported from China, was contaminated with melamine.

    This is the same substance that was found to have contaminated pet food in the United States last month, sparking a massive recall.

    Watine says no traces of ethylene-glycol or anti-freeze was found in Royal Canin’s products, the toxin that was found recently in Woolworths’ pet food.

    At this stage it is thought the melamine may have been used to fortify the protein in the corn gluten. To date, 30 dogs have died as a result of the incident.

    The Veterinary Association says it has no idea at this stage what long-term effects the toxin will have on pets, as there has never been a crisis of this nature before.

    Comment by Becky — April 19, 2007 @ 10:01 am

  114. Comment by Sharon

    From Natura’s website:

    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

    Now indeed Peter Atkins statement my be true, I’m not doubting that at all, but at this point, I need a bit more proof where the material come from in addition to the printed word which does not provide proof at all. What? a copy of the original shipping manifest or something.

    Comment by Gary — April 19, 2007 @ 10:02 am

  115. Steve,

    not to get off topic here, but in Katrina I could never understand why some helicopters wheren’t loaded up at a Wal Mart with water and supplies and dropped down into the sports complex - it was a case of everyone sitting on their hands thinking somehow the problem would just resolve itself -

    This feels like the same thing to me - solutions come too late.
    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 10:04 am

  116. It simply doesn’t matter where it was purchased - all of it is suspect until science proves otherwise.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 10:05 am

  117. Comment by petlover — April 19, 2007 @ 9:58 am

    Works for my dogs! : )

    Comment by slt — April 19, 2007 @ 10:05 am

  118. Petlover,

    I’ve had some of the same thoughts. Our family dog (growing up) ate Purina (not alot of choices in those days) and leftovers. Including things with garlic, onion, tomatoes, etc. She died just short of her 19th birthday.

    Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 10:09 am

  119. Eva,

    I’ve been following SA for your second reason, but hadn’t caught the connection to melamine yet. My working hypothesis is that protein concentrates have been alulterated intentionally to raise apparent protein content, and probably have been for some time. I haven’t seen any evidence that melamine itself has sufficient mammalian toxicity to cause death after one or two meals, as was seen in the Austin NB dogs. So my secondary assumption is that a particular batch of melamine used to adulterate the protein concentrates causing illness and death has an as yet unknown but highly toxic contaminant.

    Haven’t seen anything yet to make me change my mind. Am currently home cooking.

    Comment by Carol PW — April 19, 2007 @ 10:09 am

  120. RAW BONES FOR DOGS:

    I gave one of my dogs a raw beef bone with some meat on it - well he chewed all the meat, ate the gristle inside but didn’t knaw the bone apart. I checked his teeth (Moses is five years old and his teeth were always pretty good looking) but after the fresh bone knawing - his teeth sparkled. Nothing I buy at the pet stores came anywhere near making his teeth look so good.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 10:10 am

  121. I am entertaining using a new cat kibble from a source I have not seen mentioned here, but comes with high recommendations from other cat owners. It’s a small company in Nevada.

    Upon reviewing their ingredients, I saw it contained kelp. In light of the UC Davis discovery (last week) of high arsenic levels in kelp, I contacted the owner of the company who will only say his kelp is different than the kelp in supplements, the UC Davis study is flawed, his kelp is fine, and he gave me the name of his lab.

    I contacted the lab. They refuse to disclose the results because they are confidential.

    I replied, in part by saying I’m not asking for HIV results which are protected, I would just like to know if I am going to kill my beloved cats by feeding them arsenic.

    Could there be any more stupid rules and regulations in this country?

    Comment by Lois Kimball — April 19, 2007 @ 10:12 am

  122. 1. “How many of you out there would like to know the names of those other companies, so you can decide for yourself if you want to risk feeding their products to your pets? I’m just curious.”

    Count me in! I don’t give a rat’s patoot about those companies, but I’d trust them more if they came forward willingly as soon as they knew there was a problem. I care about my family members.

    2. “Procter & Gamble (PG), owner of the Iams and Eukanuba brands, has set out its ‘promise’ to consumers that it will, in effect, exert more control over Menu Foods, the Canadian company that makes the Iams and Eukanuba wet foods for P&G.”

    Whoop-de-freakin’-do. It’s too late for that.

    3. “So it looks like we’ll be hearing those names ‘shortly’… when the companies begin their recalls, on their timetable.”

    Gotta love it.

    This is an absolute nightmare.

    Comment by Pamela J. Betz-Baron — April 19, 2007 @ 10:12 am

  123. Kelp has long been known to contain high levels of arsenic - way before this study from UC Davis - it is mentioned in my holistic pet books I have.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 10:14 am

  124. Linda MS,

    I’ve been a little afraid of giving them raw bones. Bacteria, for one, but also possibly breaking teeth. Is there any particular type of bone I should look for? Do you take it away after they’ve gnawed off all the meat?

    Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 10:14 am

  125. I’m no marketing guru but just having a guess: if Pet Food X were to come out with a statement like “All ingredients from US suppliers, third party tested for safety, certified melamine free” - they’d be raking in the cash!

    Comment by slt — April 19, 2007 @ 10:15 am

  126. Anybody familiar with FOIA? Its the Freedom of Information Act. Any writers sent a FOIA request to the FDA regarding the pet food recalls? In particular for the names of the companies that received the rice protein concentrate?

