Sunday open thread: FDA don’t worry, be happy edition

By Gina Spadafori

May 6, 2007

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Well! It’s hard to top Christie’s exploding brain, so I won’t even try. Besides, with a book due in the a.m., a new kitten purring on shoulder as I write and both my father’s 74th birthday and Mother’s Day today … the best I can do is offer this NY Times piece about what else is going on with imports from China and then step back and open the thread:

The kidneys fail first. Then the central nervous system begins to misfire. Paralysis spreads, making breathing difficult, then often impossible without assistance. In the end, most victims die.

Hmmm. Sounds familiar, no? But wait …

Many of them are children, poisoned at the hands of their unsuspecting parents.

The syrupy poison, diethylene glycol, is an indispensable part of the modern world, an industrial solvent and prime ingredient in some antifreeze.

It is also a killer. And the deaths, if not intentional, are often no accident.

Over the years, the poison has been loaded into all varieties of medicine — cough syrup, fever medication, injectable drugs — a result of counterfeiters who profit by substituting the sweet-tasting solvent for a safe, more expensive syrup, usually glycerin, commonly used in drugs, food, toothpaste and other products.

Toxic syrup has figured in at least eight mass poisonings around the world in the past two decades. Researchers estimate that thousands have died. In many cases, the precise origin of the poison has never been determined. But records and interviews show that in three of the last four cases it was made in China, a major source of counterfeit drugs.

As difficult the pet-food mess has been for those of us who loves animals, many of us have seen the teeniest of silver linings in the (formerly) reassuring fact that the deaths were not of children.

But as the Chinese import scandal continues to grow, we face a choice: Business as usual from the FDA and our elected representatives, or a calldemand for change. You can argue globalization until the cows come home (from China, one assumes) but the very least we can ask is that if we as a country choose to import foods, we should take steps to reduce our vulnerability to both greed-based and terrorist food and drug threats.

Being outraged on Web logs will not change this situation, for ourselves or for our pets. Being outraged with our elected representative will, as voting not only at the polls but also in the marketplace.

It’s your choice. Let every one of your elected representatives know your views on a toothless, spin-happy FDA.

This has got to stop. Just having the FDA fulfill its mandate as set out in the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 is the place to start:

For preventing the manufacture, sale, or transportation of adulterated or misbranded or poisonous or deleterious foods, drugs, medicines, and liquors, and for regulating traffic therein, and for other purposes.

OK … back to deadline work for me. Please be nice to Christie.

Update: Bringing up from comments this piece from McClatchy newspapers on poisonings in China itself:

ZHENGZHOU, China — A few days ago, an alarmed teacher at a day care center in this city south of Beijing called emergency services when some of her charges began to vomit. Ambulances rushed to Xinxin Day Care, and doctors later treated about 50 youngsters.

The culprit was tainted soy milk, but it was nothing dire and the children were home by dusk. However, the way in which local authorities handled the case — by suppressing the news — added to the parents’ anguish and the concerns about the safety of food processing in China.

That concern is spreading to North America, where in the past five weeks U.S. authorities have recalled about 100 brands of dog and cat food made with wheat gluten and rice protein ingredients from China that are thought to be tainted with melamine, a chemical used in plastics and fertilizers. Now U.S. poultry and pig farms are on alert for feed made from the discarded pet food.

Good to know it’s nothing personal, eh? China’s unregulated food industry will poison anyone.

Update 2: In the Spot-On blog, Kevin Weeks starts here:

“The fact is the federal government has more authority to halt the distribution of dangerous toys than it has over unsafe food products.” – Dr. David Kessler, Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco on May 1, 2007 speaking before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

And goes great places. Check in. (Thanks, Maryanne!)

We have discovered so many really wonderful blogs in these last few weeks! (Including, of course, our colleague Ben Huh at Itchmo, and the dashing duo of daring food-investigating dynamos at Pet Food Tracker and The Pet Food List, Kim and Therese. Howl911.com, too, although … Nikki, check in! We’re so worried!)

Also, try The Ethicurean.

Great action on the Itchmo Forums, too, including (bringing up from our comments) some great brainstorming on citizen action. So many good and caring people, working so hard … it gives me hope for a better tomorrow.

By the way: We have a new widget installed that truncates long URLs, so you no longer need to do the tinyURL.com thing.

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Filed under: 2007 food recall, animals: pets, news — Gina Spadafori @ 9:38 am

216 Comments »

  1. Correction: I have now been told that NEXT Sunday is Mother’s Day. Which maybe explains why my mom seemed a little confused when I wished her the best on her day this morning. :)

    Sorry if I send anyone out scrambling for cards and flowers.

    Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 6, 2007 @ 10:04 am

  2. Yes, indeedy it is all over. No import worries, the Chinese are looking out for the recipients of their international goods and the pet food industry is policing themselves. What is wrong with this assessment? Well, I think it is where most of us thought we were before this crisis began. We trusted that business had our best interest in mind. Well, that turned out to be a false assumption and a foolish one at that. All along the business chain, greed took advantage of the holes and our pets and our collective trust have paid the price. It will take cold hard facts from all parties involved before my trust can be regained. I urge the FDA and the USDA and the pet food industry to give me those facts so that I can again make purchase decisions without the fear that i could be injuring my pet. Don’t just tell me that it is over, tell me why, each of you. Spin doesn’t cut it.

    Comment by Shawn — May 6, 2007 @ 10:04 am

  3. http://tinyurl.com/35w4vh

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 10:09 am

  4. http://www.associatedcontent.c....._food.html

    This article is explaining we should search USDA vs. the FDA for our fantastic food updates -

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 10:14 am

  5. China IS Poisoning the World….Literally

    Sweet Headline, huh? Just out:

    http://www.opednews.com/articl.....ning_t.htm

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 10:22 am

  6. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05.....mp;ei=5087

    This is the New York Times Piece. If you don’t have a user name and password, you can get to it by using this link.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 10:25 am

  7. http://www.iht.com/articles/20...../toxic.php

    Tracing a poison’s global path back to China

    Awesome reporting.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 10:28 am

  8. If we don’t have initials for our movement for purity in our food and the pet food, it will be harder for the news media to identify with such a large group.

    Proposal #l PPPP Poisonless produce for people and pets

    Proposal #2 Purity in produce for people and pets—PPPP What do all the bloggers think?

    Comment by Evelyn — May 6, 2007 @ 10:31 am

  9. Transparency is the key to the science kingdom
    News Archives

    06/11/2006 - In the food and nutrition world, science is king. So when journals do not force scientists to fully disclose financial support and potential conflicts of interest, they are not helping anyone.

    *******A survey released in July by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), which found that one in six of the nearly 1,000 FDA scientists who responded said they had their work manipulated or suppressed in favour of industry.********

    One such example that prompted Catherine DeAngelis, JAMA’s editor-in-chief, to act was when researchers reporting on a potential link between migraines and cardiovascular disease (CVD) failed to mention they had received money from big pain-killer makers.

    The authors, from Harvard no less, felt that previous relationships with manufacturers of products that are used in the control and management of migraines or CVD did not constitute a conflict of interest. DeAngelis rightly disagreed and the Harvard authors subsequently disclosed all non-federal relationships, which read like a who’s who of the world’s biggest chemical and pharmaceutical companies.

    http://www.meatprocess.com/new.....disclosure

    Comment by mal — May 6, 2007 @ 10:37 am

  10. Sounds ok, if a little hard to make roll off the tongue. Of course PPPP my pants is what I’ve been doing more often, thanks to this blog, the FDA, the witty comment. Produce = greens stuff to most of us, how about “products” instead. Word-slingers, to your action stations, get that perfect acronym!

    Comment by Nancy Nielsen — May 6, 2007 @ 10:40 am

  11. http://www.wilx.com/medical/headlines/7318306.html

    “”The toxin from the kidney goes in your blood. And one of the first [things] affected is the digestive system, and people start bloating,” says nephrologist Dr. Michael Hourani.”

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 10:42 am

  12. “A health lobby group says it has turned to YouTube to campaign for kidney disease awareness because the federal government is failing to promote the issue”

    http://www.smh.com.au/news/Nat.....41733.html

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 10:44 am

  13. I talked to the vet at the U of M to confirm tests my dog got after becoming seriously ill in January. The vet then said antifreeze or rat poison. Now he is saying it was probably a sudden severe food allergy or overnight inflamatory bowel disease. To Natures Recipe Lamb and Rice? So that she needed subsutaneous fluids and pain pills? WHy did they suggest switching to rice and boiled chicken and then gradually adding her dog food back again if it was a food allergy? Why is she perfectly healthy now?

    Comment by Kristi — May 6, 2007 @ 10:46 am

  14. From Itchmo:

    Part of a story on the deaths of Chinese pets:

    The article blames deaths on lead in food consumed in December of 2005, but says the deaths cannot be conclusively linked. Chinese media reports are light on the details as they are controlled by the state. Sadly, the suffering extends beyond North America.

    Looks like a search and replace exercise, particulrly : “Chinese media” and that animals simply die without cause because there is no “conclusive” evidence. Hey, Acheson, they count anyway.

    Comment by Jay — May 6, 2007 @ 10:49 am

  15. Can also note that I saw where Iams is no longer accepting responsiblity for any of this — not even to let people know that they may still have the poison food in their cabinents.

    Overnight, Iams has also removed recall information from their US homepage.

    Comment by Jay — May 6, 2007 @ 10:51 am

  16. I’M GOING to the store… Has anybody heard anything about turkey? Have the turkeys also eaten the poisoned feed? When it comes to the poisoned dog food in poultry feed, does ORGANIC necessarily make it safer? It’s Sunday, I need to feed the baby, and I can’t call any of these companies. I need to know what to buy. Has anybody heard about tainted turkeys? I was going to buy from a smaller store, but then I read that the smaller farms actually got hit harder, as the larger farms have their own formulas that they feed. Thinking along those lines, the larger poultry farms would sell to the larger stores, and the smaller poultry farms would sell to the smaller, local, stores??? I’m really losing my mind over all of this, but, no matter how stressed out I am - I still need to bring something home, cook it, and feed it. I held my breath for an hour after feeding him an organic egg this morning. New company, and I didn’t know if I was jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. For those of you who home-cook, and who do not use beef - How are you making your selections/decisions? Help! Thank you.

    WOLFIN )O(

    Comment by WOLFIN — May 6, 2007 @ 10:54 am

  17. There is a recall on turkey:

    http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....alled.html

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 10:57 am

  18. Comment by Evelyn — May 6, 2007 @ 10:31 am

    Beware of silly sounding acronyms - they can overshadow the message (can anyone say BARF?).
    PeePeePeePee might be a distraction.
    Off the top of my head: S.A.F.E. - Seize Adulterated Food on Entry
    Kind of a mandate for the FDA there.

