Pet-food recall: Rose-colored glasses edition
By Gina Spadafori
May 30, 2007
Menu Foods just released its quarterly report. We have it all for you here, in PDF format.
The first part of these things is always about putting the best face on things. This is no exception, with Menu’s exceptionally rosy portrayal of events:
Overall, the recall, which has been reported to be one of the largest in North American history, has had a devastating effect on pet owners, the Fund and on the pet food industry as a whole. Menu, along with several other pet food manufacturers in the United States, were the victims of a terrible fraud, and the Fund’s results for this quarter reflect the costs. Management estimates that the direct costs of the recall will approximate $45 million, excluding the impact of reduced sales or the costs of any claims or litigation that may exceed the Fund’s insurance coverage. Significant management time and resources have been dedicated to managing the recall since March 16, 2007 and will continue to be so directed while the Fund gets back into business and sees the ongoing process through to its conclusion.
Notwithstanding the significant costs of the recall, I am proud of the timely and professional manner in which management of the Fund dealt with this situation. Menu was the first manufacturer to act, with its recall initiated weeks ahead of other manufacturers. Our proactive action in recalling suspicious product, despite the fact that it tested clean for all known toxins, undoubtedly saved the lives of many cats and dogs.
Well, that’s one version, I’m sure. Here’s another one, presented in testimony to Congress, that suggests Menu really wasn’t that keen to be first after all, but had to act after Iams made them do it.
Reuters has a short take on it, just the facts. Me? I like to read financial documents. (I was a copy editor on a business desk for a bit.) Lots of good little details in those things. The devil is in the details, as they say. Never has the statement been more apt.
This angers me so much, I can’t comment.
Comment by VJ — May 30, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
I’m about to throw up from all this spin.
“Notwithstanding the significant costs of the recall, I am proud of the timely and professional manner in which management of the Fund dealt with this situation. Menu was the first manufacturer to act, with its recall initiated weeks ahead of other manufacturers.”
Oops. Just burned a hole in my monitor. Wonder why.
I can’t begin to say how unimpressed I am by their being proud of themselves for being the first. I want to smack them all. Maybe Bubbles will take a moment out of romping around the Rainbow Bridge to take a chunk out of anyone who had anything to do with writing this piece of garbage. Unbelievable!
If only someone at Menu had LOOKED at the so-called wheat gluten from the “new supplier”!!!!!!
Comment by Pamela J. Betz-Baron — May 30, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
You couldn’t have two more divergent positions:
Menu is totally focused on the dollars and damage control.
We are totally focused on our pets and providing a good quality of life and health for them.
Not sure where the two positions meet.
Comment by Donna — May 30, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
They’re just trying to save face & keep their customers who are still under contract. Gotta get back to killing scorpions!
Comment by Kat — May 30, 2007 @ 8:31 pm
I realize the audience of their quarterly report is analysts and stockholders, but I’m shocked by their wording and how “proud” they are of their response time. You’d think they’d take a little more humble pie to go with their lawsuits.
Comment by lablover — May 30, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
Humble pie does not win shareholder confidence.
However, my favorite quote is they “were the victims of a terrible fraud”.
I’m not sure how you get “victim” from purchasing least-cost ingredients, no testing or quality control of the ingredients or finished products, and being pressured by another company to come forward with the contamination information. Victim — I don’t think so. Don’t think the furkids would agree either.
Comment by Donna — May 30, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
Ditto VJ.
Comment by Kim — May 30, 2007 @ 9:06 pm
(China’s) CORRUPT DRUG OFFICIAL WILL DIE
Yes, a DEATH SENTENCE
http://tinyurl.com/2gcfqr
and more detailed story…
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/85/i23/8523news2.html
and a comparison…http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/chinafda053007.htm
Comment by Lori Lee — May 30, 2007 @ 9:14 pm
Sorry, Menu Foods, but you are not the heroes you paint yourself to be in this disaster….
Comment by Deanna — May 30, 2007 @ 9:36 pm
PG 18: “The office os two United States’Attorneys have informed Menu that it is the target of criminal investigations for possible violations of the U.S. federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. It is possible that additional actions or investigations may arise in the future.”
Possible violations?
I seriously hope that PROBABLE violations is a more accurate phrase.
Comment by Ann H — May 31, 2007 @ 3:54 am
They’ll get to right off the millions lost due to the recall. Must be nice. Pet owners of pets who have died and pets that are sick should get to take advantage of a tax right off too. Maybe Senator Durbin would be willing to push for such a thing.
Comment by Tammy — May 31, 2007 @ 4:13 am
The “possible” violations will likely be limited to mislabelling of ingredients. It’s up to us to pressure other Menu clients and the industry in general by voting with our wallets and continuing to keep this issue open.
Comment by shibadiva — May 31, 2007 @ 4:37 am
I guess this morning I’ll go out and stand by the big stone that is Skeeter’s grave and tell him how proud Menu Foods is.
Comment by Nancy Nielsen — May 31, 2007 @ 4:40 am
Well, the Pups are at my feet sleeping after their home-made breakfast, and the tears are coming in fast - just rolling down my face. I try to hide my emotions from them, but they know - we’re becoming more close each and every day. I try not to think of the day we become separated from them and our other loved ones too.
Today, the balance of Mitzi’s organs will be transferred from the autopsy vet to hold in another below-zero freezer storage facility for awhile. If not needed for evidence, then we’ll cremate them and add them to her other cremains one day. We’ll still have posession of the all of her, including all the gut-wrenching memories and tears that flow daily…I dread the day we may forget to think about her at least once a day…we know she had continuous unconditional love and touch for us too…she was our guardian-angel companion…it was too obvious that the Lord blessed us with her presence and now with her memories….our little darling girl. Please excuse my emotions folks, I have faith the Lord will help us over time.
Lord, it’s so painful, but we have faith that we’ll meet Mitzi and all our other loved ones again on the Bridge in the not too distant future. AMEN.
We miss and love you so much Mitzi.. Mommy and Daddy
Comment by Bee — May 31, 2007 @ 5:36 am
Bee, I want to know; we need to know, it’s OK. Thank-you for telling us about Mitzi.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 31, 2007 @ 6:00 am
You too, Nancy. Thank-you and you just go tell Skeeter all about it! Damn their eyes, we hate them; they are murderers!
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 31, 2007 @ 6:04 am
Nancy and Bee, I’m crying with you. I’m so very fortunate not to have lost any of my critters to this horror, but my soul just aches for all of you who have.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 31, 2007 @ 6:07 am
I was reading a different group, and one of the messages was headed “Rover’s recall problem” imagine my relief when it was revealed that Rover was breaking his stays! So I have started a list to help myself go back an forth between the old normal and the new. Please help identify other tricky words!