    Comment by Melissa — April 19, 2007 @ 10:18 am

  127. Granted, Linda MS, The point being, is there not something fundamentally wrong with a system that will not release information regarding toxins to consumers, ie the other manufacturers who received the tainted rice gluten. Such info is not “proprietary” and “trade secret.”

    If a food product contains a poison, that information should be public domain. Who is in bed with who here?

    Comment by Lois Kimball — April 19, 2007 @ 10:21 am

  128. Read the top story on Itchmo . com:

    Wilbur-Ellis Voluntarily Recalls Rice Protein Concentrate

    So about half of the rice protein has been distributed since July 2006???????? I wonder if or how much was tainted?

    QUOTE TAKEN FROM ITCHMO . COM SITE

    Wilbur-Ellis began importing rice protein concentrate from Binzhou Futian Biology Technology in July 2006. A total of 14 containers holding 336 metric tons of rice protein concentrate were sent from Futian to Wilbur-Ellis. Wilbur-Ellis has distributed 155 metric tons to date.
    **********END OF QUOTE****************

    Comment by petlover — April 19, 2007 @ 10:23 am

  129. Seems any person or company not disclosing anything and everything immediately after discovery, should be named in the class action lawsuits on the grounds they are causing further deaths and maybe fraud? and more?.

    Comment by Gary — April 19, 2007 @ 10:24 am

  130. Does anyone know about Pet Promise …made by Purina?
    Their web site petpromiseinc.com says everything is groovy and invites contact, however the phone never gets answered and email to their address is returned as undeliverable.
    This is one of foods listed on thepetfoodlist.com as good.??
    Thank you

    Comment by Flossie — April 19, 2007 @ 10:26 am

  131. TO EVA:
    I’ve been a little afraid of giving them raw bones. Bacteria, for one, but also possibly breaking teeth. Is there any particular type of bone I should look for? Do you take it away after they’ve gnawed off all the meat?

    Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 10:14 am
    **************************
    If you’re afraid of bacteria (and I know some people here believe raw is best), and this is your choice as to how you want to feed your dogs, try this: in a covered pot, simmer (boil) the bone for 1 to 1.5 hours on low, give the bone to your dogs when it cools, and keep the broth the bone cooked in to pour over food to flavor it. Many moons ago, we used to give raw leg bones because they are not sharp and tend not to split. I’ve heard that rib bones tend to fracture more. No matter what kind of bone you get, please supervise while the dog eats it. (I’m quite overly protective, just my advice…)

    Comment by petlover — April 19, 2007 @ 10:30 am

  132. Eva, it was bones I got from the meat counter supposed to use for soup. It wasn’t too large but it was very very fresh. My dog is very very large and strong, so I tossed him this bone just to see - it was too big for him to swallow. He laid down on the kitchen rug and started chewing - I watched him, and he did not knaw the bone apart - but chewed off everything but to take the bone away, I gave him some cheese and then I just tossed the bone in the trash.

    Then I checked his teeth a few days later, and the tartar that accumulates on the back top teeth - all was gone and nothing but sparkling beauties left.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 10:36 am

  133. Petlover,

    Thank you. I’ll try that. My dogs ain’t nothin’ if not supervised. They’ve started looking over their shoulders to see if I’m still going to follow them outside when they do their “business”. Just trying to monitor any worrying changes, but they clearly think I’ve lost my mind.

    Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 10:38 am

  134. There is a strange silence about human foods. You mean, with these tons of tainted material circulating in pet foods, there is NOTHING in human foods? Why would they (China) not put it in human food supplies too? greed knows no bounds. Does the FDA know but are keep quiet?

    Comment by Gary — April 19, 2007 @ 10:42 am

  135. Linda MS,

    Good enuf. I’d been giving them Denta Stix periodically with good results. Our rescue Pyr (started out a “foster” but you know how that goes) was a complete mess when he got here. Nasty, nasty yellow/brown stuff caked on his back molars and DS got it all off. However, with everything else going on, I was looking for another option.

    Comment by Eva — April 19, 2007 @ 10:46 am

  136. We forget some of the simplest things in life to solve these problems.

    My young dog has been tossing two large tube socks around with carefree abandon - and I guess we just aren’t used to thinking or looking for the old fashioned solutions.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 10:48 am

  137. pamela - thanks for the insight on where Canidae is processed. Do you know anything about this Pied Piper plant in Texas? Good or bad? I am still failing to understand the state secret involved in Canidae themselves naming their plant.

    I am feeding Felidae to my cat, but am totally uneasy about the cloak & dagger regarding where this product is made. No one yet has come forward with any good reason for ANY company to refuse to divulge where their things are made.

    And I too am struck by the fact that basically, we as a nation have an ongoing problem with shipments received from other countries, namely China. I wonder what else is contaminated and passing through out ports for our pet’s or our own consumption? Or from any other countries whose issues haven’t been disclosed yet?

    I am concluding this is the bigger reason that the FDA has gone silent. Govt. seems to want to do more and more under the guise of “protecting” and helping, but an event like this shows that we just are not capable of doing so.