    Comment by slt — May 6, 2007 @ 10:58 am

  19. I strongly believe that a criminal investigation/inquisition should take place to determine criminal negligence. This crisis is so out of control and clearly the FDA’s role is fairly meaningless.

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 10:59 am

  20. This is the turkey (and beef) recall on the FSIS/USDA site:

    http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/index.asp

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 10:59 am

  21. CHIT -

    Chicken noodle soup recall. Undeclared ingredients - It’s dated Feb 07

    http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_...../index.asp

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 11:02 am

  22. Criminal investigation within the FDA and/or USDA might be appropriate

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 11:03 am

  23. Why in the heck does a consumer have to DIG for a recalled item? Recalled products should be on the front of every newspaper in the country so every consumer knows not to buy them. They will surely be on a shelf somewhere.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 11:04 am

  24. Why are Americans so enamored with one of the most repressive and corrupt regimes in the world. Are cheap athletic shoes that important to us?

    Comment by MFEMFEM — May 6, 2007 @ 11:09 am

  25. We can petition the FDA:
    http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/voice.html

    I thought the FDA website would at least have the ability to auto email opt-ins that wanted to get recalls/alerts via email, but can’t find anything on their site to sign up for.

    That alone is worth a petition.

    Comment by Nabiya — May 6, 2007 @ 11:11 am

  26. FSIS regulates meat and poultry, FDA regulates everything else. Hit FSIS also w/ any petition.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 11:12 am

  27. Nothings Changed

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 11:13 am

  28. I’m getting more ticked off as the day marches on.

    I understand that David Acheson is reporting to Dr. Murray Lumpkin, Deputy Commissioner for International and Special Programs.

    What does the OIP do? http://www.apsnet.org/members/oip/top.asp

    So tell me, how is it that the contaminated pet food issue is now answering to the OIP?

    Comment by Lynn — May 6, 2007 @ 11:13 am

  29. “U.S. Food & Drug Administration

    Recalls, Market Withdrawals & Safety Alerts
    FSIS regulates meat and poultry products and processed eggs; FDA regulates all other food products. FDA provides this list of recalls, withdrawals and alerts issued in the last 60 days.”

    http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_...../index.asp

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 11:14 am

  30. RE Comment by Nabiya — May 6, 2007 @ 11:11 am

    Nabiya, petitions don’t really do anything except express public interest.

    Comment by Lynn — May 6, 2007 @ 11:15 am

  31. Poisoning babies:

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18441501/

    Comment by MFEMFEM — May 6, 2007 @ 11:16 am

  32. GINA / CHRISTIE -

    I have accessed the transcript of the Missouri Farm Bill Forum with Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Moderators Tom Steever, Brownfield Network and Suzanne Hubbard, Springfield, Missouri.

    It is dated November 4, 2005, regarding the 2007 Farm bill. The file can’t be accessed (it is ‘corrupted’) but I’ve accessed it - it is a long post - can I post it ?

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 11:30 am

  33. There needs to be a whole separate agency focused on food safety. Turn the FDA into the DA. Drug Administration. (How perfect)

    Why food is even in the same category as DRUGS is ludicrous. Obsolete, and long overdue and overhaul.

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 11:36 am

  34. CHIT -
    My computer just crashed. I lost my find. doggone it.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 11:40 am

  35. Food = Drugs Steve. Whereya been the last 7 weeks.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 11:41 am

  36. The USDA wants to allow the importation of chickens from China. Way to go USDA!

    http://www.realcities.com/mld/.....665792.htm

    Comment by MFEMFEM — May 6, 2007 @ 11:42 am

  37. RE:Comment by MFEMFEM — May 6, 2007 @ 11:42 am

    Won’t that be great. We can have local melachicken or imported Avianinflu chicken..your choice!!

    Does China have some pork they can send us too??

    Comment by mal — May 6, 2007 @ 11:47 am

  38. Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 11:41 am
    “Food = Drugs Steve. Whereya been the last 7 weeks.”

    Steve’s been here, expressing hisanger & outrage alongside the rest of us.

    btw Steve - I agree. It is beyond ludicrous.

    Comment by Ally — May 6, 2007 @ 11:50 am

  39. “hisanger” is obviously “his anger”

    Comment by Ally — May 6, 2007 @ 11:50 am

  40. Shelly:

    That report can be accessed through this link:

    http://www.usda.gov/documents/FBFMS110405.pdf

    Comment by mal — May 6, 2007 @ 11:52 am

  41. mal @ 11:47am:
    “Does China have some pork they can send us too?? “

    Yegods, mal.
    Don’t even put that out there!

    Comment by Ally — May 6, 2007 @ 11:52 am

  42. “DES MOINES — One of only a few companies in the United States processes human food residuals into animal feed, and on Monday federal inspectors were scheduled to visit an Anamosa operation concerning tainted products that have already been found responsible for the death or sicknesses of hundreds of dogs in the U.S.A.”

    (Got a NAME)

    http://www.messengernews.net/B.....cleID=9342

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 11:56 am

  43. Thanks Mal -
    I’d love to compare the two :)

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 11:58 am

  44. Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 11:58 am

    Shell, if that was aimed at me, I think you mistook my point. ;-]

    Comment by Ally — May 6, 2007 @ 12:06 pm

  45. Yes Mal - put it out there. I want to know. Ally is just being delusional. But we all know she’s goofy :)

    Ally - - E. ? I need a laugh - lots of them!!!! The E. kind!

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 12:08 pm

  46. Huh? Oh no! No ally - We are talking about the article I wanted to post - see above - right before my computer crashed. We’re good :)

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 12:09 pm

  47. Endres Processing, LLC converts about 300,000 tons of food residuals into animal feed annually at its plants in Rosemount, Minnesota and Anamosa, Iowa.

    http://www.environmental-exper.....ticle2.htm

    Comment by mal — May 6, 2007 @ 12:09 pm

  48. Shell - thanks & copy that! Re: my comment earlier to mal (made somewhat in jest)….I’m a firm believer in karma. If you put it out there, it attracts, and not always what you want. We have enough trouble with imported China products to want their pork a’comin’ here!

    mal - keep meaning to post this. You really have a knack for finding the latest zingers of news articles. I don’t know how you do it, but keep ‘em coming kiddo!

    Comment by Ally — May 6, 2007 @ 12:14 pm

  49. RE:Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 11:56 am DES MOINES — One of only a few companies in the United States processes human food residuals into animal feed
    http://www.messengernews.net/B.....cleID=9342

    So it looks like Endres may have processed some of the tainted pet food into animal feed. Wonder how long it will the FDA to track all that feed??

    http://www.endresprocessing.com/

    Comment by mal — May 6, 2007 @ 12:16 pm

  50. More on Anamosa -
    This smells -

    http://www.legis.state.ia.us/l.....BAL000.PDF

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 12:16 pm

  51. RE:Comment by Ally — May 6, 2007 @ 12:14 pm

    When I find a lead I keep finding many side trails. I end up with 20 windows opened at times and so many bookmarks it will take me days to sort them all.
    Oh well..keeps me off the streets..right..LOL

    Comment by mal — May 6, 2007 @ 12:18 pm

  52. S. Korean firm recalls animal feed product made from Chinese wheat gluten

    SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) — A local animal food manufacturer has recalled products made with Chinese wheat gluten that may have killed pets in the United States, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said Friday.

    It said a food importer and manufacturer had bought 42 tons of wheat gluten in January, and used 16 tons of the material to make feed sold to fish farms across the country. The fish food was sold in March and April.

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 12:20 pm

  53. We’re straight - all who are posting (who knows who is reading, right? LOL) are awesome posters in my book. (I know Steve’s been here all along too, I’ve seen him, talked to him…) Really do miss my E. machine. Granny would love him too.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 12:20 pm

  54. RE: comment by Steve:

    Do you have the link to that story Steve.

    Thanks

    Comment by mal — May 6, 2007 @ 12:22 pm

  55. Doesn’t Master Foods make Buckeye? They are a feed. No recall but darn it their site (Master Foods) still isn’t working right. I check constantly. Buckeye makes horse feed too. I have a horse, dont use buckeye but many at the farm do.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 12:22 pm

  56. Steve..never mind I found it. Thanks

    Comment by mal — May 6, 2007 @ 12:23 pm

  57. Hmmmm wonder if I’ll be around long enough to see groups of enforcers joining ranks to protect our borders and food supplies from foreign countries poisoning us with stuff we haven’t even knew existed beyond all that has come out here. Or will I be one of the dead poisoned from eating a tainted lemon or orange. Orwell where are you?

    Comment by VJ — May 6, 2007 @ 12:24 pm

  58. Link to Steve’s post:

    http://news.tradingcharts.com/.....43653.html

    Comment by mal — May 6, 2007 @ 12:24 pm

  59. Paragraph from shelly’s article:

    “VandeHoef said USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames is working with FDA to see if some of the tainted pet food scraps may have ended up in batches of food residuals processed at Food Waste Solutions LLC in Anamosa, however ‘‘at this time there are no major concerns. They are just testing and there are no red flags at this point.’’”

    So maybe “Food Waste Solutions LLC” (lovely name, huh?) is what you’re looking for?

    Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 6, 2007 @ 12:25 pm

  60. RE:Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 6, 2007 @ 12:25 pm

    “Food Waste Solutions LLC” is owned by Endres Processing, LLC who “converts about 300,000 tons of food residuals into animal feed annually at its plants in Rosemount, Minnesota and Anamosa, Iowa.”

    http://www.endresprocessing.com/

    Comment by mal — May 6, 2007 @ 12:29 pm

  61. http://tinyurl.com/3b6t47

    Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 6, 2007 @ 12:31 pm

  62. Currently, most of the world’s vitamins are manufactured in China. Unable to compete, the last U.S. plant making vitamin C closed a year ago. One of Europe’s largest citric acid plants shut last winter, and only one vitamin C manufacturer operates in the West.

    Given China’s cheap labor, artificially low prices and the unfair competitive climate it has foisted on the industry, few Western producers of food ingredients can survive much longer.

    http://tinyurl.com/28kf78

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 12:31 pm

  63. When I buy things from china, I am pretty much doing business with the kind of people I would RUN from here in the USA. I just never realized it, because I had delegated control of checking things out to “agencies” who apparently aren’t doing and in fact, never have done squat.

    That NY Times article was a good education.

    Steve - thanks for posting that story. So us, South Africa, and South Korea so far have admitted to getting dinged with tainted Chinese products. Oh, right, and of course the China, who does it to her own people by her own people.

    Comment by TC — May 6, 2007 @ 12:35 pm

  64. So if the food don’t kill us, the vitamins will?

    So THAT’S what they mean when they say “few Western producers of food ingredients can survive much longer”! ;)

    Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 6, 2007 @ 12:36 pm

  65. http://oaspub.epa.gov/enviro/m.....0008998068

    Envirofacts Data Warehouse

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 12:41 pm

  66. It is dated November 4, 2005, regarding the 2007 Farm bill. The file can’t be accessed (it is ‘corrupted’) but I’ve accessed it - it is a long post - can I post it ?

