Pet food recall: FDA says another recall may be coming
By Christie Keith
May 8, 2007
- If you have a sick pet or a question on your pet’s health, call your veterinarian.
- If you’re new to the site, please check out our general information page (includes information on recalled foods).
- If you want to report a sick or deceased pet, click here.
According to the FDA, there may be another pet food recall coming.
On April 23, Sens. Durbin and Cantwell wrote to the FDA, saying:
We have learned that in addition to Wilbur-Ellis, a second United States company imported a shipment of rice protein from China that is also likely to be contaminated with melamine. We request the FDA identify this second importer as well as those manufacturers to which it may have sold the contaminated product. Again, we request the FDA closely track this shipment and immediately press the affected companies to recall any food containing the imported rice protein.
At the May 3 FDA media briefing, we were waiting to ask about the senators’ letter, and if there was indeed another company. We e-mailed the FDA the questions when we didn’t get to ask them at the media briefing, and were promised a response. After today’s media briefing, we got our FDA response. What we found out:
On May 4, a company called Cereal Byproducts issued a recall of rice protein concentrate it obtained from what it called a “local domestic importer.” The recall was announced on a website at www.riceproteinrecall.com, which was offline for an unknown period until just after we called the company:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Mt. Prospect, Illinois – May 4, 2007 – Cereal Byproducts Company is announcing today that the FDA has determined that there are melamine and/or melamine derivatives in the rice protein concentrate produced by a single source Chinese supplier, Binzhou Futian Biology Technology Co. Ltd., and purchased through a local domestic importer. Cereal Byproducts shipped the recalled product to a total of three customers located in the Midwest between July 19, 2006 and March 14, 2007.
The FDA previously found melamine and/or melamine derivatives in Wilbur-Ellis Company’s rice protein concentrate, which was purchased from the same Chinese supplier as Cereal Byproducts. Cereal Byproducts proactively notified their customers of this finding, and thereafter both parties implemented their own voluntary recall of the contaminated products on or about April 19, 2007.
Although Cereal Byproducts has received no confirmed cases of pet deaths, it voluntarily chose to initiate the recall when Cereal Byproducts discovered there was a potential contamination of melamine or melamine type derivatives in the rice protein. We are confident that our customers have implemented on-going recalls and the remaining rice protein concentrate, not previously distributed to these customers, is located at a separate warehouse facility under quarantine.
Cereal Byproducts assures its customers that the safety and quality of the ingredients it supplies is a top priority. Since 1917 it has always been our goal is to ensure the safety and integrity of our products. Cereal Byproducts is working closely with the FDA to assist in its efforts to address the recent development affecting the pet food industry.
Customers with questions about this recall or any Cereal Byproducts Company product should visit the website at riceproteinrecall.com or visit the FDA website at www.fda.gov for more information.
Note the release says the concentrate was sold to three customers of Cereal Byproducts, only two of which have issued voluntary recalls of pet food products since that time.
The FDA’s Kimberly Rawlings today by phone confirmed that the third company may, at some unspecified time in the future, also recall some pet food products, saying, “Cereal Byproducts recalled the rice protein concentrate they sold to three firms. This recall may result in additional pet food being recalled.” She said she was unable to put any kind of timeframe on such a recall.
Neither FDA nor Cereal Byproducts would identify the third company, although Cereal Byproducts did say all three customers were “in the Midwest.”
Rawlings stressed that “based on our records, the Cereal Byproducts shipments of rice concentrates trace to Binzhou Futian Technology–the source already identified. There is no new importer or Chinese supplier of rice protein concentrate that we know of per the records we collected.”
She said that FDA was preparing a response to Sens. Durbin and Cantwell. Sen. Durbin’s office indicated it was in the process of setting up a meeting with FDA and the Chinese Embassy to investigate this issue in more depth.
The last set of pet food recalls was attributed to cross-contamination with wheat products containing melamine and similar chemical compounds in a Menu Foods plant. When asked if the Menu Foods recall was related to the FDA inspection of one of the company’s plants the previous week, the FDA’s Douglas Arbesfeld replied, “It is the same firm in Kansas, the corporate HQ, that initiated the recall to include the NJ facility. It would be a stretch to say that this action was a direct result of the current and ongoing inspection and interaction with firm. I would refer to them as related activities.”
Go to the latest blog post | Go to the PetConnection home page
|Technorati Tags: pet food recall, dogs, cats,veterinarian, veterinary
So is it RPC or wheat flour?
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
I’m confused. the release says “total of 3 customers”, then it says “both recalled”. Typo?
Comment by Kim — May 8, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
“The FDA’s Kimberly Rawlings today by phone confirmed that the third company may, at some unspecified time in the future, also recall some pet food products, saying, “Cereal Byproducts recalled the rice protein concentrate they sold to three firms. This recall may result in additional pet food being recalled.” She said she was unable to put any kind of time frame on such a recall.”
WTF?!?!
“She said that FDA was preparing a response to Sens. Durbin and Cantwell. Sen. Durbin’s office indicated it was in the process of setting up a meeting with FDA and the Chinese Embassy to investigate this issue in more depth.”
excuse me, but how many weeks does it take to form a response as to where the RPC is?! HELLO?!
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
Cereal’s recall notice…who’d a thunk you could actually find a website named riceproteinrecall.com. Guess they didn’t have to fight anyone for that domain.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Mt. Prospect, Illinois – May 4, 2007 – Cereal Byproducts Company is announcing today that the FDA has determined that there are melamine and/or melamine derivatives in the rice protein concentrate produced by a single source Chinese supplier, Binzhou Futian Biology Technology Co. Ltd., and purchased through a local domestic importer. Cereal Byproducts shipped the recalled product to a total of three customers located in the Midwest between July 19, 2006 and March 14, 2007. “The FDA previously found melamine and/or melamine derivatives in Wilbur-Ellis Company’s rice protein concentrate, which was purchased from the same Chinese supplier as Cereal Byproducts. Cereal Byproducts proactively notified their customers of this finding, and thereafter both parties implemented their own voluntary recall of the contaminated products on or about April 19, 2007.”
