Pet-food recall: Doctors Foster and Smith pull product
By Gina Spadafori
April 25, 2007
-
If you have a sick pet or a question on your pet’s health, call your veterinarian.
- If you want your say on food-safety reform, Sen. Durbin’s office wants to hear from you.
- If you’re new to the site, please check out our general information page (includes links to recalled foods).
- If you’d like suggestions on what to feed, click here.
- If you want to report a sick or deceased pet, click here.
The final entry (at least that we know of) in the Wilbur-Ellis rice protein concentrate recall is Doctors Foster and Smith. From their Web site (scroll past the wheat gluten info):
Rice protein concentrate has been indicated as a possible source of melamine recently found in pet food products. As a precautionary measure Wilbur-Ellis company, the supplier of rice protein concentrate, is voluntarily recalling all lots of rice protein concentrate. We received notification from the manufacturer today, April 25, 2007, suggesting we issue a precautionary recall.
Two of our products: Adult Lite Dry Dog (Item #’s 14178, 14179, 14180, 14262, 14263) and Adult Lite Dry Cat foods (Item #’s 12855, 12856, 13864, 13865) contain rice protein concentrate. Only the Adult Lite Dry Dog and Adult Lite Dry Cat foods contain rice protein concentrate.
Preliminary test results for melamine contamination have been negative. Final test results from the FDA are expected within two weeks. Please check the Adult Lite Dry Dog food or the Adult Lite Dry Cat food product pages on the DrsFosterSmith.com website for any updates.
Thanks, Itchmo.
Also: Please note that we are again experiencing extremely heavy traffic on our Web site. So please don’t post about it, post your comment multiple times and so on. Just be a little patient.
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Drs Fosters & Smith said they only received notice today from Wilbur-Ellis. Does this mean it is really the 5th and final company that received tainted rice protein from Wilbur-Ellis OR is this a 6th company? You know how Menu Foods kept having “clerical” errors.
Comment by Sheila — April 25, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
Here’s the text of my comment to Foster & Smith:
I am so very disappointed in your company. I’m a long-time customer and recommended you to many people. However, your delay in admitting that you were one of the companies who received the Wilbur-Ellis is not acceptable. You HAD to have known this for several days at least.
Regretfully, GOOD-BYE Drs. Foster & Smith
(my name is signed)
Comment by Grace — April 25, 2007 @ 3:10 pm
The ‘manufacturer’ just notified them today? Who is the manufacturer?
Comment by slt — April 25, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
“Drs Fosters & Smith said they only received notice today from Wilbur-Ellis. Does this mean it is really the 5th and final company that received tainted rice protein from Wilbur-Ellis OR is this a 6th company? You know how Menu Foods kept having “clerical” errors. “
Wilbur Ellis is not a manufacturer of pet food. Wilbur Ellis notified manufacturers last week so according to F&S, their manufacturer didn’t alert them until today.
Surprises me that they did not call their manufacturer before today.
Comment by Carole — April 25, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
My understanding is that this is the last from Wilbur Ellis but a new/another importer received rice protein concentrate and is implicated. There are five/? more companies that received his - neither the importer nor the companies have been named. Is this correct?I believe it is as written from latest news.
Comment by maddy — April 25, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
Chenango Valley Foods makes Drs. Fosters and Smith and they are from New York.
Comment by Linda — April 25, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
Not just who is the manufacturer, but what does it mean Wilbur-Ellis is recalling ALL lots of rice protein. Hadn’t that already been done or is this in addition to the already quarantined batches? There is way more to this story here. But I love Drs Foster products, so if they are telling the truth that whoever manufacture’s their food just told them today, then I can’t see boycotting them yet. I’d like for more to come out - I think there is more to this.
Rice protein concentrate has been indicated as a possible source of melamine recently found in pet food products.
