Pet-food recall: Tainted foods tested in bee colony deaths
By Gina Spadafori
May 18, 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).
Karen Roebuck of the Pittsburg Tribune-Review has done some of the best work on the tainted food story since the beginning. Today’s story … well, pick my jaw off the floor. (Thanks, Maryanne!):
Federal scientists are researching whether the same industrial chemicals blamed for sickening and killing thousands of pets are responsible for decimating the honeybee population.
No link has been found, but researchers at the Department of Agriculture’s Bee Research Laboratory and the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine are testing commercial bee feed for melamine-related compounds and doing feed tests on honeybees.
“I was curious enough and wanted to be complete enough that I thought it was worth doing,” Jeffery Pettis, the bee lab’s research leader, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Thursday.
Honeybees in the United States began dying off in unprecedented numbers late last year, threatening the nation’s human food supply, a third of which is dependent on bee pollination. A quarter of the nation’s 2.4 million honeybee colonies died from what scientists dubbed Colony Collapse Disorder.
Early this year, cats and dogs fell critically ill with kidney disease, prompting a widespread pet food recall of more than 150 brands since March 16. Melamine, a chemical used in plastics, and cyanuric acid, used in pool chlorination, were found in the foods and in the infected animals’ urine and kidneys.
That investigation snowballed to include much of the human food supply last month, when federal officials discovered animal and fish feed contained tainted ingredients. They found melamine in hog urine and learned some Chinese businesses routinely added industrial chemicals to products for years.
Melamine and cyanuric acid falsely elevate protein levels, making ingredients appear more nutritious than they are.
Since some commercial bee feeds are protein-based, using ingredients like brewer’s yeast and soy flour, the possibility that melamine could be causing the unexplained bee die-off is worth investigating, Pettis said.
The rest is here. As Christie says, res ipsa loquitur.
Update: China’s honey business isn’t so sweet, either. Surprised they have any bees left there.
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Here is a related article:
http://www.philly.com/philly/w.....66772.html
Comment by Angelique — May 18, 2007 @ 8:20 am
Years ago beekeepers made sure they left enough honey in the hives to get the bees comfortably through the winter.
What’s this protein supplement about anyway????
Comment by Kathy — May 18, 2007 @ 8:33 am
I can imagine the bees are suffering. Conventional beekeeping treats the bees just as other factory farmed animals are treated. An interesting note - I have read that organic bee keepers are not experiencing colony collapse disorder. Here is a an article
http://www.gnn.tv/articles/304.....ycomb_Size
Comment by Angela Flynn — May 18, 2007 @ 8:35 am
OMG! Can you imagine if China has been poisoning out bees too! Pets…bees…people!
Not to be an alarmist or anything but I wonder if the Dept of Homeland Security will be involved soon!
Comment by BengalMom — May 18, 2007 @ 8:36 am
Off the subject here but…is anyone else having problems reading the previous thread “…More recalls from Chenango Valley…” with Internet Explorer? My browser keeps shutting down (the page was working fine about 9am this morning).
Comment by BengalMom — May 18, 2007 @ 8:42 am
I’ve been following the Bee stories for some time, and watching the bees in my yard, always delighted when I see a swarm, like usual. There was talk of a new fertilizer killing off the bees and some interesting research and discoveries when they discect the bees and compare. Also, bees are being imported to replenish our dwindling supplies. But as I posted earlier today, there’s plenty of bees in my yard and that seems to be a good sign - or at least I hope it is.
Poisoned fertilizer? imported from China no doubt.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 8:46 am
I can’t open pet connection with internet explorer - blog keeps shutting down. I have to use OPERA.
I received a very nice e-mail yesterday from Dick Durbin about the FDA and keeping our food supply safe - I suppose others received it too. It is so nice that he is keeping us informed.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 8:52 am
Homeland Security took a vacation to Dubai where the Dubai government had the sense to ban “Malamine Dishes” - and did you know that Terrorists vacation in Dubai too - even terrorists don’t like eating off of Malamine plates.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 8:57 am
i have also been having a problemgetting on the blogs this morning iwould not be surprised if a connection is found with this bee feed and the other contaminations!it is also incrediblethe amount of recalls that keep coming out and now ferrit food!
Comment by lindak. — May 18, 2007 @ 9:20 am
I received a letter from Senator Durbin yesterday and I also sent him another one this morning.
Comment by Jill — May 18, 2007 @ 9:22 am
I just hope this food contamination doesn’t get worse - we need to eat something and so do our pets. I’ve had concerns over China for some time - seems so pointless - just for a little bit of money.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 9:24 am
I have had problems getting on the blogs also and I found a way of getting into them. Go to the right side and click on the recent comments and you can get in that way. I have not been able to get into the article about the ferrat(sp) food at on not even on the recent comment because the internet sign shows up saying there is problems with the internet.
Comment by Jill — May 18, 2007 @ 9:31 am
I can’t get on using aol - comments don’t appear and then my screen goes blank. I too used Opera.
Comment by Terry — May 18, 2007 @ 9:35 am
I can’t see the tread with the Ferret at all - it just goes off when I click on it. Time for a break - hope people aren’t trying to shut us pesky bloggers up!
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 9:45 am
BREAKING NEWS:
Per the AVMA the remaining 80,000 Indiana chickens are officially cleared for take off:
http://www.avma.org/aa/petfood.....70518a.asp
For more information see the USDA news release at:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal.....5/0147.xml
Comment by Ally — May 18, 2007 @ 9:48 am
The Chenango - Ferret food page keeps shutting down on me too. Wonder what’s changed with this site over the past 2 weeks. Never used to have trouble… Just certain pages & it doesn’t have anything to do with the length of the page. I can access thread with 167 comments, but not new threads, with minimal.
very, very strange.
Comment by Kat — May 18, 2007 @ 9:58 am
Interesting tidbit Re: Res ipsa loquitur.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Res_ipsa_loquitur
A 9 week recall! Enough already!
Food manufacturers really need to step up and do their own testing! They have to stop waiting for the FDA to get around to their company. Any company that hasn’t checked their foods by this time is totally irresponsible and completely unethical.
Good to the Bee people for being proactive!!! Hope they can figure out what the problem is very, very soon…
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 18, 2007 @ 9:59 am
I’ve got a great(?) idea!
Let’s pack all this mela-food crap up. Go get an Arab-named corporation with some diverted, trusting address in Pakistan & start shipping al Qaida some fooood!
Comment by Kat — May 18, 2007 @ 10:02 am
I still favor using it in the FDA cafeteria, since it’s apparently not harmful to humans. Or shipping it back to the Chinese.
Comment by Joyce — May 18, 2007 @ 11:02 am
The bees aren’t just dying, they are leaving without a trace.
http://tinyurl.com/ytxdyw
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Bees are dying around the world too.
http://tinyurl.com/379pe2
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 11:11 am
Comment by Kat — May 18, 2007 @ 10:02 am
I have another idea:
Somewhere on this web site is the name of the Chinese official - the one Rep. Durbin addressed because of the visa issue the FDA had (until another press conference, sheesh!).
