Pet-food recall: What next?
By Gina Spadafori
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.
The great pet-food poisoning and Chinese import scandal of 2007 is dropping off the radar. Sad to say, it’s starting to seem that very little will change as far as most people’s knowledge and buying habits, both for themselves and their pets. I fear we someday will look back on these last two months as the time when we could have stopped the even greater tragedy that’s surely to come — by accident or by design. (Good heavens, what terrorist worth his salt hasn’t recognized the potential?)
The food industry won’t regulate itself, China will continue to be the source of raw ingredients of dubious if not toxic quality, and the government will continue to insist that all is well.
Until it’s not.
I worry that those of us who have been following this will be in the “I told you so” position, except that next time we’ll be mourning not dead pets but dead people. Or both.
I hope I’m wrong, but I fear I’m not. My family and many of my friends seem surprised that I’m still writing about this “pet thing.” “Are you still working with that?” said my mom. “Why? It’s just a few pets who died, right?” And in the meantime she and my father continue with their buying habits unchallenged and unchanged. Just a few pets, just a few chickens and hogs in the human food system, and if there was a problem, well, wouldn’t the government say so?
Honestly, I think I’m nearing my own head-explosion time, but I know it won’t be as funny and insightful as Christie’s.
Send me your news links. And also post your “what nows?” here in the comments. Is there any way to turn the deaths of thousands of pets into a movement for genuine reform of imports, to make sure we are all protected from the risks of the global food market? Or are we heading back to business as usual, until something even worse happens?
Update: The news. Something about Paris Hilton seems to be of utmost importance. Also … the Queen of England. Still, there is a little room left for everything else, including the NY Times piece by David Barboza about how the cyanuric acid may have gotten into the poisoned imports (thanks, Susan!):
A second industrial chemical that regulators have found in contaminated pet food in the United States may have also been intentionally added to animal feed by producers seeking larger profits, according to interviews with chemical industry officials here.
Three Chinese chemical makers said that producers of animal feed often purchase or seek to purchase a chemical called cyanuric acid from their factories to blend into animal feed.
Chemical producers said that it was common knowledge that for years cyanuric acid was used in animal and fish feed in China. In the United States, cyanuric acid is often used as a disinfectant in swimming pools.
Two of the chemical makers said feed producers here used it because it was high in nitrogen, enabling feed producers to artificially increase the protein reading of the feed.
Here’s the piece on the NYT site.
The FDA-USDA news briefing is today at 2 p.m. ET. Last week, they stopped mentioning pet food in the title of the media briefings. That’s SO over, see? Now it’s just “Joint FDA/USDA update on melamine investigation.” Which, they’ll likely be telling us, is nearly over, too. Just ask them.
Update from Christie: And in case you thought the government wasn’t doing its job monitoring food safety, rest assured they’re reminding industry that, well, you’re right. They’re not. From a letter sent yesterday from the FDA’s Dr. Sundloff and the USDA/FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Director Robert E. Brackett, to “Dear Food Manufacturers”:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking this opportunity to remind food manufacturers of their legal responsibility to ensure that all ingredients used in their products are safe for human consumption.
As someone in our comments section said, reminding American food manufacturers that our food needs to be safe for human consumption seems… I don’t know. Kind of basic.
Manufacturers are responsible for taking their own measures to ensure the safety of their products. Manufacturers should not wait for possible FDA testing of their materials as manufacturers bear the responsibility of ensuring only safe products are put on the market. For those companies interested in performing their own tests for melamine, the methodology used by the FERN laboratories can be found at www.fda.gov/cvm/MelaminePresence.htm.
All is well. All is well. All is well.
Is your head exploding, too? Come to the pet-food bloggers live chat tonight on PetHobbyist.com. Here’s the info. We will have duct tape on hand to help you put your head back togther.
Update from Gina: The Washington Post had an online chat on the pet-food recall this morning (thanks, Susan!). Sorry we missed it. The transcript is here. WaPo piece on how melamine + cyanuric acid = dead pets and how it all got there is here.
Christie’s punishment for abusing her moderator powers is to LIVE-BLOG the FDA-USDA “all is well” and “you don’t really expect an honest answer?” media briefing. Come watch the magic fingers fly, 2 p.m. ET. Right here.
Update from Gina, lazy reporters edition: Newsweek has a Web-only “trend” story about silly, scared fad-driven pet-owners who are franctic to buy natural, refrigerated food. What does it take to be identified as trend in a major national news weekly? Two main sources, no hard questions: One from the owner of a new company (kudos to his publicist!), and one from the head of a trade group putting everything in perspective. Bleh.
Go to the latest blog post | Go to the PetConnection home page
|Technorati Tags: pet food recall, dogs, cats,veterinarian, veterinary
Our FDA, USDA, etc. have shown the Chinese and other importers that they will do NOTHING about unsafe foods except to remind them not to do it.
So guess what? It will be BUSINESS AS USUAL for them!!
Scarey thought:The terrorists have also had a good lesson in how vulnerable our food supply really is, how criminally inept our agencies are, and how much asleep much of the American public is!
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 8:10 am
Mission Accomplished
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 8:17 am
Gina, your postmortem is tragic but accurate. This shows the power of money, power, global business, and the deadly intersection of all three as facilitated by government. This is not to say we should abandon our efforts to bring about change, especially in legislation and regulation. How could we, especially those on this site who have experienced the horrors firsthand through our innocent, loved dogs and cats. Many, like me, have learned about what is safer in feeding them and ourselves. That’s not enough, of course.
Comment by Maureen — May 8, 2007 @ 8:19 am
Independent non-profit to inspect pet food manufacturing plants and test ingredients and finished foods for wholesomeness, nutrition, and toxins.
And a big NO to self-regulation and the PFI!!! They have proven quite well that they cannot ensure safe food. Our wonderful government has proven they can’t ensure safe food for our pets or ourselves.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 8:21 am
The news media is dropping this, sensational headlines is what they want.
We desperately need something new to come out.
I think most of us are sure that they DID find melamine etc. in the food supply and are just hiding it.
A FOIAI request would be good, and I know it isn’t that hard to do. Someone? should be able to do this, I think maybe there is a form? from the govt agencies
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 8:24 am
I’ve written letters to my Congressmen. I written a letter to Blue (my dogs ate the recalled canned foods). So far, no responses. But I’m not waiting on them. I’ve been e-mailing companies whose (human) foods I buy and asking for ingredient sources. If they don’t respond, I don’t buy their products anymore. I’m making a lot more food (human and pet) from scratch than ever before and I like it (paws up from the dogs too!). So I’ll continue on in this way and hope to be pleasantly surprised to learn that some company or some govt. agency is going to look out for me as regards food safety in future. Until then, I will look out for myself and my dogs.
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 8:25 am
The FDA should have been alerting us long before this tragic event that there was a huge problem with food imports. They should have been screaming for more funds and manpower. Consumers have the power to effect change - boycott Menu Foods items, for example - but rarely use this power. I guess it’s just too much effort.
I received a letter from my do-nothing senator, Johnny Isakson. He seems to think the FDA has everything under control. With elected representatives like this, it is indeed an uphill battle to make responsible changes to existing policy.
Comment by Carol — May 8, 2007 @ 8:26 am
USDA FOIA request web page:
http://www.usda.gov/da/foia.htm
Gina, sad to say but I think you’re right :(
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 8:26 am
DOJ’s FOIA page:
http://www.usdoj.gov/oip/index.html
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 8:27 am
From my reading these past weeks I remembered that the US imports a lot of “sausage casings” from China.
Then yesterday there was an article about die off in Chinese pigs and the farmers rushing what was still alive to market with deep discounts. Of course China is very closed mouth about what is killing them.
The whole article is here:
Epidemic Is Killing Pigs in Southeastern China
http://tinyurl.com/29gwzf
…”But officials in Hong Kong as well as at the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization, both agencies of the United Nations, said today that they been told almost nothing about the latest pig deaths, and been given limited details about wheat gluten contamination.
Because pigs can catch many of the same diseases as people, including bird flu, the two U.N. agencies maintain global networks to track and investigate unexplained patterns of pig deaths.
Hong Kong television broadcasts and newspapers were full of lurid accounts today of pigs staggering around with blood pouring from their bodies in Gaoyao and neighboring Yunfu, both in Guangdong Province. The Apple Daily newspaper said that as many as 80 percent of the pigs in the area had died, that panicky farmers were selling ailing animals at deep discounts and that pig carcasses were floating in a river.
The reports in Hong Kong said the disease began killing pigs after the Chinese New Year celebrations in February, and is now spreading. But state-controlled news outlets in China have reported almost nothing about the pig deaths, and very little about the wheat gluten problem.”…
Even though grilling season has arrived, I think I’ll add Anything with a casing to my no-no list.
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 8:28 am
Can we do something with this? Maybe over-whelm them with the same requset and maybe they will just make the data public?
http://www.usda.gov/da/foia_guide.htm
“(4) copies of records that have been the subject of a FOIA request and that are of sufficient public interest or curiosity that the agency believes other persons are likely to request them”
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 8:33 am
I just emailed the FDA FOIA request page to Pet Connection. I know there is a way to attach it to my post, but I don’t know the way!
Some of the posts by spocko and steve would suggest to me that they could do this request?
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 8:33 am
Right now, it seems dismal. As the dust settles, they hope it settles quietly.
That’s where they may be surprised, if there is anybody listening in Goverment to help forge ahead with regulation of the pet food industry.
This historic tragedy for pet owners has paved the path from ingredients to pets to human foods and the circle binding us all.