    I have heard so much re the NAIS system that the USDA wants in place - and understand now that there is simply no way they could ever administer such a thing effectively. I am looking for an eventual answer that improves our odds, but not ever expecting to completely elminate our risks. And certainly, I won’t be filling out even more pointless forms until someone can give a a real plan for protecting our food supplies that looks like it has a real chance of being effective. A paper pushing program is worthless - even the current FDA is not worth squat.

    Comment by TC — April 19, 2007 @ 10:49 am

  138. My cat started acting funny last night. I had switched from products with wheat gluten to those with corn and rice. Have I poisoned her in the process?

    I’ve been on the phone all morning with folks at Purina, who kept asking me if I was with the media, and all of the Senator’s from the states where the tainted rice protein was sent. There response was “that’s a state issue” and when asked who I should call, they said they didn’t know. This is insane.

    Comment by Sharon — April 19, 2007 @ 10:54 am

  139. Please reread my posts back on March 31 and also on April 2 in view of the latest depressing news about corn gluten being involved. Both appeared on Vetcetera:

    Don Mauch Says:
    March 31st, 2007 at 11:00 am

    We would combine the wet c/d with the dry c/d as suggested by our vet. The last case and bag we bought from our vet was on 12/12/06. When we discovered that 2/3 of his kidneys had failed on 2/20/07, our vet switched hime to a combination of wet and dry k/d. He deteriorated rapidly and we euthanized him on 3/6/07. Prior to December/January, he was in excellent health.

    Now that Hill’s has finally admitted that their Prescription Diet dry m/d was made by Menu Foods, after admantly denying since the beginning of the recall that the P.D. brands were involved in any way, I suspect that it is only a matter of time before they extend the recall.

    If melamine in the wheat gluten from China is the primary culprit, then Menu Foods must have been substituting the corn gluten with the wheat gluten in their c/d and k/d in either or both their wet and dry products - because I know that the combination of both was responsible for poisoning my cat.

    Of course, such an admission on the part of Hill’s would open up a real can of worms for them which is precisely why they have refused to answer my simple questions.

    I believe they are well aware that product substitutions routinely took place during the co-manufacturing process with Menu Foods. In other words, we, the pet owners were not always getting the ingredients that they claim we were.

    Don

    Don Mauch Says:

    April 2nd, 2007 at 2:43 pm

    It is particularly troubling to read about the FDA’s, the major pet food manufacturer’s, and the investigator’s preoccupation or near obsession with “wheat gluten,” as being the primary toxin-containing host ingredient. As a result, it is allowing companies like Hill’s with the complicity of their vets and hospitals to avoid examining or recalling their so-called corn-gluten based products.

    Ignoring the very likely and probable possibility that these companies and/or their co-manufacturing partners such as Menu Foods could have been routinely interchanging the two products without the FDA’s or each other’s knowledge, is contributing to the further illnesses and deaths of scores of cats and dogs.

    The fact remains that there is irrefutable evidence from hundreds if not thousands of pet owners who have used Hill’s Prescription Diet, corn-gluten-based wet and dry products who have and continue to report a host of kidney failure symptoms and deaths identical to those experienced by pet owners who have used their wheat-gluten based Science Diet products.

    It is time for the FDA, Hill’s, Menu Foods, and the rest of the manufacturer’s to come clean and broaden not only the scope of their investigations, but recall any and all products regardless of whether they CLAIM to be wheat or corn-based glutens, wet or dry, dog or cat, in which the suspected toxins were added within the three month timeframes suspected.

    Let’s stop the exclusive obsession with tainted wheat gluten from the Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Company Ltd. and acknowledge the distinct possibility that the wheat and corn glutens could be one of the same. Certainly, the symptoms of renal failure and death have been in our dogs and cats!

    Comment by Don — April 19, 2007 @ 10:55 am

  140. And I find it totally unconscionable that Wilbur Ellis & the FDA are sitting on the names, when they know a recall involving those names is imminent.

    So basically, some of us are right now feeding contaminated product, and could choose to not do so and feed something else - if we were informed.

    I have never been so glad that I opted out of this whole pet food system for my dogs. Given their return to good health, my dogs aren’t minding either. I wish to god I could do so for my cat as well. I wish I had a better idea about my own food sources as well.

    Comment by TC — April 19, 2007 @ 10:59 am

  141. from http://www.howl911.com/

    SOUTH AFRICA PET FOOD RECALL: MELAMINE IN CORN GLUTEN 04/19/07
    This finding—melamine in corn gluten—should seal the theory that melamine was added to wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate deliberately to boost their nitrogen values (a measure of protein content).

    Comment by Lola — April 19, 2007 @ 10:59 am

  142. ALL MEMBERS OF PET FOOD INSTITUTE ON ONE PAGE

    (includes addresses, phone #s, web sites)

    http://www.petfoodinstitute.or.....rch=Active

    Comment by petlover — April 19, 2007 @ 11:00 am

  143. this reluctance by wilbur-ellis to disclose what pet food companies used their rice protein concentrate really angers me. i think everyone should get the pnone # of the corporate headquarters and overwhelm the phone system until it goes down. then, go to their web site and us the contact us section if they have one. bring their website down.