I am right now so mistrusting in our government that I feel the urge to write to this Chinese ambassador and tell him that
China’s government may have a trade understanding with my government, *but my government can’t make me buy things I don’t want to buy*.
So until I, me, myself as a person, am satisfied that China does all to regain my trust, I will refrain from entering a trade agreement with China - that means I’m not going to buy Chinese things, regardless if we are talking towels or wheat gluten.
Oh, and by the way: I am going to boycott the 2008 Olympic Games in China: I will not watch it on TV, I will not read about it and whoever mentions the word ‘Olympics’ will get a nice lecture about ‘performance enhancing spiking of protein products from China’.
I should write the IOC, too.
Heck, why not?
Comment by MaKo — May 18, 2007 @ 11:11 am
Upgrade to IE7 or use download and use Firefox. There’s a problem with IE6 that makes it cough up some of our posts. We haven’t been able to fix all the bugs to get around IE6’s bugs, so upgrade or use another browser, that’s the best I can suggest.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 18, 2007 @ 11:17 am
I’m trying to locate the article I read last week about the discetion of bees and what they are finding - but as yet cannot locate it. It’s on my home computer I believe. It’s very sad to see the insides of the poor bees - so thick and dark (dense) not like the insides of healthy bees at all. Hopefully I will be able to locate the article and will share it here.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 11:25 am
The more comments there are it works but when there are only a few comments it won’t work at all and it kicks me out.
Comment by Jill — May 18, 2007 @ 11:40 am
Over at Itch, a link was posted to PFI’s May 2007 digital sample issue. You should take a gander but get some towels at the ready for the usual brain esplodeys:
http://www.petfoodindustry-dig.....05_sample/
Their “industry news” section chats away about various spin on their agenda. There I discovered something that may have been already discussed, but I inadvertantly missed:
The PFI has formed a National Pet Food Commision (NPC) who will be comprised of vets, toxicologists, state & federal regulators and nutritionists. Aside from investigating the cause of the current recall, their job will also be to further strengthen industry standards and safeguards.
There I discover a link to: http://www.petfoodreport.com
so I wander over for a perusal and then MY head explodes (for the umpteenth time). I was going to write a section by section take on what they’re spinning over there but cripes almighty, just go read it for yourselves. The word “farce” takes on an entirely new meaning. Here’s a sample:
“Question:
Are fillers used in pet food?
Answer:
Every ingredient used in pet food is there for a reason. Decades of research have gone into making pet foods that meet the nutritional needs of dogs and cats. The makers of pet food do not put in anything that’s not needed.”
Do not put anything in that’s not needed? Where would you like me to even start?! Oh and let’s not forget the stuff that sometimes gets added that’s not listed on your ingredient’s label because you DIDN’T EVEN KNOW it was added in the first place?!!!
Maybe I’m over reacting. Maybe because it’s Friday and I had too many swigs playing Spocko’s drinking bingo game during yesterday’s FDA press conference. Or maybe, I’m just a very exhausted pet parent who’s been reading PC & Itchmo ‘til I’m bleary eyed because I don’t trust the FDA to get the latest recall news to us in time to know whether or not we’re feeding our pets so-called SAFE food. But it’s comments like PFI’s editor in chief, Debbie Phillips-Donaldson makes:
“Anyone could read these blog postings and think they all make sense, especially if he or she has limited knowledge of animal nutrition, petfood or the recalls, or has a lot of emotion invested. (This might be an apt description of many pet owners.)”
….that make me shake my head and sigh in huge frustration.
Oh Debbie Phillips-Donaldson…..ye of little faith.
Perhaps you need to look in the mirror and consider your “limited knowledge” of pet parents and recall related bloggers? Here’s a newsflash for you: Most of us DO have a modicum of intelligence.
Methinks PFI, FDA, Menu, CN & related types really do not like this amazing tool we now have called the “internet”. I’ll be danged if we aren’t all going to use it. Life can be such a biatch at times Debbie, yanno?
The truth is out there.
We WILL find it.
*angelic smile*
Comment by Ally — May 18, 2007 @ 11:45 am
I just love bees — because they are so vital to food production.
Bees are a keystone species:
Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner for science, Edward O. Wilson writes -
“As extinction spreads, some of the lost forms prove to be keystone species, whose disappearance brings down other species and triggers a ripple effect through the demographics of the survivors. The loss of a keystone species is like a drill accidentally striking a powerline. It causes lights to go out all over.” The Diversity of Life
Several years ago a cold spring caused bees at a local apple orchards to stay in and not pollinate. Without pollination there was a reduction of fruit by about 50-60%. Other crops have little or no harvest without bees. Nothing in nature or man made can do it better than the bees can!
I hope this is the problem so that at least there will then be a solution to it to save the bees.
Comment by Rose L — May 18, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
>I still favor using it in the FDA cafeteria, >since it’s apparently not harmful to humans. >Or shipping it back to the Chinese.
>Comment by Joyce — May 18, 2007 @ 11:02 am
Uh, Joyce… apparently it’s not too harmful to animals either, considering only 16 pets have died. I could have sworn it was at least 17, if they included my Siamese, but thousands of government do-nothings can’t be wrong! 16 it is.
Comment by Big Ron — May 18, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
Albert Einstein once predicted that if bees were to disappear, man would follow only a few years later. That hypothesis could soon be put to the test….
The hybrid genetically altered plants developed by Monsanto causing bees to die?????
http://viewzone.com/lostbees.html
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
US has anti-dumping regulations in place with China re: Honey, and other items as well. (non-frozen apple-juice concentrate I believe is one of them too). Really does make you wonder.
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
****”unusual cube particle in bee photo!!!!”******
This site has a clikc here underline to pdf with bee photos:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2tftvz
I hope the other researcher sees this along with the scientists at Guleph Universtity who identified the urine crystals.
Comment by Rose L — May 18, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
National Geographic article on what’s happening to the Bees.
http://tinyurl.com/2lhc2e
As I mentioned this morning, there were at least 100 bees buzzing around my flowers and my head, I had to duck to avoid them, and as a side note, I use no pesticides near or around my house - yes I have snails and tree frogs, butterflies, hummingbirds, birds of various types, and lots of dragon flies including some very large mutant looking ones.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 1:17 pm
Sorry, didn’t realize the National Geographic article was from 2004 - suppose the bees were a worry then too.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
Rose L:
Which page is the photo on - I can’t see what you are seeing.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 1:36 pm
I’ve mentioned this before on the blog, but thought I would again. Bees symbolize attaining the impossible - because for the longest time science could not figure out why they could fly - bees around your house are a very good omen…..
and then I suppose with bees dying by the millions - this is very bad news indeed for many reasons.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 1:59 pm
Can’t you hear it already? The suppliers and manufacturers will be blaming the bees for the tainted pet food.
