pet connection

150 Comments »

1. Well, that editorial pretty much sums it up. Disgusting. That is the one word that comes to my mind when I read more about this issue. I still don’t understand why these products were not checked when they entered our country. Complete incompetence of all parties concerned.

   Comment by Adrienne — April 22, 2007 @ 10:46 am

2. I remember all too well cringing as the number of dead animals that you posted here was approaching 2,000. It was bad enough when it went into four digits and as it kept growing and passed that marker….hard to put into words. Now it is approaching 5,000. I am glad that you have kept the base open.

   Maybe a stupid question. Are those numbers just from canned food deaths? Can people who have had dogs/cats who got sick or died from dry food report to you as well?

   There are a growing number I know of and as I have shared the ability to report at petconnection. com I wasn’t sure about the dry dog food issue.

   Comment by Evy — April 22, 2007 @ 10:49 am

3. Evy, there are many of us that are uncounted because we lost pets to food that has not yet been recalled. So even tho the numbers are staggering, they haven’t even began to cover the true numbers of sick and dead pets affected by this.

   Comment by Sandy C — April 22, 2007 @ 11:05 am

4. Sandy C ~

   I know :(

   That is why I was asking petconnection since they seem to be the only one’s who are giving people a central point of contact for problems with food, if people can report dry food incidences to them.

   We’ll never know it seems and when you add animals in other countries now, it truly is pandemic.

   I just want to give the people who are reporting problems with dry foods a place to approach with their information. That number is growing now and I just wasn’t sure if petconnection will have a separate data base for that or have those figures in with the others.

   I’m past hoping I’ll wake up and find out this has all been a nightmare. But with all these issues with dry food, I am not sure how to direct people. And I figured petconnection has shown the most effort to help with this. I will wait and see what they say.

   Part of me hates to even ask them, since I know they have deadlines and aren’t making a penny for their efforts.

   (look their names up and google for their books and buy them!!! even if you don’t need them, I am buying some and giving them as gifts - a GREAT way to help financially support petconnection!!!)

   Comment by Evy — April 22, 2007 @ 11:16 am

5. Wanted to bring these question forward:

   Does anyone know if pets still getting sick, as of right now?

   Does anyone know if the poisoning is immediate or if the toxins have to build up over time?

   And whether immediate or not, does anyone know what the toxic dose is?

   Comment by Peggy — April 22, 2007 @ 11:23 am

6. Royal Canin’s finding of cyanuric acid is just another confirmation of what was reported the other day in the Pittsburgh Times-Review article, isn’t it? I mean, this isn’t new information - or am I missing something?

   Comment by slt — April 22, 2007 @ 11:29 am

7. Comment by Peggy — April 22, 2007 @ 11:23 am

   Peggy,
   To my knowledge, the answers to your questions are unknown. If anyone does know, they aren’t making the information public.

   Comment by slt — April 22, 2007 @ 11:31 am

8. slt, I’ll just keep asking them, then! I’ve studied some biology and I think these are good scientific questions. It’s incredible, my Vet can’t answer them either…

   If anyone thinks of any others I think I’m going to make a list and keep posting them until we start getting some answers.

   Comment by Peggy — April 22, 2007 @ 11:38 am

9. slt- no, cyanuric acid isn’t new - thought all three of the common metabolites were found, cyanuric acid, ammeline and ammelide - thus 3 new toxins, but they’re not…..really. Even bacteria who eat melamine break it down into these 3. But maybe that was NEW for RPC? Other 3 were in wheat gluten? Can’t keep track any more.

   And 3 cheers for Royal Canin, a company that gets it!

   Comment by CathyA — April 22, 2007 @ 11:46 am

10. KUDOS TO PETCONNECTION. Where would we be without them?

    Comment by SMITH111 — April 22, 2007 @ 11:46 am

11. Someone told me that Chinese companies can spring up and disappear overnight, so it may not be true that there’s 3 companies involved - may only be one disguised as three.

    Comment by CathyA — April 22, 2007 @ 11:48 am

12. the news media is still saying 16 deaths we are six weeks into this horrible nightmare and they are still saying 16 deaths ,on fox i heard 12 deaths, and what scares me ,how many pet owners don’t know about all these lastest recalls.and are feeding their pets the bad food.

    Comment by MARY ANN — April 22, 2007 @ 11:52 am

13. I see the cyanuric acid. That is a breakdown of melamine process — the metabolism by the animals ingesting melamine. I have read & posted about this with a detailed chart of the breakdown — somewhere. There are numerous scientific publications discussing the breakdown.

    ——
    http://tinyurl.com/2d8zq9

    Cyanuric acid biodegrades readily under a wide variety of natural conditions, and particularly well in systems of either low or zero dissolved-oxygen level, such as anaerobic activated sludge and sewage, soils, muds, and muddy streams and river waters, as well as ordinary aerated activated sludge systems with typically low (1 to 3 ppm) dissolved-oxygen levels. Degradation also proceeds in 3.5% sodium chloride solution. Consequently, there are degradation pathways widely available for breaking down cyanuric acid discharged in domestic effluents. The overall degradation reaction is merely a hydrolysis; CO2 and ammonia are the initial hydrolytic breakdown products. Since no net oxidation occurs during this breakdown, biodegradation of cyanuric acid exerts no primary biological oxygen demand. However, eventual nitrification of the ammonia released will exert its usual biological oxygen demand.
    ——
    It’s used as a pesticide too:
    http://tinyurl.com/2bg7y7
    ——
    You can also buy it — online.

    Karen Roebuck wrote briefly about a few days ago:

    http://www.pittsburghlive.com/.....03671.html

    Comment by Kat — April 22, 2007 @ 12:00 pm

14. In the article in the Pittsburgh Times-Review it sounded like the chemicals where found in the animals’ tissues. These could be assume to be by-products of the breakdown of the melamine in the animals’ bodies. The recall release is stating that cyanuric acid is actually in the food itself. Is it a by-product of the food manufacturing process? Is the way melamine breaks down during this process a reason why some animals become vey sick very quickly after eating tainted food compared to others? Could each batch have a diffent mix of chemicals based on how the melamine reacted during the manufacturing of the food?

    Comment by three kitties — April 22, 2007 @ 12:10 pm

15. South Africans are smarter than we are! Or at least smarter than our government -

    Linda MA

    Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 12:44 pm

16. HYDROGEN CYANIDE

    This is from Wysong’s database of information, referring to Tapioca.

    “Tapioca” (yn)
    Tapioca is used as the starch source in some “no grain” pet foods. Tapioca (cassava root, manioc) is first and foremost a source of carbohydrates, but very little else. It is actually a nutritionally poor substitute for grains. Healthier Grains PDF Due to its poor nutritional quality, special attention must be given to formulations to compensate for this problem. Tapioca contains very little protein, and the small quantity that is naturally present is of inferior quality to grains. This necessitates the addition of ingredients to supply the amino acids methionine and lysine. Meat naturally contains these amino acids, but formulating with tapioca rather than grains and legumes effectively robs the meat of these essential amino acids. This creates a net deficiency of them as compared to the same formulations if they were to contain grains. In pet food kibbles, the “no grains” claim is almost assuredly made to imply that the grains have been replaced by a superior ingredient. However, the idea that ridding the food of grains creates a superior product is not supported by the facts. [see “No Grains” article Rawdeception.shtml and Tapioca/Grain comparison chart Healthier Grains PDF]. The truth is, tapioca poses some unique and very serious health risks.

    The high carbohydrate concentration in tapioca results in high doses of sugar—which is what starch converts to when digested. In terms of sugar concentration, tapioca is second only to sugar cane. In carnivores, high levels of sugar are toxic over time and lead to a host of chronic diseases including dental deterioration.

    Tapioca is often chemically modified before formulation in food products and as such, presents a threat to health by binding essential minerals that play key roles in many critical enzyme systems, and also producing the disease, parakeratosis. http://www.wysong.net/health/hl_984.shtml

    Furthermore, natural tapioca contains cyanogenic glycosides (specifically linamarin and lotaustralin) which yield hydrocyanic acid upon hydrolysis (as occurs in the stomach). Hydrocyanic acid (hydrogen cyanide) is highly toxic to humans and animals. In fact, hydrogen cyanide is a chemical warfare agent and was used in Germany’s gas chambers and is used for execution today in the U.S. The toxicity is dose dependent and therefore animals or humans fed a steady diet of any food that yields hydrogen cyanide are at risk.

    Cyanide is an irreversible enzyme inhibitor in cellular respiration pathways. Cyanide ions bind to the iron atom of the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase (also known as aa3) in the fourth complex in mitochondrial membranes. This denatures the enzyme, and the final transport of electrons from cytochrome c oxidase to oxygen cannot be completed. As a result, the electron transport chain is disrupted, meaning that the cell can no longer aerobically produce ATP for energy. In effect, it stops the body from “breathing.”

    Tissues that mainly depend on aerobic respiration, such as the central nervous system and the heart, are particularly affected. Acute poisoning with high concentrations of cyanide causes coma with seizures, apnea and cardiac arrest, with death following in a matter of minutes.