    I’m not sure, if you haven’t heard from Gina, why don’t you email it to me and I’ll give you my opinion? petconnection@gmail.com

    Comment by Christie Keith — May 6, 2007 @ 12:43 pm

  67. Christie -
    Never mind, mal found a link that worked :)

    Thanks!

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 12:49 pm

  68. Very interesting reading..including some items that haven’t come to light yet in the media:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_pet_food_crisis

    I found this excerpt quite interesting:

    The original Xuzhou Anying wheat gluten was “human grade,” as opposed to “feed grade,” meaning that it could have been used to make food for humans such as bread or pasta. At least one contaminated batch was used to make food for humans, but the FDA quarantined it before any was sold. The FDA also notified the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention to watch for new patients admitted to hospitals with renal failure. There have been no observed increases in human illnesses and little human food has tested as contaminated, however the FDA still has not accounted for all of the Xuzhou Anying wheat gluten.

    Comment by newlurker — May 6, 2007 @ 12:49 pm

  69. Wine Festival anyone?

    Comment by JanC — May 6, 2007 @ 12:55 pm

  70. Just think how fun these posts would be after all of us got back from the Wine Festival. tee hee

    Comment by JanC — May 6, 2007 @ 12:56 pm

  71. Well from what I can tell about Food Waste Solutions after some quick research: the Hy-Pro Blend is the only feed that should have gotten out to the poultry farms—but, and this is a big but, this type of feed should be used on poultry in emerging countries…so why is it used in the US??

    Comment by Nabiya — May 6, 2007 @ 1:02 pm

  72. Okay, I’m going to the wine festival, drink my lunch, wait for Don to pop up, get nasty later….

    Comment by Nabiya — May 6, 2007 @ 1:05 pm

  73. *raises hand to Nabiya’s post:

    “Because it’s cheaper ?”

    Comment by newlurker — May 6, 2007 @ 1:06 pm

  74. USDA Names Members to National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (May 4, 2007)
    The committee addresses food safety and policy issues of concern to USDA.

    WASHINGTON, May 4, 2007 -U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has named members to the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI).

    The members are selected to serve a two-year term. The committee generally meets twice a year and addresses food safety and policy issues of concern to the USDA.

    NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MEAT AND POULTRY INSPECTION 2007 - 2009 COMMITTEE

    Ms. Kibbe M. Conti, Northern Plains Nutrition Consulting, Rapid City, SD

    Mr. Brian R. Covington, Keystone Foods LLC, West Conshohocken, PA

    Dr. Catherine N. Cutter, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

    Dr. James S. Dickson, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

    Mr. Kevin M. Elfering, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, St. Paul, MN

    Mr. Mike W. Finnegan, Montana Meat & Poultry, Inspection Bureau, Helena, MT

    Ms. Carol Tucker Foreman, Consumer Federation of America, Chevy Chase, MD

    Dr. Andrea L. Grondahl, North Dakota Department of Agriculture, Bismarck, ND

    Dr. Joseph J. Harris, Southwest Meat Association, Bryan, TX

    Dr. Craig W. Henry, Food Products Association, Washington, D.C.

    Ms. Cheryl D. Jones, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA

    Mr. Ken Kelly, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, D.C.

    Mr. Michael E. Kowalcyk, DunnhumbyUSA LLC, Cincinnati, OH

    Dr. Shelton E. Murinda, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA

    Dr. Edna Negron-Bravo, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, PR

    Dr. Michael L. Rybolt, National Turkey Federation, Washington, D.C.

    Mr. Mark P. Schad, Schad Meats, Inc., Cincinnati, OH

    Dr. Stanley A. Stromberg, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, Oklahoma City, OK

    http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal.....5/0126.xml

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 1:26 pm

  75. ALL imports from China related to any foodstuffs or pharmacologicals for humans or animals should be banned immediately!!! Why can’t the FDA, USDA, and Congress for that matter see this?! Now that the Chinese have murdered our pets with their “crap”, is it time that they now do the same to our children, and humans of all ages, for that matter! What good is the FDA, etc. if they cannot or will not stop this at our borders?
    As for me, personally, I am done with anything that comes from China…I will not (knowingly, HA!) purchase anything that says “made in China” on it. If all of us pet lovers stood together on this, it would put a big dent in their import sales, and maybe just shutdown some of their companies that are producing these poisons!!! By the way, it should be a serious felony if any company used products without first testing them. I cannot imagine a drug company getting barrels of diethelene glycol (antifreeze) posing as glycerin, and not even testing the contents of the barrel, but just blindly producing cough syrup, injectible drugs, etc from this poison. As far as I am concerned, those companies that used this product without testing it are just as liable and responsible as the Chinese that produced it! I say HANG THEM ALL!

    Comment by John — May 6, 2007 @ 1:28 pm

  76. IT’S ALL ABOUT MONEY:

    Regulator proposes re-opening border to Mexican pork

    11/01/2007 - US food companies may soon be able to restart sending their pork supplies to Mexico for processing, if US Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposals are given the go-ahead.

    The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a proposal to allow the importation of uncooked pork and pork products from designated regions in Mexico where classical swine fever (CSF) is considered to exist if the shipments originate in an area free of the disease.
    Labour costs in pork processing plants are nine times lower in Mexico than the US.

    US Department of Labor statistics show that in 2003 average compensation costs for production workers in food, beverage, and tobacco manufacturing were $2.24 per hour compared to $18.61 per hour in the US.

    http://www.meatprocess.com/news/ng.asp?id=73251

    Comment by mal — May 6, 2007 @ 1:35 pm

  77. Itchmo is raising funds to get a newpaper article up and running if anyone is interested.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 1:39 pm

  78. Overnight, Iams has also removed recall information from their US homepage.

    Comment by Jay — May 6, 2007 @ 10:51 am

    Not true, it can be found on the What’s New Link?

    As for responsiblity, they’re paying my vet bills.

    Comment by Carole — May 6, 2007 @ 1:40 pm

  79. Maybe Iams could have been a little more responsible and not sold poisonous food, or worse tested it on helpless dogs and cats! It’s great that they are paying your vet bills…will they be able to bring your (and others’) pet back to life if it dies?!

    Comment by John — May 6, 2007 @ 1:53 pm

  80. Pertinent to today’s theme.

    And a question: Dr. Acheson was at New England Medical Ctr. prior to FDA employnment. The earliest date I have is 1999 — I’m no sleuth — but I would like to know his history and who may have funded his work in the past.

    Excerpt (complete link at end):

    Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach is now the permanent head of the FDA, voted in by the Senate during the lame duck session. His extensive financial connections to biotech companies and the cancer industry were never investigated. Senators, mostly under the spell of Big Pharma’s wallet, simply rubber stamped his approval. One Senator, Charles Grassley (R-IA), had the courage to speak up. His Senate confirmation testimony regarding Andrew von Eschenbach on December 7, 2006 was accurate, frank, and to the point:

    “People ought to be ashamed of saying Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach has done a superb job in the position he is currently occupying [acting head of the FDA].…That is an insult….In my interactions with the Department of Health and Human Services and the FDA these last 8 months, I have seen a complete and utter disrespect for congressional authority and hence the law.…This body [the Senate] should not walk hand in hand with the executive branch and sit idly by as instances of abuse and fraud continue to endanger the health and safety of American people…Under Dr. Von Eschenbach, the FDA has not only avoided transparency, it also has threatened those who are trying to desperately expose the truth….”

    http://www.newswithviews.com/Richards/byron21.htm

    Comment by Jay — May 6, 2007 @ 1:55 pm

  81. I contacted “oprah”, not asking her to cover the story, only asking if they might put a link to the petconnection somewhere on her site.

    we’ll see.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 1:58 pm

  82. http://www.byteland.org/boycottchina/index.html

    Oh Dear God

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 2:04 pm

  83. Could you guys please go to itchmo’s site and check out this thread: http://itchmoforums.com/index.php?topic=360.0

    I’d love your input.

    Comment by Sharon — May 6, 2007 @ 2:06 pm

  84. OMG shelly!! That’s just awful!

    Comment by Sharon — May 6, 2007 @ 2:16 pm

  85. RE:Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 1:58 pm

    http://www.byteland.org/boycottchina/index.html

    Oh Dear God

    I was hoping this was a sick joke but it is actually true:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asi.....233704.stm

    “They were paid around $0.60 (£0.32) for each dog in compensation.”

    “China has a poor record of animal protection. There are no laws to prevent cruelty to pets.”

    Totally totally SICK!!

    Comment by mal — May 6, 2007 @ 2:25 pm

  86. I looked at it Sharon - I don’t understand politics much. Getting vets to send out anything would likely be tricky though - come to think of it I never received anything from them warning me of this massive poisoning in food to begin with.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 2:25 pm

  87. The ultimate source of the problem is China though. I think the importers and pet food companies were just thinking “cheap gluten”. The gluten was labeled properly for what they were buying. We in the US are so used to stringent standards that we believe what is behind the label (well until this mess).

    The crime was committed on foreign soil..a place where the US has no jurisdiction :(

    Comment by newlurker — May 6, 2007 @ 2:40 pm

  88. Has anyone yet to hear anything about the postcards? Have *any* of them been received by the recipients.

    Comment by VJ — May 6, 2007 @ 2:40 pm

  89. “If cat food doesn’t make it to the pet food aisle, it could end up in the chicken coop. Recycled and reprocessed pet food often ends up as chicken feed. And in Indiana something ended up in chicken feed that shouldn’t have.”

    Comforting

    http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=6456778

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 2:41 pm

  90. Sharon, this is the same Department of Justice currently under close Congressional scrutiny for a rash of inappropriate politically-motivated firings of various States Attorneys General and whose head - Alberto Gonzalez - is being asked to step down by representatives on both sides of the aisle.

    Not trying to be defeatist, but they have a few other things on their “looking out for #1 plate” right now. I suspect it would take a LOT to get their attention seriously enough to really address this.

    Just to be aware of the current situation . . . . . . . .

    Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 6, 2007 @ 2:44 pm

  91. Comment:”The ultimate source of the problem is China though. I think the importers and pet food companies were just thinking “cheap gluten”.”

    Not the ultimate source, the first crime committed in my opinion was in China. Then everyone after that worked on greed and was at best negligent. But the pet food manufacturers have a legal responsibililty to not poison our pets. They should at least “look in the bags” of raw ingredients. If they had they would have said Hmmm what is different here? But they didn’t even do that or care if they did.
    There were no controls to prevent this thing. It is too easy to say that it is just China.

    But while I am at it, it is ironic that the recalled turkey is from Chinese Camp California.

