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Pet food recall: Is there a third Chinese company?
By Christie Keith
May 11, 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.
So, I tried last night to take a break from the pet food recall story, without much success. I was sitting on the sofa petting my dog Kyrie, Rebel at my feet, forcing myself to watch HGTV. It’s my happy place.
And that’s when it hit me, the question that was nagging at the underside of my brain.
In recent media conferences and public statements, FDA spokespeople have stressed, again and again, that all the affected product came from two sources in China: The (supposed) rice protein concentrate from the Binzhou Futian Biology Technology Co. Ltd., and the (supposed) wheat gluten from the Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. Ltd.
Yesterday, Drs. Rogers and Acheson hit on that yet again:
DR. ROGERS: Yes, that’s correct, but I think the headline continues to be that all of the positive bulk wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate have been associated with two suspect sources in China, the firm that you’re referencing in Illinois is consistent with that statement.
DR. ACHESON: Yes, that’s an important point, that as this unfolds, as I said in my opening statement this is an ongoing investigation, and we can anticipate that other things will come to light as we’re following and tracking this down. But everything that’s testing so far positive to melamine is still ultimately linking back to that same two sets of problems with the two companies in China. Nothing so far has gone outside that scope, and that’s an important point. And again to emphasize, we’re looking. The domestic assignment is looking outside that scope, and so far nothing else has come up.
All the investigations have centered on those two companies. All the Chinese goverment’s public statements and enforcement actions reference only those two companies, even though the New York Times and others have reported that melamine and related compounds are routinely added to protein concentrates in China — the Times calling it an “open secret.”
So here’s what popped into my head while I was petting my Borzoi last night: what about the contaminated corn gluten in Mars, Inc.’s Royal Canin foods in South Africa that was responsible for killing an unknown number of dogs in that country, leading to the subsequent recall of those products by Royal Canin SA?
From what company in China did that originate? And is that company closed and shuttered, or razed to the ground, its owners in jail, as with the other two?
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Two Companies? I’d be willing to bet there are many companies! And I am also willing to bet that our human food supply is directly contaminated, not just the “dilution effect” through meat and poultry!
Their answers as to where they are finding these products are just too vague and convoluted.
Comment by Elaine — May 11, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Royal Canin never named the supplier of the contaminated corn gluten?
Comment by slt — May 11, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
This 2 company thing is just another spewed absurdity by acheson et al. No one here just believes that it’s 2 companies right? I mean the additives appear to be common knowledge and accepted practice by any account about chinese ag-biz published over the last 8 weeks.
What doesn’t sit right to me is that it seems like the Chinese people and greedy American food-ish companies are so darn eager to be cheated. Why? They want cheap, but it’s not cheap to get cheated. It can’t be that tough to come up with a quick test that measures something other than nitrogen content.
And yesterday, I asked about which companies were making pet food in China and exporting it here… but all of those brands didn’t get recalled. I think it was straybaby that suggested that those brands already knew better. Chilling thought, but doesn’t that have to be true? How did they know not to use the same contaminated ingredients that were exported here?
Comment by Cynthia — May 11, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
Now, that some good thinking!! Good job Christie!
I kind-of assumed the corn crap came from one of the 2 we already knew about.
Elaine’s right, too. There has to be more Chinese companies. It’s been some kind of open secret in china for 5-7 or maybe even 15 years.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 11, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
They are trying to confuse people so they can continue to tell everyone that we’re just a bunch of crazy and stupid people. It’s their version of crowd control.
Comment by Brandi — May 11, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
Lets see one billion Chinese peasants trying to eek out a living with misc agricultural products.
Complete the equation
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
Comment by Brandi — May 11, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
Exactly. Soon or later I figured they would try to pit us all against each other.
Sorry. The jig is up guys.
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
Wouldn’t a good spot instant presumptive test at the docks for melamine/cyanuric acid etc etc be to have a solution of urea or whatever component it is in cat/dog urine that makes the crystals happen? Take a sample, mix in a little solution, magnify: no crystals = green light, crystals = red light.
Just sayin.
Comment by Cynthia — May 11, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
Comment by Cynthia — May 11, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
I’m sure the FDA would *like* to do your test but unfortunately, the only applicants have been pregnant women.
Comment by slt — May 11, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
05/11/2007 12:11
CHINA
Toxic environment: soil with heavy metals and cancerous fish Pollution is poisoning cultivated land and being absorbed by fish. Insufficient health and safety inspections fail to prevent frequent cases of serious, sometimes fatal, toxic poisoning.
http://tinyurl.com/2cxw3b
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
actually Cynthia, they could have just LOOKED at it!
http://www.labservices.uoguelph.ca/urgent.cfm
Comment by straybaby — May 11, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
U.S. considers opening chicken market to China
WASHINGTON: In China, some farmers try to maximize the output from their small plots by flooding produce with unapproved pesticides, pumping livestock with antibiotics banned in other countries and using human feces as fertilizer to increase soil productivity.
But the questionable practices do not end there: Chicken pens are frequently suspended over ponds where seafood is raised, so that chicken waste is recycled as a food source for seafood, according to a leading food safety expert who served as an adviser to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
http://tinyurl.com/ysm5r9
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 12:23 pm
maybe it is just 2 companies…. maybe the others would never purposely poison people/animals. maybe out of the millions of chinese one or two still have morals…
my questions is… do you think wilbur-ellis only sold it to one of 2 people?
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
Here’s some Corn Gluten suppliers…
http://www.petfoodindustry-dig.....607/?pg=69
Like others, I think it’s many, many many Chinese companies with tainted products. Most of them probably.
Comment by Kim — May 11, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
P.S. Look under Gluten Feeds, Corn
Comment by Kim — May 11, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
If I am rememebering correctly, both identified companies were advertisers on alibaba and were quite clear and vocal as to the types of “additives” they had available. The third (or fourth or fifth, etc.) may also be using this method of soliciting customers for this kind of product. I am going to search also the South African sites to see if any mention was ever made of the route of the rotten, poisoned gluten into the pet food at Royal Canin.
Would alibaba be archived as I suspect that many “suppliers” are now hiding their wares.
Comment by Jay — May 11, 2007 @ 12:36 pm
“The makers of Vets Choice and Royal Canin pet foods in South Africa said Thursday that the contaminated corn gluten was delivered to the country by a third-party supplier and originated in China.”
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/205491
Comment by Christie Keith — May 11, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
“The contaminated corn gluten was purchased by Royal Canin from a South African pet food manufacturer who purchased the tainted ingredients from China.”
http://www.associatedcontent.c.....other.html
It also says in that article that the corn gluten came from “the same source” as the RPC and wheat gluten, but since they came from two different sources, I’m not sure what they meant by “source”… China?
Comment by Christie Keith — May 11, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
Ah, the Japanese … would rather not. We can too.
Excerpt: UPI: Reports of Chinese-farmed vegetables grown by using chemicals banned in Japan or unsanitary conditions appear on a regular basis. For instance, fresh spinach grown with banned chemicals was recalled from supermarkets across Japan about a year ago, while about three years ago, the Japanese arm of Boston-based Mister Donuts saw its fortunes slump after it was found that their sandwiches were made using spring onions from China that were infected with the E. coli 0-157 bacteria.
Indeed, the international environmental group Greenpeace found last year that of all the Chinese-grown produce sold in Hong Kong supermarkets, 25 percent of the sampled fruit and vegetables were tainted with fertilizers that have been deemed unsafe for human consumption by the group.