    At lower doses, loss of consciousness may be preceded by general weakness, giddiness, headaches, vertigo, confusion, and perceived difficulty in breathing. At the first stages of unconsciousness, breathing is often sufficient or even rapid. But then the victim progresses towards a deep coma, sometimes accompanied by pulmonary edema, and finally cardiac arrest. Skin color goes pink from high blood oxygen saturation.

    At doses insufficient to cause loss of consciousness, the symptoms can also include faintness, drowsiness, anxiety, and excitement. Dizziness, nausea, vomiting and sweating are also common. The situation is complicated by the non-specific nature of the symptoms.

    Exposure to lower levels of cyanide over a long period of intake, as occurs in people in tropical Africa, and could occur in pets fed “complete and balanced grain-free” extruded foods, results in increased blood cyanide levels. This may lead to weakness of the digits, difficulty walking, dimness of vision, deafness, decreased thyroid gland function, and Tropical Ataxic Neuropathy (TAN). TAN is characterized by lesions of the skin, mucous membranes, optic, auditory, spinal, and peripheral nerves resulting in myelopathy, bilateral optic atrophy, bilateral hearing loss, and polyneuropathy. Stomato-glossitis, motor-neurone disease, psychosis, and dementia are diseases prevalent in humans who regularly consume tapioca (cassava) products. Although many of these maladies have thus far only been described in humans, this is likely because only humans have been consuming large quantities of tapioca in lieu of grains. That could certainly change if pets are converted from grain-based to tapioca-based pet foods.

    Birth defects were seen in rats that ate diets of cassava roots. Effects on the reproductive system were also observed. Moreover, when tapioca is ground into flour with milling, the powder has been reported to produce ulcerogenic effects in the gastric mucosa. Personnel working in pet food plants compounding tapioca based pet foods could experience skin irritation and sores from exposure to tapioca dust.

    When cassava (tapioca) chips are sun-dried on the floor to reduce the hydrocyanic acid, they can be infected by microorganisms. This can predispose to aflatoxicosis, a potentially lethal mycotoxin disease.

    The problem with microbial infestation can be avoided by using fresh cassava root. However, cassava root, either fresh or parboiled, has resulted in deaths due to the high degree of cyanide toxicity found in the fresh root.

    As it stands, appropriate measures have not been taken to produce tapioca products of guaranteed quality that will meet the nutritional requirements of pets. A pet owner is well advised to ask any producer of tapioca-based pet foods for answers to the following:

    Nutrient levels: energy, protein, fiber, and mineral levels
    The exact amount of tapioca used in the formula
    Levels of anti-nutritional factors: hydrocyanic acid, phytates, and oxalates
    Microbial counts: levels of Aspergillus and Eschericia species
    Levels of other contaminants: those introduced during the drying process
    Moisture content

    The levels that could be reached in a “no grain” tapioca-based pet food could certainly reach dangerous levels. Levels of hydrogen cyanide above 100 parts per million (ppm) in a finished food are considered unacceptable. In a “no grain” formulated pet food, depending upon the type and amount of tapioca used, levels in a typical formula could reach over 1026.3 mg/kg, or 718.85 ppm! The minimal lethal dosage in humans is about 50-60mg. A 60 lb. dog eating an average amount of a “no-grain” tapioca-based pet food could be ingesting 17.6 mg of hydrogen cyanide per day. Considering that this dog is about one third the weight of an average human, on a per weight basis it would be receiving 52.8 mg (3 X 17.6 mg) of hydrogen cyanide—which is within the lethal dose (50-60 mg) range. Even if this calculation is on the high side, lower hydrogen cyanide levels would at the least put the animal at risk of chronic toxicity.

    The above is not to say that moderate levels of tapioca cannot be consumed by animals and humans without ill effect. However, eating it as a mainstay, or as a substitute for grains that have been proven safe and nutritionally beneficial for thousands of years, is not only unwarranted, but potentially dangerous.

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 12:49 pm

17. three kitties

    that is my question also. Cyanuric acid was found in the urine samples of sick and dead animals(I thought that is what I read…)seems this is a new finding,with it being in the food.

    I’m still wondering if: since the companies seem to have their own receipes maybe formulations would be different since each product has a different amount of protein? not sure if it would be added into final product at same stage of the food making process. And, carryover between batches…..

    Maybe some animals are more susceptible? Would be interesting to know ages…

    In speaking with staff at my Vets practice on Thurs.,they have treated several kittens this past week and I’m sure they are not included in this database.

    Katie

    Comment by Katie — April 22, 2007 @ 12:50 pm

18. What is the “Little Shop of FDA Horrors” going to dish up for us this Monday? I can hardly wait. Something stinks of terrorism and our officials are yucking it up with their buddies in the FBI and NewsMedia.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 12:52 pm

19. Reposting this—-I posted this on April 3rd

    #

    Urea + formaldehyde = melamine

    From what I’ve been reading, and I’m no chemist, it appears that the red wheat gluten contains phenols which are used in conjunction with formaldehyde to create resins. In this case below, the use of phenol, formaldehyde, water and a “catalyst” makes a reddish brown goo. All I could think of was “cuts and gravy.”

    “Base catalysed phenol formaldehyde resins are made with a formaldehyde to phenol ratio of greater than one (usually around 1.5). Phenol, formaldehyde, water and catalyst are mixed in the desired amount, depending on the resin to be formed, and are then heated. The first part of the reaction, at around 70 °C, forms hydroxymethyl phenols. This results in a thick reddish-brown goo, the resin.”

    New Menu Foods recipe: I may be far off course, but what if another unknown or even know catalyst creates some other toxic, complex, chemical concoction? I also remember something about methyl, mentioned above, in my surfing the other day.

    And, this resin, added to the ingredients as a binder and heated to high temperatures (baked) would remain toxic.

    If they are now making CD discs out of cornstarch, anything is possible.

    There is more here:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P.....hyde_resin

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 3, 2007 @ 12:28 pm

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 12:53 pm

20. CVM? Who are they?

    (Another re-post here)
    #

    CVM — WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU

    From the FDA website:

    Regulation of food and dietary supplements

    The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition is the branch of the FDA which is responsible for ensuring the safety and accurate labeling of nearly all food products in the United States.[2] One exception is products derived from traditional domesticated animals, such as cattle and chickens, which fall under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service. Products which contain minimal amounts of meat are regulated by FDA, and the exact boundaries are listed in a memorandum of understanding between the two agencies.

    However, medicines and other products given to all domesticated animals are regulated by FDA through a different branch, the Center for Veterinary Medicine.

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 3, 2007 @ 1:26 pm

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 12:56 pm

21. We have NO way of actually knowing which companies DO outsource like this since we’ve seen that
    1. the pet food companies don’t disclose that,
    2. the distributors don’t close that, and
    3. the pet food companies don’t even necessarily list all the ingredients on their product labels or at their websites.

    It’s an exception that any of them will tell us anything, and for those that finally do, it’s because they’re forced to for whatever reason.

    Even the FDA won’t tell us WHICH companies right now are the latest 5 companies that have received the tainted rice protein concentrate. It’s absolutely WRONG to protect those companies INSTEAD of protecting our pets and protecting us as consumers.

    Also, I really got steamed reading this just now from http://iafrica.com/news/sa/581045.htm -

    “Meanwhile Tshwane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals inspector Marizda Kruger questioned the severity of the situation.

    ‘This has had too much media hype, there are very few animals that have actually died,’ she said.”

    Unbelievable comment, especially from someone who works for the Tshwane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

    Comment by Shirley Kaiser — April 22, 2007 @ 1:02 pm

22. #

    2ND CHINESE COMPANY:

    Suzhou Hengrun Import & Export Corp., Ltd.

    Company Info
    Suzhou Hengrun Import & Export Corp., Ltd. Was founded on the basis of the recorganization of its predecessor-Suzhou Textile Import & Export Co. Which was set up in 1978 as a trade company of textile products and has become one of the 500 largest foreign trade enterprises in China since 1991. It has been awarded the Certificate of ISO9001(2000)for Quality Management Authentication by the China … [ Click for details ]
    Contact Details
    Suzhou Hengrun Import & Export Corp., Ltd.
    Company Name: Suzhou Hengrun Import & Export Corp., Ltd.
    Company Address: 201 Zhuhui Rd., Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
    City/Province: Suzhou/Jiangsu
    Country/Region: China
    Zip/Postal Code: 215006
    Telephone Number: 86-512-65595569,67173223
    Fax Number: 86-512-65298929,65188511

    Contact Person: Aisha Huang/Allen Wang
    Mobile: 86-13962128946,13962122907

    Showroom: http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/clive130
    Homepage: Click Here

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 3, 2007 @ 3:26 pm

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 1:04 pm

23. Is there a possiblity that it is one gluten, all of it, and many poisoning. So it’s one thing called different names?

    The man at NB kept telling me it was the same thing, and I didn’t get it.

