Pet-food recall: Sen. Durbin’s remarks in the Senate
By Gina Spadafori
May 2, 2007
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While Christie was live-blogging the FDA media briefing yesterday, I was watching Sen. Durbin talk on the floor of the Senate about food safety. Here’s the link to the video on YouTube. Here’s an excerpt of the text, from the Congressional Record (scroll down to Sen. Durbin’s remarks):
The most recent news, of course, is about pet food, but believe me, it hasn’t been that long ago when we talked about salmonella-contaminated peanut butter and E. coli-contaminated spinach. If it seems as if these food crises are occurring more frequently, they are.
We may have the safest food supply in the world, but the fact is, every parent, every family wants to have peace of mind that when they buy something at the grocery store, they can put it on the table, feed it to their family, and no one will get sick. There are questions that are being raised almost on a daily basis about whether we can have that confidence.
The issue that came up recently was on pet food. Batches of wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate contaminated with a chemical called melamine were imported from China by several shipping companies. We just learned over the last few days from stories printed in the press that melamine is regularly added to animal feed in China.
Why would they add a chemical called melamine to something they are going to feed to livestock? Well, it is a way to increase the value of the product. If there is more protein in the feed, then they can charge a higher price. When the food product is tested to see if there is protein, you look for the presence of nitrogen. The chemical, melamine, when added, tests for higher nitrogen levels, therefore they argue higher protein levels, therefore they argue they should be paid more.
So it is an economic fraud. They have argued that this is a product that doesn’t hurt people. We are not sure of that, but we do know that the animals that died as a result of contaminated pet food, some of them were found to have melamine in their system. It is a serious question as to whether it is toxic.
We know now that this pet food contamination has resulted in the deaths of more than 4,000 animals across America. This contaminated product came into America without inspection or without suspicion. The FDA did not have a memorandum of understanding with China or a certification that their standards for food safety were even close to those of the United States. The product made its way from the importer ChemNutra into various manufacturers of pet food. Menu Foods is a Canadian company. They make pet food under a dozen different labels.
They learned on February 20 there was a problem. How did they know there was a problem? The cats and dogs told them. They stopped eating their food and they started getting sick.
So you own a company that has dozens of different pet food labels, and you notice that animals are getting sick. What is the responsible thing for a company to do at that time? Pull the product off the shelf and notify the Federal Government.
They waited 3 weeks before they sent out a notification. By the time the Food and Drug Administration learned about this, there were millions of cans of pet food and other products under different labels spread all across America with this contaminated product. Three weeks they waited. Why? Because the law does not currently require them to report on a timely basis.
I asked the FDA last week: What is the penalty against Menu Foods for waiting 3 weeks? They said: Well, we are considering. We are talking to our counsel. We will get back to you. Months have passed. Nothing has happened. Menu Foods waited 3 weeks instead of reporting on a timely basis. By then, the product was all across America.
Now, in the dark humor department, a political cartoon from Slate (thanks, Itchmo!).
Usual warnings: Please play nice or play somewhere else. We won’t tolerate racism or hate speech on this blog, or death threats. And if your post doesn’t show up right away, it got caught in our moderation or spam filters. Don’t re-post it. Just be patient.
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That was very clearly and succintly stated without a lot of double talk. Go Senator Durbin!!!
Comment by Joyce — May 2, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
Senator Durbin is my hero.
Comment by karen — May 2, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
I hope Durbin runs for president. He’s a stand up guy and I love him to pieces. Thank you Senator Durbin. Thank you.
Comment by shelly — May 2, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
I second Durbin running for President. He’s the best.
Comment by Andrea 2CatMom — May 2, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
Is he a republican or democrat? I’m keeping my fingers crossed for democrat
Comment by Joyce — May 2, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
A voice of truth and reason ~ wish there were more out there like Senator Durbin.
Comment by dottie — May 2, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
First of all, I believe petconnection and other pet websites are my real hero. Also, Senator Derbin you are my hero too. Without all of you I would be clueless about the pet recalls and everything else included. You have saved so many pets. I can’t believe that some people are sending hate mail. Shame on you! I would also like to know if anyone has heard about all the post cards sent to various ones. I sent mine and hope everyone else did also. Again, Petconnection you are my real hero!!!