At the basement food hall of Tokyo’s Seibu department store Thursday, women flocked to buy fresh organic greens from a farmer in western Japan priced about $8 for a small handful. A few boxes down, a similar-looking bag of leaves was being sold for less than half that price, but there seemingly were no interested buyers.
“That’s made in China. You just can’t be sure what chemicals were used to grow them … I don’t want to put my body at risk like that,” said Maki Tateshina, who was shopping on her way back home from work. She added, “If I’m eating it, I want to make sure it’s safe. And I really don’t have that confidence about Chinese produce.”
Comment by Jay — May 11, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
yes straybaby, looking would be the obvious thing to do… something a reasonable, sensible human being would do…
all the people, all down the line did not bother to do a visual inspection of the materials which should be the obvious first step when making mud.
But, just to be sure that whatever it is coming through these days doesn’t clog up the kidney works, mixing it in a little test tube (that would be in vitro rather than the dreaded in vivo, in case any of you at the FDA need further clarification) with a little special urea type sauce, can make a magic chemistry act happen right quick and easy. That means, little FDA ‘science’ people, you can test ALL OF IT on this side of the pond.
Comment by Cynthia — May 11, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
The Chinese lie goes all the way back to Confucious and perhaps even before. In China, it is alright to lie under most circumstances. Indeed, Chinese children are often chastised that if they are always honest others will take advantage of them; they will never amount to anything in Chinese society.
I hate feeling upset when Chinese friends lie to me; I expect it from the Chinese government, from Chinese businessmen; but I never expected it so blatantly － and so badly done － by a friend.
http://tinyurl.com/2xlwf6
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 12:45 pm
“Melamine is mainly used in the chemical industry, but it can also be used in making cakes.”
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
“with a little special urea type sauce”
well, if they are short of ingredients, i have five cats and one dal that would be more than happy to donate ;)
Comment by straybaby — May 11, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
Not sure if this has been noted, but just noticed the AVMA has updated their pet food recall FAQ’s, dated today, 5/11/07:
http://www.avma.org/aa/petfoodrecall/faq.asp
Comment by Ally — May 11, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
I’m with you Christie - I’m thinking it may have something to do with Corn Gluten?
Take another look at Cereal Byproducts -
Their main site - http://www.cerealbyproducts.com/ “Earth Friendly Fertilizer” - It’s corn gluten meal.
Now to their stand-alone recall site:
http://www.riceproteinrecall.com/
“Cereal Byproducts Company is announcing today that the FDA has determined that there are melamine and/or melamine derivatives in the rice protein concentrate produced by a single source Chinese supplier, Binzhou Futian Biology Technology Co. Ltd., and purchased through a local domestic importer.”
NOTE: There is NO mention that Cereal Byproducts is in any way recalling Rice Protein Concentrate, nor associated with the Binzhou recall.
“Cereal Byproducts shipped the recalled product to a total of three customers located in the Midwest between July 19, 2006 and March 14, 2007.” -
NOTE: WHAT PRODUCT? Corn Gluten maybe?
“The FDA previously found melamine and/or melamine derivatives in Wilbur-Ellis Company’s rice protein concentrate, which was purchased from the same Chinese supplier as Cereal Byproducts.”
NOTE: No Name here of Chinese Supplier. Left to reader to assume.
“Cereal Byproducts proactively notified their customers of this finding, and thereafter both parties implemented their own voluntary recall of the contaminated products on or about April 19, 2007.”
NOTE: slip?? “contaminated productS” (plural)
There’s a bit more, but you’ll see what I see - -
Comment by shelly — May 11, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
Funny thing Jay about that Chinese produce that the Japanese are mostly too smart to eat… our very special places like walmart and supertarget are selling ‘organic’ produce for cheap and it’s from China.
But I was at Whole Foods too and both the Certified Organic and regular Organic frozen soybeans (edamame) are products of China. Boy, was that another day of rude awakenings!
The point is, fresh and frozen produce grown in China is everywhere and it’s being labeled organic. I just can’t believe that it can actually be organic and I unfortunately don’t have my own home forensics lab to test it all in.
Comment by Cynthia — May 11, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Cynthia, on my last trip to Whole Foods (about a week and a half ago), I happened to cruise past their frozen organic pet food display case. Out of curiousity, I picked one up. Note: these were not any specific brand. They were wrapped much as you’d see when getting something at the butcher counter. You know, paper wrapping with the white label ingredients list, etc., attached? In reading over the food’s ingredients, it stated it was from Thailand. Back into the freezer it went and I continued on my merry way….
Comment by Ally — May 11, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
My biggest question at this particular moment, (sorry if this has already been asked,) is “has the FDA/USDA sought to open lines of communication with South African investigators, concerning THEIR case of contamination? Is the US government attempting to do any investigation on the behalf of South Africa, seeing as they are already “in country?”
I don’t remember any reporters asking this question, or any questions about the AVMA exposure of the South African experiments of melamine in sheep in 1966.
Comment by Palomino — May 11, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
Comment by Cynthia — May 11, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Exactly. The Globalists-Free Trade Gangstas’ really sold us the bill of goods didn’t they?
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
Here’s a wake up call. Go out and try to find something actually produced in the USA. Food or otherwise.
Ask where it’s from. The answer will either be. I dunno….or….uh oh excuse me I just heard my boss yelling for me.
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
From Royal Canin’s web site:
South Africa
Royal Canin South Africa
Epsom Road
Northriding
Johannesburg
Postal Address:
Postnet Suite #1
Private Bag X1
Jukskei Park, 2153
South Africa
Tel: +27 11 801-5000
Fax: +27 11 462-0091
respect@royal-canin.co.za
Comment by Barry — May 11, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
Ally’s post @ 12:52
http://www.avma.org/aa/petfoodrecall/faq.asp
They added depression to the list of symptoms and that all sick pets should go the the Vet regardless of what they’ve eaten:
“Q: My pet has eaten the food that has been recalled. How do I know my pet is sick?
“A: Signs of illness include loss of appetite, lethargy, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, sudden changes in water consumption, or changes in the frequency or amount of urination.”
“These signs may also occur with other illnesses. Any animal showing signs of illness should be examined by a veterinarian, even if the animal has not eaten any of the recalled pet food.”
__”should be examined by a veterinarian, even if the animal has not eaten any of the recalled pet food”__
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 11, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
Replying to:
Comment by Barry — May 11, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
Thanks, Barry - I had already contacted Royal Canin SA. Haven’t heard anything yet.
Comment by Christie Keith — May 11, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
Q: My wife has eaten the food that has been recalled. How do I know my wife is sick?
A: “Signs of illness include loss of appetite, lethargy, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, sudden changes in water consumption, or changes in the frequency or amount of urination.”
Q: Oh, but thats been happening for 5 years. We though it was just stress.
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
Thanks for the tip Cynthia. I ran downstairs and looked at my Nature’s Promise (store organic brand)frozen organic peas, corn and vegetables purchased from my local Giant Grocery Store (owned by the dutch Ahold company I believe). And bingo, in the small print, Product of China. I had no idea, and would never have thought that frozen vegetables would be shipped that far. The package says in larger labelling, distributed by…… But then in smaller squint font, Product of China. Since I am trying to boycott Chinese products I will throw it all in the trash. I go to Whole Foods every week, and thought that they were better than that. I have seen Organic, from Mexico there, and I have abstained because I worry about there agricultural practices as well. I bet absolutely all of the Giant Nature’s Promise is Made in China—that explains why the prices are not terrible.