    Comment by pam — April 19, 2007 @ 11:00 am

  144. I agree with you 100% Don. I even suspect the dry Hills too. As my Mercy (ate dog dry) had lots of problems on the SD Lamb and Rice and this started about November of 06. She was only 3 years old and in perfect health…… I started homecooking for her. I asked the vet if it was her food. The Vet said no way. I homecooked for her anyway.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 11:04 am

  145. For people new to feeding home-cooked/raw diets to their dogs and cats,I can assure you that it will get easier.It’s a big mental shift for sure.
    It will never be as easy as dipping into a bag of kibble or opening a can.
    But you will find ways to save steps,make big batches all at once/freeze in serving size muffin tins or baggies,find meats on sale,join a co-op buying group for meats/bones,buy a grinder to grind chicken legs,backs,whole chickens,buy chicken necks by the box,whatever.
    Get your hands on some good books,join some reliable Lists and ask questions,and more questions.
    People who have been doing this for only the last month are already noticing positive changes in their pets…better coats,breaths,cleaner teeth,smaller poos.
    It’s pretty seductive ,and it’s hard to look back.
    So the next step is to find a way to make it easier.
    It can be more expensive up front,but vet visits *can* be reduced to annual wellness checks.
    My experience anyway(haven’t fed kibble for about 10 years).
    And if you can’t prepare food at home even the commercial foods which are human grade will give wonderful results as well.
    JMO

    Comment by Lorna — April 19, 2007 @ 11:10 am

  146. SHARON & PURINA: Sounds very odd to me… questioning if you’re with the media… “a state issue”

    I wonder if something’s about to come out?

    *******from Sharon below************

    I’ve been on the phone all morning with folks at Purina, who kept asking me if I was with the media, and all of the Senator’s from the states where the tainted rice protein was sent. There response was “that’s a state issue” and when asked who I should call, they said they didn’t know. This is insane.

    Comment by Sharon — April 19, 2007 @ 10:54 am

    Comment by petlover — April 19, 2007 @ 11:11 am

  147. spocko, ask him the basic questions. You know, WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, HOW AND WHY!!! From these basics you can get all the answers!!WHO okayed the receipt of the shipment(s). WHO received the RPC once it was received by Wilbur. We know the WHAT, but I’d love to hear him say it. WHEN was it received by Wilbur and WHEN was it shipped to the five manufacturing plants. WHERE was it shipped from (I think we know that, but I’d like to hear him say it.) HOW could this be shipped within our own country without being tested first. HOW could our manufacturing plants not have tested this “new” ingredient. It came from China - enough said. And, most of all, WHY. WHY ARE WE USING GARBAGE FROM CHINA. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT I’D LOVE TO HEAR HIM SAY IT. IT’S CHEAP AND IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE.

    Comment by Joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 11:13 am

  148. Oh, I bet it’s Purina. Can you imagine the panic they sell lots and lots.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 11:15 am

  149. Lorna,

    you are so right. I ordered two bags from Timberwolf to try as a supplement.

    I cook the sweet potatos and carrots at night in the slow cooker. The hamburger I boil in the morning along with the rice in two big separate pots. Then when I leave for work I set out two whole chickens to defrost and cook when I get home.

    One of my younger dogs needs to eat four times a day, for him I scramble eggs and use the veggies for in the am as his first meal.

    It is getting easier and getting a routine is important.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 11:19 am

  150. On the Purina web site, the Beneful ingredients list their third one as “corn gluten meal” now what exactly is a corn gluten meal if it is not the protein concentrate?

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 11:24 am

  151. wilbur-ellis corporate hdqtrs - 415-772-4000. call and tell them what you think of them not releasing other pet food companies. i did. it felt soooo good!

    Comment by pam — April 19, 2007 @ 11:25 am

  152. Of course, I want to know the companies! I am tired of the reactive aproach vs being proactive. We are just expected to sit around and wait for the crumbs of information to be handed down to the public. Do you sense my frustration, any entities reading our posts? I expect we’ll find out the information late tomorrow, as that is Friday…sigh

    Comment by Deanna — April 19, 2007 @ 11:26 am

  153. Itchmo’s forum - the readers have been doing a great job posting rice protein foods. Wellness has a bunch, so do many others.

    http://preview.tinyurl.com/2u3fn3

    I’ve also noticed a bunch of these same foods have corn gluten. Can you imagine how much sicker our pets would get and faster if they were eating both ingredients? Might explain some of the sudden onsets…

    Comment by Becky — April 19, 2007 @ 11:26 am

  154. Of course, I want to know the companies! I am tired of the reactive aproach vs being proactive. We are just expected to sit around and wait for the crumbs of information to be handed down to the public. Do you sense my frustration, any entities reading our posts? I expect we’ll find out the information late tomorrow, as that is Friday…sigh…I made chicken and rice last night.

    Comment by Deanna — April 19, 2007 @ 11:28 am

  155. FROM HOWL911 about SA:

    “An independent pathologist, Professor Fred Reyers said the outbreak may not be an isolated incident. He believed there was sufficient evidence to suggest a link between this outbreak and a similar one in Cape Town as well as one in the United States.

    The source of the contaminant was said to be from raw materials in the food that originated from China.”

    There is no way this type of problem results from dirty bags.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 11:30 am

  156. Why didn’t Wilbur-Ellis or anybody at his company put it together and realize there COULD be a problem with his shipment(s)of rice protein when the word MELAMINE has been all over the media for over a month and a bag was mixed in with his shipment. . .??? HELLO!!