    Comment by Shawn — May 6, 2007 @ 2:48 pm

  92. Re: Iams

    I know people have very strong feelings about them and have had for a long time. I stopped feeding my cat their wet food when it was too close for comfort to the recalled batches. I doubt I’ll buy Iams again.

    The only tiny thing I can say in their favor is that they are apparently the ones who prompted the Menu Foods recall. At the April 24th Congressional hearing, Henderson from Menu Foods said that Iams came to them with their concerns and were ready to initate a recall. After the meeting, Menu decided to issue a recall first.

    Without that meeting (whether it was confrontational or not, I don’t know), the Menu recalls could have taken—awful as it is to think about—even longer.

    Comment by yet another pat — May 6, 2007 @ 2:48 pm

  93. If someone knows why recalls are voluntary in the first place, and not regulated by an authority such as FSIS, FDA, USDA in the very first place, can you please post? (Don’t mention because it’s expensive) I would like to know the facts. I can’t find it. It’s so stupid. It’s the most appalling thing I think I’ve discovered in this whole entire thing. At least up there in the top 5.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 2:49 pm

  94. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/.....refer=home

    Drugmakers be on the “lookout” for adulterated drugs. How in the heck are they supposed to do that.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 2:52 pm

  95. Some Chinese suppliers have used poisonous diethyline glycol, or DEG, as a SUBSTITUTE for glycerin, a more expensive sweet syrup, in cough medicine, fever medication and injectable drugs, the New York Times reported today.

    If we or any other country continue to import China’s consumable products, medical products, etc. ‘we’ are complete idiots.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 2:55 pm

  96. Shawn..I do agree with you; there is blame all the way down the chain. I read that Menu Foods purchased US made wheat gluten from MGP up until 18 months ago when they switched to exported cheaper stuff. I guess it was advertised as the same quality as the US made gluten only much cheaper in price.

    This pet food recall has really opened my eyes though. In searching for updates I have come across so much fraud committed by Chinese imports all over the world. Not many of the articles have closure though either on identifying the source of the tainted item or the outcome of any investigations by the Chinese government.

    Comment by newlurker — May 6, 2007 @ 2:57 pm

  97. There were 105 killed in the US - why aren’t any of these articles carrying that. I’m going to go pull up that .gov site I initially placed here in the first place. It was in there.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 2:57 pm

  98. I would purchase (before this crap started) cheaper vs. expensive on items too. I would have NEVER thought I would have been purchasing poisoned product. Who would????

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 2:59 pm

  99. Maybe Iams could have been a little more responsible and not sold poisonous food, or worse tested it on helpless dogs and cats! It’s great that they are paying your vet bills…will they be able to bring your (and others’) pet back to life if it dies?!

    Comment by John — May 6, 2007 @ 1:53 pm

    Your reply goes to a completely different aspect than was brought up in the original post to which I responded.

    The original comment that Iams had removed it from their website and was no longer taking repsonsibilty is incorrect. It is not helpful to have incorrect information posted, there is way too much of it already.

    Comment by Carole — May 6, 2007 @ 3:03 pm

  100. In the US we have regulations. US food must meet those regulations. We have grown complacent in thinking that all other countries are operating on the same standards as us.

    Comment by newlurker — May 6, 2007 @ 3:04 pm

  101. On recalls, I think that’s a result of the patchwork legislation in place. There’s just no coherent strategy. Everything has been added piecemeal over the years.

    The FDA and USDA don’t not have the authority to issue mandatory recalls for food. (The only exception is that the FDA can recall baby formula.) Some government agencies (Consumer Product Safety Commission, for instance) can issue mandatory recalls. So, if your child has a toy that is a choking hazard, it can be recalled. If he’s being fed melamine tainted chicken or a snack with tainted wheat gluten, that can’t be recalled. It makes no sense.

    The prepared testimony from Lisa Shames of GAO, who testified at the April 24 hearing, is available as a .pdf here:
    http://tinyurl.com/27ec3m

    She talks about how some US government agencies do have mandatory recall authority, as well as how other countries handle food safety.

    (One of the few encouraging things I took away from that hearing is that GAO seems to be on top of this.)

    Comment by yet another pat — May 6, 2007 @ 3:05 pm

  102. Yet Another Pat, I agree with you. I have also cut my ties with IAMS, but I am also willing to acknowledge what companies have done whether I like them or not.

    It is very possible that had IAMS initiated their own recall we may not have seen Menu issue one for all the other products at the same time.

    Comment by Carole — May 6, 2007 @ 3:07 pm

  103. [In my comment above, that was “don’t have,” not “don’t not have,” which means something completely different. My brain is gone.]

    Comment by yet another pat — May 6, 2007 @ 3:09 pm

  104. Those who have read the NY Times story regarding the deadly syrup (pseudo-glycerine) will find the ad on alibaba.com below to most ominous. Note the last sentence!

    Post Date: Apr 28, 2007
    Expiry date: Oct 25, 2007

    Detailed Buying Lead Description

    We are a refiner of glycerine. We need large quantity of crude glycerine, 5000-7000mt per month. All kind of specifications of crude glycerine are needed in our factory. Please contact me diretely for supplying to my email address or call me directly is welcome.

    This buyer prefers not to disclose his/her contact information. China Mainland Apr 28, 2007

    Comment by Jay — May 6, 2007 @ 3:09 pm

  105. Dr Acheson must have gotten an enlightining phone call from the “higher up” about spin now!

    I do believe the word is getting out there. I met several people while walking my dog who remarked that they are now homecooking and now blaming commercial food for the deaths of their pets kidney diseases(they were 5yrs old) two years ago.

    Also noticed on a couple of dog lists I belong to; people remarking about increased bladder stone problems and UTI’s in dogs who have never had in 8 yrs! Now they are starting to question the vets..

    My grocery shelves had lots of pet food Friday, but I noticed people looking at it - but not buying it.
    And, Iams today had an ad for “summer dog food”, pets need different nutrition for the hot weather when they are not so active… gotta love the PR guys.

    Re:endresprocessing
    Seems like they mention picking up cereal,bakery goods, cookies, etc. I don’t think those things are in the pet foods… could those be the human foods that never made it to market?? than again my head exploded so I must not have read that right or try not thinking about my dog having had a “sugar high”.

    Katie

    Comment by Katie — May 6, 2007 @ 3:14 pm

  106. The quote regarding Iams was a quote from Itchmo and it said distinctly that it had been removed from the “Home Page” not the website.

    Here it is again: “Overnight, Iams has also removed recall information from their US homepage.”

    In other words, if you stumble on it or care about “What’s New”, then Iams owns up to have been a part of the pet food poisonings, but if you don’t click the right button, etc., etc. Just because the FDA wants to move on doesn’t mean the perpetrators have a right to.

    Comment by Jay — May 6, 2007 @ 3:18 pm

  107. Jay - contact them - then you’ll get their contact info.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 3:19 pm

  108. If a nation of citizens can’t count on a central government to watch out for them in the face of the most egregious behaviors by private enterprise, then you really got nothing… No responsible government, no stable society.. Nothing… All we have now are unscrupulous corporations doing whatever they please with zero government oversight.

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 3:24 pm

  109. Here’s one selling “Enriched” protein. We’ve learned already - it’s one of the terms they use in China to mean “melamine” in use

    http://www.somosnegocios.com/a.....212;-.html

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 3:26 pm

  110. We can expect that they are going to go back to normal at some point (Jay’s post). I did see one of our posters earlier comment above she had found the recall within the site still somewhere, it’s just buried.

    I myself don’t use Iams, but I will say (only one thing) in their defense. (No I don’t work for them or anything else, just do a crap load of reading along with you guys) remember when the first recalls started coming out? Iams was going to come out with it already - they told Menu they had had enough, there was clearly an issue and they had had enough. They were going to come out with a recall whether Menu did or not. So happens Menu, after Iams dropped that foot, initiated the first recall activity.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 3:30 pm

  111. Comment by newlurker 2:57pm….MF purchased US made wheat gluten from MGP up until 18 mos ago when they switched….. So, is MGP back in the picture. Or have the pet food companies stopped using any glutens?

    Comment by VJ — May 6, 2007 @ 3:32 pm

  112. VJ -
    You just reminded me - MGPI is the stock symbol - I’m hitting that on Monday morning. they’ve only been operating at 20% - hoping there’s something there to be made. we’ll see.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 3:40 pm

  113. March 30, 2007 @ 2:25 pm

    The new as-yet-unnamed manufacturing company found this poison when it tested ITS OWN PRODUCTS and then informed the FDA, who earlier today refused to tell us the name of the company because they said there was NO CURRENT PROOF that the poisoned wheat gluten had been used.

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 3:50 pm

  114. huh

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 3:53 pm

  115. Idaho is having chicken cooking contests.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 3:54 pm

  116. What happened to this?

    March 26, 2007
    Scientists at the New York State Food Laboratory have identified the rodent-killing compound aminopterin at levels of at least 40 ppm in samples of pet food.

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 4:01 pm

  117. VJ..good question. Who is supplying Menu Foods with their gluten now ???

    Comment by newlurker — May 6, 2007 @ 4:03 pm

  118. Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 4:01 p

    I think the MIB *poofed* it because:

    “Neither FDA nor Cornell has been able to detect aminopterin in samples they analyzed.”

    and further into the article:

    “Despite broad-spectrum analyses of the food, wheat gluten, and tissue and urine samples, the Cornell lab has detected only the melamine monomer and none of its five by-products, such as ureidomelamine and melem. Akey says the lab lacks standards for such by-product detection. Not only has the lab not detected aminopterin, it has also not detected “other known toxicants despite extensive screening for heavy metals, ethylene glycol, mycotoxins, and minerals, to name a few,” Akey says.”

    The above part just kills me:
    . Akey says the lab lacks standards for such by-product detection.

    Isn’t it time they establish such standards?!

    fyi - the entire article is here:
    http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/85/i15/8515news7.html

    Comment by Ally — May 6, 2007 @ 4:08 pm

  119. Kristi…You’re in Minnesota? Me, too.

    Comment by Marilyn — May 6, 2007 @ 4:09 pm

  120. Comment by Ally — May 6, 2007 @ 4:08 pm

    Next week all the Pet Food Brands Web Sites will feature “WHATS NEW!” splashed across the front.

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 4:14 pm

  121. I just read this nonsense in an article:

    “So why are pets at risk but not humans?

    Because melamine itself carries a very low toxicity to humans, the dose consumers may have received in pork or chicken is very low compared to that eaten by pets in their food, and because cats and dogs also differ greatly — physiologically speaking — from their owners.”

    Yet - remember when a lady ate dog food trying to get her dog to eat it, it ended up being tainted food, and they BOTH ended up in the hospital because of melamine/cyanuric acid poisoning????

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 4:25 pm

  122. “Wiley Act” of 1906 !!! Thank you Nancy Bueno!