Comment by Penny — May 2, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
I hope he’s Republican
Comment by shelly — May 2, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
You win!
http://durbin.senate.gov/
I’d still vote for him. Don’t care what ‘party’ he is.
Comment by shelly — May 2, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
He’s a Democrat, but a good guy is a good guy regardless of party.
Comment by Andrea 2CatMom — May 2, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Senator Durbin lets just start sending out indictments and subpoenas and get down to it.
I doubt one single person in the Pet Food Industry could last 10 minutes under cross examination without committing perjury. In fact I suspect many of them would just take the 5th.
Comment by Steve — May 2, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
And Senator. The reason it is critical to move on this is the majority of Americans do not have the resources and unlimited funds and medical coverage they need when it come time for them to have to deal with the many chronic diseases resulting from bad nutrition and low-dosage exposure to neurotoxins and endocrine disruptors in our food chain these Corporations market to the American Public
as safe and wholesome.
Thats the bottom line and it’s time to do something about it.
Comment by Steve — May 2, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
Comment by Joyce — May 2, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
That was very clearly and succintly stated without a lot of double talk. Go Senator Durbin!!!
Sadly but not unexpectedly, the other 99 aren’t saying much.
Comment by MFEMFEM — May 2, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
I support Sen. Durbin’s efforts, too. I just hope he will continue the push for truth and change.
There’s an interesting article in the local paper today about a regional grocery chain whose own brand of milk is now “hormone free.” Apparently they had been using a synthetic hormone that boosts milk production. The FDA’s comment — “There is no significant difference between milk from cows treated with the hormone and untreated cows”.
Hmmmm, I might disagree.
Comment by Donna — May 2, 2007 @ 3:16 pm
Nah..don’t need to waste an honest hard worker like Durbin in the Oval Office — He seems to be doing what he loves, quite effectively. The right man for the right job at the right time…just like Guilianni was …
Comment by GingerTom — May 2, 2007 @ 3:16 pm
Comment by Donna — May 2, 2007 @ 3:16 pm
Synthetic hormones, growth hormones, fertility hormones, antibiotics, you name it all to increase profits.
Got Milk?
Comment by Steve — May 2, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
Lou Dobbs is covering story tonight. I wrote to him during the teleconference yesterday when they would not tell us about the chickens.
Comment by Shawn — May 2, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
Anyone heard from Nikki?
Do we need to file a missing persons report?
Comment by Steve — May 2, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
http://tinyurl.com/2puun6
Comment by Steve — May 2, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
Cheers for Senator Durbin! A true American Hero. Standing up for each and everyone of us eating safely in our own homes. That warm fuzzy feeling came flooding back in watching the youtube video. Oh say can you see, by the dawns early light!
It only had 101 hits so far. Wonder if we could make a top viewer on youtube!! Anybody else up for this challenge?
Comment by Maudigan — May 2, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
Lou Dobbs Tonight had a great piece tonight! Wonder if he will ever run for office, he has spoke of it.
Comment by Maudigan — May 2, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Comment by Steve — May 2, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
Re: Howl911’s silence. Threatened or actual lawsuit? I wonder…
Comment by Maureen — May 2, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
Senator Durbin is a good man and he is working hard for the American people and I am very thankful for him and his hard work regarding this issue. Thank being said, since it seems that most of the posters at this moment are here, I hope it’s okay that I repost what I wrote on another thread…
I have been reading these blogs for weeks now, and I want to thank everyone for all the helpful information about the pet food recall. Last week I took my dog to the vet because she seemed tired and I was worried that she had eaten tainted pet food. So, they did bloodwork and her tests came back fine, but she seemed like she was in heat, even though she was spayed over a year ago. She is almost 3 years old. They ordered an estrogen test and it came back elevated. This morning I took her in so they could do exploratory surgery and see if they had missed a piece of ovary. They just called and told me that although they did not find any ovarian tissue, they did find a dime size cyst or granuloma! They are sending it out to the lab and should have results in 5-7 days. They told me most likely it is not malignant. They said it may be scar tissue or could still be a piece of ovary, that the tests would tell them more ie. what kind of tissue it is. I am crying and worried sick! I had my first dog for 15 years and when she was 8 she got cancer and they said it was probably because I didn’t spay her. This same vets office saved her life and she lived another 8 years! So, this time, with my second dog, I did the right thing and spayed her while she was young. I am so upset! Does anyone know more about this type of thing? I would also like to ask for many prayers for my Bambi. All my children are grown up and she is my baby. I am disabled, so I am with her 24/7. I am so worried!