It has brought signficant awareness of the hazards of US policies and government attitudes.
If the American people knew that we were basically guinea pigs in how much the human body can tolerate they’d be appalled. But,
weak bodies, stronger drug companies, more lobbyists.. more tangled webs.
Our government has no real transparency just glib tonques speaking to a numbed population.
The strength and speed which other countries have responded makes our Food & Drug Safety look weak - and it is.
I doubt there was much of a recognition of that before 3/16.
Now, maybe it’s time for Pet Owners to form an NPO.
That’s a multibillion dollar industry and until the pet owners of America unite in a structure, our voice trickles in hundreds, thousands - piece by piece. We need a megaphone.
In the interim as pet owners, I think excercising due diligence and prudent placement of our pet food dollars.
Comment by Ann H. — May 8, 2007 @ 8:36 am
There is an organization, Judicial Watch, that is dedicated truth and honesty in govt, no matter which party.
They have lawyers and go to court. It is covered by donation.
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 8:37 am
Chinese products in pet food labeled “Made in USA?” File a complaint with the FTC.
Here are excerpts from The Federal Trade Commission’s Complying with the Made In the USA Standard.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline.....deusa.shtm
(Information on how to file a compliant with the FTC and other suggestions are at the bottom.)
For a product to be called Made in USA, or claimed to be of domestic origin without qualifications or limits on the claim, the product must be “all or virtually all” made in the U.S. “All or virtually all” means that all significant parts and processing that go into the product must be of U.S. origin. That is, the product should contain no — or negligible — foreign content.
[David Acheson, FDA’s new Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection, said the amount of wheat gluten or rice protein in pet food is about 5 to 10 percent. Moist pet food is at least 75% water.]
http://news.tradingcharts.com/.....26903.html
The product’s final assembly or processing must take place in the U.S. The Commission then considers other factors, including how much of the product’s total manufacturing costs can be assigned to U.S. parts and processing, and how far removed any foreign content is from the finished product.
[Wheat gluten and rice protean concentrate are listed on pet food labels as an ingredient by themselves without additional processing.]
In some instances, only a small portion of the total manufacturing costs are attributable to foreign processing, but that processing represents a significant amount of the product’s overall processing… In these cases, the foreign content (processing or parts) is more than negligible, and, as a result, unqualified claims are inappropriate.
To determine the percentage of U.S. content, manufacturers and marketers should look back far enough in the manufacturing process to be reasonably sure that any significant foreign content has been included in their assessment of foreign costs.
What To Do About Violations
Information about possible illegal activity helps law enforcement officials target companies whose practices warrant scrutiny. If you suspect noncompliance, contact the Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580; (202) 326-2996 or send an e-mail to MUSA@ftc.gov. (File a c complaint)
https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01
If you know about import or export fraud, call Customs’ toll-free Commercial Fraud Hotline, 1-800-ITS-FAKE. Examples of fraudulent practices involving imports include removing a required foreign origin label before the product is delivered to the ultimate purchaser (with or without the improper substitution of a Made in USA label) and failing to label a product with a required country of origin.
You also can contact your state Attorney General and your local Better Business Bureau to report a company.
Or you can refer your complaint to the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus by calling (212) 754-1320. NAD handles complaints about the truth and accuracy of national advertising. You can reach the Council of Better Business Bureaus on the web at adweb.com/adassoc17.html.
Finally, the Lanham Act gives any person (such as a competitor) who is damaged by a false designation of origin the right to sue the party making the false claim. Consult a lawyer to see if this private right of action is an appropriate course of action for you.
To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit http://www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm
http://www.consumer.gov/sentinel/
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 8:40 am
Judicial Watch is described as: an American government watchdog organization that uses litigation as it’s primary tool.
I know one of the first things they do is file a FOIA request.
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 8:41 am
Gina - I still say, and I sound like a broken record in my head — the reason NO ONE thinks it’s a big deal — including your mom & dad — is because of the TV stations & general news media’s LACK OF COVERAGE.
If it’s NOT IMPORTANT enough to be on the Nightly News, then it must not be that big of a deal.
THE NEWS MEDIA, with few exceptions, HAS LET THIS COUNTRY DOWN!
They are worried that the “hand that feed them”, that is the FOOD INDUSTRY ADVERTISERS.
I started out being nice, asking for more coverage; then, turned to sarcasm sending them links & asking if they’d heard there was a pet food recall. Now, I’ve let the BIG 3 + my local stations have it numerous times. I even told ABC to fire their producers or get off the air. They’re probably laughing their behinds off.
PBS had a program on about 2 months ago. There report was about the transition of the various news medias. What USED to be news reporting FOR THE PEOPLE has now turned more commercial. They are big business now & profits are the main goal.
Every night I think, ok - Brian Williams is going to say “What’s going on with our pets food (or people food) supply!!!??? Here’s blah-blah to explain”. Then, into some hair-raising, indepth story of sabotage & cover-up. But, those idealistic dreams of “good journalism” are now just calloused disgust!!
————————————-
I never could get the Washington Post’s web discussion to load. Guess I’ll have to read the transcripts later. I was really looking forward to hearing what Dr. Poppenga had to say… :(
Comment by Kat — May 8, 2007 @ 8:48 am
Welcome, you are now trapped in the FDA’s little shop of horrors - this is the room of mirrors where nothing makes any sense.
Comment by Linda — May 8, 2007 @ 8:49 am
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 8:40 am
Good work, Sherlock!! :)
Comment by Kat — May 8, 2007 @ 8:50 am
Oh, but important things like Paris Hilton going to jail is making the news (on MSNBC as I type!) That’s important stuff, ya know!
Gina, you said, “what terrorist worth his salt hasn’t recognized the potential?” I know this is a bit off the subject, but speaking of terrorists…the way I see it, what has happened to this country is worse than if terrorists had done it. Terrorists aren’t hired by us to protect us, but our government is. The way this crisis has been handled by our government leaves a lot to be desired. And for those of us who have been paying attention I know it has has certainly shaken what trust a lot of us may have had.
Comment by Therese — May 8, 2007 @ 8:50 am
Comment by Therese — May 8, 2007 @ 8:50 am
You are exactly right. If terrorists had poisoned the protein powders, we’d all be sorrowful but eventually throw up our hands and say “They’re a fringe element who want to cause terror, we’ll never be 100% safe from them.” The Dept. of Homeland Security would probably hand out fliers about how to duct tape your food to keep toxins out.
This is way worse.
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 8:57 am
http://www.judicialwatch.org/
{Elaine’s posts}
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 9:01 am
I spent all afternoon yesterday writing my letter, struggling over what details to include, deciding who I was going to send it to and getting contact info. Faxed till the early morning hours. Total of 32 letters sent so far to Senators and Representatives, FDA, USDA, PFI and AAFCO. Was so tired when I finally went to bed that I couldn’t sleep. But I felt I had accomplished something good and couldn’t wait to share.
Then I read the comments this morning and my joy succumbs to discouragement. They are too similar to those heard from a friend when I told her what I was doing. Her husband has been involved in government his entire career. She giggled and told me I was wasting my time.
I have seen a company change only because the public demanded it, but that was 20+ years ago. If the thoughts shared here are true, then our country has really become a cold, selfish, uncaring place to be.
I look into the sweet eyes of my two boxers and know without a doubt the love we share. They bring such joy to my life. They truly are my kids and I pamper them every chance I get. However, now I have no idea if I am feeding them something safe or not. I no longer trust these companies, but I don’t trust the government and industry regulations either.
I wonder how long our pets will suffer. I wonder how long we will keep our heads in the sand. I wonder how long “our” food supply will be safe. I wonder what those beloved pets who were poisoned would say if they had a voice that could be heard.
Comment by Donna — May 8, 2007 @ 9:04 am
Gina, The tireless work of all the bloggers who have brought the available facts forward have made a huge impact on those of us who were ready to listen.
I’ve had my wake up call, I am actively seeking opportunities to support my local farmers, I’m choosing to support organic and regional food manufacturers, I’m considering the labels of everything I purchase, non-food items included.
Maybe the world at large won’t change, but my personal world has, and I’m grateful for all of the voices here who have spoken up.
Comment by Angelique — May 8, 2007 @ 9:05 am
Gina - pass the duct tape please.
I watched a bunch of ‘24’ episodes the past few days (desperately needed a break.) All I can say is…
We need Jack Bauer.
Comment by Kim — May 8, 2007 @ 9:09 am
http://www.judicialwatch.org/contact.shtml
A list of contact info here.
Maybe we could start with talking to them about this and see how it goes from there?? They look alright. I’ll do some web searches on them and see if they’ve been effective.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 9:12 am
I just called Judicial Watch to ask them if they are looking into this. They said NO, not right now but they might in the future. The woman was painfully blunt and told me they are focusing on immigration issues right now.
:(
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 9:13 am
I DID discover a safe food to eat while contemplating the vast wisdom of my governments sweep it under the rug success and the cover up to end all cover ups during the ethics in journalism week, irony and to spare.
The worm in the Tequila contains no melamine and I tested it more thoroughly than the FDA is ever going to test pet food.
I feel better and it is an odd fact that once, the government and this country went crazy and banned liquor much as they ban the truth now, and in the end the natural desire of people for hooch won.
It remains to be seen how high the truth ranks in the natural desires of the people.
