Pet food recall: Contaminated corn gluten supplier named
By Christie Keith
May 16, 2007
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Nearly all the focus on melamine, cyanuric acid, and other contamination in imported food has been on the ingredient labeled wheat gluten, purchased by ChemNutra from the Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. Ltd., and the ingredient labeled rice protein concentrate, purchased by Wilbur-Ellis from the Binzhou Futian Biology Technology Co. Ltd., both in China.
But there is a third ingredient, corn gluten, which was known to have been contaminated with melamine and other chemicals. It was sold to Royal Canin South Africa, where it was used in the manufacture of pet food.
After dogs began falling ill and dying as a result of eating the food, Royal Canin SA recalled a number of its products, and stated it would no longer use any ingredients of Chinese origin in their foods. The government of South Africa also stopped imports of Chinese glutens in response to the discovery.
News reports indicated only that Royal Canin SA had obtained the contaminated gluten from a “third party trader” in South Africa, but did not identify that trader, nor name the company in China from which it was purchased.
In response to my inquiries, Barry Hundley, executive director of the Pet Food Industry Association of South Africa, today wrote:
I cannot release the name of the South African Third Party Trader but can confirm for you that the melamine spiked Corn Gluten (Prime 60% protein) was purchased from Binzhou Futian Biology Technology Co. Ltd in Shandong China.
Binzhou Futian Biology Technology is the source of contamination in pet food and fish feed in at least three countries now: the United States, Canada, and South Africa. (Some of the more recently recalled foods were brands sold in Europe, but it’s unclear if they were manufactured there or not.)
While both pet food and fish feed contamination in the US and Canada can be traced to the ingredient labeled “rice protein concentrate,” the South African product was sold as, and presumably was, corn gluten.
[more after the jump]
The Chinese government confirmed Monday that both companies have been shut down, and the managers detained. The FDA said in a media teleconference yesterday that a team of investigators has returned from China, but they wouldn’t state when a report of that investigation would be available.
At a joint FDA/USDA briefing on May 10, Walter Batts of the FDA’s Office of International Programs said the investigators were getting “very good cooperation” from Chinese authorities, saying, “We visited the two facilities but there’s essentially nothing to be found in that they are currently closed down, not operating. The officials are being detained. Our investigators have not interviewed them directly, and that’s all I can report on that at this time.”
David Barbosa of the New York Times pressed for more details:
Can I just ask whether they found anything at these two firms? There have been some reports that buildings were destroyed or that things have been cleaned up. If they are getting cooperation, why aren’t they getting access to the detained officials or being able to survey those facilities on their own?
Batts responded, “Well, as I mentioned, the facilities, there’s essentially nothing, as they have determined, that is available to be seen at the facilities. They’ve been closed down, machinery dismantled, nothing to really get access to.”
A little while later, during the same media briefing, Brian Hartman of ABC News asked:
You say you’re getting very good cooperation in China, but you get to the factories and there’s nothing there. You can’t interview the people who have been detained. And you couldn’t get visas into the country. I just wonder if you could be more clear on what they are cooperating on.
[....]
You said a couple times here that you’re very happy with the cooperation in China, and I guess this is for Mr. Batts, and, but it sounded to me like what you’re saying to us about what’s happening in China is you’re getting to a factory that’s been dismantled and there’s nothing to look at. You can’t do any tests on anything. You can’t talk to the people who have been detained. And you had trouble even getting visas into the country. So I’m just wondering, what is it that you’re not telling us about how cooperative China is being?
Batts reiterated that the Chinese government had cooperated, and said, “We are satisfied in that they have shared with us documents that they have obtained and anything they found during the investigation. The fact that facilities may have been closed or shut down by the companies and there wasn’t much to see is just a fact and not necessarily to be blamed on lack of cooperation by the Chinese authorities.”
While corn gluten from China is on the list of import items being held for special processing by the FDA, there have been no reports of contaminated corn gluten in the United States. However, the FDA’s David Acheson stated Tuesday that the FDA is not testing protein concentrates of vegetable origin being imported from China, but relying on third party inspections and documentation obtained by the importers themselves.
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Trusting 3rd party import inspections killed and limited the lives of our dear pets. I have no reason to ever trust any such inspections now or in the future. I hope the news of this spreads to every home in the country and the FDA finds out just how unhappy Americans will be with this decision.
Comment by Rose L — May 16, 2007 @ 8:42 pm
Where is Gomer Pyle when you need him — “Surprize, Surprize, Surprise”.
Comment by michelle — May 16, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
“FDA’s David Acheson stated Tuesday that the FDA is not testing protein concentrates of vegetable origin being imported from China, but relying on third party inspections and documentation obtained by the importers themselves.”
I knew Acheson was a plant by the Administration to confuse, distort, and foster trade with China.
Comment by Gary — May 16, 2007 @ 8:57 pm
Need Input - anyone else??? Help, please.
Give me your thoughts and be concise.
Name 1-2 points you want the government to handle/change (politicians)
Name 1-2 points you want FDA/USDA, etc. to handle/change.
#1 question the press has yet to ask.
What do you want from the pet food companies.
Comment by Donna — May 16, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, guess what, it is a duck. They should be ashamed to talk like that….no offense to ducks however, they appear to be more intelligent than the FDA (Food Dummies Association.
Comment by Sindy — May 16, 2007 @ 9:26 pm
Wonder if the FDA can get traind sniffer dogs to find Melamine and Cynuric Acid? (would they even be willing to do it?)
That’s it, a new way to get shelter dogs adopted: train to sniff & locate melamine and cynuric acid in the family’s food supply! The latest way dogs can protect their home! Too bad it’s a fantasy.
Comment by Rose L — May 16, 2007 @ 9:32 pm
Acheson and his family should be forced to eat the foods that the FDA is still allowing into the U.S. from China. That would be the ultimate test. If they are so safe, and the FDA doesn’t want to bother with even testing them, them let Acheson and other employees of the FDA eat them first! What a farce!!!
Comment by John — May 16, 2007 @ 9:32 pm
FDA=F’ing Dumb Asses!
Comment by John — May 16, 2007 @ 9:34 pm
Attention Chinese readers and people with friends in China. If you have been having trouble keeping up with events in the Toxic Food Epidemic of 2007, and cannot get to sites like PetConnection and Itchmo, use the following URL to get through the great firewall of China:
http://www.MathBurger.com/
Please email this URL to friends with pets in China. They can use this URL to access sites which are blocked by the firewall. You can also sign up for email updates of the latest “circumventor” URLs at:
http://www.peacefire.org/circumventor/
Please cross post this message.