Comment by Shawn — May 11, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
Are the Top 7 Companies Listed in red for you guys to? If so, look at the Names???
http://www.directorypub.com/SR.....id=6000050
Comment by shelly — May 11, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
“The following table shows companies licensed to sell corn gluten meal as of August 17, 2004.”
http://www.iastate.edu/~isurf/tech/cgmwebsite.html
Comment by shelly — May 11, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
if you google scoular and chem-natura, you’ll see that is old news, but not discussed a lot. Scoular must be good at keeping their name out of the news.
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
what’s your concern with Corn Gluten Meal (CGM)? Most of it is made here in the US and it is a MUCH healthier alternative than the chemicals you put on your lawn…..
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
Hey I don’t care if I never buy another damn thing as long as I live. I will not buy another China product. I don’t care if I have to fast, starve, and carry a magnifying glass with me to the store.
If a quarter of Americans did this for a couple months, the whole hologram would come crashing down.
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
There may already be a way to have quick testing… and the Chinese have it! Mobile testing units…
http://washingtontimes.com/bus.....-9061r.htm
Quote
Shanghai eyes food-safety testing
May 11, 2007
SHANGHAI (AP) — The business hub of Shanghai will soon employ mobile testing units that officials say can check the safety of most food within 30 minutes, as fears grow at home and abroad over contaminated Chinese products ranging from cough syrup to pet food. (more)
End Quote
Comment by Marilyn — May 11, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
Lablover-
Corn Gluten was in Royal Canin South Africa and was part of the recall.
This is the part of the blog Christie began in an effort to try to discover if there is a 3rd Chinese company. We are trying to look for this possibility.
Comment by shelly — May 11, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
Take another read there. Christie’s asking about corn gluten meal from CHINA.
By the way, lablover, you might want to wait until you get home to post if you don’t want us to see the company you work for.
Or, here’s an idea, identify the company you work for and post from your area of expertise so we can evaluate your comments according to their source.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 11, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
Gina - KISSES - Please do share! :)
Comment by shelly — May 11, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
And don’t forget, it was Chemnutra, Menu, and the rest of the companies-brands in the Pet Food Cabal-Monopoly that FAILED TO INSPECT AND MONITOR THESE IMPORTS.
But what do you expect from people who want to use Bio_Fuel co-products in our pets food in the future and still insist road kill is healthy.
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
I’ll never tell. But let me say IP addresses are interesting, sometimes.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 11, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
Nice Gina…I thought lablover meant the dog, not the laboratory
Comment by Joyce — May 11, 2007 @ 1:32 pm
hmmmm…maybe we’re getting warm????
Looking forward to getting home to do more diggin’~
It’s Friday night (almost), too!
FDA’s Freaky Friday!
Comment by shelly — May 11, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
Ok - IP address will do :)
Comment by shelly — May 11, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
Comment by Marilyn — May 11, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
You know it’s bad when it gets to that point.
Next thing they’ll be opening food clinics.
Food Inspections Here! Cheap! Made Palatable!
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
i’m here because I can see both sides…. I have a half greyhound/lab 1 year old pup…
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 1:35 pm
Nice try, Shelly. :)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 11, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
If it wasn’t that so many innocent chinese citizens are being poisoned, I would consider it poetic justice that they have to check their own food for poison. What goes around comes around, that’s what grandma always said.
Comment by Joyce — May 11, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
lablover:
“i’m here because I can see both sides…. “
*intrigued*
Really? Care to elaborate?
Comment by Ally — May 11, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
When the AVMA says thay any pet with these symptoms:
“loss of appetite, lethargy, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, sudden changes in water consumption, or changes in the frequency or amount of urination”
“…should be examined by a veterinarian, even if the animal has not eaten any of the recalled pet food””
Added to everything else that has come out this week, I very strongly believe:
There Is Still Poisoned Food On The Shelves
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 11, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
could it be Monsanto, lablover?
Comment by Cynthia — May 11, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
The guy from Xuzhou kept saying he’s not a mfr. But then the driver said they did do the manufacturing, because he hauled it for them. But, if they bought from a mfr & were just a distributor, then that would mean there is a third company. But, there’s probably a whole lot more than three. By the looks of the world market trader websites, I’d say there are at least ten. Never counted them, but there are plenty!
Comment by Kat — May 11, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
This just in….
ITCHMO BANNED IN CHINA!!!
http://www.itchmo.com/read/itc.....a_20070511
Comment by Ally — May 11, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
I mean: it’s not like we all here don’t know that, but not quite everyone in the universe reads this blog.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 11, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
I’ll be disappointed if petconnection isn’t banned in China next!
Comment by Cynthia — May 11, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
I sent Royal Canin an email. Will find it & post it.
Comment by Kat — May 11, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
I just checked: We are, too.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 11, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
d’oh
Comment by Cynthia — May 11, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
Gina, I’d like to say to both you & Itchmo “Congrats! You’ve arrived & made a difference!”.
But I can’t help feel for the worried people in China who need places such as PC and Itchmo to get reliable information for their pet’s safety.
Just checked Horsesass as well since one of the commenters over there keeps insisting David’s blowing smoke out of his arse saying he’s blocked in China. Yep. He is.
Comment by Ally — May 11, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
(meant horsesass is blocked - not the smoke blowing part)
Comment by Ally — May 11, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
That’s awesome, you guy’s got banned. I hear it’s all the rage!! Good Job!
The way I understand it, the Chinese people can still use anonymouse.org to view banned sites.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 11, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
lablover:
“i’m here because I can see both sides…. ”
Do tell….exactly what is the “other side”? It’s ok to add poison to food in the name of money? It’s ok to import said poison without testing because after all, they’re only animals? You stick an IV in your dog’s neck twice a day for 2 weeks, praying he would live. Then come back and tell me about the other side. Until then as far as I’m concerned you are as bad as the rest of them.
Sorry about the venom, but that makes me want to puke. Read poor E Hamilton’s blogs, I have been crying all morning, trying to see patients with my eyes red, nose running.
There is no other side………there is only evil
Comment by Joyce — May 11, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
Sent:
To:
Subject: Rice Protein Concentrate question
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 16:35:38 -0500
Greetings!
I would like to know YOUR source for the Rice Protein Concentrate.
Did you purchase from China?
Was it an inter-company transfer?
Did it come from Wilbur-Ellis, or another distributor?
Thank you for your consideration,
Kat Lawson
————————
Received:
From: Info%ROYALCANIN@royalcanin.us
To: “Kat and Bryant”
Subject: Re: Rice Protein Concentrate question
Sunday, April 22, 2007 7:29 PM
When we were alerted to the potential problem with this supply of rice protein concentrate by our supplier we systematically tested every diet that had manufactured with that ingredient. Its our policy to no longer use any vegetable protein sourced from China.
Royal Canin USA, Inc
——————————-
So, they hedged answering the question. I thought the FDA had the company on their site … Nope & not on Royal Canin’s either. I thought they purchased from Wilbur-Ellis. Thought I read that somewhere.
Gotta get back to the room addition.
Comment by Kat — May 11, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
wait a second… probably not Monsanto, lablover, how about Iams or Purina? I think the composition of their food is corn, corn and some corn fed corn…
Comment by Cynthia — May 11, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
Comment by Ally — May 11, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
China does that ALL THE TIME. Blocks web sites. The people over there probably don’t realize the this thing is going on. Of course the last thing the Chinese Government wants is one billion people exploding in rage if they ever found out the truth.