——————————————————-
So doesn’t this say that they sold it to three people, but yet the last line says “both parties”. Huh?
Also, BB and Royan Canin did their recalls around the 19th but Blue (CJ Foods) states they got their stuff from Wilbur Ellis.
What a tangled mess!
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
And you know what else is weird - Royal Canin and Vets Choice in South Africa are the only April 19th recalls.
Comment by Kim — May 8, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
These people-companies-agencies totally disgust me. And what a sham and scam re: “Cereal Byprodcts Co.” … they posted that notice on an untitled page with no link to the parent company—effing cowards, all of them. And check out their contact us page—NO contact info provided at all. Effing cowards, all of them.
One question that they all need to be pressed on is when are the tainted chickens, hogs, fish, wheat flour, and god-only-knows-what-else going to be dumped into the pet food chain since it has been deemed ok for human consumption?
Comment by Sandy — May 8, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
“Although Cereal Byproducts has received no confirmed cases of pet deaths,”
Neither has anyone else except the initial ones at Menu Foods so stop sounding so high and mighty.
“it voluntarily chose to initiate the recall”
Makes them sound like food safety heroes because they “voluntarily” recalled their mela-powder. Well now we all know there is no such thing as a MANDATORY recall in these cases so again, get off your high horse.
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
oh,crikey. i forgot.
it’s because it’s complicated . . .
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
Oops, missed blue Buffalo, they were April 19th too.
Something is wrong with this picture. Again.
Comment by Kim — May 8, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
Do Royal Canin and the other one state they were tied to Wilbur Ellis? If not, then we can possibly assume they are the two.
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
But if they are the other two, then doesn’t that throw off Wilbur’s five companies?
Running in circles, we are.
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
Anyone hungry?
CEREAL BYPRODUCTS COMPANY
55 E. Euclid Avenue, Suite 410
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056-0575
Phone: 847/818-1550
Toll Free: 800/369-1550
Fax: 847/818-1659
Product(s): Recycle food to blend into feed products: alfalfa products, barley products, beef,lamb & pork products, beet products, beverage industry products, buckwheat products, chicken products, canola products, citrus products, cooked products, corn products, fish products, cotton products, flax products, marine products, milk products, millet, milo, safflower & sunflower products, oat products, organic products, peanut products, poultry products, rice products, rye products, soybean products, wheat products, and other products.
Comment by Kim — May 8, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Freakin’ A.
OK. So what is it FDA? Wheat flour? Wheat gluten? RPC? Cyanuric acid or a select combo of all of them?
My brain just imploded so can someone please explain what the heck IS being recalled so I can understand? I’m having way too many Boo Radley moments these days as it is.
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
“and other products. “
would that be Melamine and Melamine Compounds . . . ?
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
sorry Ally. my brain exploded at least 5 times since the FDA update . . . no help from me :-/
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
From grainnet.com’s directory listing … but cerealbyproducts.com does NOT come up in a google search—
Cereal Byproducts Company, Mt. Prospect, IL, 800-369-1550
CerCo LLC, East Liverpool, OH, 800-336-2756
http://www.grainnet.com/compan.....mpany.html
Cereal Byproducts Company
P.O. Box 575
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056
847-818-1550
800-369-1550
Fax: 847-818-1659
Website: http://www.cerealbyproducts.com (site says it was last updated April 2003)
E-mail us • cbc@cerealbyproducts.com
Key Personnel (go to link to click name to email)
• Tim Thompson, Marketing
• Joe Pesoli, Trader
Comment by Sandy — May 8, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
Carole - as near as my pounding head can remember, we’d tracked ALL the recalls so far to Wilbur-Ellis.
Comment by Kim — May 8, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
…and then there’s Kim’s list above that I only now saw since we were cross posting. cripes, I’m so confused. I used to be a “fairly” intelligent type. or did melamine melt my brain over the past few weeks, months or *GASP* even possibly years?!!!
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
From the Blue Buffalo press release
“The Blue Buffalo Company has undertaken a voluntary recall of one production run of our Spa Select Kitten dry food. The production code on the recalled product is:
“Best Used By Mar. 07 08 B.”
We have taken this action because the rice protein concentrate used for this run was obtained from Wilbur-Ellis, the same company who supplied this ingredient to Natural Balance. “
Comment by Kim — May 8, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
From grainnet.com’s directory listing … but cerealbyproductscompany.com does NOT come up with a google search ..
Cereal Byproducts Company
P.O. Box 575
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056
847-818-1550
800-369-1550
Fax: 847-818-1659
Website: http://www.cerealbyproducts.com
E-mail us • cbc@cerealbyproducts.com
Key Personnel (Click name to email)
• Tim Thompson, Marketing
• Joe Pesoli, Trader
Comment by Sandy — May 8, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
Comment by Kim — May 8, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
Kim, I never did know where Royal Canin got their stuff, So then we are positive we know the Wilbur 5?
That being said, the only logical explanation I can think of is that the manufacturers received RPC aka Wheat Flour from more than one supplier and therefore we’d only see one recall.
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
OK I am on major overload today! Whew! Do all people in this world think pet parents are idiots or is it just FDA?
Comment by Sandi K — May 8, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
I know Blue and Natural Balance track back to Wilbur, but was there ever a statement about Royal Canin? I haven’t read every single release and post on the web.