***As a precautionary measure Wilbur-Ellis company, the supplier of rice protein concentrate, is voluntarily recalling all lots of rice protein concentrate. We received notification from the manufacturer today, April 25, 2007, suggesting we issue a precautionary recall.****
Comment by Becky — April 25, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
Well, I’m glad I checked my home e-mail tonight to get the recall message from Dr. F&S - too bad it was AFTER I had fed my two dogs their dinner that includes the recalled product. Thankfully the boys have been on it for weeks and seem healthy - though I won’t be taking more chances…. I went to that food source expecting to be spared from this recall. It’s not the company I’m frustrated with at this point as much as the endlessness of this story. It’s just unbelievable.
Comment by Emily — April 25, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
What about the CA vets who were testing 5 pet foods which weren’t on the recall list - any news on that?
Comment by slt — April 25, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
I’m really disappointed that Dr. F&S withheld the information for so long, if it is true. I have spent a lot of money with them over the years, but I think that money can be better spent elsewhere.
Does F&S want a little bit of my trust back? Tell me who the manufacturer was so I can ask THEM a few questions. F&S certainly ought to be asking a LOT of questions right now about why they were left in the dark this long.
Comment by CatLady — April 25, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
NO NO NO, Any petfood company whose product is manufactired or co-manufactured at another plant has had weeks now to question and interrogate that company about ingredients being used including country of origin, formulas and suppliers being used (especially those whose names have recently been in the news.) That’s what contracts and lawyers are for. UN-believable.
Comment by elizabeth R. — April 25, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
INFO according to the Pet Food List website. Canned food is made at Menu Foods
http://www.thepetfoodlist.com/petfoods_pg1.htm
Drs. Foster & Smith Products (verified by company 3/29/07)
SOME PRODUCTS RECALLED 4/25/07. See company website for information.
Wet foods made by Menu Foods but not involved in the recall.
Dry foods manufactured by Chenango Valley Foods
All grain and meat products are from the US
No wheat gluten is used in the products manufactured at Menu
Interesting how the manufacturers say “All grain and meat products are from the US “. They get it in the US but it doesn’t mean it actually came from the US. It is all so misleading…no one to really trust any more.
Comment by mal — April 25, 2007 @ 3:45 pm
Either they’ve known about the recall and decided not to act until today - which is bad, or, they’re telling the truth (I doubt it), which means they have no idea where their ingredients come from - which is just as bad. They lose either way.
Comment by Julia — April 25, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
Does anyone know what else is made at Chenango Valley Foods?
According to this site:
http://www.petempawrium.com/Food%20Info.htm
Back to Basics dry food is made there.
Another site said they believed Timber Wolf was produced there. (this was merely someones’s opinion..not actually substantiated)
I think this information should be made public!!
Comment by mal — April 25, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
I have been watching this company over the past few days because they are one of the few that had no announcement on their website regarding rice protein, even though they use it.
The lack of acknowledgment struck me as odd. They always say to follow your instinct.
Comment by Carole — April 25, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
Great work guys finding and fighting for the truth. I almost bought some of Drs. Foster and Smith dog food. Wish all this speculation would end soon. Wilbur-Ellis or someone big is lying, maybe both.
Comment by Izzy — April 25, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
Are we leaving these brands not yet on the recall list to their own manufacturers for testing? Is UC Davis or Iowa testing all brands or only what they are sent? Do we have a list of what is being tested independently? I threw my Natures Recipe Lamb and Rice adult away in January after my dog got so sick. Do I need to go buy another bag and hope it is the same batch and send it in myself? IF SOMEONE WOULD ANSWER I WOULD SO APPRECIATE IT!
Comment by Kristi — April 25, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
OK, I’m trying to figure out if we know all of the Wilbur-Ellis Rice Protein recalls yet. I thought this included 5 states, 5 mfgrs, in 7 locations.
KS - CJ Foods (Blue Buff)
NY - Chenango Valley (Dr Foster/Smith)
MO - Diamond (NB)
MO - Royal Canin
UT - could this be where the LiveSmart Massachusetts company’s petfood was mfg?