    Well, I get it now. Our country has sold it’s soul to the mega giants of corporate ownership including the news media and even this toxic waste pet food story is being buried - or at least not given the attention it warrants.

    Wake up America before it is too late.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 1:04 pm

24. Linda MS,

    My thoughts exactly. It might be the FDA is dancing to avoid panic. The theory of all of a sudden boasting the protein level in three different grain products for economics is just a little too convenient. A possibility for sure but what about the other possibility. I thinks that it’s in the human food supply as well and they are trying to figure out how to get a lid on it.

    Comment by Robin — April 22, 2007 @ 1:07 pm

25. The Three Stooges are running things - The FBI , Homeland Security, and the FDA.

    No wonder this is getting worse. I used to think I’d seen it all, heard it all, been there and done that - but folks, this takes the royal cake.

    Went to Pet Club to get shots for my dog this morning and noticed there’s plenty of Pet Food sitting on the shelves.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 1:13 pm

26. Ditto Robin!

    Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 1:14 pm

27. Royal Canin’s comment about Corn Gluten is also on their US web page:
    http://www.royalcanin.us/quest.....ers.html#u

    Comment by Jenny — April 22, 2007 @ 1:17 pm

28. Comment by Robin — April 22, 2007 @ 1:07 pm

    My thoughts exactly—-for many weeks now.

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 1:19 pm

29. Linda,

    Don’t forget ‘heck of a job brownie’ at FEMA. Makes one wonder where they find these wonders. Like a full employment act for idiots.

    Comment by Robin — April 22, 2007 @ 1:20 pm

30. Of course, what does “sourced from suppliers in the US” mean. And, where do they get their product?

    Comment by Jenny — April 22, 2007 @ 1:27 pm

31. “…Royal Canin USA will no longer use any Chinese suppliers for any of our vegetable proteins.”

    That’s a step in the right direction. But I’d like to see them saying they won’t use Chinese suppliers for ANY of their ingredients.

    Comment by slt — April 22, 2007 @ 1:32 pm

32. The FDA is asking us to play Russian Roulette with our animals by not naming all the products that could be involved. Like at least just say these have not been tested, but could be at risk of contamination, so use at your own risk.

    Comment by Robin — April 22, 2007 @ 1:35 pm

33. Comment by Robin — April 22, 2007 @ 1:07 pm

    I’ve been looking at ingredients on human foods. Very disturbing to say the least. When you look at just how much Wheat, Rice, and Corn glutens are in human food products it’s enough to make one cringe.

    Wonder where they are getting this stuff?

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 1:37 pm

34. I’m glad to see that Royal Canin will not be using Chinese imports for their vegetable proteins, but I would be even happier if they said “no” to any ingredients imported from China. I personally do not nor have I ever fed my pets any Royal Canin products, but I have always thought of them as one of the better foods available. After everything that has happened, I think every pet food manufacturer should ban any ingredients from China.

    Comment by Marilyn — April 22, 2007 @ 1:38 pm

35. IMO Royal Canin may be trying to distance itself from the melamine contamination. Or this is to divert attention from melamine and it’s existence here.

    US PATENT has this in a patent filed in 1983.

    Melamine and its hydrolysis products, ammeline, ammelide, and cyanuric acid, have often been considered as potential sources of nitrogen for incorporation in fertilizer compositions or for utilization as nitrogen sources per se. Melamine has a nitrogen content of 66.6%, so that about two thirds of its weight is nitrogen

    So, why would it take so long to identify these elements?

    The patent was assigned to Mississippi Chemicals who was sold to Borden Chemicals and now maybe called Terra. Borden Chemicals now maybe Hexion.
    http://www.misschem.com
    http://www.bordenchem.com

    If we think the Chinese are the only ones capable of using this as a nitrogen booster for a higher price, I think we may be erring on the side of naive.

    This product exists here too.

    Comment by Ann — April 22, 2007 @ 1:40 pm

36. Comment by Ann — April 22, 2007 @ 1:40 pm

    Good find. Good work Ann.

    And the plot thickens.

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 1:47 pm

37. Nadine

    Is that the textile company that was originally thought to produce gluten for textile coloring use, or some such thing??

    Wasn’t there a textile exporter to connected to “Anything”?

    My memory is not good..and seems like the textile co was talked about way back in March

    Katie

    Comment by Katie — April 22, 2007 @ 1:49 pm

38. Well if the rice protein can be put in food for pets with allergies and it is okay not to list it - it is allergy free - then it doesn’t matter what you call it, rice, wheat, or corn.

    Someone could order corn and get this “protein concentrate” and the order is filled. And maybe like Nadine has been saying all along, in the process of making this concentrate it’s structure is altered so there are by-products that are killing our pets or something like that - I am not a chemist - but you get the drift.

    So we have corn gluten, wheat gluten, rice gluten (protein concentrate whatever) and it is the same product and the same killing science - and I joked once about it - what did we have a crazed scientist, a Dr. Who, out there working his mad wonders and killing our pets - maybe that is exactly what we have.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 1:52 pm

39. Katie, actually I think this is the name for ChemNutra in China. You are right, there is another name and I’ll find it and post.

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 1:53 pm

40. And even worse, what if all this is added or changed or altered here in the U.S. in factories right now and we could be eating it by the spoonfuls - oh gag a maggot!

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 1:54 pm

41. The U.S. exports almost 50% of its wheat crop, yet 80% of the wheat gluten the U.S. uses comes from Australia, the Europe Union, & China.

    http://www.bluesealdairy.com/i.....p;fpstid=1

    If our wheat gluten manufacturing process is so safe and we’re exporting about 50% of our wheat crop, let’s MAKE THE GLUTEN IN THE U.S. Why ship our crop to China so it can be adulterated and sent back to us?

    Comment by petlover — April 22, 2007 @ 2:13 pm

42. ADM, HONG KONG

    Well, well…

    ADM Hong Kong/Shanghai

    ADM Hong Kong/Shanghai
    ADM Hong Kong/Shanghai
    Located in this section:
    ADM Hong Kong/Shanghai ADM Australia
    ADM Hong Kong/Shanghai ADM Hong Kong/Shanghai
    ADM Hong Kong/Shanghai ADM Tianjin
    ADM Hong Kong/Shanghai ADM Dalian
    ADM Hong Kong/Shanghai ADM Far East
    ADM Hong Kong/Shanghai ADM Singapore
    ADM Hong Kong/Shanghai
    ADM Hong Kong/Shanghai

    ADM Hong Kong/Shanghai

    In 2005 March, Jip Hong International (H.K.) Limited, which was acquired by ADM in 1994, established ADM (Shanghai) Trading Company Limited as a wholly foreign owned subsidiary. ADM Shanghai engages in import and export, wholesale and retail, and commission agency service of agricultural products and their processed derivatives, including but not limited to all food and feed ingredients and additives, cocoa products, oilseeds and grains and their processed derivatives, health products, nutrition for producing animal feed, as well as providing storage, logistics, and relevant technical support in connection with the above products.

    ADM Asia-Pacific Rim: Change Region

    Copyright ©2007 Archer Daniels Midland
    Online Privacy Statement | Terms of Use | Compliance and Ethics

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 2:15 pm

43. Let me see if I’m understanding this correctly. No matter what product you start with..wheat, corn, rice…it is processed, altered, whatever to extract a protein powder. No matter what you started with after its been processed the powder is all the same?

    Comment by Sandy C — April 22, 2007 @ 2:15 pm

44. I dislike saying it, but where traditional forms of protein (animal meat or fish) are too expensive or unavailable… turn to chemistry to concoct protein concentrates: what an easy, inexpensive way to meet the protein “needs” of humans

    Comment by petlover — April 22, 2007 @ 2:24 pm

45. Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 2:15 pm

    Remember when ADM refused to comment or return calls about 3 and a half weeks ago?

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 2:30 pm

46. City of Industry, CA —(www.FinancialNewsUSA.com)— 04/17/2007 - Consumer Goods industry news provided by Financial News USA (OTC: FNWU). NutraCea (OTC BB: NTRZ), a world leader in stabilized rice bran (SRB) research and technology, recently announced that they have entered into an agreement with ADM Rice Inc., an operating division of Archer Daniels Midland Company, whereby NutraCea will implement its proprietary rice stabilization technology into the ADM Rice facility located in Arbuckle, California to produce stabilized rice bran for distribution into the human, companion pet and equine feed markets.

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 2:32 pm

47. STABILIZED RICE BRAN

    This agreement between NutraCea and ADM Rice is timely and a natural strategic step as it allows us to quickly increase our production while still maintaining product integrity of the finished SRB,” said Brad Edson, President and CEO of NutraCea. “We have aligned ourselves with one of the most recognized and respected names in the agricultural industry with a global presence and look forward to significant additional opportunities to expand the current usage of our SRB by ADM as a value added ingredient.”

