Pet food recall: Friday news and open thread

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Pet food recall: Friday news and open thread

By Christie Keith

April 27, 2007

If you have a sick pet or a question on your pet’s health, call your veterinarian.
If you’re new to the site, please check out our general information page (includes information on recalled foods).
If you want to report a sick or deceased pet, click here.

We’re putting this up as a small news roundup and open thread for Friday night. Please let us know by email or by posting here if there’s anything new or something we’ve missed. And please send remedies for sleep deprivation and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The big news is that not only were ChemNutra’s offices in Las Vegas searched by the FDA, but Menu’s offices were, too. From the AP’s Andrew Bridges:

Federal agents searched facilities of a dog and cat food manufacturer and one of its suppliers as part of an investigation into the widening recall of pet products, the companies disclosed Friday.

Food and Drug Administration officials searched an Emporia, Kan., pet food plant operated by Menu Foods and the Las Vegas offices of ChemNutra Inc., according to the companies.

[...]

Menu Foods also said the U.S. Attorney’s offices in Kansas and the western district of Missouri have targeted the company as part of misdemeanor investigations into whether it violated the federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act. The sale of adulterated food is a misdemeanor.

Turns out ChemNutra has also imported rice protein concentrate from the same supplier of the tainted wheat gluten:

Import records obtained by The Associated Press show that since May 2006 alone ChemNutra also imported 440,000 pounds of the second suspect pet food ingredient, rice protein concentrate, from the same Chinese trading agent that handled exports of the tainted wheat gluten.

[...]

Ten of the 11 containers of rice protein concentrate imported by ChemNutra over the last year went to undisclosed pet food companies, spokesman Steve Stern said. The 11th is under quarantine and being tested. But just one of the other 10 is known to have been tested; results from those tests, done last week, showed it was not contaminated, Stern said.

Full story here.

Interesting, although short, article from canada.com on a piece of the puzzle as to how melamine, generally thought to be incapable of causing the level of kidney damage seen in affected pets, might have reacted with cyanuric acid when ingested:

Scientists at the University of Guelph say they have discovered a chemical process that may explain how pets in Canada and the United States were affected by contaminants discovered in recalled pet food products last month.

They found that melamine and cyanuric acid – compounds identified as contaminants in the gluten that was used in the recalled pet food – react with one another to form crystals that may block kidney function.

Menu Foods is biting back at ChemNutra:

Menu Foods said on Friday that ChemNutra was wrong in implying that suspicious wheat gluten used in its pet food may have come from other suppliers, since it did not start having problems with tainted supplies until it starting working with ChemNutra.

U.S. officials have said the wheat gluten used in pet food made by Menu Foods was tainted with melamine, an industrial chemical that is not approved for use in food, and is linked to a U.S. pet food recall that includes over 100 brands and could expand further.

“ChemNutra’s statement is wrong, and unnecessarily alarms consumers,” a Menu Foods spokesman said via e-mail.

Update: Interesting article in the LA Times about food safety, national security, the FDA, and the pet food recall:

After the 2001 terrorist attacks, the government and experts developed protections against an array of threats. But as time passed without new attacks, the sense of urgency drained away. In the case of foodstuff, the FDA’s Import Strategic Plan fell victim to budget constraints, competing priorities and government inertia.

“The bottom line is that the United States is being overwhelmed with food imports, and they are not being screened by the FDA,” said William Hubbard, a former FDA associate commissioner for policy and planning.

“A lot of time and effort went into it, and the best minds of the agency were brought in,” he said of the import protection plan. “It wasn’t approved or disapproved. It was basically, ‘We can’t do this because we have no money. This is all good stuff, and it should be done, but we don’t have money.’ “

There is, however, a new urgency. The chemicals implicated in the pet deaths, identified as melamine and cyanuric acid, were found in protein ingredients used in human foods, ranging from bread to veggie burgers. One of the most common of these ingredients is wheat gluten.

FDA investigators suspect the interaction of melamine (used to make plastics more pliable) and cyanuric acid (used to sanitize pool water) might have caused fatal kidney problems in pets. A possible reason for adding the chemicals is that in certain tests, they can make food ingredients appear protein-rich.

This week, the FDA announced that it was expanding testing for contamination of human foods, though none has been detected. China, a country with a reputation for lax safety standards, is a major supplier of ingredients in pet and human foods marketed by U.S. companies.

Full article here.

So – will I get to sleep tonight or not?

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Filed under: 2007 food recall,animals: pets,news — Christie Keith @ 5:55 pm

Comments (158)

158 Comments »

I hope you get to sleep tonight Christie… (Because if you don’t I won’t either!)

Comment by Kim — April 27, 2007 @ 5:58 pm
Christie, excellent round up! I hope you, Gina and the entire PC gang get at least some modicum of sleep this weekend.

The Pet Connection has provided an invaluable service in keeping us informed (and ahead of the FDA, et al, sheesh!) while also allowing all our pet’s voices to be heard. It’s deeply appreciated.

Sending along many “WOOFS” of approval from my house to yours!

Comment by Ally — April 27, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
Hey, everyone! I signed up for the FDA recall/alert list at the beginning of this, and guess what? I got a note they’ve approved a generic for Ambien!

So we can all sleep better now, at a lower cost!

Thank heavens for the FDA!

Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 27, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 27, 2007 @ 6:25 pm

Go to the store and buy yourself some Celestial Seasons “Sleepytime Tea”.

Comment by Steve — April 27, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
Gina,
I hope you’re taking care of yourself! Me, I use L-Theanine to sleep, turns off all the noise. One of those things I got in the house for a critter! Christie, hope your hands have recovered. And that snippet from Guelph was way too short. I want to know more!

Comment by CathyA — April 27, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
Interesting older story from International Herald Tribune… serves to further prove how dishonest Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development can be…

Clues to pet food recall traced to Chinese city

By David Barboza
International Herald Tribune
Wednesday, April 11, 2007

http://www.iht.com/articles/20.....gluten.php

Comment by Mary — April 27, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
It’s confirmed that those hogs entered the human food. I didn’t know that they were sure enough to print it. It’s in this article, the states that they know the hogs were released into the human food supply and how many are in it.

http://tinyurl.com/2f7d7x

Comment by shelly — April 27, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
Hey Marcy, if you’re still here!
Just got back from my store run…hit 3 Wawas, found 1 questionable can of food. Just called Menu Foods (the evil people). I now own a recalled product, ups code and all. I confirmed it with Menu Foods!! This is Paws food, from the very first recall (though the date code is from the more recent “All date codes are recalled”). Now going back to get some corporate numbers and let the games begin!

Comment by Krystal Kubichek — April 27, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
Comment by Mary — April 27, 2007 @ 6:33 pm

I hate feeling upset when Chinese friends lie to me; I expect it from the Chinese government, from Chinese businessmen; but I never expected it so blatantly － and so badly done － by a friend. Seeing as how feeling upset is … well … upsetting, not to mention unproductive, I set out to understand as best I could what lay at the specifically Chinese-style and motivation for lying.

Bill Dodson
http://silkrc.typepad.com/chinablog/

Comment by Steve — April 27, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
Sleep remedy I use -
Chammomile Tea - works

Comment by shelly — April 27, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
Gina and Christie - Heaven has a special place for people like you! What would we all do without you? Can I send you a nice merlot or maybe a bottle of something special? Let us know and I am sure there are many of us that would love to do something special for you!

Comment by sue — April 27, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
Krystal - Don’t go away. I had some info for you. I’ll go look it up again. Wait

Comment by shelly — April 27, 2007 @ 6:49 pm
Christie, live-blogger extraordinaire, try Biofreeze on your wrist and hand. Or Jointritis. Both work well on the tendonitis in my foot.

As for sleep remedies, you are both more than welcome to swipe my 2 year old for a few days. You’ll sleep like babies after hanging out with her :)

Thanks so much for all you do!!!

Comment by Sharon — April 27, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
WAWA info-
Howard Stoeckel is the CEO
Richard D. (Dick) Wood Jr. is chairman of the board of directors

Their website is wawa.com

Comment by shelly — April 27, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
If anybody is looking for a safe, wholesome food. Performatrin Ultra is excellent. I rotate it with Canidae and my dog loves it. Recommended by Whole Dog Journal. Not sure how widely available it is in the US. He loves the Salmon & Olive Oil formula for a treat.

Not part of any recall in any way. I hope for my dogs sake and mine it stays that way.

http://www.performatrinultra.com/

Comment by DaveyD — April 27, 2007 @ 6:56 pm
This article written in the Op Ed of the New York Times By Andy Kessler titled “Trust Me” is a lesson our Pet Food Manufactures, Pet Food Companies, and Raw Ingredient Importers would be best served to adopt:

“Your baker only needs to have tasty buns, but you most likely pick your doctor, banker, realtor or broker based on some intangible — a recommendation, a reputation, some form of trust. If you don’t, I suggest that you fire them before the sun comes up again.
And a personal recommendation: Protect your reputation with a vengeance. Once lost, it is hard to earn back. At the end of the day, it’s all you really have. In this interconnected world, you can’t move to another city and start again. Despite the scandals and villains frog-marched through our judicial system, or maybe because of it, honesty and trust are making a huge comeback. Trust, integrity and reputation are no longer buzzwords — they have become our currency for commerce. Trust me on this one.”
25, 2007, 5:34 PM
Trust Me By Andy Kessler

Comment by Linda Bluedobie01@hotmail.com — April 27, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
Pet Food Recall has now claimed yet another corporate victim. On Friday, American Nutrition Inc. became the final of five pet food companies that Wilbur-Ellis supplied with tainted rice protein to recall a variety of products, according to reports.

