Friday-night follies: FDA, food safety and more
By Gina Spadafori
June 1, 2007
Karen Roebuck of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review continues to do great work on the food contamination front. One of these super reporters should be about now signing a book contract and taking a leave of absence to transform “history on the fly” into a national best-seller that’ll scare your socks off. Well, scare every one else’s socks off. After 11 weeks — or is it 12 tonight? — the rest of us are already sockless.
Anyway … from her article today:
Many tons of contaminated wheat gluten sit untouched in an Allegheny County warehouse, too dangerous for pet food, too valuable to throw out.
Farm animal feed laced with the same industrial chemicals, however, were found at Pennsylvania mills and suppliers, held briefly and then sold.
The national human and pet food contamination crisis is keeping federal and state investigators in Pennsylvania busy as they quietly investigate everything from a few dead pet frogs to scores of businesses to several thousand tons of imported food ingredients.
“Essentially, the crisis reaction is over, but the FDA is in the midst of a food security and surveillance project to follow up on this,” said Thomas Gardine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s district director for the Philadelphia Field Office, which includes Pennsylvania and Delaware.
[...]
This week, the FDA announced that a Toledo company, Tembec BTLSR Inc., intentionally had been adding melamine and related compounds to fish and shrimp feed, and to a bonding agent, all of which a Colorado company sold or used to make livestock feed. A Tembec official said the feed was made with the same formulation for the past three years.
The FDA will not identify most of the companies or the locations of the Pennsylvania businesses or incidents linked to this investigation.
The wheat gluten being held in an Allegheny County warehouse was destined for Pittsburgh-based Del Monte Pet Products, but that company never bought or received any of that shipment, Gardine said.
Del Monte previously recalled some dog food and cat and dog treats that had been made with some of the contaminated ingredients.
The supplier holding the contaminated product wants to find an industrial use for it to avoid having to trash it, Gardine said.
Here’s the rest. Thursday’s piece was even more interesting:
“We’ve been producing this product for about three years, and I believe the formulation included melamine up until earlier this spring,” [John] Valley[, executive vice president of Tembec BTLSR Inc., told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review yesterday].
The company is cooperating with the FDA, which regulates animal and fish feed and notified Tembec May 21 that melamine and small amounts of cyanuric acid and its by-products were found in its products.
Federal officials believe Chinese companies added melamine to falsely elevate protein levels on nutrition tests.
Tembec, however, added the chemicals to a binding agent to hold the food pellets together, Acheson said.
Colorado-based Uniscope Inc., which distributes the fish feed and makes the livestock feed, became suspicious of the Tembec products and tested for the compounds earlier this month, Acheson said. It notified the FDA of its findings May 18, although the FDA did not explain what prompted the testing.
The pet food crisis snowballed into the human food chain, because the same pet food ingredients are used in a wide variety of human foods, and because hogs and chickens ate feed laced with the chemicals. The livestock was quarantined temporarily but eventually declared safe for human consumption.
Tembec’s Valley said the pet food crisis differed from his company’s because Tembec used “pure melamine,” not that contaminated with cyanuric acid and the by-products.
While it is believed that it was the combination of melamine and cyanuric acid that sickened pets, the FDA said no amount of either is allowed in any animal or human food, and while Tembec’s products contained the four related compounds, melamine alone is considered a contaminant.
Here’s the rest.
Now, you know what keeps me from losing it? Nancy keeps posting these great canine freestyle routines. (This one’s sad, because it’s posted in memory of the dog in it. Pepper’s mom now really does know an “Achy Breaky Heart.”)
I think my youngest retriever, McKenzie, would be awesome at this sport. (McKenzie and Woody, very top, demonstrate synchronized sniffing. And McKenzie, above, shows off her tennis ball doe-see-doe.) Too bad I have two left feet.
Holy Toledo. This is what gets me - haven’t they been saying none of it went to human food manufacturers?