    Leo Gingras, Chief Operating Officer stated, “The new Stabilized Rice Bran production from this state of the art facility should be on line and accretive to our operations by the end of June 2007. This operation will help serve our increasing demands for the human, companion pet and equine feed markets.”

    http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/07.....html?.v=72

    Comment by petlover — April 22, 2007 @ 2:43 pm

48. And,

    http://tinyurl.com/32gxe9

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 2:46 pm

49. I just bought two books on feeding a home diet. . . but they seem to contradict each other. Both are widely popular books by prominent folks! This is so confusing.

    Comment by Bonni — April 22, 2007 @ 3:10 pm

50. on http://www.philly.com under health and science ,a dog died from NUTRO MAX DRY-in sunday’s paper

    Comment by MARY ANN — April 22, 2007 @ 3:11 pm

51. Comment by petlover — April 22, 2007 @ 2:43 pm

    They call them Nutraceuticals

    “The ever-expanding, world-wide market for nutraceuticals and functional foods, calls for an expansion of the product ranges, increased availability and a reduction in cost. Without any sign of a slow down in profitability, providers need to step up market activities to get ahead of the game and continue public awareness.”

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 3:11 pm

52. I’m trying to understand this… so are you saying the final protein powder is the same - doesn’t matter what grain it came from because the “allergen” was removed.

    Than is it possible that the same powder goes into everything,just depends upon amount called for in the receipe?

    Would that mean depending upon if you fed the same product over time you would be exposed to a greater degree than if you varied the food being fed?

    I’m still trying to understand: my vet told me the other day that symptoms of renal failure appear only when approximately 75% of renal function is gone? that takes time right? when they look at the kidneys of the sick or dead, can they tell if it was an immeadiate exposure?

    Katie

    Comment by Katie — April 22, 2007 @ 3:19 pm

53. Comment by Katie — April 22, 2007 @ 3:19 pm

    You have to pay to know.

    http://tinyurl.com/yrgvkd

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 3:23 pm

54. Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 2:30 pm

    We had our suspicions then, didn’t we! I’ve said from the beginning that I’ve sensed this is a cover-up of some sort and the reason for all the delays. I think this is closer to home than we’d like to believe, although I’d rather it not be true. Now, who’s related to the White House?

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 3:27 pm

55. An edifying read is Harvard law student Justine Patrick’s report “Deconstructing the Regulatory Façade -Why Confused Consumers Feed their Pets
    Ring Dings and Krispy Kremes,” which one can read here:
    http://tinyurl.com/yuyrtk

    Some excerpts:
    In 2000 Mars Inc., which already owned Kal Kan, Pedigree and Whiskas, acquired Royal Canin, a French premium pet food company for $730 million. Mars Inc., Nestle’s closest competitor, retains 15% of the market share.

    Nestle acquired Ralston-Purina in 2001 for $10.3 billion, to become the “dominant force” in the pet food industry with 45% of the market share.

    Proctor and Gamble purchased Iams for $2.05 billion in 1999.

    Other powerful participants include Colgate-Palmolive (Hills Pet Nutrition), Heinz (9 Lives, and Kibbles-n-Bits).

    “The exploitation of pet food product lines as a means by which to recycle and discard waste will only worsen as the industry continues to transform into an array of powerful conglomerates. “

    I also wonder what role U.S. Chemical Industry has played in poisoning China’s crops.

    Comment by Rose — April 22, 2007 @ 3:31 pm

56. Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 3:27 pm

    In 1996, ADM was the subject of a price fixing investigation by the U.S. Justice Department. Senior ADM executives were indicted on criminal charges for engaging in price-fixing within the international lysine market. Three of ADM’s top officials, including vice chairman Michael Andreas, were eventually sentenced to federal prison in 1999. Moreover, the company was fined $100 million, the largest antitrust fine in U.S. history at the time(1997).[1] In addition, according to ADM’s 2005 annual report a settlement was reached under which ADM paid $400 million in 2005 to settle a class action antitrust suit.[2] Kurt Eichenwald wrote a non-fiction book The Informant describing the investigation. Lawyer James B. Lieber also wrote a book titled, Rats In The Grain, about the ADM price fixing case.

    Using the investigation as an example, Ronald W. Cotterill of the Food Marketing Policy Center at the University of Connecticut shows that 100 percent or more of overcharges resulting from price fixing are passed through to consumers.[3]

    Howard Buffett, son of billionaire Warren Buffett, served at one time as an ADM vice president and as a member of the Board of Directors. However, Buffett resigned as VP in the wake of the FBI price fixing investigation.[citation needed] In addition, he has since resigned his seat on the board.

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 3:35 pm

57. ADM’s receipt of federal agribusiness subsidies have come under criticism. According to the Cato Institute, a Libertarian think tank, “ADM has cost the American economy billions of dollars since 1980 and has indirectly cost Americans tens of billions of dollars in higher prices and higher taxes over that same period. At least 43 percent of ADM’s annual profits are from products heavily subsidized or protected by the American government. Moreover, every $1 of profits earned by ADM’s corn sweetener operation costs consumers $10, and every $1 of profits earned by its ethanol operation costs taxpayers $30.”[4]

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 3:37 pm

58. COMMENT BY STEVE: ADM

    Very telling.

    Another protein concentrate to watch for??

    peanut protein concentrate

    dog treats/cookies?

    http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?id=72150

    Comment by petlover — April 22, 2007 @ 3:44 pm

59. Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 3:35 pm

    So, what you’re saying is that these are the same guys who got mad and took their toys to China. Oh boy. Time for another investigation? They are probably the “Chinese supplier.”

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 3:48 pm

60. Comment by petlover — April 22, 2007 @ 3:44 pm

    The book, Rats in the Grain, was written by attorney, James B. Lieber, and details the twists and turns of the international price-fixing scandal that unfolded during the mid-1990s involving Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), the Illinois-based agribusiness giant that once called itself “Supermarket to the World.”

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 3:49 pm

61. Katie - I had to leave. Yes, that’s it - doesn’t matter the name.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 3:50 pm

62. http://tinyurl.com/2pmv5n

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 3:53 pm

63. Remember when the very nice FDA supervisor told me that getting all the records was the most difficult part of the job, if not impossible. How many hands does the raw material pass through?

    And no wonder China won’t let the FDA in.

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 3:53 pm

64. I remember Nadine.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 3:55 pm

65. Somebody posted a link to the excellent Dr.Michael Fox article on the petfood recall. I find it very interesting that one of his suspicions points to genetically engineered crops(GE,GM etc)
    I find it even more interesting that no Royal Canin pet food has been recalled in Europe. Royal Canin has a large share of the pet food market in Europe.Royal Canin has multiple plants in Europe. Even more interesting ,all their ingredients have been GE free for quite some years now. European labeling requires that to be noted (not required in the USA, protecting Monsanto, Bayer etc)). Europeans will avoid buying food, human or pet. products that are genetically modified at all cost. http://www.thecampaign.org is an interesting site as to our food safety.
    Anybody remembers the Starlink corn fiasco in 2001?

    Comment by Serijna — April 22, 2007 @ 3:55 pm

66. CRIMINAL CHARGES PRESSED: 22 Years Ago, Wheat Was Spiked with Urea to Boost the Protein Content: Disgruntled Employee Tipped off the USDA, who notified the FDA

    http://findarticles.com/p/arti.....ai_9246932

    What the Schulers did, said Walter Stauffacher, FDA compliance officer for the Minneapolis district, was to wait for a period when the nitrogen content of local wheat was about 11 percent, buy it from farmers at the low market price, boost the nitrogen content with urea, then sell it to companies such as Pillsbury for a higher price per bushel. Higher nitrogen wheat is believed to produce superior baked goods.

    Pillsbury passed the higher cost on to bakeries, which in turn passed the cost on to consumers. “It was the consumer who ultimately got shortchanged,” Stauffacher said.

    In 1985, the Schulers made an estimated $750,000 on adulterated wheat. During FDA’s investigation, evidence was found that suggested the Schulers also sold adulterated wheat in 1975 and 1981, Stauffacher said.
    **********END OF QUOTE************

    Motto: Buy low, sell high!

    Comment by petlover — April 22, 2007 @ 3:56 pm

67. Anything goes-but don’t get caught-and here’s your big bonus.

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 3:58 pm

68. History Repeating Itself?

    Attorney Lieber deserves high praise for his objective, informative presentation of the antitrust criminal case vs. Archer Daniels Midland, the agribusiness giant, that ADM, its powerful lawyers and Clinton’s Justice Department did not want published. To his credit, he continued to pursue this case after most reporters backed off and swallowed the dizzying spin and disinformation that ADM’s CEO Dwayne Andreas and his aggressive lawyers gave the media, crying crocodile tears as the “victim” of an allegedly deranged ADM executive, Mark Whitacre, who became the FBI’s mole, and made hundreds of tapes incriminating ADM executives fixing prices in world markets with their competitors. Lieber correctly smelled the stench of a cover-up and adroitly guides readers to make their own
    conclusions after compiling evidence, omissions from court records, and other factors that allow readers to infer that the judicial process was compromised by ADM’s widespread political influence before the trial even began.

    http://tinyurl.com/2pmv5n

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 4:00 pm

69. Oh, wow, Steve. Have you read it yet?

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 4:03 pm

70. Comment by petlover — April 22, 2007 @ 3:56 pm

    So they waited until 2006 and tried it again.