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 2:08 pm
Itchmo Banned in China
May 11th, 2007
Yes, Itchmo has been banned in China. Throughout the recalls, we had concerned readers in China who have been contacting us about the state of industry over there and how their pets may have died from poisons as well. We wish Chinese pet parents the best and good luck. They deserve just as good pet and human food as the rest of us (among other things). We know you can’t see this, but our thoughts and prayers are with you.
In other news, ironically, the Chinese media is beginning to report on the companies that supplied tainted products to the US.
http://www.itchmo.com/
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
Steve, don’t you think they have to know… I mean there are so many Chinese people living abroad who have wisened up to their government and must report back to people they know. What I don’t understand is why the Chinese allow themselves to be treated so poorly by their magnificently corrupt government. They sure have the numbers to do something about it.
Comment by Cynthia — May 11, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
Steve, it doesn’t surprise me. I just thought seeing Itchmo (and other pet recall related sites) blocked interesting. You’d think China would want to concentrate on blocking other types of sites first. *shrug* Whoo nose where the PTB’s brains in China are these days. Appears like they have more than one kettle of fish to deal with currently.
Comment by Ally — May 11, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
joyce, you’re right. everyone else is ‘evil’.
No one that works for mars, hills, iams, mars, scoular, cereal, menu, the fda, the usda, purina, or any other company owns pets - and certainly none of them have had their pets die.
All of these companies purposely spiked their foods. Just like that company purposely put e.coli in it’s spinach. Killing it’s customers and bringing on lawsuits is the best thing for these companies…. don’t you think?
They are evil. all of them. pure evil.
Or, you could step back, see that people who work in the industry (in whatever capacity) are HORRIFIED that this would happen and are ENRAGED at the Chinese. I understand you’re working through tears, but have you ever stopped to think about the people who work in the industry and also have to work through tears? it’s not only non-industry people who have seen loss.
how would you like to go home tonight and have hate-voice-mail that your kids hear because they go to the answering machine first? how would you like to be escorted to your car because of people coming up to you at your place of work (when you had nothing to do with this?)? how would you like to be told you will burn in hell for killing their pet?
if for one moment you don’t think that the people within the industry are affected or have taken this to heart, then you are sorely mistaken.
so, when I say I see both sides… I know how this could have happened when everyone thinks there was no way it could have… and I know what its like to have pets at home sick.
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
anyway, it’s too bad someone can’t come here as a concerned owner of pets without the hate.
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
what’s your concern with Corn Gluten Meal (CGM)? Most of it is made here in the US and it is a MUCH healthier alternative than the chemicals you put on your lawn…..
I don’t understand why you don’t understand this, to be honest. It has nothing to do with corn gluten meal per se.
It has to do with the fact that whenever the FDA discusses the situation in China, they answer all questions, and frame all reports on their investigation, on the two identified companies.
I want to know if the corn gluten that was shipped to South Africa originated from one of those two companies as well, or a third - considering, as the NY Times and others report, the adulteration of protein concentrates with melamine and similar compounds is an open secret.
What part of that do you have a problem with?
Comment by Christie Keith — May 11, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
Who you working for?
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
Christie … everyone … I made a mistake in mentioning that this person has a job in the pet-food industry.
I’ve now talked to this person, and s/he is very upset, a pet-lover just as we are.
So, please … forgive me my error of judgment and let this person be. S/he really did come here for information, and to try to help.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 11, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
To Lablover:
I don’t believe anyone here thinks the pet food companies tried to poison our pets on purpose, and I think most are upset at the FDA and then too the importers for not doing at least better visual inspections on these tainted ingredients.
Acutally it’s been my personal experience that feeding anger only makes it worse, but then again none of my pets died, and I was pretty upset when I discovered that NB was using ingredients not listed on their packages - as I was using NB.
Recently, I took my four year old Red Dobie to the vet for blood work and urine tests and he is fine - by the grace of God he is fine. I thought he had been poisoned too by toxic food.
Sometimes it is difficult to accept the challenges in life - our pets die and we die and sometimes even our best efforts can’t stop the tragic. And it takes a brave soul to live a good life. I wish I were braver sometimes and I think you hurt too over this. I don’t blame you and what part of ourselves we blame for not doing better, I only hope we learn to forgive our failings so all of us can go on to live the good life and love our pets and become a good steward of God’s animal kingdom. Go in peace.
Comment by Linda — May 11, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
IMO, absolutely you can come here as a concerned owner of pets - that’s what everyone here is. Please share your concerns about your pets (or pets in general) and we’ll see what we can do to help.
Comment by slt — May 11, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
Lablover, I wonder if you have any sick or dead pets from the actual pet food recall? I have had sick pets from various illnesses thru their lives and then I have had a cat die from eating the poison food. It is totally different. So while I dont agree at all with people threatening anyone period whether they work for pet food companies or FDA, etc, Im not sure you can understand what its like to actually have been the one to feed your pet the poison food and then find out they died from it cutting their life short….and I dont know what pet food company you work for, but to be honest with you, the people I spoke with at Nutro were not helpful at all and in fact you could tell they were in damage control probably advised by their attorneys. Nutro would not listen to pet owners that had tried to tell them along time before the 3-16 recall that their food was bad, then they wouldnt listen to pet owners trying to tell them certain can foods were bad (taking a lady & her vet to prove it by having it tested on their own). So while you say you see both sides, these are the two sides I see: My pet dying from eating poison food and no one from Nutro stepping up to the plate and doing the right thing. No honesty, no straight-forwardeness, nothing but deception and cover-up.
Comment by Sandi K — May 11, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
Well people who work in the Pet Food Industry may be enraged with the Chinese but it might help to take a closer look at the people you work for also. As in those at the top.
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
“I understand you’re working through tears, but have you ever stopped to think about the people who work in the industry and also have to work through tears?”
Until you mentioned it, lablover, no I had not. Perhaps if more like you had been able to share, I would have sooner. Please try and understand that all of us are scared, worried sick or even worse, living through the indescribable pain of a recent pet companion’s death that’s difficult for some to not feel guilty for having (inadvertantly) caused.
Many of us haven’t been ourselves for weeks. I hate this entire recall mess and just want it over. I especially hate what it’s done to all of us.
Comment by Ally — May 11, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
Quote:
anyway, it’s too bad someone can’t come here as a concerned owner of pets without the hate.
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
———-end quote
lablover,
it took guts for you to come back, I’ll give you that.
I don’t know if you work for a pet food company or some governmental agency, and I have no way of knowing your job description.
Regardless, for me, it is hard to understand that someone who actually works in the pet food industry had no knowledge, not an inkling, on what was/is going on there.
The first time I started acquiring knowledge about the ways how the pet food industry does business was when one of my cats became suddenly desperately sick and almost died …. and a few days later the first recall came out.
Since then I learned more about the pet food industry than I ever wanted to know, about the way they conduct business, asses risks and about their spin doctors.
Now let’s assume that you work somewhere in that field (and your first postings and questions hint to that) my question is: if you knew only a quarter of what I know now - why on earth did you feed your pets that stuff?
I assume that your story about your sick dog is true - if so, I dearly hope he gets better.
What is the vet saying, and how do you feed him now?
Comment by MaKo — May 11, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
Good point lablover. (and Gina- thanks for apologizing).