“Because the three contaminated, imported ingredients also are used in a wide variety of human food — everything from baby formula to energy bars to gravy — the federal government launched an unprecedented food surveillance of human and animal foods. It is tracing where Chinese-bought ingredients went and plan to visit manufacturers nationwide to test ingredients and finished products.
The investigation is still in its infancy, and none of Pennsylvania’s 2,100 food manufacturers has been investigated yet as part of the surveillance.
… (talking about the other vegetable proteins being tested)
“We can think of no cognizant reason that the purposeful contamination was limited to wheat, corn and rice,” Gardine said. “
I hope I don’t need to start a Human Food Recall List.
Comment by Kim — June 1, 2007 @ 7:52 pm
“Tembec’s Valley said the pet food crisis differed from his company’s because Tembec used “pure melamine,” not that contaminated with cyanuric acid and the by-products.”
I’m at a loss for words.
Comment by MFEMFEM — June 1, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
From the article:
“While it is believed that it was the combination of melamine and cyanuric acid that sickened pets, the FDA said no amount of either is allowed in any animal or human food, and while Tembec’s products contained the four related compounds, melamine alone is considered a contaminant.”
OK, so if melamine is not “allowed” in the human food chain, then how come they released the chickens and pork???? Either it’s allowable or it’s not…they can’t have it both ways.
(IMO This gal deserves (and might get) a Pulitzer if she keeps this up. At very least, one of the truly *major* players might snap her up. The Pittsburgh Trib better give her a raise!)
Comment by hildiesmom — June 1, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
The FDA says no amount of melamine or cyanuric acid is allowed in any animal or human food.
Two paragraphs down in the here’s the rest….
The levels might be high enough to harm fish but would pose little health hazard to humans if consumed, Acheson said.
No worries folks it’s not allowed in your food, but it’s of little health hazard if you comsume it.
“So satisfying you could even eat the dishes.”
Willy Wonka.
Comment by Maudigan — June 1, 2007 @ 8:14 pm
Achy Breaky Heart indeed. But to have VIDEO! The crying lasts as long as with a still photo, but the laughs and grins are a lot longer.
And don’t forget the T-shirt: FDA - we make FEMA look good. That means we are going to keep seeing this melamine stuff for at least another year.
Comment by Carol PW — June 1, 2007 @ 8:25 pm
The FDA’s found tainted toothpaste in FL:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06.....paste.html
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 8:53 pm
“Consumers were advised on Friday to discard all toothpaste made in China after federal health officials said they found Chinese-made toothpaste containing a poison related to a chemical used in antifreeze in three locations — Miami, the Port of Los Angeles and Puerto Rico….
… F.D.A. officials said they found toothpaste containing a small amount of diethylene glycol, a sweet syrupy poison, at a Dollar Plus retail store in Miami, sold under the brand name ShiR Fresh Mint Flouride Paste. The F.D.A. also identified another nine brands of Chinese toothpaste that contain diethylene glycol, some with concentrations of between 3 percent and 4 percent. …”
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
“The agency said toothpaste containing diethylene glycol is sold under the names of Cooldent Flouride, Cooldent Spearmint; Cooldent ICE; Dr. Cool; Superdent, Clean Rite, Oralmax Extreme, Oral Bright, Bright Max, and ShiR Fresh Mint.”
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 9:14 pm
According to the coloradoan on May 30, instead of melamine, the FDA confirmed Uniscope will replace the binding agent of the pellet with a “urea formaldehyde resin-type ingredient”.
Hope the dogs and cats can handle that. I know I cannot because my whole nervous system is geared to explode or at least to go into a frenzy.
Maybe I should eat bugs like my cat does—maybe that will take care of the frenzy-mood.
Comment by Evelyn — June 1, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
Quoting from article (Thomas Gardine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s district director for the Philadelphia Field Office speaking) “The FDA has determined that any detectable level of melamine makes it unacceptable for use in human or animal feed, he said.
