FDA ends media briefings on melamine investigation
By Gina Spadafori
May 22, 2007
The FDA media office just informed us:
FYI: Since there is no new information on the pet food/tainted animal feed (melamine) investigation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will no longer be holding regular Tuesday and Thursday media briefings on the issue. FDA’s investigation is still ongoing and an import alert remains in place for all vegetable protein products coming into the U.S. from China. FDA will notify the media when there is updated information. In the meantime, please contact FDA’s Press Office [...] with any questions. Thank you.
“No new information.” Well, there you have it. Move along, folks. Nothing to see here.
I think they just got tired of everyone making fun of their “hold” music.
Update: E-mail from Therese at The Pet Food List about that pet-food problem reported last night:
I just talked with Diamond and here’s more information …
Diamond is still waiting on confirmation from the testing. I’ll update as soon as I have more info.
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|Technorati Tags: pet food recall, dogs, cats,veterinarian, veterinary
Translation:
Shut up, pay your bills, and stop questioning authority.
Comment by Steve — May 22, 2007 @ 7:11 am
They knew reporters would go in today and ask about new food being tested by a vet and found to have melamine. They dont know how to answer for that so they dont want to have to answer at all. Business as usual.
Comment by Sandi K — May 22, 2007 @ 7:16 am
WTF!
There is nothing I can say at this point that is not obscene.
Just know that my brain is on fire and about to boil over!
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 22, 2007 @ 7:24 am
The FDA has been rendered speechless……ummm
Comment by Maudigan — May 22, 2007 @ 7:30 am
Well, I sent that article about Nutro Nuggets to the FDA, PFI, APPMA, Acheson & Sudloff, CVM. & several others too.
They need to know we know.
I asked when does this end?
You’re killing off your target market, you can expect your profits and sales to drop.
Tired, sick and angry
Comment by Ann H — May 22, 2007 @ 7:32 am
The FDA was sure to be asked about waaaay too many embarrassing things so they have decided to retreat to the secret squirrel clubhouse and put out the “no gurls alowed” sign, put their hands over their ears and go neener, neener neener.
The tutors in how to FEMA the pet food recall have done a fine job.
Just makes you want to bust with pride in your fine government doesn’t it?
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 22, 2007 @ 7:33 am
New market research report related to the worldwide pet food industry.
Based on an exclusive in-depth survey of hundreds of pet industry executives from around the world, this report examines the direction the global pet food market will take through 2011, both from an overall perspective and based on four respondent classifications: company type, job role, region, and level of country development.
http://tinyurl.com/2d929v
Comment by Steve — May 22, 2007 @ 7:33 am
How does “no new information” fit with “investigation is still ongoing”? Doesn’t make sense to me. But then, feeding my pets home prepared food is something I find relatively straightforward so obviously I am not in sync with the FDA.
Comment by slt — May 22, 2007 @ 7:41 am
No new information.
Glad to hear that the recall of yet *another* formerly not implemented pet food 9 weeks after the first recall is ‘no new information’.
Well, in a way, they are correct: it’s getting old with these ‘voluntary yes-no-yes-no recalls’.
Judging from the FDA’s position, we all therefore should expect *all and each* of the commercial pet foods available to be poisonous for our pets.
That means, unless a company posts the findings of at least two independend laboratories for each variety of their products on their web site, with date (and, of course, with the test result values), we have to assume that the products of any pet food company is between unhealthy and outright poisonous.
Makes things easier, doesn’t it?
More than 4500 dead animals say: ‘Guilty until proven innocent’.
Comment by MaKo — May 22, 2007 @ 7:41 am
To the FDA a new recall is ALWAYS a surprise, this time they decided to not bother with the media farce, and since they have denied recalls that were happening before this, well, that is NOT a new development.
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 22, 2007 @ 7:46 am
There’s no new information because it’s business as usual.
US LOOKING TO EASE CHINA TRADE TENSIONS
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....hina_trade
Gotta keep stroking China’s ego.
Comment by Tammy — May 22, 2007 @ 7:52 am
Comment by Sandi K — May 22, 2007 @ 7:16 am
ditto!! That might embarrass them. Evidently, their inspectors canNOT follow a paper trail very well.
Comment by Kat — May 22, 2007 @ 7:53 am
Bayh asks Bush, FDA to restrict Chinese food, medicine imports.