Comment by catlover — April 25, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
So, as mentioned above, still two mysteries. 1) What happened to the 5 products that I think Dr Pion was delivering last week to be tested? Did this just go away some place??
2) What about the second importer of rice protein?
Comment by Jenny — April 25, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
I don’t know about anyone else…
but I’m getting sick and tired of walking through this “pet food minefield!”
Comment by Marcy — April 25, 2007 @ 4:31 pm
Smartpack is also made by Chenango Valley. They have it on their statement today. They knew about it on Friday according to the website, but Drs. Foster & Smith just found out?
This leaves another potential manufacturer out there. Does anyone know if one of the recalls is manufactured in Utah?
Comment by Stephanie — April 25, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
Ya’d think ALL these companies and their companies and their companies, etc, would be checking the products. Do they really think the consumers are so stupid especially if ANY of them have been reading these blogs. Hey you guys you can’t hide forever. There are far too many intelligent people (bloggers) out there who will eventually find you out. You made our pets pay. Sooner or later you too will pay the piper.
Comment by VJ — April 25, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
Sorry if this gets posted twice.
Thanks Stephanie. Can anyone help fill in the blanks here or make corrections?
Wilbur-Ellis Rice Protein recalls - I thought this included 5 states, 5 mfgrs, in 7 locations.
KS - CJ Foods (Blue Buff)
NY - Chenango Valley (Dr Foster/Smith)
NY - Chenango Valley (SmartPack)
MO - Diamond (NB)
MO - Royal Canin
UT - ???
I think we’re still missing two.
Comment by catlover — April 25, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
I feel like we are in a war and can’t recognize the enemy.
My poor 8 yr old cat, Beans, has 7 small cans of Natural Balance and some NB dry left. I’ve tried to get her to try home cooked and she won’t touch it. She’s only had commercial food. I don’t know who to trust. They have all lied in one way or another.
My friends are counting on me to help them, but I’ve had to tell them I can’t because I no longer know where to turn. I just feel like honesty doesn’t exist any more.
Comment by Kathi — April 25, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
From the Back to Basics website
http://beowulfs.com/menufoodsnote.asp
“Back to Basics: The Ultimate Food for Pets is in no way related to and has not been affected by the nationwide recall of dog food and cat food that has recently been announced. The company associated with the recall is Menu Foods which has NO affiliation in any way with Back to Basics or Beowulf Natural Feeds, Inc.”
Um. WHEN was THAT paragraph written? “The” company (singular????) associated with the recall????
Sorry Back to Basics - it hasn’t been only ONE company for *weeks* now!
Comment by Pat — April 25, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
yes, howl911 says there is STILL ONE MORE manufacturer. *groan*
Comment by Bonni — April 25, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
Sandi K
Thanks for responding to my inquiry re: how much time between eating food and diagnosed with ARF.
I’d still like to know if any cat or dog died within 5 to 7 days after eating the food.
Comment by Kathi — April 25, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
RE: Back to Basics is made by Beowulf.
Per some sites that sell it, it is made at Chenango Valley Pet Foods
“Blazak said many of the ingredients in Beowulf’s food are fine for human consumption.
“The rice we use is Uncle Ben’s. A lot of what’s found in our food can be found on a dinner table,” Blazak said.”
That’s in the Syracuse Post-Standard article from 3/31.
There are 4 states and 5 pet food manufacturers per the Wilbur-Ellis press release.
Is the question now - how many brands at those 5 manufacturers & how many of those use rice protein concentrate?
Menu did 100 brands.
Ann
Comment by Ann — April 25, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
The list I have kept and updated is below. I just double checked sources and I think that it matches up…
The 5 Companies:
KS—CJ Foods
(Blue Buf dry food)
UT—American Nutrition, Inc.,Ogden UT
(Natural Balance Canned)
NY—Chenango Valley Pet Foods, Sherburne,NY
(Dr. Foster and Smith, Smartpak)
MO: 1. Diamond
(Dry Blue Buf)
2. Royal Canin
(Royal Canin products)
Comment by Gracie — April 25, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
Adding to the confusion is this article. I recommend reading the entire article.