Comment by Palomino — May 16, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
D. Acheson - “Official Customs Food Tester,” FDA, BSA.
Comment by Palomino — May 16, 2007 @ 9:46 pm
From Goverment:
FDA: #1. Test imported protein concentrates for for Melamine and Cynaric Acid.
After one reject, trade is banned perminantly with that company. Period.
After 2 rejects in one month, imports of protein concentrates banned from entire country for 5 years. Melamine in food isn’t a natural occurance like bacteria etc. This is greed.
#1. GMP — Good Manifacturing Practices Certification stamp (little logo) on labels of products with imported ingreedents that meet American safety and quality standards and submit to random unscheduled inspections at any time without advanced warning.
(I know, 2 #1, but both important.)
For GMP info:
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/comp/gmp.html
…….
PRESS: Why the FDA is downplaying the toxicity of Melamine to the public yet warning all it’s agents about toxicity and not alloowing pregnant FDA women to test for Melamine?
Just 25g a day of Melamine will kill a healthy sheep in about 9 days— (maybe you can figure out a ? from that fact from AVMA)
please ignore spelling… in a hurry
Comment by Rose L — May 16, 2007 @ 10:04 pm
For Donna:
? FDA: What is the melamine Dry Matter Analysis of the kidneys of the chickens who ate the Melamine feed?
FDA: What is the cynuric acid DMA of the kidneys of the chickens who at the tainted pet food in their feed?
Don’t have it… why not?
Comment by Rose L — May 16, 2007 @ 10:45 pm
IT’S TIME TO IMPEACH ALL ELECTED AND SELECTED MEMBERS OF AND POLITICAL APPOINTEES IN THIS ADMINISTRATION, FROM THE TOP (Bush) DOWN AND START OVER FRESH, immediately, NOW … this is the only thing that will save our great nation from being pushed further into the crapper. It appears that we are close to the point of no return.
ARE THEY KIDDING??
Comment by Alexandra — May 16, 2007 @ 11:28 pm
RE: Comment by Gary — May 16, 2007 @ 8:57 pm “I knew Acheson was a plant by the Administration to confuse, distort, and foster trade with China.”
I really, really, really loathe shills. Do they really think we’re so dumb…….
Comment by Lynn — May 16, 2007 @ 11:36 pm
Barry Hundley from PFI - apparently you’ve been hanging around with Duane too long.
Do you REALLY think we’ll be satisfied with the Chinese supplier’s name? Uh-uh. We want the trader’s name, too. He’s the idiot that made it all happen so he’s just as culpable. I don’t buy this “trader’s are innocent” baloney. But then, you knew we’d rake the trader’s name over the coals, ergo you wouldn’t divulge it. Hmm, Wilbur-Ellis again? After all , he DOES have an ongoing relationship with the Chinese RPC supplier.
What I want to know is how the brokers are going to convince a manufacturer that a Chinese supplier has an impeccable reputation. Go on, try to convince ME you’ve got a Chinese supplier with excellent credentials and whose product is chemically clean. Give it your best shot. I dare you.
Comment by Lynn — May 16, 2007 @ 11:46 pm
There have been many good reporters posting stories, but I must say, Brian Hartman really gets my vote for asking the most pointed questions and phrasing them in a way where he makes it clear that he’s not buying what the government suits are saying. More power to you, Brian!
Comment by Lynn — May 16, 2007 @ 11:54 pm
Comment by Alexandra — May 16, 2007 @ 11:28
um, please don’t start at the top! look who’s next in line . . . ;)
we (pet owners/people who care) need to band together with the associations that are protecting our smaller farm/ranching operations. would also be nice to have a list of the politicians that have shown strong support in this area also. we need to stay on top of what’s going on in DC and continualy let them know we’re watching. also work on your state gov. i’m writing mine concerning the mela meats since some of the hogs were in NY. and will be asking my mayor to ban meats that came from contaminated farms. if he can ban trans fats . . . lol!~
Comment by straybaby — May 17, 2007 @ 12:00 am
“Just 25g a day of Melamine will kill a healthy sheep in about 9 days”
do we know the amounts in pet food? not percentages, but measurable amounts? and have they ever said what the *cut* of these were to the ‘flour substance’?
Comment by straybaby — May 17, 2007 @ 12:28 am
Isn’t the human body more similar to a sheep’s than a cat or a dog?
Comment by Tammy — May 17, 2007 @ 12:42 am
if i could get the answer to only one question, that question would be:
“what number, expressed in parts per billion, must be seen in tests before usda or fda will declare a melamine-contaminated food or meat unsafe to eat?”
that number has never been said. lots of stuff about what they can detect, what they have detected, what the safety factor is, absurd numbers for amounts of foods a person of a certain weight must eat to be at risk, but at no time has anyone one said, “if a test comes back with a concentration of more than XX parts per billion, it won’t be allowed in the food supply.”
what is that magic number?
Comment by pat — May 17, 2007 @ 3:11 am
Disappointing, but not surprising. Making a big drumroll and then announcing the source of the tainted corn gluten is sleight of hand to try to distract us while not really providing any new information.
Unlike a lot of folks here, I don’t think Acheson is a shill. I think he’s a middle manager who has been given a title and responsibility, but no authority to do anything…. a lot like the FDA itself, really. The only way information is going to come out is from continued pressure from people like us who want to know the truth so we can be safe.
It’s going to be a long battle to get any information, and I noticed that it looks like blog comments have trailed off in the past day or so. That’s what they are counting on… our fatigue distracting us from asking the important questions. Don’t let the sleight of hand fool you!
Comment by CatLady — May 17, 2007 @ 3:20 am
From the News Observer:
http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/574776.html
“The Safe Food Act is a good start.
But in today’s political environment, consumers are no match for the influence of industry. We will never get effective food safety regulation until consumers demand change. “
Comment by Ann H — May 17, 2007 @ 3:26 am
Is there a consumer organization working on food safety issues? Safety in numbers ..maybe?
I’m getting canned responses as if I wasn’t aware of much of anything and the gratuitous pat on the head that goes along with that. And, yes, it feels hopeless and like letters aren’t enough.