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 4:07 pm

71. Serijna,

    WOW! I didn’t know this! I have sent the e-mails and also will do the rest. Thank you for this information. I had no idea!

    Comment by FMtz — April 22, 2007 @ 4:11 pm

72. Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 3:55 pm

    Her comment was so pointed and she repeated it twice that I got the feeling it was somehow a very important point. I wonder what is really going on at the FDA. Who are the privileged ones?

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 4:12 pm

73. As with Katrina and other disaster matters, wouldn’t it be appropriate and humane on this much larger scale for our President and/or Congress to proclaim a national emergency with regards to this plague by directing appropriate federal agencies and experts to supply recipes/nutritional formulas for preparation of homemade foods. This would enable ones responsible for God’s children to properly nourish the nation’s puppy and adult companions while the government figures out what’s wrong with our food supply. There is ambiguity and old information on the Web and we need current expertise from our government agencies and nutritionists in this time of need. This could also serve as a practice run for an emergency drill in the case of widespread disasters in the human food chain.

    Our civilization and very existence, and that of our planet, Earth, are at stake. How do we deal with this plague….is this how the world ends ???

    Comment by Bee — April 22, 2007 @ 4:20 pm

74. Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 4:07 pm

    Not yet. But this guy obviously has.

    “If you read one book this year, read “Rats in the Grain.” Behind the facade of “ADM Supermarket to the World” a criminal element operated that would have made Al Capone envious. The author reveals how a criminal empire was built on political donations to elected and appointed officials of county, state and federal governments dating back fifty years. It was these connections that kept the chairman out of prison. ADM had the power to thwart FBI investigations, decide who should be indicted, and send the government witness to jail for ten years. They concocted a coverup with the help of devious lawyers from Washington DC. The government witness Mark Whitacre is a hero and also a casualty of a corrupt Justice Department. If it can happen to him it can happen to you. This is required reading!”

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 4:31 pm

75. Truth or Consequences

    Will the real culprits please stand up?

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 4:35 pm

76. Here’s Another

    Why Growth Is Bad, Gardens Good and Cuba Key to Oil-Free Future
    Business News; Market Research Bill McKibben makes it clear what he abhors: Wal-Mart (the scourge of small retailers) and Archer Daniels Midland (the bane of family farms).

    Instead of a growth-oriented economy, he writes in “Deep Economy,” we need one that meets deep human needs, such as the sense of community that he says has been vanishing from the U.S. along with all those businesses and farms.

    “Deep Economy” is a critique on the order of the late John Kenneth Galbraith’s “The Affluent Society.” Galbraith questioned “conventional wisdom” about economics, noting that riches hadn’t erased poverty or inequality.

    Almost 50 years later, that’s still true. But as McKibben sees it, the biggest problem now is that growth not only fails to make the affluent feel any better about their lives but also (and more direly) destroys communities and threatens the Earth.

    […]

    A good deal of angst underpins the book. McKibben is worried not only that the world is running out of oil (and maybe water), making much of the economy as currently structured unsustainable, but also that using up all that oil (and other fossil fuels) is going to have nasty effects.

    “We might as well have a contest to pick a new name for Earth, because it will be a different planet,” he writes in a discussion of global warming. “Humans have never done anything bigger, not even the invention of nuclear weapons.”

    Bloomberg

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 4:39 pm

77. Comment by MARY ANN — April 22, 2007 @ 3:11 pm

    That article says Nutro Max dry dog food is on the recall list but I didn’t think it was.

    Comment by slt — April 22, 2007 @ 4:42 pm

78. Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 4:39 pm

    Nothing is sacred to these global capitalists. They are careerists who have spiritually seceded from the human race. This class holds us in bondage while it amasses wealth that affords it neither peace nor joy.

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 4:44 pm

79. FMtz.
    You are very welcome. Nickname for GE crops is Frankenfood. Build in pesticides etc. Already being suspected as one factor in the decline of the honeybee. Our pets and us are all eating Frankenfood in the USA and Canada. Gosh, I bet those giant global corporations hate the internet. Creates too smart and well informed comsumers.

    Comment by Serijna — April 22, 2007 @ 4:46 pm

80. Has anyone heard of the AIDS Villages in China? I wouldn’t trust them with stuff going into my body, they don’t seem to have control over their entreprenuers.

    Until recently, the fact that whole villages were dying of Aids in Henan was kept secret.

    Journalists who went there were detained and activists who worked there were harassed.

    Many of those with Aids were infected in the early 1990s, when they sold blood to government-sponsored blood collectors.

    This article was written in 2004 and there still isn’t much international knowledge of it. China has more serious ethical problems then just pet food. I don’t think they would particularly care if this stuff got into food meant for animals or humans, just look at how much they value their own people.

    On googling “aids villages” they do seem to be making some progress with the retrovirus treatments but there was still information as recent as last year I think, in which an AIDS activist was detained by the police. I know they were denying visas for prominant AIDS activists to come to the United States to receive honors for exposing the problems with their blood industry.

    Comment by Erica — April 22, 2007 @ 4:48 pm

81. Breaking News two Sundays in a row (itchmos email from NB)
    Ya think maybe they’re trying to re-confuse us by changing from the Friday-nite el-droppo?
    “Sha-boom!”

    Comment by Kathi — April 22, 2007 @ 4:49 pm

82. Comment by Serijna — April 22, 2007 @ 4:46 pm

    The powers that be feel very threatened by the new citizen driven media.

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 4:49 pm

83. Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 4:44 pm

    What do you think is the solution? Is there one?

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 4:50 pm

84. Not to change the subject on Purpose But How do I post a new Subject?
    I want o knowif there is any Expierence with
    Soid Gold Dry DOg Food

    Comment by Mary — April 22, 2007 @ 4:51 pm

85. Steve, do you know who is ADM’s largest U.S. customer?

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 4:53 pm

86. I have heard nice things about Solid Gold Dry Dog Food, very nice, but when I looked at the ingredients for Barking at the Moon and saw potato protein or concentrate, can’t remember which one I think it was potato protein, it gave me the chills. That’s not science though.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 5:04 pm

87. Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 4:53 pm

    No. But I’ll learn right now. Have you found out?

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 5:05 pm

88. There will never be a solution while the FDA and the government is not letting the public in on the horror of this “protein” problem. Why do we eat the GE wheat etc. and Europe hates it? I don’t like it either.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 5:05 pm

89. Royal Canin is now trying to act like the “good guy”…after they got caught.

    I called them prior to their recalls, and told them that my JuJu got sick from one of their foods that contained corn gluten.

    They said that none of their foods were a part of the recall…and that they had had no complaints. They turned a deaf ear to what I had to say.

    I tried to get a refund on the bag of food during this phone call…and even though it said to call a certain number on the bag for a refund…they insisted that I would have to take the bag to the retailer to get my money back.

    They are full of double-talk if you ask me.

    Comment by Marcy — April 22, 2007 @ 5:06 pm

90. Marcy,

    I’m so sorry about JuJu. It just wasn’t Royal Canin playing dumb it was Alpo and still many others are also.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 5:07 pm

91. Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 5:05 pm

    I’m searching. Am wondering if they were trying to put Nestle out of business?

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 5:10 pm

92. I know Linda MS…

    they all are a bunch of criminals.

    I’m never buying from them again…and am telling everyone I know.

    They can do all the advertising they want (have you noticed all the ads popping up on the internet, for the pet foods?)…but they should never underestimate the power of “word of mouth.”

    Comment by Marcy — April 22, 2007 @ 5:10 pm

93. Bio-tech is Thriving Down at the Farm:

    http://www.forbes.com/free_for.....4/079.html

    Comment by petlover — April 22, 2007 @ 5:12 pm

94. Wilbur-Ellis now whats with them. Not on the radar anymore. So who are the culprits here. Is it . . . . ChemNutra-PFI-ADM-WE-Menu-Etc-Etc, or are they all just one giant gaping jawed behemoth now in cahoots with each other?

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 5:13 pm

95. Steve,

    So who would they all like to put out of business?

    Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 5:23 pm

96. I know Marcy, poor little JuJu and there’s no reason for it except greed and gross incompetence.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 5:24 pm

97. ‘Return contaminated pet food’
    20/04/2007 14:39 - (SA)

    Johannesburg - Pet owners must not dump food they fear may be contaminated with melamine because it might cause environmental damage or poison animals and people.

    The SA Veterinary Association (Sava) issued this warning on Friday and urged pet owners to return all possibly contaminated food to their vets.

    So far, 30 animals have died after a batch of food produced by the company Royal-Canin SA (R-C) was contaminated with melamine.

    “Owners must return all possibly contaminated food to their vets so that R-C can incinerate it,” said association spokesperson Gerhard Steenkamp.