The products recalled were manufactured by American Nutrition for other independent companies, and American Nutrition brands were not part of the recall, the company said in a statement.

Many of the companies recalling food said in statements on their Web sites that American Nutrition added the rice protein concentrate to their products without their knowledge or approval, reports the AP.

Comment by Steve — April 27, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
The origin within China of the wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate remains murky. For example, ChemNutra’s source for the two vegetable proteins, Suzhou Textile Import and Export Co., told The AP that food ingredients aren’t part of its business – but that employees often take on side deals. Stern said ChemNutra dealt with the company’s president.

You buy that one?

Comment by Steve — April 27, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
sorry Shelly, I’m back. got the corporate number for Wawa. Calling now. will be here for that info.

Comment by Krystal Kubichek — April 27, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
thanks, Shelly, just saw the info. Unfortunately, I had to go to the store to get a phone number. Calling now, will give you an update.

Comment by Krystal Kubichek — April 27, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
Christie, A while back I had ‘trigger finger’, a vernacular term for a condition similar to carpal tunnel but involving a finger instead of the wrist. The finger tendon snaps each time the finger is bent — hence the nickname. I hunted the web and it said to imobilize it for a few weeks. So— i spent the next six weeks with the ring finger of me left (dominant) hand TAPED to the middle finger. I discovered it was possible,albeit difficult to type if I left a small space at the top between fingers so i could toggle them. That said, would a splint similar to those used by arthritic patients offer relief when you dont have to type — eg. while sleeping (for a few hours a week). One site I found suggested that. Also cold packs.

http://tinyurl.com/6mwnz

As for getting to sleep, I find there’s nothing like a purring kitty to do the trick. He’s named PURRLY for a reason. His ‘lullabye’ is very effective.

Comment by Margaret Bridge — April 27, 2007 @ 7:33 pm
Wawa update:
Just got off the phone with them. They took down my info, the info from the contaminated can, the website for the Menu Foods recall saying all dates were recalled, the date and posting of the recall, etc. Someone should be e-mailing me back by Friday as a follow up (at my request, though they are anticipating a response much sooner, since it deals with a recall. Offered to refund me the money, but I told them I will not return the can until someone contacts me to assure me they have pulled all contaminated products. I told them I prefer an e-mail (written proof!), but they can contact me by phone if they need to. Both Wawa’s hotline person and the store manager were very good (the store manager was so upset that they had sold me a bad can!). They said they had pulled recalled product, but perhaps the “all date codes” notice had been missed. I’m so glad they’re reacting this way: it would be awful to boycott Wawa. (If you have one nearby, u understand!) Thanks Shelly, Marcy, everyone else who gave me advice.

Comment by Krystal Kubichek — April 27, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
It’s definitely a bright spot that Guelph is making progress on the medical side of this. So much of this is so vague and any clarity that can be offered is more than welcome.

Hopefully they can confirm their tests, which will greatly help vets all over the country.

Comment by Carole — April 27, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
A shot or two of tequila will get the job done….you’ll sleep better than with the generic Ambien. Trust me on that…..

Go to a pharmacy & get one of those splint type jobbies for carpal tunnel. I have had problems on & off & when it gets bad, on goes the splint at night. Cold packs also work slick.

We do appreciate all the time & effort all of you have put into keeping us informed. I can’t even imagine where I’d be (or where my Lab, Hannah would be) were it not for all the info from this website.

So thanks from me & sloppy kisses from Hannah.

Comment by JanC — April 27, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
re: the wheat gluten import

“but that employees often take on side deals.”

This phrase really bugs me. Do they meet in the alley and pass money in white envelopes?

Nice to know our foods are made from ingredients obtained in side deals.

Comment by Carole — April 27, 2007 @ 8:03 pm
At first I thought Wawa was a short name for some other store. Now I see it’s a real place…what is Wawa?

Comment by Carole — April 27, 2007 @ 8:05 pm
Re: Comment by Krystal

If you’re going to WAWA, I assume you live PA/DE. Good to know. I’m in DE. Sometimes I think I’m the only one on the east coast.

Comment by Cathy — April 27, 2007 @ 8:06 pm
Carole from WaWa’s website looks like a grocery
chain.

Comment by VJ — April 27, 2007 @ 8:06 pm
I saw that but I was curious about them as I have never heard of them. I am originally from the east coast but I see they are in a limited amount of states.

Comment by Carole — April 27, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
GRRREAT WORK KRYSTAL!!!

Comment by elliott — April 27, 2007 @ 8:17 pm
Carole, Vj, Cathy:
Cathy - Yup, I’m in West Chester, right in PA over the DE border. Though there are Wawas in NJ and MD, and they’re goal is to go as far south as Florida. They’re working on Virginia now.

Carole and VJ - Wawa is like a 7-11. It’s a convenience store, but much better than the usual (in Chicago, the had White Hen and 7-11, don’t know about other places). Some Wawas have gas, but the best thing about them is the Wawa brand. Awesome iced tea, fruit punch, that sort of thing. AND they have hoagies and they’re own mini-deli’s (even will toast sandwiches), which are open 24/7 and make fresh sandwiches and stuff to order. Good quality, always fresh. In fact, I have friends in DC who will make midnight trips to a Wawa in Maryland half-an-hour away just to get a hoagie (or sub, as some call it).

Comment by Krystal Kubichek — April 27, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
Well, Christie & Gina - I hope you both get a good nights sleep. Everyone else too - it has been a long two days. As for carpul tunnel, I’m lucky that sleeping with the wrist brace is enough for me. Good night everyone - hope there are no more surprises this weekend! Can only hope :)

DaveyD - performin ultra was on my list to review for my cats. I think I personally gave up on Feledae although I may come back to it. The canned product was just to variable - my cats deserve better than having chunks of “stuff” in their food.

Comment by Jenny — April 27, 2007 @ 8:19 pm
Thanks Elliot! But I think the most important thing is, REMEMBER TO CHECK YOUR CORNER STORES! I think this just goes to show, little stores or stores that only carry one or two brands of pet food may not even know they’re selling contaminated food!

Comment by Krystal Kubichek — April 27, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
Does anyone out there have a good recipe for dog cookies? After the wheat recall, I switched to a rice based biscuit. After the rice recall, I switched to cheese. But the guys are jonesing for something crunchy, and as the human footing their dental bills, I totally concur.

Kitty cookies recipes would be most welcome, too…

Comment by Laura — April 27, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
Laura:
As everyone told me, check out “Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats”. Oh, and if it’s only cookies you’re looking for, some people said the 3 Dog Bakery’s treat book is good too.

Comment by Krystal Kubichek — April 27, 2007 @ 8:24 pm
Hi folks,

I submitted this comment before, but it got lost in the shuffle. I really do need to know. Can someone respond?
Kudos to Pet Connection for staying on this.

Has anyone checked the Northern California Save-Mart NuPet brand? They have small cans that are clones of Fancy Feast. I use their cubed beef dinner as a cat treat and a dressing to get my cats to eat home-cooked beef. The can does not list any kind of glutin as an ingredient.

Also, Costco/Kirkland has recalled canned dog food, but what about the Signature Cat Maintenance dry kibble?

So far Athena and Danny are fine, and I want to keep them that way.

Comment by Clare in N. California — April 27, 2007 @ 8:44 pm
I can’t find ANY books on the shelves here - we’re cleaned out. The helpful folks at my local bookstore say they’re backordered for *weeks.*.

Any good ones online? I’ve tried that before, but found the online recipes aren’t all reliably palatable. Any out there that folks have had luck with?

Comment by Laura — April 27, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
Don’t know if this has been posted before or not (forgive, please);
NITAMIN - The New Nitrogen (published October 20, 2006 - Press Release)
Wilbur-Ellis joins with Georgia-Pacific, a raw material supplier to the fertilizer industry.
http://tinyurl.com/33s82w
I wonder if anybody ordered this stuff? Maybe thought it said Vitamin? 8)

Comment by Kathi — April 27, 2007 @ 9:43 pm
Here’s more on that Nitamin
http://tinyurl.com/2khbtt

Comment by Kathi — April 27, 2007 @ 9:51 pm
Comment by Kathi — April 27, 2007 @ 9:43 pm

Also interesting that Georgia-Pacific is a contributor to federal Republicans - 128K in the 2000 cycle alone.

Wonder if anyone in DC is worried about G-P’s future?

Comment by Laura — April 27, 2007 @ 9:54 pm
“Menu Foods also said the U.S. Attorney’s offices in Kansas and the western district of Missouri have targeted the company as part of misdemeanor investigations into whether it violated the federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act. The sale of adulterated food is a misdemeanor.”

