Pet food recall: Some things to do tonight
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.
No doubt your heads are as close to exploding as mine is. So, first on the list is to clean up the skull fragments and gray matter from the keyboard. When you’re done:
Come join itchmo, petfoodtracker, thepetfoodlist.com, Gina, and me for a live pet food recall chat over on PetHobbyist.com at 10 PM Eastern Time/7 PM Pacific. Links and info here.
How are you at multi-tasking? Because, also at 10 PM ET, you need to catch Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN – our contacts on their staff say they “interviewed the General Manager of Binzhou Futian Biologic Technology Company – in jail – where he is being held by Chinese authorities after his company was shut down – he claims he has no idea what melamine is – also we have interesting footage of what the inside of a Chinese melamine factory actually looks like.”
And by way of a round-up of things not to miss in the news, on other blogs, and here:
A veterinarian speaks from last night – powerful stuff from Louise Murray, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, the Director of Medicine at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital.
News and commentary from itchmo, David Goldstein, the AP, and more as we update throughout the evening.
I liveblogged today’s FDA/USDA media telebriefing – hopefully the transcript will be out tomorrow, but until then, this should infuriate hold you.
And last, our own story: The FDA says another pet food recall may be coming.
See you at the chat!
Update: The transcript from today’s FDA/USDA conference is up! Check it out!
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|Technorati Tags: pet food recall, dogs, cats,veterinarian, veterinary
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 8, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
Only been in business a year didn’t he say recently?
ChemNutra Inc.
Founded: 2003
Contact: Steve Miller
We import raw materials from China for distribution to the energy drink and nutritional supplements industries.
http://www.naturalproductsinsi.....p/li/49724
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
but Steve, how could you leave off that they are the “China Specialists”
and I could have sworn something about 12yrs . . . .
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 5:35 pm
E coli breakout at two grocery stores…news at 9:00pm.
What now!
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
it’s gotta be beef or turkey if not both!!!!!
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
Thanks Christie and Gina for your hard work. I’ll be there at 10!
Comment by Jenny — May 8, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
“Rather than receding, the story seems to be growing.”
Commentary: News stories highlight complexities of ensuring food safety
California Farm Bureau Federation
Issue Date: May 9, 2007
http://tinyurl.com/22lq45
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
ChemNutra, Steve Miller, Chinese Connection
No nice guys among robber barons in pet food industry.
http://tinyurl.com/2fgsxv
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
The only sane thing to do now - eat fresh veggies and avoid processed foods at the cost of your life - even vitamins should be avoided. Nothing is safe. The FDA is not telling us the truth. Shame on them.
Comment by Linda — May 8, 2007 @ 6:31 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 @ 6:45 pm
David Goldstein at Huffington Post:
“FDA: The Faith-Based Dining Administration”
http://tinyurl.com/2ptqes
Comment by Eva — May 8, 2007 @ 6:48 pm
Does anybody remember when it used to be fashionable to have a bowl of brightly-colored plastic fruits and veggies on the table as a centerpiece? I guess plastic food is coming back in style! :)
Comment by Marilyn — May 8, 2007 @ 6:49 pm
“The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife contacted the company to find out if the feed was shipped to other hatcheries.”
Why the F*** doesn’t/can’t the FDA just say to the ODoF all the hatcheries that may have bad feed?! Not asking for it to be broadcast (like THAT’s gonna happen!) but at LEAST alert those feeding. Don’t make them chase around for answers.
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
Hopefully each day is a step in the right direction for those who want to see more hands on regulation of the pet food industry.
http://tinyurl.com/28xs7f
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
Keep all the LA Zoo Animals in your thoughts as they fight the fire in Griffith Park. They don’t think the animals will need to be evacuated by apparently have a plan in place just in case.
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
The same Bio Vita Starter, #1 crumble grade, lot #32734, feed produced by Skretting Co. of Vancouver, B.C., part of a lot purchased last December, was shipped to six other Oregon hatcheries, which have also stopped using it, Hargrave said.
http://tinyurl.com/2kenmb
Comment by Eva — May 8, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
“it’s gotta be beef or turkey if not both!!!!!”
I checked our online paper earlier, turns out it is ground beef found in two stores locally. Could have been on shelves for up to one month.
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 7:07 pm
“Hargrave said the fish that ate contaminated feed are not expected to carry it in their bodies as they grow.”
One sliver of good news…
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
The Mystery of the missing contaminated pet food stories
Canada Free Press, Canada - Apr 29, 2007
First one to fall from the radar screen was the International Herald-Tribune’s “Feed sellers in China routinely use protein substitute.” …
http://www.canadafreepress.com.....043007.htm
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
Christie said,”No doubt your heads are as close to exploding as mine is.”
I have a theory.
To my mind it’s absolutely impossible that the FooDrA-dudes et al believe the bafflegab they are spewing forth at every oportunity.It HAS to be intentional….the ‘Who’s on First’ plaform they have adopted(well,since he beginning really).And it has nothing to do with a sense of humour.
They have read about your recent head explosion(s),Christie,or perhaps have had someone read it to them.But I digress.
A plan was born.
They would band together and pledge to utter only the most outlandish,most outrageous,most illogical,harmful,unthinking,enraging,and absurd comments/solutions/excuses.Inso doing they would cause all bloggers/blog followers to suffer head explosions a la Christie ,and voila…they would rid themselves of all those pesky questions from the whining,hysterical,high - maintenance pet parents.
But then Christie said,”So, first on the list is to clean up the skull fragments and gray matter from the keyboard.”
Oops.I don’t think they counted on that!
Lorna
Comment by Lorna — May 8, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
NATURAL BALANCE PET FOODS INC, PACOIMA, CA
Samples 5. Passed 1. Percent Passed: 20%
Tests 50 Passed 46 Violations: 2 Protein, 1 Ash, 1 Weight, Net
From Kentucky’s feed sample testing 2005.
http://www.rs.uky.edu/sections.....letins.php
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
We live in Omaha, finally our local news covered that fish may be contaminated, however, no known harm to humans- only kills cats and dogs, ( MY observations here). All of a sudden, this is getting exposure. Pet food, hogs, chicken, fish. Why the wait to get media attention. Running out of ideas what to eat?
Comment by elliott — May 8, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
I’m watching Anderson Cooper, is anyone else?
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
The manager from Binzhou claims he has been falsely accused and is being used as a scapegoat. He claims he has never heard of melamine and doesn’t know what it is.
He says he is being held because the US suspects tainted product came from China.
So this other guy who manufactures corn gluten is upset because other companies can use melamine in their fake product and he can’t so he is losing business cuz everyone wants the cheaper stuff.