    Comment by ashlee — April 19, 2007 @ 11:34 am

  157. For those of you who are making your own food, check the labels if you are adding vitamins, the ones I found had wheat gluten in them, who knows where it’s from. I want to get some vitamins that I can add into the food, but it is really hard to find. Any suggestions?

    Also, has anyone used Artemis? Made in CA, I think they have an organic line. I checked out Kumpi, but it has corn in it, so I don’t think so.

    Comment by Joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 11:39 am

  158. Regarding raw bones: Some of the larger bones that you can find at the grocery stores are cut with high-power saws leaving a very sharp edge that can be dangerous for your dog. So, please examine them carefully before purchasing and/or ask your butcher to prepare bones for you that are safe. I used to buy large soup bones at the grocery store for my St. Bernards, but then it became hard to find ones that don’t have that very sharp edge. So, now I buy sterilized bones from the pet store.

    Comment by Marilyn — April 19, 2007 @ 11:45 am

  159. My dogs also love the tube socks tied together — especially when I tuck a tennis ball into each of the toes!

    Comment by Marilyn — April 19, 2007 @ 11:48 am

  160. Oh, such a good idea Marilyn. Thanks.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 11:51 am

  161. Comment by ashlee:

    “Why didn’t Wilbur-Ellis or anybody at his company put it together and realize there COULD be a problem with his shipment(s)of rice protein when the word MELAMINE has been all over the media for over a month and a bag was mixed in with his shipment. . .??? HELLO!! “

    1. Money
    2. Hope it wouldn’t get noticed.

    Question: How many more like them, doing the same thing right now?

    Comment by Gary — April 19, 2007 @ 11:57 am

  162. The FDA is demonstrating that they are not trustworthy. Iams, Eukaneuba and PG can go scratch themselves. The other 4 companies who used wilber-ellis are now deliberately withholding information about the probability of recall and are torturing people with anxiety. Just the way menu foods and the fda have been doing. It is a disgrace.

    Comment by Cynthia — April 19, 2007 @ 12:09 pm

  163. How scary - my three cats eat prescription Royal Canine Calorie Control dry. They all SEEM to be doing fine. Last time we purchased foods we purchased several large bags so haven’t had to buy any for a few months. Just finished up the last bag of that lot and have to open a brand new one. I am so nervous.

    Comment by Jenny — April 19, 2007 @ 12:12 pm

  164. FROM WILBUR ELLIS E-MAIL:

    Dear (I deleted my name)

    Thank you for your note. Wilbur-Ellis is an 86-year-old family-run
    business that just wants to do the right thing. We are pet owners
    ourselves and understand how important pets are to families. We have
    notified the FDA who our customers are and it us up to them to release
    the names. We think the FDA will let people know today who the
    companies are, and I hope we’ll all know more about what is going on
    with these ingredients soon. In the meantime, look to see if there is
    rice protein in the ingredients in your pet food. I also encourage
    you to check the FDA website often (www.fda.gov) for the most
    up-to-date information on the recall.

    Best wishes,

    Carol Grasso
    Wilbur-Ellis Company

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 12:13 pm

  165. Just found this press release from Nutro. It essentially says that, although some of their products contain rice protein concentrate or rice gluten, they do not acquire this ingredient from Wilbur-Ellis. They also want to make it clear that they have absolutely no affiliation with Natural Balance.

    So glad they cleared that up.

    Too bad they couldn’t have been so johnny-on-the-spot about their products that WERE contaminated.

    http://tinyurl.com/2cgds5

    Comment by cerridwen — April 19, 2007 @ 12:23 pm

  166. IAMS ACTIVE MATURITY DRY CAT FOOD

    Ingredients
    Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Grits, Corn Meal, Chicken, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Chicken Fat (Preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Natural Chicken Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp (Sugar Removed), Dried Egg Product, Potassium Chloride, Fish Oil (Preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), DL-Methionine, Brewers Dried Yeast, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (Source of vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Source of vitamin B2), Inositol, Folic Acid), Choline Chloride, Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), Rosemary Extract

    Is there anything listed that would mean any of the proteins or glutens being recalled? I don’t want to feed my baby anything at this point but she isn’t loving the rice and chicken I have been giving her since Saturday on vet’s orders and I need to get her on her dry food again.

    Comment by Ginger — April 19, 2007 @ 12:26 pm

  167. Ginger,

    call the company and ask them personally because they have 6 months time to change labels with new product ingredients. I called several myself yestday.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 12:27 pm

  168. Comment by Flossie:

    “Does anyone know about Pet Promise …made by Purina?”

    Flossie, look here:

    http://petfoodlist.notlong.com

    Comment by Gary — April 19, 2007 @ 12:28 pm

  169. I want to second what linda and lorna said regarding homecooking.

    It has become much easier than I felt it was at first. OTOH, I used to spend a lot of time refilling the big water dish, cleaning up looser stools and light vomit froth from the carpet, adding oils/supplements/etc to fix dry coats and bad breath, and so on. There are so many things I used to think were maybe “normal” for my dogs, and they have completely disappeared after the introduction of home cooking.

    I am using the crockpot for batches and got various containers to put in the dogs’ portions; and plan to snag some freezer space soon (chest freezers aren’t expensive). We are lucky here, though, that we are in the right place in our lives that we have the time to do this. Sometimes life doesn’t give us those ideal circumstances.