Comment by Lynn — May 18, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
RE Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 18, 2007 @ 9:59 am
Peggy,
In the past several days I’ve had several conversations with scientific labs and several have already begun contacting manufacturers to advise them that they can do pet food testing. It would be an independent third party test - something I’d have more confidence in than the mfr doing its own testing.
Comment by Lynn — May 18, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
RE Comment by Kat — May 18, 2007 @ 10:02 am
Hey! Now there’s one of the smartest ideas I’ve heard in a long time.
Comment by Lynn — May 18, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
RE Comment by BengalMom — May 18, 2007 @ 8:36 am
“Not to be an alarmist or anything but I wonder if the Dept of Homeland Security will be involved soon!”
I think they were in the beginning. I can’t see that they are all that effective. Remember Katrina?
Comment by Lynn — May 18, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
I feel very sorry for the Bees - God’s little creatures that make our world so wonderful and give us honey and polinate the crops - busy working in our universe - and now they are vanishing - (for some strange reason and unknown reason(s))- except for the organic crops - guess they are a better judge of what is “good” than we are.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
There’s a lot to be said about developers not upgrading to newer software until most other users already have that software installed.
Comment by Lynn — May 18, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
I just keep wondering, given the ever expanding nature of the melamine problem, what *else* is/has been going on that we *don’t* know about?
Comment by slt — May 18, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
Ok, people, I had one of those brain-bang moments here.
Imagine: US consumers are really changing their buying/spending habits and boycott wares from China, and *demand* that China is adhering to our standards and protocols of producing (which are obviously stated in those ‘trade agreements).
That would mean that Chinese wares would become more expensive - probably about as expensive as domestically produced. No more ‘cheap way out’ for bibu (big business).
That also would mean, that domestic farmers would have a real chance to sell without being outbid by Chinese produce.
Meaning, our farmers and ranchers would have a chance for survival, *even and especially the ‘smaller, non-commericalized’ niche farmers/ranchers.
Raised consumer conscience and care could actually spell good, clean domestic products, and a decent living for those who provide good products domestically.
Ok, that is too easy. That makes sense. Therefore, it can’t be and has a logical weaving error.
I step now away from the computer and take either a Tequilla or a cold shower, whatever comes first.
Comment by MaKo — May 18, 2007 @ 2:55 pm
Here is another reason not to buy from China, don’t read this if you love tigers - it makes me weep.
http://tinyurl.com/357m2l
Soon the entire animal kindgom will be crying our against China.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
Good Read - Organic :
http://www.progressivefarmer.c.....39,00.html
Comment by Bee — May 18, 2007 @ 3:12 pm
Bee,
Thanks for the article and the nostalgia. My father read Progressive Farmere cover to cover…
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 18, 2007 @ 3:33 pm
I don’t buy bee pollen extracts from China - in fact, I avoid all products from China. Health Food Stores are filled with them.
Comment by Terry — May 18, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
Linda
Bee dissection photos here: (if I did url correctly)
http://beepix.notlong.com
If this link doesn’t work, go to
http://beeweb.notlong.com
and click the underline word ‘here’ midway down page
Friday, I liked fridays till they became fright-days with the recalls!
Comment by Rose L — May 18, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
Thanks Rose. Oh, doesn’t it just make your heart ache looking at that poor dark dense little bee flesh.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
One of the vets where I used to work was certified to prescribe Chinese herbs. Bet it’s not so popular now.
Comment by Susan — May 18, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Maybe whoever made this site really dislikes the Bush administration:) or maybe it is unbiased, not sure. But I’ve been sitting here reading through much of the site, and we at petconnection can really relate to some of this. I’ll put some of those here and the link. Not liking what I’ve been reading at all - they’re ‘backing up’ their statements too, I always look for that.
“Areas of Investigation
Distortion of Public Information
The public relies on government agencies for scientific information and explanations of complex technical matters. Applying a political filter to scientific communications can confuse the public and ultimately lead to cynicism and disillusionment. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has:
….altered web sites, deleting information that conflicts with Administration priorities or adding unscientific information that supports such priorities;
suppressed information from agency reports that conflicts with Administration’s political or ideological agenda or suppressed the report altogether”
hmmm - delete info, alter websites… boy do we know about that, huh?
Read the above here:
http://oversight.house.gov/fea.....mation.htm
To the ‘left’ you can choose a subject, such as ‘science’. Then in the center you’ll see concerns stated, such as above quoted, and then to the right, there are then related items to choose from.
Notice the site is a .gov site - oversight.house
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
Boy, do I have a scoop on Monsanto. Just not sure I should - post it.
ummm…. don’t eat soy?
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
Oh post it. I stopped eating all that junk, no soy either. Post!
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
If you want to scare yourself silly re bees and GMO: http://www.blacklistednews.com/view.asp?ID=3220 Proof Bees Dying Due to GM Crops? GM Genes ‘Jump Species Barrier’.
Comment by Lin52 — May 18, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
We need to ban GM crops. Poor bees.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
I have posted at Itchmo that all of My hummingbirds are gone. We had some, we usually have tons of them. I fed them and they have all gone. 3 of my neighbors hummingbirds are gone too. Does the hummingbird food come from China? And Yes, I want to ban the olimpics!
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 18, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
Linda I’m not sure I should have found it. I don’t know the ‘laws’ (NO I am not a hacker, I am just an obscessed animal lover and I love my family - aka - ….what is that again Ally??? something or another…Inc. *smiles*) and I read and read and read and google is now a verb at my home :) anyhow there was a disclaimer at the beginning. Maybe it was on the ‘wrong side’ of the network / internet or something. I read it and it scared the … foul matter out of me and I thought of you guys right away. It’s matter I feel the public should know IMO but they won’t ever know. Maybe I can find a way to blog something without - blogging anything. We’ve learned how to use creative wording from the companies themselves, right?
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 18, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
Trudy -
You can try just making home made food, my dad feeds humming birds, has for years. I *think* he uses sugar water. I’ll ask him. It might be too early in the season to see them but, don’t know for sure on that either. He’s the expert in our family on the hummers *smiles*. Hopefully this weekend I’ll talk with him and I’ll get answers on both - see if he has had any hummers yet (east coast here)
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
Trudy: I still have a ton of hummers around my house…..don’t buy the premade nectar, make your own. That’s what I do. Only takes a second to fix…..let’s hope the sugar isn’t from China!
Comment by JanC — May 18, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
Make your own hummingbird food:
1 cup sugar
4 cups water
No need for red dye or any of that.
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 18, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
Comment by Ally — May 18, 2007 @ 11:45 am
Ally,
I posted this link a couple days ago here. Several interesting finds:
Editorial Comments - the humanization of pets has been enormously positive for the petfood industry. However, there’s another side to humanization, as we’re seeing now in the wake of numerous petfood recalls.
Numerous???? Maybe Gina & Christie can help verify his numbers.
It was ok for us to humanize our pets when it meant $ for the industry, but now that pets are sick/dying — well, that’s a different story.
“Learning from a sad and messy crisis”
p.29 “predicts it’s only a matter of time before the media takes an interest in what is entering the grocers and homes via the petfood industry.”