“You cannot dilute out a contaminant. The product is bad,” he said.
—————-
Didn’t the FDA say there was low/no risk due to dilution factor?
Comment by Donna — June 1, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
You should hear what my mother says about all this. She is questioning Why are we getting things from China when they are doing this to us and our pets and that we should not be getting food or other things from them. I am a very angry pet owner. There is something I could say but this is the internet and If i did say it everyone could see it and that would not be good so I won’t.
Comment by Jill — June 1, 2007 @ 9:27 pm
Comment by Evelyn — June 1, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
So if melamine is being replaced with urea-formaldehyde, one would want to know what it is, would one not?
From Wikipedia:
“Urea-formaldehyde (also known as Urea-methanal) is a transparent thermosetting resin or plastic, made from urea and formaldehyde heated in the presence of a mild base such as ammonia or pyridine. These resins are used in adhesives, finishes, and molded objects. Urea-formaldehyde resin’s attributes include high tensile strength, flexural modulus and HDT, low water absorption, mould , higher surface hardness, elongation at break, and volume resistance.
Urea formaldehyde was commonly used when producing electrical appliances casing i.e. desk lamps. It is now mostly replaced by melamine.
Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation, or UFFI, was used as cavity wall insulation beginning in the 1950s. In the 1980s concerns began to develop about the toxic formaldehyde vapor emitted in the curing process, as well as from the breakdown of old foam. Consequently, its use was discontinued.”
Doesn’t mention a word about being used in foods.
Comment by Nabiya — June 1, 2007 @ 9:37 pm
Being sleepy and in a frenzy, I gave the date of the coloradoan article as May 30. It was May 3l—link is at http://www. coloradoan in the business section written by Juliette Fardulis—Melamine found in Johnstown company’s product.
Comment by Evelyn — June 1, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
Link is http://www.coloradoan.com—frenzy has left me incompetent.
Comment by Evelyn — June 1, 2007 @ 9:43 pm
give it last try—www.coloradoan.com
Comment by Evelyn — June 1, 2007 @ 9:45 pm
It seems to me our corporate media often falls short when it comes to carefully researched, quality journalism. Once a story has been settled on, they can not be swayed by the facts. In a really good year, I might see two pieces of top of the line, investigative journalism. With the amount of information a mouse click away, it’s sad to see the kind of propagation the typically pathetic AP items receive.
I’ve been working on publishing some of the research I’ve done over the past 2 1/2 months at http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com
I have quite a bit more to organize and publish on the site, which I’ll be adding as time permits.
Of special interest is the results of a food analysis I ordered, which detected acetaminophen and cyanuric acid, but no melamine. A scan of the report is here: http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com/test.jpg
I am especially interested in getting in contact with others who have received independent lab results on food samples, and who would be willing consider allowing those results to be posted on the site.
Comment by Don — June 1, 2007 @ 11:06 pm
… from post by Donna “…Didn’t the FDA say there was low/no risk due to dilution factor?”
Yes, and the FDA and its reps are lying because of the tremendous economic impact of saying otherwise. There is NO BASIS FOR THIS STATEMENT. It’s all spin—I’m surprised *their* heads haven’t exploded or fallen off from all their contorted spinning. (Some people call them talking heads, I call them spinning heads)
An many people (including myself) have posted over the last few weeks, they DONT CARE. The reality of thousands of pet deaths and and harm, and the potential for death or serious human injury hasn’t made a dent in their warped “thinking” … they’re following the example and ideology of the top officials in this administration—it can’t be said enough. The past few years in particular have been very very dark times for our country, and sadly I don’t see much light it any at the end of the tunnel …
Comment by Sandy — June 1, 2007 @ 11:24 pm
“Many tons of contaminated wheat gluten sit untouched in an Allegheny County warehouse, too dangerous for pet food, too valuable to throw out.”
too valuable? too VALUABLE??? this stuff is hazardous waste and should be disposed of as such. maybe they have insurance that would cover the cost of the cleanup. and if they don’t, maybe having to foot the bill will teach others that they need to be vigilant in determining exactly what they’re buying *before* they buy it.
too valuable forsooth.