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
We no longer find a lot of cheap dinnerware made of melamine in the United States. Why? Because there was overwhelming evidence that melamine leached into the food. There ARE long-term effects of melamine exposure. If you’ve a little time and a curious mind, and want the scientific proof, spend some time at Entrez PubMed. Then go to the EPA website and see what melamine contamination has already been legislated, years and years ago. The science is there. The USDA/EPA/FDA has had the data for years. As they try to downplay this, it is against the evidence they already have. The FDA just chooses to ignore it. BTW: anyone else notice that a lot of the information on melamine at the FDA and USDA and EPA websites were all changed over the weekend? The Google search computer captured the “change” dates. Nah! I’m just a fanatical, over-excited, paranoid, pet owner.
Comment by Cheryl Hansen — May 8, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
Cheryl, what do you mean by changed over? Give an example of a melamine change on the FDA, I’m curious.
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 8:28 pm
Has anyone read the Washington Post’s online chat today? I’m deeply disturbed. The vet, Robert Poppenga, heads up the toxicology dept. at UC Davis Vet school, which I’ve always considered a darned good one. But the guy really comes off as clueless!
i.e - caller says, “OK, so we check the label. But what assurance do we have that the label is truthful and accurate?”
“Robert Poppenga: Well, the only thing that I can say is that (in theory at least), pet food labels are tightly regulated as to the product’s ingredients. I cannot answer the question of the current degree of oversight by the FDA, but the regulations exist.”
Oh, really? Has the guy read the news since March?
(That was just after he spouted off about the dangers of homecooking.)
The reporter wasn’t that much brighter, sad to say.
All is well, apparently, even at UC Davis. Move along, folks…nothing to see here.
Comment by Laura — May 8, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
I still don’t get the confusing of wheat gluten/wheatflour. WAY WAY back at the beginning of all of this….didn’t one of the testing labs say something like It’s taking a long time to test because the gluten is sticky and gooey? I have never seen flour come out of a bag sticky and gooey?!
Comment by PJ — May 8, 2007 @ 8:39 pm
I just got thru watching Anderson Cooper 360 and he did a real good job with pictures and
talking to different people about the total
picture: pet food, chickens, fish ect. I was
real impressed with the total amount of time
and dept to the show he did. Hopefully more
people will realize the pet food/melamine
problem is still going on.
Comment by Cathy B Oregon — May 8, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
Comment by Carole 8:20pm
Yes, Carole. Watched the Cooper piece too. Was almost ready to give up and turn TV off. Good piece. Only wish they had let Atcheson finish his comments and not cut it off.
Comment by VJ — May 8, 2007 @ 8:42 pm
“Melamine suspected in hog deaths in China”
Hong Kong television broadcasts and newspapers recently contained accounts of pigs staggering around with blood pouring from their bodies. …rest here:
http://www.northplattebulletin.....;pageID=29
Nnacy
sorry if this has already been posted.
Comment by nancy — May 8, 2007 @ 8:42 pm
Comment by Laura 8:34Pm
Robert Poppenga:well in theory I can only say pet food labels are tightly regulated…..yeah right! Our government allows around 300 ingredients that can go into foods without the companies having to list them on labels.
Comment by VJ — May 8, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
Nancy
WOW, if that is true and they can prove that the pigs are dying from the melamine, then I guess the FDA/USDA/CDC/EPA etc are incorrect. Wouldn’t that be a hoot.
This is getting really scary
sam
Comment by sam — May 8, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
VJ, I almost gave up cuz I was tired of hearing about the lady with the painting. I missed the beginning of Atcheson’s comments but saw the rest. I was surprised at how young the dude in jail was - for some reason I pictured an older dude.
But I wonder why he would try to stick to a story about not knowing what melamine is when everyone else in China seems to know,
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 8:53 pm
Please forgive if this is old news, but it just popped up on my crawler - AP reports China has detained two more managers and “some” other employees at Xuzhou Anyong and Binzhou Futian.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap.....Recall.php
Comment by Laura — May 8, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
Ok-here is another hog story. This one from the SF Gate. Source of hog deaths “unkown”, but the blood part is true….
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/.....ype=health
Nancy
Comment by nancy — May 8, 2007 @ 8:57 pm
Too funny. Here is one of the comments from the Goldstein blog:
“Bush, intoxicated from his brush with royalty, says to America: “Let them eat melamine.” (Of course, he would mangle a three-syllable word like melamine.)”
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 8, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
I talked with Blue Buffalo earlier today and told them about the fish meal. They had not yet heard that but looked at the internet while I was on the phone.
You could hear the frustration in their voice, that ‘when will this end’ mixed with ‘we’re really tired of this’ along with ‘another ingredient, good grief’ tone that we all know.
One good thing is that they are testing all finished product so even if the problem ingredient changes, they can still detect melamine problems. So in that respect it is a step in the right direction to test all finished product.
Comment by Carole — May 8, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
I have now come to the firm conclusion that the federal government will do ANYTHING to avoid panic. Until we are all running around with blood pouring from our bodies they will deny, deny, deny
sam
head was calm now starting to explode again
Comment by sam — May 8, 2007 @ 9:03 pm
Something humorous (?) from another site:
Dr. Diane Levitan at vetspecialist.com -
“Don’t believe the blogs! Listen to the FDA! Pet food is safe! and for God’s sake, DON’T try to make your own!”
Oy.
You can read her stuff here:
http://www.vetspecialist.com/misc/food_recall.htm
Scroll to the bottom (past the entire FAQ from the FDA, posting lovingly in its entirety) to the section titled “Some final points to keep in mind.” Nice.
You know, with all due respect to Dr. Levitan, if it weren’t for all the information this blog and others, I’d very likely have four sick or dead pets right now.
So I’ll take the blogs anyday over the FDA AND Dr. L, both of whom seem to be suffering from the same strain of cranial rectoma. :)
Comment by Laura — May 8, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
Comment by Laura — May 8, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
“However, suspicions were raised when the company was found to have posted an advertisement on the Web site of an online market in March seeking to buy melamine.”
hey! looks like they may be catching up with the blogs! think they’ll connect the patent trail next?!
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
Comment by Laura — May 8, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
“Has anyone read the Washington Post’s online chat today? I’m deeply disturbed. The vet, Robert Poppenga, heads up the toxicology dept. at UC Davis Vet school, which I’ve always considered a darned good one. But the guy really comes off as clueless!
i.e - caller says, “OK, so we check the label. But what assurance do we have that the label is truthful and accurate?”