A MISDEMEANOR?! What a joke. There are so many things that are felonies, and the sale of adulterated food (human or pet) is a misdemeanor! Are things screwed up or not!?

Comment by John — April 27, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
Here’s - Nitamin Technology
http://tinyurl.com/2kswZ8
“The presence of healthy fungal and bacterial population in the soil is vital.”
Hope they don’t mean as in Vital wheat gluten - I hope I’m just kidding here 8)

Comment by Kathi — April 27, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
So, 300 hogs have entered the human food supply, but wait, FDA says only minimal risk to humans. Yes, FDA, I really have faith in what you say..not. Where is the data that says there is minimal risk to humans? I did a search on melamine human symtoms and nothing comes up regarding humans and melamine. I trust that answer about the hogs as much as I trust the food I’m giving my pets. Our currancy is right on the nose “In God We Trust” because we certainly cannot trust the government.

Comment by Deanna — April 27, 2007 @ 10:06 pm
RE: Comment by John — April 27, 2007 @ 10:02 pm

Isn’t that pathetic?? What that will probably amount to is a slap on the hands!

Comment by Kat — April 27, 2007 @ 10:13 pm
I don’t understand the misdemeanor thing. I know they passed a law in my state that raised certain types of animal cruelty to a felony.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no federal anti-animal cruelty law.

Comment by Carole — April 27, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
Comment by Clare in N. California — April 27, 2007 @ 8:44 pm

Clare, I don’t know. But if they were my kids, I think I’d be wary of feeding them anything from Costco. They sat on their last recall for a week - not the sort of “good-citizen” behavior that inspires confidence.

Comment by Laura — April 27, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
I say an eye-for-an-eye times 4,515 or more pet deaths.

Comment by Kat — April 27, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
Or, at least 20 yrs for each death x 4515 run consecutively.

Comment by Kat — April 27, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
Of all the labs involved in in-depth testing right now, I’d put my money on Univ of Guelph. In addition to today’s news, I’ll bet we’ll see more out of them in the next couple weeks.

Comment by Lynn — April 27, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
As I’ve mentioned under another blog topic, if you’ve never been to China, check your PBS listings for “China Blue,” a documentary on a Chinese factory. Very informative.

Comment by Lynn — April 27, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
I flat do not understand a misdemeanor… the product crossed state lines.

The tampered product resulted in deaths (at least some of the products had melamine)

Blue Buf says their products tested negative.

Comment by Kat — April 27, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
Ah yes, so nice to add a comment without the system throwing a hissy fit. Thanks Henry and Black Dog for fixing the problem the other night.

Comment by Lynn — April 27, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
In a perfect world selling adulterated food of any kid would be punishable with more than a slap on the wrist.

At this point our only hope is that some of these folks get nailed for something that is a federal violation.

Comment by Carole — April 27, 2007 @ 10:28 pm
Ditto, Lynn! I was getting worried about the site. They did a great job! Purrs like kitty!

Comment by Kat — April 27, 2007 @ 10:30 pm
Should be a favorite link:

http://www.nabr.org/animallaw/

See the upper right – federal legislation and other pages. Mostly to do with lab animals, but some interesting stuff.

Comment by Lynn — April 27, 2007 @ 10:33 pm
This is a double edge sword. On one hand I would love to see some of these businesses fold, however we are also talking about the livelihood of many innocent folks who work at these companies.

Jail time doesn’t mean squat to these folks, they pay millions of dollars for legal counsel who will tie this up in court and settle on a reduced sentence.

They need to be hit where it hurts - remove them from their job, fine them a huge amount and bar them from ever holding a position equal to that of their current one. Turn their factory over to the employees.

And then make them do thousands of hours of community service at their local human society

Comment by Carole — April 27, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
RE Comment by Kat — April 27, 2007 @ 10:23 pm

How much you want to bet they don’t have the sophisticated equipment. Remember that Wilbur-Ellis had only one bag that was positive for melamine, and then when the FDA came in and had their own labs test it, a whole bunch of bags tested positive.

I sure as heck wouldn’t go by what a manufacturer says.

Comment by Lynn — April 27, 2007 @ 10:35 pm
Anybody know if Diamond canned dog food was recalled today? In case I missed it, how about Pet Lover’s Soup canned?

Comment by Kathi — April 27, 2007 @ 10:35 pm
Comment by Carole — April 27, 2007 @ 10:34 pm

I have a hunch this will be crowding the court calendars for years to come. I seriously, seriously doubt anyone will go to jail over this. [D**n!]

Comment by Lynn — April 27, 2007 @ 10:37 pm
RE Comment by Kat — April 27, 2007 @ 10:30 pm

You’re right - the website sure does pure like a kitty. Best compliment you can give Black Dog. I, too, was getting really worried the other night.

Comment by Lynn — April 27, 2007 @ 10:40 pm
Comment by Lynn — April 27, 2007 @ 10:35 pm

Actually I asked Blue this very question at 8:30am this morning. They did not hesitate to tell me that the FDA has and is still testing their food, and that so far nothing has tested positive. They are still waiting for final results, and given that they also feed their cats their product they are just as nervous.

I saw ANI’s site about Blue’s recalled items and ANI indicates that only two of Blue’s canned cat foods have problems. Let’s hope that is true but since Blue has pulled everything it makes things a little easier.

Comment by Carole — April 27, 2007 @ 10:47 pm
Krystal!

You go girl!!!

I did a little bit of informing myself, on the way home from work…

a nice young couple that run a drive thru dairy (Alta Dena)…asked them if they are still selling pet food (yes)…and then asked them if they are keeping up with the recall (yes).

Told them everything that’s going on with the hogs, etc., they were astonished! Happy that I “woke up” some more consumers…and was able to also tell them that I believe that Fancy Feast was the initial cause of my JuJu getting sick…and later dying.

Word of mouth…tell everyone you know what is really going on.

They were very grateful, and enlightened when I left. :)

Comment by Marcy — April 27, 2007 @ 10:49 pm
Now this is interesting — The FDA & Customs & Boarder Protection (CBP) Agreement to investigate & examine imported foods.

FDA and CBP Bolster Safeguards on Imported Food
December 3, 2003

…”FDA is already in the seventh week of implementing another of the four enabling regulations under the Bioterrorism Act, which requires registration of food facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold food or feed for the U.S. market. To facilitate this massive undertaking, which involves more than 400,000 domestic and foreign firms, FDA created a new Internet system where these companies can log onto any time of the day or night, seven days a week, and register in just a few minutes. “…

more: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/fpbtamou.html

So, what was the problem?? YOU FLUNK, FDA!

Comment by Kat — April 27, 2007 @ 10:51 pm
Kathi

Don’t think they were recalled today.

Sign up for Itchmo’s alerts, on their site, and you’ll know before the FDA even sends out an alert, as to what’s been recalled.

Many, many thanks to Pet Connection. You have been a God-send to all of us. You have kept us informed even before the media puts out articles, or the FDA sends out notices of recalls.

You guys are the greatest!

Comment by Marcy — April 27, 2007 @ 10:53 pm
Re: Comment by Laura — April 27, 2007 @ 8:20 pm

Here’s a Dog Treat receipe one of my friends makes all the time for her dogs. I haven’t tried it yet but she swears he pups love ‘em!

CHICKEN LIVER COOKIES (Dog Treats)

If you dont have Chicken liver, just grind up cooked chicken (dark meat)

2 cups Flour (I use Organic Flour 1/2 unbleached and half whole wheat)
3 tbs. Vegetable Oil ( I use extra virgen Olive oil)
1 cup Wheat Germ or Cornmeal (or 1/2 cup each) (for the corn meal I use masa seca) I have it on hand for Tortillas.
1 Egg; lightly beaten
½ cup Chicken Broth
(I use the liver water from boiling the livers)
2 tsp. Chopped Parsley (I add grated carrots also and diced garlic)
1 cup Chopped Chicken Livers

Preheat oven to 400oF. Combine flour and wheat germ (or cornmeal). In separate bowl, beat egg with oil, add broth and parsley, mix well. Add dry ingredients to bowl a little at a time, stirring well. Fold in chicken livers and mix well. Dough will be firm. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out ½” thick and cut into shapes. Place on greased cookie sheets 1” apart. Bake 15 minutes or until firm. Store in refrigerator or freezer.

Comment by Barb — April 27, 2007 @ 10:59 pm
I noticed that Blue updated their website today. Their recall notice has always been the first thing you see, in fact you had to click around it to move thru their site.

But now they actually made their front page their recall notice, and you can only enter their site from this page.

Comment by Carole — April 27, 2007 @ 11:00 pm
Re: carpal tunnel syndrome

Wear wrist braces to bed… when ever you get the chance to sleep. Been feeling major improvements since starting this.

Good luck!