Comment by Gayle — May 11, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
OK Im confused. If lablover isnt working for a pet food company is this statment just an assumption then by her or him? “how would you like to go home tonight and have hate-voice-mail that your kids hear because they go to the answering machine first? how would you like to be escorted to your car because of people coming up to you at your place of work (when you had nothing to do with this?)? how would you like to be told you will burn in hell for killing their pet?”
Comment by Sandi K — May 11, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
“I know how this could have happened when everyone thinks there was no way it could have”
yup, nobody is inspecting the crap coming in from China. and then you have companies hiding their names behind the FDA’s skirt.
many of us see it from both sides also. we see what the big corps and government are doing, and it’s effect. i’m glad you know how this could have happened, so why wasn’t it stopped?
Comment by straybaby — May 11, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
I haven’t seen any hatred here on this site.
Anger yes. And I mean Piss*d.
As in people want to see some Pet Food Industry Insiders go to JAIL.
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
Comment by Sandi K — May 11, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
Heck if I worked in the Pet Food Industry I’d have turned in my resignation on March 20.
Good Bye!
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
Lablover;
I gather that you probably work for one of the pet food companies and are not a dept head, lead scientist or higher up.
We are angry that our pets have died or are sick because some CEO’s and Bd of Directors felt profit margin and bonuses were more impt than life.
I feel sorry for you because those CEO’s and Bd. of Directors are hiding behind locked doors with security people while the rank and card file members are just trying to eck out a living to feed their families and are bearing the brunt. And anyone who works for a big corporation knows - most times information is not shared with hourly employees. So I see where you are coming from. However, if you held a job that allowed you to know the information that what a company was doing could maim or kill - than I have no compasion for you.
I remember reading here back in late March that plant employes at the Emporium plant were feeding dented food cans to their pets. The company gave them those as perks. They didn’t know it would kill their pets too. It has to be worse for them working for a company that killed their own pet. They were just hard working people trying to feed their families.
I think if we take our anger out on lablover we are forgetting who really should bear our anger. I would not be surprised if pet food companies aren’t monitoring this list just to find out if employees are squealing on them. So I will cut you some slack.
However, if you are here to find out info. for your company, or if you are some bigwig. You deserve to hear the anger of pet parents who have lost and are caring for sick pets. And, I hope the lawsuits hit hard.
Katie
Comment by Katie — May 11, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
RE Comment by straybaby @ May 11, 2007 @ 12:21 pm: “actually Cynthia, they could have just LOOKED at it!
http://www.labservices.uoguelph.ca/urgent.cfm “
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was thinking about what FDA has now said - that the contaminated product was actually flour, not glutens, - and wondered how flour could be mistaken for gluten. So I looked again at the pix of gluten that were posted by U of Guelp (Thx for the link straybaby!). Gee whiz, Ollie, *neither one* looks like flour to me - they are too granular. So maybe there IS a 3rd (yet to be unidentified) Chinese company involved, and *that* one shipped contaminated flour while the other 2 shipped contaminated gluten.
ps) lablover, I don’t think it’s hate; I think it’s just that everyone is so freakin’ scared, confused, and frustrated that tempers flare easily. IMHO, in order to make a difference & take on the pet food industry greed-machine, concerned and committed people must stay calm, focused, and develop thick skins. Really thick skins. Hang in; it’s gonna be a ride ….
Comment by K9Rescue — May 11, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
No Steve, you are one of the good people on this earth so you would have turned in your resignation back in December when most pet food companies were probably already aware something was happening and the cover-ups were beginning…..
Comment by Sandi K — May 11, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
Comment by Sandi K — May 11, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
Oh yes that to. If I was a executive and knew this stuff was going, no inspections, shady deals and dirty secrets I would have cleaned out my desk and said, Adios! No Thanks!
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 3:19 pm
Some people confuse anger for hatred. Some people confuse kindness for weakness.
It’s all in the mind of the beholder I suppose.
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
I hate what it has done to everyone as well. No one (who’s smart) can walk through a store without questioning every purchase for them and their pets.
My short answer to mako’s and straybaby’s questions is…. it took the FDA too long to put the pieces together. With dozens of brokers involved, dozens of pet food plants and manufacturers…. by time they figured out one piece of the puzzle, notified those companies that were affected, then in turn those companies, notified their companies, etc… it took too long.
I think when this all first broke (rat-poison then melamine, but at that time only in the wheat gluten), most people in the industry thought it was a isolated incident… no one had a clue how far it would spread, and the FDA was ill-equipped to have a notification process in place.
By time one company handed over all the necessary documents and the FDA did their part… important time had passed before the next round of victims was notified. Some companies thought they were safe only to be notified a month after the original recalls that they were not. I have not seen evidence that any american companies knew to the sham.
The chinese know what procedures that are used to analyze the products. they knew the types of tests as they get the same results as feedback on their product.
As for my pup… she was sick for a week, and turns out was unrelated to the recall, but the feeling of dred while waiting on test results, was horrible.
Each person that works at these companies has a face, a family, and most of them pets…. so the next time someone decides to call up one of these companies and hex them or condemn them to hell, maybe they should step back and think about who they are talking to on the other line first and their role in this.
If lashing out at me makes you feel better, go ahead… If I don’t post more tonight, I’m not hiding, but I have family to take care of.
I’m not even sure I should post under this name anymore or post period.
I wish I had answers that could make the tears stop, bring pet-members of the family back, confidence regained, and the integrity of many of these companies restored.
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
Hey, this is a major fiasco of international proportions. The fact is things that are truly worthwhile in life never come easy. It’s terrible it’s had to come to this.
It’s a giant wakeup call thats going to determine the destiny of this Country and everyone else. In my opinion things are so far out of control with this Global Free Trade experiment we have no choice but to SLAM ON THE BRAKES and save ourselves. The Capitalists could care less.
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Good sleuthing Christie! I have been saying for nearly two months that pet treats have been seriously absent from the recall. Only Pup corn and jerky. So many of the treats are far crappier than pet food. Tons of junk and fillers.
How can it be that more treats have not be “contaminated”?
Nancy
Comment by nancy — May 11, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Well said Steve. I dont hate anyone. I am for sure mad but even more just plain ol sick over what happened to our girl. I will never be able to erase that memory of her last moments with us, the pain she was having, the gasping for breath, the seizures and then thankfully finally the coma that even with that she was fighting to stay alive and with us. Our cat did not want to leave us nor this earth, she was in no way ready and it showed clearly in the end. I want answers and I want everyone involved to have responsiblity to the pet owners and I want rules, legislation whatever it takes to make sure this can never happen again to any pet nor their pet moms & dads. What I dont want is side-stepping questions and business as usual which, if we dont fight, will happen. They definately still want all of us to just go away so they can keep on with cheap poison ingredients and no accountability.
Comment by Sandi K — May 11, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
steve, buying local and fresh is good for environment and obvious good for the family. This is a disaster of the FDA on epic proportions.
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
And lablover what are you going to do when in order to compete globally your employer suddenly decides to move to China or somewhere else leaving you holding the bag with no job, a mortgage, a family, debt. Or in 15 years offers your kids $1.15 an hour working in a plant somewhere with no worker safety, benefits, or anything here in the U.S. Don’t think that can’t happen here. Because thats exactly where it’s heading.
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 3:33 pm
RE: three products
I checked out my flour and vital wheat gluten today (I bake bread and products come from King Arthur) they are not alike at all.
With dogs and cats having gotten sick on dry foods that have not gotten recalled, there must be other contaminants out there…
And, wasn’t it mentioned that the second co. who supplied fish feed also supplied to pet food companies?