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 8, 2007 @ 9:14 am
Question for those who are well-meaning that are calling for non-profit testing? Who is going to pay for that? Certainly industry has no interest in underwriting such a venture? And since you and I are paying for the FDA, USDA, FSIS, why shouldn’t the demand be that they actually become what they were originally mandated to be: the watchdogs of the American taxpayers? The answer goes to what are we going to demand of each person who runs in 2008 and beyond for state office, and then for congress, senate, and president. We’ve seen the power of the presidency run amuk. Look at the appointees he’s made! The role for nonprofits can be in policymaking and rating those individuals who are running for office.
No hollering please about keeping this nonpartisan. Look at what 7 short years can do to strip away government regulation of important functions that only government can perform. Democrats aren’t blameless by any measure; and Republicans need to stop rubberstamping the worst president, and most of his congressional and senate followers. Moderate Republicans used to stand for something in this country. The party needs to do so again. Then the swing to Democrats, if it occurs, won’t just result in complacency and backroom deals with business in that party too.
Comment by Maureen — May 8, 2007 @ 9:15 am
Thank you Angelique for writing exactly what I wanted to say.
Comment by Kirsten — May 8, 2007 @ 9:24 am
Ok, well, they have done some things.
But here is my question: Judicial Watch is a conservative group. But conservative in which way? Don’t we need some one liberals. I mean they already think we are a bunch of tree-hugging animal-loving bunch of bleeding-heart liberals, don’t they? Wouldn’t want to disappoint them…
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 9:25 am
Comment by Maureen — May 8, 2007 @ 9:15 am
We will pay for it, in the end we always do…
Non-profits can make money to run the business and pay employees, they just don’t make profit for shareholders.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 9:27 am
Donna: I just want to thank YOU for all your hard work. (If people say that your work is a thankless task you can say, “Well I’ve been thanked!”)
Comment by spocko — May 8, 2007 @ 9:33 am
Anyone know anything about these guys: Center for Food Safety
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/what_we_do.cfm
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 9:34 am
Just up at Itchmo:
http://iht.com/articles/2007/0.....etfood.php
Second chemical eyed in Chinese pet food scandal
By David Barboza
Published: May 8, 2007
“A second industrial chemical that regulators have found in contaminated pet food in the United States may also have been intentionally added to animal feed by producers seeking larger profits, according to interviews with chemical industry officials here.
“Three Chinese chemical makers said that animal feed producers often purchase, or seek to purchase, the chemical, cyanuric acid, from their factories to blend into animal feed.
“The chemical producers said it was common knowledge that for years cyanuric acid had been used in animal and fish feed.”
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 9:34 am
It ain’t over, yet; we’re just entering phase two…
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 9:35 am
People of all political persuasions have pets and we all eat. My old memory says that we had growing problems in the food supply for a number of years prior to this president taking office.
The only way pet parents stand a chance of keeping this issue going so something good will come out of it is to stick together. That means “nonpartisan”. If we allow ourselves to be divided along political lines, it will be the same as dividing cat versus dog owners because some media is reporting that it’s cats who are mostly affected by the contaminated feed.
If they manage to divide us, they truly will conquer and make this just go away without doing anything about it.
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Much appreciated, Spocko.
Comment by Donna — May 8, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Somthing interesting I found for my letter:
(Homeland Security)
In a July, 2004 “Fact Sheet: Strengthening the Security of Our Nation’s Food Supply” issued by Homeland Security it states “Protecting the homeland is one of President Bush’s top priorities, and this commitment includes a multi-pronged plan to protect the nation’s food supply with leadership from Homeland Security, Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and others”. It also states “an unprecedented partnership between federal agencies and state and local leadership, the private sector, and the academic community has implemented measures to strengthen the security of our nation’s food supply, taking specific steps towards the strategic goals of awareness, prevention, protection, response, and recovery.”
Comment by Donna — May 8, 2007 @ 9:38 am
I think there are people who will publish books on this topic. I know that Marion Nestle mentioned plans to publish a book about the pet food industry… and it seems as though it was already in the works before the disaster. I’ve bought several of her other books since the start of the pet food recalls too. Also, I heard the author of the Omnivore’s Dilemma interviewed on Public Radio over the weekend. It is another book that speaks to the mass production and packaging of food, what it actually means and the impact.
So perhaps some of us posting here and learning more about public health and our food can produce some more best selling books to raise the awareness of the general public. And maybe others of us will create or join in the politics and work toward awareness and food safety and transparency in labeling.
Organizations like MoveOn.org or the Union of Concerned Scientists or other groups with political connections can be encouraged by us to keep this on the front burner. I think that many people who have been concerned about food safety for many years are looking for our continued participation in these issues.
This has been a life changing episode for me. I am doing more to educate myself and people around me about the implications of the pet food disaster… what it means to them and their children and grandchildren and the pets of their grandchildren.
None of this began with the pet food disaster of 2007. A lot more of us are engaged and involved now. Many more of us are now savvy to the FDA stonewalling and silliness. It’s been another rude awakening but I am optimistic that we can build on what we’ve learned and participate in preventing this from happening again… and again… and again.
Comment by Cynthia — May 8, 2007 @ 9:38 am
Peggy,
I am very conservative politically, a constitutionalist? In this situation, who cares?
I am sure feeling that we are all of a like mind and we need to work together.
Funny thing is: Whether very conservative or liberal—we all realize our govt is a MESS and something needs done.
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 9:39 am
Aunt Granny, plus you can be sure our pets are non-partisan as well.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 9:40 am
Aunt Granny, well said.
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 9:41 am
Some other interesting data — IF, organized it could be a strong voice for change.
The American Pet Products Manufacturing Association (APPMA) states that 63% of U.S. households own a pet. This accounts for 74.8 million dogs and 88.3 million cats. Those pet owning households have a purchase power estimated at $40.8 billion in 2007 and of that amount an estimated $16.1 billion will be spent on pet food.
Comment by Donna — May 8, 2007 @ 9:42 am
E.
Great news about the worm. With the new blender maybe my furkids and I can make Marguaritas. I’ll drink and they can safely eat the worm.
Comment by Kathi — May 8, 2007 @ 9:42 am
Kathi, I think my turtle wants the worm :)
Or maybe Mommy want to share the worm with the turtle :)
Thankfully, the turtle’s worms come out of our gardens and I don’t need to worry about the worms being contaminated.
Giving thanks for small things…
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 9:44 am
I just called Judicial Watch, too, and was told if I called back after the lunch hour, someone would talk to me.
I do know that Judicial watch is conservative in that they go after corruption in govt, and I do know they don’t care if it is Republican or Democrat..Wrong is wrong!
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 9:44 am
I don’t care either, I didn’t mean it that way. Both parties, I mean the whole government is dysfunctional. I think it is tooo big and unwieldy and has lost the system of checks and balances that used to work, but don’t seem to anymore.
I just wasn’t sure if they will listen or laugh at us. I was wondering if they would help us, since we so weird, and love animals and want safe foods and all.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 9:45 am
Cyanuric Acid Commonly Added to Animal Feed
May 8th, 2007
The IHT is reporting that the second chemical believed to have reacted with melamine to cause pet deaths is commonly used in animal feed in China.
Three Chinese chemical makers said that animal feed producers often purchase, or seek to purchase, the chemical, cyanuric acid, from their factories to blend into animal feed.
The chemical producers said it was common knowledge that for years cyanuric acid had been used in animal and fish feed.
The disclosure is noteworthy not just because it is another indication that Chinese animal feed producers were intentionally doctoring the ingredients they sold, but because the practice of using cyanuric acid may provide clues as to why the pet food in the United States became so poisonous.
http://www.itchmo.com/
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 9:46 am
So alls well, ends well..and my dog threw up this morning. He ate grass a few days ago. I know from being a dog owner for 4o years, that this occurs from time to time. BUT, I have never paniced over an occurance of it until now. Yes, they may close the book on this, but how long will it take before we stop holding our breaths every time a pet throws up or acts out of the ordinary?
Comment by Deanna — May 8, 2007 @ 9:47 am
DONNA - That was my thoughts, pet owners non profit organization. Official pet owner voices.
only way to pull it off - a real megaphone to speak with.
organized association of pet owners.
Sometimes, I think the PFI is too close to the other animal organizations for the animal organizaton to risk their funding by forcing regulations/regulatory agency for pet foods.
Comment by Ann H. — May 8, 2007 @ 9:51 am
My last two posts were a cry for the media to ask some tough questions (and let Christie ask them!) and to make sure that the matter is not swept under the rug of a “scientific” risk assessment.
The FDA/USDA press conferences are classic media control formats. And they are based on a model that is designed to block out real questions.
Note these methods:
One question.
No follow ups.
They control the phoneline,
They control the mute button.
Preference is given to “status” media, but they don’t necessarily have the hardest questions because this is a niche they haven’t followed.
The “trade press” could kick their butts with a few well considered questions, but they are blocked out. Smart move FDA. And the mainstream won’t notice because they are too busy getting their story for their audience ready.
The officials can’t be called on their spin using this method. You need at least three questions and two different reporters to get to something resembling the truth with these folks. And even then the spin sometimes wins if the journalist wants to give them the benefit of the doubt.
I’m pretty sure the FDA and the USDA are reading this right now. They want to know: “How are those hysterical pet owners responding?”
(Waves to FDA people)
Comment by spocko — May 8, 2007 @ 9:51 am
Questions I want asked today?
Comment by spocko — May 8, 2007 @ 9:53 am
BTW, the FDA is recording today’s press conference call, they say so right up front. They tell people who object to hang up. That means we can use it and play it back. I’d replay it on my blog.
I really would like you all to hear their voices. Alas, I’m just a DFH blogger and not credentialed enough to be on the call. Believe me when I tell you I know what audio I can and can’t rebroadcast and what is considered fair-use.