You may need to register - free - but if you turn off Java Script it may come up for you:
FDA plans wider food probe
Testing will check human as well as pet diets for chemical contamination.
By Deb Kollars - Bee Staff Writer
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/160787.html
“The FDA said hog farms in North Carolina, South Carolina, California,
New York, Utah and possibly Ohio — and a poultry operation in
Missouri — purchased salvage pet food containing melamine. Tests
showed the chemical was present in the urine of hogs in North Carolina,
South Carolina and California.”
“The new federal testing, to begin this week, will target six vegetable
protein sources commonly used in animal and human food products:
wheat gluten, corn gluten, corn meal, rice bran, rice protein concentrate
and soy protein.”
“Authorities are identifying and quarantining exposed animals, testing
their urine and flesh, and recovering meat products that have moved into
the food supply. The contaminated pet food came from as many as 10
firms selling salvage product as livestock feed, before it was found to be
dangerous to cats and dogs.”
“Until Tuesday, people had been told the reach of melamine into the
livestock world was limited to a single hog farm in Stanislaus County,
American Hog Farm, where animals were fed melamine-tainted pet
food.”
At least their getting the numbers right this time!
“The recalls started in mid-March after hundreds and
then thousands of cats and dogs fell ill with kidney problems.”
Comment by Mary Smith — April 25, 2007 @ 6:09 pm
It’s like there are a dozen major corporations getting a piece of the action for any one brand of pet food. No WONDER they have to go to China for cheap prices. Didn’t they ever hear of eliminating the middle man and making more profit?
And this “private label” method of product branding has got to go.
No, Fosters and Smith, you’ll never convince me you weren’t hiding under the umbrella of whoever processed your product for you.
And to ALL the pet food companies and their cohorts: This may come as a rude awakening for you, but you may have fooled the consumer once - but never, ever again.
Comment by Lynn — April 25, 2007 @ 6:10 pm
According to the USDA Website, the Wilbur-Ellis rice protein went to 5 mfgrs (it doesn’t mention 7 locations though), so it looks like the Utah mfg is still unknown:
Wilbur-Ellis Voluntarily Recalls Rice Protein Concentrate
Contact:
Ann Barlow
415-438-9826
Consumers
877-217-6993
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — San Francisco, CA — April 18, 2007 — Wilbur-Ellis Company is voluntarily recalling all lots of the rice protein concentrate the San Francisco company’s Feed Division has shipped to pet-food manufacturers because of a risk that rice protein concentrate may have been contaminated by melamine, an industrial chemical used to make plastics and fertilizers that can lead to illness or fatalities in animals if consumed.
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.
Comment by catlover — April 25, 2007 @ 6:28 pm
correction, meant to say FDA, not USDA.
Comment by catlover — April 25, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
I located a site that is listing all pet foods, their manufacturers, whether they have been recalled, and noting with whom the data was verified with at the company. It’s called the Pet List:
http://www.thepetfoodlist.com/
It’s a nice list.
Comment by Shelly — April 25, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
Everything seems to be taking so long to figure it all out. And why in the good Lords name is it taking so long to find out the name of that other company - the one that received the tainted Rice Protein Concentrate?
I bought some new dog food for my dogs today and only pray this premium brand will be okay.
Anymore I don’t know what to buy - seems a roll of the dice either way. Buy everyone here is a God Send and I pray that all of our pets will be okay.
Comment by Sara J. — April 25, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
well at least now we know. i was waiting.
Comment by Eskie Lover — April 25, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
Kathi, ck out the brands on Naturapet.com. They include Innova, EVO, California Kitchen, etc. They have no grains, identified toxins. They are pro-active (watch the CEO’s video - it was up B4 things got really ugly weeks ago). I have the same problem w/1 cat - thinks it isn’t edible if doesen’t come out of a can or bag. Also the new Sheeba domes seem to be OK. Not much nurishment - but no additives either. Also dry foods - Flint River Ranch (many rep’s you can order from) and Evy’s Kumpicat. Good luck! My pantry looks like a “Costco” of safe pet food (at least safe in the last 5 minutes).