WASHINGTON – The United States should yank away the “welcome” sign for many Chinese food and medicine ingredients, Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., told President Bush and the head of the Food and Drug Administration in letters he sent Monday.
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/j.....262474.htm
Comment by Steve — May 22, 2007 @ 8:06 am
Comment by Ann H — May 22, 2007 @ 7:32 am
Ann, not to defend Nutro in any way, shape or form, its my understanding that the product is Nutra Nuggets not Nutro Nuggets. We just want to make sure that we are including all the crooks not just Nutro….
Comment by Sandi K — May 22, 2007 @ 8:08 am
Bayh asks Bush, FDA to restrict Chinese food, medicine imports.
WASHINGTON – The United States should yank away the “welcome” sign for many Chinese food and medicine ingredients, Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., told President Bush and the head of the Food and Drug Administration in letters he sent Monday.
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/j…..262474.htm
Comment by Steve — May 22, 2007 @ 8:06 am
Well at least someone in my own state gives two hoots !
Comment by Terri — May 22, 2007 @ 8:14 am
Sandi, Thanks..
Comment by Ann H — May 22, 2007 @ 8:20 am
Comment by Sandi K — May 22, 2007 @ 8:08 am
We have the power of the purse first. We have to keep in mind these 500 Pet Food Industry executives who want to control our future have nothing more in mind then accumulating wealth. (Stuff) Thats the bottom line.
If people are not buying their products they’ll just have to find some other business to get into.
This is going to have to be a long term effort. It doesn’t have to be painful. Just a commitment to calmly and methodically not supporting these companies.
What greater peace of mind can there be then knowing your feeding your pets the best food possible, and that you spared no effort in turning over every stone in the process.
Americans need to start supporting smaller Pet Food Brands that are transparent, want to improve their products,and rather then going to war against their customers will take what they have to say seriously.
Comment by Steve — May 22, 2007 @ 8:22 am
Did our lengthy list of still unanswered questions scare the FDA back into their secret hiding place?
This is not the time to get frustrated and quit. It seems to me it’s time to “turn up the flame” and keep those calls and letters going! We owe it to our furkids and to all their parents who have suffered through this. The suffering has not ended.
Comment by Donna — May 22, 2007 @ 8:23 am
To all the members of the media who have continued to cover this crisis — we thank you and appreciate the efforts you have made to address issues and questions still unanswered by the FDA, USDA and others.
Please do not stop your investigation into the pet food recall as you now can see we’re just beginning to focus on an even greater issue of overall food safety issues with regard to contaminated imports, GMO, etc.
There appears to be a great level of incompetence with the FDA/USDA; just watch the testimony given at the recent food safety hearing. What are they trying to hide? Why do they refuse to answer questions? In that hearing Dr. Acheson stated that “safety is our mission – we are a public health agency” — yet they are refusing to answer questions from the public. Why? Why are they not fulfilling their mission?
Comment by Donna — May 22, 2007 @ 8:33 am
Possibly the FDA is not holding news briefing because of “hysteria” - they don’t want the public “riled” up with
Comment by Linda — May 22, 2007 @ 8:41 am
FDA HALTS NEWS BRIEFINGS
I have a slightly different take on it. I think Acheson realized he was falling flat on his face and didn’t want to be publicly exposed in that manner. Let’s face it, the reporters obviously knew way more than he did.
Journalists, if you’re reading this, PLEASE don’t stop reporting. Publicize, I mean REALLY publicize any event and tag it with the question: “And what is the FDA doing about this?”
To everyone else: I know it seems like an eternity, but I’m so hopeful that when Bush leaves office that he takes his ineffective buddies with him.
Comment by Lynn — May 22, 2007 @ 8:42 am
8:41 comment by me missing end:
riled up with the truth or (their lies).
Comment by Linda — May 22, 2007 @ 8:43 am
Maybe we should be flooding letters and calls to the GAO [specifically the General Accountability Office]? Can someone get the org structure for that group and see if it’s headed by one of Bush’s buddies?
Comment by Lynn — May 22, 2007 @ 8:43 am
Yo Spocko!!!
We need you over here! What about that FOIA now?!!!