    “Dumping it in the refuse bin could expose the environment to the toxin, which could lead to human or animal exposure.”

    Steenkamp said Sava was particularly concerned about exposed dogs that had not been seriously ill and would strongly advise owners to have their pets examined by their veterinarian.

    He said Sava had asked the Pet Food Institute (PFI) to require its members, who may have used the contaminated corn gluten, or other suspect contaminated material, regardless of the presumed level of melamine, to immediately recall the products.

    Extra safety measures

    These should only be made available for sale once the presence of melamine had been eliminated by independent testing, said Steenkamp.

    “Failing this, Sava will make the manufacturer or brand known to its members, so they can advise the public on food that may not be safe.”

    He said Sava had now declared melamine an officially recognised toxin, capable of inducing serious clinical disease, and would insist that all pet food be tested.

    He added: “In this regard, Sava will advise its members that they should only offer products that have been certified free from Melamine, for sale in their practices.

    “This advice will, equally, apply to ethylene glycol, as an extra safety measure, even though this toxin was not involved in the R-C crisis.”

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 5:25 pm

98. Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 5:23 pm

    Us. Obviously.

    Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 5:25 pm

99. We are so far behind S.A. I don’t understand it.

    Linda MS

    Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 5:28 pm

100. On The 24th The FDA Hearing Should Be Very Good Now. Does Anyone Know The Time And If C-span Will Air It?

     Comment by MARY ANN — April 22, 2007 @ 5:34 pm

101. About The Story In Philly.Com I Was Shocked It Was Dry Nutro Max,I E Mailed To Reporter Who Did The Story TO See If It Was Or Dry.

     Comment by MARY ANN — April 22, 2007 @ 5:37 pm

102. Important posting earlier on by petlover — April 22, 2007 @ 3:56 pm

     Petlover found a great piece by the FDA in 1990 about a successful lawsuit brought against grain company operators who were “wheat spiking” using urea in products designated for humans (baked goods, etc.). At that time they thought there was no health consequences, only financial gain by using a product to up the protein readings and reap illegal profits.

     Reading this article, taken in context with the current “protein spiking” in wheat, corn and rice products, one has to realize this has been going on for a long time and is without doubt in the human food chain. This article is a bellwether for how our pets are truly the canaries in the mines. Not a hackneyed phrase, but literally true, as this investigation unfolds.

     Here’s the link that petlover provided earlier: http://findarticles.com/p/arti.....ai_9246932

     Comment by Maureen — April 22, 2007 @ 5:43 pm

103. Last night I noted on my dog food bags that all the seven (7) Hill’s addresses: U.S., Canada, Australia & New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and South Africa are the same cities that Royal Canin has addresses. Not only that, the Hill’s address for Canada is the Streetsville address of Menu Foods.

     I sit waiting for the recall of Hill’s. My bag of Hill’s Prescription Canine W/D is the one my dog got sick from eating for a week. Prescribed by my vet, it is the one I put chicken on top of top make him eat. He would pick out the chicken and not eat the food, so I started covering it with gravy or broth. The dog never refused food in his 12 years. He began to showed signs (of renal failure) so then I took him to the vet. Told the vet I thought the food was making him sick, so vet changed his food to another Hill’s diet. Dog was dead by September 11. The use-by date on the bag was December 2007.

     Can you imagine the hysteria and effect on trust of veterinarians, and on their businesses, if the Hill’s is contaminated? They may be planning their strategy, and that’s why we’ve not heard. I’ll be surprised to learn they are not affected by the recall.

     Maybe ADM had it in for CP?

     Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 6:00 pm

104. Steve,

     Have you heard if C.P. is a stockholder of Menu Foods, or vice versa?

     Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 6:05 pm

105. My dogs were eating Hills when Mercy my three - year old healthy Dobie was diagnosed with liver disease - she started to get a little better when I began homecooking her food.

     My Solomon was put on Hills I/D by the vet but I didn’t feed it to him although I bought it - I am home feeding cooking him now.

     I firmly believe that Hills caused my Mercy’s liver problems and she was leaking urine too.

     Linda MS

     Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 6:06 pm

106. Nadine, who is C.P.? I have been reading with amazement at the info you and Steve are coming up with. I cant follow it very well, I have always been really bad at mysteries on TV so this would be even worse. So ADM might be the “butler with the candlestick” in this?

     Comment by Sandi K — April 22, 2007 @ 6:09 pm

107. Linda,

     For as long as I live, I will not forgive myself for making Calvin eat that food. Will any dog food company be able to pay any amount of money to obliterate that guilt? Never.

     Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 6:15 pm

108. Comment by Maureen…”one has to realize this has been going on for a long time and is without doubt in the human food chain.”

     One ingredient ok, maybe, but with wheat, rice and corn gluten spiked with melamine and all marketed as “human grade”, I can’t imagine why it isn’t in the human food chain. I feel there is something the FDA is not telling the public, call it a hunch based on many recent government failures.

     Comment by Frank — April 22, 2007 @ 6:22 pm

109. Just read the first 44 pgs of Pitcairn’s complete guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. Ought to include humans too! We’ve all been eating toxins our whole lives - my mother used to add a little squeeze packet of food coloring (long since outlawed, I’m sure) to the margarine when I was a kid. Shows how old I am! Unfortunately, sience makes gigantic jumps before the consequences have been sorted out. What’s happening now with our furkids is another instance that will go down in history. Side note: As a premie I was given state of the art X-ray treatments in SF to stimulate the thymus gland. At 20 I was a pregnant guinea pig at UC Berkley with thyroid cancer and total thyroidectomy surgery. That was the bad. The good was the Rube Goldburg equipment at UC that became today’s radio-active iodine scanning equipment. Let’s hope and pray there’s a good side here.

     Bottom line: Let’s learn from this debacle. We need to demand our vets have REAL nutrition training. None of my local vets will support homecooking. And I’m going to name them: Critter Creek, Lincoln; Loomis Basin Veterinary, Loomis; and The Cat Doctor, Rocklin. They are still pushing Science Diet, etc. If I can cook “South Beach” for my spouse and self, I think I can tackle my furkid’s menue!

     Secondly, we will never get the average bear to understand what’s happening or the ramifications, for our pets or us. They’ll always be behind the curve, ‘till it hits them personally. But I have found both friends and neighbors who will listen and learn, and that’s encouraging. So keep spreading the word and lobbying our senators & reps.

     PS: Let me know @ lnclnhill@aol.com if you have a vet in the Sacramento area that supports home made cat & dog meals.

     Comment by Patricia Hill — April 22, 2007 @ 6:24 pm

110. Comment by Sandi K — April 22, 2007 @ 6:09 pm

     C-P is Colgate-Palmolive. They own Hill’s Prescription Diet.

     Yes, ADM, or any competitor or crazy employee could have intentionally done this.

     What actually has happened to our pets is that their insides were literally blown up by hydrogen cyanide. I’m not resting until the truth is found. This can be in our human food as well, and if it takes this long to find out about the pets (public thinks its 16 dead?), imagine what could be going on in the people population as we blog today. I myself had some kidney thing, unexplained, very recently. I have the doctor’s report to prove it, too.

     Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 6:25 pm

111. We couldn’t have known Nadine but still we carry the burden. I know this too well.

     But the Pet Food Companies knew. Maybe they didn’t know it would kill our pets, but I think they knew what they were doing, upping the protein, using a formula that was not proven, and maybe they even ordered it, requested it.

     And the worst scenerio if the alteration occurred here in the U.S. and Canada and not in China after all.

     That one bag of Melamine - the pink one ton bag - seems like a convenient ruse to me.

     Linda MS

     Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 6:25 pm

112. Comment by Frank — April 22, 2007 @ 6:22 pm

     What about all the protein drinks? What is now coined as neutraceuticals is one of the biggest businesses in the world now. All the major players are jumping in and playing that game.

     Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 6:29 pm

113. Nadine and Linda, I know too well what you are talking about, I also suffer from the guilt of feeding our kitty the poison food. We even force-fed it by syringe the evening before she died, its not anything they will ever be able to make up for, not EVER.

     Comment by Sandi K — April 22, 2007 @ 6:29 pm

114. It is now up to the consumer, we can no longer turn away. we simply start a “awarness” program
     to turn customers away from the companys that
     sell such poisoned crap. If the ceo’s, corporations, fda, or anyone tries to prevent
     it? stand your ground. it is obvious that china is as creepy as i had stated..
     DO NOT DELAY, if it goes unanswered it WILL GET
     WORSE.
     as a Marine i knew well the tack used by these
     clowns, you shut ‘em off.. otherwise you’l end up with 100times greater trouble.
     IT MUST END NOW? NO MORE IMPORTS FROM CHINA>

     Comment by johnypaycut — April 22, 2007 @ 6:31 pm

115. Sandi K - I’m so sorry - we thought we were doing what was right. We didn’t know.

     Linda MS

     Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 6:31 pm

116. Trans-Texas Corridor, another impending disaster in the making?

     With agencies like the almost defunct FDA already overwhelmed, how can they monitor the coming Trans-Texas Corridor traffic? a great many of those containers will be from China and trucked right to Kansas City and beyond on Mexican trucks. These Mexican trucks are to begin rolling towards the end of this month.