    Look it up!!! This is what I’ve been reading here:

    http://www.fda.gov/opacom/laws/wileyact.htm#sec1

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 4:32 pm

  123. IN THE CASE OF FOOD:

    FIRST. If any substance has been mixed and packed with it so as to reduce or lower or injuriously affect its quality or strength.
    SECOND. If any substance has been substituted wholly or in part for the article.
    THIRD. If any valuable constituent of the article has been wholly or in part abstracted.
    FOURTH. If it be mixed, colored, powdered, coated, or stained in a manner whereby damage or inferiority is concealed.
    FIFTH. If it contain any added poisonous or other added deleterious ingredient which may render such article injurious to health: Provided, That when in the preparation of food products for shipment they are preserved by any external application applied in such manner that the preservative is necessarily removed mechanically, or by maceration in water, or otherwise, and directions for the removal of said preservative shall be printed on the covering or the package, the provisions of this Act shall be construed as applying only when said products are ready for consumption.
    SIXTH. If it consists in whole or in part of a filthy, decomposed, or putrid animal or vegetable substance, or any portion of an animal unfit for food, whether manufactured or not, or if it is the product of a diseased animal, or one that has died otherwise than by slaughter.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 4:34 pm

  124. Say, has anyone seen any posts from E. Hamilton here or on itchmo in the last couple days? I know she said once before that she lives in tornado alley. I’m a little concerned about her in light of the tornado activity in Kansas.

    Comment by Marilyn — May 6, 2007 @ 4:37 pm

  125. http://www.answers.com/topic/p.....d-drug-act

    Go through this one too

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 4:38 pm

  126. Marilyn -
    Ally talks to E. and said yesterday E. is ok

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 4:42 pm

  127. And we need E. right now too - to do a little weeding on a different thread :)

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 4:43 pm

  128. Welcome to Your Grandmothers Home Cooked’ Fresh and Natural Pet Food

    Whats New!! May 7th, 2007

    Using our new Acceptable Risk Calculator™ (ARC), we weigh profits against costs in pets and human life or health, thereby involving the public in the decision-making process about whom to put at risk, and where to locate risk globally.

    Give er’ a whirl!

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 4:44 pm

  129. Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
    “I myself don’t use Iams, but I will say (only one thing) in their defense. (No I don’t work for them or anything else, just do a crap load of reading along with you guys) remember when the first recalls started coming out?”

    I realize that today was the first time that I have posted. I did so because I do have a direct line of information for a specific company and I thought it might help ease the mind of the poster. Yes, I work for this company and yes, I feed their products. I am also a pet mom and involved in rescue and care for many animals that come in and out of my life and home. My first and foremost concern is for pet health. I have been reading this blog since the entire recall began and found it very enlightening. I have forwarded suggestions to my supervisors of all the things that people are upset about the most and things that might help them to maintain or restore trust. I have also questioned them intensely on every issue until I received answers that I felt I could live with. I think this whole thing is terrible and have cried many tears for the pets who have suffered and died. I have given suggestions for alternate canned foods to try from this board to my regular customers. I have also tried to make sure that those who are opting for home-cooking or raw diets research and get all of the proper information in order to feed the right amounts of proteins, phosphorous ratios, nutrients, etc… I honestly (I know, I am one of the few) do not believe that all pet food companies are only out to make a fast buck. I think that there are a few that were inspired by a pet that they loved and want only to produce a healthy alternative to the chemical-laden, by-product filled junk that was formerly our only option to feed our furry companions. I get updates from this site (thank you Christie and Gina), Itchmo, and up until this week (?) Howl 911 and forward ALL of them on to all my friends, family, rescue workers, and local shelters in my community as soon as I get them. My main concern is the for health and well-being of the animals that I serve. Unfortunately, from all of the rabid blog-surfing that I have been doing in the last several weeks, I am of the mindset that we have been dining on melachicken and melapetfood for a long time. Someone made a huge “mistake” and put way too much in a batch of wheat gluten and a lot of innocent lives were lost. I wear my chocolate ribbon everyday and when people I ask, I tell them it is in honor of the pets that were lost in the pet food recall. I guess I just wanted to clarify that I am a caring and concerned pet mom before I am anything else. I appreciate this site and all of the posters more than you can know (even if a lot of the conversation is waaaaaaaaaayyyy over my head and I have a hard time picking up on individual dialogues between 2 or 3 people some days.) :)

    Comment by Amara — May 6, 2007 @ 4:45 pm

  130. Just so you know, I posted a few days ago that IAMS moved their recall info to the What’s New link, but there are so many posts here that back reading is difficult.

    FYI, I noticed that IAMS is not the only one who has moved their recall info to an inner link.

    I have no idea how they determine their timeframe - I guess they have to make that call at some point.

    Comment by Carole — May 6, 2007 @ 4:46 pm

  131. Oh yeah, forgot the disclaimer:

    I do not and at not time have I ever been employed by a pet food company or any of their associates, either as an employee or a troll.

    Comment by Carole — May 6, 2007 @ 4:48 pm

  132. Carole - you are too funny girlfriend. You don’t need any disclaimers. You provide a lot of help to this group.

    Amara - welcome. I’ve always hoped that food companies would join us openly and give us insight as to what is going on, what will be done. We are blind here, trying to find answers. Any input you can provide would be most welcome. Thank you for your brave post :)
    Again, welcome.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 4:56 pm

  133. With chicken feed now in the spotlight..Purina Mills has a link posted on their main page about their livestock feed and the recall (none of it involved in the recall).

    Comment by newlurker — May 6, 2007 @ 4:58 pm

  134. “I honestly (I know, I am one of the few) do not believe that all pet food companies are only out to make a fast buck. I think that there are a few that were inspired by a pet that they loved and want only to produce a healthy alternative to the chemical-laden, by-product filled junk that was formerly our only option to feed our furry companions.”

    Amara, I also believe this and have yet to see anything to make be not.

    Comment by Carole — May 6, 2007 @ 4:59 pm

  135. Feb 20th - Menu Foods receives first reports of problems with pet food.
    Feb 26th - Menu foods commence tests on 50 animals.
    Feb 26th & 27th - Menus CFO sells half his shares for $102,900.
    March 16th - Recall announced. Share price plunges
    April 10th - CFO calls this a “horrible coincidence”

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 5:01 pm

  136. Comment by Carole — May 6, 2007 @ 4:59 pm

    Where are they?

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 5:03 pm

  137. Amara,

    I don’t know if you are alluding to Iams - but maybe you would know:

    In the begining it was originally stated that there were no tests to detect melamine. I believe it was said that it was never expected to be in food. I even asked early on, why was Iams able to detect this when no one else could or did. I’m wondering if Iams always tested their products for melamine. Maybe P&G does testing since they are in the food products business. Just a curious blogger here.

    Also, re: Iams, rather than go to Menu, it may have helped countless lives and prevention of spread of this problem if they had just announced a recall themselves, immeadiately contacted the FDA and put a push on to the rest of the PFI to follow through.

    And, still wondering whom the other players are….

    Amara, thank you for your info. I think we are all learning and sharing for the benefit of our furry kids.

    Katie

    Comment by Katie — May 6, 2007 @ 5:03 pm

  138. Yeah - where is that CFO right now - think I might research that again here shortly!!!

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 5:03 pm

  139. Steve -
    I know Aunt Jeni’s is one. A very good one.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 5:04 pm

  140. No i don’t work there or anything else. I use it.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 5:05 pm

  141. Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 5:03 pm

    They’re out there, it just helps to be willing to see it. Anger and emotion, while they are totally legitimate and valid feelings in this situation, should not keep folks from seeing the entire picture.

    Comment by Carole — May 6, 2007 @ 5:08 pm

  142. Katie, I still believe that the reason IAMS was able to identify melamine is because P&G makes cleaning products that contain melamine.

    Seeing as how they test their cleaning products, they would know how to identify melamine.

    Comment by Carole — May 6, 2007 @ 5:10 pm

  143. IAMS uses feed tests I believe and they knew animals were dieing. Don’t quote me though I’d have to go find the article.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 5:14 pm

  144. The Pet Food Industry has been lying out their a**es since March 16, 2007.

    And they know it.

    I can’t wait to see every single one of them in court, under oath and facing perjury charges.

    What a day of celebration that will be for America’s 120 Million pet parents.

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 5:15 pm

  145. I don’t want this to get buried. Under the

    Wiley Act” of 1906 (Thank you Nancy Bueno!)

    http://www.fda.gov/opacom/laws/wileyact.htm#sec1

    The government most certainly can initiate recalls. Voluntary my butt.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 5:19 pm

  146. also related -
    http://www.answers.com/topic/p…..d-drug-act

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 5:20 pm

  147. That link won’t work, use this one

    http://www.answers.com/topic/p.....d-drug-act

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 5:22 pm

  148. I hope E. is ok.

    Yesterday she was, but due to living in tornado alley has to be offline at times. I haven’t heard back from today’s message. The one that hit Kansas did look bad & I don’t know how close to KS, E. lives.

    Comment by Ally — May 6, 2007 @ 5:25 pm

  149. Whats New?

    Cost-cutting measures
    Changes in Corporate Identity
    Ongoing contamination
    etc, ect.

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 5:29 pm

  150. Carole,

    Even if P&G has melamine in cleaning products, why would they need to test for it?? it’s not eaten. It’s like melamine plates, fertilizer, etc. companies make those products and may test for amount of melamine within. But, I still wonder what led Iams to suspect melamine and to test for it?? was it just luck to think melamine - lets test for it? or something more??

    I just have one of those curious minds, something nags and can’t let it go until I have a concrete answer.

    Also, when Iams found melamine, I wonder what the concentration was?

    Glad to have some of the pet food companies here, not afraid to share, and to help us understand and move
    forward.

    Katie

    Comment by Katie — May 6, 2007 @ 5:31 pm

  151. Oh ain’t this wonderful - -

    “The 20 million live chickens now being held were being raised for “large, brand name growers,” USDA spokesman Keith Williams said. “These are names you would know.”

    http://www.chron.com/disp/stor.....77454.html

    CHIT

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 5:36 pm

  152. Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 5:36 pm

    Just two days ago the Feds were saying the contaminated chickens were from small operators of poultry farms, because the big farms make their own feed and wouldn’t have fed the contaminated feed. Another cover up?