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
“Additionally, Royal Canin USA has announced a voluntary nationwide recall of its dry pet food products containing rice protein concentrate and contaminated corn gluten has been found in South African dog food. The Wilbur-Ellis Company is also recalling all lots of rice protein concentrate shipped to pet food manufacturers because of a risk of melamine contamination.”
This statement steps around the supplier issue for Royal Canin.
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
And there is NOTHING mentioned about the recall on Cereal Byproduct’s website, which apparently has not been updated since 2003. What’s/how’s their stock doing ?????
Comment by Sandy — May 8, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
So does this latest entry into the bizarr-o next act unfolding now mean it “ISN’T OVER” yet? Or is the official stance by the FDA stil “it’s all good, everything’s safe so no worries”?
HOUSTON? We DEFINITELY have a problem here. Who was it this morning that reported the FDA is broken? You couldn’t have called it any straighter if you tried.
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
don’t know about their stock, but their product list is frightening . . .
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
Wait:
petfood: barly(whole grain),flax meal,lamb meal,beets!,chicken prod.,canola,corn prod,milk prod,peanut prod, soybean…. it’s like the whole bag of dog food!
And,dog bones with peanuts….
Question: fish meal - does that mean fish oil is contaminated too??
Katie
Comment by Katie — May 8, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
To quote Bill the Cat “Gak”!
Excuse me, I need to go get a recycled paper towel, and a basin of vinegar and water. My head just exploded all over everything.
Comment by Deb — May 8, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
What’s next?
Consider this:
The melachicken goes to the food processing plant where it is sliced and breaded with coating containing wheat gluten spiked with cyanuric acid.
chicken nuggets anyone? how about some yummy fishsticks? chicken taco? nope, the tortilla has gluten in it too.
We have all read about how it is the combination of adulterants that caused the lethal effects. Exactly how diluted do these things need to be to avoid a combination cocktail of kidney death?
Comment by Gail B — May 8, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
Ally, that was the former chief of the FDA, David Kessler.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com.....roken.html
Comment by Stephanie — May 8, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
Hey, that last post about David Kessler was from me, not Stephanie. How did that happen??
Comment by Marilyn — May 8, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
Well whoever it was from - many thanks for the David Kessler name and link. My brain refuses to store any more info right now.
(thanks marilyn ;-)
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
I bet it’s the Menu Foods recall……they’re calling it cross contamination, but that’s got to be a bunch of hooey.
In fact all those that recalled lately called it cross-contamination.
Menu Foods 5/3
Smartpak 5/4
Wegmans 5/4
Fosters & Smith 5/4
and I think there was one more.
Just because they shipped it to 3 companies doesn’t mean that it couldn’t have been reshipped in smaller lots by another supplier, if this company only ships big lots.
This is NOT the Wilbur Ellis shipment, I’m pretty sure all 5 of those companies finally fessed up. Note these people don’t really say if they were the importers, or got it from a supplier, only that it was purchased from the same company as Wilbur-Ellis.
Comment by CathyA — May 8, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
Royal Canin states on the question page of the website that they recalled on the same day they got confirmation of tainted rice protein.
Maybe there is another Wilbur Ellis company holding out on us.
Comment by Stephanie — May 8, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
I meant to say that they found out on April 19. They make no mention of Wilbur Ellis.
Comment by Stephanie — May 8, 2007 @ 4:57 pm
“Just because they shipped it to 3 companies doesn’t mean that it couldn’t have been reshipped in smaller lots by another supplier, if this company only ships big lots.”
so this is the new definition of *cross-contamination* perhaps?
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
This may have been posted: looked up the D&B on Cereal By-Products it says they do business as ” Milwaukee Grain & Feed “
Katie
Comment by Katie — May 8, 2007 @ 5:00 pm
Cereal Byproducts Company
Which means all the stuff that fell on the floor or couldn’t be used for human food. Like peanut shells, beet pulp, resturant deep fryer grease (that would be the canola and sunflower oil) ect ect ect, barf, gag, and ect ect ect….
I called pet food crap in a bag three years ago, Little did I know I was correct….
Brain fag is recognized as pet food recall overload these days….
FDA, you are fired!
Comment by Lil Bear's Momma — May 8, 2007 @ 5:00 pm
Cereal By-Prodcuts is also Milwaukee Grain & Feed this site lists where their locations are country wide:
http://www.cerealbyproducts.com/locations.htm
Katie
Comment by Katie — May 8, 2007 @ 5:04 pm
Cereal Byproducts
Feed and Food - did I read that right?
Anyone brave enough to go read their product list.
I read it but I’m hoping I didn’t see what I thought I saw.
Comment by Kathi — May 8, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
This is incredible. In order for a “free market” to function properly, it must be transparent. Transparency allows consumers and buyers to make informed decisions about their purchases. Making an informed decision includes knowing a company’s record on issues of product quality and safety. By withholding the name of the affected pet food company, the FDA is complicit in ANTI free market activity, i.e. propping up a controlled or “fixed” economy. What possible justification could the FDA have for denying us this information? Has anybody filed a FOI (Freedom of Information) on this case? Can one file for FOI information online?
Comment by Palomino82 — May 8, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
I guess I just answered my own question. Requests can be made following the attached guidelines, and can be made via FAX.
http://www.babybag.com/articles/foia.htm
(This is not from the FDA site, and I suppose could be outdated.)
Comment by Palomino82 — May 8, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Here’s the updated page on FDA’s site. It looks like consumers will not be charged.
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/back.....ahand.html
Comment by Palomino82 — May 8, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
kathi,
check my 4:18 comment . . . .
you should know i would go there ;)
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 5:24 pm
Is RPC (rice protein concentrate) the same thing as brewers rice?
Comment by Palomino82 — May 8, 2007 @ 5:42 pm
Cathy A - Menu Foods & Chenango Valley.
I think y’all are right.