    Comment by TC — April 19, 2007 @ 12:39 pm

  170. Ginger, all that grain is not good for cats. I didn’t know any better and used Iams dry (and wet) for years before this whole recall thing. I’ve switched to Innova Evo dry which they say is all meat (and no, I don’t work for them) and my cats now look and act spectacular. I sure hope Evo is on the level. Time will tell, I suppose.

    Comment by Cynthia — April 19, 2007 @ 12:41 pm

  171. RE: JOYCE
    I’m using Liquid Infant Vitamins for my three. The dose is measured by pounds. However, mine are all Toy breed sizes…..I decided this was the safiest approach. Just an idea and easy to go out and buy….

    Comment by Karla T. — April 19, 2007 @ 12:41 pm

  172. Linda,
    I called IAMS and spoke w/ Omar. When I asked if the active maturity formula contained the rice protein, corn or wheat gluten. His inital response was “all of our dry products are safe to feed your pet”. I then said that I was not asking if they were considered safe, I wanted to know if they contained any of those 3 products and his answer was “no”.

    I will give IAMS credit, I got my call answered within 1 minute with a reasonable response.

    I have been trying to contact Natural Balance since Tuesday via phone and email with absolutely no response.

    Comment by Ginger — April 19, 2007 @ 12:42 pm

  173. Linda MS - what is corn gluten
    Corn feed products:
    http://tinyurl.com/2ya77h

    And perhaps time to repost this:
    http://www.royalcanin.us/artic.....luten.html
    Today, corn gluten represents an interesting alternative choice among the different protein sources. Because of the actual difficulties encountered on the protein market, incorporation of vegetable proteins becomes more and more necessary. Among them, corn gluten has real qualities that complete those of animal proteins: it supplies valuable proteins, without ash or fiber in excess that would depreciate the digestibility.

    “actual difficulties on the protein market”

    I guess that’s more honest than telling us how wonderful corn gluten is WITHOUT mentioning it’s a lot cheaper than meat like Hills does.

    Comment by CathyA — April 19, 2007 @ 12:43 pm

  174. Because of original recall, I switched to Pet Promise (billed as having no byproducts, antibiotics fed protein, hormones, etc) canned cat food. On some blog I read that it is endorsed by Andrew Weil?
    ThePetFoodList.com says this is made by Purina, however PetPromiseInc.com does not indicate this.
    The email address and phone # on their site don’t work so I did a whitepages.com search for the street address for another phone number. There are 23 occupants at that address (1113 Spruce St, Boulder, CO 80302) but no PetPromiseInc or “Natural Pet Nutrition” as parent company listed on their site.

    So I started calling the occupants listed.
    It turns out that Anthony Zolezzi who is listed as “founder” on PetPromiseInc.com is actually doing business as “Diversified Asset Management, Inc” at that address. As he is “not in today”, I was transferred to a cell phone of Ann Petricio who “offices there” and is not available either.
    This is all NOT REASSURING and DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A COMPANY VERY INTERESTED IN PETS.

    Does anyone have any experience with this canned cat food?

    Comment by Flossie — April 19, 2007 @ 12:44 pm

  175. Why should we find it so surprising for a country such as China to test the lapses and weakenesses of our domestic food chain supplies on our beloved pets? Perhaps when all is said and done, our pets will not have perished in vain - Each one of them will have been a catalyst behind us realizing what has really happened and why.

    Comment by Don — April 19, 2007 @ 12:44 pm

  176. Ginger,

    Good for you for standing up to get the questions answered.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 19, 2007 @ 12:48 pm

  177. RE: JAN
    The Cortisone (Prednisone) Shot is suppose to last 1 month. I found it to start fading at 3wks. All the symptoms you describe are normal for this injection. I no longer allow mine to have it! I use the Pred. Pills only if very necessary. I keep a bottle on hand. Easier on their systems, too. Can give as needed….

    Comment by Karla T. — April 19, 2007 @ 12:48 pm

  178. Cynthia,
    When the initial recall began, I switched kitty to Natural Balance Ultra Premium because I had learned a lot in a short time period. I thought that I had made an informed decision via the internet and other recommendations. Kitty got sick this past Saturday and although the NB is not the formula being recalled, I am convinced it was tainted. I am leary about adding any other food until this mess is all sorted out.

    I had been feeding her IAMS dry for a couple of years and still have some left. I gave her about a cup last night and she had eaten most of it by this a.m. I am so lost now. Don’t know what is safe for her to eat.

    Comment by Ginger — April 19, 2007 @ 12:49 pm

  179. Comment by Don:

    “Why should we find it so surprising for a country such as China to test the lapses and weakenesses of our domestic food chain supplies on our beloved pets?”

    Don, I fail to see why the poisons are in just the pet foods. Why, if they (China) could add the MELAMINE to human foods too, the profit would multiply many times…and we all know their motive is greed, unprecedented greed.

    Comment by Gary — April 19, 2007 @ 12:58 pm

  180. Short URLs

    This is another short URL making site. The good thing is, you can customize the title. It does not expire.

    http://notlong.com/

    Comment by Gary — April 19, 2007 @ 1:04 pm

  181. I am getting SO SICK of these companies not being forthcoming about their products — “what to feed my pet” is consuming my life and I’m tired of it!