Comment by explodinghed — June 2, 2007 @ 3:35 am
Plenty of time for freestyle for your dogs Gina! Many dogs “retire” into the sport.
Nancy
Comment by nancy — June 2, 2007 @ 3:48 am
A poster on another board I frequent has decided to personally boycott China, and has become an avid tag reader on everything she buys. She was in one of the “Big Two” pet supply stores looking for toys for her dog and she couldn’t find a single toy that wasn’t marked “Made in China”. So she went looking for an alternative and found this company:
http://www.purrfectplay.com/index.php
She said she spoke with the owner of the company who told her the toys are made in Indiana and that they pay a living wage to their employees. She also commented that the selection is small, but that could change if they saw increased business.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 2, 2007 @ 4:52 am
Comment by Sandy — June 1, 2007 @ 11:24 pm
“n many people (including myself) have posted over the last few weeks, they DONT CARE. The reality of thousands of pet deaths and and harm, and the potential for death or serious human injury hasn’t made a dent in their warped “thinking” … they’re following the example and ideology of the top officials in this administration—it can’t be said enough. The past few years in particular have been very very dark times for our country, and sadly I don’t see much light it any at the end of the tunnel …”
Exactly right Sandy. All it would take is one call from their masters at the White House and the political hacks running the FDA would change course completely. The FDA is run by political appointees, as are most federal agencies. That call will NEVER come because at the White House THEY DON’T CARE. Trade with communist China and corporate profits are more important than the lifes and health of our pets, or US. Wake up people - its not the FDA!
Comment by MFEMFEM — June 2, 2007 @ 5:15 am
Planet Dog just brought toy production back to the state of Maine. Good for them!
planetdog.com
Nancy
Comment by nancy — June 2, 2007 @ 5:44 am
I agree that the FDA is ruled by the White House, MFEMFEM—but we have to put pressure somewhere. The media has been helping, also.
Comment by Evelyn — June 2, 2007 @ 5:49 am
Nancy - did you call and ask them if the toys are produced in Maine? I didn’t see that stated on their website (maybe I missed it).
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 2, 2007 @ 6:44 am
isn’t UREA FORMALDEHYDE like a poison/ I know that FORMALDEHYDE is in Nail polish. Why do they put stuff like that in food to feed animals when it is poison to the animals and also in people. ARE THEY CRAZY OR WHAT.
Comment by Jill — June 2, 2007 @ 6:49 am
Comment by Don — June 1, 2007 @ 11:06 pm
Don’s posting is astounding. Just when you think you can’t be surprised any more. When he had his cat’s food tested they found acetaminophen as well as cyanuric acid. I won’t paraphrase this article about how toxic it is for cats, but don’t miss it.
Has anyone heard previously about this being found in pet food? (Haven’t read enough yet to see if it’s as toxic to dogs.)
http://www.aspca.org/site/DocS.....erest=1101
Go back to Don’s posting and go to his website, including this test result. Just when I think I can stop obsessing and reading this site and itchmo, etc., something important like this comes up.
Comment by Maureen — June 2, 2007 @ 6:55 am
Thanks The OTHER Pat and Nancy for the dog toy info. I’ve only found one dog toy not made in China, and it was too big for my dog.
Comment by ango — June 2, 2007 @ 6:58 am
Comment by Don — June 1, 2007 @ 11:06 pm
Hope Don’t post doesn’t slip under the radar. He had his cat’s food tested and they found acetaminophen —TYLENOL— and cyanuric acid.Acetaminopen is toxic to cats. See my post at 6:55 am for a link that will startle you. I don’t remember reading about this in pet food prior to this.