     Comment by Gary — April 22, 2007 @ 6:44 pm

117. Gary,

     Clearly a nightmare.

     Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 6:50 pm

118. Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 6:05 pm

     I don’t know. I do know that a lot of these behemoths all have their hands in each others pockets in one form or the other. All tied in together in one form or another with global investment firms and such. Kind of like a money machine that feeds itself. A central bank sort of speak.

     Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 6:52 pm

119. Comment by johnypaycut — April 22, 2007 @ 6:31 pm

     How would you shut them off?

     Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 6:52 pm

120. Steve,

     I know it’s an enormous machine. If they keep doing things like this to each other, that machine will also come to a grinding halt.

     Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 6:55 pm

121. Comment by Sandi K — April 22, 2007 @ 6:29 pm

     I’m sorry Sandi. I don’t think people really understand, except those of us who’ve had the experience of killing the companions that have adored us.

     Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 7:02 pm

122. Comment by Patricia Hill — April 22, 2007 @ 6:24 pm

     I don’t know what Hills tactics are to keep the Veterinary System locked into their products. But it does seem odd that Hills is always the first food recommended 98% of the time. Especially with the prescription diets where it seems to be a one size fit’s all program.

     If thats not clearly a monopoly nothing is.

     Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 7:03 pm

123. Hill’s doles out 40 percent to vets on sales.

     Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 7:07 pm

124. Sandi K

     Do you live in the SF Bay Area? I think I should do a video of your story. I’m no expert, but I think a few clips of you talking about your experience might have an impact to people who haven’t experienced what you have.

     Comment by spocko — April 22, 2007 @ 7:14 pm

125. Nadine, I actually got my own high speed internet connection so I can do some research and copy and paste links - bought it this afternoon.

     On another note, I think Sandi K’s story is touching and would be a great one too for others to hear.

     Linda MS

     Comment by Linda — April 22, 2007 @ 7:32 pm

126. Linda,

     Yeah! That’s great!

     Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 7:37 pm

127. Hills Pet Food reviews:

     From a review site:

     For all those who said that Hill’s Science Diet/Prescription Diet is a good food, please read this. I am the owner of a pet health food store and have been researching the veterinarian/Hill’s scandal for many years. Veterinarians belong to the Veterinarian Association (a Union for Vets), in belonging to said union, the vet must promote Hill’s Science Diet/Prescription Diet and/or Eukanuba. This is, in part, because the Veterinary Association owns stock in both Hill’s and Eukanuba (aka Colgate and Proctor and Gamble) For those of you who don’t know, the Hill’s Company was bought by Colgate and Eukanuba/Iams was bought by Proctor and Gamble. The other reason why Veterinarians support Hill’s is because if our pets are healthy, they don’t make money.

     http://www.rateitall.com/i-24987-science-diet.aspx

     Comment by mal — April 22, 2007 @ 7:53 pm

128. http://tinyurl.com/2vy442

     I was thinking how IAMS has been awfully quiet lately and I never saw this notice on their site as of Friday.

     I think they are one company who has been hurt by this.

     Comment by Carole — April 22, 2007 @ 7:53 pm

129. TOXINS AND THE GI TRACT:

     Calling out to Nadine, Bernie, and all farmers, scientists, and people with knowledge of the delivery and digestion of toxins to the ruminant and the dog and cat. Please see Itchmo’s forum where I’ve started an outline, its objective is to demistify how our pets became ill. Please contribute what scientific information you have - but keep it simple. Not all of us are rocket scientists!

     http://64.79.216.38/~itchmo/fo.....opic=105.0

     Comment by Lynn — April 22, 2007 @ 8:09 pm

     Comment by Lynn — April 22, 2007 @ 8:11 pm

130. “in belonging to said union, the vet must promote Hill’s Science Diet/Prescription Diet and/or Eukanuba. This is, in part, because the Veterinary Association owns stock in both Hill’s and Eukanuba (aka Colgate and Proctor and Gamble) “

     got anything to back this up . . . ?

     Comment by straybaby — April 22, 2007 @ 8:12 pm

131. Year ago some veterinarians were taught while in vet school that Hill’s was the ONLY commercial prescriptive food available. Since then, of course, it’s not the only game in town, but sometimes it’s hard for a veterinarian to unlearn what was once treated as gospel.

     Comment by Lynn — April 22, 2007 @ 8:14 pm

132. I have the ability to create a video of, digitize and post Sandi K’s story. If she is reading this drop me a line.

     spockosemail at gmail.com

     Comment by spocko — April 22, 2007 @ 8:14 pm

133. Actually, I’d like to know the actual name of this Veterinarian Association, or is that the exact name?

     Comment by Carole — April 22, 2007 @ 8:14 pm

134. Intersting article. Looks like a lot of the major US companies actually own a lot of Chinese production companies:

     Expert tells China to limit Cargill, Bunge soy tradings
     28.sep.06
     The Financial Express
     Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd
     China should limit soybean trading by companies such as Archer Daniels Midland Co., Cargill Inc., Bunge Ltd. and Louis Dreyfus Corp, to reduce their dominance, according to a research official at China’s state council.
     China, the largest importer of the bean used to make oil and livestock feed, should restrict trade in genetically modified (GM) soybeans to curb overseas traders, Li Xirong, a deputy director at the state council’s research office, said on Monday at a conference in the northern port city Dalian.
     Overseas grain traders have 80% share in China’s soybean imports partly by buying local companies. They also control half the nation’s soybean processing facilities. The dominance has harmed local production, Li said.

     http://foodsafetynetwork.ca/ag.....htm#story4

     This article only talked about soybeans but I’ll bet it applies to other grain products too.

     Comment by mal — April 22, 2007 @ 8:14 pm

135. My Vets Always Pushed Hill’s,Euk. And Iams On Me

     Comment by MARY ANN — April 22, 2007 @ 8:17 pm

136. Comment by spocko — April 22, 2007 @ 7:14 pm

     Spocko, we live in Alaska so doesnt look like that would work out. (-: I bet if you put up an alert here on this site in the blog, there will be lots more like me but that live in SF area…..come on, folks, I know Im not the only one with a terrible story, anyone in the San Francisco area want to help Spocko and everyone else out? People need to know more about what truly is happening to pets and their owners…. thanks Spocko

     Comment by Sandi K — April 22, 2007 @ 8:19 pm

137. RE:Comment by straybaby — April 22, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
     got anything to back this up . . . ?

     I was only quoting a review from the link that I posted. It was that person’s comment.

     However here is an article from Itchmo’s site on Hills:

     Wondered Why You Always Find Science Diet at the Vet?

     http://www.itchmo.com/read/won.....t_20070403

     Comment by mal — April 22, 2007 @ 8:23 pm

138. ARE WE HEADED FOR EXTINCTION ???

     We are so concerned that we may not be timely reading labels and formulas in order to properly care for our family. We find that we need help to compare notes with your group, if that’s ok.

     We’re reading the news stories, updated recalls, etc. and trying to better understand our nation’s dilemma and how we got ourselves into this fix. Why didn’t we see this coming and can someone please provide articles or books relating to predictions of this specific situation that we find ourselves?? I know we’ve all been worried about funding social security and medicare, and maybe we won’t have to worry if we die earlier than expected, but how did this happen ??

     Pet Connections, Dogtor J, Dogster, and all other helpful websites, you are so correct…We need to check often the label ingredients of all food, both for us humans and our pet companions.

     As an example, Mitzi, our adorable and vivacious guardian-angel companion mini-Schnauzer (deceased), was prescribed Hill’s W/D Prescription Diet canned food for the last several years. We were requested to provide our deceased pet’s canned food information to FDA and as I was reading data to them, I finally read the labels. We compared her unopened “24 to a case” pet food cans purchased in October or November 2006 to her last recent “12 to a case” purchases in January and February 2007…these were the cases from which she was last eating before she died on March 8th… we note that the can size changed from 14 3/4oz to 13oz … that’s a 12% reduction in can size ???

     Some of the ingredient/formula names and order of ingredients on the WD food labels have also changed. The name of the third ingredient on the food label changed from “corn meal” to “ground whole grain corn”, but maybe these are the same ingredients, and from “vegetable oil” to soybean oil”, but maybe these too are the same ingredients, etc. ?? I don’t think I find any gluten specifically mentioned on either can’s labels….do we assume no gluten exists in the formula if the food label does not specifically mention a gluten???

     Do special arms-length persons or websites exist for us that can answer our questions and interpret food labels periodically on a product by product basis, so we’re not having to contact each manufacturer ?? All of this information is so confusing - how are we to know what’s right or wrong for our family at this time and forward.

     We’re spending several hours in the aisles at the grocery store reading labels – trying to protect our family …it’s an emotional roller-coaster ride.