    This is my new routine — check out this website about 4 times/day — if there’s a recall, I forward that to my dog park group (350 members), then I have to call my pastor on her cell phone becuase HER new routine is to check the cupboard at every home visit with a pet owner to make sure an elderly or ill church member isn’t feeding their pet poison by mistake, then I have to call the elderly women in my Bible Study (who don’t have internet access) so that they are reassured that their pets aren’t getting the a food on the recall list and then I check my own cupboards and on it goes.

    I want my life back — my pastor wants her life back (the elderly are calling her if their pets even look ill, they are so frightened) and I want to be able to feed my cat and dog food that is good for them and won’t make them sick — won’t EVER feed Iams again after I had to take the cat to the emergency vet on a Sunday and Iams promised me a refund for the food and compensation and has done neither. I put the dog’s Natural Balance Crunch-E-Bones (which contain rice) away in an unused closet until we find out whether they are poisened or not!

    We need to do as Japan has done — ban all food inports from China for at least the next 5 years.
    Thank you for allowing me to rant!

    Comment by Dorene — April 19, 2007 @ 1:04 pm

  182. I spoke with a Hill’s representative this morning and she had no knowledge of any problems with corn gluten and could not tell me what the “starch” on an ingredient label was made of.

    The Purina people keep forwarding my calls. The last woman I talked to said they had “never” received any consumer complaints about dry cat food and that all ingredients come from the US. I told her I knew they used US distributors but what was the country of origin of their corn gluten meal. This distinction was beyond her ability to grasp. I feel worse now than ever.

    Comment by Sharon — April 19, 2007 @ 1:05 pm

  183. Comment by Melissa — April 19, 2007 @ 10:18 am
    RE: FOI…..someone, somewhere mentioned that they just recently got the docs for the aflatoxin issue. It can take 18 -24 months to get docs.

    Here in Floriduh we have the Sunshine Act and they have to get them to you as soon as possible. Haven’t the faintest idea about state gov, but local gov turnaround is minutes to a few days.

    Comment by CathyA — April 19, 2007 @ 1:12 pm

  184. Oh Gary I don’t doubt for a moment that they have “dabbled” with our human food chain supply as well. But I do not think that “greed” is at play at all here. It is far more sinister than that!

    This is a very premeditated act on their part to test how easily they could contaminate our entire food supply and kill off huge segments of our population in a very short period of time by using conventional poisons that heretofore would never have been suspected.

    Our Country and our pets have been used as one enormous laboratory and they sit humorously by as we fumble along trying to determine what has happened to us.

    Take a look at their “People’s Daily Online.” Not a single mention is made of this situation or the fact that they will not allow our FDA inspectors in to look at some of these companies. Then take a close look at how they report on various issues with respect to the U.S. and tell me that they are not out to someday, permanently undermine the U.S. This is not a pretty picture.

    This is not “greed.” This is biological warfare that’s being tested on us!

    Comment by Don — April 19, 2007 @ 1:13 pm

  185. Ginger. Feed them what you feel safest with but my cats always looked kind of grungy (dandruffy, greasy coat, regularly threw up etc) on Iams and I was completely clueless that the food caused it. Cats eat meat. I switched them to Evo http://www.evopet.com which is made of meat, not grain and the cats look way better and haven’t thrown up since… and unless the ingredients on the bag are mislabeled, there are no grain products in it to be contaminated with melamine. This has been really confusing for everyone.

    Comment by Cynthia — April 19, 2007 @ 1:17 pm

  186. Comment by Sharon — April 19, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
    Sharon, when you get that kind of answer, ask for a supervisor and keep going. Don’t be shy. If the “upper” management is busy take names and phone numbers. If they are not willing to PUT ON PAPER what is in their food, they can eat it themselves. Tell them you want it in writing - an email is fine. Many times it is the uninformed who answer the phones. To be told by Purina they’ve never had a consumer complaint on dry cat food ……well that’s just terminally stupid.

    Hey pet food companies! Thought it wouldn’t happen to you? You’ve had a MONTH to get your act together. Guess what? You’re in worse shape than Menu Foods at this point. You want that chow “with” or without gravy?

    Comment by CathyA — April 19, 2007 @ 1:18 pm

  187. Doreen, I think banning all food from China for 5 yrs like the Japanese have done is an excellent idea. Maybe that’s the only language they’ll understand. They certainly don’t seem to understand healthy food or cooperation.

    Comment by Cynthia — April 19, 2007 @ 1:19 pm

  188. Your right Don, I have Chinese friends from China who say to me, “of course, the U.S. is in the way for China’s world conquest” their expanding blue water navy, insatiable hoarding of oil all play in this part.

    In the meantime,

    Both Dems and Repub talk about the increased and much looked forward to globalization with China at the forefront. Fools! all of them.

    Comment by Gary — April 19, 2007 @ 1:25 pm

  189. Flossie, I emailed Pet Promise on April 4 and asked if they are a Purina company or if they are affiliated with Purina in any way at all. Someone named Tanya called me several days later and left a message asking me to return her call. She said she was “calling to address my concerns.” The number she left was 800-416-4700. I called and was on hold a very long time and finally hung up. I didn’t try to call again. I figure if she couldn’t respond with a simple yes or no telling me if they were a Purina company or not, it was not a good sign. So, I don’t feel like I can put my trust in them. But that’s me.