Comment by Ann H — May 17, 2007 @ 3:47 am
Damn is it just me or are they (American Officials) trying to downplay and coverup for the Chinese? This is utterly outrageous, what the heck is going on…
Comment by Frank — May 17, 2007 @ 4:48 am
I read in the newspaper that the Chinese own $413 billion in US treasury bonds and other bonds for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. If they were to start selling them off, the dollar and the stock market would be in trouble. Yes, I honestly believe the US is covering up for China. The heck with the citizens, their pets, small farm owners—big business is being protected.
Comment by Susan — May 17, 2007 @ 5:21 am
What I want to know is they say a 130 lbs adult would have to eat what 800 lbs of that stuff a day in order for it to have some effect on them. Well what about a small child, baby, older adult with health problems, a person with bad kidney’s, a person under 130 lbs. How much of that stuff would they have to eat, have they even done tests for people like that?
And for the love of God tell us who is selling the meat already! I have the right to know if I am slowly killing my family every time I feed them. Do they have any clue what it feels like to be standing there cooking for my family and wondering *IF* this could kill them or not. Do they know how bad I would feel as a mom *IF* something were to happen to one of my children because of what I feed them? Do they know that all of this worry could go away if they would just give me a name and give me a CHOICE. By the grace of God, Muffin ( our cat) food was not hit by the recall. But if it was and she became ill or died at least I would know what caused it. I would be sad and angery but at least I would know why. Just please give us a name !
Comment by Terri — May 17, 2007 @ 6:04 am
Another FDA “We won’t give you any real information” conference. This bending over backwards to not upset the Chinese is disgusting. But it is also disgusting that in the name of “Globalization” the large multi-nationals have built most of their most modern production facilities in China. You bet the U.S. is bending over. China basically owns us. We depend on them for most if not all of our electronic components, vitamins, toys, food additives etc.. Gee, how about we set up some sort of “1-2-3 strikes your banned” policy for the Chinese or other exporter. What makes any one think that the fingered exporter won’t argue “sorry it was same lot/batch not different” or some pitiful excuse or just close down and come up with a new name?
We are being subjected to a government controlled by big contributions. We have 70% of the broiler chickens being fed feed containing a chemical which may be being converted to toxic arsenic in them, but no tests are required. 85% of our crops are GMO/GE. We replaced sugar with High Fructose Corn Syrup, the food corporations don’t want Country of Origin Labeling, they don’t want irradiated food labels, they don’t want milk labeled as non-growth hormone, they don’t want organic to mean organic, and on and on.
It is almost like our Constitution was rewritten. Instead of “We the People” it now reads “We the Large, Muti-national Corporations”.
Write your elected officials, the media and let them know you are tired of all this.
Congress was only “in session” 90 days last year. Grueling huh?
Comment by lisa — May 17, 2007 @ 6:07 am
From that same News Observer article Ann H. linked to above, something I hadn’t read before really stuck out at me:
“At the very same time federal government officials offered their assurances that the food is safe, they asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to put special emphasis on monitoring the nation for an increase in human kidney failures.”
Anyone else feel all better now? The guberment requests the CDC to put special emphasis on human kidney failure monitoring?!!!
Kee-riminey. What a way to start the day….
Here’s the link again for those interested:
http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/574776.html
Comment by Ally — May 17, 2007 @ 6:21 am
Regarding my above about the News Observer article, The Glittering Eye brought up a very good point about the kidney monitoring:
“I think that’s prudent but I’m honestly astounded that this isn’t something they’ve been doing on an ongoing basis all along. What will they use as a baseline? I certainly hope they go back at least prior to 2000.”
What will they use as a baseline indeed. Maybe I’ve missed any mention of this monitoring but if not, why hasn’t this been addressed before?
Glittering Eye:
http://theglitteringeye.com/?p=2903
Comment by Ally — May 17, 2007 @ 6:26 am
“At the very same time federal government officials offered their assurances that the food is safe, they asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to put special emphasis on monitoring the nation for an increase in human kidney failures.”
Oh yes I feel so much better now……… NOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Terri — May 17, 2007 @ 6:30 am
STRAYBABY said: we (pet owners/people who care) need to band together with the associations that are protecting our smaller farm/ranching operations.
******************
I agree, Straybaby. I’ve said this before, too. We, the ([hysterical - as we’ve been referenced by a few] pet people) do not have a recognized organization/association behind us. I think it’s time we team up with established groups that have already been pushing for better labeling, the banning of toxicity in our foods from overseas (and here), COOL, non-genetically-modified grains, etc. I suggested an organization or two a couple of weeks ago related to “food labeling” or farming.
If we want to effect change, larger numbers and organized associations mean more than individuals emailing and writing, although this is also a good practice to continue. Keeping the food issue in the news (Lou Dobbs, Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s upcoming special on poison in our food this Sat. & Sun.) also strengthens what we’ve been saying all along. This story needs to be kept alive and brought to the local level, which seems to be alarmingly absent. The teleconferences with the FDA updates never reach the masses, nor do people without cable or satellite have access CNN.
I wrote to Americans for Labeling and my email bounced back - have to check on that. Someone yesterday posted about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). There are all kinds of organizations concerning the push for healthier, organic, non-genetically modified, locally-grown, USA-only produced, USA-manufacturing food groups out there that have nation-wide members comprised of regional and state groups of all sorts, many of which are politically active and speak before legislative bodies. I think we have to tap into these established groups and combine our numbers with theirs for a stronger voice.
Marches on state capitals & DC would garner some attention. As I said before, “mom-type” groups would also be a good area to pursue.
Do you want your children to get a healthy start in life through solid nutrition or do you want them eating 18 years worth of foods laden with pesticides, antibiotics, fertilizers, growth hormones, whole foods broken into inferior nutrition-barren pseudo-foods with unknown chemical additives, before you send them off to live on their own?
It’s a shame that our pets had to die to open our eyes to what is really going on with our imported food and the gross lack of checks and balances to guarantee its safety, but their lives will not be in vain if we continue to speak out with our voices and wallets.
This issue is about FOOD — We all have to eat!
Comment by petlover — May 17, 2007 @ 6:30 am
Comment by straybaby — May 17, 2007 @ 12:28 am
Straybaby, this isnt much help but in that warning to pregnant women, the FDA wrote “Melamine and additional related contaminants have been found in concentrations of up to 20% in analyzed samples.
Comment by Sandi K — May 17, 2007 @ 6:31 am
China would not give visas to the FDA or the other people to investigate the companies that imported the melamine or the other toxins that means they had time to clean up their companies so when the FDA was able to go out to china to investigate they could not find anything. That is really sick and now the FDA will not test protein concentrates of vegetable orgin that is being imported from china. I have a great name for the FDA but I can’t write it on the internet. I guess I have to keep it to myself for now.