Comment by CS in MI — April 27, 2007 @ 11:01 pm
Kathi: there were some canned foods for chicken soup for the pet lovers soul recalled today. Best info is at itchmo.com

Comment by auntie — April 27, 2007 @ 11:12 pm
DaveyD: Performatrin Ultra is made by menu foods, just fyi in case you didn’t know…

Comment by auntie — April 27, 2007 @ 11:16 pm
Thanks Marcy - auntie 8)

Comment by Kathi — April 27, 2007 @ 11:23 pm
Does anyone else think this odd:
American Nutrition Brand Products Are Not Included In The Recent Nationwide Pet Food Recalls!
These are not on the recall list…
ATTA BOY
ATTA CAT
BASIC PLUS
MAINTAIN CHUNKS
NATURAL HARMONY
VITA BONE
VITA SNACKS
yet their customer’s brands are recalled….
hmph…how interesting 8)

Comment by Kathi — April 27, 2007 @ 11:31 pm
I had a nice conversation with three guys today, older fellows. As I do now with all people I ask if they have heard of the pet food recall. Then I ask, “How many did you hear died because of it?” (finding this out if very important because it tells you what number they remember)
(They said, “Hundreds?”

Then I ask them how big do you think this recall was? This is another number to understand how big they perceive this recall based on their reading or listening to the media.

I ask them if they have pets or they have people who have pets that DON’T have access to the internet and are aware of the 5 recent recalls.

It is important to ask people these kind of questions so we can educate them but also to find out WHAT are the misperceptions so we can correct them. Because we are all so tied into this that we assume everyone knows how big this is.

When I tell them the numbers of self-reported deaths 4,515 (Update 4/26, 7:56 a.m. PT: 4,515 pets )
They are astounded. Then lately I’ve asked them if they knew that the FDA has no authority to issue a mandatory recall for any food with the exception of baby formula. That is for either HUMAN food or Pet food!

BTW here is a video link where they talk about who the FDA can’t recall food. And the FDA is responsible for 80 percent of the food supply with 20 percent of the budget as compared to USDA.

a link to House FDA hearing featuring Lisa Shames of the Government Accountability Office.

How many “canaries” have to die in our “coal mines” until real change in implemented? Do we have to have miners die too? How many miners?

Or do we just say, “Well we can’t really afford to have a safe food supply it’s the cost of being in the global economy, sorry folks.”

Comment by spocko — April 27, 2007 @ 11:31 pm
FDA Food safety hearing on cspan now!

poor little 5yo girl will prob need a kidney transplant from eating bad spinach. damn.

and the hogs that got in the food supply . . . well those the ones they *know* about . . . methinks many more are out there from the last year.

Comment by straybaby — April 27, 2007 @ 11:48 pm
Comment by Kathi — April 27, 2007 @ 11:31 pm

Kathi, I pointed this out earlier today as well.

I think the fact that none of their food appears to contain any rice product is how they will explain this away.

Comment by Carole — April 27, 2007 @ 11:50 pm
Great story, Spocko!

Comment by Kat — April 28, 2007 @ 12:00 am
Sorry if this is a repost; haven’t been able to keep up lately.

This article mentions 39,000 pets have been “sickened” by the recalled food. It doesn’t mention deaths. It’s another version of the news about Guelph identifying the chemical reaction between melamine and cyuranic acid forming the crystals found in sick/dead animals.

http://tinyurl.com/39mhaf

Comment by Sarah — April 28, 2007 @ 12:22 am
I have been following this site but haven’t added anything as I lost my dog 3-19-07. Just
before the recall made the news. I have done my postcards to send. For the ones wanting t-shirts with their pets pictures. you can go to
any fabric or office supply stores and get computer printer fabric and print your own shirts. You can set the ink so they are permant. You can do any writing also. Thank
you for this web site.

Comment by Cathy B Oregon — April 28, 2007 @ 1:37 am
I’m so sorry for your loss, Cathy. :(

Comment by Christie Keith — April 28, 2007 @ 2:21 am
There’s a good article on consumeraffairs.com titled “More Food Poisonings to Come, Expert Warns” by Mark Huffman

Says the FDA is 30 years behind the times; can’t deal with globalization….

http://tinyurl.com/28vjjt

Comment by Marilyn — April 28, 2007 @ 2:45 am
Looks to me like there’s ANOTHER source of melamine in the human food chain.

The South Carolina hogs tested positive for melamine but hadn’t eaten any of the suspect feed.

If I was the FDA I’d be crawling all over the records of that hog farm to see what else those hogs had eaten.

From a link Shelly posted earlier:

http://tinyurl.com/2f7d7x

SOUTH CAROLINA: Urine tests done on some of the 800 hogs now quarantined at a farm have tested positive for low levels of melamine. None went to slaughter. According to the state veterinarian, none of the suspect feed was fed to the hogs. Federal tests on the feed have come up negative. The positive urine tests could not be immediately explained, although contaminated feed could have escaped detection during tests, the FDA said.

Comment by Phil — April 28, 2007 @ 3:57 am
Phil, you beat me to it.

So what WAS fed to the hogs? I hope that if the hogs were fed salvage from another pet food manufacturer who hasn’t yet been caught with melamine in their product, the FDA will follow the trail back to find out who that manufacturer was. And if they weren’t fed salvage at all… it validates my suspicion that we have been getting adulterated materials more widely and/or for much longer than anyone yet realizes, but we are just now reaching critical mass.

Either way, something that hasn’t been recalled (pet food, human food, etc.) was fed to those hogs but hasn’t been under recall (yet). The FDA keeps wanting to say that the recalls are over. They need to stop saying things like that.

Comment by CatLady — April 28, 2007 @ 4:40 am
One more thought on FDA shenanigans…

From http://www.americannutritioninc.com/ :
“The FDA has urged American Nutrition to issue a voluntary recall of pet foods manufactured using Wilbur-Ellis rice protein. None of these products is sold under an American Nutrition brand, but are sold through other independent companies.”

So…. the FDA says “We aren’t aware of any other potential recalls at this time involving either pet food produced from contaminated wheat gluten or from contaminated rice protein concentrate.” and ANI says “The FDA has urged American Nutrition to issue a voluntary recall.” This isn’t a case of a small misunderstanding. Someone is obviously lying. They need to get all of these parties under oath somewhere and see if their stories change when they could be charged with perjury for lying. That would clear up a lot.

As a bonus, if it turns out that the FDA brass is lying, it would be a really good way to push for a clean sweep at the top of the FDA and get some much-needed changes made there.

Comment by CatLady — April 28, 2007 @ 4:41 am
If you take note on the Hog farms contamintaed the state they are in conincides with pet food manufactures:

Diamond in CA-Hogs in Ceres, CA contaminated

Diamond in MO-Chickens and a feed mill possible contaminated.

Iams in North Carolina-Hogs contaminated in NC & SC

Purina in St Louis, MO-Hogs in Ohio

Hills and Menu in Kansas-Hogs in Kansas..

Chenengo Valley Foods—Hogs in NY

Have I lost my mind or is this a very scary connection?

Comment by KatieKat — April 28, 2007 @ 5:21 am
Report: Tainted Hogs Enter Food Supply

_CALIFORNIA: State officials are working to contact the purchasers of 50 whole hogs raised on a single farm.

_NEW YORK: A breeder farm’s 125 to 140 swine are under quarantine pending the results of urine and manure tests. None of the hogs went to slaughter.

_SOUTH CAROLINA: Urine tests done on some of the 800 hogs now quarantined at a farm have tested positive for low levels of melamine. None went to slaughter. According to the state veterinarian, none of the suspect feed was fed to the hogs. Federal tests on the feed have come up negative. The positive urine tests could not be immediately explained, although contaminated feed could have escaped detection during tests, the FDA said.

_NORTH CAROLINA: A farm with 1,400 hogs is under quarantine. It shipped 54 animals to a slaughterhouse, where they are on voluntary hold.

_UTAH: Eight hogs sent to slaughter by one farm remain on hold. Also on hold are 3,300 hogs at a second farm, as well as 40 to 50 carcasses at a slaughterhouse supplied by that producer. Meat from no more than 100 other hogs from the producer, all processed earlier by that same plant, may have entered the food supply, Andrews said.

_KANSAS: Meat from 195 hogs from a single producer may have entered the food supply via a Nebraska slaughterhouse. The farm is holding another 150 hogs.

_OKLAHOMA: A show hog operation purchased contaminated feed but no hogs have gone to slaughter.

In addition, an Ohio hog farm has been cleared.

http://tinyurl.com/2zm9qv

Comment by KatieKat — April 28, 2007 @ 5:33 am
According to the report I posted above the FDA does not currently have a test for detecting Melamine in meat tissue as UC Davis is working on creating a test. The FDA is saying the risk of becomming ill on tainted pork is very low.

My question then is how the hell do they know if the risk is low, FDA has not even identified what is in with the melamine let alone having a test to see if it is in meat tissue??

Comment by KatieKat — April 28, 2007 @ 5:38 am
It’s about time…the recall story finally made it to the front page of my local newspaper, The St. Petersburg Times (Florida).

http://tinyurl.com/2vz6or

Comment by Valerie — April 28, 2007 @ 5:46 am
Comment by KatieKat — April 28, 2007 @ 5:21 am

Diamond has a plant in Gaston, SC.