I still think there are more revelations to come.
Lablover: I am so glad to hear that your pup is okay and hope you continue posting, I’m sure you have lots to share and can help us understand this mess.
Katie
Comment by Katie — May 11, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
The World is Flat is one of the best reads and one of the most eye-opening books I’ve ever read on the subject. though, I think if we talked, it’d take this thread OT ;)
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
what you are missing lablover, is the fact these companies are products that carry THEIR NAME. it is THEIR responsibility to KNOW what is in their product, it’s QUALITY and ORIGINS. just how do you explain company names not being released? or companies not jumping forward to say wait, hold off on our product while we test? or best yet, MENU FOODS NOT ISSUING A RECALL FOR 3 WEEKS?! and isn’t Nutro saying they haven’t had any reported illnesses?!
THOSE are problems that lay solely at the feet on the BRANDS, imo. THAT is the issues i have. aside from not one person who handled how many HUNDREDS of TONS of this crap along the way noticing the OBVIOUS chunks of
foreign substance in it . . .
Comment by straybaby — May 11, 2007 @ 3:37 pm
Lablover,
Until I spoke with two incredibly caring women at American Nutrition a few weeks ago I was also guilty of forgetting that even ‘bad’ companies can have good people working for them. Since then I’ve tried to remember that.
And having worked at a ‘bad’ company before, I remember all too well how much it sucks being in the middle.
Not saying you work at a ‘bad’ company, just sayin…
And threatening rank and file employees is inexcusable. (CEOs of said ‘bad’ companies… well, that I can understand.)
Comment by Kim — May 11, 2007 @ 3:37 pm
OK well maybe I do at least really dislike someone, Mr PFI, Ekedahl…(-: No not really hate coz I dont know him (thank goodness) but Im sure none of you can tell he really drives me nuts…..(-; Everytime Christie or Gina o Steve or anyone posts anything new with the name of Ekedahl, I just groan. Aaargh, OK Im already going into overload just typing the name. Got to go
Comment by Sandi K — May 11, 2007 @ 3:38 pm
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
Well let me tell you the Pet Food Industry has a lot of explaining to do.
These people have been marketing their brands in such a deceptive manner it’s practically criminal. You can’t imagine the surprise Americans felt when they suddenly discovered their private brand was produced by a Menu Foods Factory instead of Grandmas Shady Valley Natural Home Cookin’ Kitchen.
Hey! They’ve been caught with their pants down there’s no denying it.
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 3:38 pm
Lablover
Apparently I am the bad guy here now, so I am sorry I lashed out. The funny thing is that I am normally the most fair minded easy going person, and I pride myself on seeing “both sides” in most circumstances. I don’t hate you, I don’t hate too many people, although lately that list is growing. I do realize that the normal people in these industries had no idea, they are just feeding their families. But there really is some true evil at work here, and probably also a lot of plain stupidity. These companies in China who adulterate food, the CEO’s who knew it’s going on, and hold off on a recall to sell their stock. Companies that add products to the food they are manufacturing without the companies permission. We could all go on and on (and have….)
I don’t know why I can’t stop crying today. E Hamilton’s posts got to me for some reason. And I still have to call my patient and tell her she has breast cancer. I think I am on pain overload. But I was wrong to lash out. Think it’s time to step away from the computer, if you know what I mean.
Comment by Joyce — May 11, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
All of these companies purposely spiked their foods. Just like that company purposely put e.coli in it’s spinach. Killing it’s customers and bringing on lawsuits is the best thing for these companies…. don’t you think?
this statement makeS absolutley no sense, why would these companies want to commit suicide by killing their customers?…that would be like myself sending out an email to all my dialup customers saying, HEY I WANT YOU ALL TO SWITCH TO HIGHSPEED AND PUT ME OUT OF BUISNESS…scratches head.
Comment by Micheal — May 11, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Comment by lablover — May 11, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
Hey what you don’t understand since you haven’t been posting here long is everyone has dropped their political, cultural, and other beliefs and barriers to “purpose” to fight for a common cause.
Think about it. Then get back with us.
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Joyce - {{{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}}}}}
And yeah, take a break. It’ll all be here when you get back.
Comment by Kim — May 11, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
i find this interesting. the first comment in the blue insert about setting up an emergency fund which was applauded but never happened:
http://www.petfoodindustry-dig.....?u1=friend
Comment by straybaby — May 11, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
Comment by straybaby — May 11, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
Great idea! An emergency fund! My Kid wants a BMW for graduation. And the second vacation home is in closing.
Applause
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
Comment by Jay — May 11, 2007 @ 12:36 pm
Jay - try searching on Google, then click on the “Cached” link at the end of each description, right before the “Similar pages” link. Not all searches are cached by Google, but most are. For example, if you type “melamine” into http://www.google.com, the first result will be “Wikipedia…” (in the US, Google works differently from different countries, depending upon your IP address). If you click on the main link, then go back, and check on the “Cached” link, you may see differences, because this is a hot topic and the pages are constantly being updated.
If you find anything, make sure to save it to a folder on your hard drive, because Google’s caches update constantly.
Comment by Palomino — May 11, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
lablover:
My short answer to mako’s and straybaby’s questions is…. it took the FDA too long to put the pieces together. With dozens of brokers involved, dozens of pet food plants and manufacturers…. by time they figured out one piece of the puzzle, notified those companies that were affected, then in turn those companies, notified their companies, etc… it took too long.
That would mean that everything I learned is completely wrong: My understanding was that the time line was as follows:
a) pets die (probably December/Jnuary 2007)
b) Iams get complaints (January?)
c) Iams turns to Menu Food INCOME fund
d) Menu Food starts testing, presumably around the middle of February 2007)
e) MF test animals start dying around end of February
f) Menu Food informs the FDA around the middle of March 2007
g) First Recall: March 16th, 2007
It was *not* the FDA that instigated the recall - they have been informed by Menu Food who in turn has been pressured by Iams, to the best of my knowledge.
How long animals were dying and people complaining before Iams acted: no idea.
How come that the test animals for Menu Food died so quickly? Within 10 days or a week? Did they know what they were looking for? Did they feed especially heavily laced feed to replicate the symptoms and outcome? No idea.
What with that time lag between the first test animals dying and Menu Food informing the FDA? More than 2 weeks?
TWO WEEKS?
What with that ‘horrible coincidence’ of the CFO of a company whose test animals are dying exactly at the time when he sells 45% of his shares? No idea. Do I believe in coincidence?
Oh, I forgot to mention that my cats got hit *during that time frame*. One of them *almost* died on March 15th. Guess what: while he was on IV, I fed him his (*&%%$$#&) Iams!
How the FDA and their assembly of spin doctors acted and reacted I will leave out for now.
How they protected the BUSINESSES and - to this day - refuse to do their (juicy expression) *duty* of informing the people (taxpayer, iow employer) I will not even touch.
How angry am I? Enough to eradicate the companies involved together with that sorry excuse of a governmental agency. Watch me.
Am I convinced that they are now, 8 weeks after the first recall, coming clean and let me know what the heck is still going on, who else is involved and what is still hiding in the bushes?
If I were not that angry I would have a good laugh at that - together with all the other people here on this board and on the other boards.
After weeks and weeks and weeks of a seriously sick cat and lies, smoke and mirror, outright falsifications and weak excuses from the companies/agencies responsible for that Schlammassel the word ‘mistrust’ is an euphemism.
Comment by MaKo — May 11, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
Excellent. Thank you for the tip.