Comment by spocko — May 8, 2007 @ 9:55 am
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 9:40 am
Actually, my dog is a democrat. The cats are libertarians. The hamster is independant. We argue a lot at dinner, lol.
Comment by Joyce — May 8, 2007 @ 9:55 am
I like that spocko!
We also need to find out when they are going to test all Chinese imports for cyanuric acid.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 9:56 am
Joyce, now I have coffee all over my monitor. :)
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 9:58 am
Thanks Peggy: These are my guess on how they will respond to the questions:
* We don’t know
* It’s proprietary information
* It’s irrelevant since all chicken is safe. Trust us. Trust our assumptions.
* It’s not really important
* There is no difference between this chicken and regular chicken, therefore it would be irresponsible of us to single out a single processor
My money is on the last one, it has the right mix of arrogance and deference to the honchos in the chicken biz.
Comment by spocko — May 8, 2007 @ 9:59 am
Joyce, giggling here also!! I think my dog is a tree-hugger, anyway he goes to a tree each time I let him out!
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 10:01 am
Even worse is the fact that my college age kids majors are history and political science, respectively. They make my husband and I look conservative. No one can get a word in edgewise when we are all at dinner. It is probably a blessing that the pets don’t talk.
Comment by Joyce — May 8, 2007 @ 10:04 am
How ‘bout all of them, spocko:
Trust us, we don’t know; it’s proprietary information. Trust our assumptions; It’s not really important since there is no difference. We can’t be so irresponsible as to single anyone out.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 10:06 am
If anyone knows about “fair use,” Spocko, it’s you.
Google him if you want to find out why. I’d tell you, but I’m afraid of mice, at least the large ones with names.
Also: Politics. Talk about a bi-partisan issue. As reader Mike (conservative) told me (liberal): “We all gotta eat.”
Let’s keep it bi-partisan, shall we? There’s enough blame to go around, and falling on either side of the red-blue divide greatly reduces whatever power we have to change things.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 8, 2007 @ 10:14 am
What time is the press conference? Can we see it on tv?
Also, would someone post the info for the panel discussion tonite?
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 10:14 am
The media briefing is not televised. Only “credentialed” media allowed, and even they are not allowed to ask more than one question, as per past briefings.
Here’s the run down on tonight’s Pet Food Power Bloggers online chat on PetHobbyist.com.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 8, 2007 @ 10:17 am
by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 8, 2007 @ 9:45
I just finished reading a couple of books about what has been going wrong with Government. They are very interesting.
One thing that I suggest focusing on is to work with and help the people in Government who have shown that they care based on their actions. Look to those they are willing to work for change.
When Dick Durbin tries to push through a food safety bill you just KNOW that the pet food industry and the food industry will bring out the big “serious” guns.
Money, media and power.
The lobbyists will fund people who are against the bill. The industry will pay for PR and ads against it and they will use their power to squash any attempts to put some teeth or real regulation in the bill.
Part of our task will be to support the bill, and prepare for the attacks.
And we can expose the attackers when this happen.
How will they do it?
Appeals to smaller government:
“We don’t need another Regulating body! Just more bureaucracy!”
Fear of more taxes
“How are they going to pay for this new “Food Safety” bureau? More taxes! We don’t need more taxes!”
Fear of hurting small businesses
“This new food safety body will force more regulations on small businesses. We don’t need more regulation, we need LESS. Unless you want to pay 30 dollars for a loaf of bread!”
And for the especially creative
Blocking food from China is Racist!
(This will be used to deposition the support for international food safety by creating a straw man that doesn’t exist. I don’t want to block food from China because it’s from the Chinese. I want to block food from China because it isn’t safe!)
During the lull until the next food crisis THIS is what the food industry will be doing, they will be unleashing the A Team PR firms, whispering into the ears of the media that they own who they know are primed to hate government and always scream lower taxes.
They will also work the international trade angle with the big money people. Your pet is worth less than nothing in the face of losing access to the biggest market in the world, China.
I’m confident that with people like Donna on our side we can battle these people who care more about the money than the safety of our food. But we have to be smart about it. Luckily I see a bunch of smart dedicated people here.
Comment by spocko — May 8, 2007 @ 10:24 am
Comment by Ann H. — May 8, 2007 @ 9:51 am
Great - we’ll call it CAPPA —
Companion Animal Parents Protection Association
our new motto —
Don’t Call Us Crazy . . . Call Us CAPPA !
or Don’t Deal With the Crappa — Call CAPPA
(sorry, I’m still lacking sleep)
Comment by Donna — May 8, 2007 @ 10:29 am
Gina, will there be a transcript of the live chat tonight? What specific things are you going to be talking about?
Reason I’m asking is that I’m out tonight and really want to hear it but also, do you think it might be worth our efforts to get the word out about it to media outlets. Your opinions are all starting to carry alot of weight in the animal lover’s world.
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 10:33 am
How many more pets do we have to lose before they get the message? I cry everyday over my beloved best buddy, Sebastian (had to be euthanized 1/19/07)because of renal failure from eating these poisoned foods. He trusted me and I trusted the FDA. They wouldn’t even take a report because I didn’t have the empty cans by the time the recall was finally announced so NOTHING will happen except my heart will continue to be broken because he’s not with me anymore-keep telling people-maybe other pets won’t have to die.
Comment by Tammy — May 8, 2007 @ 10:36 am
Short of starting our own non-profit group, I think we should blend our voices with those of a well-established and well known “food watch” organization. After all, the issue comes down to all food, human and pet, whether imported or not, and for more stringent regulations for importation, manufacturing, and labeling. There are groups out there that would welcome a mass of newcomers. For example, Americans for labeling dot org
http://www.americansforlabeling.org/supporters.htm
Check all of the state organizations alone that already support this — there are a lot of associations/organizations from the state and county levels here that speak for several industries: farm, peanuts, cattle, vegetables, just to name a few.
I also think filing for Freedom of Information requests is a good idea.
And DONNA: The quotes from above (2004) about Homeland Security and the importance of Bush’s goal of food safety — that paragraph is a good one to toss back in the faces of those we write to. Why aren’t the President’s goals being met or even worked toward?
Comment by petlover — May 8, 2007 @ 10:39 am
Christie will post a chat transcript at PetHobbyist.com tonight, I’d bet, and we’ll also link to it from here.
Her insomnia is SUCH an asset!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 8, 2007 @ 10:41 am
I hope the “credentialed media” have noticed the same word parsing that I have, and will hold their feet to the fire.
In nearly every briefing, press release, etc., the FDA has said they are: “planning to begin” or “beginning to plan” or as in Saturdays release “Acheson said he has begun developing new plans for protecting the nation’s food supply from contamination, either through commercial transactions or terrorist acts.” This is like them saying they need to do “more research”. I’ve seen a couple of news articles where the reporter wrote that the FDA was “doing” this or that to assure food safety. No they didn’t! They said they were “planning to begin” (or beginning to plan)…..
In 2002 there was a plan worked up to protect the food supply in the wake of 9/11. Because there were no follow on attacks there was no inspiration to put the plan into effect. They need to put the plan into effect and get out there and test!
As long as they can hold out hope that this can all be made to go away and leave them alone to do “business as usual”, nothing is going to change.
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 10:45 am
And now that the unscrupulous Chinese manufacturers know that we are testing (at least a little) for melamine, cyanuric acid, amilorine, & amiloride, what NEW PSEUDO- PROTEIN BOOSTER SHOULD WE BE DEVELOPING A TEST FOR? It’s going to happen, or did it already? Did someone last week mention another common protein booster?
Comment by petlover — May 8, 2007 @ 10:53 am
Keeping the word out there is of primary concern to all of us then.
I say each person that can, take your “State” and e-mail the transcript of this live chat tonight to every newspaper you can find. I have a url that gives the link to every paper, by state.
It’s not going to be business as usual if any of us have anything to say about it. We just need to channel our energy the best way.
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 10:55 am
Aunt Granny. They love to use fear when it suits their purpose.
I agree that this should be a bi-partisan issue.
I was thinking that they could have jumped on this crisis as an opportunity to get their food safety goals met, and as an opportunity to beef up (no pun intended) the communications methods and tracking teams. Sadly I have a feeling that since this crisis would have lead to a negative impact of the big business and possibly trade relations with China, the opportunity was ignored.
Perhaps they couldn’t figure out a way to benefit from it.
Protecting the American people and their pet’s food supply appears to be a low priority.
Based on their actions, who ARE they protecting? Why?
Comment by spocko — May 8, 2007 @ 11:01 am
Has anyone heard from the people that we sent postcards too? I did receive a letter from CNN that they received my postcard….
Comment by Sandi S. — May 8, 2007 @ 11:03 am
Comment by spocko — May 8, 2007 @ 9:59 am
You are much more generous than I in how FDA might answer your questions. I was figuring they’d reply thusly, in summary ‘answer’ to all your questions:
16 pets confirmed dead, there have been additional reports but that’s not our focus…
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 11:03 am
$$$$$$ ca-ching $$$$$$
media corps are protecting their advertisers
Comment by Sharon — May 8, 2007 @ 11:04 am
Has anyone heard from the people we sent postcards too? I did receive a ” standard” letter stating they received my postcard - that was it
Comment by Sandi Schreiber — May 8, 2007 @ 11:04 am
Comment by Kat — May 8, 2007 @ 8:48 am
I agree 100 %. I just don’t get why this wasn’t a big news story - think of the huge headlines. The only possible explanation is ‘not biting the hand that feeds you’.