Wow—-he may be on to something.
“Something to Chew On” - blogs are a fixture of today’s communication . . . get plenty of hits along with responses of varying relevance and factuality…..anyone could read blogs and think they make sense, especially if they have a limited knowledge of animal nutrition, petfood or recalls….if that’s the only information they have, their impression of our industry — or your commpany and products — may not be one that any of us like.
WOW !
Comment by Donna — May 18, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
Donna, sorry to duplicate your link! I saw the link for the first time when someone posted it today at Itch & as I said earlier, I may have missed a prior posting.
But it sure felt good having my l’il chat with Debbie above. These letters and notes we write sure have a bit of cathartic therapy to them don’t they? ;)
Comment by Ally — May 18, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
Thanks everyone. I will make My own. But I did buy this food after I saw the birds eating it. I hope it wasn’t more junk from China. thanks
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 18, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
Comment by Ally — May 18, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
I didn’t actually post any of the content from the articles I read, just the link and titles. I found the publication quite by accident. Couldn’t believe what I was reading.
Good, good therapy - we should keep it up!
Comment by Donna — May 18, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
Trudy, Granny’s recipe above should do the trick. It’s pretty much the same recipe my Dad used for years and it worked like a charm. :)
OK. Since it’s Friday and we all know what that means, plus my brain’s more than a tad fried from all the past several week’s worth of recall news, bleary eyed blog reading, etc., I want to make sure I have this right. So far, we have mela-chicken, mela-pork, mela-fish, possibly mela-bees (!!!) and for those so inclined, maybe even mela-ferrets (eeuw - I could never eat a poor ferret). The bees still blow my mind, I thought they trolloped from flower to flower to feed? I keep getting this not so funny feeling the “bee feed” is used as some kind of GM process for the bees. Scary ain’t it?
Anyhoo, with all the recent cleared for take-off!!! chickens, pork and fish, I keep feeling the itch to build some kind of bomb shelter and hide while yelling “Take cover! INCOMING!!!” Some nights while trying to fall asleep, I think about those old movie posters from the 50’s and can’t help but see one saying “Attack of the KILLER MELA-CHICKENS!!!”. That one keeps me awake for hours….
Is it just me or does anyone else here occasionally have these off the wall weird sort of thoughts? ‘Cept maybe straybaby. Some days I think stray & I were separated at birth, lol.
BTW, my latest tee-shirt reads:
got mela_________?
(with the mela-food list growing daily, I figured I’d cover myself by thinking ahead)
Comment by Ally — May 18, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
“Our vulnerable food supply
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Now how farfetched does it seem that terrorists could launch an attack on America’s food supply?
From field to fork, the vulnerability of the industry that puts what we eat on our tables is being demonstrated by repeated safety lapses.
Don’t think that terrorists — hoping to strike fear into millions across the U.S. homeland — haven’t seen the latest headlines. Food for tainted thought, of course.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of pets were killed or sickened by food contaminated by the industrial chemical melamine before it was imported from China.
Which has scary implications for people.
The food we eat in our homes is produced an average of 1,500 miles away — but much of its comes from the far corners of the world.
All the high standards and rigorous inspections of food production in the United States mean little if sub-standard, tainted and even toxic food products are brought here from other countries.
More than 100,000 companies are registered to import food into the United States. According to experts, the link in our food chain least protected from wrongdoers is transportation from the sites of production at home and abroad. “
The rest is here:
http://tinyurl.com/2xdvmo
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 18, 2007 @ 5:37 pm
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 18, 2007 @ 5:37 pm
“Now how farfetched does it seem that terrorists could launch an attack on America’s food supply?”
Not far at all, Granny. Although I don’t think this is what’s happening now, I’m convinced there exist terrorists taking copious notes for later use.
Comment by Ally — May 18, 2007 @ 5:41 pm
Comment by Ally — May 18, 2007 @ 5:41 pm
“Now how farfetched does it seem that terrorists could launch an attack on America’s food supply?”
Not far at all, Granny. Although I don’t think this is what’s happening now, I’m convinced there exist terrorists taking copious notes for later use.”
I found the name of the president of one of these US pet food companies on the Middle East register. If that is an interest I’ll go find the …company and the pres and the register again but don’t know if it’s important. It just takes so so so long to get things posted to this blog anymore I don’t know what’s important/ what’s worth bothering with anymore.
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
Ally,
I don’t think that’s what’s happening here either, though I’m sure gives them a warm fuzzy feeling to see how easy it would be!
Funny in your earlier post you mentioned the 50’s. As soon as I found out that China was the origin of the poison I had a flash to seeing Nikita Khrushchev pounding on the table at the UN yelling “We will bury you!” and “We will destroy you from within!”
We worked hard to make sure it didn’t happen and unfortunately in this “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” world, we sidled up to China. For years I wondeered if there would be “hot war” between the Soviets & US or the Soviets & China. Thankfully neither! Right now it sure looks like the communists found a chink in our defenses for the “destroy us from within” part…
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 18, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
So I came home looking for the scoop on Soy - didn’t see it….ummmmm darn.
While out shopping I was going to buy some tuna, on a diet, and read the labels - they add soy to the tuna cans…can’t remember the brand, maybe Chicken of the Sea??????
Now why in the world would they add soy to canned Tuna? I didn’t but it.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
Sorry, simply must proof read - buy it - typing is not my thing.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
It seems like all the canned tuna has soy in it. The tuna in water has veggie broth ans soy and the tuna in oil is soy oil. At least the soy oil makes a bit of sense.
Sister went to grocery store this afternoon, said they had beautiful salmon steaks $4. a pound, she passed them up….
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 18, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
I can’t get on using aol - comments don’t appear and then my screen goes blank. I too used Opera.
AOL S***s so that does not surprise me!
Comment by Micheal — May 18, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
Linda -
I’m going to post the find.
This did pass, according to the federal register? info. I saved that too, somewhere! :)
This is a 237 page document (per Adobe file). Reading all of it beginning to end is recommended IMO, and research back out what you find within. Makes you sick. Even from the beginning - wanting nonregulated status (got it) on the crap.
This is the Monsanto find:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/.....17801p.pdf
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
Linda, I wrote to Chicken of the Sea and asked them 1) Why did you start adding soy broth to tuna in water? 2)Shouldn’t it say that in BIG LETTERS? and 3)Are any of their ingredients from China? This was their response (copied and pasted from their email): Any ingredients added to the canned/pouched product are carefully listed on the label so that the consumer is aware before opening the container as to what is in the container. Please understand that there are many guidelines put forth by the Federal Food and Drug Administration as to what is required by law to be put on the labels of canned products. However, as a courtesy to our consumers, even though very small, we try and fit it where we can. For your information, Chicken of the Sea pack varieties of seafood products. We manufacture our Low Sodium Chunk White, Low Sodium Chunk Light and canned salmon (Traditional style). These products have neither soy nor vegetable broth contents.