Comment by Ally — May 22, 2007 @ 8:49 am
http://www.gao.gov/cghome.htm
here is a link with the comptroller generals info
and here is a link to the office org structure chart and some of the items are links with additional information
and here’s another one with contact info and a link to their organizational phonebook in pdf format
Comment by Deborah — May 22, 2007 @ 8:56 am
OOPS - sorry left the 2 other links out
here they are
http://www.gao.gov/contact.html
http://www.gao.gov/cghome.htm
Comment by Deborah — May 22, 2007 @ 8:57 am
http://www.fas.usda.gov/script.....rm=Option1
http://www.scoular.com/markets/default.asp
Comment by Tammy — May 22, 2007 @ 9:06 am
With the long awaited advent of the “Chinese Tiger”, the markets in Asia have become very dynamic. As you would expect Scoular is there. We have been shipping ingredients to food and feed manufacturers for a long time. Now the processors of grains in the region have reached a level of sophistication that enable them to join in the supply chain for the rest of the world. Scoular now exports ingredients from Asia to North America. Using our extensive product expertise and market knowledge, combined with our position as one of the major agricultural Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers, Scoular is uniquely positioned to capture the two-way trade opportunities between the world’s largest economy today in North America, and the largest economy of the future, in China and her Asian neighbors.
Comment by Tammy — May 22, 2007 @ 9:16 am
E. Hamilton
Hi, I am trying to find out why I cannot access the MSNBC pet boards since yesterday. Have they taken down the boards about the pet food recalls?
I remember your name from that board so that is why I am addressing you…don’t know who else to contact….thank you, Gail
Comment by scooterkid — May 22, 2007 @ 9:27 am
Thanks Steve for the link regarding the pet food maker’s plans for us and our pets
Headline: High Growth reported in the Worldwide Pet Food Market
High growth? Better take another survey — the investigation is never going to let up. Re-dedicate.
Comment by Jay — May 22, 2007 @ 9:39 am
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07785t.pdf
very interesting report already done by the GAO regarding food safety and the changes needed
released April 24, 2007
read the highlights and recommendations on the left hand side -
so they’ve done a study and they know changes are needed now but will they do it?
Comment by Deborah — May 22, 2007 @ 9:41 am
Another story about more toothpaste with antifreeze glycol as an ingredient.
http://www.iht.com/
In the olden days we brushed our teeth using salt or soda—but it isn’t as tasty as antifreeze toothpaste, I’m sure.
Comment by Elaine — May 22, 2007 @ 9:49 am
Comment by scooterkid — May 22, 2007 @ 9:27 am
Hi Gail,
I’m not E. Hamilton, but saw your post. I just checked and am able to access the MSNBC pet boards with no problems. Is this the URL addy you’re using:
http://boards.msn.com/MSNBCboa.....did=232979
Comment by Ally — May 22, 2007 @ 9:53 am
About the GAO (source is Wikipedia):
The last sentence explains why the GAO is so highly regarded and non-politicized. Note that THE GAO DOES NOT HAVE ENFORCEMENT POWERS. It’s up to the Legislative Branch to use the information provided by GAO for beneficial purposes for the American people. (And we know how that is working…)
“The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is the non-partisan audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of Congress, and an agency in the Legislative Branch of the United States Government….The position (of Controller General) is currently filled by David M. Walker…(who) was appointed by President Clinton, and began serving his 15-year term in 1998…The Comptroller General may not be removed by the President, but only by Congress through impeachment or joint resolution for specific reasons.”
Comment by Maureen — May 22, 2007 @ 9:53 am
Comment by scooterkid — May 22, 2007 @ 9:27 am
Weird, that site seems to be having problems. Not a clue what is going on.
Comment by E. Hamilton — May 22, 2007 @ 9:55 am
Americans need to start supporting smaller Pet Food Brands that are transparent, want to improve their products,and rather then going to war against their customers will take what they have to say seriously.
Comment by Steve — May 22, 2007 @ 8:22 am
Steve, I agree with this but there is one thing (well not one but many) that concerns me….many of these smaller companies once they get lots of support will also start searching for cheaper ingredients to improve their bottom line. Also, according to all the info, once a company becomes larger, there supposedly isnt enough of some of these ingredients being produced in the U.S. so they start looking outside. I have done some research on Nutro and it started out as a small company founded by one person and look how they turned out. So while I think its great to support companies who will only buy US products and stick to healthy ingredients for our pets, the reality is that safeguard is still needed against any companies willing to do business with China now and later.