“Robert Poppenga: Well, the only thing that I can say is that (in theory at least), pet food labels are tightly regulated as to the product’s ingredients. I cannot answer the question of the current degree of oversight by the FDA, but the regulations exist.”
Can you provide a link so we can read this?
Comment by Maureen — May 8, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
PJ - EXCELLENT catch! (“didn’t one of the testing labs say something like It’s taking a long time to test because the gluten is sticky and gooey? “)
You’re absolutely right!
Comment by Kim — May 8, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
I just checked out Kgw.com and the poll question is how safe do you feel our food is? I voted and the results say only 13 have taken the poll and the not at all leads. It is with the story about the fish food at the Oregon fisheries being tested positive for memimine.
Everyone go vote as it is one more way we have a voice.
Comment by Cathy B Oregon — May 8, 2007 @ 9:31 pm
Maureen, the Wash Post chat transcript is here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....iscussions
And a shout-out from me to whoever figured out how to shrink those crazy URLs. :)
Comment by Laura — May 8, 2007 @ 9:33 pm
From the transcript:
DR. ACHESON: To try to answer the second part of your question, first of all just to maybe clarify a point, this product did come into the United States labeled as wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate, so if that’s what’s being targeted it would find this. In terms of how did we discover this, it was a combination of assays that were done to determine this. First of all using something called stereoscopic light microscopy and polarized light microscopy, and this essentially just characterizes the product initially and is just sophisticated direct visual microscopy. That’s been followed by a type of chromatography that is looking specifically at levels of starch, and it’s based on those two criteria that the forensic chemistry center was able to determine that the levels in starch that we found in these products were such that it made it very likely that it was wheat flour.
*********************
so who’s going out to buy wheat gluten and rice protein tomorrow?
i just really feel like it’s time for some down home kitchen experiments . . . starting with lininig two products up next to wheat flour, lol!
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 9:36 pm
Ok..totally different line of thought…Corporation espionage.
Purina is now buying out Nutro..probably st a real steal of a price. Say Purina wanted to scoop up the major share of the pet food market. Cargill/Purina has a lot of offices in China:
http://www.cargillchina.com/lo.....loc_en.htm
Nestle-Purina/ Cargill is one big multi-national corporation. What is the chance that they have the power to make sure that their competitors “accidently” receive highly tainted glutens, which sets off this whole domino affect. Purina only had a small amount of their product recalled which makes them look like they were victims of the tainted foods.
Probably way off base,but after almost 8 weeks of following this who knows what is really happening.
Comment by mal — May 8, 2007 @ 9:37 pm
I thought Mars was buying Nutro?
but i wouldn’t doubt the 5 biggies are sitting there ready to scoop up the smaller companies
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 9:43 pm
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 9:43 pm
Sorry..It is Mars that is buying Nutro. My brain is frazzled and fried lately!!
Comment by mal — May 8, 2007 @ 9:47 pm
Re Mal’s post- I thought Mars was buying Nutro. Is Mars a Nestle/ Purina/ Gerber company too?And they own Cargill?
Comment by Leslie k — May 8, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
Comment by Leslie k — May 8, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
Sorry Leslie..I goofed with my post. It is Mars who is buying Nutro..not Nestle-Purina.
Information overload has scrambled my brain cells.
Comment by mal — May 8, 2007 @ 9:54 pm
Cathy B,
I went to kgw.com and voted. 54% had voted No confidence in the safety of our food, I think 33 had voted. I live in Oregon, also
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 10:09 pm
Carole: (on changes to USDA, FDA, EPA websites above) I don’t know what I mean by “changed over.” I just know that when I do a sweep of the websites, documents about melamine dated in the 1990’s and 2000s are now all showing a change date of May 4, 2007 from the Google searches. Google is registering that changes were made to those pages. What they are, why, I couldn’t say. Maybe it is as innocuous as that these agencies over the weekend wanted to update and get accurate information from documents that have been online for years so people like me who do research will get the “current” spin, uh, I mean information.
Comment by Cheryl Hansen — May 8, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
This is a must read. David Goldstein makes a good point…how did the gov know so quickly to look for melamine????
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....47970.html
Comment by Cheryl Hansen — May 8, 2007 @ 10:25 pm
This is the link to an article on Itchmo
http://www.itchmo.com/read/fis.....d_20070508
(Correction: Wheat flour spiked with melamine was sold as wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate)
Contaminated shipments actually wheat flour: Not labeled wheat flour. Wheat gluten and wheat flour are related. Pet food with contaminated rice protein concentrate actually contained wheat flour.
FDA in reactive mode: FDA is currently focused on testing new imports of wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate, not other possible suspects. FDA will look at other ingredients if they start to see unusual spikes of unexplained illnesses.
(Love the FDA’s strategy…. wait for unusual spikes of enexplained illnesses before they check other imports.. Great!!!!!
Comment by Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's mom) — May 8, 2007 @ 10:26 pm
China just keeps on ticking (like a time bomb)
Ex-Chinese Drug Regulator to Go on Trial
BEIJING (AP) - China’s disgraced former top drug regulator will go on trial this month accused of taking bribes to approve untested medicine, state media reported Wednesday, in a case expected to further highlight safety problems in the country’s drug and food chains.
Xinhua News Agency said the trial of Zheng Xiaoyu, former director of the State Food and Drug Administration, has been set for mid-May.
http://news.moneycentral.msn.c.....ID=6865408
Comment by mal — May 8, 2007 @ 10:37 pm
Family’s Web site shares anger, grief with pet owners
In the wake of the pet food recall that made national headlines, thousands of families are grieving the loss of their beloved cats and dogs.
And the Della Penna family of Wellington is one of them; shedding plenty of tears mourning the loss of their beloved cat Tabby.
http://tinyurl.com/yofno5
Website for stories from owners:
http://petfoodnightmares.com/
Comment by mal — May 8, 2007 @ 10:42 pm
I’m finding it harder and harder to believe that US gov didn’t have any clue about this. In April 2006, an agreement was signed with China for the safety of food (including the ingredients.) Now why would they make a specific agreement about this if everything was OK to begin with?
http://www.fas.usda.gov/script.....um=0046-06
Comment by Cheryl Hansen — May 8, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
“how did the gov know so quickly to look for melamine????”
they either knew, or it was because Iams tipped them off. take yer pick . . .
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 10:57 pm
Comment by Cheryl Hansen — May 8, 2007 @ 10:25 pm
Thanks for the link! He’s funny. My kind of sarcastic humor. BUT SCARY!