We only purchase tuna from the Western Tropical Pacific as this is the only area in the world considered to be Dolphin Safe. All ingredients used in the tuna are made of U.S. If the country of origin is not printed on the label then it is domestic pack. We appreciate your taking the time to contact us, and we hope that the above information answers your questions.
Notice which question they didn’t answer?
Comment by Sharron — May 18, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
hopefully it will show up, eventually.
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 6:56 pm
Thanks Shelly, it showed up.
Lots of reading, More Monsanto FrankenFood, not the kind of reading that makes for a good nights sleep!
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 18, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
Re: Certain comments not immediately showing up
I know Gina & Christie are aware some posts are getting held hostage by the spam filter. For me, it used to happen occassionaly, but now it seems to happen every time I post a reply with a hyper link included.
Question:
Is the spam filter set on something like a sliding scale (like an email spam filter) and is possibly set too high?
Comment by Ally — May 18, 2007 @ 7:35 pm
Re: Certain comments not immediately showing up
“For me, it used to happen occassionaly, but now it seems to happen every time I post a reply with a hyper link included”
Maybe we can just stop sourcing our info, help make things run smoother. Make things easier on Gina.
I would prefer to source, seems more correct way to handle the data, but this is really weird, didn’t used to be this way.
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
Until last Wed. there was a huge honey bee hive on a tree in my next door neighbors yard. It was so spectacular, we even took guests into the MB just to see it through the picture window over the tub. Thur. am it was entirely gone! My neighbors gardners had been there on Wed. When I asked my neighbors what happened to the hive (you know, play dumb, keep peace with neighbors) they said they didn’t even know there was a hive in the tree! Hope the gardners enjoy all that honey - we will sure miss the bees in our vegi garden.
Comment by Patricia Hill — May 18, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
I knew it was coming. In yesterday’s mail i received first of the pet foods coupon blitz - coupons for Nutro Max Cat dry. I refolded the coupons so the return address shows, actually went to post office and paid to mail the coupons back to the manufacturer with a little note inside saying i’d never again feed my pets anything made by Nutro. I hope everybody receiving pet food coupons returns them. The pet food makers think everyone is going to forget and it’s going to be ‘business-as-usual’ soon.
Comment by CherCat — May 18, 2007 @ 8:06 pm
Please keep sourcing. We need the sourcing. Don’t re-post. We’ll free your comment from moderation or spam filters as soon as we can.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 18, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 18, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
“Monsanto FrankenFood”
Holy Smokes, that’s surely a great name - these folks are involved in Nuclear Weapons production. WOW. Am I the only one that didn’t know that????
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
Gina -
If there is anything I can do to help you with however you guys do-what-you-do, please shoot me an email. Would be glad to help.
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 8:10 pm
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 18, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
Note -
not sure that it’s totally to blame on the links, comments alone get held up often for a very long time as well.
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
Honestly, we’re not checking as obsessively for trapped comments.
See … we’re kinda behind on our work. I know Christie has some articles due, and I am STILL finishing a book that was due May 1, with another due June 1.
I know from talking with Christie on the phone earlier today that we’re also just beat. Nine weeks is a long, long time to be working as hard as we have.
So … don’t repost, be patient. We’re doing our best. :)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 18, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
Didn’t read the whole thread (I’m exhausted, too!) but I hope the two of you NEVER doubt how much your work is appreciated. I believe, down to the bottom of my soul, that your work has saved animals’ lives. Many died, but it might have been many, many more if not for your indefatigable (my favorite word from the Schipperke Breed Standard!) pursuit of getting The Truth out there.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 18, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
And let me add this:
I, too, have noticed that the problem’s gotten worse recently, especially in the past two weeks. I’m afraid I was the culprit last night who tried to post her comment several times……sorry…..I was just so tired and trying to go to bed and wanted to make sure the comment was there before I closed down for the night.
Seriously, whatever maintenance or installation you performed over the past two weeks is part of the problem. If there’s anything I can do as well, let me know.
It might be to all our advantage if when we post we indicate if we:
1. Use Firefox
2. Version of IE currently used
I do NOT use firefox and currently use IE6. I do not plan to upgrade to IE7 for several months because of incompatibility issues that developers have noted.
[There’s some issue of incompatibility in certain areas with MS and Firefox. Also IE7 is not without its own set of bugs. You just can’t win!]
Comment by Lynn — May 18, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
I forgot to add:
Although I closed down last night without the comment added, I did wake up this morning and saw that it was indeed on the blog.
My point is, that this has happened to me about 3-4 times. And each time my comment really does show up on the comments.
So I promise, Christie and Gina, not to re-post the same comment again.
Comment by Lynn — May 18, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
Back around April 15, I saw the “Bee food tainted?” idea on this blog:
http://lethaldose.wordpress.co.....sing-bees/
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 18, 2007 @ 8:35 pm
OTHER Pat … you’re very welcome. Yesterday I was asked by a reporter why we’ve done this … I was taken aback by the question!
Simply put: It never occurred to us NOT to jump into this. It’s what we do, as journalists and animal-lovers.
As for the bugs … I had to give the Black Dog guys a little time off from us. They had deadlines to meet, too, and we’re not their only client. (Although I think sometimes they think we think we are!)
Hug all your pets. 8:30 p.m. and a long day of writing for me tomorrow. I’m turning in. Christie was up all last night — couldn’t sleep — but I imagine she’ll cruise on in here eventually. I’d call, but in case she’s sleeping I don’t want to wake her up!
By the way … we’re NOT adjusting the spam filters. Since this started, they’ve spared us from having to do anything more than glance at and batch-delete some of the most disgusting porn garbage I could ever imagine. We’re nearing 50,000 spam posts alone, caught in that filter. We have to free a legitimate comment now and then, but so grateful otherwise for the Askimet spam filter. Bless them!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 18, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
Lynn, others, get Firefox, you really will like it and it is more secure. http://en-us.www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
All the different browsers work differently, unfortunately. There are standards for coding but each version has different levels of support for that standard. Firefox comes closest and Microsoft is finally coming around with IE7.
Our wonderful hosts have mentioned numerous times that there is a bug that shows up with any lesser browser (lower version number; IE6) when the comment count becomes large.
I hope this explains why you have problems with your older browser and helps you to understand that there is nothing that can be done about it; except to upgrade your browser.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 18, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
Sorry, Gina. Didn’t mean to comment over top of you. Just trying to get your back. I really appreciate all you guys do for all of us and our pets. Thanks!
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 18, 2007 @ 8:54 pm
Don’t know if it was mentioned here today, but http://www.howl911.com will be updated and ongoing as of tomorrow, Saturday. Good for them that they’re back and I wish them well.
Comment by Nabiya — May 18, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
That is GREAT news! I’m so glad to know Nikki is feeling better and will be back on the site. She had us all so worried.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 18, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
I use the latest Firefox and haven’t experienced any problems with late posting of comments or crashing due to too many comments. Firefox rules IMHO.