Comment by Jill — May 17, 2007 @ 6:37 am
Petlover: I hear ya loud and clear ! My local news, both paper and Tv, are not even covering this anymore. It’s become non important . They didn’t even cover the HUGE beef recall that came out yesterday. I even sent them the info.
Wake up news people this is YOUR food too that has been messed with. Untie your hands and help us get the word out.
Comment by Terri — May 17, 2007 @ 6:38 am
This Saturday and Sunday on CNN they are going to have a program on TV about the POISONS that we eat and it is about the food we eat. I’m not really sure what time it will start but I am going to watch it.
Comment by Jill — May 17, 2007 @ 6:41 am
OK today is my first birthday in 15 years without my kitty. I really miss her an extra large amount today. For my birthday, I would have several wishes:
1. That FDA come clean and give us honest answers. Isnt there a briefing today? Maybe it’s still possible?
2. That America government get some backbone and stand up to China and not allow them to dictate what we will accept in regard to the safety of food items.
3. That Duane with PFI gives his immediate retirement notice.
4. And that my girl over the bridge is having a really good time with kitty friends and chasing lots of butterflies and getting all the fresh (non-toxic) tuna that she would ever want to eat. ( it was her favorite treat) KiKi, if you can hear me or see me, mommy misses you so much.
I have more wishes but am not sure how many wishes one is allowed on their birthday so I dont want to wear out the birthday genie. He will be busy enough just tackling wishes 1, 2 and 3. So busy that he might not have enough time to get to anyone elses birthday wishes here, so forgive me but Im guessing anyone else here having a birthday, might have the same wishes so the b-day genie can maybe comine those having to do with FDA, PFI and China. (-:
Comment by Sandi K — May 17, 2007 @ 6:41 am
The website for the coalition of ranchers, farmers, consumers for Country of Origin Labeling is http://www.americansforlabeling.org Contact info is phone 800-895-2221, Email is info@americansforlabeling.org.
The website has a list of groups supporting COOL. If any of you belong to a pet connected group, I am sure they would welcome sign ons. Two of the organizations I am a member of are part of this coalition.
Comment by Elaine — May 17, 2007 @ 6:55 am
Happy Birthday, Sandi K. Although I love the thought of KiKi and my Skeeter (a cat-loving doggie) cavorting in the green pastures, like you I would like them even more to be here cuddling with us. May KiKi come to you in your dreams with birthday wishes.
Comment by Nancy Nielsen — May 17, 2007 @ 6:55 am
Comment by Ann H — May 17, 2007 @ 3:47 am
“Is there a consumer organization working on food safety issues? Safety in numbers ..maybe?”
I’m getting canned responses as if I wasn’t aware of much of anything and the gratuitous pat on the head that goes along with that. And, yes, it feels hopeless and like letters aren’t enough.”
I know someone who works on food safety and deals directly with food companies. (I’m not sure if he works directly for a political/government organization or indirectly. He’s explained it, but I wasn’t paying enough attention.) He talk to the food companies, though.
He knew a bit about this situation but not a lot. I told him I would email him links on the important issues and then realized I don’t knnow how to narrow it down to a reasonable number of links for an email.
I don’t want to send him more than 10-12 or so, because it will be overwhelming.
If anyone has suggestions for specific links to articles, I’ll work on compiling them. He needs to bring this to the food companies as a safety issue, but it’s not like he’s doing lobbying. He needs to be able to bring it up in his discussions with them, so the issue needs to be clear cut enough that he will want to and can bring it up in conversation.
(I hope this is clear enough.)
Comment by yet another pat — May 17, 2007 @ 6:57 am
Yet another Pat,
Ann H posted a link at 3:26 that would be good.
I posted info on Americans for labeling at 6:55, and there should be good info on that website.
Comment by Elaine — May 17, 2007 @ 7:14 am
In reference to an earlier comment, the CNN program on poisoned food is on this weekend, Sat. and Sunday, at 8 pm EDT.
Comment by Patty L — May 17, 2007 @ 7:15 am
Just in my email, from ASPCA:
RE: Subject: TX: Call Your Senator on Behalf of Animal Cruelty Bill
Dear Texas Advocates,
Texas HB 2328, the Animal Cruelty Bill, has passed the Senate Criminal Justice Committee and is now awaiting a vote by the full Texas Senate. The bill will close a number of “loopholes” that have thwarted prosecution of past animal cruelty offenders.
Thanks to your support, we’re only two steps away from passing a greatly improved Animal Cruelty Statute for Texas—but we need your immediate help to ensure victory.
What You Can Do
Please click here to find your state senator’s phone number, and call requesting a vote in favor of HB 2328. Don’t forget to mention that you are a constituent. Your support thus far has been amazing, and we’re so close to succeeding. Your call is vitally important, so do it today!
Thank you for helping Texas’s animals, and for supporting the ASPCA!
Senate LookUp: http://www.senate.gov/general/.....rs_cfm.cfm
This is a Texas House Bill…
Comment by Kat — May 17, 2007 @ 7:18 am
Suggest that some may wish to write a letter to the editor of the L.A. Times or to request a correction regarding this Chinese PR piece that appears as a wire report in today’s paper: letters@latimes.com
Note this is a wire report, not reporting from Abigail Goldman and Don Lee:
IN BRIEF / PET FOOD
China finds no contamination
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
May 17, 2007
“China says checks on food exporters have turned up no sign of a chemical blamed for the deaths of cats and dogs in North America and urged U.S. authorities to refrain from further action against Chinese producers.
The government body that oversees food safety said it accompanied U.S. inspectors on visits to two companies blamed for the contamination.”
http://www.latimes.com/busines.....0639.story
If you wish to write them, you might reference this article by Goldman and Lee that points out that the factories were razed before the inspectors got there:
Factory linked to tainted food found closed
By Don Lee and Abigail Goldman
(May 9, 2007)
Los Angeles Times
XUZHOU, China — Before Mao Lijun’s business exported tainted wheat products that may have killed U.S. pets, his factory sickened people and plants around here for years.
(…)
Yet no one stopped Mao’s company from churning out bags of food powders and belching smoke — until one day last month when, in the middle of the night, bulldozers tore down the facility.
It wasn’t authorities that finally acted: Mao himself razed the brick factory — days before the investigators from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration arrived in China on a mission to track down the source of the tainted pet food ingredients.