Comment by Kat — May 8, 2007 @ 10:58 pm
So I was searching another topic on dog health and stumbled upon this article. I had no idea. This is not the first crises of dog food poisoning. : I never heard of this incident before involving Diamond Foods. I had no idea. And even after this no monitoring occured. IN fact, Cornell expresses concern about the lack of knowledge of the public. Over 100 dogs died.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.co.....wsid=35872
Comment by Sandy — May 8, 2007 @ 11:01 pm
Yep! Diamond has had 2 big recalls (with resulting deaths) in 2 consecutive years.
Comment by Kat — May 8, 2007 @ 11:09 pm
Wal-Mart issues voluntary recall of lead-containing baby bibs
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Home+Fami.....225AU.html
“These products meet the limits in the state of New York,” Masten said. “The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which would do a nationwide recall, has indicated to us that their testing of risk assessment show the bibs are safe.”
Is this risk assessment excuse the only thing government agencies can come up with???
Comment by mal — May 8, 2007 @ 11:23 pm
So if they have found it in the pig feed, chicken feed and now fish feed. What about other feeds? Hamster food, rabbit food, lizard food, etc…and the feeds that are fed to zoo animals? This stuff could be in every type of feed imaginable.
I’m still waitin’ on the turkeys.
Comment by Tammy — May 9, 2007 @ 2:05 am
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 @ 2:47 am
Smack me. I asked Neil Lanning of AAFCO is they were approving the melamine fed poultry and pigs back into the pet food.
“Thank you for raising the question. I have forwarded it to FDA”
ann…falling over in the floor and smacking my head in a fit of frustration
Comment by Ann H — May 9, 2007 @ 3:43 am
Comment by Laura — May 8, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
From Dr. Levitan:
‘Blogs might be entertaining, but should come with a warning – nothing you see here has been checked for accuracy!’
‘Do not be tempted to make home cooked meals for your pets. It would be practically impossible for the average pet owner to make a balanced diet that would be safe for their pets in the long term.’
What is she - gunning for Dr. Sundloff’s job?
Good news for me: I now understand that I have achieved the ‘practically impossible’ and have been doing so for years. Good on me! I’m going to Disneyland!
Comment by slt — May 9, 2007 @ 3:59 am
From AAFCO:
It is my understanding that the way the poultry and swine recieved the melamine contaminated pet food was not from the product that was recalled, but from being fed the waste developed during the manufacturing of the pet food that was eventually recalled. I’m sure you realize that not 100% of every batch of pet food mixed ends up in the pet food package and offered for retail sale. There is always a little left in the machinery that must be cleaned out before the next batch is made. I believe, although I do not have personal experience of inspecting very many pet food plants, that often times the next batch of pet food flushes out the last of the previous batch of pet food. This change over pet food cannot be sold as retail pet food because it does not match either of the products being packaged for retail sale. If both batches of pet food, are good, then the change over pet food should be safe and have value as a feed source. It is common practice in both human and pet food manufacturing practices to sell or give this “waste” product to people to raise animals.”
So, next question - How do you explain the “cross-Contamination that prompted recalls if the machines were cleaned and salvage pet foods sold as animal feed?”
Sigh
Comment by Ann H — May 9, 2007 @ 4:00 am
I hope you read this part:
“This change over pet food cannot be sold as retail pet food because it does not match either of the products being packaged for retail sale.”
That’s exactly what we’ve all wondered.
It apparently WAS sold as retail pet food and would explain why some of the products didn’t have some ingredients listed.
Next question - Where are the regulations saying they “can’t” do this?
Cos somebody (ANI, Chenonga Valley, Menu) needs to be doing some reading & firing some Quality Control personnel)
Comment by Ann H — May 9, 2007 @ 4:05 am
“This change over pet food cannot be sold as retail pet food because it does not match either of the products being packaged for retail sale.”
They can sell beer that has been changed over but not pet food? Riiigggghhhhtttt! That’s total Bullsh***! I’m sure they think that cat’s and dog’s can’t tell the difference so let’s just sell it anyways. Hence the mystery of why fido and fluffy ocassionally turn their noses up at their regular food.
Comment by Tammy — May 9, 2007 @ 4:21 am
Dr. Levitan is a member of VNN - Veterinary News Network. If you join VNN you’ll get plugged into the local media so you can flog your practice. You’re also given talking points. If you go “rogue” (speculate outside the talking points), your password will be deleted and you’ll no longer be a media contact.
Comment by CathyA — May 9, 2007 @ 4:25 am
RE: The Google search computer captured the “change” dates.
I don’t think the date is when a document was changed, but last accessed. The more recent an access the sooner it will come up on your search.
Comment by CathyA — May 9, 2007 @ 4:32 am
So now my poor rocky pup is eating lamb. If it’s good enough for the Queen, we’ll take a chance on that for a while. Nix on the farmed salmon, now it’s only wild-caught fish (and none of those that hang around under the salmon pens where the uneaten food piles up and festers). The whole farce might be funny if I weren’t so filled with grief for my little lost fellow and for the shadow-dog that is barely hanging on. Thanks though for the grim laughs you all give me.
Comment by Nancy Nielsen — May 9, 2007 @ 4:59 am
EU is now looking at imports from China, but they don’t get much from this country.
http://www.foodproductiondaily.....na-imports
I hope this url doesn’t break the blog, since the improvement was made, do we need to use tinyurl? I guess this is a test….
Comment by CathyA — May 9, 2007 @ 5:23 am
THIS NIGHTMARE IS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, THE LIVES OF THE POOR ANIMALS THAT WERE LOST, BROUGHT MUCH NEEDED ATTENTION TO THE WAY THE FDA AND OTHERS ARE LOOKING OUT FOR OUR WELLBEING. I’M SURE THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG!!
Comment by ann gates — May 9, 2007 @ 5:23 am
Thanks for the link CathyA. I have been wondering what foods Europe imports from China. I live in Europe and feel like we’ve faced a double whammy. Not only do I have to rethink how I shop at the Commissary. Now I’m scared to death to shop on the economy. I have no idea how to read the darn labels here. I don’t speak the language. And I’m worried about what is in their pet food here. We’re going to the local pet store to see if we can get some help on buying a better food for our cat. The only carp they sell at the Commissary is all Purina poison. I’m not feeding my baby ANY U.S. pet food. The only consolation we have to buying on the economy here is that there has been no news of sick pets in Europe….or at least none we’ve heard of.
Comment by Tammy — May 9, 2007 @ 5:51 am
Gluten factory had a toxic history
http://www.latimes.com/busines.....s-business
Comment by Mike — May 9, 2007 @ 5:53 am
E. coli outbreak tied to Byerly’s, Lunds ground beef
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1171298.html
After an E. coli outbreak sickened seven people who bought ground beef
at Lunds and Byerly’s stores in the Twin Cities, state and federal officials
are investigating whether ground beef from the stores’ Minnesota meat
supplier may have been sold by other grocery chains.