Comment by Lin52 — May 18, 2007 @ 9:06 pm
Shelly,
Thanks for posting the article. I will read it tomorrow. I did glance at it. Soybean Roundup for weed control?
On another note, I found information where Corn Gluten is used as a fertilizer - I will find the link again. I’m borrowing a computer tonight so I can’t do too much right now.
No Whey Protein and No Soybean please in my tuna or canned products - isn’t enough of this poison just enough already.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
Patricia
Sorry to hear about the missing bee hive. What a shame - poor bees lost their home. That was a mean thing to do and I don’t like it at all and it wasn’t even my hive.
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
Gina, hope you see this before toddling off to bed. The OTHER Pat said it so well above so I’ll echo her thoughts and add that what you & Christie have given all of us is priceless. All of the furry kids still here to wag their tails & purr with love are proof of that.
Thank you from the depths of my toes for all you’ve both done, for the brain esplodeys, insight, humor & just plain putting up with us when you probably wanted to smack some of us upside the head.
You both have definitely earned a very special place in dog/cat heaven!
Comment by Ally — May 18, 2007 @ 9:26 pm
Even this wrinkley blue haired dragon has FireFox, thanks to her tech savy kids (the two legged, crested type :) and it works nice!
Comment by Aunt Granny — May 18, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
Comment by Linda — May 18, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
Linda -
You’ll find the corn gluten used for weed control data with Cereal Byproducts website.
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 10:13 pm
RE Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 18, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
Peggy, I appreciate your concern but the ONLY website I have a problem with is this one. I’m serious….I am all over the place on the internet and this is the ONLY website that gives me problems. That in itself should tell you something.
I develop programs and write lots of code. I work with a lot of computer engineers and for reasons too numerous to count we all agree: do not use Fx or upgrade to IE7. Also, those of us who are professionals know better than to upgrade to software that has only been in use for a short time.
As far as security goes…..you wouldn’t believe how “tucked in” I am.
Those who are not IT professionals and use their computers for graphics and media processing will probably find Fx a godsend.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_:_Issues
http://www.ie-vista.com/kbase.html#vuln
Comment by Lynn — May 18, 2007 @ 10:30 pm
Lynn,
I’m one of those graphics/media pro’s. But on a Mac. Both Foxfire and Safari work just fine. The only hangups I’ve had have been the snap links when reloading the page if it’s comment heavy. I’ve learned to breath at that point or just close the page and re-open. And well, security concerns on a Mac . . . ;)
But seriously, I did think the site was freezing on me until I caught the hanging up on the snap links out of the corner of my eye at the bottom of my browser.
Comment by straybaby — May 19, 2007 @ 12:04 am
IE regardless of version is full of security holes and problems. With all of the googling folks are doing lately it’s much safer to use Firefox than IE.
Firefox download site: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
Comment by newlurker — May 19, 2007 @ 6:20 am
I also want to throw in a special thanks to Gina & Christie…..we all know how hard you both have worked & maybe we don’t say thank you enough but we sure do appreciate both of you. I absolutely positively agree that you have saved many animal lives.
I have NOT seen a thing in the paper or on the news about these recalls….so I can tell you that other pet owners are in the dark about this. The very first recall was news, then it was stifled. I do believe the PF companies have enough power to stifle the media. Anyone not on the internet doesn’t have a clue. I think that’s very sad but I know it’s meant to be low key so the majority of Americans don’t have a clue this thing is ongoing.
Sleep well, both of you, knowing you’ve done such a bang-up job. Let’s hope these recalls are soon over so EVERYONE can get a good nights’ sleep……
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 6:29 am
newlurker: I sure do agree with you. I love FF & have never had any problems with it but some people use IE because it is compatible with a lot of software that FF is not compatible with. I still have to use IE for certain things……
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 6:31 am
I knew it was coming. In yesterday’s mail i received first of the pet foods coupon blitz - coupons for Nutro Max Cat dry. I refolded the coupons so the return address shows, actually went to post office and paid to mail the coupons back to the manufacturer with a little note inside saying i’d never again feed my pets anything made by Nutro. I hope everybody receiving pet food coupons returns them. The pet food makers think everyone is going to forget and it’s going to be ‘business-as-usual’ soon.
Comment by CherCat — May 18, 2007 @ 8:06 pm
***************
I’ve received 3 batches of pet food coupons so far: 9 Lives canned cat food (several free cans coupon), Mighty Dog (free cans coupons), and Dad’s Kibble Select (free sample bag). I wrote “Return to Sender. Not Requested. I will never again support the PFI.” Some I even paid to mail back, and it was money well spent. I’m even cutting some coupons out of the Sunday inserts and mailing them to the companies!
Comment by petlover — May 19, 2007 @ 6:31 am
RE: Sharron & Chicken of the Sea brand tuna:
We only purchase tuna from the Western Tropical Pacific as this is the only area in the world considered to be Dolphin Safe. All ingredients used in the tuna are made of U.S. If the country of origin is not printed on the label then it is domestic pack. We appreciate your taking the time to contact us, and we hope that the above information answers your questions.
Notice which question they didn’t answer?
Comment by Sharron — May 18, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
*************
Google “western Pacific map” and up comes a map of the waters around Japan, China, & the Philippines.
Comment by petlover — May 19, 2007 @ 6:40 am
Has anyone wondered about the eggs from these mela-chickens ?
I have chickens myself (small backyard flock) so thankfully I know what’s in my eggs :)
I worm them once a year and for 2 weeks after I worm them..I throw out the eggs. The wormer label says 1 week..but I like to play it safe.
And, once they got into my onion patch and ate the nice green stalks. Boy did those eggs have an *off* taste for over a week.
Those *slightly tainted* chickens may pass the melamine alright..right into their eggs.
I hope this post is helpful because I know first hand some things about chickens and their eggs.
Comment by newlurker — May 19, 2007 @ 7:04 am
Somebody posted info yesterday that these were strictly chickens laying eggs for hatching chicks. I was unaware of that until I read that about these melachickens. If you want, I can go find the info for you. Which made me wonder if we will now have melachicks running around……
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 7:11 am
“IMO, the melamine hype is a smoke screen to hide the fact we have not been told anything like the whole truth.”
This makes a LOT of sense to me. Blame it all on melamine - melamine will fit the pic - widely known of it’s use - lot’s of reasons to pin it on China, too many too list/source -
I really think we have a bigger picture than melamine that killed our pets and I’m headed in that direction in my sleuthing now, too. Polyethylene Glycol is one idea, but research outside of melamine/cyanuric acid - just starting.
Melamine - it’s always been here & we didn’t know is my thinking - what is new - and being covered up -
glad it’s Saturday. whew.
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 7:12 am
Before finally passing out last night, I did a tiny bit of research on the concept that it is NOT melamine.