Don’s post takes you to a great website he’s created that also includes the brand and type of cat food tested.
Comment by Maureen — June 2, 2007 @ 7:09 am
Another resource for dog toys might be at a dog show. There are always vendors at dog shows, and - in my area at least - there are some who sell toys they’ve made themselves. To find upcoming shows in your area, go to:
http://www.infodog.com/showinfo/state.htm
and click on your state.
Shopping the vendors at a dog show is a RIOT!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 2, 2007 @ 7:10 am
Don, how very disturbing. Thanks for getting the sample tested. I wonder how much longer veterinarians can continue to say it is safe to feed this stuff to pets without losing their credibility. I’m sick of their referring to the “nutrients” in it. When I hear the word “nutrients”, to me, it essentially means “highly processed good stuff with lots of deadly poison thrown in”.
Comment by ango — June 2, 2007 @ 7:13 am
Comment by Don — June 1, 2007 @ 11:06 pm
More about the lab findings of acetaminophen (TYLENOL) and cyanuric acid in the cat food that Don had tested after his cat died in January, before the recall:
Don’s website says that these were the products tested: Pet Pride “Turkey and Giblets Dinner” lot number APR 24 09, and Pet Pride “Mixed Grill” lot number SEP07 09
Here’s an ASPCA website that describes how toxic acetaminophen is to both cats (more toxic) and dogs.
http://www.aspca.org/site/DocS.....?docID=132
Comment by Maureen — June 2, 2007 @ 7:40 am
The acetaminophen issue differs from the melamine issue in that its toxicity to pets has already been researched and verified. Was the tested sample from an open product or one that had not yet been opened?
Comment by ango — June 2, 2007 @ 8:08 am
WTF, acetaminophen in cat food???
Gee, I check in here to see what is going, and unfortunately, I’m never disapointed!!!
Who makes pet pride and where is it sold? It sounds familiar, maybe its sold in grocery stores?
I’ll have to look at Don’s site…Thank you Don for getting it tested and telling us about it!!! Are your animals OK? Did they eat any of that crap???
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 2, 2007 @ 8:27 am
Don, I read your story about chuckles on your web page and it brought tears to my eyes. None of my three cats were impacted by the recalls, but my heart goes out to you and others that were.
Comment by Jennyg — June 2, 2007 @ 8:28 am
WOW Don! You’ve been busy!! I was on your site just a few days ago. You’ve been “burning the midnight oil’! GOOD GOING!!
Just wondering — the pet food you chose to analyze — was it the same brand/UPC that your little kitty was eating when it died?
Have you contacted the FDA & the mfr? What were the results of that call?
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 8:31 am
Ah,Damn! Poor Chuckles, I’m sorry Don. She sounds so wonderful. I’m so sorry you lost her. My Daisy made that poop-covering motion at the food a lot, basically since she was born. At first we just thought she was picky, too; but once the news broke about the poisoned food we started giving it the “Daisy Test”. If she tried to bury it, it went straight in the trash. The others would have ate it; but she knew, smelled it somehow. This is the first I’ve heard of another cat doing that.
I hope Monster and Buzzer are OK.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 2, 2007 @ 8:45 am
Wonder who will hold the rights to this book and movie - a gigantic conspiracy thriller filled with slime and scum…our pet companions should benefit in some way. The ending will be us citizens on a global basis, who can see destruction of the world in the not too distant future, taking off for another planet.. or maybe there is the possibility that we can immigrate to another country to start change. The balance of citizens left behind are the unbelievers, too elderly or sick, and ones too scared of change, including the devils of our society who can’t bear not making a profit on every last dust particle of poison and contamination they can stuff and spoon feed to any and all of God’s children under their control - both human and animal. Someone else can decide how the lives of the devils are finally cooked or corked up before all other innocents give up the ghost on their final journey.