Comment by Ann H. — May 8, 2007 @ 5:57 pm
dont know if this is helpful or not but I found it an interesting list. all located in same area
http://www.kcanimalhealth.com/.....n/list.htm
Comment by Mary — May 8, 2007 @ 5:58 pm
By the way, Brewers Rice is the small milled fragments of rice kernels that have been separated from the larger kernels of milled rice. It is a lower quality rice product that is missing many of the nutrients found in Ground Rice and Ground Brown Rice. Basically, the sweepings from the floor of the mill!
Comment by Pam — May 8, 2007 @ 6:01 pm
Here is an GREAT article about the pet food industry. “Get The Facts: What’s Really in Pet Food”
http://www.api4animals.org/fac.....amp;more=1
Very informative!
Comment by Pam — May 8, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
I guess my question really is: Could an ingredient, listed on a pet food box as “brewers rice” include RPC? What if the “sweepings of the mill floor” were from a mill also making RPC. Would there be cross-contamination? Has the almighty FDA asked any of these questions of Chinese manufacturers? I think the press conference when the FDA inspectors come back from China is going to be a much BIGGER storm than today’s! (Assuming they come back alive and un-brainwashed; watch “The Manchurian Candidate”. Chinese Communist doctrine considers “brainwashing” or “brain cleansing” to be a natural process for all good citizens.)
Comment by Palomino82 — May 8, 2007 @ 6:12 pm
Carole - here’s the last summary I did with info on who received/recalled products based on which vegetable protein they got. If Royal Canin didn’t get theirs from Wilbur-Ellis, then we’re missing a Missouri manufacturer.
http://petfoodtracker.blogspot.....luten.html
Comment by Kim — May 8, 2007 @ 6:15 pm
Pam -
I agree about that article. I think it’s one of the first ones I read when I first became consumed reading everything online. He’s got others - keep digging around the site, but that one by far opened my eyes to question everything.
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 6:15 pm
Okay, more info. Cereal Byproducts says
…”Cereal Byproducts shipped the recalled product to a total of three customers located in the Midwest between July 19, 2006 and March 14, 2007.”
This is the earliest date so far. The American Nutrition dates were 8/21/06 - 4/15/07.
Comment by Kim — May 8, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
Melamine Found In Oregon Hatchery
PORTLAND - The Food and Drug Administration has confirmed that melamine has been found in fish feed at the Marion Folks Hatchery in Oregon.
The manager at the hatchery discontinued use of the feed, labeled as Bio Vita Starter, when the FDA contacted him about testing. The grade of food is used as a starter diet for juvenile salmon and trout.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife contacted the company to find out if the feed was shipped to other hatcheries. Representatives from the Skretting Co. confirmed that the same lot was sent to the Willamette, Gnat Creek, Big Creek, Cole Rivers, Butte Falls and Leaburg hatcheries.
Hatchery managers immediately discontinued using any remaining fish feed from the lot in question and notified the FDA.
“Although officials from the FDA have not associated any risk to the fish or humans as a result of the melamine finding, we’ve stopped using the lot #32734 feed,” said Steve Williams, ODFW deputy fish administrator.
The fish feed is manufactured in Vancouver, Canada by the Skretting Co. It’s distributed under the Bio-Oregon label out of Longview, Wash.
http://tinyurl.com/ytnopm
Comment by Eva — May 8, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
‘“Although officials from the FDA have not associated any risk to the fish or humans as a result of the melamine finding, we’ve stopped using the lot #32734 feed,” said Steve Williams, ODFW deputy fish administrator.’
Another would-be hero.
Newsflash: The FDA hasn’t associated any risk to ANYTHING as a result of melamine, except for those 16 dead pets. I wouldn’t make it sound so grand if I were you.
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
Hamilton Spectator
If you add melamine to almost anything, the amount of nitrogen in the final mixture will rise — and since the food industry generally measures total “nitrogen content” and equates it with “protein content,” a few shovelfuls of melamine can appear to turn a low-protein meal into a high-protein one.
And what’s wrong with that? Actually, melamine circulates in the bloodstream until it gets to the kidneys and other organs. That is how it could have ended up in the tissue of farm animals that ate the melamine-laced pet food.
Previous studies found that rats fed melamine for two years developed stones in their urine, which led to bladder cancer in some. Veterinarians investigating the pet deaths realized most of the animals died of kidney failure and had kidney stones containing melamine, suggesting the pets consumed fatal amounts of the chemical.
http://tinyurl.com/2xe3fq
Comment by Eva — May 8, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
Howl911 update: Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins knows the folks at Howl911 and she was asked to try to contact them to see if all is okay. She responded with an email saying she’s also tried to contact them with no response. She of course is also concerned.
Comment by CathyM — May 8, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
Mela-fish… solving Social Security insolvency, one mela-meal at a time.
Comment by Larry — May 8, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
Comment by Kim — May 8, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
Kim, AN is in Utah, which is not generally considered to be in the Midwest - it’s a Western state.
As if I needed further convincing, now it is crystal clear that the FDA are a bunch of a$$holes, since they deliberately speak with forked tongues to try to confuse matters even more regarding the recalls. And they are just announcing now about the fish feed when they knew about this for weeks. I have lost all faith and trust in our government. They are completely unwilling and unable to keep us, and our pets, safe.
Comment by catlover — May 8, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
I read something a few weeks ago talking about tainted protein in July, and tied it to feed for pond raised fish.
I’m wondering if this is what it was about…
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
When you have people “running” (and I use that term very loosely) the government who don’t actually believe in the principles upon which this country was founded, including our Constitution and legal system, and who have done everything in their power and beyond to corrupt this great country … sorry to get so political but they don’t believe in a government for or by the people … everything this administration has done has been against the people of this country, period. end of story. how many decades and generations will it take to recover from this destructive force and the 108th and 109th Congress that not only turned a blind eye but ushered in what most likely will be one of the, if not THE, darkest hour of this great country.