New Pet Parents Phrase Book
COOL – OLD “I hate outdoor trials this time of year, it’s always too cool and too wet” NEW “But I thought COOL was in place?”
Poison – OLD “we don’t use poison to kill weeds because it may harm the pets.” NEW “the food we fed out pets was poison”
Recall OLD “my dog didn’t see the recall signal, so we NQ’d”. NEW “I didn’t see the recall notice, I just hope my dog doesn’t die”
Spin OLD ‘I was late with my command, poor Fido really had to spin to make the jump” NEW “Did you hear the latest FDA/Menu Foods/XXX spin? I’m not sure what they said, but it can’t be good.”
Comment by schnauzer — May 31, 2007 @ 6:35 am
For Nancy and Bee, and anyone else who is missing a furry loved one
{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}
Comment by Kim — May 31, 2007 @ 6:54 am
I’m so sorry for the furr kids who had to suffer so someone could make a fast buck. I lost 3 cats. One I found beside the road in a ditch, in a chicken cage with peices of raw meat and flies all over Her. I don’t know how she got that way. she was only a tiny kitten. We brought Her home loved Her and took care of Her for 18 years. She would have had more years, I’m sure of that. she was just the most loving little girl. I miss all My babies. this will never make sense to Me.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 31, 2007 @ 7:16 am
Nancy, Bee, Trudy, Elizabeth & others,
My heart goes out to you. There are no word that can truly express our sorrow in the loss of your furkids. Your stories need to continue to be shared. I cannot imagine your heartache and sorrow. We send lots of hugs to you to give you strength.
Comment by Donna — May 31, 2007 @ 7:38 am
Thank You Donna,
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 31, 2007 @ 7:48 am
Comment by schnauzer — May 31, 2007 @ 6:35 am
FDA - OLD: the organization responsible for protecting us from unsafe food and drugs
FDA - NEW: those people who don’t know how to feed their pets unless given a bag labeled “Complete and Balanced for All Life Stages”
ALL NATURAL, PREMIUM PET FOOD - OLD: a high quality, expensive pet food made from wholesome, natural ingredients
ALL NATURAL, PREMIUM PET FOOD - NEW: poison
INSIDER TRADING - OLD: crime punishable by prison and hefty fines
INSIDER TRADING - NEW: a “horrible coincidence”
Comment by slt — May 31, 2007 @ 8:00 am
I’m so sorry that you lost your friends to this madness, Trudy. May you meet them again on the Rainbow Bridge some day.
Comment by Ann Jackson — May 31, 2007 @ 8:00 am
Well, don’t want to overlook two pieces of good news……the PDF file under “litigation” says that Menu has received correspondence from TWO US Attorney offices that they are the target of criminal investigations into violations of US Food and Drug regulations. And, the Reuters article says Menu’s biggest customer has all future orders on “hold”.
Comment by elizabeth R. — May 31, 2007 @ 8:34 am
Ann, thank you. I hope they are all at the bridge together and know that all of us who lost them, miss them so very much. And We can’t let them die in Vain! We must do something.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 31, 2007 @ 8:37 am
Rally Now ! We need to rally our troops once again.
Even though the pet food recall was just the beginning of a catastrophe that is still unfolding, we have to find a way to keep the attention on our part of the issue. We represent our pets which have no voice and cannot speak for themselves.
While we have some great reporters who continue to ask great questions as they follow this story, they are but a few. We truly appreciate the work they continue to do. However, we need to keep these stories and issues in the news and on the desks of Congress and federal agencies. And, let’s also not let the pet food companies and manufacturers forget or attempt to cover what has happened.
We cannot depend on government agencies to protect us or our pets. I don’t care how much they emphasize the aspects of their work, the fact remains that 9 weeks passed and no one had control of this recall, could answer direct questions about imports, manufacturing or destruction of contaminated product and then we learn the contamination has spread to human grade foods. I still like them reiterating their mission “to communicate findings, maintain transparency and ensure animal and human health is protected.”
Question – Do you feel safe and protected when you eat chicken, pork, fish, and now beef? Do you feel it is “low risk?” Do you feel safe feeding your dog or cat? Tell me, how many of you are now cooking for your pets? What about toothpaste, prescription drugs…..?
There are still so many unanswered questions.
Let’s get focused once again and determine what needs to be our next steps and get working.
Comment by Donna — May 31, 2007 @ 8:42 am
On another note:China - Panda released in the wilds - dies after one year- poor sweet Panda.
http://tinyurl.com/232znz
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 8:46 am
Donna,
Agree Wholeheartedly! I suggested before on this blog that we should do at least one action item each day, such as “Call your representative, tell them you do not believe our food is as safe as FDA says it is,demand COOL now! Then maybe ask him to sign onto the food safety bills.
There is strength in numbers, and remember that each contact is considered to be the opinion of 13,000 constituents! That is POWER we need to be accessing!
Comment by Elaine — May 31, 2007 @ 9:48 am
The TB Patient: Andrew H. Speaker. Here’s a picture of him and the latest from MSNBC: He’s being kept in a special room and can’t leave while he undergoes treatment. (Hope they put guards by his door)
http://tinyurl.com/3aoa4f
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 9:50 am
Soory, the link was CBS News.
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 9:51 am
China’s in race to the Moon:
Well, I hope they don’t poison it -
http://tinyurl.com/2pkgs7
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 9:53 am
Realing this is a Pet Connection blog, not a political action blog, I don’t know if Christie and Gina would want to do this, but if there was an action item we could go to each day, many of us would take the time to make the call, ask the question, whatever.
I realize that many people feel they do not know how to say things, or call, etc. So sometimes it needs to be kept pretty simple with a talking point for them to use.
Comment by Elaine — May 31, 2007 @ 9:54 am
I guess my day off from work tomorrow will be spent writing that letter to the OSC (Ontario Securities Commission)about MF. I almost can’t read their reports I am so mad today.
At least their sales are down $30 million and they have a net loss of $17.5 million. I know I contributed to that because I am now buying a local home made pet food and my cat has literaly come alive. His energy is amazing and his itchy skin is gone.
Support local and don’t buy Chinese. That includes their outlet store - WALMART (the opposers of the COOL legislation - duh!).
Comment by Sindy — May 31, 2007 @ 9:55 am
Elaine and Donna, Very good points. we need to do something every day. Do I feel safe? Do I feel My animals are safe? Hell No.