Comment by Patricia Hill — April 25, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
Went hunting for info on Chenango Valley and foudn this
http://www.thedogfoodconspirac.....retsii.php
:(
Comment by Sharon — April 25, 2007 @ 7:36 pm
Other safe foods are:
Aunt Jeni’s- website:
http://www.auntjeni.com/
Nature’s Variety-website:
http://www.naturesvariety.com/
Primal Pet Foods-website:
http://www.primalpetfoods.com/
Comment by Shelly — April 25, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
Gracie’s list above mentions Natural Balance in Utah (American Nutrition) - but I think the Natural balance recalled food was manufactured by Diamond so would be MO instead of Blue Buf (Blue Buf was CJ). So, agreed - Utah is left.
Comment by Jenny — April 25, 2007 @ 7:53 pm
DON’T FORGET YOUR POSTCARDS!
Comment by elliott — April 25, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
From April 23
FDA investigators have obtained records showing distribution to five pet food manufacturers in seven locations.
http://www.northcountrygazette.....urers.html
it’s the 14th paragraph down
Comment by Mike — April 25, 2007 @ 7:59 pm
Ouch. We’ve been buying from “Drs.” F & S for *years*. Tomorrow we will call and request to be taken off their mailing list. It is simply unbelievable that they could be incompetent enough to not realize they are part of this debacle for days and days. The fact that there is no mention of recalled food on the main page of their website, even tonight, highlights their slippery evasiveness.
Oh well. Perhaps our sense of disillusionment will be offset by a modest decrease in the volume of junk mail we receive…
Comment by David — April 25, 2007 @ 7:59 pm
MS.HILL, I had my dogs on NUTRO for about 9 years THEY were always vomiting, but since this summer they started to drink so much water. after reading so many horror stories I deceided to take them off Nutro,so first i was going to put them on canidae ,but i read dogs get the runs on it,so i checked out natura pet web page, i like the video the owner did,so first i was going to put them on innova ,but i deceided to go w/ california natural lamb and rice, Thank God for this food in less then a wk, no more vomiting,no more drinking so much water. they have so much more engery and seem content. I’M So Happy I Did This.
Comment by marry ann — April 25, 2007 @ 8:01 pm
Mine are ready! It was nice to work on a “project”. Makes me feel more involved and like I’m am maybe flexing just a little muscle. Very disappointed in the response to this issue here in Michigan. Was GREATLY surprised to see two congressman from MI at Tuesday’s hearing. No mention of it TV, paper or otherwise. Wouldn’t have even known had it not been for Christie’s liveblogging (I can’t even imagine what it took to accomplish that!) Just a small fish in a very large…and probably polluted…sea.
Comment by PJ — April 25, 2007 @ 8:14 pm
Found this and haven’t had time to go through everything to see if it’s been posted. This was buried at the end of an article.
“Also Tuesday, the FDA said another pet food company, SmartPak, had recalled products made with tainted rice protein concentrate. The company said the recall covered a single production run of its LiveSmart Weight Management Chicken and Brown Rice Dog Food.”
http://tinyurl.com/275nkj
Comment by Sharon — April 25, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
Just read the Sac Bee article linked on this site. Did anyone notice that it said this? “FDA officials said Tuesday the contamination may go back as far as last summer..”
If it was already posted, my apologies.
Comment by Pat — April 25, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
I hope this gets posted okay 8)
Thank you to PATRICIA HILL***SHELLY***and
MARRY ANN for your good food leads.
Comment by Kathi — April 25, 2007 @ 9:30 pm
I hope no one walks away from posting here because someone else got on a soapbox and chastised other posters. I’ve gotten something from every post whether it was brilliant, angry, or repetitive. Everyone who comes here brings something to the table, even if it leads to a “dead-end”, it sparks another idea and another path to follow.