‘Clarification on idea’ - melamine, always been here, US has always known - YES it’s in food -US knows, but has always known, hence why ok to release the flying food into human food market
-but it’s a smoke screen - it’s not our **NEW** problem
Some of the Polyethylene Glycol info I pulled up, Monsanto (and friends, such as Chevron Phillips) is behind it. (see - monsanto polyethylene m.p.e 212 also in ALSO IN FOOD ADDITIVE FILE #118 )
Food info
http://www.codexalimentarius.n.....tml?id=270
(at this site what doesn’t look like links, are, and you’ll see a ton more info) You’ll see some familiar uses as that of melamine.
More chemical names this is known under, and what it is used for. Ain’t food.
http://www.chemidex.com/produc.....002237/p/1
Just a thought, on one idea.
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 7:24 am
Shelly:
Go over to itchmo & read the article by Dr. Fox that I just read (it’s huge so I can’t copy it). I’m not sure how to provide a link but go to the posts under “80,000 melachickens…” & go about 3/4 of the way down to “Soma says, May 18, 11:47pm) & read that article. That made the hair stand up on my neck. If there was a link there, I could’ve provided that but don’t know how to link to individual postings…..sorry.
This is about gm crops & it’s the first thing that has made sense to me. Also would involve a whole lot of lying by all the gov’t agencies if this is true. Gee, wouldn’t that be a big surprise to all of us?????
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 7:44 am
“Kjeldahl Method” is widely used and it tests levels of nitrogen and it tests for melamine.
So, that excuse the FDA has been throwing up…urrr..out - can’t be used anymore on the ‘melamine theory’.
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 8:17 am
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 7:44 am
Hi JanC, can you please tell me what forum it’s under, and then the subject (article by Dr. Fox)? Can’t find it and I’d like to check it out!
Comment by Nabiya — May 19, 2007 @ 8:20 am
Jan C.-
Oh yes, I’m on the GM crop theory too. Did you catch the ummm… post that made yesterday - that I didn’t want to post? It was a 237 page Adobe file? Juicy.
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 8:20 am
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
sumbuddy pleeze answer me that one question. preety pleeze.
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 8:35 am
Shelly: there was no post for me to go to….pls repost so I can go read…..thx
Nabiya: go to itchmo.com, then go to the comments under “80,000 melachickens”. Scroll down to about 3/4 of the way down (sorry for this guys, I have no clue how to link you to an individual post). It’s under “Soma says, May 18th at 11:47pm”. The article is called “A Genetic Engineered Food Disaster” by Dr. Michael W. Fox. Blew me away because I think it brings all the pieces of the puzzle together.
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 8:36 am
Hi Nabiya:
It’s not in the forums, but under Itchmo’s blog entry about the “80,000 melachickens” here:
http://www.itchmo.com/read/800.....n_20070518
Scroll to soma’s post:
soma Says:
May 18th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
It’s a long post, so you can’t miss it.
Hope this helps.
Comment by Ally — May 19, 2007 @ 8:37 am
Oops. Sorry - cross posting with JanC.
But I have included the link above to the blog entry which should help.
Comment by Ally — May 19, 2007 @ 8:38 am
Thanks Ally…..didn’t have a clue how to do that.
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 8:39 am
JanC you make me grin
I posted the ‘source within’ - it shows my name, date and time - that’s how we source our messages here on petconnection, to indicate what exactly we are replying to. You’ll see those in all black type (no orange - the time is in orange on a new post) the time is in black on a sourced post.
So when I say go here:
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
You scroll up to that post - look for that date and time posted by shelly. :) that’s where you’ll see that post. that’s how to post a link from within the same blog - sure hope I’m clear - working on my 2nd cup of coffee still…
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 8:40 am
JanC - no prob, happy to help as it was a stellar post you recommended. Thanks!
To include a hyper link, just click on that blog entry, copy the URL addy in your address bar and then paste in your post. We don’t have to use tinyurl here anymore - yay! :)
Comment by Ally — May 19, 2007 @ 8:41 am
Shelly….I think I gotcha……except the post where you told me to go “here”, I can’t find it now. Am I losing it or do I need more coffee?
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 8:42 am
Here’s a link to the Dr. Michael Fox article if you can’t find it in the other post:
http://tedeboy.tripod.com/drmichaelwfox/id74.html
Comment by newlurker — May 19, 2007 @ 8:44 am
Thanks for all your help…..can you tell this is all new to me? It all started around 3/16, when I found all you wonderful people…..
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 8:44 am
JanC-
This is actually a welcome deterrant.
Do you know how to scroll up the page you are looking at right now? (ohh gosh - what page are you looking at… hopefully the blog site and not a feed, i’ll totally confuse you)
If you are on petconnection website/blog and reading this post right now, scroll up the page. you’ll see the dates/times of posts. Look for the times in orange to find this one:
Comment by shelly — May 18, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
Far right hand side of your computer screen, use the ‘scroll bar’ to go up and down the page.
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 8:49 am
I did find it, Shelly. I realized that you were telling me to go up to an earlier post…..duh!
I’ve been using computers a long time so I’m not a dummy there but I sure don’t know a lot about posting links & such here. However, that article really did make the hair on my neck stand up & I just had to share it.
There is a class-action lawsuit separate from the pet food recall. This is about pet owners being deceived into thinking there were good & wholesome ingredients in pet food. I can only speak for myself in saying that I had no clue, I believed these jackasses that this was a wholesome, nutritious food for my dog. I am just furious to think they lied & stuck all their waste products in MY DOG’S FOOD.
Anyway, I had just gotten an email from the lawyers in this suit with a reply address….I just copied that article & sent it on to them. I feel this is pretty significant…..maybe I’m wrong but I sent it to them anyway.
It makes a lot of sense because one lab found rat poison & then the FDA was quick to sweep that one under the rug & say nobody else had found any. Maybe they had good reason to reject the rat poison theory. If so, they are even worse than I have suspected all along.
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 9:01 am
Comment by newlurker — May 19, 2007 @ 8:44 am
I just read this and OH MY GOSH
That Monsanto find, that whole approval thing was recent, 2006. CHIT
Sumbuddy messed up BIG TIME
YO - GOVERNMENT PEOPLE - keep the melacrap out of the food number one, and also - whatever else you are (REALLY) up to now, the stuff you’re trying to hide? (via testing on my dog I might add#$%^&) - KEEP THAT OUT ALSO. Just stop. STOP.
You too, you Pesticide..I mean…soy, food additive, chemical weapons people:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/.....17801p.pdf
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 9:04 am
I miss the day when we (thought) we only had to worry about poultry feathers and hooves and horns passing as animal protein. That was…back in ….March this year
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 9:19 am
A frightening thought is that we may be seeing the long term (or not so long) affects of GM bio-tech franken plants being mixed together and producing a highly toxic mixture.
From some Monsanto GM studies I’ve seen..they consider 6 months long term. IMO I don’t see 6 months as being long term..I’d like to see 5-10 years !
Comment by newlurker — May 19, 2007 @ 9:39 am
Thank you all for the Dr. Michael W. Fox link. Wouldn’t that make a great flyer to hand out one weekend. hmmmm…..