I live on the east coast. We will probably get a bad hurricane this year. Last time[ Isabell] I was not prepared. I have never gone through so much in My life. And this time, i have to worry about stocking up on pet food. what pet food? Homemade food won’t last and I don’t trust the bags anymore. We can’t eat on the grill. there are no National Guards around anymore. We are all on our own, no matter what happens. We can no longer count on our Gov. to help at all.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 31, 2007 @ 10:06 am
Also, the $30 million sales decline is a 31% decrease.
That’s not bad considering they told us only 1% of all food was affected by the recall. Hmmm 31% was from 1%….I like those numbers.
Please read between the lines like Gina says. The spin is there to save face….it’s not the truth at all.
We did hurt them and will continue to do so.
Bye Bye Menu Foods…….
Comment by Sindy — May 31, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Trudy,
You are so very right.
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Trudy,
Knowing you don’t need to depend on the govt for emergencies empowers you. So just make a plan, have everything on hand you may need, food, water, lumber to batten down the hatches, candles and matches, etc. Don’t wait for the last minute.
I live in an area that we just ARE self reliant, and it amazes me to see the folks in the news stories waiting for the govt to do something. And please don’t take that as a criticism, I know we live in different areas, and that has a lot to do with our capabilities.
After the Katrina mess, we certainly can realize that FEMA made it worse!
Comment by Elaine — May 31, 2007 @ 10:29 am
So true Elaine.
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 10:33 am
Elaine, Right FEMA, the Gov. did make it much worse. I am already starting to get things. but what to do about food for us all? Pets and people? We’ll see what I can do. Thanks,
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 31, 2007 @ 10:37 am
MF sales are down 31%! That totally rocks!
On the other hand, it means a substantial amount of their product is still being purchased. Keep spreading the word, fellow-bloggers! Keep talking to your neighbors and co-workers, ask your kids to talk to their classmates and teachers, inform the guy pumping your gas and the teller at your bank; let’s make sure all pet-owners everywhere realize what Menu Foods did and the necessity for putting them out of business. Pet lovers will not tolerate such greedy negligence and disrespect!
We can do this!
Comment by A.C. — May 31, 2007 @ 10:42 am
Trudy ~ how’s your little doggie today??
Comment by Kat — May 31, 2007 @ 10:44 am
A.C. I’m with You.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 31, 2007 @ 10:45 am
My heart goes out to all who have lost their pets or are still fighting to save them. My Dog, Freedom, has really been struggling. She is losing weight,lethargic, and vomiting again. Thanks to the toxic soup they call pet food, she now looks at me through one cloudy, blind eye. And she eats with a portion of her tongue missing because of it too! I am extremely angry! I am TIRED of the BS they have been feeding the American public. The only way we can beat them is to play their own game. We need to stick together and work together to bring out the Truth. I’m in it for the long haul. They will not silence me. I have the power of the pen, the email, and the net and I will use them all to fight them at their own game. Count me in!
Comment by Ann Jackson — May 31, 2007 @ 10:49 am
Ann - so sorry. So very sad. Heart breaking. Poor Freedom. She loves you so much.
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 10:54 am
Oh Ann,
I’m so sorry to hear this about Your dog. I thought He was doing good now. I will find out more about mine after 2:00.
Ok, So We’re all in! Yeah!
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 31, 2007 @ 10:55 am
Comment by Elaine — May 31, 2007 @ 9:48 am & 9:54 am ~
I have all the links up to WRITE YOUR Reps & Senators + all the Health Bills, for easy access.
I just don’t have any “sample” letters to send. If anyone has writen any “knock out” letters, please post on my site. If you do post there — those letters can & probably will be used by someone else.
I know there have been quite a few letters posted on PetConnection, in the past, with statements that they are available to use.
Here’s the Contact Goverment Entities link:
http://www.truthinfoodlabeling.....board=49.0
Comment by Kat — May 31, 2007 @ 10:56 am
We never could rely on our government, or at least never as much as we fantasized that we could. Other generations had their individual wake up call events, the Depression comes to mind, but there are always events that will signal to alert people that we are much more on our own than the “happy” speeches will ever indicate. And live a life prepared accordingly, instead of having our first responses be to wait for “somebody” in “authority” to help us out. If you have time, read some american history this summer - from this vantage point that we have right now, it will strike you way differently than when you were forced to read it in school as a kid:)
You will find that it is a pie in the sky kind of deal to be expecting a first response to be an adequate government one, for any emergency. Or for any kind of 100% “protection” for each and every possible bad situation to be ready and in place, and effectively being enforced 100% before the fact. Never enough money, ever to do so. Governments make promises to keep lots of varied interests happy, and the follow through, on the whole, has ALWAYS sucked.
First, we rely on ourselves and our families; next we look to and demand our government step up to the plate and correct the crap either they or momma nature or outsiders or even us individuals have caused. We aren’t paying them for doing nothing, and feet must be kept to the fire to gain as much real response as is possible from any given administration that we hire for the job.
But if you can wrap your mind around the reality as it has always been, you can maximize your chance of survival AND having a good and productive life.
Comment by TC — May 31, 2007 @ 11:01 am
This is the Library of Congress page where I searched for bills about Country of Origin Labeling. http://www.thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query
My suggestion for an action item today would be to call your congressman and senators today.
Tell them you are concerned with the safety of our food supply, and you have the right to know what country your food comes from and that you want it labeled as to COOL.
Ask them how they intend to vote on this issue?
Be polite and respectful, but know that the aide you speak to is hired to do double-speak, protect the congressman or senator at all costs!
The Senate bill is S404, the house bill is HR357.
Comment by Elaine — May 31, 2007 @ 11:04 am
Rose colored glasses indeed. Menu a victim of a terrible fraud!!! They do not mention one of thousands of pets that were the true victims. It’s all about them, their fricking money and their hopes and plans to continue selling their gross product without any accountablity to the true victims of this tragedy.
I don’t get my dog back when the dust of their terrible fraud settles. He’ll not be here ever again to cuddle me when I am sad. He isn’t here right now as tears tumble down my face being silly, giving me his “dog love” until I stop crying. He should be here for me right now, but he can’t be because he isn’t alive. The victim of a terrible fraud. This corperations travesty of handling themselves which they have such pride in is sickening. Without accountablity to all these poor sweet, beloved pets that are no longer with their devestated pet parents.
Appartently they believe all of us pet parents don’t have any teeth. And my bark is worse than my bite.
Comment by Maudigan — May 31, 2007 @ 11:05 am
Ann, I can’t remember - what food were you feeding Freedom?
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 11:05 am
Oh, Ann - so sorry! Is this something thats been ongoing since the beginning of the recall, or new?