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Also true 100 %. I’m a conservative too and republican. My husband is a democratic and mostly follows this story through me. This isn’t about political parties, although it does seem the dems are doing the most about this situation (Durbin, etc.) We need to keep this bipartisen.
Comment by spocko — May 8, 2007 @ 9:53 am
Spocko - my questions exactly. I do NOT want to eat that chicken, I don’t want my husband (who eats a lot of chicken) to eat it, and I do NOT want it to make it’s way back to pet food.
Comment by Jenny — May 8, 2007 @ 11:10 am
Yes, we are nearing the end of the beginning, and nothing has been solved. Surprise!
This problem didn’t happen overnight and the solution isn’t going to happen overnight either. The news media has moved on the the next “crisis”, as is their way, last week it was tornados in Kansas and Paris Hilton, last year it was Katrina and Mel Gibson, nest year it will be someone else.
Our work is just beginning. First we have to feed our families the safest food possible (I include the two leggers as well as the four leggers) If you choose not to buy del monte, nestle’ et al, I certainly couldn’t blame you. Ditto, if you choose not to shop walmart. Write (call if you like, but there’s nothing like a good old letter with a stamp for credibility,) to corporate headquarters and explain that with regret you can no longer buy products x, y and z because you don’t believe they can be trusted to be safe and nutritious after all the pet food you produced… Buy locally where possible. Support your local pet supply store, if you are lucky enough to have a “mom and pop” that will work with you, shop there and explain to them your reasons. “I feel that Brand Q is the best choice for my cat and you are the only place that will special order if for me, so I buy all of my pet supplies from you” Tell them that food safety is important everytime you pick up a bag, if you were lucky enough (as I was) to get a heads up when something was recalled thank them and explain that this is exactly the sort of service that will bring you back. (This becomes even more important if you are home cooking — I used to drop $100-$150 per month on pet food at three “local” stores, they have all lost business trough no fault on their part as I don’t trust ANY commercial pet food right now, but I want them to still be there when it becomes clear which manufacturers are going to step up to the dinner plate and provide the quality / safety we need. So I am buying toys and crates that I might have mail ordered in the past just to do my part to keep “mom and pop” afloat.
Investigate food makers, find the ones who can provide credible assureances that they are working to provide safe nutritions food. Recommend those foods to your friends and neighbors. “Yes it’s a bit more expensive, but I don’t believe it’s likely to kill phido or phluffy”
Make sure the people who can make a difference understand that food safety is an issue that might just sway your vote. Talk to your current elected officals, and to candidates for office, not just at every oportunity, make oportunities. Get to know them and their staffs (yes it’s easier in a place like South Dakota, but no matter where you are, a voter is a voter) When something comes up for a vote in the congress, let your congress critter know that you care about this issue and will vote for the person who seems most inclined to protect your family.
Talk to your vet. Let him know how shocked you were that there is no CDC for pets, make sure she knows this is important to you and that if putting a system in place adds a bit to your bill, you won’t mind.
Sorry this is so long and rambling but …
Comment by schnauzer — May 8, 2007 @ 11:13 am
Whatever happened to Tommy Thompson former head of HHS? Wonder if he would like to do some volunteer consulting?
Used one of his quotes in my letter . . .
quoted in December, 2004, saying he “cannot understand why the terrorists have not attacked our food supply because it is so easy to do.”
That comment was swept under the carpet too.
Comment by Donna — May 8, 2007 @ 11:16 am
“I think there are people who will publish books on this topic. I know that Marion Nestle mentioned plans to publish a book about the pet food industry… and it seems as though it was already in the works before the disaster. I’ve bought several of her other books since the start of the pet food recalls too.”
Comment by Cynthia — May 8, 2007 @ 9:38 am
Marion Nestle (Dept. of Nutrition, NYU) was on WNYC public radio last week as the only guest on the pet food crisis. She said unequivocally that the FDA is more transparent than ever before. She was also not educated what scientists had found re: melamine and cyanuric acid at that point. Because she was the only guest, she was not rebutted. Think I’ll look elsewhere for books to read on this subject going forward.
Comment by Maureen — May 8, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Kat,
I can give you a couple of reasons why this hasn’t been a bigger story:
Anna Nicole Smith and now Paris Hilton.
If they can show a blonde train wreck on the screen at least every 7 minutes, their ratings go up.
There are no sexy pictures to show with this story either. And to show the awful reality of it, certainly not!
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Me think a few stewards know why these scary revelations are happening and they are being guided by our God and Lord Jesus Christ to maybe save our civilization and planet Earth..Let’s pray real hard that this is true…Otherwise, the end of our way of life as we know it may not be far behind. No matter the result, we stand ready to join our Father and our passed loved ones on the Bridge.
Lord, please guide your faithful stewards through these awful, gut-wrenching times and give us the strength to carry out your needed change. AMEN.
Comment by Bee — May 8, 2007 @ 11:31 am
Was going to stop reading here for few hours and go get some things done. First decided to go to Meijers (foods) site to sign up for a mother’s day contest. After all I am a pet mom. As I was moving on to the “profile area” to sign up, I see their page of information where they support local farmers. Even visit farms each year to encourage farmers and check on food that it remains good quality stuff. Didn’t spend too much time reading everything. Gotta get moving. But if anyone is interested you can check it out on http://www.Meijer.com
Meijer is based in Grand Rapids, Mi. Fred Meijer is the founder. If anyone has heard of the Meijer Gardens, it was named after him. They have stores in Mi, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky.
Comment by VJ — May 8, 2007 @ 11:36 am
A nonprofit is a great idea, but it requires significant initial capital and sustained funding, staff and funds for expenses that are greater than you can imagine to be effective.
There was a day when the press would cover well-intentioned issues and such free media coverage could augment a grassroots organization’s efforts. Those days are over, especially as the opposition can bury you and your issue and especially make the press question your moral authority and even your facts.
Suggest those who are interested look into the Center for Science in the Public Interest (at least as a model). Note that CSPI accepts no corporate funds or government grants. In an instance like this (pet-related issues only?), that’s the only way you can be believable and effective.
Read about CSPI at their website:
http://www.cspinet.org/about/index.html
Note that the USDA announced on May 4th that they had named a panel to sit on a committee called: National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI). One of the proposed panel members is Ken Kelly of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. I think CSPI has spoken out on the current crisis. (I’ll have to research that…later.)
Here’s that USDA press release:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal.....5/0126.xml
You want to stay away from partisanship? Judicial Watch was the primary “nonprofit” that filed 18 lawsuits and were in the thick of the Clinton impeachment. Much of their money came from Scaife in PA. They have also filed some anti-Repub. stuff against Cheney and the energy group and are involved in immigration issues. I’m not saying I am for or against any of what they do. I put my efforts in issues that affect real people’s lives. Who needs to put pet food issues in the midst of this political cauldron? They carry no portfolio for issues remotely like ours.
Comment by Maureen — May 8, 2007 @ 11:46 am
Oh, this is a questionable comment. I apologize in advance.
Maybe someone should talk to Paris Hilton about taking her clothes off for pet food reform. That might get the issue some ink…
Comment by Katherine — May 8, 2007 @ 11:52 am
Well, I was leaving but checked my emails. FINALLY received a reply from my April 2 letter to Senator Carl Levin of Mi. Thank you for contacting me about the recent pet food recall. I appreciate you sharing your views with me. During this session of Congress, the Senate will confront legislation addressing many important & timely issues. Should legislation related to the recent pet food recall come before the full Senate, I will certainly keep your views in mind. A useful way to track the progress of an issue or a particular piece of legislation is through the use of my website at http://www.levin.senate.gov or through the Library of Congress legislative information website http://thomas.loc.gov/ which appears as a link on my website.
Comment by VJ — May 8, 2007 @ 11:52 am
Comment by Donna — May 8, 2007 @ 11:16 am
Donna inquired what ever happened to Tommy Thompson. He’s a 2nd tier candidate for the presidency. And he belongs to a group called the Coalition for a Stronger FDA, a lobby group in Washington.
Here’s from the May 1st NYT/IHT:
“Tommy Thompson, a former secretary of health and human services, expressed deep concern about the American food supply when he resigned, for unrelated reasons, in December 2004. “For the life of me, I cannot understand why the terrorists have not attacked our food supply, because it is so easy to do,” said Thompson, who is a member of the Coalition for a Stronger FDA, a lobby group in Washington, and is seeking to become the Republican presidential candidate.
http://www.iht.com/articles/20.....ws/fda.php
Thompson’s concern stems from a growing gap between a flood of imports and a weakened food-safety inspection regime.”
Comment by Maureen — May 8, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
Maureen,
Please share the titles of books from authors that you find who have a more informed perspective. I want more information that’s helpful and useful and would appreciate your recommendations.
Comment by Cynthia — May 8, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
What happened to the FDA blog thread?
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 12:45 pm
Steve - that’s what I was wondering.
btw - I did not use one coding tag today so y’all can stop looking at me like that…
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
it went *poof*!
thought i was losing my mind yet again!
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
Anyone see any black helicopters flying around over Pet Connection???
Comment by mal — May 8, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
OMG.
“They” got Christie!
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
I had just posted a comment re: the idea that a lot more chemicals would have to be added to wheat flour to get to the same protein level that melamine would have done to wheat gluten, and that might explain why this hit critical mass when it did. I just a message that nothing matched my criteria and the whole thread was gone.
Comment by yet another pat — May 8, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
The FDA may have hacked into PC and removed the thread because it was UNFILTERED INFORMATION (which is bad, apparently).