    Comment by Nabiya — May 6, 2007 @ 5:39 pm

  153. Amara, we don’t know what company you work for and that’s probably best but here’s a few things that make all of us suspicious of any pet food maker, even those we might be feeding out pets right now. And recognize, no anger is being directed at you but at the criminals who have caused this nightmare from the very beginning.

    o Mislabeling continues, including multiple instances of food being recalled without listing wheat gluten, corn gluten, RPC as an ingredient. Not only that, multiple companies are changing their ingredients on their websites, it seems to match what is being found out on this blog as research continues.

    o Just come clean about your suppliers. Just tell us the names. Do not lie about it being a US company when it isn’t made in the US, but rather supplied by a US company. There’s a big difference and we are not stupid.

    o Quit changing your websites to say what you think we want to hear. We aren’t gullible. Simply stating “Made in the USA” or “protein sourced from the US” doesn’t make it so. PR spin might work for some less-informed folks but there is now a contingent of very informed pet parents who are literally watching the pet food companies every move.

    o Blaming this whole thing on China is too “pat” of an answer to pacify me.

    o Honesty and integrity need to mean something and it’s going to take a tremendous amount of effort, which we haven’t seen, on the part of pet food companies to instill any sense of confidence in consumers ever again.

    o Do the right thing: reimburse the pet owners affected by this nightmare. They unknowingly TRUSTED a company to provide a safe food for their pet. They unknowingly fed the poison. THAT is a horrible burden to bear. I struggle with this every day.

    o And one more thing, use common sense. We all assumed Menu Foods didn’t clean their vats before processing a new food run. We were told we were nuts. Then 6 weeks later, a new recall for what??? cross contamination. Hmmm…maybe we really are smarter than the average bears.

    o Bottom line: a company’s financial bottom line is not more important than the host of tears my daughter’s have shed watching their beloved kitties get so sick.

    I could go on Amara, but I think you know what my point is. Again, I’m not directing this at you. Just please understand, everyone is reading this blog, from pet food companies to the FDA. They have had the opportunity to be honest from the get go and THEY CHOSE NOT TO! I find this reprehensible and absolutely shameful. These companies will not be seeing one red cent of my money ever again. And no, I won’t be forgetting what they’ve done to my cats, what they have done to thousands of other pets, what they’ve done to shake our trust in the pet food industry. Every one of the companies involved should be on bended knee apologizing publicly, but yet they are not.

    Honesty and integrity.

    Comment by Sharon — May 6, 2007 @ 5:40 pm

  154. One thing that is getting way too old and we do it too is this:

    Only using the phrase “Melamine”. It’s not Melamine, it’s “Melamine and Cyanuric Acid” I probably spelled it incorrectly but you guys know what I’m talking about. It’s the combination of the two, not Melamine. And it was like 30% Melamine and like 70% Cyanuric Acid + gosh knows what else that killed the pets and is now in our food supply. Not just a weeny bit of Melamine. Oh-so-safe Melamine. It’s the combination of and one of those chemicals - Cyanuric Acid - there’s a lot more of it. Just saying…

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 5:42 pm

  155. Nabiya..I also read that a few days ago regarding the small poultry operators vs the large ones.

    I doubted that when I read it and read the label on my feed bag when I got home and called Purina Mills as well.

    They told me that it wasn’t their feed but probably contract grower’s feed as it’s a custom feed from the manufacturer. She also told me that Purina Mills does not use pet food scraps in their feed.

    Comment by newlurker — May 6, 2007 @ 5:45 pm

  156. Now that the tainted chickens/hogs entered the human food supply…

    Worth Reading: CARVER PLUS SHOCK Method for Food Sector Vulnerability Assessments

    Pages 7 & 8 discuss addition of an adulterant in the food process

    http://www.ngfa.org/pdfs/Carver_Shock_Primer.pdf

    I guess the FDA would actually be using these scales to determine risk. The tainted chickens and hogs in the food supply would probably be a 0-1 to them.

    Comment by petlover — May 6, 2007 @ 5:47 pm

  157. Someone above or on another thread asked what “reprocessing” human food is or another term I can’t remember right now.

    I know that some restaurants sell the leftovers on peoples’ plates for pick up by companies that, in turn, sell the leftovers to feed manufacturers, at least that’s what one restaurant owner told me.

    Comment by petlover — May 6, 2007 @ 5:50 pm

  158. I just got back from the grocery store and spent some time on the pet food isle. I am happy to say that Iams appears to not be selling at all. The shelfs are loaded with all the varieties, the store has dedicated a lot of shelf space for them. What appears to be selling is Purina and Pedigree. Someone saw me reading labels and actually asked me what was safe to feed cats!

    On the subject of us importing chicken from China….I think we need to export chicken to them. We have 20 million melachickens ready for shipment.

    Comment by Deanna — May 6, 2007 @ 5:50 pm

  159. West coast - wanna know who won the Amazing race I can give you the spoiler

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 5:52 pm

  160. from Deanna: On the subject of us importing chicken from China….I think we need to export chicken to them. We have 20 million melachickens ready for shipment.
    *****************
    We’ll even throw in some mela-pork chops free!

    Comment by petlover — May 6, 2007 @ 5:52 pm

  161. Imagine it. These Robber Barons and their Marketing Gurus and Evangelists have had us convinced we’ve been feeding our pets safe and healthy foods made with wholesome American ingredients.

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 5:57 pm

  162. Katie, it honestly could have been something as innocuous as a chemist from the lab that works on the Magic Erasers wandering into the food testing lab (maybe he had a buddy in the food testing lab and they were going out to lunch together) and recognizing what was - to him - a familiar chromatograph that the food testing lab chemist had failed to recognize.

    Happenstance often plays a far larger role in scientific advances than folks know to give it credit for.

    And just to be clear - this scenario is pure speculation on my part. But working in a big company with lots of different labs, I could easily believe something like this could happen.

    Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 6, 2007 @ 6:01 pm

  163. Please trust that I am lowest on the totem pole and I am certainly not speaking as an official representative of the company. :) I am a part-time employee and I don’t make a ton of money. If it was a matter of conscience, I would have no problem stepping down and moving on. I don’t really know how much more I know than most of you. :) (Y’all are pretty good sleuths.) The reason given for the addition of rice protein concentrate in specific varieties of the dry food are as follows: The dry food is made via an extrusion process and in order for that process to work you can only put so much fresh meat protein into the mix. The rest of the protein must come from a dry source. Many pet foods use either corn or wheat products to absorb this need. Our foods have no corn, wheat, or soy, so our alternative was the rice protein concentrate. When “untainted”, it is supposed to be a hypoallergenic source of protein. I don’t believe that it was a “cheap” factor, as much as a manufacturing decision. I would assume that alternatives are being considered. I know that I have personally suggested it. Unfortunately, our manufacturer could not get the RPC from it’s regular US supplier and at one point bought a batch from Wilbur-Ellis. This made it into one production run of our Kitten Dry formula (a little over 5,000 bags). All of this information was posted within hours on our website. They think that only a small portion of that run actually made it to retailers, but because of all of the previous recall upset chose to pull all of the dry kitten food off of the shelves immediately. It is tentatively scheduled to be back in stores in 3-4 weeks. As for the canned food, you all know that the accusation is that ANI added RPC to the canned foods of more than one company. Trust was lost with ANI. If they added RPC without permession, what else could have been added?, etc…All products made by ANI were pulled immediately. Many folks at this small company stayed up all night during both of these events testing products and trying to find answers. I got the second press release at about 5:30 a.m. the morning that it broke. It was on the website within hours. At the time of this post no canned or treat products have tested positive for melamine by the company or the FDA. I do know that there were safeguards put into place (i.e. each ingredient (other than Lamb from New Zealand) should come with a Certificate of Authenticity that is was grown or raised in the U.S. At some point this safeguard failed at both plants. The president of the company persoanlly apologized and has vowed to work with our current manufacturer and any new source for canned foods to put stricter practices and guidelines into place. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, we haven’t had any customer complaints or cases of illness from any of the dry or wet foods due to RPC. As of this post a new can manufacturer has not been found yet. They are looking for a small, family-owned business like themselves that they feel they can trust. It may be a fair amount of time before canned foods and treats are available. That is a huge chunk of their business, and I am proud that they chose to be “better safe than sorry” and stand up to the “big guy” corporation. I don’t know if this helped clarify things for anyone or not. Again, if you would like an answer from someone higher up in the company, I am happy to pass along your questions and help get you those answers. At this point, peace of mind is worth millions. That is really all I was trying to offer in my initial post.

    To Katie and Sharon: My first post was on another thread: I am referring to BLUE and yes, I know I might be endangering my own job. I have tried not to say anything that is not information readily available to the public or that would be answered by the company if asked. I did not how to reach a poster other than by posting here.

    Dry food supplier: CJ Foods
    Wet food and treat supplier: Was ANI…currently looking for new manufacturer.

    I know most companies view manufacturers as “proprietary information” (Blue did when first asked). I really don’t know the reasons why. I hope (and I have a feeling) that they will be more forthcoming in the future.

    Comment by Amara — May 6, 2007 @ 6:01 pm

  164. It’s obvious “proprietary information” in this case is a tool used to conceal fraud and deception.

    Assembled right here at home in Grandmas Kitchen USA with 100% un-inspected Chinese ingredients!

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 6:05 pm

  165. Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
    “West coast - wanna know who won the Amazing race I can give you the spoiler”

    Please don’t. Take it to PM’s if you want. I’m here to read about the recall not worry about seeing spoilers to television shows. I’m not attacking you Shelly, just politely asking if you wouldn’t mind taking that off-blog please?

    Comment by Ally — May 6, 2007 @ 6:06 pm

  166. Shelly, the Wiley Act was repealed in 1938 and replaced by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C.A. § 301 et seq.). And no, I haven’t perused it to locate what you’re after. But it’s here:

    http://www.fda.gov/opacom/laws/fdcact/fdctoc.htm

    The page which shows it and it’s applicable amendments and such can be found here:

    http://www.fda.gov/opacom/laws/

    Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 6, 2007 @ 6:11 pm

  167. I forgot to mention that the Purina One I buy for my cat was .75 cheaper and the canned Pedigree Chicken and Rice for my dogs was 2 for $1.00, down from .58 a can. I know in past posts people have been wondering about whats being purchased and the effect of prices regarding pet food. I was surprised to see the decrease, was expecting a price hike.

    Comment by Deanna — May 6, 2007 @ 6:16 pm

  168. Amara -
    If you don’t want to say anything we totally understand, but have you ever heard of Howl911 and if you have would you possibly know why they are not currently active? We have been worried about them.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 6:18 pm

  169. Ally -
    As If

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 6:18 pm

  170. Pat -
    I’ve seen the 1938 act, it was a stricter enforcement of the originally is how I was reading it, but I am in No way a legal person. I am going to ask a legal person about it tomorrow at work to get more insight.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 6:20 pm

  171. Shell???

    Comment by Ally — May 6, 2007 @ 6:20 pm

  172. Amara -
    If you don’t want to say anything we totally understand, but have you ever heard of Howl911 and if you have would you possibly know why they are not currently active? We have been worried about them.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 6:18 pm

    No, I don’t. That is where I originally found the link to this place, Itchmo, and all the others. I was suprised to see no activity this week. Gina or Christie, do you have any information?