Comment by Kat — May 31, 2007 @ 11:12 am
If Menu makes or cans it or has any hand in it, then boycott any company that contracts with them for life. No exceptions.
Here are three:
Blue Seal
Performatrin Ultra
Trader Joe’s
Shame on you, TJ. Drop your relationship and condemn this company that you lay down with.
Here is another thought:
http://www.570news.com/news/bu.....t=b053149A
From the news story above: “The first customer cancelled orders for pouched food while continuing a canned food contract, he said.
Is this Iams? or another who still uses these people? Canned food is no harbor.
Comment by Jay — May 31, 2007 @ 11:19 am
I am adding my condolences for all the lost pets on this thread - just catching up reading responses, and am so saddened.
Comment by TC — May 31, 2007 @ 11:34 am
First, my heartfelt sympathy to all of you who have lost your pets or who are struggling with sick ones. There are no words to describe your suffering.
I agree with you, TC, that we must hold our government accountable for their actions. Agencies who are charged specifically with public safety have failed miserably and seem resistant to making the necessary changes. Pet owners have indeed brought this problem to light and have reason to be proud. Our government can and MUST do better in protecting its citizens. Our government and corporations MUST be held accountable for their actions and lack of oversight.
Comment by Carol — May 31, 2007 @ 11:39 am
Menu Foods largest customer WAS P&G.
Comment by Patricia Hill — May 31, 2007 @ 11:40 am
The only good news is that they seemed to loose 1/3 of their sales in the last quarter. I’m very glad. I didn’t read the whole article but on itchmo someone mentionoed another contract being lost for canned foods - my guess was Natura.
Comment by JennyG — May 31, 2007 @ 11:44 am
I quote from Menu’s Report:
However,
subsequent to March 31, 2007, the Fund has been advised that one of its
customers, whose pouch volume in 2006 accounted for 2.7% of total
sales, intends to discontinue this packaging format effective
immediately, and that another customer whose volume in 2006 represented
1.8% of total sales, intends to discontinue its contract manufacturing
arrangement with Menu. These are in addition to the Fund’s largest
customer who announced on March 16, 2007 that it was putting future orders for cuts and gravy product, which in 2006 accounted for
approximately 11% of total sales, on hold. Management cannot predict
the extent to which sales to other customers will return to pre-recall
levels, or the timeframe over which this will happen.
If I read correctly I deduct that
a) Menu got hit hard, and it’s not over yet.
b) *several* customers of Menue are now *former customers*, or on their way. Some of the remaining customers are to be regarded as ‘iffy’.
People, that is not bad, not bad at all!
Being a hysterical and over the top blogger, writing letters to ‘my voice in Washington’ and demanding answers from pet food companies does work - as long as we keep up with it.
Unfortunately, Menu did not divulge who their former customers are - but in essence I don’t care. As long as a pet food company does not publicly sever all ties to Menu, they all are under suspicion and to be shunned.
Comment by MaKo — May 31, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
An important point that Henderson and the spin crew forgot to mention:
Two important posts regarding the “real” date it began
From Itchmo:
May 31st, 2007 at 2:39 pm
1. The timeliness of the recall… meaning, “I got to sell my stock and make some money before we announced the recall and the price of my stock went down”
I guess they conveniently “forgot” that consumers were calling with ill pets, as early as December, and that they didn’t test until… February, I believe, and by killing pets to do so.
I guess they have to lie to themselves so that they can feel better about how it all turned out - after all, they saved so many pet’s lives because they came forward first. Unbelievable!
In the early days of the recall, I printed out every single article, feeling that some of those articles would disappear from cyberspace and I clearly remember reading that complaints from pet owners started in December, so I fail to see how 3 MONTHS later, was some great timing!
My vent of the day.
2. I have copies of articles too and CBC News printed on March 16th what you said—Menu was getting calls in December from US pet parents—I wonder who CBC News talked to back then as obviously they are saying something else now.
Yes, I remember so well when I realized that the first contact (what I called in another post weeks ago, “the canary coughed”) about the death food was killing in DECEMBER as reported by Canadian sources and that my cat was dead due to this criminal delay. Later, March 16 became “oh-so” important on all corporate and media communications.
For chicanery and lies, it is much like the “16 deaths” we all had to suffer for so long.
Comment by Jay — May 31, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
November was the earliest I’ve read on other websites — about 6-8 weeks ago. People were on numerous boards/blogs saying they’d been calling when their pets first got sick.
Comment by Kat — May 31, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
Someone trying to get some answers maybe……. at the very least they are not listing the “16 deaths” but a much higher number ( sorry I do not know how to link)
http://new.ewg.org/node/20959
Comment by Terri — May 31, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
My Ace died in November. I’ll always be convinced it was the food, but we have no way to prove that as we had no reason to suspect that the food we were feeding him was anything but wholesome… Ace has been cremated food given away and fed to other dogs.. Timely my a$$.
Comment by schnauzer — May 31, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
The 31% in lost sales was only up to March 31/07 which was only 2 weeks into the recall. Remember, it’s now May, another 2 months have gone by, and I’m sure their sales are even lower now.
On top of that, they expect to pay about $45 million for the recall. They are definitely in trouble and must talk it up to keep people from selling the MF shares.
Who with a conscience would ever by their shares anyways….they’re tainted, just like their food.
Comment by Sindy — May 31, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
I agree with all of you. I just came back in. Had to go out for a while.
Maudigan, i’m so very sorry for Your loss and know how much it hurts.
And Elaine good idea. Gives us all one thing We can do for today.
T.C.and Carol, you are so right on it all. Thanks for that.
And I know the dates are all wrong. My cats all died before the recall. so they might still be alive.
We need to stick together and get something done every day. Not just talk about , but do it. They will have to listen if We get enough people on this.
Got to go, but I’ll be back in a while. thank you for all the comments.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 31, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
OK - I’ll coordinate answers—
Respond with:
What question(s) do you have for the FDA/USDA that have not been answered.
What specific actions or focus do you want Congress to take?
Any comments/questions for pet food companies/manufacturers?
Any bills that you are following and have a brief comment on?
I will coordinate any answers I get and post a list like before. Then anyone can use the points in their own letter or we can put something together and post at Kat’s site, etc.
If you wish, send your responses to
mnbxr112 (at) mindspring.com
Comment by Donna — May 31, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
Did you see this: That TB man is a high paying lawyer and his new father-in-law works for the CDC. The man should be jailed.
“The son-in-law said in a newspaper interview that he knew he had TB when he flew from Atlanta to Europe in mid-May for his wedding and honeymoon, but that he did not find out until he was already in Rome that it was an extensively drug-resistant strain considered especially dangerous.