Comment by Sandi K — May 22, 2007 @ 9:58 am
So last week I sent a note to the journalists asking for a format change so there can be more questions and more time for questions.
This week I sent them the complied list of Donna’s questions.
Yep, the FDA changed the format. To NO questions and NO time offered.
Nice trick! Oh and why did the limit the press conferences to just one question one or no follow ups? Too many journalists asking questions. Sounds like there is still a desire for more information.
Comment by spocko — May 22, 2007 @ 10:15 am
Oh. Just a guess, but way did they cancel the press conference today?
Could it be because China’s Trade delegation is in Washington tomorrow? Nah. That’s crazy talk.
Comment by spocko — May 22, 2007 @ 10:17 am
Could it be because China’s Trade delegation is in Washington tomorrow? Nah. That’s crazy talk.
that thought has more than crossed my mind. as soon as i get to a manageable stage of anger, i’ll be shooting of some emails/calls to my reps and those involved in the talks.
Comment by straybaby — May 22, 2007 @ 10:40 am
The government doesn’t want the Chinese to read anything or hear anything inflammatory - and this is America?
Comment by Linda — May 22, 2007 @ 10:44 am
United States of Chinica….
Comment by JanC — May 22, 2007 @ 10:51 am
straybaby — “as soon as i get to a manageable stage of anger…”
You and me both, stray. What a low after yesterday’s L.A. Times high.
GRRRRR…..
Comment by Ally — May 22, 2007 @ 10:55 am
Remember how Walter Batts of the FDA made a big deal about how cooperative the Chinese were? How they got him a visa with in one day? How Dr. Ache said how cooperative China was?
Do you suppose anyone higher up in government said. “Be nice to China and hold off on any nasty attacks on their food unless you absolutely have to.”
China is on a twelve city trade tour. I missed them when there were in SF. But they made a big deal of how they were going to buy billions of dollars of high-tech goods. (as a way to deal with the trade imbalance). This week, tomorrow, the stop is D.C. The press will be going to the event and anything that looks like it would embarrass China should be pushed off until they are gone.
Food safety is one of the few levers we have to push back against the Chinese juggernaut that has been created by a combination of a desire to have access to cheap labor and to an untapped market. We also use China to cover our debt that we have taken on to pay for the war.
Comment by spocko — May 22, 2007 @ 11:04 am
As everyone probably read, China is diverting their investment plan by purchasing 1/3 of Blackstone, a big NY private equity firm. That means that instead of primarily investing in our debt (U.S. bonds), they will become part owners of U.S. and other companies that Blackstone controls. I believe I read that companies that Blackstone controls employ 385,000 Americans.
Comment by Maureen — May 22, 2007 @ 11:11 am
JanC -
now that was funny!
Comment by Linda — May 22, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Could it be, and this is just a very wild guess here, that we need China as a political ally in case the war in Iraqi and elsewhere, with the terrorist and religious extremists, gets too extreme?????? we need a powerful large country on our side in the worse case scenerio?????
Comment by Linda — May 22, 2007 @ 11:36 am
I think I read somewhere that Tyson, our do-as-I-say-and-don’t-say-as-I-do provider of chickens and other food stuff, has/owns some pet food company.
I’m trying to find out more, and the only thing I have found is this letter http://home.alltel.net/cjevans/drake/letter.htm but I have no way of verifying or researching further.
Does anybody here know more about the Tyson-Pet Food axis or is this simply an unconfirmed internet rumour?
Comment by MaKo — May 22, 2007 @ 11:54 am
Unbelievable.
*looks around*
Tequila anyone?
Comment by Kim — May 22, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
MaKo, I don’t know if Tyson owns a pet food company, but according to Reuters, they do supply for pet food ingredients:
“Tyson’s operations consist of breeding and raising chickens, as well as the processing, further processing and marketing of these food products and related allied products, including animal and pet food ingredients.”
http://stocks.us.reuters.com/s.....symbol=TSN
Comment by Ally — May 22, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
Comment by Ally — May 22, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
Yes, Ally, this was one of the stumble stones I found while I was looking to find out more.
On Wikipedia (unreliable, I know) here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyson_Foods they seem to have 19 production/facilities regarding pet food, but *I can’t find any further info*. That ‘letter’ (unconfirmed, an internet find) seems to hint to the possibility that Tyson supplies Diamond - but is Diamond owned/affiliated by Tyson or is this a supplier-buyer relationship?