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
Hello? Christie?
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
That is, I got a message that nothing matched my criteria.
Comment by yet another pat — May 8, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
Does anyone know where to find the ChemNutra invoices? I know I’ve seen them, and I thought they said wheat gluten, not wheat flour, right? So where’s the mislabelling happening? And where’s the live blog thread?
Comment by Debra — May 8, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
I was trying to post this on the other thread but will put it here for now:
US: Another Chemical Emerges in Pet Food Case
by
DAVID BARBOZA, The New York Times
May 9th, 2007
Chemical producers said that it was common knowledge that for years cyanuric acid was used in animal and fish feed in China. In the United States, cyanuric acid is often used as a disinfectant in swimming pools.
But interviews with Chinese animal feed producers, melamine companies and traders and other chemical makers over the last two weeks indicate that melamine and cyanuric acid are often added intentionally to animal feed to cheat buyers.
“I’ve heard that people add cyanuric acid and melamine to animal feed to boost the protein level,” said Yang Fei, who works in the sales department of the Shouguang Weidong Chemical Company, which is in Shandong Province, where some of the contaminated pet food ingredients came from.
Chinese chemical makers say they also produce a chemical which is a combination of melamine and cyanuric acid, and that feed producers have often sought to purchase scrap material from this product.
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14467
So..is our food still safe MR FDA??
Comment by mal — May 8, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
Desperate men can’t be trusted.
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
As troublesome as the chicken being released for human consumption is the fact that the chicken by products will be back in the pet food once again. :( I feel those by-products may have higher levels then the actual parts people normally consume.
I’ve received emails from both Perdue and Butterball that none of their flocks have eaten any of the feed. I’d like to be able to believe them. My dogs are currently eating Butterball ground turkey and rice and vegetables. We have just Perdue chicken in the freezer now and so the dogs will not be getting any store brand chicken. I have a couple of packages of Tyson chicken patties that no one is currently eating and we’re not planning on buying anymore in the near future.
Now my biggest worry is the cats. Bil.Jac has an update on their web page: “Bil-Jac chicken ingredients are not sourced from poultry farms feeding recalled pet food.” I’d like to be sure I can believe this too. My cats that really like a canned food as a treat are now getting meat baby food instead. Why are I still so worried??
Comment by Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's mom) — May 8, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Don’t worry folks, I’m sure they are just re-formating the long live-blog post so it doesn’t go on for pages.
It will be back up soon.
Either that or more head explosions.
Comment by spocko — May 8, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
We don’t know why it disappeared. I divided it so it jumped, saved it and looked at it.
Then it was gone. I’m assuming I accidentally deleted it, but I don’t think I did.
Christie is putting it back up now. So, you’ll just have to repeat your snarky comments.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 8, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
Either that or her wrists fell off and she accidently banged the delete button. Or Kim’s tequila got to her.
j/k. I think.
I’m sure it’s all good.
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
What happened to the FDA blog thread?
Comment by Steve
told’ya it’s the apocalypse
Comment by Cynthia — May 8, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 8, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
Watch out for men in black.
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
It vanished again Gina.
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
Debra, the ChemNutra invoice does say Wheat Gluten. Vital Wheat Gluten 75% Food Grade in 40’ Container. (I printed it, but I don’t know where the link to it is.)
Comment by michelle p. — May 8, 2007 @ 1:01 pm
Men in black (MIB) are one thing, but it’s the men in white that really scare me. My padded cell’s the fourth one on the right. They let me draw on the walls with crayons held between my toes.
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 1:01 pm
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 1:01 pm
You don’t need to be afraid of these crooks.
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
“Please share the titles of books from authors that you find who have a more informed perspective. I want more information that’s helpful and useful and would appreciate your recommendations.”
Comment by Cynthia — May 8, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
Oh dear, Cynthia. I’d just completed a message that took a lot of time and it disappeared before posting. I’ll try to write it again, but have to get back to work now…
Comment by Maureen — May 8, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
RE:Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 1:01 pm
They let me draw on the walls with crayons held between my toes.
Hope those crayons are not made in China!!
LOL
Thanks for the laugh Ally!!
Comment by mal — May 8, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
On feeding meat baby food, watch out for onions and garlic.
Comment by betty — May 8, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
Pet food recall: Liveblogging the 5/8 FDA/USDA media conference
Vanished again.
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
CAN SOMEBODY CONTACT GINA OR CHRISTIE- THE LINK TO THE REST OF THE LIVEBLOG 5/8 IS NOT WORKING, NEITHER ARE THE COMMENTS.
Comment by Lin52 — May 8, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
mal - my pleasure!
glad I could return the laugh(s) you’ve given me, over the past severak weeks. man, how I’ve needed those.
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
Lin - see Gina’s post above @ 12:55 pm.
They are aware and working on it.
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
Comment by Lin52 — May 8, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
Probably Ekedahl’s pals at the CIA.
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
OK Thanks
Comment by Lin52 — May 8, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
“On feeding meat baby food, watch out for onions and garlic
Comment by betty”
Betty I buy the little 2 oz jars of either Beachnut or Gerber’s just meat foods. I do have some reservations that the Gerber’s contains corn starch but, of course, this is the cats favorite brand.
Comment by Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's mom) — May 8, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
photos of contaminated wheat gluten and regular wheat gluten: http://www.labservices.uoguelph.ca/urgent.cfm
With today’s revelation that the wheat gluten was actually wheat FLOUR, I went back and looked again at these photos. The “regular” photo may just be stock, I don’t know. But the “contaminated” photo is (I assume) from the actual contaminated ingredient put into the recalled pet foods. That ain’t wheat flour.
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
Well I knew it was coming.
Fish meant for humans fed tainted food.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH.....index.html
Comment by Tammy — May 8, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
i was thinking that also. and how the only inspection we needed of this gluten/protein/flour/WHATEVER
was just one pair of eyes . . .
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
Now fish??
Breaking News:
WASHINGTON - Farmed fish were fed meal spiked with an industrial chemical linked to the ongoing recall of pet foods, though the contamination level was probably too low to pose a danger to anyone who may have eaten the fish, federal health officials said Tuesday…
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18556690/
Comment by Bonnie — May 8, 2007 @ 1:18 pm
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=106&sid=1126357
The Canadian-made meal included what was purported to be wheat gluten, a protein source, imported from China. The material was actually wheat flour spiked by the chemical melamine and related, nitrogen-rich compounds to make it appear more protein rich than it was, officials said.
Comment by shelly — May 8, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
Comment by Bonnie — May 8, 2007 @ 1:18 pm
“probably”
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
http://www.boomantribune.com/?.....7520/75571
MELAMINE Human Health Effects,ETC
CYANURIC ACID Human Health Effects,ETC
Comment by shelly — May 8, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
I just read a story on AP wire that farm raised fish have been feed the wheat gluten as well.
So much for all that BS about “no wheat gluten was use in human food”
this not just a problem for the USA you can bet there are more animals and even some poeple that have been fed this crap some where.
It’s bad enough that bussiness is putting it me at the gas pump but now they killed my cat harmed my dog and now I can’t trust my own dinner.
FDA GET OFF YOUR FAT BEHINDS AND GET WORK.
Comment by john — May 8, 2007 @ 1:23 pm
Comment by slt — May 8, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
“That ain’t wheat flour.”
Nope. If the right reporter (David Barboza?) were to run those pics as a reminder to the public (and the FDA - hello?!), maybe this latest “wheat flour” crap would be questioned more?
Or am I just being too optimistic in looking for the pony in the pile of chit here?
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
I’m still waiting for the turkeys to be next. I’m sure turkey feed is similar to chicken feed. WTH are the turkeys being fed?
Comment by Tammy — May 8, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
Any buyers? I mean suckers?
http://finance.google.com/fina.....lient=news
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
We are fast running out of critters to eat. Lamb from New Zealand, anyone?
Comment by Lin52 — May 8, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
‘Menu Foods has said it faces more than 50 lawsuits.’
Oh I’m sure it’s more than 50.
Comment by Tammy — May 8, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
So far, with all the statements from the FDA about this mess, they only conclude that the risk is low, or they don’t think the risk is very high to humans.
That is not good enough for me. They simply don’t know, but if they have to cull everything that has been fed adulterated feed, they will have a meat shortage to deal with. I think that may be what they are worried about. Just about all of our primary meat sources are covered here. It is looking more and more like this adulterated feed is on just about every factory farm in the US and now spreading to Canada.
Someone posted on Itchmo, that melamine is suspected in the pig deaths in China. No surprise there.
Comment by Stephanie — May 8, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
I thought maybe someone might be interested in the e mails I got from Perdue and Butterball concerning the contaminated feed.
This is from Perdue
“Thank you for your recent e-mail and your inquiry regarding the safety of
the feed ingredients used in the production of our birds. I can
understand your concerns, given the recent news stories regarding
melamine.
Melamine is a nitrogen-based compound used in products such as glues and
fertilizers.
We feed our birds only the finest natural ingredients, including yellow
corn, soybean meal, vitamins and mineral supplements. We have
periodically included corn gluten meal as a source of protein. Our feed
formulations are developed by our company Nutritionists and all of the
protein ingredients are from the United States.
We have standardized quality control procedures for all of our ingredients
and finished feeds, and have full time feed quality control associates in
each of our feed mills. In light of recent news stories, we have also
begun a program of random sample testing of our feed ingredients to ensure
no traces of melamine are found. Recent news reports have stated that
traces of melamine have been found in the feed given to chicken flocks in
Indiana. Perdue does not have any chicken flocks in Indiana, nor have any
Perdue flocks anywhere been affected.