    Comment by Amara — May 6, 2007 @ 6:22 pm

  173. Shelly, apparently melamine cyanurate is one of the “next big things” for flame retardency and so on. Which means a lot of companies are going to start making it. Which means a lot of companies are going to have a lot of excess scrap to “dispose of”. (Sound familiar?)

    Do a Google search for “melamine cyanurate suppliers” and begin clicking on a few of the links. Guess which country most of the suppliers are in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    http://www.google.com/search?q.....0&sa=N

    Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 6, 2007 @ 6:23 pm

  174. I really do hope someone does find out about Nikki soon. Steve has a thread at Itchmo going to just in case. Many of us are beyond worried at this point.

    Comment by Ally — May 6, 2007 @ 6:23 pm

  175. Thanks Amara, and thanks for all of your input. You are appreciated!

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 6:23 pm

  176. Thanks Pat for that bit -
    I’ll definitely look more into that.
    I’m off, gotta get ready for bed.
    Night all.

    Comment by shelly — May 6, 2007 @ 6:26 pm

  177. Amara,

    I understand the economic drivers that cause smaller companies to contract out with private label manufacturers. What I want to know is whether these companies now realize that it is an ESSENTIAL cost of doing business to have a Process Inspector (or more than one) ON SITE AT ALL TIMES THEIR FORMULATIONS ARE BEING MADE and equipped with the capability to pull food/ingredients for testing or have the authority to stop or reject a run in the event something is amiss.

    And I also realize that human nature tends to mean that such a person on site might begin to feel buddy-buddy with the workers and the facility and begin to be reluctant to take punitive measures in the event something isn’t being done properly. Therefore, some sort of oversight of the inspector must also be put into place to provide the “checks and balances” that are needed for such a system to work - and CONTINUE working - as originally intended.

    Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 6, 2007 @ 6:35 pm

  178. Re: Nikki at Howl911.com … all the pet-food bloggers have e-mailed and called (leaving messages). No sign of what happened, and the Web site is registered through a service that guarantees privacy, so we don’t know who she really is.

    Yes, we’re worried.

    Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 6, 2007 @ 6:35 pm

  179. Anyone listening to Itchmo on Pet Central?

    Comment by Phyllis — May 6, 2007 @ 6:41 pm

  180. Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 5:57 pm

    “Imagine it. These Robber Barons and their Marketing Gurus and Evangelists have had us convinced we’ve been feeding our pets safe and healthy foods made with wholesome American ingredients.”

    These same folks and their lackeys are now asking us to trust them because they believe we will. Expect to see more of the same bucolic country scenes with natural, healthy, flavorful, nutritious, vitamins and … plastered all over their slick print and electronic ads.

    Comment by MFEMFEM — May 6, 2007 @ 6:44 pm

  181. LOL, did anyone see the Pedigree car get wrecked today in Nascar? Couldnt have happened to a better car….

    Comment by Don — May 6, 2007 @ 6:49 pm

  182. Amara -
    thanks for posting your message. Like Carole, I also don’t believe the pet food industry is out to get us or our pets - where’s the profit in that, point-blank? But I DO think that manufacturers should be held accountable for buying cheap materials. We all know that if it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t - but in corporate America, they don’t seem to understand that idea.

    I’ll second what other posters siad - the best thing Blue could do for its customers and its future bottom line is to come clean about its sources. If BB wants to source in China, fine. Let the customers decide if we’re willing to gamble on that to save a few cents. Many will; I won’t. But what’s in a food - and exactly where it came from - should be open information.

    Best thing BB could do? Start a “Homegrown” product line -100% of ingredients grown and processed in the USA. Even if it costs a buck or two more, I’d bet there’d be plenty of us who’d cough it up at this point in exchange for peace of mind.

    Within five years, I predict we’ll see a growing market sector for COOL products, and I think that’s a good thing. If folks want to save some money by buying chinese-made products, they should have that choice. But I think those of us who *don’t* want to buy chinese-made products should be able to avoid them, too.

    Comment by Laura — May 6, 2007 @ 6:53 pm

  183. Comment by Don — May 6, 2007 @ 6:49 pm

    Dude, who DO you work for?

    Comment by Laura — May 6, 2007 @ 6:54 pm

  184. Comment by Laura — May 6, 2007 @ 6:53 pm

    You meant within five years we’ll see a growing market for American products. (If we’re lucky)

    We’ve already just witnessed the results of COOL products (images and symbolism) since March 16.

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 6:56 pm

  185. huh?

    Comment by Don — May 6, 2007 @ 6:59 pm

  186. Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 6:56 pm

    Steve, I don’t know whether it’ll translate into a buy-American movement, whatever I might think about that. But seems like every week brings something new about the lack of safety and regulation in Chinese manufacturing - and let me just say, I don’t think China’s the only problem out there. As soon as the Chinese crack down on corner cutting shortcuts, don’t think there won’t be some other developing country out there that’ll play nice in order to get ahead.

    SO China, US, or others regardless, I do think there’ll be more attention to where things are made and sourced.Good information will be available, but it’ll cost more - which sucks for folks who don’t have the resources to buy safe, rather than cheap. But I’m guessing that’s how it’ll start.

    Comment by Laura — May 6, 2007 @ 7:09 pm

  187. Comment by Don — May 6, 2007 @ 6:59 pm

    I’m asking whether you work for a pet food company. You only show up when someone mentions Purina here, as several folks on this thread recently did. And when you do write in, it’s only to slam other brands of pet foods - Pedigree, Feline Pride, etc. That’s led some to speculate you’re trolling here for Purina. (Tidsy, too - she only shows up when you do.)

    So - want to lay the rumors to rest? Please do.

    Comment by Laura — May 6, 2007 @ 7:16 pm

  188. I stopped at the store after taking 8 teenagers to Spiderman and out for Pizza (my youngest daughter’s birthday).

    I noticed some Pedigree cans I’ve never noticed before. I’m not sure if they are new but they are smaller than a regular cans maybe the size of mighty dog but thinner and taller and in the flavor varieties of the Cesar that my dogs use to love as a treat. There were still huge gaps in the Alpo section and where all the Old Roy pouches had been was also just empty space. They (Walmart) had a new notice on the shelves assuring everyone that all the recalled items had been removed and what was there was safe (yup for sure). They had done a good job removing everything that they were suppose to at least.

    Comment by Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's mom) — May 6, 2007 @ 7:22 pm

  189. Re: Comment by Amara

    I hope you do not take this as a personal attack, because it is directed toward your employer. I am sure you have cried for all the pets who have been ill and died, but have you had a pet been ill or die from this? Have your supervisors had a pet ill or die or have you all been lucky enough to have survived this ‘huge mistake’? Have you had to hand feed a pet, mouthful by mouthful, day after day, hoping that he would get enough to sustain him for yet another day? Have you had to watch a beautiful, healthy pet wither away and die when you could see in their eyes that they wanted to live?
    I do believe that most of the people working for these companies are saddened by the events. But, do you actually think that this has ANYTHING to do with caring about the health of pets? Look to your so-called leaders for that answer. The FDA and the PFI have now declared - it’s over. They’ve done a good job of keeping the media low key throughout the crisis. Have you or your supervisors questioned why recalls have been announced with no media coverage? How easy would it have been to have a daily recap on major news channels giving information on recalled products? A responsible, ethical company would have made sure their customers were well informed. Not one pet food compamy has stepped up. Now YOU know what kind of company you work for. Now I know that there is not one pet food company I can trust. The FDA has lost its credibility. Where do we go from here?
    Today is my 50th birthday. Today is the first time in my life that I can say that I am not proud to be an American.
    So, keep wearing your chocolate ribbon and tell people how concerned you are. I could almost have believed your post except for that last comment ‘(even if a lot of the conversation is waaaaaaaaaayyyy over my head and I have a hard time picking up on individual dialogues between 2 or 3 people some days.)’. Forgive me for being cynical, but you seem to be suggesting that there are only a few people actually contributing to the information and dialog on this site. Although I don’t comment every day, I read every word written here as well as on other sites as I’m sure others do.
    In case you missed one of my few comments, my 6 year old dog died April 11 of renal failure.

    Comment by Cathy — May 6, 2007 @ 7:26 pm

  190. I am pretty confident in Pedigree, though nothing at this point is 100% certain. The other shoe could drop anytime. But my dogs are thriving and happy. I am disabled and tried the cooking thing, but I can’t keep it up.

    Comment by Deanna — May 6, 2007 @ 7:28 pm

  191. Comment by Laura — May 6, 2007 @ 6:53 pm

    “Best thing BB could do? Start a “Homegrown” product line -100% of ingredients grown and processed in the USA. Even if it costs a buck or two more, I’d bet there’d be plenty of us who’d cough it up at this point in exchange for peace of mind.”

    Laura,
    I have addressed this already, but if you would like a specific answer from the company you can ask via the website or send me your e-mail information and I will gladly pass on your questions or comments to my supervisor. (amarapnp@inbox.com) This is my rescue e-mail addy, so no hate mail please. LOL :)

    Comment by Amara — May 6, 2007 @ 7:29 pm

  192. Amara,
    Thank you. I’ll drop you a line - and no hate mail, I promise!

    Comment by Laura — May 6, 2007 @ 7:35 pm

  193. Comment by Maureen (Lilly and Lucy’s mom) — May 6, 2007 @ 7:22 pm

    Pedigree has come out with a new variety, fancy canned varieties. I had two coupons, buy one, get one free for the new line, but I thought I would just stick to what I’ve been feeding, regular Pedigree canned.

    The shelves where Alpo cuts were supposed to be were bare also. I wonder what is with that? They had been stocking those cut varieties with a brand new label soon after the recall. I wondered how they got new labeling so fast. Could it be because they knew way before they actually recalled?

    Comment by Deanna — May 6, 2007 @ 7:37 pm

  194. And most Americans don’t have a net worth of millions so we can’t afford to hire and retain a private vet to come to the house when a pet gets’ ill.

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 7:46 pm

  195. RE: Comment by Cathy — May 6, 2007 @ 7:26 pm

    Cathy, I am sorry you took that last comment the way you did. I was referring to all of the scientific information and some of the real-time conversations that are sometimes difficult for me to pick up on when one goes back to read the messages later. I had never posted before today, but have been reading for weeks as well. No, I have not lost a pet due to the recall. No, I am not aware of any pet that has become ill from the food I have discussed. I understand that you don’t trust pet food companies. You are not alone. I am truly sorry for your loss and would never have intentionally said anything to upset anyone further. I was only offering the limited information that I have. I have spoken with people who have lost pets first-hand. I work in rescue and have held many while they passed over the bridge. I am not immune to grief. I don’t know yours and I would never assume to take anything away from that.

    Sincerely,
    Amara

    Comment by Amara — May 6, 2007 @ 8:04 pm

  196. Comment by Amara — May 6, 2007 @ 8:04 pm

    Don’t worry about it. The PFI elites haven’t been successful at pitting us poor saps against each other yet. In case they haven’t noticed.