I would find it highly interesting if Tyson owns a pet food facility, and in light of the Chinese Chicken Connection it would be an avenue worth investigating, IMO.
Comment by MaKo — May 22, 2007 @ 12:10 pm
I’ve been having trouble posting links to the blog. Maybe it’s my browser? Netscape 7.2 for Windows…
Comment by Palomino — May 22, 2007 @ 12:13 pm
RE Comment by Steve — May 22, 2007 @ 7:33 am
Re the PFI confab: 88% or > of those surveyed were in the pet food industry. And even if they did survey consumers, things have changed dramatically since Dec/Jan when they gathered the data.
Let them find out the hard way that “he who payeth the bills, maketh the rules.” And that’s you and me, my friend.
But what’s this bit about:
o Top Regulatory Issues: Product Safety and Lack of Uniformity, and
o Heightened Focus on Product Safety
So they recognized problems back in December?????
Comment by Lynn — May 22, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
Deborah - thanks for the links on the GAO. Am checking them out.
Comment by Lynn — May 22, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Comment by Maureen — May 22, 2007 @ 11:11 am
Carap. This is a strategic plan on the part of the Chinese to control the US. It makes economical sense for them to take over our country, and those yahoos in DC don’t get it? Is this country run by oxymorons or what?
Comment by Lynn — May 22, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
Comment by Lynn — May 22, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
Catch 22. It’s the government that decides who can own what company in China; we’re a democracy! It’s shareholders of public companies and investors in private equity firms who own companies here, right? (That means pension funds and companies holding bundled mortgages (maybe even yours?) are among the largest of those investors.) And they want maximum return on investment. Therefore, globalization, manufacturing overseas, exporting from overseas, — everything overseas. While every dept. in our government is borrowing money and we’re issuing bonds (debt) that we are going to have to pay interest on and redeem some day. The billions being spent in Iraq haven’t affected us yet that we an see (it’s “off budget”), but wait. The day of reckoning on all this will come, of course. Have to look at what returns you want on your mutual funds and retirement funds to see if we want to be pointing fingers at “them.”
Comment by Maureen — May 22, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
info i found for Tyson
http://finance.google.com/finance?q=TSN
Summary
Tyson Foods, Inc. (Tyson) produces, distributes and markets chicken, beef, pork, prepared foods and related allied products. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Cobb-Vantress, the Company is a breeding stock supplier. Tyson’s operations consist of breeding and raising chickens, as well as the processing, further processing and marketing of these food products and related allied products, including animal and pet food ingredients. The Company is also involved in the processing of live fed cattle and hogs, and fabrication of dressed beef and pork carcasses into primal and sub-primal meat cuts, case-ready products and fully cooked beef and pork products. In addition, Tyson also produces allied products, such as hides and variety meats for sale to further processors. The Company produces a wide range of fresh, value-added, frozen and refrigerated food products. The Company operates in five business segments: Chicken, Beef, Pork, Prepared Foods and Other. More from Reuters »
also some info at Hoovers.com but you have to have a subscription to see details
Comment by Deborah — May 22, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
ok - can get some good info on publicly traded companies at Sec.gov
http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searc.....earch.html
can do a search and look at their required filings - they put lots of interesting info in their quarterly and annual reports including info on subsidiaries that they have income from and purchases, sales and mergers of and with other companies (below is what i found from quickly skimming)
Tyson Foods is also dba as River Valley Animal Foods in Texarkana, AR and what i was able to find on them is that they take the residual products from Tyson’s processing plants and converts them into highly nutritious animal food ingredients. These ingredients are used in producing high quality food products for pets, livestock and poultry.
did a search but couldn’t find much else on them very quickly - sorry have to get back to work
Comment by Deborah — May 22, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
I sure hope that none of these people in this country from China sit down for a meal here & wind up with melameat & get sick.
Comment by JanC — May 22, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
Let’s feed them our dog food - or kitty food - or Sushi anyone?
Comment by Linda — May 22, 2007 @ 2:20 pm
I think what they really got tired of was the one or two people who asked intelligent questions which they were not able to completely answer, over and over and over…
Well, since we’ve answered everyone else, no need to advertise what we’re NOT doing…
Comment by steve a — May 22, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
Comment by Deborah - May 22, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
Thank you, Deborah :)
Interesting: The River Valley Texarkana Plant is one of seven animal food ingredients plants in Tyson Foods’ Specialty Products Division.
from here: http://www.tyson.com/Corporate.....print=true
Comment by MaKo — May 22, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
Let’s spay/neuter all dogs and feed them all our home cooking in the interim. Multiply that by millions and how powerful is that..we’ll have our perfectly controlled world in no time..This could become habit-forming.. Thank you Lord…AMEN.