Comment by Mary Smith — May 9, 2007 @ 5:57 am
(Too tired of this to bang head on wall)
Of course, we opened a new bag of super premium dry dog food yesterday and discovered the kibble has these small black specks in it. Never seen that before. Called the company, offered photos so they could see. They took the info and told me they would send an email; they might want to get a sample to test in their labs. Haven’t heard from them.
So, I take another super premium and measure half the amount to mix with some nice home cooking. Thought I would transition them. My oldest loved the meal, and 30 minutes later started gulping and eating grass.
Comment by Donna — May 9, 2007 @ 5:57 am
Comment by Mike — May 9, 2007 @ 5:53 am
“Mao himself razed the brick factory — days before the investigators from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration arrived in China on a mission to track down the source of the tainted pet food ingredients.”
O great. He tore down his own mela-plant in the middle of the night before it could be investigated. Now he says he knows nuffing.
Comment by slt — May 9, 2007 @ 5:59 am
Just thankful for the blog. Read the FDA meeting with the reporters.
Shocked about the events, especially the latest news about the fish being fed melamine.
Still feel like I am feeding my cats poison with every can of cat food or every mouthful of human food I give them. I am a vegetarian but my cats are not meant to follow my ways.
A never-ending nightmare for me so far.
I sign off as just horrified—‘cause my husband and cats would not like my head to explode.
Horrified
Comment by Evelyn — May 9, 2007 @ 5:59 am
Questions:
1)If AAFCO regulations are only approved by “some” states, why are the pet food companies allowed to use that statement on their labels”?
2)Is the use of the label & AAFCO on packaging making some consumers think that the ingredients are safe & that they are regulated by AAFCO?
3)When looking at the emails of the persons in AAFCO, does it give a false sense of security to consumers?
4)If the Pet Food Industry states “self-regulated” and it becomes apparent that they are *not* as, an industry, regulating themselves, does that make them also liable for the pet food deaths & illnesses?
Comment by Ann H. — May 9, 2007 @ 6:03 am
Comment by Donna — May 9, 2007 @ 5:57 am
“Of course, we opened a new bag of super premium dry dog food yesterday and discovered the kibble has these small black specks in it.
So, I take another super premium and measure half the amount to mix with some nice home cooking…My oldest loved the meal, and 30 minutes later started gulping and eating grass.”
Donna, please post the brand name of the kibble. I’m feeding mine the same as yours, half and half. You aren’t indicting the whole company, just telling of your experience. It makes me feel worse to read this not knowing if I’m feeding mine the same. I should at least be on the look out…
Comment by Maureen — May 9, 2007 @ 6:18 am
Apparently we are all plugged into the Matrix.
This claim that the public couldn’t feed their pets is outragous given the facts. I could have done better feeding my dog had I rummaged through the nieghborhoods trash bins and foraged a meal for him. Healthier too, he would still be alive today.
Comment by Maudigan — May 9, 2007 @ 6:27 am
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18563825/
China detains managers from suspect firms
Companies exported contaminated wheat gluten, rice protein
Comment by michelle p. — May 9, 2007 @ 6:37 am
Tammy,
in same boat you are. comissary has purina and then if you go to the pxtra all they have is Hills which we bought and is in garage because I’m scared to feed it to my babies. The pet food on the economy here is more expensive but oh well. Not that i want to recommend or say is ok, but we are feeding purina we bought on the economy. The breeder we got our dalmation from was using so we figured we’d try. I believe its made somewhere in the netherlands?
Comment by Paige — May 9, 2007 @ 6:54 am
The way I understand it:
The melamine and cyanuric acid mixed with cat urine creates all these crystals that clog up the kidneys and this either kills the cat or at least makes them very sick. Cat urine is different from most animals, something about concentrating it since they are/were desert animals.
Ok, so my question is: What is happening with the dogs? Do they have this same crystal formation? Are they even having kidney problems?
I just haven’t seen much about the dogs and was wondering how this chemical mix was affecting them.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 9, 2007 @ 6:57 am
‘nother question: In the chat last night Christie gave some links for home cooking sites, could someone post those again or a link to the transcript for the chat.
I listened in as long as I could but then I couldn’t keep my eyes open. It was pretty good for the most part. Kinda annoying to have it announce the peeps coming and going; breaks the train of thought, that and all the interruptions but I think this was very new thing for most folks.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 9, 2007 @ 7:04 am
Paige,
Same thing here. Nothing but Hill’s at the PXtra, which is what we were feeding our cat too. I’m still feeding her Friskies but with reservation. The vet told us that Friskies is the worst bunch of carp to feed….full of junk. But our cat is so picky so I’m feeding her the crap until we get to the pet store on Saturday. The vet did tell me that the stores do have organic foods and super premium foods and someone there should be able to help us. And of course, she tried to push SD on us and I told her absolutely not. She said that it isn’t made in the States it is made here. I told her I don’t care where it was made it is still a U.S. company and I have no idea where they get their ingredients. And of course, we got the look. Do you mind emailing me and telling me where you are? Just wondering if we might be close to one another.
Comment by Tammy — May 9, 2007 @ 7:14 am
Thrilled as I am, and I bet you can imagine how thrilled I am, that the FDA, with a track record of being stupid to 6 decimal places, says it is all “sorta” safe.
Pets, poisoned, check.
Piggies, poisoned, check.
Melachicken out the melabutt, poisoned, check.
Fish (and have mercy ,I keep seeing that plastic smartass singing fish), poisoned, check.
They will probably dump the remaining poisoned feed, if they can FIND any, geez that was a LOT of food got dosed wasn’t it?, anyone do a total tonnage?, in the ocean and give the world a taste.
Can plants absorb this poison? I am afraid to look?
The FDA has a nutjob theory, big news right?, that since only a few bloggers know about the scope if they spew random vague comforting nonsense all of us will drop dead from brain explosions or suffer brain damage from the combo of FDA media event plus poison and become docile.
That or the real news is so dire even we wouldn’t believe it, end of life as we know it.
Which I could face just fine thanks, keeping the news from me while I am in the midst of a remodel involving WALLPAPER, that is so far beyond cruel…
The FDA has apparently never heard the term ecosystem. Which may be unfortunate.
The FDA does a grasp on one fact, most people are stupid enough to believe anything, and they are gonna ride that pony til it drops.
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 9, 2007 @ 7:20 am
Since the wheat gluten was actually wheat flour, does that lake all the testing that has been done at various labs and universities null and void?