Despite warnings from federal health officials not to board another long flight, he flew home for treatment, fearing he wouldn’t survive if he didn’t reach the U.S., he said.
He was quarantined in the first such action taken by the federal…
ATLANTA (AP) - The honeymooner quarantined with a dangerous strain of tuberculosis was identified Thursday as a 31-year-old personal injury lawyer whose new father-in-law is a CDC microbiologist specializing in the spread of TB.
http://tinyurl.com/2sbc49
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
About the “TB man”, its hard to know what to say about this latest news. How very sad…for us all. A further illustration of the massive problems at the federal level.
I would think that “duty to warn” would have been a legal responsibility of that father-in-law. He must have known they were planning to fly overseas putting others at risk. Seems criminal not to have said anything to the authorities.
Comment by ango — May 31, 2007 @ 2:39 pm
Hi, all. Thanks for your kind comments about my dog, Freedom. Yes, she has been sick since around Feb. 9th, 2007. She got better for a while but now she seems to going downhill. I fed her both Ol’ Roy chicken and turkey from Wal-Mart and also Royal Canin Skin Support, which I got from my vet. Some days she doesn’t want to eat at all. Sometimes for several days. On those days, I have to feed her low-salt broth with a plastic syringe…but I do it ever so slowly and she’s learned to drink it that way. I will do everything I can for her. It’s the least I can do for all the love she’s brought my way. She is one tough dog so it’s not over yet by far. I decided to take an online college class this summer instead of going to the campus so I can give all the attention she needs. Thanks, again, for caring.
Comment by Ann Jackson — May 31, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
the father says son was never told he couldn’t fly etc. now even before i knew what the son did for a living, i thought he looked reasonably intelligent. i wonder if he checked out what he had on the internet? i know if someone told me i had TB, i’d be looking for information and educating myself! one of the passengers said all he knew is what the CDC told him, which after watching this for a bit . . .
so CDC, USDA, FDA, FEMA . . . yeah, i feel safe!
Comment by straybaby — May 31, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
Oh Ann, I’m so very sorry about Freedom. God bless her and you too. It takes courage to live the good life - and it hurts too.
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
What? Oh, you have the worst kind of TB (everyone knows its contagious) and drugs may not help. You must get treatment and stay away from people (but they never told me I couldn’t fly or cough all over the seats…..)
Good heavens but give me strength - what? is he preparing his case now - well - in the court of public opinion - he has already lost it.
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Ann, does She eat home cooked food? Have you tried liver yet? Or what will she eat, nothing? the vet can’t do anything else? so sorry,
Comment by Trudy Jackson — May 31, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
Donna at 1:25
FDA/USDA has been evasive about answering whether any of the wheat gluten, wheat flour, rice protein etc got into the human food supply. This makes me REAL suspicious that it did.
They also have never answered if the contaminated toothpaste came here, and one article I read said that the plant that made it shipped toothpaste to the U.S.
They admitted they found melamine in the flesh of fish, and evaded questions as to whether the pork and chicken meat were tested, and did they contain melamine? FDA would just mumble their line about the dilution factor.
The contact lens solution that was recalled was made in China. Is there a hold on contact lens solution from China?
Comment by Elaine — May 31, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
I would like to know how the FDA confirmed that instead of melamine, Uniscope will replace the binding resin with a urea formaldehyde resin-type ingredient, according to today’s issue of the Coloradoan in the business section. http://www.coloradoan.com is the web address. Juliette Fardulis is the writer.
It is in the business section of the paper.
I am surprised that the FDA allowed this poison in the animal feed.
Comment by Evelyn — May 31, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
Comment by Elaine — May 31, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
Elaine - the FDA “interim?” test results are posted on their website. I’ll find the link. Out of 2 MILLION chickens & 8 hatcheries/breeders, the report said 2 locations 6 or 8 samples. pretty poor!!
Comment by Kat — May 31, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
Anyone for some “*naturally* low-fat milk” from New Zealand:
http://english.pravda.ru/news/.....272-milk-0
Comment by Kat — May 31, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
Table A-4:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/melamra.html
Comment by Kat — May 31, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
Plus, hogs had nephritis & some had to be put down, prior to slaughter.
“In addition to measuring melamine concentration in hog meat, kidney tissues have also been analyzed. Concentrations of melamine in the kidneys of the hogs from Location B were below 50 ppb, and histological examination of the tissue did not show evidence of crystal formation. Crystal formation was also not seen in exposed hogs from Location A. FSIS conducts gross examinations on the kidneys of hogs at slaughter; if there is inflammation or enlargement of the kidney, the condition will be classified as nephritis in FSIS’ electronic Animal Disposition Reporting System (eADRS). In eADRS, between January 1 and May 9, 2007, out of almost 5 million hogs slaughtered at the facilities known to have received hogs fed contaminated feed, only 235 hogs have been suspected of having nephritis, and only 15 hogs have been condemned because of nephritis. Those rates are less than observed during the same time period in all other establishments (see Table A-5). “
Comment by Kat — May 31, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
That TB man, so many coincidences plus a father in law that probably has that resistant strain in the laboratory. Wonder where TB man got it.
Comment by Serijna — May 31, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
Serijna - oh what a funny little idea uh?
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
Donna,
3 bills I have been working on are competition reforms to protect the viability of small family ranches. They are H.R. 2213 (Captive Supply Reform Act), H.R. 2135(Competition Act which strengthens the P&S Act and prohibits unfair practices), and S. 305 the Packer Ownership Ban (bans direct ownership of cattle by large packers so they can’t use them to manipulate the market.
These are cattle issues, but I think food issues also because we need to keep family farms and ranches in business.
Comment by Elaine — May 31, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
Thanks for the info, Kat.
On the naturally low-fat milk, I would wonder how the cow’s calves would survive? Calves need some fat, just as human babies do. For instance, pediatricians recommend whole milk for toddlers, and warn against 2% milk.
We have had various milk cows over the years, and they all produced different levels of cream on their milk, but they all had cream.
I knew folks that separated the milk with a cream separator and fed the skim milk to the calves, and they didn’t do well.
Comment by Elaine — May 31, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
Elaine,
cattle is food, and what one food group does seems to play into others. kinda like pet laws. we all watch one state because we know it can effect us in the future.
right now we have all the food groups trying to keep info off the label, push out the non agri producers etc. thanks for the info!
perhaps you could cross post over in the law forum at itchmo or maybe we could ask for a forum of bills needing action as the law one may be only recall related. after all, if we can’t keep the human supply safe, we certainly can’t keep our pets safe.
Comment by straybaby — May 31, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
Someone over at Itchmo posted that we should be sending our human food to labs to be tested, and if we did that, we should try to figure out which items would be good ones to test.