Comment by Bee — May 22, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
When do the bumper stickers commence, including political-oriented ones developed for our cause ???
Comment by Bee — May 22, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
Why not ribbons, lapel pins, and other forms of notifying the world of this food chain disasterproblem and po
Comment by Bee — May 22, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Continued: (the cable feed blinked and previous message was sent…interesting)
Why not ribbons, lapel pins, and other forms of notifying the world of this food chain disaster…could raise funds for the cause.
Comment by Bee — May 22, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
Maybe concerts and professional speakers developed for the cause.
Comment by Bee — May 22, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
When I lived in the Ozarks of Arkansas border, near Eureka Springs and Berryville, way back when, my husband worked for Tyson, that was when we were desperate and broke and needed money and everyone around us were dirt poor too - the children were hungry and cold - the car was broken down - you get the idea - so he worked in the slaughter room on a Tyson Chicken factory - well he told me never to buy a Tyson Chicken ever. He never wanted to see one on his dinner plate. Even today I can’t look at a Tyson Chicken for sale without shuddering. Ugh! Tyson!
Comment by Linda — May 22, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
“Let’s spay/neuter all dogs”
Comment by Bee — May 22, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
I’ve noticed this post (expressing the same idea) by this same poster in more than one thread. I don’t see how it relates to food safety or the related issues.
Comment by slt — May 22, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
I believe we should stop using the melamine word and start saying ‘pet food poisoning’.
We can’t be part of the PR campaign to diminish and extinguish what is happening.
Comment by Maureen — May 22, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
Well, the FDA has stopped their briefings…so that means everything is back on track and WONDERFUL now, right?
Then how come we are still having recalls?
Maybe they will get more work done now, since they don’t have to report to everyone on what they’re doing? We’ll see.
Comment by Marcy — May 22, 2007 @ 4:40 pm
Thanks slt…still trying to find that original post you refer to…all my in-puts have plenty of meaningful scope slt that govern our complete control of the situation we find ourselves, vs just talking about it slt.
Comment by Bee — May 22, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
Comment by Lynn — May 22, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
Those yahoos in DC don’t get it? Is this country run by oxymorons or what?
THEY get it. They know exactly what they are doing. Their corporate masters are making billions at the expense of the country. We have legalized corruption in Congress and in the Administration. They are smart, ruthless people making tens of billions of dollars. GREED is their interest, not the welfare or security of the country and they know well that a few thousand or hundred thousand grieving pet owners won’t make one bit of difference in the long run.
Don’t ever underestimate the intelligence or the power of the evil we are up against. If they were stupid they wouldn’t hold the power they do. We have been the stupid ones.
Comment by MFEMFEM — May 22, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
I agree - the extent of my naivity on the affairs of government (and esp. any and all administrations existing since I was birthed 50 years ago, to the present, as they all the same) is astounding even to me. I am comfortable being cynical, have no problem asking the hard questions, and I enjoy tossing light on things that like to hide in the dark.
And still I am astounded at the level of - well, I don’t even know what to call it. Greed? The amount of stupidity at higher levels (no I don’t ascribe much “smart” to them)? The depth of the doo-doo that we are in, that doesn’t have ANY easy way out?
Comment by TC — May 22, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
Stupid ones can and do hold power. Sometimes, all it takes to be in power is “mean” - ask me how much “meanness, ruthless capacity, being devoid of right & wrong genes” does it take to overcome a lack of intelligence and I will tell you straight out - not much.
Power is not about intelligence, in the main. There are absolute freaks in that department that run whole small countries in the world. Here in the US, they run agencies, departments, states, the list goes on. I personally even know some. No, there isn’t as much “intelligence” in that power/political universe as I thought there was when I was a kid. jmho.
Comment by TC — May 22, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
I could not agree more with the previous post. In the matter of food safety, human and animal let’s make the default: Guilty Until Proven Innocent.
MaKo Wrote:
“Judging from the FDA’s position, we all therefore should expect *all and each* of the commercial pet foods available to be poisonous for our pets.