Seems to me they voided it all because the sample was incorrect.
Comment by Sharon — May 9, 2007 @ 7:30 am
lake = make …….oops!
Comment by Sharon — May 9, 2007 @ 7:31 am
Could be ‘cause our brains are turning to plastic…
Glad to see you’re back E., missed your snipes!
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 9, 2007 @ 7:31 am
Comment by Maureen — May 9, 2007 @ 6:18 am
Answer - Innova dry adult.
Before the recall we tried Eagle Pack holistic chicken for a very short time and neither dog did well or liked it.
I hate feeling paranoid. What do you use?
Comment by Donna — May 9, 2007 @ 7:32 am
E Hamilton “The FDA does a grasp on one fact, most people are stupid enough to believe anything, and they are gonna ride that pony til it drops. “
Actually, it’s more like they *want* to believe their food is safe and that the government protects them. - and as long as they do believe that, they don’t have to worry about something that they cannot do anything about.
The American people have been rendered into a state of numbness and powerless against the government. Not even our President listens
Comment by Ann H. — May 9, 2007 @ 7:34 am
One would think that at the beginning of all this testing they would’ve noticed that the wheat gluten was actually wheat flour. I’m sure they look different to the naked eye and under a microscope. We should start taking bets as to what BS they’re gonna force feed us next.
“Oh the fish are safe because they live in the water therefore all of the melamine flushes out of their system. It’s just a natural dilution effect.”
Comment by Tammy — May 9, 2007 @ 7:40 am
USA Arrests Executives In Pet Food Cover up.
Anytime now. Waiting to see that splash across the news headlines.
Comment by Steve — May 9, 2007 @ 7:41 am
I don’t mind at all. If we are close maybe we can find a safe food together :) Is there a way to find yours on here? Between worrying about what to feed these two and them driving bonkers I’m loosing my mind.
Has anyone else been able to make sense of the whole mislabeled bag thing? I’m still not understanding why they aren’t paying equal attention to the wheat flour and wheat gluten since the bag said one thing and another was there.
Comment by Paige — May 9, 2007 @ 7:42 am
We’re becoming China’s global landfill here at the end of the new globalized Silk Route of Confucian capitalism.
Comment by Steve — May 9, 2007 @ 7:46 am
Maybe this is a bit off topic but IMHO it does apply to this fiasco. It’s an article about integrity in leadership, something that is sorely lacking in the present situation (with a few exceptions).
When Jet Blue left all those passengers stranded for hours on the tarmac, rather than the “chief executive resorting to the threadbare excuse of ‘circumstances beyond our control’, David Neeleman stood up & publicly apologized.” He said “WE ARE SORRY & EMBARRASSED. YOU DESERVED BETTER….A LOT BETTER….FROM US & WE LET YOU DOWN.”
“His prompt action, his sincerity & his promise to immediately remedy mistakes will go a long way toward building lasting loyalty.”
The actions of his company didn’t kill anyone like some other companies I could name, he didn’t dump his stock, he didn’t lay low hoping it would blow over, he stepped up to the plate & took responsibility for what his company did. Now that’s what I call leadership. Hope some PF company executives are taking notes.
Comment by JanC — May 9, 2007 @ 7:49 am
Paige and Donna, I’m assuming you guys are talking dogs. My Mom has 4 and she’s feeding them Merrick. They seem happy and healthy. Now she does substitute 2-3 days a week with home cooked. But she switched them quite easily to this food.
I would definitely take the time to make sure each food manufacturer isn’t using melapork, melachicken or melafish in the future.
I feed Nature’s Variety. I believe they have dog food too.
Comment by Sharon — May 9, 2007 @ 7:50 am
That “dilution factor” mantra does not hold up so hot when it is in EVERYTHING, but the FDA knows that , or they are hoping people don’t start dropping dead until after the elections.
Ready for it, just waiting until it happens,and THEN we will spring into action- the FDA is really starting to get on my nerves. Not that I been dancing happy with them the last couple of months but there are some people who just annoy you more the longer you know them and the new “food czar” wore out his welcome in record time.
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 9, 2007 @ 7:51 am
Does anyone know what happened in the Ag Committee hearing yesterday?
Comment by Sharon — May 9, 2007 @ 7:57 am
I don’t understand why any doctors or scientists have come forward to say what the FDA is telling us is not true. I would really like to know what someone in the medical and scientific community really know about the effects of melamine and etc.
Paige, I will just post my email here. Sorry I thought you could click on my name at the end of the post but it doesn’t do that in here……tjstreasures2002@yahoo.com. Have you thought about cooking for your dog? If I had a dog I would be cooking for it. Cats are more difficult and I doubt my cat would eat anything I made for her anyways. God forbid if something should have texture or a lump in it.
Comment by Tammy — May 9, 2007 @ 8:00 am
101 Brand Names, 1 Manufacturer
Comment by Steve — May 9, 2007 @ 8:01 am
Comment by Steve — May 9, 2007 @ 8:01 am
AND at least some of the same ingredients in all but with very different prices.
Comment by slt — May 9, 2007 @ 8:05 am
ChemNutra, imported poisoned Chinese foodstuff:
Finned friends join hogs chickens in the new Re-Use, Re-New, Re-Poison Recycle rage
http://www.canadafreepress.com.....050907.htm
By Judi McLeod Wednesday, May 9, 2007
“Meanwhile, we can’t say North American officials don’t believe in recycling. The trend now seems to be “Re-use, Re-New, Re-Poison.”
That’s one country ‘officially’ laughing at us
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 9, 2007 @ 8:05 am
Tag line same article:
“Canada Free Press founding editor Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck and The Rant.”
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 9, 2007 @ 8:08 am
Dr. Acheson and fun with words, “dilution factor”, or “delusion factor”. This is how I have been hearing it. Hired delusionist for us all to believe what he says, unquestionally.
It’s not toxic, you’ve been eating it for years.
So I guess we should all avoid swimming in our pools this summer.
“Don’t swallow any pool water after consuming this mela/chicken-pork-fish-etc.” Surgeon general warning this could cause kidney stones and/or kidney failure. Please supervise our children closely while swimming in chemically cleaned pools to prevent consumtion of pool water.
Wait no we have that “delusion factor” pretecting us all. Don’t you feel safer?
Sure hope Al-Quada isn’t following this story too closely.
Bush in Greensburg today. Hope he sees the need to have the National Guard here in the U.S.A while he sees them begging for the heavy equipment they are in desprate need of having yesturday.
CNN is covering the tainted food after this commercial, CNN Newsroom, p.t.