Protein drinks?
Rice Milk?
Energy Bars?
Any ideas?
We should try to find out which would have been made in China or would have ingredients from there.
Comment by Elaine — May 31, 2007 @ 4:39 pm
“The law does not specifically require that the country of origin statement be placed on the principal display panel, but requires that it be conspicuous. If a domestic firm’s name and address is declared as the firm responsible for distributing the product, then the country of origin statement must appear in close proximity to the name and address and be at least comparable in size of lettering.
*(U.S. Department of Treasury regulation)*
“
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/flg-7.html
Comment by Kat — May 31, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
soy milk
toothpaste
canned organics with the QAI logo
herbal tea
Vit C
Lysine
Mouth wash
Wheat gluten
Wheat flour
Corn meal
Just go to the grocery store & every 3 item pitch in your cart & get it examined. They are just about feeding this country — you name it!
Just go to the Alibaba or Made-in-China. Those are the 2 big ones, but there are more.
Comment by Kat — May 31, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Comment by schnauzer — May 31, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
“Ace has been cremated food given away and fed to other dogs.”
schnauzer, my condolences on your loss of Ace.
Do you know how the dogs who received his food are doing?
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 31, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
Wonder WHY country-or-origin would be under Department of Treasury ?? I was surprised to see that.
Comment by Kat — May 31, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
Wondering also——
Comment by Elaine — May 31, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
Probably just to be extra, EXTRA sure to keep the right hand from knowing what the left hand is doing . . . . . . .
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 31, 2007 @ 5:41 pm
stuff with powered cheese like mac and cheese, and hamburger helper type things. Don’t forget frozen meals like Banquet and those green ones, supposed to be good for you, healthy choice or something like that. oh and ice cream too.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 31, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
Sorry, but this story needs to be heard and I hope outrage screams across the globe: Man eats dog in Britain to protest Queen:
http://tinyurl.com/2m5gz3
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
I just don’t get animal activists that do stupid stuff like that. How does eating a corgi do anything about animal abuse? You are abusing the animal yuorself. That is - if he is really eating a corgi.
Comment by Jennyg — May 31, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
Is alpo dog food safe, have there been any recalls since april??
Comment by ann — May 31, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
The spin, deceit, and lies NEVER stop. They are showing the world again that all they care about is wallowing in their all consuming GREED.
Nutro wet food manufactured by Menu Foods killed my beautiful, loving, gentle companion. I will NEVER purchase another product from ANY company that had an association with Menu Foods. Nutro deceived me and outsourced to Menu Foods. My friend and the friends of thousands of others are dead - gone for all eternity becuase of these companies’ greed.
These companies are the scum of the earth, as are the communist Chinese that packaged and sold the poison. Don’t ever forget what these worshipers of greed did to us.
Comment by MFEMFEM — May 31, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
Other Pat
Thanks. Ace’s food went to several big dogs who are all OK. It was as our “friends” at the FDA would say diluted. It was mixed in with their regular food over several days, so hopefully there will be no long term effects, but we are keeping an eye out for problems of course.
If anyone would like to see Ace in happier days, he is one of the “Kissing Canines” the fluffy corgi kissing the little girl on the other side of the fence.
Comment by schnauzer — May 31, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
ann, the other alpo’s have not been recalled, just the ones you referred to were recalled. Purina has bad food as far as I’m concerned, even though it hasn’t been recalled my cat was very sick with the same symptoms; renal failure, crystals in kidneys, fluid in lungs plus he also had complications with his heart and is now on heart meds.
I written to Purina several times to let them know them have a problem but they apparently don’t care. They claim that they trust their suppliers. Whatever, I guess I’ll have to send them copies of the x-ray and blood work.
It probably won’t matter to them; they think they know everything and have no concern for their customers…
Do you think you have a sick dog or where you just asking?
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 31, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
Look, according to the FDA’s own statistics only 1% of imports are inspected. That means 99% of the product never gets another look until it is in the hands of a manufacturer, who has already invested a lot of money. Given their previous behavior, which is a reliable guide to the future behavior, do you really think that these people who are solely interested in the bottom line would reject these items.
Read the FDA’s own site for the reasons they do reject: FILTHY, BANNED ANTIBIOTICS, BANNED PESTICIDES, etc.
I think it is safer to presume that it is all contaminated, and buy accordingly. If it means foregoing processed foods, won’t we all be healthier for it? Who really needs toothpaste? Most dentists recommend baking soda and peroxide as their preferred method of oral hygiene anyway.
Buyer, beware!
Comment by No Longer Asleep at the Wheel — May 31, 2007 @ 7:39 pm
That reminds me — new ORA/OASIS due out — this is the end of May!! yippee! I can hardly wait to see what crap they caught.
Comment by Kat — May 31, 2007 @ 8:33 pm
April’s still up:
http://www.fda.gov/ora/oasis/ora_ref_cntry.html
Comment by Kat — May 31, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
Well the article said the dog died from something not reported - wasn’t killed to be eaten - but still it’s a stupid idea and this man should be in jail too.
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 8:42 pm
More news on the TB guy - border inspected allowed him back in the country because he looked healthy:
http://tinyurl.com/2rylxf
Let’s keep lowering the bar - then where will we be? DEAD!
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
That’s inspector!
Comment by Linda — May 31, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
I had a curious thought as I was falling asleep last night.
Did not some report say the pet food had has high as 20% melamine in it?
We have a stray “pink” bag of melamine in one of the on hold grain shipments.
That 20% has always had my attention. If the finished product was this high, that would mean the grain itself would be have been what % melamine?
Unless……
Could it be that the pet food companies were also adding melamine as a binding agent, without knowing it was in such high % in the grain already?
Since we now know 2 U.S. companies have been using it as a binding agent in their foods.
That “We even use it in our cakes,” statement came back to haunt me.
Just got that gut feeling last night, figured I would run it past those of you that can super slueth that idea better then I can.
Comment by Maudigan — June 1, 2007 @ 5:55 am
Transcript for the May 30 FDA press conference is up
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2007/05/0158.xml
Comment by Donna — June 1, 2007 @ 6:14 am
I’m not a super sleuth but you bring up something that had been bothering me. I was wondering how the wheat flour was able to set-up so well that nobody noticed; I just realized it was because melamine is a binder so that flour and melamine could work as a substitute for wheat gluten.
I don’t know how rice protein concentrate could fit into that.
They still should have noticed though, we’ve all seen the pictures; all they had to do was look in the bag!!