“That means, unless a company posts the findings of at least two independent laboratories for each variety of their products on their web site, with date (and, of course, with the test result values), we have to assume that the products of any pet food company is between unhealthy and outright poisonous. Makes things easier, doesn’t it?
More than 4500 dead animals say: ‘Guilty until proven innocent.’”
Absolutely right on!
Comment by Black Lab Owner — May 22, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
RE Comment by MFEMFEM — May 22, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
Touche. We have been the stupid ones. So incredibly friggin’ gullible, trusting, and so very, very ignorant.
Comment by Lynn — May 22, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
RE Comment by Marcy — May 22, 2007 @ 4:40 pm
“Maybe they will get more work done now, since they don’t have to report to everyone on what they’re doing? We’ll see.”
LOL. Don’t hold your breath.
Comment by Lynn — May 22, 2007 @ 5:28 pm
The people running agencies don’t control squat, they are controlled. If you think the people that control the political and economic power in the country are stupid then I’m sorry, but you are being very naive. They are ruthless and brutal, and they are smart. Underestimating their power and their abilities will only get you wasting your life writing letters, sending emails, posting to forums, and then you will eventually die and nothing will change. I’ve met a few of the power brokers in almost 20 years working in Washington. For being “dumb” they’ve done a pretty good job of getting what they want. By the way, many of those “dumb” lobbyists are earning $10 million + a year - yes, lobbyists.
We can sit around and call them stupid just like folks did 100, 50 or 20 years ago. Well, whose pets are dead, who is eating the crap from China, who is seeing their earning power and their way of life going downhill year after year? Not the $10+ million dollar a year lobbyists or the $200 million golden parachute corporate executive who runs a company into the ground costing thousands of jobs and then leaves with more money then most people can dream about. One other thing, you can’t embarrass most of them, they are far too arrogant. They have no respect for the ordinary citizen and the ordinary citizen’s opinion of them is something they joke about.
Ruthless, evil, arrogant, … yes, but not stupid. Do you think their pets died?
Comment by MFEMFEM — May 22, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
I think the FDA stopped the hearings because all the bloggers ripped up every single lie they said and translated it into understandable content that even “stupid” people can understand. Oh, and also because Gina rips up the “on hold” music.
Comment by Nabiya — May 22, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
That is so not true. Christie makes fun of the hold music. Not me!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 22, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
You are free to your opinion MFEMFEM, really. But mine is not the same. Maybe we have a different definition of “smart.” Intelligence is not a personality trait. And the personality traits we’ve both mentioned, ie ruthless, evil, etc are the keys to success for bad people who do bad things. The amount of smart people at the helm are minimal. A fringe minority.
I actually felt better way back when, when I believed that to be powerful, you HAD to be smart. That stupid people couldn’t be ruthless people. You can hold onto that dream. My experiences have shown me otherwise.
And yeah, I think their pets died. And you know what? Ruthless, evil & arrogant people just don’t feel the same way about “pets” that you or I do. They are property. Something they own “for the kids.” They don’t get what the fuss is all about, they don’t think too deep.
Comment by TC — May 22, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
P.S. During the years I practiced law, I met my share of idiots at extremely high levels too. Here and abroad. I have had some as neighbors and known others socially. The majority do not have what I consider to be a boatload of brain power as their primary means of having obtained their status. They all do share certain personality traits.
Societies & those who control them come and go. I do believe there are ways to influence “power” structures. Because they can’t exist in a vaccum. They make a bazillion bucks only because of “consumers”, a point which in their stupidity, they sometimes forget. No consumers, no bucks. That’s a fact.
There are also ways to live a life less encumbered by the actions of both the smart and the idiots in both politics and business, which is the path I have chosen for the last half of my life.
Comment by TC — May 22, 2007 @ 8:06 pm
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 22, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
and that was generally the highlight of the day. we need to buy them a sense of humor along with a brain . . .
sorry, just so freakin’ disgusted right now.
*goes to put new ice cream maker bowl in the freezer*
Comment by straybaby — May 22, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
straybaby - do I remember right that you had an ice cream attachment for your KA mixer? Or did I just dream that up?
Comment by TC — May 22, 2007 @ 8:42 pm
I just bought a flour mill grain grinder for my Kitchenaid. As soon as I realized that all store-bought bread contained wheat gluten, I am baking my own bread and using only safe ingredients.