Comment by Maudigan — May 9, 2007 @ 8:09 am
If most pet food is made the same place with the same ingredients why do we think some are better than others. What makes Hills SD so special to vets? Is that their version of drug companies. You know a dr prescribes a certain medicine maybe he gets a little “bonus”
Comment by Paige — May 9, 2007 @ 8:10 am
“If most pet food is made the same place with the same ingredients why do we think some are better than others.”
Comment by Paige — May 9, 2007 @ 8:10 am
Marketing, marketing, marketing!
But for me: no more, no more, no more!
Comment by slt — May 9, 2007 @ 8:12 am
Farmed Fish Were Fed Material Linked to Pet Food Recall
http://feed.insnews.org/v-cgi/.....id=2921916
May 09, 07:50 AM By ANDREW BRIDGES
“The head of a St. Louis company said it brokered a deal to import nearly 353,000 pounds of the Chinese wheat gluten that went directly to a Canadian aquaculture feed ingredient company called Westaqua. Listings for Canadian fish meal producers include a company called Westaqua Commodity Group Ltd.
“When reached by telephone, the president of Westaqua Commodity Group Ltd., based in Vancouver, British Columbia, declined to talk about the matter.
“I can’t talk to you about that today,” Kelly Mills said, adding: “We’re not talking to the press about this issue.”
Westaqua Commodity Group Ltd: there’s a little tidbit of info!
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 9, 2007 @ 8:13 am
correction *protecting* not pretecting.
Comment by Maudigan — May 9, 2007 @ 8:13 am
http://www.westaqua.com/ They are in the process of updating their website: check this stuff before it disappears!
“Westaqua ‘s central focus is on the growing Aquaculture business which includes Salmon, Trout and Yellowtail. We are a leading supplier of ingredients to Feed Manufacurers in Aquaculture.”
“Westaqua is a leading supplier of ingredients to the Animal Feed Industry. We supply many products to the manufacturers of feed for Dairy,Cattle,Chicken,Turkey, Hog, Horse and many other farm animals. Our extensive knowledge of supply and demand trends for a host of raw ingredients can give you the edge in your procurement needs.”
“Westaqua also caters to the Pet Food Industry by supplying ingredients to the Food Manufacturers of dry Cat and Dog Foods. Westaqua will supply you with on-time deliveries at the lowest cost and with the highest level of service. Westaqua provides leading technology in addition to unparalleled product and market knowledge.”
What pet foods??????
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 9, 2007 @ 8:17 am
The House Agriculture hearing on this food safety is on RIGHT NOW, and can by accessed by audio at their websitHouse
Acheson is talking now
Comment by Elaine — May 9, 2007 @ 8:21 am
Imminent head explosion
Must buy food for cats
Waiting for mystery recall
thinking of boiling shoe leather
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 9, 2007 @ 8:22 am
Right now Gregory Hartl with the World Health Organization is on CNN talking about the effects of melamine on humans. He is saying that there is no threat. The woman interviewing him asked him, “How can you say that when you don’t know?” I didn’t really catch what he said at the beginning but he did admit that they didn’t REALLY know since no studies have been done.
Comment by Tammy — May 9, 2007 @ 8:23 am
Comment by Donna — May 9, 2007 @ 7:32 am
“Answer - Innova dry adult…Before the recall we tried Eagle Pack holistic chicken for a very short time and neither dog did well or liked it.I hate feeling paranoid. What do you use?”
Thanks for responding, Donna. I feed my 2 dogs Wellness Super5 kibble & homemade organic meat & very little chopped veggies (for my Westie only). But I feed my cat Innova/EVO kibble and organic meat.
My Belgian Tervueren (sheepdog)mix has a sensitive stomach and it’s been hard finding what she will tolerate. I still haven’t made the leap to raw so have kept the kibble in their diet for vitamins/minerals. I live in a small apt. in NY so feeding raw is rather daunting re: safety. Cat and one dog became very sick after 2 days of all meat and Dr. Goodpet powdered supplement, so stopped the supplement and brought back in some kibble.
It’s hard to know what to feed them. I have hopefully a good butcher’s shop nearby which sells organic meat ($$$) but recent contaminated feed issues makes even that questionable.
Comment by Maureen — May 9, 2007 @ 8:23 am
I googled House Committee on Agriculture schedule, went to their website and connected to the live audio with Windows Media Player.
Sorry, I don’t know how to post the link! :)
Comment by Elaine — May 9, 2007 @ 8:25 am
Hearing audio link:
http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/audio.html
pick center link: Audio Connection to Hearing Room (1300 Longworth HOB)
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 9, 2007 @ 8:26 am
House Agriculture Hearing on food Safety is on RIGHT NOW! I am listening
Comment by Elaine — May 9, 2007 @ 8:27 am
Anyone hear about this fish meal contamination?
The head of a St. Louis company said it brokered a deal to import
nearly 353,000 pounds of the Chinese wheat gluten that went directly
to a Canadian aquaculture feed ingredient company called Westaqua.
Listings for Canadian fish meal producers include a company called
Westaqua Commodity Group Ltd. When reached by telephone, the
president of the Vancouver, British Columbia company declined to talk
about the matter.
Steve Stern, a ChemNutra spokesman, said the Las Vegas company
actually only cobrokered the deal to supply wheat gluten to the fish
meal producer: “We never owned it, we never sold it.”
Edmund Collins, president of Diversified Ingredients Inc., later said
it was his St. Louis company that handled the deal, with Westaqua
receiving the wheat gluten directly from China last July and August.
Collins said his company has provided the FDA with information, but
added no one in return has indicated the ingredient tested positive
for melamine. Acheson said only that the chemical was found in fish
meal.
Comment by ellen — May 9, 2007 @ 8:27 am
Thanks Peggy, I am such a techno-dummy, haven’t had my coffee, and can’t think this morning!
Comment by Elaine — May 9, 2007 @ 8:28 am
There will be a transcript of the hearing. This BS is hard to listen to.
Comment by Elaine — May 9, 2007 @ 8:30 am
Giving out same crappy spin so far…
dilution, blah, blah, low risk to humans etc. etc. 1/2500 if eat only contaminated foods spin, spin.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 9, 2007 @ 8:30 am
OPEN AND TRANSPARENT MANNER?????
Comment by Elaine — May 9, 2007 @ 8:31 am
RISK BASED…RISK BASED….Who says their “plan” is sound and solid??
This “risk based/risk assessment” stuff is making me extremely ill!!
Comment by mal — May 9, 2007 @ 8:37 am
Added comment:
They have been using risk assessment for years and years..see how well it has worked so far??