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 1, 2007 @ 6:18 am
AirTran Does Not Renew Michael Vick’s Contract
http://www.ajc.com/business/co.....rtran.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....index.html
Comment by Donna — June 1, 2007 @ 6:21 am
Wasn’t the rice protien concentrate not really rice protein concentrate, rather suspected flour? Marked RPC.
Comment by Maudigan — June 1, 2007 @ 7:18 am
We never got a clear answer on how MUCH was actually wheat gluten, rice protein concentrate, etc. and how much was substituted wheat flour.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 1, 2007 @ 7:21 am
Maudigan, you’re right. I was meaning that I didn’t know what RPC did in the food. Like wheat gluten is a thickener but I’m not sure if RPC was used that way. I don’t think it is…
Pat, the bad stuff was all wheat flour with melamine for both wheat gluten and RPC. I haven’t seen any info on the corn gluten in South Africa or Canada, though.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 1, 2007 @ 7:27 am
“Since we now know 2 U.S. companies have been using it as a binding agent in their foods.
That “We even use it in our cakes,” statement came back to haunt me.”
Comment by Maudigan *****************
I missed that. Which two US companies were adding melamine to cakes?
Comment by TC — June 1, 2007 @ 9:25 am
TB Man Denies being told….
“He was told in no uncertain terms not to take a flight back,” said Dr. Martin Cetron, director of the CDC’s division of global migration and quarantine. Cetron said Wednesday that in conversations between health officials and Speaker before the flight, “they clearly told him not to travel,” but “there were no legal orders in place preventing his travel, and no laws were broken.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18978573/
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 9:46 am
I made some biscuits with the Flour I bought from a mid-west company, special ordered it, has no gluten in it at all.
It didn’t rise as much but I think that’s because my baking powder had expired three years ago - (I don’t cook much) but the flavor - now the flavor was out of this world.
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 9:51 am
Linda,
This TB mans’ story gets weirder by the
minute.
Sorry, I paint the FDA, USDA and now the CDC all with the same paint brush, in light of all the things that have happened with the pet food scandal( humming “bad to the bone”). All doing damage control and lying.
That TB man and his wife plus her 8 year old daughter are not monsters and would not have taken a chance with the child IMO. I believe him, besides apparently there is a tape that proofs his claims.
I hope he gets better and that nobody else got infected.
Comment by Serijna — June 1, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
Ohio company wasn’t registered to produce feed additive
Julie Ocepek
Created: 6/1/2007 1:09:46 PM
Updated:6/1/2007 1:10:13 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A Toledo company that produced animal feed ingredients containing the same industrial chemical as the one that led to a massive pet food recall did not properly register with the state as a feed manufacturer.
That’s the word from the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
The department says Tembec Incorporated must obtain a permit or
cease its feed manufacturing operation.
A spokesman for Tembec contends the company is not a feed manufacturer because it only produces a binder used in feed production.
But state regulators say Tembec should have registered with the agriculture department because of its involvement in the manufacturing process.
http://www.wkyc.com/news/rss_a.....ryid=68883
hmmmmm… interesting!
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
This article has even more about Tembec:
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_6037480?source=rss
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 12:47 pm
They’ve been talking about this on the news:
Salmonella In Peanut Butter Has Infected Over 600 People in 47 states now!!
http://www.medicalnewstoday.co.....d=rssfeeds
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
That TB man is a personal injury lawyer; his father-in-law is a scientist at the CDC. He’s known he had TB since JANUARY !!
HE AIN’T A VICTIM —
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
So if 16 pets really equals 8000 pets, I wonder what 600 people really equals?
Comment by Kim — June 1, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
We all learned that TB was contagious as kids right? I find it difficult to believe, as strange as this story is, that this man didn’t know. Sorry folks, notwithstanding CDC, FBI, FEMA, FDA pitfalls, still I think he was told.
Now how come we don’t know how he got it - wonder how he could have come in contact with such a rare strain….??????
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
Not pet food/animal feed, but important nonetheless:
FDA finds DEG in toothpaste puts import alert on toothpaste imported from China, advises consumers to avoid using toothpaste manufactured there
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/.....01646.html
Additional information at the import alert linked in the above release. I wonder if any of these companies also make pet food or other food products?
Comment by Barry — June 1, 2007 @ 1:59 pm
Comment by Kat - June 1, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
re: TB guy, Not a victim.
I guess you could use that same analogy with Steve Miller with ChemNutra. He’s a lawyer, his wife is a Chinese citizen.
He’s not the victim.
Nor for that matter are the rest of the characters involved in the pet food scandal.
It’s called self-interest.
Comment by Kathi — June 1, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
Regarding Menu Foods and their return to shipping new foods soon (and also recovering the market as they claim they will as only a couple of “small” companies bolted from their services). When the doors close on all factories, Canada and USA, then something will have been accomplished.
Here are four more companies that had Menu Foods manufacture for them and should not be purchased.
Eagle Pack
Nature’s Logic
Nature’s Variety
Priority (Safeway) This would not be a small contract and should be on the top of all lists when writing. Personally, I spend less than ten percent on groceries at Safeway compared to my totals prior to the pet food horror as I hold them as responsible as any other company. I wrote and told them precisely that. Until they drop Menu, find other places to drop your dollars.
Others to add — and we will need to be vigilant for any “new” names made up by some of the culprits in order to escape detection by those they harmed. Boycott all Menu Foods products and watch daily for any trade names not now known.
Comment by Jay — June 1, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
******BRAVO!!!!!*****
Does anyone know who the 2 companies are who severed their contracts with Menu? One is having it’s products (pouch foods) made elsewhere & and the other will be canning it’s product themselves! They say it only comprises 4.5% of Menu’s biz, but it’s a start!
Comment by laura S — June 1, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
Does anyone have any experience with Honest Kitchen? I have a friend who has cats and wanted any info/thoughts. Thanks.
Comment by Donna — June 1, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
Natura Pet was the company that stated a few weeks into the recall that they would be buying or building a canning facility in the near future. Until such time as they have that facility, I believe they continue(d) to use Menu Foods. So I stopped buying anything from them. (They make Innova, California Natural and Healthwise - all foods I used to feed my cats.)
They tested all their products for melamine, but until last week (I believe) they weren’t testing for cyanuric acid.
Comment by Kim — June 1, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
The peanut butter is still making people sick, and someone posted about the jam having toxic ingredients too?
Comment by Terry — June 1, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
T.C not adding it to cakes, speaking of the two companies that had recalls this week because of melamine in the livestock feed.
The cakes comment was from a chinese man speaking on how common using melamine in foods was in China. A few weeks back.