And the anger directed at the companies is well-deserved. If the companies had not been so misleading in their ads with gourmet chefs in some fancy white kitchen giving the impression they had their own private manufacturing plant, or waited way beyond too long to keep us informed, we might be more apt to want to work with them.
They drew the line of battle and now we are armed with information.
Their foot-dragging cost us the lives of our furbabies. No one here needs to apologize for feeling angry.
Comment by Kathi — April 25, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
Recalled Wilbur-Ellis Rice Protein Concentrate,
The 5 Companies:
KS–>CJ Foods
(Blue Buf dry food)
UT–>American Nutrition, Inc.,Ogden, UT
(Natural Balance *Canned*)
NY–>Chenango Valley Pet Foods, Sherburne,NY
(Dr. Foster and Smith, Smartpak)
MO->1. Diamond
(Natural Balance Dry)
MO->2. Royal Canin
(Royal Canin products)
[Revised list, brain disconnected writing last list. Sorry!]
Comment by Gracie — April 25, 2007 @ 9:55 pm
Take a look at Diamond’s website:
http://www.diamondpet.com/
The usual precisely worded statement:
ATTENTION: Diamond Pet Foods brand dry and canned pet food and dog treats ARE NOT part of any pet food or treat recall.
WHEAT GLUTEN OR RICE PROTEIN CONCENTRATE IS NOT USED in any of our dry, canned or treat products.
This is technically true - Diamond BRAND food didn’t get recalled or contain those ingrediens, but products manufactured by them were and did, and the fear of cross-contamination would prevent me from buying foods made there.
Salvage food they sold contained melamine and got into hogs - on the website, they talk about how selling salvage is a normal practice for the pet food industry, but don’t explain how melamine-contaminated food came out of their factory if it was never there in the first place.
They say it wsan’t their fault because they sold the salvage food before the rice protein concentrate was recalled, but they had just said they don’t use rice protein concentrate.
If I came across this site and didn’t understand what was really going on, this would totally confuse me.
Comment by Paul — April 25, 2007 @ 10:07 pm
I’m with the group that feels we’re still waiting for one more Wilbur-Ellis manufacturer to ‘fess up - the one from Utah. From FDA info and this site I see:
CJ Foods, KS, Blue Buffalo dry kitten
Diamond Foods, MO, Natural Balance canned and dry
Royal Canine, MO
Chenango Valley, NY SmartPak and Fosters
Comment by Arlene — April 25, 2007 @ 10:31 pm
Comment by Kathi — April 25, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
Soapbox notwithstanding, could you please explain how blaming this fiasco on people who had nothing to gain from it helps us stop it from happening again?
Anger? Yes, totally, let ‘er rip. Repetitive? That’s sort of unavoidable in this kind of medium. But IMHO, some of the folks here espousing far-out global conspiracy theories are distracting us from what’s actually going on - i.e. regulatory and industry problems we might (just maybe) actually be able to change, as opposed to vague “global doom” scenarios over which we have no control.
Just my opinion, and worth no more than anyone else’s. But I’d rather concentrate on what we CAN fix than wring my hands over what we can’t.
Comment by Laura — April 25, 2007 @ 10:41 pm
I think Gracie is right - everything adds up.
Wilbur-Ellis Company said it “shipped to a total of five U.S. pet-food manufacturers located in Utah, N.Y., Kansas and two in Missouri.”
Here is Gracie’s list, reformatted a little:
American Nutrition, Inc., Ogden, Utah
canned Natural Balance
Chenango Valley Pet Foods, Sherburne,NY
dry Doctors Foster and Smith
dry SmartPak
CJ Foods, Kansas
dry Blue Buffalo
Diamond Pet Foods, Missouri
dry Natural Balance
Royal Canin Products, Missouri
dry Royal Canin
That makes five manufacturers, and all states are covered. What might be confusing some people is that one manufacturer makes two brands, and one brand (Natural Balance) is split between two manufacturers (both canned and dry products were recalled).