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 8:13 pm

  197. Remind me again why it is that China maintains “Most Favored Nation” status as a trading and diplomacy partner with the United States?

    Comment by Steve — May 6, 2007 @ 8:18 pm

  198. Because we are so deeply in debt to them?

    Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 6, 2007 @ 8:21 pm

  199. So, because of politics, we have this mess.

    Figures.

    Comment by Deanna — May 6, 2007 @ 8:45 pm

  200. For me personally tonight with Amara speaking up has made all these weeks reading all this information from early morning until late at night with bleary eyes and often times eyes filled with tears, worthwhile. Thanks Amara.

    Comment by VJ — May 6, 2007 @ 9:19 pm

  201. Amara, Thank you for the reply. Please let your company officials know that they are the ones with the power to make a difference here. They are part of the PFI decision makers. It is up to them to help persuade their industry to make a positive change, to make sure this doesn’t get swept under the rug. Even if they are not a major player, their input is essential. Tell them to let us know by their actions, not words, that our pets didn’t die without making a difference. I know that my grief will pass with time. My real fear is this secretive connection between industry and the FDA. Why all of the delays? Why can’t anyone - government or industry - do the right thing? How much is one life worth? It’s pets suffering and dying now, will it be my future grandchildren in five years? That grief would never pass.

    Comment by Cathy — May 6, 2007 @ 9:29 pm

  202. Comment by Laura — May 6, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
    “So - want to lay the rumors to rest? Please do.”

    You go girl.
    I’ll second that question as well, please.

    Comment by Ally — May 6, 2007 @ 9:48 pm

  203. “Remind me again why it is that China maintains “Most Favored Nation” status as a trading and diplomacy partner with the United States?”
    Because it’s better to be friends with China than have them nuke us….

    Comment by Nabiya — May 6, 2007 @ 9:55 pm

  204. Comment by Cathy — May 6, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
    “How much is one life worth?”

    How can you put a price on that which is priceless?

    I know most of the time y’all see me being a bit snarky or whacked. I suppose that’s my way of dealing with the day to day nightmare of this recall. If I didn’t utilize that release, I’d utterly lose it. But for this moment, I’ll be straight and say to Cathy, E., everyone here who’s lost a pet to this tragedy, I truly wish I had a magic wand to wipe away the pain of your loss. Reading your posts, I often feel guilty because I haven’t lost a pet. So far I’ve been lucky; my dogs are healthy and sleeping right next to me.

    I can only imagine the heartache each of you feel. Please know you are not alone. People here do share your grief while offering a shoulder to lean on. Always keep your memories of your fur kids close within your heart. Those memories are proof of the very special bond you shared and no one, no matter how much they may try, can ever take those from you.

    Comment by Ally — May 6, 2007 @ 10:16 pm

  205. Re Ally - yeah, I posted that question on another thread, too. Nothing, unsurprisingly.

    Re Nabiya - you know, China doesn’t even need nukes. At this point, if they pulled their money out, the US economy would collapse. China (and other countries, to be fair) owns immense swathes of the most valuable real estate in the US, plus huge chunks of equity in many of the top 20 US corporations. And then there’s the fact that most of America’s top corporations, from Coca-Cola to GE to Exxon to IBM, have entered into trade agreements with China that would cost multi-billions to lose.

    So while a nuke might be more dramatic, it’d be unnecessary. If China wanted to wipe out the US, all it would take would be one day of orchestrated trading, and our economy would be toast.

    The whole point of capitalism, whatever you think of it (and don’t get me started), is that the market will sort out what ails it. But that assumes the availability of honest information about what’s ON the market. If Chinese imports are problematic, but no one KNOWS they’re Chinese imports, then the market can’t correct for that.

    That’s why I keep saying we’ll never do away with Chinese imports. We can’t afford to - we’re too economically intertwined. But I do think COOL (country of origin labeling) is a step we might be able to reach if we all push hard enough.

    Comment by Laura — May 6, 2007 @ 10:19 pm

  206. The thing that really gets me about the situation with glycerin, is that the FDA has only posted an “INCREASED SURVEILLANCE” for glycerin imports (to conduct random samples, and let the rest pass through), which have already killed hundreds of people in several different countries; whereas they have issued a full “DETENTION WITHOUT PHYSICAL EXAMINATION”, essentially a “hold until tested” order for ALL CONTAINERS of Chinese gluten etc., which supposedly only affects pets. I’m not dissing pets, my kitty is the reason I started posting here, but this policy discrepancy DOESN’T MAKE SENSE! Does anybody see what I mean?

    Comment by Palomino — May 7, 2007 @ 12:10 am

  207. Once again, the government in Peking is in denial:

    http://lawfuel.com/show-release.asp?ID=12125

    Peking (formerly known as Beijing) is claiming that the Taixing Glycerine factory isn’t culpable, because they haven’t broken any criminal laws?! Don’t we have an International Criminal Court for this type of thing? Would someone please file a report on these guys, I have to get up early. If not, I’ll do it tomorrow evening.

    Taixing Glycerine Factory:
    http://www.chinachemnet.com/chinataixin/

    International Criminal Court:
    http://www.icc-cpi.int/home.html&l=en

    Comment by Palomino — May 7, 2007 @ 12:55 am

  208. Yes, they don’t hold until tested until somebody dies.

    Comment by Sylvia — May 7, 2007 @ 2:29 am

  209. Palomino, I’m not sure whether they’ve confirmed that any pseudo-glycerine has actually entered the country yet. They are just aware that it’s out there “circulating” right now and it might.

    Whereas with the gluten, it is already confirmed that contaminated product HAS entered the country (as well as the food chain).

    Closing the barn door after the horse has escaped? Perhaps. But I’m guessing that’s what accounts for the discrepancy.

    Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 7, 2007 @ 5:37 am

  210. The USDA FSIS says “green light”, as well, in their morning emails:

    —————————————

    You are subscribed to Constituent Update for USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. This message is to inform you about a joint press release from USDA and FDA.

    There is very low risk to human health from consuming meat from hogs and chickens known to have been fed animal feed supplemented with pet food scraps that contained melamine and melamine-related compounds, according to an assessment conducted by scientists from five federal agencies.

    A press release and fact sheet on this issue has been posted to the USDA Web site at:

    · Joint Release: Scientists Conclude Very Low Risk to Humans from Food Containing Melamine - http://www.usda.gov/2007/05/0128.xml

    · Fact Sheet - http://www.usda.gov/2007/05/0129.xml

    Comment by Kat — May 7, 2007 @ 7:18 am

  211. Oh, boy! Today’s news release:

    Release No. 0129.07
    Contact:
    USDA Press Office (202) 720-4623

    MELAMINE AND ANALOGUES SAFETY/RISK ASSESSMENT

    There is very low risk to humans from eating pork, chicken and eggs from animals fed animal feed supplemented with pet food scraps that contained melamine and related compounds, according to an assessment by federal scientists.

    This conclusion was drawn as part of a “Melamine and Analogues Safety-/Risk Assessment” conducted by scientists from five federal agencies. Melamine analogues include cyanuric acid, ammelide and ammeline, which are commonly referred to as melamine compounds.

    A safety/risk assessment is a scientific approach to estimating the risk to human health from exposure to specified compounds. It is based on available data and certain scientific assumptions in the absence of data.
    These scientists estimated the human exposure to melamine and related compounds from the consumption of contaminated pork, poultry, and eggs as well as from foods containing pork and poultry as ingredients, and compared this exposure to levels calculated to be safe to consume.

    Scientists conclude that for individuals who consume large amounts of the specified foods, the level of consumption is 18,000 - 30,000 times lower than the level considered safe. In other words, a person could multiply the level of consumption by thousands and remain well below the level of public health concern.
    Scientists also calculated the risk if melamine were present in all the solid food consumed by an individual every day. The amount consumed is still approximately 2,500 times lower than the level considered safe. These individuals are still extremely unlikely to exhibit any adverse health effects.

    The assessment notes that melamine is not metabolized, and is rapidly excreted in the urine. Thus, it is not believed to accumulate in the body of animals.

    The assessment was conducted by scientists from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

    ===============
    In the ABSENCE OF DATA?? I guess since we all haven’t choked, puked or fallen dead, it’s ok! What about the food many of us are feeding our pets — HOME COOKED — WITH PEOPLE FOOD — PORK — CHICKEN??
    errrrrrrrrr!
    We are THEIR GUINEA PIGS!

    Comment by Kat — May 7, 2007 @ 7:36 am

  212. When I was grocery shopping yesterday, I noticed HEB, one of the largest has regional chains in South TX, had “farm-raised Talipa” from China.

    HEB -STILL- has reduced prices on PORK! I think that by selling more pork, at reduced prices to people who aren’t following all that’s going on — BECAUSE THE MEDIA MINIMALLY COVERS — they can say “our sales have not been affected by the tainted pork” hysteria…

    Also, HEB -RARELY- has a country-of-origin statement on their packaging. They don’t even have a “use by” date on frozen chicken. It’s date coded. I’ve filed a complaint with the store manager, the asst. store manager, HEB online. I tried to file a complaint with the USDA, but was told there is not a law mandating “use by” date. That is a voluntary practice. THAT’S WHEN MY HEAD EXPLODED.

    Comment by Kat — May 7, 2007 @ 8:32 am

  213. The OTHER Pat - This is Palomino’s alter ego speaking, Palomino82. I’m talking about deaths in Panama, one of several countries where drugs were manufactured using glycerine from THIS SPECIFIC FACTORY. The Taixing Glycerine Factory. The New York times expose shot video of the actual factory, which is not the same as the picture on the web page.

    http://www.chinachemnet.com/chinataixin/

    Comment by Palomino82 — May 7, 2007 @ 11:06 am

  214. The OTHER Pat - Oh, you’re talking about the other comment. I doubt there’s any rhyme or reason for the decisions of such an obviously dysfunctional agency. Just trying to help consumers to stage a “consumer revolt”, (like the Boston Tea Party was), which is really what this BLOG is all about!

    Comment by Palomino82 — May 7, 2007 @ 11:10 am

  215. Here’s a great diary on dailykos.com from a blogger who used to work at FSIS. Note at the bottom of his diary he includes links to two other diaries, one by Christie. Some good replies to all these diaries on dailykos.

    http://www.dailykos.com/storyo.....23334/5425

    Comment by Maureen — May 7, 2007 @ 11:14 am

  216. Guess since the chicken doesn’t fulfill the FDA criteria of being toxic only if humans end up dead with chicken sandwich still in hand… could save us all on our embalming costs later on from all that plastic build-up in our bodies… who knows if this continues, we might not ever need embalming in this country!

    Egads!

    Comment by Rose — May 7, 2007 @ 5:24 pm

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