U.S. inspectors said Thursday the suspect facilities had been hastily closed down.
“There is nothing to be found. They are essentially shut down and not operating,” said Walter Batts, deputy director of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) office of international programs.
http://www.latimes.com/busines.....4365.story
Comment by Maureen — May 17, 2007 @ 7:19 am
Thank you Patty, I didn’t remember the time it was on.
Comment by Jill — May 17, 2007 @ 7:21 am
Here’s another organization that deals with food and water safety…most importantly, they appear to be *active* (which the other website does not) AND they have *lobbyists*, which is going to be important in this thing moving forward… Anyway, here ya go:
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/
Comment by hildiesmom — May 17, 2007 @ 7:28 am
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.o.....and-health
http://www.nffc.net
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.o.....ent=basics
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.o.....tory-farms
There is also an Organic Consumers Association.
I sent several modified letters from their site this morning.
And, I sent a Farm Policy letter to Collin Peterson (collin.peterson@mail.house.gov)
All I know is a consumer revolution is about all that’s going to make government respond. Bush is another story.
I cried over my sick kitty this morning. I’ll keep plodding along.
Comment by Ann H — May 17, 2007 @ 7:30 am
Comment by Elaine — May 17, 2007 @ 7:14 am
Thanks! I’ll start compiling links. After I said I’d do it, I realized what a huge undertaking it was and couldn’t figure out where to start.
Comment by yet another pat — May 17, 2007 @ 7:31 am
CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta will be running a two evening special on posioned food this weekend, both saturday and sunday evening.
Should be an interesting watch.
Just an idea for all you techno wizards, I have no idea how to do this myself. Recording this show for all those officals who might miss it due to their weekend plans. Mass sending to each and every one, President Bush, his administration, the FDA, USDA, Homeland Security, Congress, Senate, PFI and post it on youtube. Most popular on youtube, we bloggers can at least do that. Get China to ban it.
Comment by Maudigan — May 17, 2007 @ 7:34 am
The FDA may do another “staged” press briefing today, where they are afraid to show their lying faces and the reporters are hand picked and no REAL news gets out.
How many times have they already been caught lying?
What do they care? They lie to the senate and get away with it, they take fat salaried jobs from the drug companies whose products they pretend to “investigate” when they are tired of pretending to work and they even screw over their own employees who get in the way of the money and favors merry go round.
The FDA did not want to deal with this disaster in the first place and would have swept it under the rug if they could have, took too much time away from the cozy deals with the drug companies.
The FDA is there as a “show” to keep the public
shut up and under the delusion that something is being done for the public, instead of the truth, that it is being done TO the public.
The FDA was perfectly happy with China delaying the visas because what a hassle it would have been if they had actually FOUND the factories still standing! The Chinese were VERY cooperative, they got those factories demolished in record time and kept the FDA from having to do any real work.
The FDA never had any intention of doing anything and trying to “fix” what is essentially a tax supported parking place for paying off political favors or buddies is silly. You can’t fix something that is doing just what it was designed to do.
The FDA is going to spin and lie to cover up the the BIG secret and it is not the poison that has been pouring into this country by the metric ton for 15 years, the REALLY BIG secret is that the FDA was totally caught with their pants down and they are not going to admit that a bunch of pissed off pet parents with internet access figured it out before they did!
You can’t fix that with more lies. Or more money from the folks you are screwing over.
Senator Durbin is wrong, more money and power is the LAST thing the FDA needs.
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 17, 2007 @ 7:39 am
E. Hamilton.
I wrote a bunch of letters for a Food Safety Agency. I complained that our tax dollars are being spent to poison us and our animals with regard only for business and political pork barrels.
I think it’s been since Nixon that I’ve disliked the attitude of the President as much. Two in one lifetime is too much. Bush’s uncle Preston and his rich Chinese buddy are probably the the worst culprits in this whole tragedy for America. WTO. China Trade. Favors for buddies.
It’s time to do some favors for the American people.
Comment by Ann H — May 17, 2007 @ 7:48 am
http://www.consumersunion.org and their sister site http://www.notinmyfood.org are IMO excellent groups that lobby for safe food and safe products.
They will not allow any advertising on their site and are non profit.
Comment by Serijna — May 17, 2007 @ 7:53 am
E: I’m with you…..I just posted something at Itchmo in response to Ally who had just found out about the CDC being warned to watch out human renal failure:
Ally: When the recall was still fairly new, I heard about the CDC being warned to watch for an increase in human renal failure……this was months ago…..so I knew then that this wasn’t just a story about contaminated pet food.
I think this has been going on for a very long time but the melamine (& whatever else) levels were very low. I hate to sound cynical (this whole thing has made me this way) but I believe our poor little pets already had plenty of toxic chemicals in their system so when these lovely exporters decided to get more greedy & up the melamine, that’s all it took to either kill or sicken our pets. I think the levels of melamine were increased but I also think it was the accumulation factor (forget that BS dilution factor, I’m more worried about accumulation for both us & our pets) that was really what caused most of the problem. I also think we already have plenty in our system & this is no more than a giant coverup for something that has been going on for years.
One of the things that cemented my theory is how much I read about finding melamine in pet food was almost impossible……unless they knew what they were testing for. I think they knew about the melamine but turned a blind eye which is how they found it fairly quickly. Call me silly but I’ll always believe that.
I think the commercial pet food companies better come up with a damn good plan & then tell pet parents what they plan to do to ensure their food is safe & HEALTHY FOR OUR PETS…..otherwise, hasta la vista, baby. I’ll use Natura products because they are doing extra testing. Have yet to see anyone else step up & prove their food is safe. I think the regular pet food grocery brands will find that they’re in deep poo-poo & the PF companies that truly care & will do extra testing will see their business triple.
Comment by JanC — May 17, 2007 @ 7:58 am
I would ask the FDA and USDA why I have to fear eating food for myself and fear of what I am feeding my cats.
I would be more comfortable if the FDA and USDA did the testing for poisonous chemicals in our foods and drugs rather than rely on other countries performingtests which might not be at an accurate level—or might not be performed at all (but just lied about).
We will be the United States of China as we are gradually swallowed up by their sharks.
Comment by Evelyn — May 17, 2007 @ 8:03 am
Comment by Ann H — May 17, 2007 @ 7:48 am
The truth brought down tricky Dick and the truth is going to roll some some heads in this case.
The FDA is too corrupt to “fix”, the continued lies and spin tell that tale.
I cannot and will not say on this blog what teensy little bone the pet food companies or the FDA can throw on the floor that will shut me up and make me go away.