Comment by slt — April 28, 2007 @ 5:51 am
re: Performatrin Ultra
I was aware that some of their canned food (which I have never used) was made by Menu in their Canadian plant not the Kansas plant. The Performatrin Ultra dry is not made by Menu but I have yet to find out who the Manufacturer is.

Comment by DaveyD — April 28, 2007 @ 6:09 am
Comment by Barb — April 27, 2007 @ 10:59 pm

Thanks for the recipe, Barb!!

Comment by Laura — April 28, 2007 @ 6:19 am
At least some numbers are starting to come out. The Chicago Tribune Online says FDA inspectors checking out 500 complaints of sick or deceased pets just in Illinois. Also goes over problems with FDA investigation.
http://tinyurl.com/2y8kjq

Comment by Laurie — April 28, 2007 @ 6:20 am
Comment by KatieKat — April 28, 2007 @ 5:21 am

Re contaminated hog feed origination - the ones in NC apparently bought it from Diamond in Gaston, SC.

Comment by Laura — April 28, 2007 @ 6:20 am
I don’t think the connection between hogs testing positive for melamine & the proximity to a pet food manufacturer is any kind of a coincidence. You can’t tell me that they had all this recalled food & were going to bite the bullet & take a loss on it…..so they sold it for hog feed & made money on it. If they don’t much care that they killed thousands of animals, do you really think they care if they kill us by contaminating our food chain? They made money & boosted profit, that’s all that counts.

Rather than the FDA going public & warning us (get real!), they notified the CDC to keep an eye out for a rise in cases of renal failure in humans. Is that cold or what? So now we are the canaries in this proverbial mine.

I looked at that food that Davey was talking about (Performatrin or something like that). It also has menadione (sp?) in it. I’m looking at all foods that people recommend….still looking for something I can trust. Right now I don’t trust any of them so I’m home cooking (& you should see the shiny coat & amazing energy level……hmmmmmmm).

I have to make one more comment & it’s about Blue Buffalo. I did see that whole big blurb on their home page about their recall & I think this is one of the few companies that has been honest & acted with integrity under considerable pressure. Everyone else has been out to save their own $%#. BB recalled their canned food, made at ANI, because they had lost confidence in them, not because anything tested positive. I think that takes a lot of guts & says a lot about management. They are one of the few companies that I will use in the future. All of the other with their sneaky & very late recalls can go to hell in a handbasket. My dog is too good for their “food”.

Comment by JanC — April 28, 2007 @ 6:24 am
I also hope to use BB again in the future. I commend them for their actions and I hope other companies will follow suit and sever all ties with American Nutrition & other criminal manufacturers.

Product tampering is a Federal offense and I hope American Nutrition is shut down over this. Now we know why it took this last manufacturer so long to act. Here is the Federal Anti-tampering Act from the FDA website:
http://tinyurl.com/29w2fg

Comment by catlover — April 28, 2007 @ 6:47 am
I see that I am not the only former customer who received the Nutro email last night. Like there is even a snowball’s chance in hell that I would ever consider using their products again …..

Comment by catlover — April 28, 2007 @ 6:52 am
Christie:

One more handy piece of info on carpal tunnel: try an ergonomic keyboard. I honestly didn’t think they’d make a bit of difference but they sure do. I have never typed as much as I have since this food recall fiasco (bet you can relate to that)…..my wrists & arm haven’t bothered me at all (have also had problems with wicked pain in my right arm & elbow, all related to typing).

Think about getting one….it’ll help a lot.

Loves & kisses from Hannah….who is still well thanks to all of you…..

Comment by JanC — April 28, 2007 @ 6:58 am
Catlover:

What did Nutro’s email say? I agree & would never use their food again EVER but I’m curious to hear what they had to say for themselves.

Comment by JanC — April 28, 2007 @ 7:00 am
I also received Nutro’s mail. Her it is:

Nutro Products is Not Involved in Latest Recalls

April 27, 2007 – Yesterday, a number of pet food companies announced recalls of pet food products reportedly tied to a pet food manufacturer, American Nutrition, Inc. and rice protein concentrate supplied by Wilbur-Ellis Company. We want to assure our customers that American Nutrition does not manufacture anything for Nutro Products and that Nutro does not obtain rice protein concentrate from Wilbur-Ellis. None of Nutro’s pet foods are connected with these latest recalls.

Among the companies announcing recalls yesterday, April 26, was Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc. Natural Balance is not in any way affiliated with Nutro Products nor Nutro’s Natural Choice®, MAX® or Ultra™ brands.

Comment by Julia — April 28, 2007 @ 7:07 am
Here is Nutro’s email…..

Nutro Products is Not Involved in Latest Recalls

April 27, 2007 – Yesterday, a number of pet food companies announced recalls of pet food products reportedly tied to a pet food manufacturer, American Nutrition, Inc. and rice protein concentrate supplied by Wilbur-Ellis Company. We want to assure our customers that American Nutrition does not manufacture anything for Nutro Products and that Nutro does not obtain rice protein concentrate from Wilbur-Ellis. None of Nutro’s pet foods are connected with these latest recalls.

Among the companies announcing recalls yesterday, April 26, was Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc. Natural Balance is not in any way affiliated with Nutro Products nor Nutro’s Natural Choice®, MAX® or Ultra™ brands.

For more information about Nutro’s pet foods and/or answers to any questions you may have, please go to http://www.nutroproducts.com or contact Nutro’s Customer Service representatives 1-800-833-5330.

Copyright ©2007Nutro Products, Inc. All rights reserved.

Comment by catlover — April 28, 2007 @ 7:07 am
Valerie,

Still around? I’m in St. Pete as well. Seeing the story was a nice suprise. There are some advantages to reading one of the last independently owned newspapers in the US. Wonderful city for dog lovers!

Comment by Eva — April 28, 2007 @ 7:09 am
Thanks for posting that…..their food is probably ok now but I’m positive it wasn’t earlier & they never had the intestinal fortitude or integrity to recall it. Instead, they lied through their teeth & because of that, more animals were sickened or died. They are the worst one of the bunch & I would never use any of their products again. I did use Nutro on & off for many years but they lost me for good.

Comment by JanC — April 28, 2007 @ 7:12 am
We the people have the upper hand, the power here.

Don’t let the Pet Food Industry Spin Masters try to convince you otherwise.

Comment by Steve — April 28, 2007 @ 7:18 am
Thank you so much, all of you. You are all the bright spots in a horrible tragedy. My grandmother had a compliment - “that’s a star in your crown, dear”. Stars for all of you!

Braces for your wrists. I like the hard plastic ones that are held on with velcro. You only have to wear them until things are recovered from the inflamation that is occuring - I wore them at night and during the day when needed. The sooner you treat the problem the faster you will recover.

I’d like to add a big compliment to Howl911 - not only have they sent my cards but I got a nice note as well, got a little teary here when I read it. Pet people are great people.

Comment by Nancy Nielsen — April 28, 2007 @ 7:25 am
I was only able to trick 2 of my 3 cats into their carriers yesterday to be brought back to the vet for a urinalysis due to eating recalled Nutro food. They also ate some BB canned Chicken Hairball but supposedly no melamine was found in that.

All 3 had a blood test earlier, but then I found out (on this website - thanks for all of the information here!!!) that non-symptomatic pets need a urinalysis since the BUN & Creatine bad results don’t show up until the kidneys are around 70% impaired.

If the urinalysis comes back bad, I need to get the 3rd cat in as well. If it’s good news, I haven’t decided yet if I should have the 3rd cat tested, they all eat the same food, and she is a littermate to one of the others so I would imagine the results should be similar.

I need to talk to my vet after the urinalysis results come in. I just got copies of the blood test results yesterday, and for 2 of my cats, their Amylase was high. According to the report, normal values are 100-1200 for felines. My cats results were 895, 1683 & 1999. These last 2 seem very high to me.

Comment by catlover — April 28, 2007 @ 7:28 am
How many people are seeing the products of the recalled companies back on the shelves in the stores?

I know I’m not at the local safeway. There’s alot of empty shelves.

Comment by Sharon — April 28, 2007 @ 7:35 am
Comment by Sharon — April 28, 2007 @ 7:35 am

I’m not impressed with what I have seen. They may as well have signs on the shelves that say . . .

Your on your own. Good luck.

Comment by Steve — April 28, 2007 @ 7:41 am
Ditto on the ergonomic keyboard! I can’t type at *all* on a regular one. The Goldtouch split keyboard is the best for the price - check ebay. :-)

I paid $130 for mine last year, they’re going for much less now, looks like around $40-$50. Best money you’ll ever spend if you have hand/wrist/elbow problems! (I have problems with all 3)

Comment by Kim — April 28, 2007 @ 7:44 am
Canadian Broadcasting Company reported this morning that a shipment of melamine had entered a British Columbia port.Has been used to feed fish.They have entered the human food chain.No reports of illness.(like any of us trust most of the media on this reporting thing anyway).
So IF I bought commercial pet food I wouldn’t touch anything with fishmeal in it,as well as all the other ingredients we know to watch for.
Oh yes, CBC also alluded to a NUMBER of pets in North America being sick or dying from contaminated pet food.I’ve corrected them on their previous tallies of 16 or 17 numerous times.I’m sure others have ,too.