Comment by Bambi'sMom — May 2, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
Steve
Vitamin K-3 was listed under vitamins in the products list on ChemNutra’s original site before that page disappeared. At the time I had handwritten it in my notebook so I wouldn’t need so many open windows on computer while looking up several of their other products.
So who all had Vit K-3? And where did they get it? 8)
Not surprised ChemNutra was “pushing” it!!
Comment by Kathi — May 2, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
Footnote to my above comment: ChemNutra did not list vitamins K-1 or K-2. 8)
Anna please stop stepping on Mama’s keyboard. Had a few extra keystrokes to correct.
Comment by Kathi — May 2, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
ChemNutra also imports the amino acid taurine which is included in a lot of dog foods today. You have to wonder about the other imported ingredients too.
Comment by Donna — May 2, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
Donna
Yes, I’m aware of all their stuff and question the purity of it and who may have purchased these products and what other companies like ChemNutra may also have these products listed for sale.
Not to mention their energy bars and power drinks.
Getting this info out of the Brands is like pulling teeth or just plain flat-out lies. Most of them don’t even return my calls or emails. Like Natural Balance - it’s been over 2 weeks, not counting the two times they flat-out lied to me on the phone. 8)
Comment by Kathi — May 2, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
Itchmo has posted that Petsmart expanded their recall items to include 20 more items. They have listed 3 additional Nutro canned kitten foods that my cats ate. (On the 2nd Nutro recall, they only recalled the Kitten Chicken/Lamb cans). None of these 3 are listed as recalled on the Nutro website. None of them list glutens or rice protein in the ingredients.
Cat food:
MAX CAT 7910538101 1021707 MAX KITTEN CKN/OCEAN FISH CAT FOOD
NATURAL CHOICE 7910535203 5081572 CC KITTEN BEEF & CHICKEN 3 OZ
NATURAL CHOICE 7910535204 5081573 CC KITTEN TUNA & CHICKEN 3 OZ
Comment by catlover — May 2, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
Here is the complete list of 20 add’l items.
Cat food:
MAX CAT 7910538101 1021707 MAX KITTEN CKN/OCEAN FISH CAT FOOD
NATURAL CHOICE 7910535203 5081572 CC KITTEN BEEF & CHICKEN 3 OZ
NATURAL CHOICE 7910535204 5081573 CC KITTEN TUNA & CHICKEN 3 OZ
SOPHISTACAT 73725701309 5005521 SPCL DIET SLICED CHKN IN GRAVY CAT
SOPHISTACAT 73725701311 5005519 SLICED CHICKEN IN GRAVY CAT FOOD
SOPHISTACAT 73725701312 5005517 SLICED BEEF IN GRAVY CAT FOOD
SOPHISTACAT 73725701313 5005515 SLICED TURKEY & LIVER IN GRAVY CAT
SOPHISTACAT 73725701314 5005514 SLICED OCEAN WHITEFISH IN GRAVY CAT
SOPHISTACAT 73725701315 5005513 SLICED TUNA IN SAUCE CAT FOOD
SOPHISTACAT 73725701316 5005512 SLICED CHICKEN & SALMON IN GRAVY CA
SOPHISTACAT 73725701327 5005505 SLICED CHICKEN IN GRAVY CAT FOOD
SOPHISTACAT 73725701328 5005506 SLICED BEEF IN GRAVY CAT FOOD
SOPHISTACAT 73725741106 5087850 FLAKED WITH TUNA & EGG CAT FOOD 5.5 OZ
SOPHISTACAT 73725741107 5087851 FLAKED WITH TUNA CAT FOOD 5.5 OZ
Dog Food:
AUTHORITY 73725712044 5005674 CHICKEN & RICE CUTS IN GRAVY LITE
AUTHORITY 73725736971 5052544 ADULT AUTHORITY LAMB/RICE/GRAVY
AWARD 73725700431 1211942 SLICED BEEF IN GRAVY DOG FOOD
AWARD 73725700432 1211943 SLICED CHICKEN IN GRAVY DOG FOOD
AWARD 73725700502 5002461 CHICKEN CASSEROLE DOG FOOD
AWARD 73725700504 5002459 BEEF CASSEROLE DOG FOOD
Comment by catlover — May 2, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
Let’s all show Sen. Durbin just how much we appreciate his help with and care about our pets…let’s all send him a campaign contribution! We need to keep him in office! I’m from Oklahoma, but I still plan to send him money.