Comment by Jay — May 11, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
lablover -
From one lab lover to another if nothing else, share our fears, heartache and ideas for change, with those at your company who have the power to facilitate change while doing everything they can to ensure this never happens again.
Please.
Do it so trusting love bugs like this one, can live a long natural
life:
http://tinyurl.com/2qfog9
Comment by Ally — May 11, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
Comment by nancy — May 11, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
“I have been saying for nearly two months that pet treats have been seriously absent from the recall. Only Pup corn and jerky.”
Pupcorn hasn’t been recalled. It was shown on some network news story, but it wasn’t one of the recalled Sunshine Mills products. I was worried, because my dogs love them, but I called the company and was assured Pupcorn wasn’t recalled. And there’s no gluten or RPC in the list of ingredients.
If anyone knows otherwise, please let me know ASAP. Thanks!
Comment by Debra — May 11, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
Comment by Ally — May 11, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
Steve, Ally, others. I may be able to make “Itchmo” and any other banned sites “available again” in China. There are ways of getting around the Great Firewall, and I am willing to do it at this point. Any interest?
Comment by Palomino — May 11, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
Comment by Palomino — May 11, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
Unless making the truth available for all to witness is now illegal I don’t see any problem.
I mean what they going say? “Hey what the hell are you doing boy! You want to upset our investors?!”
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
Ok, sounds good. What other sites are banned? We’ll also need to email several contacts in China to tell them where to look. I’ve never tried this before, so I’m not positive it will work, but I guess it’s worth a shot.
Comment by Palomino — May 11, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Comment by Palomino — May 11, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Copy Bill Gates on that. Say. . “Here’s your chance to prove your loyalty to country dude.
Are you with us?”
Woot!
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
Comment by Palomino — May 11, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
Cool Palomino! I dont suppose you have any other tricks up your sleeve or magic voo-doo you can perform, do you? How bout making Ekedahl disappear into a genie bottle….
Comment by Sandi K — May 11, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
Palomino, as far as I am concerned, everyone deserves the chance to see the truth. I won’t advise as to activities that are not legal. But if doesn’t get you or sites like Pet Connection, Itchmo et al in trouble, engage.
Comment by Ally — May 11, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
Make it so!
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
LOLOL @ Steve.
Wondered if someone would catch that.
Comment by Ally — May 11, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
Lablover, why don’t you take the evening off and then with Gina’s knowledge/blessing come back later with another user name. Please continue posting. To be most valuable this type of site truly needs to have a variety of opinions, insights and interests from a variety of people from a variety of walks of life who see things from different angles. I think you have tried to bring that to the table. I still have no idea who you are. Others posting on the site have not needed to identify themselves as to their nationality or profession; lawyers, doctors, ballerinas, pro athletes, janitors, factory workers or teachers….., who knows who we all are? If people love animals and have been affected by this recall then they should be welcome to post and share. Just my opinion.
HOWEVER, if you are Duane Eckedahl I rescind what I just said :)
Comment by elizabeth R. — May 11, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
RE Comment by straybaby — May 11, 2007 @ 3:49 pm:
“i find this interesting. the first comment in the blue insert about setting up an emergency fund which was applauded but never happened:
http://www.petfoodindustry-dig…..?u1=friend “
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There’s some VERY interesting reading in the PFI mag. Let the link load, read the article, then click on the back arrows.
Re: a fund to help folks - It’s a great idea and it has been posted elsewhere (at Itchmo??) about a setting up a private fund. Maybe IMOM (www.imom.org) or Pasado’s (www.pasados.org)or a similar broad-based org that has no private agenda could spearhead it.
Comment by K9Rescue — May 11, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
Who’s Duane Eckedahl?
Comment by Palomino — May 11, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
Comment by Ally — May 11, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
Apparently these insiders in the PFI live by the The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition.
* 1. Once you have their money, you never give it back.[1][2]
* 2. The best deal is the one that brings the most profit.[3]
* 3. Never spend more for an acquisition than you have to.[4]
* 4. A woman wearing clothes is like a man in the kitchen.[3]
* 6. Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity.[1] or Never allow family to stand in the way of profit.[5]
* 7. Keep your ears open.[6]
* 8. Small print leads to large risk.[7]
* 9. Opportunity plus instinct equals profit.[8]
* 10. Greed is eternal.[9][10]
* 11. Even if it’s free, you can always buy it cheaper.[3]
* 12. Anything worth selling is worth selling twice.[3]
* 13. Anything worth doing is worth doing for money.[7]
* 16. A deal is a deal.[11]
* 17. A contract is a contract is a contract. But only between Ferengi.[12]
* 18. A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all.[2]
* 19. Satisfaction is not guaranteed.[7]
* 21. Never place friendship above profit.[13]
* 22. A wise man can hear profit in the wind.[13]
* 23. Nothing is more important than your health. Except for your money.[5]
* 27. There is nothing more dangerous than an honest businessman.[7]
Comment by Steve — May 11, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
Elizabeth … I think that’s an excellent idea!
Palo … Duane Eckedahl is head of the Pet Food Institute.
As for donating to imom or some such … let me think about how we can do this.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 11, 2007 @ 4:31 pm
It might get me in trouble with the Chinese mafia, but it certainly isn’t against US law.
Comment by Palomino — May 11, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
Do not know if this helps at all, but, took our kitty to vet today. One week ago, he had the “Melamine” crystals in is urine along with blood. After one week of sub-q fluids, our vet no longer sees these crystals in his urine. Thank goodness, and all of that teeeequillla!
Comment by elliott — May 11, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
Sorry, I couldn’t get tinyurl to catch it, but this time it worked.
Comment by Kathi — May 11, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
Ok I just reread my objectionable post (yes I was going to back away, and yes I promise to). Sorry if I sounded a little “postal” I am actually amazed that someone hasn;t gone “postal” over this.
I must either have the dreaded PFI (pet food insanity) or PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). :>) I will be disconnected tonight, I promise. Think I will have a beer or 2. Called my patient…………
Comment by Joyce — May 11, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
This might have been metioned already: Wal-Mart reported sales dropped 3.5% in April, worst in 28 years. Partially because of the pet-food recall. Partially? If you buy your pet food at another store now, or not at all, you probably don’t shop there as often. That’s why the shelves look so full of pet food at the stores. You have to believe they’re all hurting including the manufacturers.
Comment by Nabiya — May 11, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
E. Hey - sure have been thinking of you all day.
Comment by elliott — May 11, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
I was wishing for a memorial wall for the animals.
After all they did give their lives to warn us.
It’s historic and a monumental time in our lives to recognize the path we’re on and given the chance to change.
Comment by Ann H — May 11, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
Ann
I actually was thinking of that yesterday. Iwas thinking of a traveling exhibit with all of our recalled cans of food, pictures of our pets, and a timeline of sorts. It would certainly give us something to do with the pet food repositories that we have of all the food we would feed and can’t return.
Comment by Joyce — May 11, 2007 @ 5:03 pm
Well, setup failed on this machine, so I doubt I’ll get it running tonight. I’ll try again later when this machine isn’t doing so many things. Is Itchmo the only thing blocked?
Comment by Palomino — May 11, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Kim had put up petfoodindustry-digital @ 12:32 pm on gluten feeds, corn.
I started browsing thru the site and came across this co. I think it’s been mentioned once before a while back. Don’t recall why.
Midwest Ingredients, Inc.