Comment by Bee — June 2, 2007 @ 8:46 am
Re: Don’s message
Does this mean that none of these products have really been tested? OR - did they test them and attribute the problem to melamine when they knew it was actually something else (acetaminophen)?
Comment by JohnT — June 2, 2007 @ 8:54 am
Here’s Menu Foods Pet Pride recall:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/.....mp;pet=Dog
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 8:56 am
That was the dog food — will see if there’s cat food — I found that link on “search”
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 8:59 am
Pet Pride Cat food:
http://www.menufoods.com/recal.....043007.htm
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 9:01 am
I’m feeding my dogs and cat Dr. Fox’s recipes. I felt somewhat relaxed about this since getting them off of dog and cat food. Now I’m worried about the supplements, though I’ve researched them as best I can.
Comment by Maureen — June 2, 2007 @ 9:06 am
Don’s results revealed:
Pet Pride Cat Food - Made in USA
Toxins: Acetaminophen AND Cyanuric Acid
Products Tested:
2 cans Turkey & Giblets
Best by APR 24 09 - Lot Code: FTG1S4 2
Best by APR 24 09 - Lot Code: FTG1S4 2
2 cans Mixed Grill
Best by Sept 07 09 - Lot Code: FMG1S4 2
Best by Sept 07 09 - Lot Code: FMG1S4
(Note: there is no other number at the end of the last can - on the test paper)
Note: All of the UPC codes on Menu Foods website are 1111 numbers
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 9:15 am
I don’t understand those lot codes. The UPC code lookup doesn’t like them either.
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 9:21 am
Those are NOT lot numbers/UPC NUMBERS — Don, what are the UPC NUMBERS? And, what are the other numbers listed?
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 9:22 am
Maybe those are item numbers?
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 9:23 am
Comment by Bee — June 2, 2007 @ 8:46 am
The LIVES, DEATHS and tails by Stephen KING!
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 9:25 am
thx The OTHER Pat for the toy reference. My dogs hedgehog toys say made in China. Although not as popular as their hedges, they do love “sock monkeys”, which are just me putting multiple knots in our old cotton socks. Probably made in China too:(
Don - am so very sorry. Thank you so much for your website and all your efforts. And again, condolences.
Comment by TC — June 2, 2007 @ 9:27 am
Comment by Maureen — June 2, 2007 @ 9:06 am
If you’ve been doing research — would you mind posting them here:
http://www.TruthinFoodLabeling.com
thanks!
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 9:27 am
Contaminated tooth paste made in China by Suzhou City Jinmao Daily Chemicals Co. Ltd; they also make dog tooth paste! Of course don’t wait for the FDA to send out a news release about that!
Comment by Nabiya — June 2, 2007 @ 9:32 am
Re the toothpaste:
So how many weeks gap has there been since the FDA first announced to drug manfrs. to be watching out for DEG in various products? And since they first mentioned the words “oops, toothpaste could be a problem”? To today’s news that “damn, it is on the shelves of a Dollar Store in Florida?” Which should read “damn, how many of these recent spate of deaths are due to ingestion of this stuff and who is brushing with it this morning?”
Can I safely assume it has been on the Dollar Store shelves for weeks and weeks now? Is in people’s cabinets? How many toothpaste swallowers have gotten ill, or maybe died already? It took the authorities in Panama a LONG time to figure out what had caused the 51 deaths from tainted toothpaste. Granted, we technically have a headstart, because our inept FDA has been tossing out limp wristed warnings for awhile now.
But I noted in the NYTimes article that the Dollar Store clerk/owner contacted was hard to understand in his broken English. And sometimes, when people are hard to understand, their actual causes of death are harder to pinpoint. So how can we NOT have already had health or death repercussions from this toothpaste? Can’t someone look into the records of Dollar and other bargain stores, and get a number on the amount of toothpaste tubes sold that could potentially be tainted? Not that they can do anything real with the info, I suppose.
You know, we are wired into this developing crisis in a way that many Americans are not; nor will others see brief snippets on CNN warning about Dollar Store/etc toothpaste.