Comment by Maudigan — June 1, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
Comment by Barry — June 1, 2007 @ 1:59 pm
Nice of the FDA to alert us not to use toothpaste from China. I think I knew that about ten days ago, but oh well. What their news release doesn’t say is what date they found the tainted toothpaste in the US stores. Or how many weeks ago might be a better way of putting it.
Comment by Nabiya — June 1, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
Is alpo dog food on the recall list at this time?
Comment by ann — June 1, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
Hi ann, last night I wrote a comment to answer your question for you. If you scroll further up this page to this comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — May 31, 2007 @ 7:11 pm, you can see what I wrote and I won’t have to write it out again.
In short though, Alpo was only recalled the one time at the beginning, there haven’t been any others.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 1, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
thanks Maudigan re the cakes thing.
Now I am tracking down the jam reference - I recall seeing another post too by Linda about no jam with biscuits and wondering what it was about, but a lightening storm passing through has kept me offline now and then.
Comment by TC — June 1, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
TB guy is full of crap. And so is his father in law, from the story I saw where he is making the dumbest kind of excuses, considering his CDC position as a microbiologist working with TB and the papers he has co-authored.
No. The kid knew, the kid didn’t care. I am an attorney as well, and while there is both a top and bottom of the class, we aren’t born yesterday. Nor are we that stupid, and I find his arguments to the contrary to indicate a lack of good moral character. And while I am at it, I’d like to see them find a way to pull his bar ticket to practice. What he did was reprehensible and for him, ignorance of the law is especially no excuse. Nor is failing to ascertain the status of your communicable disease - I’ve gone online to clarify & research further my health issues of far less importance. Like I wouldn’t be all over trying to educate myself further if I had TB? Please. This is what we do for a living.
I’m sorry, but I have no pity for my peer. He could understood the gravity of the situation, yet he played fast and loose with the facts and the law. And despite what his daddy the lawyer says, there may indeed be way that a person who can prove they were infected by him, and prove his knowledge, and etc, etc, can hold him liable.
His whining and mea culpas are nothing but crocodile tears.
Comment by TC — June 1, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
I totally agree with you TC.
Ann - yes, some Alpo products have been recalled. Alpo Prime Cuts in cans. Here’s the info
http://www.purina.com/company/.....tyDog.aspx
The recalled 13.2-ounce and 22-ounce ALPO Prime Cuts cans and 6-, 8-, 12- and 24-can ALPO Prime Cuts Variety Packs have four-digit code dates of 7037 through 7053, followed by the plant code 1159. Those codes follow a “Best Before Feb. 2009” date.** This information should be checked on the bottom of the can or the top or side of the multi-pack cartons.
Purina’s 5.3-ounce Mighty Dog® pouch products, manufactured by Menu Foods, were previously withdrawn from the market as a precaution on March 16 as part of the Menu Foods recall. ONLY Mighty Dog pouch products and specific date codes of ALPO Prime Cuts canned dog food are being recalled.
Comment by Kim — June 1, 2007 @ 7:38 pm
Oops, just saw Peggy’s response. She’s correct, the Alpo recall was on March 30th, nothing additional since then.
You can search by brand name at the FDA site now, it’s pretty useful.
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/.....oodrecall/
Comment by Kim — June 1, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
It’s the sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate and the Benzene etc. that is found in jam and is sold guess where?
http://tinyurl.com/33c9gn
So no jam for biscuits.
http://tinyurl.com/z9vu4
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
What I find amazing is the stock is trading above a nickle. There must be some remarkably fine market maker manipulation taking place to keep it out of the toilet. Anyone want to sell me some put options about a year out? My guess is they’ll be in bankruptcy by then, with the common stock cancelled.
Comment by Don — June 2, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
TO NANCY AND BEE…
I’m crying with you, too.
WOLFIN )O(
Comment by WOLFIN — June 3, 2007 @ 1:55 am
We all want change and the only way is to email the people who have the authority to do it. Right now the Food Safety Bill has been tabled and without our input will slowly die. It has been sent to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions. If you scroll down you will see the Food Safety Bill. At the top of the page is a place you can email the committee.
http://help.senate.gov/Bills.html
Flood them with emails!!!!!
Comment by Sandy — June 3, 2007 @ 6:38 pm
Peggy, What kind of Purina was Your cat eating? thanks.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 3, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
Sandy, thanks for posting this . I just emailed about the bill.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 3, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
Still no co-sponsors? WHY?! Does this mean none of the Senators running for President really care about whether or not citizens in the US must be forced to pay their hard earned money for food that’s just going to poison them? They don’t care if children die?
Comment by ango — June 3, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
Ango
I’m guessing maybe they got some campaign contributions from large corporations? Don’t know, just guessing cause their silence is deafening.
Comment by Sandy — June 3, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
Trudy
You’re welcome. I’ve been trying to keep track of the bill as it bounces around. I hope more people email as well.
Comment by Sandy — June 3, 2007 @ 8:23 pm
Senator Durbin and Rep DiLauro appear to have fallen silent, too.
Comment by VJ — June 3, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
Congresswoman DeLauro is keeping up. Kudos to her!!! From DeLauro’s website..
DeLauro Statement on Food Safety Discussions from the U.S. – China Strategic Economic Dialogue
http://www.house.gov/delauro/p.....24_07.html
DeLauro Statement on the Domestic Use of Melamine in Pelleted Animal Feed
http://www.house.gov/delauro/p.....31_07.html
If it is Friday, the FDA is Announcing Bad News
http://www.house.gov/delauro/p.....01_07.html
Comment by Sandy — June 3, 2007 @ 8:35 pm
Oops, looks like my last post got snagged by the spam filter. I will limit this to one link till the other shows up. Congresswoman DeLauro is keeping up!
If it is Friday, the FDA is Announcing Bad News
http://www.house.gov/delauro/p.....01_07.html
Comment by Sandy — June 3, 2007 @ 8:38 pm
Re: The Presidential hopefuls. I have been watching and waiting for one of these people to talk about food safety in their campaigns. Seems to me it would be an issue they would want to be strongly in favor of. Myself, I will not vote unless someone takes this issue seriously. After all, if they don’t believe in one of the most basic of human rights, the right to have safe food, and the right for Americans to know where that food comes from, I would find it hard to believe they could really care about anything. If Americans are concerned and they turn a deaf ear I could not in good conscience vote for them.
Comment by Sandy — June 3, 2007 @ 8:52 pm
Trudy it was Friskies, all flavors except those with beef. The shredded varieties had wheat gluten in them and they ate those about half the time. My gut tells me it was the new shredded chicken which was new back then, but I don’t know which he ate just before getting sick. It could have been any of them.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 3, 2007 @ 8:59 pm