Consumers should have complete confidence in the safety of PERDUE®
products. Food safety is a top priority of ours, and the standards by
which our products are produced actually exceed government standards.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to respond to your inquiry.”
And this is Butterball’s reply
“Thank you for your interest in Butterball products.
As you are aware, a nationwide recall is being conducted on pet food containing wheat gluten imported from China. The wheat gluten is contaminated with the chemical melamine and has been associated with the death of several cats and dogs.
The nutritionists at Butterball formulate feed specifically for our birds, taking into account bird age, the location of the farm and the time of year the bird is being fed. We have conducted a thorough review of the feed ingredients and suppliers and determined that no grains or protein-based ingredients used in the blending of feed for growing Butterball turkeys has been imported from China. In fact, Butterball, LLC does not formulate feed using wheat, rice or corn gluten ingredients.”
Comment by Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's mom) — May 8, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
‘Menu Foods has said it faces more than 50 lawsuits.’
From what I’ve seen, most of the 50 are “class action suits”. I read about one suit a few weeks ago that already had over 3,000 pet owners.
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
The 50 suits may all be class action, one from each state.
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
We are fast running out of critters to eat. Lamb from New Zealand, anyone?
Comment by Lin52
Well, you can’t save yourself by going vegetarian either. It’s contaminated every which way.
Comment by Cynthia — May 8, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
Marvelous - I nixed the China fish and opted for the Canada fish. No win - No win.
Well, looks like I’ll be busy from now on. Huntin’ skunk and ‘possum in the mornin’ and relaxing on the banks fishin’ in the evenin’.
Pick some wild berries, poke a few taters and carrots in the ground, make some flat bread and I’m good to go.
Comment by Kathi — May 8, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
Maureen
They didn’t mention whether pet food was blended in the feed.
Comment by Kathi — May 8, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
make sure your taters and carrots aren’t growing in the toxic dump site (and how would you even be able to tell)! and about that water quality that your fish are in… well… probably not so good either.
Comment by Cynthia — May 8, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
Cynthia @ 1:45pm - LMAO woman!
Me, I’m thinkin’ ‘o avoidin’ the critters for a bit. It’s hot as Hades here in S. Cali right now. Chilled fruit salad should be safe, right?
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Love this one.
Acheson: ChemNutra. Brokered through ChemNutra direct to Canada. That wheat gluten never came to the US. Went directly to Canada. When they dug into the ChemNutra records, this came to light.
AP: Why didn’t ChemNutra disclose this? Does that disturb you?
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
Ally just stay away from raspberries from Guatemala…
Comment by Lin52 — May 8, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
“Chilled fruit salad should be safe, right?”
Am in the same boat here in So. CA.
A friend of mine says to wash it in Tide laundry detergent first and rinse really, really well.
Comment by Lynn — May 8, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
raspberries from Guatemala…
What . . . ?!
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Nasty bug in 1996 made 3000+ people ill from raspberries imported from there
Comment by Lin52 — May 8, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
Yeah Ally… you can buy endless piles of ‘organic’ produce at Walmart for cheap because they get it from where? CHINA!!! isn’t that perfect? oh and watch out for your vegan proteins… guess what that’s made of…
I’m thinkin’ home hydroponics might be a possible way out of this mess for a little while, but not entirely sure about that either.
Isn’t it just delightful that our culture opted to become one big strip mall so they could stop growing anything at all?
Comment by Cynthia — May 8, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
Thanks Butterball for telling us NOTHING! What about the store brand turkeys. I’m not buying the bull. I made turkey tetrazzini for dinner tonight. I’ve been peeing alot…..oh maybe it’s all the tea I drank. Oh no, excessive thirst and peeing!
Geesh! It ain’t even safe to eat dirt! I might as well just eat the cat’s food. It’s basically all the same now. Melakibble, MelaMeowMix, Melachicken, Melapork, Melafish, Ecolibeef, Madbeef, Rocketfuelspringwater, Ecolitossedsalad, Pesticideproduce, SalmonellaPBsamich…. What did I leave out??????
Comment by Tammy — May 8, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
Cynthia- Re grow your own- then we get to worry about whether the seed is genetically engineered crap or not. It’s like there is no end to this, scratch one level, see another to explore and worry about. Wonder if vodka is safe? Make mine a double.
Comment by Lin52 — May 8, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
Comment by Steve — May 8, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
The heck it did [go straight to Canada]! Unless I am really muddled in the brain, I remember someone [Miller?] stating that the product came in at the Long Beach [San Pedro] port and it was shipped to Kansas [maybe Oklahoma]. And if I recall, it didn’t go straight to [Kansas] because he put some of the stock in his storage facility located in ______? Does anyone else remember this? Or am I on info overload?
Comment by Lynn — May 8, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
melamela. just hand me the pink bag.
Comment by Cynthia — May 8, 2007 @ 2:08 pm
Comment by Lin52 — May 8, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
Thanks!
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
Welcome to the FDA Family Restaraunt. Tonight we have an All-you-can-eat buffet sponsored by USDA. Your servers tonight will be FEMA and Homeland Security. And don’t forget all children under 12 eat free!!!! We will also throw in a doggie bag for you to take home some tasty treats for your furry friend. The meal tonight has been prepared with TLC by PFI and AAFCO. Tonight’s entertainment will be a jousting match between ChemNutra and Menu Foods. For those gamblers you can place your bets on the jouster of your choice. Mark Wiens will collect your bets. Bon Appetit!
Comment by Tammy — May 8, 2007 @ 2:20 pm
lin52 - thanks for the warning on the raspberries. altho it has been 11 years since that prob, so should be safe, no? I mean if the FDA says everything is safe so we should believe them.
And I gots me some land waaay out in the desert for sale with no water rights. no problemo. copy that FDA.
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 2:20 pm
Don’t forget the cantaloupes from Central America that tested positive for salmonella back in February. The recall went out over a week after they’d been sold.
” Created: 2/17/2007 6:25:47 PM
Updated:2/17/2007 9:56:44 PM
A recall has been issued for thousands of cantaloupes shipped to stores in the U.S. and Canada.
The Dole fresh fruit company recalled the imported cantaloupes after the fruit tested positive for salmonella. Officials say there have been no reports of illness.
The recall covers cantaloupes shipped between February 5-8.
Dole says the fruit was grown in Costa Rica.
The FDA says make sure you wash the outer surface of cantaloupes before you slice them.”
And I’ve been called crazy for washing the outside of melons with a bit of dish soap and a soft brush before cutting into it. When you pass the knife through it, whatever “cooties” are on the outside get carried by the knife to the inside…
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
Granny?!! NooooOOO!!!
I just bought canteloupe today!
And natch - there’s no label on where it shipped from.
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
You mean you’re not believing the FDA/USDA, Ally? Shame on you! When they’re so convincing with all their flawless scientific proof, great record keeping, superb community relations? Shocking!
Comment by Lin52 — May 8, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
Dish soap - great tip Granny!
Thanks as well for explaining how the knife can pass along the “cooties”. Man, I never thought about it that way. Yegods, so much to learn, so little brain power left……
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 2:39 pm
That was back in February, they’ve all been eaten!
I got one back then but I also scrubbed and rinsed it well like always before cutting it open. I didn’t get sick. OR maybe I didn’t get the lucky melon…
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
Yes, we knew it would be in the human food chain, and yes, Turkeys eat some of the same feeds. What other livestock is fed corn? Cattle, hmmm,
I believe very strongly that the FDA is hiding things because there is big business involved. Can you say Presidential Election? This is turning into a economy buster and I feel that the government is hiding so much on this, because well, it’s just a panicky thing. Will the war going so bad, we can find out more about what is going on in the war, than how bad our food supplies are managed. Yes, the bad guys are thinking, hey, this is they way to strike at Americans.
Will someone please turn on a light bulb, and use a cattle prod to wake up the FDA?
Comment by janetc — May 8, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
Lin52:
“You mean you’re not believing the FDA/USDA, Ally? Shame on you! “
I know. How unAmerican of me.
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
Ally: Join the club…
Comment by Lin52 — May 8, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
Granny:
“That was back in February, they’ve all been eaten!”
Oh thank Yahvo. *phwew*
Between the heat and the cooties, I was feeling a bit woozy there for a sec. Thanks again. :)
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
Lin52 - oh I’ve been in the club. for several weeks now, lol.
there’s a lot of people here with me in my padded cell.
except we need some new walls to draw on with our crayons. ;)
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
So how many people do we think are actually ****ed off over all this , the pet deaths and the food adulteration? 50,000? More? Who wants to guess?
Comment by Lin52 — May 8, 2007 @ 2:47 pm
Ally,
I have to credit my Dear Mother for washing melons, etc. If it came out of our garden we’d rinse off any dirt or dust if needed. If it was from anywhere else it got a good scrubbing because “you don’t know where it’s been”.
Ditto for canned products. She would wipe off the tops of cans real good before opening them. Before you put it in your grocery cart you don’t know who all has handled it, what all has crawled across it, or what is in the grocery stores’ “dust”.
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
well lin52,
we have approx 120 mil pet owners. then toss in a few vegetarians who are unsure about their protein sources, then you have the poultry and fish eaters . . . and mustn’t forget the BBQ lovers . . . and don’t forget the always buy American coalition
we really need to join some major orgs together.
Comment by straybaby — May 8, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
Granny, you are a doll. Lots of tips to add to my routine.