Comment by Maudigan — May 19, 2007 @ 9:58 am
http://www.dickdurbin.com/home
There’s a link on that page “Write the FDA Today” with a prepared email to the FDA.
Let’s do what we can ..grass roots movement.
Comment by newlurker — May 19, 2007 @ 10:02 am
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 9:19 am
Good morning Shelly, I miss the day when I didn’t have to spend 2+ hours each day reading/researching the latest on recalls/contamination to keep my pets and my family alive.
Comment by Nabiya — May 19, 2007 @ 10:25 am
Someone should send that article by Dr. Fox to the FDA & totally freak them out.
Imagine that, this guy could actually be on to their lies & deceit. My stomach just churns when I think our animals were used as their friggin canaries in the mine. Why don’t we feed all members of the FDA & PFI some gm crops in all their foods & then check in with them a year down the road. Then we can determine if it’s safe for us. I like that better than them using us & our pets. As far as I’m concerned, they’re dispensable….we’re not….ha ha.
I already sent that email from Durbin’s page & it will only allow you to do it once. I hope they got a kazillion emails on that subject.
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 10:27 am
Nabiya: I second that…..I can’t stay away from my computer for more than a few hours & then I’m back checking all the websites to see if anything else has happened. It’s awful. I used to have a life…..
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 10:29 am
Comment by Nabiya — May 19, 2007 @ 10:25 am
well said
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 10:29 am
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 10:27 am
I believe it’s in our food already - GM stuff. It’s in alfalfa too even. Green Giant is even using the seeds.
(the green giant part I just read at some senate committee minutes) - site here:
http://www.legislature.idaho.g.....sagmin.pdf
Ok then (NOT) - what part of this killed the pets in masses all of a sudden
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 10:33 am
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 10:29 am
“It’s awful. I used to have a life…..”
*ditto*
I also didn’t used to swig tequila and eat worms.
Comment by Ally — May 19, 2007 @ 10:34 am
Another product to add to the “don’t buy from China (ever so long and growing) list”:
I use “Pet Wipes” to clean the corner of my cat’s eyes but not any more! In very fine print, made in China. Also says it contains an “essential protein” but doesn’t list which one.
Comment by Nabiya — May 19, 2007 @ 11:06 am
Nabiya doggone it I use them too. I use pet wipes for ears and eyes. I’m getting up off the couch - label checking.
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 11:13 am
YEP!
Both were made in china.
Know what else?
My organically kind of bags to pick up POOP.
Made in China.
Still using those no matter what. THEN - I’ll send them back to where they came from, USED. How’s that?!!!!!!
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 11:15 am
Shelly, check out http://www.petkin.com, that’s the brand I was using. They also make baby wipes! No where on their site does it list the ingredients for any product. On their site they say their are “manufacturers” but my jar of pet wipes from them clearly says “Quality Made in China”. Isn’t that a contradiction in and of itself??
Comment by Nabiya — May 19, 2007 @ 11:18 am
I’m off to check out the site -
First I’ll post those product names I was referring to -
“Soft & Gentle Jumbo Eye Wipes” by Petkin
Made in China
“ProEar Professional Ear Wipes” by Professional Pet Care Products Top Performance
Manufactured for Tops Pet Products
Made in China
“Pooch Pick-Up” Biodegradable Cornstarch Pet Waste Clean-Up Bags
Distributed by The Kyjen Co
Made In China
Hmmm…. I’ll have to send the poochies used to both the distributer AND china.
off to your site!
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Nabiya - we use the same Petkin product:)
I use those swabby thingy’s too that are on the site. Looks like Q-tips. GOSH.
China is everywhere.
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 11:26 am
Ally, you are a crackup…..you & your tequila & worms. And while we’re on the subject, pls pass it this way…..if you’re nice, I’ll share my cherry melaJello shots.
I wish I could remember where I read this but it was a few years back…..about pets getting sick from the use of pet wipes….something toxic in them. I think I had just bought them from one of my pet catalogs & I remember sending them back & asking for my money back…..telling them they should be ashamed of themselves for selling them. I have never used them since. I know, we are supposed to name our source but I honestly can’t remember where I heard about this. I just use a washcloth & water now, especially on dirty little paws.
Anyone who wants to get really sick, go read the information about that lawsuit pertaining to the rotten ingredients in pet food. I read a small portion when I first joined the suit but I just went back & read further. It turned my stomach big time….no lunch for me today.
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 11:34 am
I use those poop bags…..I think we should all fill up those little bags & send them to all our friends at those companies in China. Or to the ones in prison….tee hee. Maybe Sally & what’s his face at CN would also like some.
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 11:36 am
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 11:36 am
We’ll send it as a fertilizer or something. Ya, know, whatever ‘they’ would do.
Comes in boxes of 100 is what I have here. Let’s get that party started!
We have lost our melamine minds
Comment by shelly — May 19, 2007 @ 11:42 am
Comment by JanC — May 19, 2007 @ 11:34 am
I’m not well. I’ve been off my rock years and have learned to ignore the strange looks. If I’m able to add a smile to anyone’s day, it’s the least I can do in exchange for the much needed humor & iinsight I’ve gained from all of you.
If I didn’t have the outlet of a laugh or two to get me through this & other problems on my end, I really would start screaming and never stop.
Comment by Ally — May 19, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
shelly. I believe you meant to say, “We have lost our mela-minds”
VBG!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 19, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
Around the 3rd week of this disaster I posted that more people need to read “Fateful Harvest” written by Duff Wilson an investigative reporter. Patty Martin the mayor of Quincy Wash discovered that companies were dumping toxic waste into fertilizers. Here’s a quote from pg 228 “federal & state governments encourage the practice in the name of recycling which has benefits: recycling waste as fertilizer saves companies money & conserves precious space in hazardous-waste landfills and mixed & handled correctly, can help crops grow”… also “among the substances found in some recycled fertilizers are cadmium, lead, arsenic, radionuclides & dioxins at levels some scientists say may pose a threat to human health”. Canada has strict regulations. Here, in our country the EPA encourages it. Think melapork, melachicken, how about mela-produce.
Comment by VJ — May 19, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
I sent an email to Petkin asking to clarify their “manufacturer” status as stated on their website and “Quality Made in China” statement as found on the pet wipes product. Also asked what specifically is “essential protein”. I will post any reply.
Comment by Nabiya — May 19, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
Hi again, i’ve been so messed up about everything I had to stay off the web for a while. I couldn’t stay off too long though. I don’t know how to do this small, but i was looking at IWon.com tonight to get some nesw when I saw this- it’s unreal.
http;//apnews1.iwon.com/article/20070519/d8p7gb8o.html I hope I did that right. If not- Go to IWON.Com and look under health. Let Me know what You think. thanks,
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 19, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
Trudy,
Is this what you’re talking about?
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....sease.html
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 19, 2007 @ 6:58 pm
Thanks, the other Pat. Yes, that’s it. I don’t know how you did that, but Thanks a lot. Trudy
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 19, 2007 @ 7:08 pm