You do not discuss what color to paint the rooms when the house is on fire.
First , you put out the fire.
There are pets dying or sick TODAY because the news is STILL getting out on what symptoms to look for. There are staggering vet bills that need to be paid NOW. There are pets that will need ongoing medical care for what is left of their pitiful lives. There is STILL poisoned food on store shelves!
The house is on fire and the remodel cannot start until the flames are put out.
A remodel is needed but not as a way to distract me , or you, from the fact that the HOUSE IS ON FIRE!!
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 17, 2007 @ 8:04 am
Sorry, the news on the symptoms is STILL _NOT_ getting out.
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 17, 2007 @ 8:07 am
The house has been on fire for quite some time, smoldering inside the walls of political corruption and transnational company greed!
The FDA, USDA are trying to force the flames back inside the walls to smolder once again.
Comment by Elaine — May 17, 2007 @ 8:11 am
E: I can’t post anything about how I feel about the FDA, PFI or our gov’t…..I’m so damn angry that I can’t express my feelings without a bunch of wicked swear words, which can’t be posted here. They seem to be the only words which adequately describe how I feel about the bunch of them.
To say they are liars just doesn’t cover it, they are much worse…..they are criminals….that’s all I can say for today….
Comment by JanC — May 17, 2007 @ 8:13 am
This just came in on my email, sounds like a good program to listen to.
Does it matter from where our food comes? Some say “No!” and go their way; others say “Yes!” and demand to know. This leads one to ask: “Should manufacturers be forced to reveal our food’s country of origin?”
This Saturday at 9am Pacific, the Food Chain with Michael Olson hosts Bill Bullard from R-Calf USA and Barry Carpenter from the National Meat Association for a conversation about country of origin labeling (COOL).
Log on http://www.metrofarm.com to listen on your radio, computer or IPOD.
Topics include who is responsible for the safety of food; why some believe manufacturers should be forced to reveal the origin of food; and why others believe country of origin labeling to be an unnecessary expense.
Question of the Week: Should manufacturers be forced to reveal food’s country of origin?
Comment by Elaine — May 17, 2007 @ 8:14 am
“I didn’t do this to be inspirational,” he said. “I saw a problem and decided to do something about it.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/200.....ivers_dc_1
Govenrment for the people, by the people….
It CAN be done, it just won’t be easy!
Comment by PJ — May 17, 2007 @ 8:21 am
The same pipeline that brought the poison into your home, and which you, and I , PAID for, the same advertising that told us sweet lies about how GOOD for our pets this poison was can damned well be used to get the food OFF the shelves, the news OUT on the symptoms and the help that is needed to to the people and pets who have suffered.
The tools and the money and the power to get the fire put out are ALREADY there, the choice not to use them means the PFI and the FDA are perfectly happy to roast marshmallows while we burn.
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 17, 2007 @ 8:21 am
i hate to say this, but…
where/when does it end? i am near advocating
rebelion/overthrow of this corrupt goverment.
it’s been a consistant theme for the bush administration to do all it can to create
distinction between rich/poor, laws/policy that
impower mindless fools with money to dictate
our choices and lives cannot be tolerated/allowed to determine our destiny.
if the situation in imported foods does not
resolve america’s precarious future(our food
can be poisoned,or controled by a foreign enity) we MUST remove the threat? otherwise we face complete control by corportaions.
you’l be living under the threat of ruthless
monsters that will dictate what you can eat, where you live, and how..
Comment by johnypaycut — May 17, 2007 @ 8:29 am
Al Gore needs to put his name behind Food Safety.. heck we may expire before the glaciers melt.
Comment by Ann H — May 17, 2007 @ 8:33 am
I am going to make this one post about my sorry typing skills and then if you want to read what I write you are just gonna have to deal with it.
My mother, many years ago, refused to let me take typing in school, because then I might end up as a secretary. She said that all I needed to learn was how to tell the secretary what I wanted typed, and to be sure and hire a good one.
At one point in my life, to KEEP that fabulous secretary, I had to wear a t-shirt at the office, for a week, that said
DO NOT HAND THIS WOMAN THE ONLY COPY OF ANYTHING!
So much for my office skills.
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 17, 2007 @ 8:37 am
When I called NB and spoke to the kind man who informed me about the Rice Protein Concentrate being contaminated with Melamine prior to the official news release - he emphatically stated that “it’s all the same thing” - rice, wheat, corn gluten. And I wonder if there really are not “three” products but one that was identified as three different substances?
So this one company could have been selling this protein concentrate under different names as they received orders for each - since it is hypo-allergenic. So it is not one substance that needs to be banned - but all protein concentrates.
Comment by Linda — May 17, 2007 @ 8:40 am
This new article on CNN further illustrates the entire food debacle:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH.....index.html
Here’s the website for the watchdog group that refers to all of this as “Katrina on your plate”.
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/
Comment by BengalMom — May 17, 2007 @ 8:42 am
Pj,
I agree we’v got to act.. and soon, it is up to us! america, the people, to remove this fool version of govement, conspiring with foreign
enitys is treason!!!!!!
if it takes my life, my blood , this will not
be the future of america.
Comment by johnypaycut — May 17, 2007 @ 8:45 am
what worries me is that this “human grade” meat will make it back into the pet food because there are some pet foods that use only human grade quality….
we only buy organic meat 50% of the time, but after this, we’ll buy organic chicken 100% of the time, simply because I know they didn’t eat any melamine-feed.
Comment by lablover — May 17, 2007 @ 9:06 am
Yes, I typed well and was the good secretary.
My kids know how to type well, but are professionals now who can write well without the secretary (write professionally, that is).
Our lives and the lives of our pets will definitely be shortened by the poison in our food. I agree we need someone like Al Gore to champion our cause for “Food Without Poison”. Maybe someone important will help us—until then, uhappy eatin’.
Comment by Evelyn — May 17, 2007 @ 9:08 am
Although I think COOL is a good idea, I don’t think that it would help purchasers of commercial pet food since it only applies to beef, lamb, pork, fish, shellfish, perishable agricultural commodities, peanuts; and, more importantly, even these items don’t require country of origin labeling if they are an “ingredient in a processed food item.”
The law itself doesn’t define “processed food item” and the FDA is still in a dither about how to define it in regulations — see the various docs at http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/
But one thing seems certain: It would not apply to any ingredients in commercial pet food.