CBC = Canadian Broadcasting Coverup??How else can anyone explain their refusal to report a more accurate account of the number of deaths of people’s cats and dogs?
Anybody here from the CBC? Wanna help us understand?

Lorna

Comment by Lorna — April 28, 2007 @ 7:45 am
The shock on the faces of people I tell this ever growing recall and just how deep and how long it could have been going on is amazing. Stunned, disbelief and knowing it is true, they turn this slight shade of green. Wonder how many people here would be interested in sitting out in front of your locacl pet food stores in protest every weekend until they figure it all out. Perhaps meet in groups at one store in bigger cities. BIG posters, RECALL, photos and info. Attract attention.
Unless of course these companies all come forward and recall all their product, because they just don’t know what is and isn’t effected. If it was made into food, it’s not in their factories, it’s in our homes and on our store shelves.
I don’t recall where I read this, but maybe it was a link here. Some University did a test on melemine and the cyanuric acid in a test tube, with something that had the same Ph as stomach acid. The reaction was instantious, crystals. Anyone remember reading this?
Also anyone know how to make fake stomach acid at home?

Comment by Maudigan — April 28, 2007 @ 7:46 am
Well I just dont know how many times I have to post this but here it is again - and the answer is so simple that pretty much everyone including our vaunted free press is just skimming over the top… Please read the following:

http://www.freepatentsonline.c.....temming=on

United States Patent 6231895
Link to this page:
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6231895.html
Abstract:
This invention provides a ruminant feedstock with a content of non-protein nitrogen supplement which yields a safe controlled-release generation of ammonia under rumen incubation conditions. In another embodiment, this invention provides a ruminant feedstock supplement for controlled-release of non-protein nitrogen which comprises urea particles encapsulated with a rumen-degradable polymeric coating.

Read the details on what they are using as a “rumen-degradable polymeric coating”. Does melamine sound familiar? How about Cymel 373?

Also notice the name Yang, Xiaoming (San Diego, CA, US) who has been indirectly linked to Anying Biologic, the manufacturer in China.

All of this “protein concentrate” is CATTLE FEED! It was never intended for use by monogastrates (single stomaced animals). The cyanuratic acid is a by-product of melamine which is classed as a cyanogen (meaning it can give of cyanide when in chemical reactions) which includes contact with acids (as in stomach acids).

When the Anying website touts their product as being 130% to 160% protein what do you think they are talking about? The mere mention of NPN (Non Protein Nitrogen) is the tip off. Ruminants do not have any essential amino acid requirements. Why? Because they can make their own from soluable Nitrogen usually in the form or amonia. So, if you introduce amonia in their gut from say, urea or even just spray their fodder with pure amonia they actuall construct protein from it. They get the higher than 100% numbers by using the conversion factor of 6.5% of available soluable N.

The FDA is right when they say that melamine is not an approved substance in these applications because it is used for cows and sheep only!

The crystals may well be doing what they claim - I cant say for sure - but the intial symptoms are consistent with a condition known as amonia intoxication - or nitrogen poisoning as it is referred to in large animal practices. Why? Because the urea overloads the renal system leading to kidney failure. In a different digestive system the melamine can certainly break down differently releasing any number of CN HCN series of chemicals.

On the subject of the pigs being poisoned. It is well established and I posted here weeks ago long before the hog poisoning events - urea is toxic to pigs…

Time to zoom in and talk to LARGE animal practioners and ag and life sciences people and then all will become clear.

Need the final clue? Take another look at the Anying website. Does it or does it not specifically identify NPN for use as cattle feed or not?

Its cattle feed, substituted for human grade protein sources. Thats it… Thats all there is to it.

Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — April 28, 2007 @ 7:48 am
Comment by catlover — April 28, 2007 @ 7:07 am

“Here is Nutro’s email…..
Nutro Products is Not Involved in Latest Recalls”

I got one of those also. My cat ate Nutro Max Classic Gourmet and Natural Choice Complete Care pouches. My beautify, six year old friend died a horrible death. My two emails to Nutro and my personal message to them at a pet show about my friend’s illness and death received no response from Nutro except these self-serving emails and an impersonal and cold form to fill out about the death of my “dog”!

In my opinion Nutro’s responses, especially to those of us who lost pets, has been self-serving, inadequate, incorrect and shameful. I will NEVER purchase anything again that has anything to do with this company.

Comment by MFEMFEM — April 28, 2007 @ 7:49 am
Maudigan,I think you’re refering to University of Guelph,in Ontario

Comment by Lorna — April 28, 2007 @ 7:49 am
Comment by MFEMFEM — April 28, 2007 @ 7:49 am

AMEN, Nutro is the worst of the bunch in my opinion. I am very sorry for your loss.

Comment by catlover — April 28, 2007 @ 7:52 am
Thanks Lorna. Home made stomach acid? Anyone, I will test this crap, mean Nurto, right here if I had that recipe.
Yes, I am laughing at this notion myself, but it could be weeks before my vet gets this to UC Davis to test. As I requested yeturday. My vet office will not recommend any food at the moment. Home cooked. Ummmmm…

Comment by Maudigan — April 28, 2007 @ 8:02 am
Does anyone know where the dry Wellness Core for cats is manufactured? I have a sample bag but have been afraid to feed it.

Comment by catlover — April 28, 2007 @ 8:03 am
Jan C said: “Rather than the FDA going public & warning us (get real!), they notified the CDC to keep an eye out for a rise in cases of renal failure in humans. Is that cold or what? So now we are the canaries in this proverbial mine.”

Involved companies who knowingly passed on the tainted pet food as feed should be charged with “Intent to Kill” humans. U.S. Government should pay for melamine testing for every U.S. citizen out of fines collected from all the criminals. Each one of us should join a class action lawsuit against the guilty parties for this. I’m dead serious, if you’ll pardon the expression.

Comment by Nadine Long — April 28, 2007 @ 8:07 am
Comment by MFEMFEM — April 28, 2007 @ 7:49 am

Nutros completely destroyed their reputation. When Bain Capital bought the company in 06 forget it. It’s over. What once was a family business is now a multi national global monster.

They may as well name their brand UnNatural Choice

Comment by Steve — April 28, 2007 @ 8:12 am
Comment by Lorna:

Having spent much of the last several weeks researching, I keep running into odd connections between the pet food issue and companies involved in “aquaculture”. Anyone else notice that? I don’t know what, if any, conclusions to draw—but still interesting.

Comment by Eva — April 28, 2007 @ 8:14 am
Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — April 28, 2007 @ 7:48 am

Hi Bernie! I keep missing you on the blog. You just may have to be a broken record!

I’ve been doing some research on those guys.

Comment by Nadine Long — April 28, 2007 @ 8:17 am
Another abstract to explain it a little differently:

United States Patent 6231895

Feedstock for ruminants with controlled-release non-protein nitrogen
US Patent Issued on May 15, 2001

Inventor(s)
Xiaoming Yang
Robert J. Petcavich
Robert H. Stock
Stephen M. Emanuele
Douglas Merrill

Assignee
Agway, INC

Application
No. 516957 filed on 2000-03-01

Current US Class
426/2 , TREATMENT OF LIVE ANIMAL 426/289 , APPLYING DIVERSE EDIBLE PARTICULATE SOLID TO COAT OR IMPREGNATE A SOLID CORE, I.E., SURFACE COATING OR IMPREGNATION 426/635 , Animal food 426/656 , Protein, amino acid, or yeast containing 426/658 , Carbohydrate containing 426/69 , CONTAINING NON-PROTEINACEOUS NITROGEN SOURCE CONVERTIBLE TO AVAILABLE NITROGEN OR PROCESS OF PREPARATION 426/807 POULTRY OR RUMINANT FEED

Field of Search
426/2 , TREATMENT OF LIVE ANIMAL 426/289 , APPLYING DIVERSE EDIBLE PARTICULATE SOLID TO COAT OR IMPREGNATE A SOLID CORE, I.E., SURFACE COATING OR IMPREGNATION 426/635 , Animal food 426/656 , Protein, amino acid, or yeast containing 426/658 , Carbohydrate containing 426/69 , CONTAINING NON-PROTEINACEOUS NITROGEN SOURCE CONVERTIBLE TO AVAILABLE NITROGEN OR PROCESS OF PREPARATION 426/807 POULTRY OR RUMINANT FEED

Examiners
Primary: Chhaya D Sayala

Attorney, Agent or Firm
Watov & Kipnes, P.C.

US Patent References
5803946
Controlled release plant nutrients
Issued on: September 8, 1998
Inventor: Petcavich, et al. 5851261
Process for the production of polyurea encapsulated fertilizer particles and the encapsulated fertilizer particles produced by this process
Issued on: December 22, 1998
Inventor: Markusch, et al. 5925595
Microcapsules with readily adjustable release rates
Issued on: July 20, 1999
Inventor: Seitz, et al.