Comment by Jo — May 2, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
Here is something I heard at a local pet food store. If it’s incorrect info, please tell me. A store clerk said: “Natural Balance wanted RPC added to Venison dry food at Diamond. And that Diamond would not have used it if NB hadn’t sent it along.”
I can’t find any reference to this.
If anyone has a reference to this one way or another, please post it. 8)
I don’t like misinformation, so if this statement is incorrect, I’d like to tell the clerk and be able to prove it.
Comment by Kathi — May 2, 2007 @ 4:31 pm
I remember that Howl911 had a statement about two weekends ago that they wouldn’t be posting much over the weekend & said to check with itchmo, pet connection. They posted a few things after that weekend and then went away on the 28th. I sure hope they are OK. I would feel better if someone actually knew the people there and could check.
Comment by Jenny — May 2, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
Comment by Bambi’sMom — May 2, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
Thoughts and prayers with you for a successful surgery and outcome for Bambi. It’s been so stressful trying to keep educated on this pet food mess to try to keep them healthy, that it makes it that much harder when something like this comes in from out of the blue. I’m so sorry you and Bambi have to go through this.
I thought I’d dodged the bullet with my dogs and cat regarding the food issue, then my 10 yr. old Westie went into a breathing crisis two days ago and had to be rushed to the animal hospital at night. She was diagnosed as most likely having a hereditary Westie lung disease and the outcome isn’t good.
I’ve been reading this site for weeks and have felt such empathy for people whose cats and dogs have been so very sick or died. Now we’re both in that situation and it’s so very sad.
Comment by Maureen — May 2, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
Oh Maureen, I’m so sorry for what you are going through. This just breaks my heart. I too have had so much emotion about this, and reading about all the pets affected has made me so emotional. You’re right about all the stress, and then having to go through what we are both facing now is even more stressful on top of the recalls. I will keep your furbaby in my thoughts and prayers. My heart truly goes out to you. (((((HUGS)))))
Comment by Bambi'sMom — May 2, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
Natural Balance intentionally added RPC to the Venison products, it was on their website when the recall happened. Of course, prior to that everything was locally grown obtained etc….blah blah blah. They are claiming that American Nutrition added it to their other products without their knowledge, just like Blue Buffalo is claiming. The FDA investigator whom I spoke with seemed to be convinced that their are telling the truth. I don’t believe anyone anymore. It’s almost easier to assume that they’re all lying than try to figure it all out.
Comment by Joyce — May 2, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
Catlover anything on the dog foods on that PetSmart recall? Where did you find that?
Comment by Maudigan — May 2, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
Nevermind I found the Dog food on your list above, it was tucked up under the kitty foods.
Comment by Maudigan — May 2, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
First of all I pray that all who have sick fur-babies-including all on this blog today have a good outcome. My friend’s guidedog just had surgery for bladder stones-etc. from Sensible Choice-which he got as a treat while eating Hills ID. He is out of surgery and doing OK up to now. My 9 month old Coton puppy is on ID given first by an emergency vet after coming in with diarrhea, fever, and dehydration. He had been on Royal Canin adult and bit of Mighty Dog from his breeder. He wasn’t eating this and I was looking for a new food. Had bought Iams in the pouch thinking he might like that and my husband gave him a bit thinking it was his treats. He didn’t want it and only picked at it a little. Then came the recall-I looked for the package and was horrified to find it open. I am so concerned-like everyone else don’t believe what I hear-what about the treats??? I have a ton of them not recalled but made by companies that have recalls. Does anyone know a safe treat??? The list of ingrediants on them is huge. Milk bone didn’t seem to have anything bad in it-but Kong Ziggies is wheat gluten-etc. Senator Durbin is my Senator and as soon as this started happening I called and explained what was going on-they didn’t seem to know anything about it then. My other senator is Obama-no comment-I have called there many times-hes too busy trying to become president-how great would that be-a president who cares nothing about our pets? I haven’t noticed any statements by any of them in fact.
Comment by Carol R — May 3, 2007 @ 12:52 pm