Just a few examples from the FDA’s various proposed or “interim final” rules concerning the processed food exemption:
Whole oranges: covered
Oranges squeezed and sold as orange juice: not covered
Whole fish: covered
Fish cut into portions: not covered
Beef: covered
Lamb: covered
“a shish kabob containing beef and lamb”: not covered
My personal opinion: the scope of COOL is so limited that those of us who are seriously committed to political changes that would have a significant impact on pet or human food safety should channel their energy elsewhere.
Comment by Ticocats — May 17, 2007 @ 9:20 am
Comment by Evelyn — May 17, 2007 @ 9:08 am
A whole new world. isn’t it?
And please be aware that I wish I had one tenth of the skills that a good secretary has, or a second grader today has.
Old dogs can learn tricks , they just don’t type as well.
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 17, 2007 @ 9:22 am
I had suggested Al Gore and then said to myself,”Self, I know I read his position on this a long, long time ago.”
Self was right, I did. 1998.
http://www.foodsafety.gov/~dms/fs-wh7.html
“Today, Vice President Al Gore is joined by Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and calls on Congress to fully fund the Administration’s Food Safety Initiative and pass legislation giving the USDA authority to order the recall of contaminated meat and poultry and to impose civil penalties for violations of food safety standards.”
Comment by Ann H. — May 17, 2007 @ 9:39 am
Comment by Linda — May 17, 2007 @ 8:40 am
“When I called NB and spoke to the kind man who informed me about the Rice Protein Concentrate being contaminated with Melamine prior to the official news release - he emphatically stated that “it’s all the same thing” - rice, wheat, corn gluten. And I wonder if there really are not “three” products but one that was identified as three different substances?”
I remember when you wrote this. A couple of FDA briefings ago they made the announcement that what they thought was wheat gluten and RCP was really wheat flour. The quote seemed pretty straightforward to me at the time = that it was all wheat flour. But I haven’t seen any clarification of that, have you? ALL wheat flour, or some of the shipments mismarked but actually wheat flour???
Comment by Maureen — May 17, 2007 @ 9:43 am
Al Gore needs to put his name behind Food Safety.. heck we may expire before the glaciers melt.
Comment by Ann H
***********************************
No kidding. I admit to LOL about the global warming “flavor of the moment” way to earn a living, when there is a verifiably “clear and present” danger occuring in our food supply. This issue could use a helping hand, but seems no politician of any party really truly wants to muck with our precious trade agreements with creeps like the chinese government.
I’ve read so much about how the chinese do business, what they value, what they do not value, and I wouldn’t do business with an american who did the same things either.
I have news for my government - I don’t care why they want to push chinese nonregulated food imports into my local stores. They can do all the chinese business they want, but I won’t be doing the same. I am doing as the japanese have done over and over to various countries exporting dangerous items to them. I am “halting” chinese food imports from entering my household. My ban will last until safety becomes as much a priority to the chinese as it is to me.
The chinese attitude is simply appalling - they have no intention of complying with any of the US requests. They find our questions offensive - the chinese government are a bunch of thugs if you look at their record with their own citizens. Look at how they behave to their trading partners - our FDA got nowhere - so this is the country that now gets to effectively “self-certify” what they send to us?
Comment by TC — May 17, 2007 @ 9:58 am
Comment by JanC — May 17, 2007 @ 7:58 am
“I think this has been going on for a very long time but the melamine (& whatever else) levels were very low. I hate to sound cynical (this whole thing has made me this way) but I believe our poor little pets already had plenty of toxic chemicals in their system…”
JanC — I’ve thought this for a long time. Actually, I think it’s much bigger than any of us will ever be aware, I think the forces that be know that also, and I think this has all been one big PR sham to PREVENT PUBLIC PANIC. I think this junk has been in the animal and human food supply for a long time — the chickens, hogs, and fish, not to mention Twinkies — have been eaten by all of us. They truly don’t know what to expect for public health (or maybe they do, which is even scarier), but the deed is done and there is no going back now, so the best they can do is cover up as much as they can and do their most convincing damage control. Heaven forbid that they would trust the public with the truth and create mass panic. I mean think about it, just look at the average night’s TV programming lineup — this is the public that will get the “truth”.
Comment by michelle — May 17, 2007 @ 10:05 am
E.Hamilton?
i don’t think we’l need a secretary..
what we’l need is people who can work a field?
work with livestock? are you positioning yourself for a job as secretary? GOOD..
maybe someone with a name like “Hamilton” can figure out how to help us deal with money that
has no borders, crooks that have become big
businessmen.
god knows we need inspiration!
Comment by johnypaycut — May 17, 2007 @ 10:26 am
All the inspiration any of us will ever need was looking up at us with love and trust while we fed them poison and watched them suffer and die.
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 17, 2007 @ 10:44 am
JOHNYPAYCUT said: i hate to say this, but…
where/when does it end? i am near advocating
rebelion/overthrow of this corrupt goverment…
if the situation in imported foods does not
resolve america’s precarious future(our food
can be poisoned,or controled by a foreign enity) we MUST remove the threat? otherwise we face complete control by corportaions.
you’l be living under the threat of ruthless
monsters that will dictate what you can eat, where you live, and how..
Comment by johnypaycut — May 17, 2007 @ 8:29 am
*****************************
>Why people aren’t rioting in every town, big and small, across the entire U.S., I don’t know.
>Why the food crisis is not the leading story on every TV network, radio talk show, newspaper, blog, & web site, I don’t know.
We need good, old-fashioned demonstrations on each state capital and on DC. We also need to speak with our wallets by having “food outs” in grocery stores, much like the “gas out” day when people across the country vowed not to buy gas that day. On a “food out” day, people should not buy food in a regular supermarket, and instead, avoid any food purchase that day or just buy from their local food co-op or farmers’ market. Business as usual needs to be addressed.
I cannot believe I am writing about BASIC food safety issues in what is supposed to be a leading world country! The top priority of our government should be to protect the well being of its citizens, not be complicit in the poisoning of its citizenry.
I cannot believe I read a while ago that the CDC was told to monitor for unusual spikes in human kidney disease and that we’re STILL continuing to import toxic foods and ingredients laced with unknown or banned ingredients, chemicals, and additives that belong only in an industrial cauldron to make glues and plastics! Are we human test subjects to see how much toxicity our bodies can tolerate before we have to get hooked up to a dialysis machine?