(dripping of sarcasm)
Comment by mal — May 9, 2007 @ 8:39 am
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 9, 2007 @ 7:20 am
“The FDA does a grasp on one fact, most people are stupid enough to believe anything, and they are gonna ride that pony til it drops.”
Yes, & no. I’ll agree that we all know there are far too many folks out there who still have no bleeping clue just how widespread and freaking scary this recall is. Why? They ignorantly rely on their regularly TV broadcast news or newspapers. Granted, at least some news articles have begun challenging the FDA’s folderol, but IMO, not yet enough.
However, something I DO think has the FDA, pet food companies, et al, more than a tad worried, is this amazing tool many of us would not have had in such wide use say 5-10 years ago: the INTERNET. Sure it’s been around awhile, but blogs weren’t nearly as widely read/used as they are now, nor were forums. You also now see peops using the internet that heretofore, didn’t know how - elder folk & other various previously unindoctrinated to all modern technology now has to offer.
Have you noticed many of the pet food company’s email correspondance to concerned pet owners is replying with “there are a lot of rumors spreading on the internet…don’t believe them….you can’t rely on these sources….blah, blah, blah…..”
IMO, they are scared out of their minds at how many people are taking advantage of the highly valuable tool that is the internet. Their ability to remain in business relies heavily on us buying into their hype & often too sugar coated “we care - we really do care & are so sorry for your loss” tripe & formulaic web site statements. No longer are we subordinate to relying on local news sources for information. The information highway has taken over and they are trying any paltry, underhanded tactic they can utilize to dispel the truth as “internet rumors”. Um……..sorry pet food companies, FDA ,etc., but the internet is here to stay so you’d best accept that and realize we don’t have to buy your carefully selected broadcast & printed lies & crap anymore. Let alone have your carefully edited recall info break the news often hours or days old. Case in point: knowing about the Kirkland and Chicken Lover’s recalls BEFORE the FDA, AVMA & supposedly “official” sites had them listed. Thank Yahvo. Think maybe at least a few more pet’s lives were saved thanks huge to the internet? Intelligent types (and I do think the numbers of those are growing), have learned not to buy into the crap the FDA keeps handing us……..WHEN they decide to announce anything. Like the “official” 16 dead pet count that remained for what? Almost 7 weeks?!!! But those of us using the internet knew differently. Oh yes indeedy, we knew a heckofa lot sooner than the FDA or Menu or ChemNutra, etc. would have preferred. As far as I’m concerned, let the whole lot of them squirm & dance as much as we are able.
E. Hamilton - btw……..welcome back. You’re input and wit have been sorely missed.
I need more koffee. Kim’s tequila killed me yesterday….
Comment by Ally — May 9, 2007 @ 8:39 am
uh—-uH—-uH===Thank you for the question—-Uh—(OS what’ll I say now??)
Comment by Elaine — May 9, 2007 @ 8:40 am
Any word on Nikki from Howl911?
From Nikki?
Smoke signals?
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 9, 2007 @ 8:43 am
E. and Ally
The House Ag Committee is holding the hearing on food safety right now and we are listening on live audio, in case you want to listen in.
Same song and dance, but questions are making them squirm
Comment by Elaine — May 9, 2007 @ 8:46 am
Elaine - link please? (hope it’s Mac friendly)
E. - we have a thread going at Itchmo’s forums asking for any info on Nikki/Howl991. So far nothing. :-/
link to forum thread:
http://itchmoforums.com/index.php?topic=346.0
Comment by Ally — May 9, 2007 @ 8:49 am
Our food supply is going to get more global and diverse? Let’s see——maybe the diversity will include arsenic?!!!!
Comment by Elaine — May 9, 2007 @ 8:50 am
In case my previous post eventually shows up re: asking for the Ag meeting link….nevermind. Even with Windows Media Player for the Mac, I can’t get it to work. :-(
Comment by Ally — May 9, 2007 @ 9:01 am
Here’s the CNN news article about the Manager of Binzhou in jail. Within the article is a link to the video. John Vause’s indepth reporting—-he’s good with a great clip!
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/.....index.html
Comment by Kat — May 9, 2007 @ 9:04 am
Nikki,
The link to the House Ag committee hearing was posted by Peggy at 8:26.
Sorry, I am too techno stupid to post a link!
Comment by Elaine — May 9, 2007 @ 9:19 am
Comment by Maureen, May 9, 2007 8:23am
Regarding your sensitive tummy dog - I will share that the more experienced people I have spoken with so far told me to go cooked, not raw. Easier for sensitive tummies.
I’m certainly no expert . . . yet, but I may be soon.
Comment by Donna — May 9, 2007 @ 11:15 am
Comment by JanC — May 9, 2007 @ 7:49 am
Absolutely agree regarding Jet Blue’s executive’s comments. Someone needs to step up, take responsibility and figure some way to make things better to re-establish trust with pet owners.
Comment by Donna — May 9, 2007 @ 11:17 am
This for the Vet who has advised us Not to home-cook for our pets!!!…..Why would that be again?…Oh, follow the advice of our Vets right? Cuz, only THEY know what’s nutritionally sound in the long run for our pets huh?…..Ummmm…you think that a week or so listening to seminars given by those in the PFI makes them more credible at this point?….
Who do you think you’re fooling?….Well to all of you who DO home-feed and have HEALTHY pets….my hats off to you for making claims like these a “scare tactic” we see used over and over again by Vets like this who SLEEP in the same “Dirty Beds” with the PFI!
She is right about ONE thing (and only one thing imo) the blogs are a place to vent….perhaps that is because of the others who are responsible for this tragedy in the first place….who won’t listen or be forthcoming!
and to that final note, I shall conclude to her and others like her……”BARK-OFF!!!”
Comment by Deanna — May 9, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
In addition to my last post…I would like to ask her this question?
Why on Earth….would we find the daily dying and illnesses of a growing amountof beloved pets ENTERTAINING?….
These blogs have been nothing less than informative……but the pain and anger as well as deception on the part of people we trusted…..is FAR, from entertaining!…
What a SADISTIC and cold comment that was on her part!…Shame..shame…shame!!!!
Comment by Deanna — May 9, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
Comment by Donna — May 9, 2007 @ 11:15 am
Thanks for the info re: cooked food for my dog’s sensitive tummy. If I go to all cooked (again), do you have any info on what brand(s) of supplements to feed them? As mentioned, I tried Dr. Goodpet and 2 got sick, but perhaps it was just switching them over to all homecooked. How about Dr. Weil’s people vitamins/minerals in the right amounts? Worrisome as we’ve learned that most of these things come from China.
Comment by Maureen — May 9, 2007 @ 4:38 pm