Thank you, Gracie.
Comment by Paul — April 25, 2007 @ 10:57 pm
Wouldn’t have even known had it not been for Christie’s liveblogging (I can’t even imagine what it took to accomplish that!)
I’ve been really touched at all the people who emailed and posted their thanks for my liveblogging… that one in particular, as it was at 6:30 am my time, and lasted more than FOUR HOURS.
THANK YOU!
Comment by Christie Keith — April 25, 2007 @ 11:28 pm
Laura, since you addressed this to me, I will respond. Like I said everyone can and should be allowed to respond. I don’t feel as if anyone is out of line even if it sounds like a conspiracy. Sometimes inspiration can evolve from a far-out conspiracy thought. We have all discovered that the “experts” are a little s-l-o-w on the uptake. Those who had an obligation to inform us failed to do so. And they are far more guilty of finger-pointing at one another than anyone who has posted here.
I contacted both Nutro and Natural Balance and was lied to by both companies several times. I abhor liars. And I am not obligated to forgive them.
Now more to the point, if you want to rely on the experts to come around and get their act’s together, that’s okay. I think we’d all like to think they can. But if we choose to force them via a boycott or any other means that is fine, too. The real point here is that anyone or everyone should be allowed to voice their opinion without being flogged for it.
I just don’t think anyone who posts here should feel bullyied or intimidated by someone else’s opinion. If someone wants to point fingers and blame all the CEO”s then just let them do it without flogging them. 8)
Comment by Kathi — April 26, 2007 @ 2:26 am
Laura, I do understand what your way of thinking is and how you would like to see things done and that’s great too, but please don’t shut out others because I find their opinions worthy, too.
Comment by Kathi — April 26, 2007 @ 2:34 am
BACK TO BASICS brand dog food is also made at Chenango Valley Pet Foods.
Back to Basics is the brand owned by Beowolf’s Natural Pet Health)
PHONE Numbers for actual plant: Chenango Valley Pet Foods:
Manager: Dave Freedman, Extension 202
Dir. of Operations: Mike Davis, Extension 233
Quality Control: Bill Hufnagel, Extension 217
Beowolf’s Natural Pet Health, Adminsitrative office and warehouse in Syracuse, NY. (800) 219-2558.
Post from Linda:
Chenango Valley Foods makes Drs. Fosters and Smith and they are from New York.
Comment by Linda — April 25, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
***************************************
Comment by petlover — April 26, 2007 @ 5:43 am
For PJ ~ I’m from Michigan, too and also very disappointed in the response here. Contact me if you think we can do something positive.
Comment by dottie — April 26, 2007 @ 5:56 am
The pet food companies don’t want us to know who really makes their product or what really goes into it. I had an argument yesterday about labeling rules while at the Vet’s office with the vet help. People actually believe that the Pet Food Companies labels are correct - even when a new product is introduced. Correct all the time in all cases. Sheeezzzzz.
Comment by Sara J. — April 26, 2007 @ 6:52 am
For Dottie ~ Would love to do something positive. I think the postcard blitz is a start. I have tried emailing all local news media showing my disappointment and asking for better information. Didn’t do a bit of good. Michigan is still somewhat of an agricultural state? Don’t we have many things at stake here? Pets, People, Livestock, Farms….and this state cannot afford to LOSE anything considering our economy is second worst in the nation! If MVMA is reporting 207 pets affected in Michigan, where are the other 205 people (pet parents)?
Please feel free to email me: ladiesolson@sbcglobal.net
Comment by PJ — April 26, 2007 @ 7:24 am
From another site re. Drs. Foster and Smith and the recall
Just as an FYI, all their customers were contacted personally by email or by phone. .
They went above and beyond as it turns out.
April 26, 2007
Comment by Vancouver — April 26, 2007 @ 9:59 am
Linda,
I like all of the info..how did you get that???? Husband use to work there by chance???
Comment by Robert Robers — April 26, 2007 @ 7:14 pm