Comment by Elaine — May 22, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
Hey folks - another slip from Menu Foods - something they “accidentally left off the list”
http://www.itchmo.com/read/men…..e_20070522
Comment by Lynn — May 22, 2007 @ 9:52 pm
Comment by Lynn — May 22, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
Comment by TC — May 22, 2007 @ 8:42 pm
it just arrived today!!! :)i didn’t know there was one, but stumbled on it on Amazon. HAD to buy it! :D I also bought some *special* un-refined sugar with ground vanilla bean for it. Imagine me checking out of life and checking into the ice cream bowl ;)
Comment by straybaby — May 22, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
Comment by Elaine — May 22, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
Elaine, I bought a stand alone electric flour mill a couple of years back. SO glad I did!!! Flour never smelled so good!!
Comment by straybaby — May 22, 2007 @ 10:46 pm
Elaine and straybaby - flour mills? I too am baking bread at home (okay - I am cheating with both a bread machine AND flour that someone else ground for me - have to start somewhere:). Hadn’t gotten to the point of milling flour. I am a good cook, but not as impressive a baker as I intend to become, lol.
What fun - I will be browsing at amazon tomorrow. Obviously had no idea of the extent of KA attachments!
Comment by TC — May 22, 2007 @ 11:38 pm
Comment by TC — May 22, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
It does take a certain kind of smart. Not just personality traits, but an almost instinctive knowing how to shut down resistance, belittle facts, and influence opinions. Carefully and in the right way, or you don’t get far.
I don’t think they’re not smart, they just know more about how to get where they are then they do about what they are doing.
It doesn’t hurt to be able to place blame effectively elsewhere, too. A certain amount of denial privides the anti-skid to hold onto positions, too.
So, TC, I still think one generallyu needs to be smart, at least in some ways, to have power. But they don’t have to be responsible, or even respectable… at all…
Comment by steve a — May 23, 2007 @ 11:51 am
Comment by MFEMFEM — May 22, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
Very interesting read, but I see a few things differently :)
First of all, I don’t believe that those bozos are oh, so intelligent. On average, they are average.
What distinguishes them is their ruthlessness, and the ease with which they sail over ethical stumbling blocks, and the exclusivity of their self-centrism.
‘Intelligent’ is different from ‘clever’, or ‘street smart’.
My point is, they might be powerful and influencial and whattheheckelse, *but nobody is as smart as many*.
Remember, about 20 years ago, when a people shook off their oppressors and chased totalitarianism out of their country by meeting, every Monday evening, in all towns and cities, doing nothing but marching through the streets and chanting: We are the people!
To the best of my knowledge, that was the first time in the history of mankind that a despotical government (and trust me, they were!) got wiped out of office without blood shed or war, without weapons or ‘external help’.
Just people, many, many ‘stupid’ little oppressed people, going out there, stubbornly, without much hope of ever changing anything.
Ubboy, did they ever!
So, yes, writing emails, sending letters, talking to other people and ‘informing our representatives that we are not, repeat, not amused’ will facilitate a change. Refusing to buy certain goods is an enormously powerful means of changing things, especially in this society.
‘The earth trembles under the steps of millions in locksteps who all whisper: one alone can’t change a thing’.*
*Shoot, if I only knew where I have that from, but it is quite old…..
Watch this space: I guarantee you that within a couple of months or a year or so a company called Menue Foods Income yaddayadda will go belly up.
Comment by MaKo — May 23, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
steve a - I can agree with a term like MaKo’s “street smart”, but similarly, I don’t credit that as intelligence. There is some kind of skill set that people like this can learn, and use to their advantage. And become even more skilled at using.
Which might look like “smart”, but you can train a chimp to a certain level, too:) Again, n.b. that there are some smart folks doing bad stuff. I just find them to be in an extreme minority, just my experience, and your mileage may vary.
The people we are struggling to define here aren’t eating out of a warehouse full of “safe” foods in some undisclosed location either - nor are their families. When they mess with the food chain to this extent in a play for more trade deals and profit, they will have the same difficulty finding safe food that we do. GM seeds, plants, foods will do the same damage to them as to us, and that genie is out of the bottle. Can’t turn it back, and the effects are across the board.
I just can’t find the “smart” in that at all.
Comment by TC — May 23, 2007 @ 2:22 pm