    Comment by Michelle — April 19, 2007 @ 1:29 pm

  190. I just e-mail Anderson Cooper/Keeping them honest again. Maybe if others will join me, hopefully he will follow up on the story with all the new recalls. So far they have had the best coverage.

    Comment by Ana — April 19, 2007 @ 1:42 pm

  191. Michelle/Flossie - PetPromise seems interesting to me. I googled the phone number and it matched their website.
    http://www.petpromiseinc.com/products.htm

    I do see corn gluten meal in several different products…and although they state the meat comes from US raised animals, it would be interesting to know where their individual ingredients come from. They have email too,
    petpromise@petpromiseinc.com.

    Comment by Becky — April 19, 2007 @ 2:16 pm

  192. Ginger, My cat was on SD light dry for a long time, and getting Iams pouch weight control in the mornings, when the recall happened. I took him and my other cat off the Iams/SD when I saw that they ate the Iams recalled food…
    I, like Cynthia, switched them both to Innova Evo grain-free dry cat food. I give them Merrick canned occasionally now. This was on recommendation of the Natural Pet Market in my area. Their coats look better as well, my older cat was looking really flaky on his back and already his coat has improved…I think it has to do with the protein content…
    I will never use Iams again…Ive never heard back from them on my pending complaint on my vet bills. (Im sure I am not alone)

    Comment by Bonnie — April 19, 2007 @ 2:29 pm

  193. I emailed Natural Balance 2 days ago…no word yet. I expressed my extreme displeasure with the fact that they began adding products not produced in the US, despite continuing to claim that all products originated in the US.

    Comment by Joyce — April 19, 2007 @ 2:32 pm

  194. Yesterday I bought my kitty a 1.5 lb “trial size” bag of dry Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul that was a low price and a big new display in the local dog and cat boutique. Read the label carefully; besides the first listed chicken, salmon and chicken meal, it lists cracked barley, white rice, whole grain brown rice; no glutens or mixes.

    Today I see in the abc news story linked above that the Diamond plant in Meta, Mo. got some of the contaminated rice protein mixture. That’s who “proudly made” this food, says the bag. My Phelicity has taken a few bites and seemed to like it; I was hopeful. She’s mostly on wet food as she needs to be with CRF. I can’t tell if the little she had affected her any, because she’s not doing too well right now. She had to get subcu fluids today. I can’t stand the fear any more. The dry food stops, all dry, and the assisted feeding with baby food mixtures exclusively starts today.

    Comment by Sharon G — April 19, 2007 @ 3:30 pm

  195. TC here is a link to the FDA’s Import Refusal Report. It will tell you all the shipments that were refused and why. Also remember that only a little over 1 percent of the food imports are inspected.

    Half way down the page click on the Import Refusal Report link.

    http://tinyurl.com/2kftuc

    Sharon T

    Comment by Sharon T — April 19, 2007 @ 3:31 pm

  196. Flossie,

    I tried Pet Promise and my cats absolutely hated it. The ferral cats outside don’t care for it either.

    I am having great success with Evangers canned food. Available at Evangers.com

    For dry I just received a shipment of Life’s Abundance. Cat’s are going nuts for that too. NO glutens of any kind.

    Comment by Peg — April 19, 2007 @ 3:33 pm

  197. Gary,

    “Both Dems and Repub talk about the increased and much looked forward to globalization with China at the forefront. Fools! all of them.”

    They have to be voted into office by us! I think, I am ashamed to say, that makes us the fools. Just take a look a Senator Byrd - I don’t mean to disaparage someone with a long record of public service - but I have NO respect for someone who doesn’t recognize that when it’s time to go, you go gracefully and respectfully.

    The Bush Administration which I supported, needs to place a COMPLETE BAN ON ALL CHINESE FOOD EXPORTS IMMEDIATELY until we can bring this situtaion under control.

    Comment by Don — April 19, 2007 @ 3:45 pm

  198. I of course in my last post, meant banning FOOD IMPORTS, not food exports from China.

    Comment by Don — April 19, 2007 @ 3:51 pm

  199. Don,
    I completely agree on all, especially on the ban on all food imports from China now, and then see just how far and widespread this contamination is. It’s the only logical thing to do.

    Comment by Gary — April 19, 2007 @ 4:09 pm

  200. From: dmauch@verizon.net
    Subject: Ban Chinese Food Imports Immediately
    Date: April 19, 2007 6:24:58 PM EDT
    To: comments@whitehouse.gov

    Dear President Bush,

    Without belaboring the pet food recall catastrophe and the latest developments, I urge you on behalf of millions of pet owners across our Country, to issue an Executive Emergency Order to ban all further food and food ingredient imports from the People’s Republic of China. I believe the devastating effects that today’s further developments have had on our pet food supplies speak for themselves and until we can be assured that our own food supplies along with our pets, are safe, that such action is not only warranted, but absolutely necessary.

    Respectfully,

    The Mauch Family
    Norwell, MA
    dmauch@verizon.net

    Comment by Don — April 19, 2007 @ 4:26 pm

  201. Spocko,
    Whatever happened to the phone call you were going to make to Wilbur-Ellis? Did I miss it?

    Comment by Rob Wisconsin — April 20, 2007 @ 11:26 am

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