Foreign Patent References
2100017 GB Dec., 1982
62-125852 JP Aug., 1987

Abstract

This invention provides a ruminant feedstock with a content of non-protein nitrogen supplement which yields a safe controlled-release generation of ammonia under rumen incubation conditions. In another embodiment, this invention provides a ruminant feedstock supplement for controlled-release of non-protein nitrogen which comprises urea particles encapsulated with a rumen-degradable polymeric coating.

Other References

“Some Nutritional Characteristics of Predominant Culturable Ruminal Bacteria”, M.P. Bryant and I.M. Robinson, J. Bacteriol., 84, 605-614, (1962)
“Dietary Sodium Bicarbonate and Magnesium Oxide for Early Postpartum Lactating Dairy Cows: Effects on Production, Acid-Base Metabolism, and Digestion”, R.A. Erdman, R.W. Hemken, and L.S. Bull, (1982) J. Dairy Sci 65:712-731.
“Polymer Coating on Urea Prills To Reduce Dissolution Rate”, J. Agric. Food Chem. Omar A. Salman, 1988, 36, 616-621.
“Dosage De L’Ammoniemie En Discontinu Et En Continu Par Une Technique De Dialyse Automatique”, Marc Imler, Alice Frick, Andre Stahl, Bernard Peter Et Jules Stauhl, Clinica Chimica Acta, 37 (1972) pp. 245-261.
“Nitrogen Fractions in Selected Feedstuffs”, U. Krisnamoorthy, T.V. Muscato, C. J. Sniffen and P.J. Van Soest, 1982 J. Dairy Sci 65:217-225.
Synchronization of Carbohydrate and Protein Sources on Fermentation and Passage Rates in Dairy Cows1,2,3, David P. Casper, Harouna A. Maiga, Michael J. Brouk, and David J. Schindoethe, 1999 J. Dairy Sci, 82:1779-1790.

Comment by Nadine Long — April 28, 2007 @ 8:27 am
It takes 2 to tango. It’S NOT a conspiracy until there are 2 or more people involved. A seller and a buyer. Ergo the conspiracy. Who’s the buyer(s) on this side of the pond?

Comment by elliott — April 28, 2007 @ 8:33 am
Bernie & Nadine,

It was that patent which led me to post weeks past (in response to a post by Bernie) that I’d been looking at a possibility of urea product encapsulated in a MF coating. Or, as I believe I said, “urea wrapped in urea”. Although, I also admitted that I felt my line of inquiry was “highly speculative”.

After watching this thing unfold, I now believe the implicatied Chinese suppliers were looking for, and utilizing, any form of nitrogen which would yield a “false positive” on the protein tests. Could have been ruminant additives in one batch…fertilizer in another. Who now knows?

Comment by Eva — April 28, 2007 @ 8:39 am
I think it’s more than likely it’s been in our food chain for nearly a year. With ChemNutra purchasing in May 2006 you know the rendering plants started getting the rejected stuff soon after.

The FDA states “Wilbur-Ellis began importing rice protein concentrate from Binzhou Futian Biology Technology in July 2006.”
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmr.....04_07.html

—————
My comment to the media: Is the reason YOU CHOOSE ~NOT~ TO COVER THE PET FOOD RECALL because of the food industries advertising? ie: Don’t bit the hand that feeds YOU??

Well, what if the hand that was feeding you was serving up something POISONOUS? ~hmmm?

Oh yeah, I forgot, stupid me — Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development co, Xuzhou, China says of their products: “It is safe. Nonpoisonous”. Yeah, maybe we should trust THEM…. ya think?
http://www.twaynet.com/trade/t.asp?ID=1408247625

Comment by Kat — April 28, 2007 @ 8:39 am
re comments by Bernie and Nadine.

Thank God you guys are back!! What you have posted is as clear as a bell to me, and I am no rocket scientist.

Can you both send your research to the attorney who is asking for input from Senator Durbin’s office? They need to know this…PLEASE

DAVID_LAZARUS@durbin.senate.gov

Comment by Peg — April 28, 2007 @ 8:47 am
FDA makes me feel like I’M a ‘Guinea Pig’.

Minimal threat to humans….?

Comment by Deanna — April 28, 2007 @ 8:55 am
A response to an email I sent to Evangers Dog and Cat food. I sent the email very late Thursday night/Friday am 4/26-27. Had the following reply on 4/27 @5:33pm

Dear Ms. H

Please be assured that Evanger’s is not involved in the pet food recalls. We manufacture and can all our own food at our plant in Wheeling, IL using only human grade ingredients. We do not use gluten in our food or even have it in our plant. We do not obtain any of our ingredients from China. All of our ingredients, except New Zealand Lamb, which is subject to at least as stringent controls as US agriculture, are grown and processed in the United States.

Ordinarily, we do not divulge the names of our suppliers, but due to the nature and extent of the pet food recalls, we are willing to make an exception. In answer to your question, our rice flour supplier is Gulf Pacific.

I would also like to reassure you that rice flour is not the same as rice protein. Rice flour is simply finely ground rice, just as wheat flour is finely ground wheat. Rice or wheat protein extract, which is what is involved in the recall, is gluten that is separated from the rest of the grain. As I stated above, we do not use gluten in our food or even have it in our plant.

I hope this addreses your concerns. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns that you may have. Thank you for your interest in our food.

Sincerely,

I was one of Nutro’s biggest customers. NEVER again. For me it’s Evanger’s. My 6 cats are real fuss pots. I added just a bit of Beechnut baby food to the Evanger’s and they went at it like savages. Now, it’s just straight Evanger’s….no baby food.

Just thought you might to see who, IMO, is a stand up company.

Comment by Peg — April 28, 2007 @ 9:09 am
Comment by JanC — April 28, 2007 @ 6:24 am
“I looked at that food that Davey was talking about (Performatrin or something like that). It also has menadione (sp?)”
If this food has Menadione in it you want to not feed it. It is also known as vitamin K3,often food labels will not list Menadione on the label and will instead list “dimethylprimidinol sulfate”.The list of the reasons why we don’t feed it is longer than the URL so I’ll give you some links instead as to what it is.

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/.....=menadione

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menadione

Comment by shelly — April 28, 2007 @ 9:24 am
It doesn’t say “Menadione” in the ingredients… it says “DL-Methionine”…
————————-
“”DL-Methionine” Feed Grade is approved for use in all animal species. Particularly for use in
monogastrics, it ensures the adequate supply of sulfur amino acids, especially of the essential
methionine.”
Whatever that means.

Comment by DaveyD — April 28, 2007 @ 10:12 am
Comment by Peg — April 28, 2007 @ 8:47 am

Thanks, Peg. I’m writing Durbin right now.

Comment by Nadine Long — April 28, 2007 @ 10:18 am
This is interesting: Illinois receiving the poisoned wheat gluten for human consumption: (From the Chicago Tribune Article)

What price safety?
“The end of this pet food crisis appears more elusive than ever, shedding light on issues beyond the largely self-regulated pet food industry to America’s growing dependence on cheap imported ingredients from China and other countries, where safety precautions may be more lenient.

MacIntire said his office is investigating a shipment of rice protein concentrate imported to Illinois and potentially used in a human product.
What price safety?

The end of this pet food crisis appears more elusive than ever, shedding light on issues beyond the largely self-regulated pet food industry to America’s growing dependence on cheap imported ingredients from China and other countries, where safety precautions may be more lenient.”

http://tinyurl.com/26aae2
dated 4-29-07

Comment by Issy — April 28, 2007 @ 10:25 am
Rice Protein Buyers were warned about Chinese Fakes before the recall and were told how to identify them. WHAT THE F%&*??????????????
@#$%^&*()_+$%^&*#$%^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

http://tinyurl.com/2cevuj

Comment by shelly — April 28, 2007 @ 10:25 am
I’m so glad Nadine. You and Bernie need to make this known to the powers that be. And, I think you both should be replacing the incompetents in the FDA. Just a thought.

Comment by Peg — April 28, 2007 @ 10:42 am
Re: comment by Shelly

Shelly, please contact the attorney for Senator Durbin and send him the link warning of the Chinese Fakes. The Senator needs to know this. All of you folks are so amazing at discovering what’s out there.

Shelly, the address is

DAVID_LAZARUS@durbin.senate.gov

Thanks!!

Comment by Peg — April 28, 2007 @ 10:46 am
DaveyD:

I just copied this from the ingredients on Performatrin Ultra’s website for the dog food. I didn’t check cat food as I thought you said dog food earlier:

# Vitamin B12 Supplement
# Vitamin A Supplement
# Niacin
# Calcium Pantothenate
# Vitamin D3 Supplement
# Riboflavin
# Folic Acid
# Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
# Thiamine Hydrochloride
# Biotin
# Beta Carotene
# Cobalt Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Cobalt)
# Potassium Iodide
# Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity)
# Selenium Yeast (source of Organic Selenium)

These are not all the ingredients, too many to list so I just took the last few. Note the second to last ingredient.

Comment by JanC — April 28, 2007 @ 10:59 am
I guess that will teach me to read all the way to the bottom…I think I owe my dog that…

Comment by DaveyD — April 28, 2007 @ 11:07 am
We have to start studying these ingredients, top to bottom…..we have all learned so much due to this mess. Of course, we also know that reading the ingredients does not necessarily tell you what’s in the food…..we also learned that.