We do not need to import all of this food from China (and other emerging countries that cannot or will not adhere to the importing country’s food safety standards). 70% of the fish the U.S. imports comes from farm-raised fish in China? We’ve all read about the rudimentary, unsanitary fish farming methods used there. The last time I looked at a map the U.S. was surrounded on three sides by water? And don’t we have friends north of the border (and here) that have thousands of fresh water lakes? There is something gravely wrong with this picture.
I don’t care how in debt we are to China. With the lax inspections and turning our heads the other way when cargo containers enter our nation’s ports, we are simply inviting a disaster of even greater proportion than the pet food, chickens, pork, and fish, with perhaps next time, the immediate deaths of humans. Look at the cough syrup contamination with glycerin and diethylene glycol (DEG - anti-freeze) that actually killed people in China and Panama. And don’t count on the government to recall products or notify the public of contamination in a rapid, efficient manner. We’re on our own here, folks. We saw the government’s embarrassing response to Katrina, where one level of government blamed the other, when one agency didn’t have jurisdiction or if it did, it didn’t know it or know how to proceed. We’ve seen the failure of bloated, paralyzed bureaucracy and committees that plan to plan, but no decisions are made. And once again with the food situation, we’re putting out fires that could have been prevented with the judicious and consistent testing of imports. We have to adopt a proactive, instead of reactive stance, to the food CRISIS.
You are not far off, Johnypaycut, in saying you are close to a revolution because I see a future where people will rise up and demand food safety, while banding together in small communities to raise their food and help one another. It sounds bleak, but look how far we’ve eroded our standards to date — accepting foods known to be toxic without testing 98% of what comes through our ports. It’s incredible that we’ve sunk so low in a few short years that we are deliberately ignoring China’s (and other countries’) persistent and flagrant flouting of our agreed upon trading standards.
If… Japan can ban U.S. beef for years for our having one case of mad cow disease…
If Japan can ban U.S. genetically-modified rice because it wasn’t approved for commercial use…
If the European Union can refuse shipments of “co-mingled” genetically-modified and “pure” grains AND label genetically-modified grains so its citizenry can DECIDE if they WANT to buy the products or not…
If U.S. southern states can impose state-level bans on China’s farm-raised cat fish imports…
If South African nations such as Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique can refuse U.S. food aid during famines where millions are hungry…
What do these few examples tell you? We have a food CRISIS, and we’d better do something about it now. Countries are refusing to import OUR FOOD, and they are DICTATING TO US what they want, and we are the ones groveling to meet THEIR STANDARDS!
It’s time to make some bold sweeping moves now before it’s too late. And we can’t wait for a change in administration to hope for some reform and resolution.
Comment by petlover — May 17, 2007 @ 11:09 am
I agree with You all so much. and I miss my furr babies so much, too. Did You see on the news last night that China is in Africa? I thought it was supposed to be to help stop the genicide. But it’s because Africa is selling oil to the chinese. So they are helping the gov. and the “faction’ that are actually killing the people. this just gets worse. when talking oil, people [Gov.] will do anything. I do think they plan on taking over everything. Also, i’m one of those who don’t get cable so please report about the issues that will be on this weekend and poisen. One more thing- why are We buying from a communist country to begin with?? They hate us and would do anything they could to get rid of us, which they have already started to.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 17, 2007 @ 11:10 am
Stay tuned to petconnection, Trudy Jackson, because there will be updates. This Sat. & Sunday at 8 p.m. (I believe), Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN will be doing a two-day special on “Poison in Our Food.” I’m sure there will be reviews on PC of the main points. Too bad this won’t air on the local networks…
A lot of us here watch CNN, but so many others do not have access. This is why it’s so important for us to keep getting the word out to local media outlets of all types.
Comment by petlover — May 17, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Hey straybaby … re: um, please don’t start at the top! look who’s next in line . . . ;)
I said get rid of EVERYONE in this administration (and all their political appointees), including the guy who shot his friend straight in the face!! :-)
… but I appreciate your concern.
Alexandra
Comment by Alexandra — May 17, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
Comment by Sandy K 6:41pm
Happy Birthday Sandy and Namaste to you and your kitty. So sorry for your loss.
Comment by VJ — May 17, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
Whoops. That was Sandy K comment at 6:41 AM
Comment by VJ — May 17, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
Hasn’t it been the last 15 or 20 years that all of a sudden obesity is on the rise. No wonder. Now that we are finding out we are eating all this plastic and other poisons in our food. Obesity in pets? Yeah. They are eating the same plastics we are.
Also, petlover your post of 11:09am is excellent. So true. Our government makes me wish there is another planet I can move to and get away from all this. Geez, maybe our food is the reason aliens have stopped visiting.
Comment by VJ — May 17, 2007 @ 4:53 pm
Geez, maybe our food is the reason aliens have stopped visiting. Comment by VJ — May 17, 2007
See .. there you GO! It’s all GOOD!
I snorted ice tea on my monitor laughing.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 17, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
I am glad to see that people are starting to realize that this food contamination problem has been going on for a long time. It does not make sense for you or your pet to go into the hospital…be diagnosed with some strange disease and or diabetes and then be told…we do not know how you got it or where it comes from. I now understand why the medical community is not looking for the culprits…they make no money if you and your loved ones are healthy….you are being scammed by so many industries that it makes my heart cry. 80% of all food found in a grocery store has included genetically altered food in the product. You and I were not asked if this was OK…..can I ask… who approved this crap for our food chain. You can not even pronouce the poison found on the label and we are suppose to sit back and act like this melamine never happened.
Here are two sites of interest!
ChemNutra started import in 1995
http://www.google.com/search?h.....mp;spell=1
The Diabetes charts
http://www.diabetesimprovement.com/
I guess this is just by chance….that the chart mirrors the import logs!
Try finding information on disease and the tracking of it…..does not exist and it does not appear to be important….for those with the information (ie. Medical Community) because they will always hide the truth from you… for the money and profits to be made later on!
That is why!
Obewan
Comment by Lew Orban — May 17, 2007 @ 6:04 pm
VJ - remember (or not depending on your age) that Alf was from the planet Melmak, indicating not all aliens have an aversion to plastics.
Comment by Carol PW — May 17, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
Yes Carol, I remember Alf. Never watched it. Always amazes me how writers, be they of books or movies or TV programs can so often come close to hitting on truths. Don’t you think? So, maybe we should start thinking “outside the box”. Are we too focused? Do we need to expand on “what ifs”?
Maybe not the logical question here. Tired. Been long day and I’m not keeping up with the comments.
Comment by VJ — May 17, 2007 @ 8:27 pm