They don’t care about us, our pets, our food, our seniors, our military—nothing but $$$, big corps, and oil.
Comment by Sandy — May 8, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
running the country into the crapper … now THAT’s the ticket they operate on
Comment by Sandy — May 8, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
Kim, that is why I am uncertain of which manufacturer ties to which supplier. If Royal is not Wilbur, then yes, we are missing one.
Otherwise, Cereal is screwed up and has mis-info OR at least one manufacturer is one both supplier lists.
The mystery grows…
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
Sorry for the wrong words here and there - I have a cat lying on my keyboard.
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Regarding CathyM post of 6:39p
If Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins knows the folks at Howl911 does this mean she knows their names. If so, does she have a personal phone number or can she check phone books, etc. or is she only trying to contact via the website. We all are concerned about Howl911 so there must be some way to contact them other than the webpage??
Comment by VJ — May 8, 2007 @ 7:46 pm
“Cereal Byproducts distributes raw ingredients (grains, meat, alfalfa, malt) mainly to feed manufacturers and some food makers. The company also offers corn gluten meal as a fertilizer and weed control substance. Headquartered in Chicago, Cereal Byproducts also has offices in Arkansas, Minnesota, Missouri, and Washington. Milwaukee Grain & Feed is a subsidiary. “
http://www.experience.com/alum.....;id=132034
Comment by shelly — May 8, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
Cereal Byproducts is on this listing. So are melamine buyers (CBC isn’t listed as a melamine buyer)
http://www.directoryofuscompan.....er=company
Comment by shelly — May 8, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
**Milwaukee Grain & Feed** is a subsidiary of Cereal Byproducts Company
Comment by shelly — May 8, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
So is there any company that sells this stuff for one purpose only and not dual purposes that are so opposite?
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
Anyone look at Cereal ByProducts, products list? Is there anything they DON’T supply?
http://www.cerealbyproducts.co.....htm#alfafa
——————————
There are various Chinese suppliers selling fish food for rapid growth stimulator on the online world markets.
I was suspicious the very first time I saw those world market boards… who could EVER trust someone who claims the food is “Safe, non-poisonous”???
I think EVERY SINGLE THING THEY SELL should be examined, or just returned with a message: “RETURN TO SENDER!!! WE DON’T WANT YOUR CRAP!!”.
And, we’re worried about blatant terrorism?? How about sabbotage of a nation’s entire food supply?? They’re working on it… Soon to hit the organic industry, as China goes “green”. Personally, I’m staying away from the International Standards people.
Comment by Kat — May 8, 2007 @ 8:48 pm
RICE PROTEIN CONCENTRATE. Is it a misnomer? Is it in our dinner table rice also? Because if it’s a protein booster, yesterday I examined the ingredient label on several brands of rice and different size bags. What I found was varying amounts of protein not consistent with the size of the bag as if the protein is introduced into the rice “fortified” at company’s discretion. Don’t know.. but a 5lb bag contained 3% protein while another brand, about 2 lbs contained 4% protein. Are we getting the same artificial boost of protein in our food too I wonder?
Comment by nunyabus — May 8, 2007 @ 8:52 pm
According to an article on MSN (under health), the FDA has found melamine in fishmeal. They have a “list” of fish farms who received the tainted fishmeal.
Also, they said the wheat gluten and rice protein were mislabeled. They contained “wheat flour” and the contamination was in the wheat flour.
Comment by Jeanette/Ohio — May 8, 2007 @ 11:39 pm
Did a little research tonight. This company, Cereal Byproducts Company, has a fairly shady history. One of their specialties seems to be buying boxcars of old, rotting corn in abandoned railroad stations. They are also known (d/b/a) as “Ceres Ag Products”. This case is from April, 2002. Not surprisingly, they lost the arbitration:
http://www.ngfa.org/arbdecisions/arb2092.pdf
Comment by Palomino — May 9, 2007 @ 12:52 am
As hopeful as we all are that we’re getting close to what’s harming our animals..I honestly don’t believe anything that comes from the very mouthes of those who’ve been LYING to us all along. The only reason they pretend to care now is for the exact reason that caused all of this MONEY MONEY MONEY..nothing else.
Too many questions are going unanswered for me to believe the crap they’re feeding us right now..
-why would China try to poison the very product they sell? and if they did, i’m sure it didn’t just happen..where are the records to prove that pet companies just began using them?
-why are none of those in charge of protecting pet food quality fired for their incompetence?
-as pet lovers, we’ve been lied to, that’s a fact (labeling) so why is this allowed to go untreated?
I honestly believe it’s the rendering factories using diseased products in our pet foods for a quick buck, and the pet companies know it. Check the NAR website..National Renderers Association and check out their members.
Comment by Angie — May 9, 2007 @ 3:19 am
“We all are concerned about Howl911 so there must be some way to contact them other than the webpage??”
A whois search showed the site privately registered at Bluehost. I just sent an email to bluehost explaining that a group of us were concerned about the site-owner’s well-being and asked that the message be fowarded to the site owner to either respond to my email or to contact petconnection and indicate that they are OK. I’m not sure if the Bluehost people will be willing to foward the message, but it was worth a try.
Comment by CatLady — May 9, 2007 @ 3:55 am
From todays Wall St. Journal (5/9/07)-“Separately, U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials yesterday said they found melamine in Canadian-manufactured fish meal containing what was labeled as wheat gluten imported from China. The officials said they are looking at fish meal imported not only from China but also from other countries. Melamine-contaminated ingredients found in pet foods were actually wheat flour, rather than wheat gluten or rice protein concentrate as labels indicated, the officials added.”