Right now, I’m cooking rice & meat with veggies & flaxseed oil….I’m honestly afraid to try anything at this point. I do want to check on Evangers. I liked what they had to say. Anyone else have anything to say about Evangers? I’ve never heard of it….

Comment by JanC — April 28, 2007 @ 11:29 am
Although these blogs are excellent sources of info, we’re about 5 weeks into the recalls and we’re overwhelmed with data that needs to be data mined somehow. An earlier post suggested modeling and programming a database we can all access with up to date info from all sources. A simple Access or MySQL db would do the trick but we would need volunteers to program it and then get the data dumped into it. A small fee could be charged to the users to access it if need be. I’m spending hours every day as I’m sure most of us are going through the blogs and news articles and I would be willing to pay an access fee if we could get this accomplished. Any thoughts on this?

Comment by Nabiya — April 28, 2007 @ 11:37 am
Comment by catlover — April 28, 2007 @ 8:03 am

my consistent answer — I don’t buy unless —

!! I CALL THEM !!

If it says “Made in the USA” that means they mixed it all up here — using importing from who the heck knows where.

I’m telling them there is a “MOVEMENT”, no one is going to be buying their stuff if they don’t state “country of origin”.

If they say they buy it from a supplier in the US — that ain’t good enough.

!!?!! WHAT IS THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN !!?!!

Comment by Kat — April 28, 2007 @ 11:56 am
A simple little “Google” Search Engine for the site would help a lot. I’ve posted that request 2-3 times now. Easy to get, easy to install. Request, copy, paste, upload — presto!

Comment by Kat — April 28, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
RE: Comment by Nabiya — April 28, 2007 @ 11:37 am

My brother is a programmer. I’ll see what he says. I don’t know if PetConnection wants anything like that here, but it wouldn’t hurt to come up with suggestions.

Comment by Kat — April 28, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
What is the name of Mrs. Chinese Chem Nutra?
Isn’t she the one who dropped part of her name because it was Chinese? Yes, I think they knew all about it. If so, Hope she comes back in her next life as a Cat in China!!

Comment by Lori Anderson — April 28, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
WOW! Google Blog Search - Beta!
http://blogsearch.google.com/

Comment by Kat — April 28, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
Sally Q. Miller: http://www.chemnutra.com/pricipals.htm

Comment by Kat — April 28, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
Lynn

You were looking at urine acidifiers… don’t some of the dog foods contain? I have to see if I can refind the info.,but I think my dogs Senior Maint. contains a urinary acidifier and I read somewhere it is done to prevent crystal formation in older dogs? Maybe someone here knows more about that.

Katie

Comment by Katie — April 28, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
I just called my brother: If you go to a PHP Bulletin Board they’ll need to start over. No way to transfer from a blog posting to a bulletin board.

He’ll go look at it later. He’s on a deadline now.

My best, quickest,easiest suggestion is Google Search Engine:

http://tinyurl.com/2f7p4n

Comment by Kat — April 28, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
My question is why can’t they use an ultrasound to bust up the crystals? The medical field uses on kidney stones.

Comment by Kat — April 28, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
Sally Qing Miller 8)

Comment by Kathi — April 28, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
I think everyone here deserves the
GOLDEN SHOVEL AWARD
keep diggin’ 8)

Comment by Kathi — April 28, 2007 @ 12:45 pm
Hi Kat, a Google search just brings up the articles which still all have to be read individually and the user has to manipulate the data. A database can maintain the specific data in a “relationship” to a key word. Example: catfood>manufactured by>ingredients>ingredients sourced from>etc.
The user can “drill down” through the data to find specifically what they’re looking for. Getting all the data into the db is the challenge of course, and then maintaining it properly.

Comment by Nabiya — April 28, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
I just found this!

On the Google Search Engine, you can type, (example):

kat site:www.petconnection.com

or any other key word. I used kat. I have 270 posts or been mentioned on this site. There is another kat too, so WE have 270 posts or been mentioned here. You’ll get all the posts regarding whatever keyword you use.

bernie has posted or been mentioned 53 times
ChemNutra has been mentioned 104 times
spocko has been posted or mentioned 86 times

COOL! Open a different window -> get the Google Search Engine up, unless you have their toolbar (I use Yahoo which doesn’t have this feature, I tried it.) Then go from there to find your way around.

You can use it on any site!

Comment by Kat — April 28, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
Here’s a starting link, if you want:

http://tinyurl.com/yrmr7o

Comment by Kat — April 28, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
Nabiya: I’m just trying to find an easier way to access data. I understand what you are saying. Click on the CONTACT link at the top to make a suggestion to them.

Lynn How are you getting the glasses? Most of the common shortcuts I’ve tried don’t work :p

Comment by Kat — April 28, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
Rendering plant sludge(includes flea collars,pentobarbital,plastic body bags,you get the picture),off-the,-charts high heat,toxic chemicals,GMO grains ….
**see picture of cute puppy,pounding along the hallway to get to his dinner dish**
**see cute young dog on vet’s table being tested for allergies**
**see vet flushing young dog’s ears for 5th time this year**
**see dog and human leaving clinic with bag full of ointments and pills**

The dots are starting to connect THEMSELVES!

Comment by Lorna — April 28, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
MORBID! - cruel! - disrespectful! - greedy!

Comment by Kat — April 28, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
Lorna….you are a jewel. I needed that honesting today, real, in your face. This was exactly what I felt today, but running around screaming all day from the rooftops excaptable. I couldn’t do what you just did from me. Thank you. Thanks for a real dog food commercial you created for us all, it’s what I see anytime I watched major networks. ~growling at the t.v.~
Has anyone read “Dog food secrets” worth buying or not? The site itself is eyeopening and alarming.

Comment by Maudigan — April 28, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
UNexceptable…..going to bed now.

Comment by Maudigan — April 28, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
RE Comment by Nadine Long — April 28, 2007 @ 8:27 am

Nadine,

I did a ton of research on the patent holders over a month ago. I REALLY dug into it and came up with some very interesting suspicions. Can you email me and I’ll send you what I have? Just go to the itchmo.com forum at this link and grab my email address. [You know how.]
http://64.79.216.38/~itchmo/fo.....54#msg1254

Comment by Lynn — April 28, 2007 @ 10:37 pm
Kat wrote…

My question is why can’t they use an ultrasound to bust up the crystals? The medical field uses on kidney stones.

Kat,

Using ultrasound for stones requires special equipment, read expensive. Very few places in the United States provide this service for animals. One of them is the University of Tennessee.

My pet Berry’s experience with the University of Tennessee was extremely bad. They waited too long to perform the ultrasound procedure and her kidney died. Then they operated on her to remove the dead kidney and ended up killing her. They still made me pay the bill. This people shouldn’t be allowed to practice.

In addition, ultrasound works on naturally occurring stones. The stones are mineral crystals and are easily shattered. Melamine is plastic and probably wouldn’t resonate well enough to be destroyed.

Comment by Erik T — April 29, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
Regarding the article in the North county Times on 4/17/07; titled “Safety OF IMPORTED FOOD QUESTIONED,” by Andrew Bridges. Excellent “eye opener” on “non-inspected food (pouring/dumping),” into this country from Asia. America needs to wake up!!! We are too laxed on imported foods & raw material inspections. Pet food poisons enter “under” the radar of FDA inspections… for example, my once healthy pure bred dog is a victum..he died 3 weeks ago vomiting upon feeding him contaminated pet food, time and time again. I have been unknowingly feeding these noted dog foods & snacks (Menu Foods) for at least 3-4 months & noted his rapid loss in energy, appetite,weight & vigor. In my view, this pet food contamination has been a problem “longer than what is noted in the media.” Check out yourself, what the dean at Cornell University Vetrinary of Medicine identified as the initial ingredient found in the tested (Menue Foods) contaminated pet food..”Aminopterin.” Did you know that”Aminopterin” was used in the early 1950’s & is no longer used “chemotherapy drug,” to treat childhood leukemia? This particular drug was then used and sold world wide as a “rat & mouse poison.” The US outlawed this Aminopterin (drug) ingredient applied to wheat to keep rats and mice away. However it can and is used in China in their wheat gluten process. Check out all of foods in you household that have “wheat gluten” in them. Have some of these same wheat gluten products entered our food supply from China? Who is to say? Who is checking our human food supply perhaps containing this same imported wheat gluten? Check it out yourself by Googling the word “aminopterin.” However, all we hear about is Melamine a (plastic)—-BS!!! Melamine is being used as smoke screen, covering the real problem ingredient(aminopterin). Here is another concern—-What about the growing rate of “bed bug” infestation accross the United States? Check the labels on all of your down & cotton labels stuffing your pillows and bed linens and guess where are they imported from? Who is inspecting these bedding products? What contaminents/pests are coming into this country under the current radar inspection process? I am one very concerned American consumer. Erika Feltham.

Comment by Erika — May 2, 2007 @ 6:32 pm

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