     We’re stuck in time, like hostages, trying to figure out what’s best for our family. Actually it’s like we’re being terrorized because we are being frightened about our food supply - our very existence. Where are the natural wholesome foods of the good ‘ole days and made in the USA ?? How did we get ourselves in this fix so quickly ??? Is it possible to save our civilization, and our planet, Earth, or are we destined to quickly continue down this destructive road into extinction ??

     Could our manufacturers unknowingly be creating, in essence, man-made plagues of synthetic or chemical origin ?? Could “un-foods” create massive starvation and malnutrition ?? Could greed and the desire for annualized double-digit returns on investments be more desirable than life itself and spell the beginning of the end of times for our civilization ?? Wow, how quickly it consumes us…

     Lord, we’re so lost and heart-broken…Please help your children find the proper path to follow in our desperate time of need. AMEN.

     Comment by Bee — April 22, 2007 @ 8:28 pm

139. Sandi K. Alaska! Wow! Yes, it would be good to get someone here in the Bay area. But, if you have still photos I could work with those too.
     We could record your voice over the phone and do one of those Ken Burns deals.

     So Sandi K if you have photos send em.
     Others in the SF Bay area drop me a line.

     Comment by spocko — April 22, 2007 @ 8:30 pm

140. Comment by Sandi K — April 22, 2007 @ 8:19 pm

     Sandi, I missed your story. Where can I find it? I’ve been looking everywhere.

     Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 8:41 pm

141. Comment by Steve — April 22, 2007 @ 7:03 pm

     It’s like the medical clinics giving business to the laboratories that they own, without stating it. Isn’t there legislation up right now on that that they have to state it? It could be used as an example.

     Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 8:49 pm

142. Comment by mal — April 22, 2007 @ 8:23 pm

     well the article is 10yrs old. a lot has changed since then in pet food. SD and Iams are now in the grocery stores and are a some what better option than some of the other store brands. and while there may be some vets that mark it up 40%, i really doubt most do. they really aren’t in the business of selling pet foods (maybe some of the larger vet clinics are, but most of the smaller ones aren’t). and yes, they do fund lots of studies, but you’ll find that everywhere. who else is doing it/going to do it? they were the only ones anlong with purina that did do longer term research and specialized diets and they still work well for many pets.

     all that said, i don’t think my vet is required to push SD/Euk/Iams, and if they are, OOPS! they don’t. a lot has changed in vet medicine in the last 10yrs, and pet owners are also wiser and more informed. and we luckily have more choices in commercial foods on the premium end including raw. i’m waiting for SD and Co to bring on their ultra premium no grain diets ;)

     *please note, I don’t work for/feed/or promote these diets. just see these statements getting thrown around a lot . . . I did feed them 18-20yrs ago though. I think they were one of the few you could get with out all those funny colors added :-P lol!~

     Comment by straybaby — April 22, 2007 @ 9:07 pm

143. By now I would expect everyone must realize the corporations control everything. The FDA is bought out by the food and drug industries, the media are slaves to their advertisers. The politicians say they do the will of the people, but it is really the will of their biggest contributors. If it weren’t for the small tidbit on Yahoo news that pointed me to petconnection back on March 16th, I would not know of any of the recalls that have been happening. And even though I have been vocal to everyone I know, and clearly obsessed with the poisoning of our furkids, not one person that I know or work with has ever asked me for any info on it or whether the foods they are using are on the recall lists. The general public just doesn’t care, they want to continue to live as sheep and think our government will not let anything bad happen to them.
     But thank goodness I now know who the father of Anna Nicole’s baby is! PATHETIC!

     Comment by BW — April 22, 2007 @ 9:07 pm

144. I have had the same experience as BW. Not one person I have told about the recall has asked for more information about it. I tell them more because they can’t shut me up.

     People don’t want to think about facts like these:

     The average American eats 260 pounds of imported food. The FDA inspects 1.3% of it.

     And, of course, in their inspections the FDA looks only for the common contaminants, like molds and pesticides, and not for something deadly that has been added intentionally.

     So much for homeland security.

     Comment by Cathy Moore — April 22, 2007 @ 9:29 pm

145. Don’t forget the Congressional hearing on food safety scheduled for Tuesday morning. Please consider sending your concerns to the legislators involved, who are listed here:

     http://tinyurl.com/yr9mrm

     Comment by Cathy Moore — April 22, 2007 @ 9:33 pm

146. Comment by Nadine Long — April 22, 2007 @ 8:41 pm
     Nadine, Itchmo had posted some of it back on 4-10 after UC Davis had tested the food for a woman and her vet. I told Spocko that I think he needs someone better than us. Our kitty died before the recall so never had a urine test done but she was eating food from the recall list (we have left over cans).

     Comment by Sandi K — April 23, 2007 @ 1:31 am

147. Comment by petlover — April 22, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
     RE: exporting wheat, importing wheat gluten. Someone explained to me that EU has subsidies for wheat making it cheaper. We have to export something since so many more things are coming in than going out. Our food safety is all tied up with trade policies and wars and our net export deficit.

     Bonnie - don’t worry about nutrition ideas conflicting each other. There’s more than one way to feed a dog. What matters is how your pet does on it. That’s the lie the commercial companies have propagated - that only they know how to feed your pet. Just make sure there’s calcium in the recipe.

     Comment by CathyA — April 23, 2007 @ 4:38 am

148. mal said: a lot has changed in vet medicine in the last 10yrs, and pet owners are also wiser and more informed

     MAYBE, MAYBE NOT:
     http://www.geocities.com/~krem....._2004.html
     Controversy, Confusion Continue To Surround Vaccine Guidelines JAVMA September 15, 2004: the one-year revaccination frequency recommendation found on many vaccine labels is based on historical precedent, not scientific data.
     He points out that veterinarians practicing in the United States can no longer report adverse vaccine events to the U.S. Pharmacopeia’s Veterinary Practitioners’ Reporting Program. Funding was discontinued last year and the program ended in April 2003. “Today, there is no national database through which veterinarians can both report adverse drug/vaccine reactions and obtain adverse event information pertinent to a particular product,” Dr. Ford said.
     While veterinarians should report adverse events to the manufacturer or the Department of Agriculture’s Center for Veterinary Biologics, there is no database of information that can be used for an epidemiologic study. This is unsettling for researchers studying vaccine adverse events such as vaccine-associated sarcomas, which Dr. Ford says occur in somewhere between one in 10,000 and one in 1,000 vaccinated cats. Either is unacceptable.
     “This could be a train wreck for our profession,” Dr. Ford commented. “For over 10 years, we have known there is a cause-and-effect relationship between vaccination and fibrosarcoma in some cats. There is no evidence today that, in the past 10 years, we have succeeded in decreasing the incidence.”

     Why did AVMA cut off funding for the Feline Vacc. Assoc. Sarcoma Task Force?

     Comment by 4lgdfriend — April 23, 2007 @ 8:28 am

149. RE:Comment by 4lgdfriend

     Actually it was not me who said:
     mal said: a lot has changed in vet medicine in the last 10yrs, and pet owners are also wiser and more informed

     Someone was replying to an earlier post of mine.

     Also more interesting tidbits on conflict of interest:

     New FDA rules aim to limit conflict of interest
     Financial ties to drug companies may bar experts from advising agency

     The conflict-of-interest guidelines would allow scientific experts who accept less than $50,000 in corporate grants, contracts and consulting fees — or hold less than that amount in company stock — to still serve on the FDA’s advisory committees. But that could happen only if the need for their services outweighed the potential conflict, and only if they were nonvoting members, according to the draft.

     http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17722620/

     I am “glad” to see that the FDA is going to “limit conflict of interest” to less than $50,000 from companies/agencies with a vested interest. (Much sarcasm intended)

     Comment by mal — April 23, 2007 @ 8:45 am

150. I’ve been following the blogs on Pet Connection & Itchmo to try to keep track of the latest recalls. I also like to hear who is feeding what & how it’s going because I am just at a loss. I think there are so many pet owners that don’t have a clue. I read about one guy who went to a pet store & asked “what was the name of the pet food that’s making dogs sick?”…..obviously, he thinks it’s just one. Amazing.

     I believe this is what “they” want….I have seen nothing in my newspaper & little blurbs now & then on tv….but that’s it. If it weren’t for all of you & the above mentioned websites (along with some others), I wouldn’t have a clue either. Thanks thanks thanks.

     Did anyone happen to catch the thread on somebody’s contact with Fromms that was posted at Itchmo? (At least I think it was but at this point, not sure.) They were asking about a certain ingredient that was on the bag & was told that that ingredient had been removed a year & a half before but it was too expensive to redo the bags or labels, not sure which. Now that really gives me confidence to read the ingredients in deciding which food is ok to feed my dog. They can obviously change what they add or remove without changing labels (six months is bad enough but a year & a half????)

     I just want to know why these pet food companies can do anything they please…..or so it seems. And exactly where does that leave us when we are trying to choose which product is free of glutens & Lord knows what else.

     Comment by Jan — April 23, 2007 @ 8:55 am

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