Are we already in the midst of a human death crisis from our tainted food supply that some of us think is inevitable? Will this be the start of what it takes for national awareness to begin? How many tainted timebombs are waiting in products on our shelves to join the toothpaste debacle? Have said it before - this could be an awful long tragic year on many levels, if this is as bad as it indicates.
We could just be getting started.
Comment by TC — June 2, 2007 @ 9:41 am
Need to check that no human toothpastes contain xylitol, the poison sweetners for pets. Is there a list of products that contain Xylitol? Think I’ll do a search.
I ruined a half day preparing home cooked meals adding a frozen pepper mix that contained another ingredient, onions…so it became stuffed pepper mix for humans…
Comment by Bee — June 2, 2007 @ 9:41 am
Great author selection Kat…Mr. King, where are you ???
Comment by Bee — June 2, 2007 @ 9:45 am
Did you all notice my posts about the contaminate toothpaste found in Miami, LA, Puerto Rico?
This thread, last night:
Comment by Kat — June 1, 2007 @ 8:53 pm
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 9:46 am
Found at “Dollar Plus retail store in Miami” but did not disclose the other store names.
I sign-up for the recalls, but I have yet to receive an alert about this — ARE THEY JUST GOING TO LET THIS STAY ON THE SHELVES?????
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE FDA?? knock KNOCK — anybody give a darn???
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 9:51 am
David Acheson - DIRECTOR FOOD SAFETY & SECURITY
david.acheson@fda.hhs.gov
THIS ~IS~ A GOOD EMAIL ADDRESS…
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 9:53 am
Initial Xylitol Search:
Interesting piece on xylitol - maybe it’s made different ways???? Seems this product is being compared to China products made from “Corn” and a comparison USA product made from “hardwood trees, not corn” ???
http://www.xylitol-brand-comparison.com/
Comment by Bee — June 2, 2007 @ 10:05 am
More good email addresses:
stephen.sundlof@fda.hhs.gov
david.acheson@cfsan.fda.gov
andrew.voneschenbach@fda.hhs.gov
duane@petfoodinstitute.org
kurt@petfoodinstitute.org
bob@appma.org
ed@appma.org
Comment by Ann H — June 2, 2007 @ 10:08 am
Here’s my email to David Acheson:
————————————-
Dear Mr. Acheson:
The FDA has NOW found diethylene glycol in various toothpastes, imported from China, within the United States & Puerto Rico.
WHEN CAN WE EXPECT A PRODUCT RECALL ON THESE BRANDS, story reported by The New York Times:
Cooldent Flouride, Cooldent Spearmint; Cooldent ICE; Dr. Cool; Superdent, Clean Rite, Oralmax Extreme, Oral Bright, Bright Max, and ShiR Fresh Mint.
Sincerely,
Katrinka Lawson
A very concerned American Citizen — watching — and waiting for the FDA to do what is right,
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 10:19 am
Contact LookUp for Health & Human Services
http://directory.psc.gov/employee.htm
——————
If you’ve ever wondered if your emails get opened — and read — I use ReadNotify:
http://www.readnotify.com/?from=tifl51707
That’s how I KNOW the email has been received — then opened — and links followed. First month is free, then a minimal monthly charge. They offer rollover email sent counts too, if you don’t use your monthly allotment. VERY COOL!
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 10:24 am
Xylitol is perfectly safe for humans. My family has been using it for years - the made in US variety. We would NEVER purchase the stuff form China. Xylitol has a lot of health advantages over sugar but it should NEVER be given to pets.
Many things, like acetaminophen and ibupropen are poisonous to some animals but safe for humans.
Don’t go around saying that xylitol is a human poison, it isn’t (at least the stuff made in the USA isn’t - who knows what is in the Chinese stuff?).