This is the first I have heard that wheat flour (which I see in hills science diet cat food NOT recalled) If the wheat flour was mislabeled as wheat gluten -why was it used?
Comment by Peter — May 9, 2007 @ 5:33 am
Waste not, want not.
Pardon me while I remove the shards of glass from my eyes as I read the blog and the ever unfolding saga from the forked tongued FDA minions.
Hang on - things will get worse.
Comment by Linda — May 9, 2007 @ 5:36 am
I don’t know if anyone here can answer this - but here goes. With the fish, chicken and pork, the FDA seems to hedge their bets about humans eating all this stuff. BUT, they don’t ever guarantee that it won’t cause harm. My question is, WHAT ABOUT PREGNANT WOMEN??? My daughter is pregnant…in her third month. I can’t find anything said about the safety of any of these things to a fetus. Does anyone know anything? I’ve told my daughter to ask her OBGYN, but strongly advised her NOT to eat any chicken, pork or fish until somebody indicates what the story is. I wouldn’t trust them at all….but they haven’t even mentioned the safety issue with pregnant women. - Eileen
Comment by Eileen — May 9, 2007 @ 6:31 am
I read a few comments about Cereal Byproduct, and have been reading right along about all the recalls. I had fed my dog (Wiggles) some of the recall dog foods, by the grace of god, she is healthy, (first it was the Nutro Ultra holistic dog food, and then it was the Blue Buffalo Companys dog food, which I switched her to) Now she’s eating byNature organic dog food. My cat (Smokie) has not been effected, luckily she is so fussy about food, she really only eats fish and never liked the gravy cuts and style type of food.
The companys website is crealbyproducts.com, the President of the company is Jim Tofilon, and the companys phone number is 800-369-1550.
The companys Corp HQ is in Il, and they have several locations, (MO, AR, MN and WA).
I think what people need to start doing is something I do when I feel a need for change, and that is call your Govt Representative, let them know how you feel, these recalls should be mandatory recalls, not voluntary and the FDA should be required to list all the company names that are involved… Call your rep in DC, and call the company itself… Let them know what you think (politely of course).
These people won’t really act on a few silent protesters but will stand up and take notice is thousands of people inindate their phone systems with protest over the way things are being handled… This is how groups handle it when they want bills to pass or not pass..
Also, send letters to your rep… In order to make change it has to start somewhere and I always believed it starts with me…
Comment by Lucille — May 9, 2007 @ 6:34 am
Eileen,
You are not going to like the answers to your questions.
That said, there is an article written by someone who hunted the info with links to the research.
The article:
Pet Food, Our Food - Melamine & Cyanuric Acid: Some facts on health & safety
http://www.boomantribune.com/s.....7520/75571
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 9, 2007 @ 6:52 am
FDA = F***ing Disaster Area
Comment by Cynthia — May 9, 2007 @ 6:52 am
The FDA is a joke and so is FEMA. Why is that? Why can’t our government create effective agencies - even the FBI is being dissolved? No one is in charge and maybe that is part of the problem. We need a visionary and so far all we get is more of the same old thing.
Comment by Terry — May 9, 2007 @ 6:58 am
We have ‘The Decider’. No need for any other government agencies because he’s the Commander In Chief and he makes the decisions.
Comment by Tammy — May 9, 2007 @ 8:05 am
WHAT WE have is a monarchy. We are not a democracy.
Comment by Ann H. — May 9, 2007 @ 8:05 am
The hearing in the House Agriculture Committee is on RIGHT NOW! I am listening on Live Audio on the House Ag Committee website.
Ken Peterson is speaking
Comment by Elaine — May 9, 2007 @ 8:10 am
Mine keeps bleeping out, so I am missing some of this
Comment by Elaine — May 9, 2007 @ 8:13 am
Acheson is giving his 5 minute briefing to the committee—-
Comment by Elaine — May 9, 2007 @ 8:18 am
Wondering & worrying about pet parrot food…the various pellet diet brands? Is anyone looking into the safety of this pet food as well?
Comment by Marigold — May 9, 2007 @ 8:29 am
donna i posted yesterday my cat got very sick after eating innova dry caT FOOD my store here was out of the evo dry they had been eating cat ate food on monday evening woke up tuesday morning very ill would not eat anything even tuna that he loves would not drink was not urinating very lethargic went to vet vet said cat has a serious systemic infection highfever he does not know where he got it from! said it could be from food or something else bloodwork came back today all his body organs ok but it is a bacterial infection of some kind he is on antiobiotic but he is still very sick and not urinating spoke to natura they took down our info they want me to send them a cup of food to test theyare sending me a emailform to mail to them i havea little bit of food left i am going to look at it again
Comment by linda k — May 9, 2007 @ 8:45 am
Linda K,
What happened to your cat sounds very similar to what happened to my younger cat a couple of weeks ago. However, he had been on Eukanuba (dry) and we had recently switched him (and 3 other pets) over to NB Ultra Premium. He became very sick overnight, would not move, vomited bile, not eat or drink. He was on IV’s for 4 days at a whopping cost of over 2K. They suspected a bacterial infection (Feline Infectious Anemia) because of high fever and initial blood work. He responded to treatment, however Mycoplasma, Coombs, and Ultra sound all came back negative. He is FINE now, of course I got him off Eukanuba and NB, he is now on Felidae, C Natural, Innova Healthwise and is doing GREAT. Vet can not rule out food, but no kidney problems. Hope that helps.
Comment by Donna — May 9, 2007 @ 9:01 am
PLEASE..everyone go to your pet food company that supplies your pet food..Hills, purina, etc..tell them chicken, fish, pork and their by-products is NOT EXCEPTABLE from companys that process the tainted fed fish etc. that is going to be allowed by the FDA to be sold to humans..our pets were very susceptable to the tainted now known as “Wheat FLOUR” ..the organs and scraps could kill millions of our pets..pet food manufacturers MUST be swamped with calls and emails addressing this concern..and as for our children..what will be long term effect..