“Our de-packaging plant.”
http://tinyurl.com/3alk24
It appears they de-package pet food, then resell that as ingredients for pet food.
Their AD on petfoodindustry-digital (under gluten feeds, corn) site says: “Specializing in de-packing pet foods, processing regrinds and reselling of obsolete ingredients.”
On their own site, they also buy “near” date. I guess that’s the obsolete products that were near expiration.
Also “click” Buy & Sell.
*** This may or may not have posted a few minutes ago when I had a problem trying to get tinyurl to catch it.
Comment by Kathi — May 11, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
The tinyurl link works but it doesn’t show a “snap” image.
Comment by Kathi — May 11, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
Joyce, Wonder if any cities would let us make murals? Any artists hanging around?
Comment by Ann H — May 11, 2007 @ 5:28 pm
Just got around to reading all the posts on this thread.
Me thinks some**** is trying to re-write history or timeline.
Just me thoughts.
Comment by Kathi — May 11, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
I was just cking through Google News to see if there’s a new recall and found an article that seemed promising about a ND hulled barley processor. He was encouraged that companies, esp. Diamond, were issuing specs for US grown product for pet food. It’s better news than melamine spiked product, but…pets still in a second class food chain.
“Hulled barley is also starting to be used more and more in human food, and some have asked why Brag didn’t move in that direction instead of the pet food line. The reason for that decision is cost.”
“If we were producing food grade hulled barley it would have to be so clean in here that you could eat off the floor,” he explained. “I really think we are going to see enough demand just from the pet food industry, as more pet owners realize the healthy benefits of things such as beta-glucans in barley, which help reduced cholesterol levels. Most families view their pets as a family member and are concerned about their diet as well.”
Here’s the article if anyone wants to read it:
http://www.farmandranchguide.c.....news10.txt
Comment by Maureen — May 11, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
Actually, over on Itchmo, I have been trying to put together a memorial quilt.
I haven’t had much of a response.
Comment by carpepokemon — May 11, 2007 @ 6:07 pm
Carpepokemon, maybe the pain is too fresh right now?
Comment by Ann H — May 11, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
1st. their was 2little communists with a dream?
“we shal make our fortune selling unused chemicals to the needy people ” then their was 2more? and soon! it was a industry! an it spread
beyond it’s creator mao’s wildest dreams?
(now my head is exploding) you’v got to be kidding? only 2 ? what has fda been smoking..
Comment by johnypaycut — May 11, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
Christie, This is kind of thin evidence to go on, but I found this article posted today by the Namibian in which they mention both the US and South Africa being supplied by the same two companies…. At least, that is the way it reads to me.
http://www.namibian.com.na/200.....6D986.html
Chinese execs arrested over tainted pet food
SHANGHAI - China’s food and drug safety problems may be reaching crisis levels.
Authorities also announced the detention of managers from two companies linked to contaminated pet food that killed dogs and cats in North America and South Africa.
“China’s government body responsible for overseeing food safety said it had
detained an unspecified number of managers from Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co.Ltd.and Binzhou Futian Biology Technology Co.Ltd.”
Comment by Marilyn — May 11, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
Comment by elliott — May 11, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
What were you feeding??
Comment by DukenCC — May 11, 2007 @ 8:33 pm
I lost Binky to this recall. It broke my heart. I don’t and will never trust them again.
I make my own food now.
Comment by Binky's Dad — May 11, 2007 @ 9:54 pm
Thanks, Marilyn… I have emailed Royal Canin SA and am trying to follow up on that, thanks!
Comment by Christie Keith — May 12, 2007 @ 12:06 am
quote:
I was wishing for a memorial wall for the animals. (snip)
Comment by Ann H — May 11, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
—————————-End quote
My memorial wall would be to see go Menu Food and a few others go belly-up.
My memorial wall would be a real reform to the way food (pet and human!) is being labelled, supervised and treated.
My memorial wall would be a changed attitude from the people of the USA towards their food.
My memorial wall would be that said people demand more accountability from their government, as well as from business.
*That* would be a lasting memorial.
Comment by MaKo — May 12, 2007 @ 7:05 am
Well, it took a long time to work my way down this topic, there’s a lot I want to say but I’m just tired.
Comment by MaKo — May 11, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
Since our cats, one of which is surviving Renal Failure, ate contaminated foods only a couple days a week, and after reading the study about sheep and melamine that was linked to from a topic here, I find nothing unusual in the taste test animals going so quickly.
Our cat may be sick for other reasons, we have no proof, no empties from January because there was no recall yet, and no reason to suspect the food. Our evidence is circumstance.
Comment by Joyce — May 11, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
There are a few things that make me want to apply Baseball Bat Therapy, I just want to be sure it is applied in the right place.
But honestly the stories that make me more angry are the pet owners like the one in the Vet Speaks Up topic a couple days ago, they provoke more voilent thoughts in me than executive indecision. By now everyone should be aware there is a problem, and if they have a pet that is near death right now and cannot be bothered to do anything, they deserve the same death.
Lablover: You can check my posts here from months ago, I’ve found the Over-The-Top anger by some people here distasteful, and asked to make sure when people are wanting to ‘wipe them out’ that they get the right THEM…
I don’t think I’m the only one here interested in your insights. I didn’t need to know where you were posting from, I still don’t, and am just a little dismayed at the site operators trying to point you out.
I know Menu, Hills, and Nutro did not want to make my cat sick. But I also know they delayed releasing information that there was a problem with some of their products. Back in January I am not so sure they were aware yet. There is plenty of blame to go around. Menu didn’t sell poisen deliberately, none of the manufacturers did, but Menu clearly delayed once they knew there was a problem.
I can’t think of too many places less plesant than a Chinese prison. I suspect some of the people who are really responsible are getting some of what they deserve. It couldn’t happen to better people.
There is still a little blame to spread here at home.
I said before that someone shoveled the contaminated product into the vat, that someone (based on what we knew at the time) could probably see that something was wrong. Did those people say something? Who stopped the information if they did?
I also said that, though I am avionics and not pet food, that when this sort of quality problem arises in any manufacturing process there is someone near the base of the pyramid that knows about it. They say something, or they do not. Somewhere someone dismisses the problem. The executives who need to make a decision do not get the information they need, and the problem catches them without warning.
IF SOMEONE dismissed the problem at a low level, they have a clear share of blame. When someone knew there was a problem, even not knowing what it was, and they delayed releasing information they, too, have a clear share of blame.
There are also casualties, the people near the ones who carry blame may find targets on their backs, too. Perhaps you find yourself in that place.
It is easy for people in anger to say “if you knew something like this could happen, why didn’t you stop it?”
Knowing something can happen does not make it possible to prevent it. Knowing does not make any of who, what, where, when, or even why clear enough to prevent. Anyone who pauses to think before shooting off knows this is so. Everyone has lived this in some way, something they did not fix that broke…
Anger makes people act out. The internet allows them to do so in an environment of public privacy. Big words from little people looking to lash out where they can.
Share your thoughts and feelings. I think a lot of people can benefit, and some need to more than others.
Comment by steve a — May 12, 2007 @ 10:09 pm
lablover. I know that some of the pet food people are probably upset too, but frankly if your company hadn’t been so cheap and so greedy, none of this would have happened.
Comment by Cynthia — May 14, 2007 @ 7:12 am
Let’s not get this started again. lablover is not in a position to make any decisions — just a normal animal lover with a job, trying to get by.
And s/he came here to help and be helped.
Move on, please.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 14, 2007 @ 7:20 am