I do wash my veggies, etc.. Maybe I’ve been having a “Homer” moment for 40 odd years, since I never thought of washing a cantaloupe rind (don’t eat that part) or cans of food. Forget mopping and vacuuming, I have cupboards of canned goods to go through!
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
I IS hotter than snot here in SO Cal. Suddenly Mexican produce seems relatively safe compared to the Chinese alternatives. What’s a little diarrhea compared to kidney failure?
I still think organic food from China is an oxymoron. Doesn’t it have to be certified that the fields are organic for 3 years before the food is organic? At the farmer’s market they have what they call “transitional organic” That means that the 3 years wasn’t up.
Comment by Joyce — May 8, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
Ally,
Wait until it’s time to open the can before you wipe it off. That way you won’t wash off any “use by” date that’s on it.
If you start in on the cupboards, you might start reading the fine print ingredients list on the cans. If you haven’t already done that one, it will scare you.
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
Granny,
I began reading all my food stuff’s ingredients once wheat gluten, RPC, soy protein, et al, began coming up. I’ve been reading so many labels for the past several weeks, I’m on brain overload and synapse interruptus. I’m sure all of you are too. You’re right, it is indeed scary. Can’t even remember how many things (inc. dog treats of questionable origin) I tossed out.
I’ll wait on the cans ‘til I need them, thank again. Just when I thought I was going to get out of mopping gosh darnit! I also think it’s time to get my herb & vegetable gardens back up and running. Someone here said how much better they’ve been feeling while eating healthier. I have my spates of eating healthy versus not so healthy. Lately, I’ve been making an effort to eat healthier, right alongside my dogs. You know what? I DO feel better. As long as I can find healthy, safe food - I’ll be happy. but I’m not talking the FDA’s definition of truth. THAT is truly scary.
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 3:19 pm
Straybaby, has anyone pursued that, getting big organizations together? Maybe united we’d have some clout.
Comment by Lin52 — May 8, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
oops - typo above…
“but I’m not talking the FDA’s definition of truth.”
Meant FDA’s definition of “safe”.
‘Course - maybe I wasn’t so far off in the first place?
Comment by Ally — May 8, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
Will the contaminated chicken, pork and fish end up as meal or fish meal be put back into the pet food? My head is exploding that we humans, our pets, and our food animals are being used to dilute toxic waste, at a good greedy profit.
Who wants to eat any of it, or feed their pet any of it? Can we organize to let the meat and fish producers hear that we don’t want our families or our pets to eat their contaminated product.
Pet food companies have zero credibility right now. So do the pork, chicken and fish producers if ALL THE MEAT OUT THERE ISN”T RECALLED.
I think there ought to be a boycott of the companies that sold “salvage pet food” to the chicken and pork producers (one source said Diamond Pet Food). Contaminated food was sold for profit instead of destroyed, and whoever participated in this should be boycotted. One company was Diamond Pet Food:
http://www.diamondpet.com/vet_notes/dogs/95/
You can contact Diamond Pet Food here and tell them what you think about that:
http://www.diamondpet.com/contact_us/
Today they have a web page called “Happy Cats, Healthy Bladders!
http://www.diamondpet.com/vet_notes/cats/91/
If you can stand your head exploding again, read their webpage on
Kidney Failure on Cats where they give all the reasons it probably wasn’t their pet food that caused it:
http://www.diamondpet.com/vet_notes/cats/94/
Forbes has an article about how the petfood manufacturers have responded to the public:
http://www.forbes.com/opinions.....dvice.html
Now I have to go tape my head back together.
Comment by Marcia — May 8, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
There is already a coalition formed for Country Of Origin Labeling, can’t remember the website, but it was posted yesterday.
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
Thanks Elaine
Comment by Lin52 — May 8, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
It is http://www.americansforlabeling.org
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
I know there’s a web site of a group that’s against “COOL”.
They say:
“This web site is sponsored by the American Meat Institute and a coalition of entities deeply concerned about the costly, trade distorting, and disruptive nature of mandatory country-of-origin labeling, which was mandated under the 2002 Farm Bill.”
The mandatory Country Of Origin Labeling deadline has been extended twice, and is now 30 September 2008.
The Meat Institute must not include Amreican ranchers….
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
There has to be some BIG MONEY against “COOL” for the deadline to have been extended twice since the bill was passed in 2002.
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
You got that right, Granny.
I am a rancher, and the AMI is the packing industry. NCBA, the national cattle organization does not represent the cattle industry since they merged with the big packers.
That is why R-CALF USA was formed, as it is a national organization representing the cow-calf producers.
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
Why are these companies now saying “in lieu of recent news stories….begun program of random sample testing of ingredients.” What were they doing prior to all this. Sleeping? Sucking face to see how they could charge more for inferior ingredients? What were the quality control procedures before all this happened? Or were there QC procedures?
Comment by VJ — May 8, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
Someone may have posted this early on and I missed it…
Hodgson Mill has a number of recipes for cat & dog (and other critter) treats:
“Healthy Recipes for Your Pet
In keeping with the healthy lifestyle of today, it makes perfect sense to also give your pets a well-balanced diet. Along with providing your pets with nutritious foods try these tips for Keeping Your Pets Healthy and Happy! Hodgson Mill has several proud pet owners which you can see in our Famous Pet Gallery! Try some of our favorite pet recipes listed below and let us know what you think. Please email any comments or send your very own pet recipe to CustomerService@HodgsonMill.com. “
http://www.hodgsonmill.com/animal-treats/
I’ve been buying their flours and yeast. I don’t know what brands might be safe anymore and who would lie if asked. At this point, I’m thinking if it’s kosher there’s a better chance it hasn’t been spiked with melamine and other crazy chemicals.
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
Azure Standard is an online source for organic products based in Oregon wheat country.
I buy their flours, raised on their place to bake my own bread, since the first I heard of the wheat gluten contamination.
They have other brands of products, but I stick with the local ones
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
Elaine,
Thank you, I’ll look them up! Some of the stores here carry the Hogson Mills products so I’ve been buying their brand for what little I use especially lately. I have a terrible weakness for bread. I never met a bread I didn’t like, and it shows. I’ve been trying to cut way back and shed some of this extra “fluff”…
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
Baking my own bread will surely add some fluff to me!
I think it is some unspoken law that you need to eat the heel of the fresh-out-of-the-oven bread just slathered with real butter!
Oh well, at least it is real food, and not melafood!
Comment by Elaine — May 8, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
Oh yes!!! The ugly heels, Haha!
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 8, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
I am so tired of reading how only “a few” pets died. I am so tired of hearing how “our food is safe”.
Our food isn’t safe and I will never buy pet food or human food with confidence again. The FDA is a JOKE.
Comment by Alasandra — May 8, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
There are aleady existing pet owners organizations. Here are two I found. I have heard of the ADOA before. This is the first I’ve heard of the APA. Don’t know if they’d be interested in joining an organized effort or not. In a quick visit to both sites, I did nto see any info there about the pet food recalls.
American Dog Owners Association
http://www.adoa.org/more/index.....more_23994
American Pets Association
http://www.apapets.com/petstats2.htm
Comment by Marilyn — May 8, 2007 @ 5:03 pm
Marilyn, with just a quick look-through, neither site seems active. I would have expected something on the pet food recalls, disappointing not to see anything.
Everybody- what’s up with Howl911? They seem to be MIA, which is a shame.
Comment by Lin52 — May 8, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
Lin52…Yeah, that was my reaction too. However, I have noticed that a lot of places where I would have expected to see recall news, there’s nothing.
Our clinic just got our copy of AKC’s “Family Dog” for May/June. Not a thing on the recalls.
Comment by Marilyn — May 8, 2007 @ 6:15 pm
Marilyn: Do you think they are scared pet food manufacturers will pull advertising/sponsorship if they report on it?
Comment by Lin52 — May 8, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
Oh yeah, that’s what I think. Almost every other page is a dog food ad. And so many of the events and programs that the AKC sponsor are supported by the big pet food companies, that if all that support were pulled, well, I think AKC would have trouble even functioning for a long while.
I’d say, up until this happened, it was mostly thought that the support given to AKC and other organizations was a good thing. But now, its a different story.
I’ll share an experience I had. I am a director of a small, local non-profit breed rescue. Like all rescues, we need money. Purina offers a program called Rally to Rescue. The information they gave us looked very interesting with potential to help us out a lot, so I went online and started to fill out the application. At the end was a contract stipulating that we would agree to feed all of our rescue dogs only Purina brand foods and would promote only Purina brand foods to our adoptive families. That stopped me in my tracks. Couldn’t, wouldn’t accept those terms. But I know other organizations that did. I’m sure the financial support they get from Purina does a lot of good. And if they feel comfortable with the agreement then that is their choice. It wasn’t a tradeoff I felt comfortable making. Since this contaminated food fiasco happened, I’ve thought about that and was glad that I didn’t have that conflict of interest to deal with because I decided to switch to a different company. I’m glad I wasn’t bound by any kind of a contract that would have prevented me from doing so.
Comment by Marilyn — May 8, 2007 @ 9:30 pm
Thanks for verifying my suspicion Marilyn. So we may be salmon swimming upstream as far as getting some of the organizations together- too much conflict of interest. A very sad state of affairs.
Comment by Lin52 — May 9, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
I’m the first to admit I couldn’t possibly ready everything that’s posted here today. So this article about contaminated fish meal may already be here somewhere in between all the silly stuff that keeps you sane…
http://www.sacbee.com/296/story/172615.html
Comment by Nabiya — May 9, 2007 @ 7:45 pm