I feel the tainted animals should be destroyed and kept OUT OF THE HUMAN and PET FOOD CHAIN..if you agree email your congressman..FDA.GOV ..and all the pet food companies..no foods will be known safe for our families and pets if this is allowed to happen..
Comment by Babs — May 9, 2007 @ 10:33 am
This might be a little off topic but this needs to be said. I mean there is no question that one of the top priorities in this investigation should be to find out the tained food that is still out there and to stop where this food is comming from for now and ever. It is obvious that this all has been unnessarly drug out and things dribbled out to limit the public’s knowdledge and reaction on this whole issue.
But I think mainly to shuf overand past the actual pets that have died from this. I also think it is very likely that there was alot of other tained pet food that was never recalled but possibly the companies just stopped using that supplier in leiu of a recall. I mean it was better just to name a few selected brands with selected dates to avoid any out right recall. Now maybe they didn’t know for certain but it sounds like to me that they were only playing as many cards as they had to when they had to yet claiming it was volentary.
I mean although the current issues should be the first priority what about those pets that died especially during Feburary through April.
The of the lack of response given to those pets seems to be almost delibert, could it be that so knowone is held accountable and to keep the focus ENTIRLEY
Comment by D Jackson — May 9, 2007 @ 1:01 pm
It is obvious that the way this whole think has been handled is for the purpose of shirking off what has occurred.I think it is also obvious that the information has been dribbled out to avoid public response and it is very likely that their was a lot of pet food that was not recalled that should of been, more than what they have said. I think they thought it was in their best interest to just say specific ones with specific dates to acknowledge the tainted food to cover theirself and then possibly just stop getting from the supplier for the remaining of the tainted foods. Hoping that it would run it’s course so to speak as well as playing only what cards necessary , so to speak.
It goes without saying that they (companies and FDA) should be focusing on stopping where this has came from but I think it is obvious that their lack of response regarding all those pets that have died, all those listed has been mainly to bypass over that part so no one would be help accountable. The problem is that they have just about succeeded. They might not have been able to verify the amount of deaths reported on this site but certainly with a little effort they could of verified more than what they have.
Comment by D Jackson — May 9, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
Sorry about the double (almost) post. Didn’t appear to go through the first time.
Comment by D Jackson — May 9, 2007 @ 2:25 pm
many of these companies mentioned today do not have manufacturing plants, many are just brokers of many products. They never see or handle the product, they just match up buyers with sellers.
I am surprised there is not more backlash onto China!! The pet food companies do stringent testing on inbound products, but it is the Chinese who are poisoning us and their own people! Why not boycott Chinese products? Their human rights violations alone should make you want to not buy their products, and now they purposely taint the supply chain. BOYCOTT CHINA!!!
Comment by lablover — May 9, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
Hmmm… what about the contaminated chickens’ eggs?
Comment by Shannon — May 9, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
You people are depressingly stupid. If you don’t know how the feed industry works shut the hell up already, all you’re going to do is force a bunch of knee-jerk legislation that will cause more harm than good. Cerco buys from suppliers based off of certified test results that the supplier provides and if something goes awry like in these contamination cases there isn’t much you can do beyond trying to recall what hasn’t been used and trying to hold your supplier responsible for selling you tainted material. Get over yourselves.
Comment by Matt — May 9, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
Comment by Matt — May 9, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
Actually, Matt, we’ve BEEN depressingly stupid for trusting people like you with feeding our families. Thank you for dropping in and reminding us how important food safety reform is.
By “more harm than good” do you mean cut into BigFoodCo profits? What a shame.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 9, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
Tsk Tsk Tsk Matt…the price of free rule (in this case free to make whatever crap we want and to believe phony (questionable) certification) is not bought with the price of our pets lives.
Tsk Tsk Tsk Matt if you can’t make it right or get it right - then the government will do it for you and in the process I hope you go broke.
Comment by Linda — May 9, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
There’s a simple principle in the computer world called “trust but verify”.
In this situation, a company would trust an upstream supplier, but conduct their own tests anyway.
But what do we get? Manufacturers who can’t seem to tell the difference between “rice protein concentrate” and “wheat flour spiked with plastic” pointing fingers at their suppliers…”It’s their fault I sold you poison!”
And so the public ends up feeding plastic to the cats. And the dogs. And the pigs. And the chickens. And the fish. And so on.
Comment by Barry — May 9, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
Matt, if “getting over ourselves” means more defenseless pets or perhaps even a baby dies, no thank you. That is not an option I can even remotely consider. To do so would be depressingly inhuman, not stupid.
Comment by Ally — May 9, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
Gina
I think that Matt is concerned about legislation that might force companies to look much deeper into the quality of food. If the “supplier” is to be held accountable then how would we do that??
They are in China, going to sue the Chinese government?? Buy from another supplier that may be just as bad?
If it was my company and my butt on the line I sure would “trust but verify” considering that there is ABSOLUTELY NO RECOURSE back to the supplier.
Legislation that forces the manufacturer to test the product, despite certification, would cost money in the short term but the profits and lack of lawsuits would more than make up for it in the long term. So maybe profits are off 1% this year, doesn’t that make up for the litigation? loss of good name?
sam
Comment by sam — May 9, 2007 @ 4:31 pm
It goes without saying that their needs to be
legislation to prevent this from ever happening again and that China is at fault. However, somebody was not mining the mint and any way you want to look at it is was the companies responsibility and their priorities were in the wrong place.
What I would like to know is where did they get the grain before they started using the it from China and why is it that could not of immediately stopped using it when they learned of the problem. I find it hard to believe that a company as large as Iams or Hills or any of them would not have some kind of back up plan for emergencies. I think that is exactly what the pet companies and the FDA is hoping that all the focus is on China and none on them.
Comment by D Jackson — May 9, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
D jackson wrote
“or any of them would not have some kind of back up plan for emergencies.”
Apparently not. That really is hard to believe that there would not be another backup for emergencies. Maybe they would go to another Chinese company for additives, could be just as bad. I think they buy this stuff by the tons so probably have a huge supply of it on hand. Now they are stuck with it.
Problem with dealing with foreign suppliers like China, NO RECOURSE. There aren’t enough US suppliers to meet the demand, almost all went out of business due to competition.
sam
Comment by sam — May 9, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
obviously no one here knows the testing procedures of every single load that goes into these pet food facilities.
testing for a chemical like melamine is like a needle in the haystack… there are hundreds of thousands of chemicals in the world. The Chinese knew that pet food manufacturers test the protein levels by running nitrogen tests (bet you didn’t know they tried to spike it with Urea a few years ago)… so eventually they found a chemcial that is basically untracable unless you test specifically for this particular product. It shows up in no other tests. Only 2 labs in the whole country even have the capabilities to test for this chemical. It’s banned in the US.
As for the brokers/ importers/ co-packers/ facilities, they run standardized test when a product comes in to make sure it meets contract specifications. contrary to popular belief and some postings I’ve seen in the past month, roadkill, etc does not make it into food.
right now, i’m just thankful it did not get directly into the food chain. but since McDs is the single largest of chicken and beef in this country (ever read Fast Food Nation? Each burger has over 100 different cows in it)… do you think McDs would allow the FDA to force a recall of every single chicken and beef patty in the US?
Comment by mattyd — May 9, 2007 @ 6:38 pm
Outsource, outsource, toss u.s. companies to the highest bidding shredders, fields and fields of franken foods contaminating ALL food supplies, China really does own u.s. (feelin it yet?) I say, outsource the 6 year old bags of trash in the White House…it really smells awful already. It’s called Take Your America Back. But where has it gone and is there anything to take back? I guess when it becomes apparent that your ??president?? has given away your inherent rights and the poisoning starts infiltrating our human food, we will all understand what other countries go through on a daily basis for decades - at our hand - through our abundant payroll package(taxes) for the crooks.
Comment by nunyabus — May 9, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
“went out of business due to competition”. Yes and that is competition due to cheaper pricing.
So basically what the pet food companies are saying is that they have keep prices down due to being able to get cheaper manufacturing, suppliers and ingredients. Hum-don’t think so.
As far as them “spiking it a few years ago” no I was aware of that, but then again I wasn’t suppose to be. Not my job and I wasn’t the one SELLING the product.
Comment by D Jackson — May 9, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
the wal-mart mentality of consumers pushes corporations to find cheaper labor, ingredients, supplies, finished goods, etc.
That’s why we buy our electronics from china and our roofs and lawns cared for by mexicans.
too bad our pets had to suffer…… and too bad our purchasing encourages china to keep their human rights violations going strong and no incentive for them to clean up their act in other areas… (pun intended)
Comment by mattyd — May 9, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
Good point, mattyd. Maybe this will be the turnaround to make things change. The hell with big boxes, GMO food-look-alikes,suvs,et al.(And fake presidents) Corporations may change the purchasing patterns through their own sloppy and greedy mistakes. I’ve started buying less already. Yes, too bad the little animals have to suffer trying to tell us to WAKE UP.
Comment by nunyabus — May 9, 2007 @ 9:23 pm
I’ve mentioned my thoughts on this before but I want to know if anyone else feels this way?
Someone, please help me understand ..maybe i’m missing something here?
Why are we being forced to believe the reasons for the recall from the very agencies who have lied to us from the very beginning? They care about money..not our pets. They’re not trying to soothe us, they only care about saving their profits. Why hasn’t an outside group been allowed to investigate this?
Instead of allowing those scumbags to continue lying to us and giving all the media power to them why not expose the pain we’ve indured due to only one reason..MONEY.
When all I hear is “it’s not in the human supply” or “it’s only 1% of the pet food supply” that just infuriates me because it’s as if our pet’s life is the very least of their concern.
As awful as this may be..I bet this country would stand up and take notice if we’re forced to watch the suffering of our pets instead of a bunch of corporate stiffs making excuses. Thousands of lives have been detroyed once again by thoughtless human beings..and for what?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGt7HkzNC68
Watch this video..tell me that is the reason we need to fight this.
Comment by Angie — May 10, 2007 @ 12:45 am
Aunt Granny - Thank you so much for that reference to the article! I just copied the entire thing and will be e-mailing it to my daughter in about ten seconds! I told her when all this first broke about the chance of it getting into the human food cycle to STOP eating anything “chancey”….and I don’t trust the FDA worth a load of peanuts. And the manufacturer’s….HAHAHAHAHA! I have more trust in the guy wearing a raincoat trying to sell me an “OPEGA” watch in an alley! - Eileen
Comment by Eileen — May 10, 2007 @ 6:14 am
maybe the 3rd company didn’t recall because the product was free and clear of melamine and so there was no issue?
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 6:52 am
Please give us the names of safe brands of cat and dog food.
Comment by Bertha — May 12, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
Has anyone heard anything about the “organic” or “natural” cereal makers buying wheat or rice flour from China? I recently bought a box of Barbara’s rice Puffins and noticed it was marked “Made in Canada.” Canadian law allows a product to carry this claim as long as the ingredients are assembled in Canada—not necessary to originate there. I wrote to Barbara’s Bakery asking about this but have not received a reply. This silence alone, makes me very nervous.
Comment by Kris — June 7, 2007 @ 3:14 pm