Comment by MFEMFEM — June 2, 2007 @ 10:24 am
*Breaking News from ABCNEWS.com:
AUTHORITIES ARREST FORMER AIRPORT CARGO WORKER FROM GUYANA WHO ALLEGEDLY PLOTTED TO BLOW UP FUEL TANKS AND LINES AT JFK AIRPORT IN NEW YORK CITY*
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 10:27 am
Good for you…we do too MFEMFEM. Just making sure some humans not aware, don’t assume…if you know what we mean. Right ???
Comment by Bee — June 2, 2007 @ 10:28 am
Thanks Don for posting your test results, and setting up your site.
I found *another* report of acetominophen being found in different unrecalled pet food,tested by a different lab, sent in by a different person, so just posted both on my blog.
And I emailed you.
Comment by Kim — June 2, 2007 @ 10:30 am
Comment by Bee — June 2, 2007 @ 10:28 am
“Good for you…we do too MFEMFEM. Just making sure some humans not aware, don’t assume…if you know what we mean. Right ???”
Right :)
Comment by MFEMFEM — June 2, 2007 @ 10:37 am
There is research on Medline that shows that DEG is absorbed through the skin, particularly after repeated exposures to the same area. (One massive acute exposure as in an industrial accident would be safer that DEG in toothpaste or body lotions.)
Comment by Sylvia — June 2, 2007 @ 11:16 am
Kim, is the other post the same brand/style?
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 11:50 am
The manufacturer of the contaminated tooth paste, Suzhou City Jinmao Daily Chemicals Co. Ltd, also makes shampoo, detergents, soap, VASELINE, hair care products, and all brought to you from our friends at: http://jinmao.en.alibaba.com/
Comment by Nabiya — June 2, 2007 @ 11:50 am
Never mind, Kim - I’m reading your post. Thanks! Smell another recall coming! Maybe 3?
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Comment by Kim — June 2, 2007 @ 10:30 am
Kim’s find of a second person whose Science Diet cat food tested positive for acetaminophen is a must read on her blog. His first person account is at:
http://petfoodtracker.blogspot.com/
(See Saturday June 2nd)
Comment by Maureen — June 2, 2007 @ 11:59 am
They make dog toothpaste, I see there, Nabiya. Not good since they swallow it. Thanks for link on that! And all that other stuff…who knows how it could accumulate if DEG is in it?
Comment by Sylvia — June 2, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
Every now & then there’s a lull in this TOXIC BOMBARDMENT of poisoned food into the United States!! Then *smack* up beside the head again…
WHY HAVEN’T THEY DONE A ~FULL SCALE~ TOXICOLOGY SAMPLING???
errrrrrrr!!
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
The FDA has determined that any detectable level of melamine makes it unacceptable for use in human or animal feed, he [Gardine] said.
“You cannot dilute out a contaminant. The product is bad,” he said.
**********************************
If any detectable level is found and cannot be diluted out, according to Gardine of the FDA in the Pittsburgh District, then why has the cattle (dairy cows?? beef cows??) feed NOT been recalled? Any known contamination in animal feed that is fed to animals for human consumption is, by LAW, not supposed to receive the “USDA” meat stamp.
WHY IS THIS LAW BEING IGNORED: CHICKENS, HOGS, FISH, and now SHEEP, GOATS, & COWS? Do I assume that cattle means cows, the animals we get milk, cheese, and burgers from, the same animals that have been eating this feed recipe for three (3) years already????
Do you all remember way, way, way back when the first confirmation of hogs eating the contaminated feed came out and it looked as though the FDA might actually act to protect the human food chain and thought (just for a split second) about destroying the hogs and compensating the hog ranchers for their losses? And, remember the quarantined chickens that were held from market for a while? That was a longggggg time ago, folks. The pork turned out to be fine. The chicken is fine. IT’S BEEN AN “ANYTHING GOES” MENTALITY FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW!!!
Gardine’s head will probably roll for not reinforcing Acheson’s “dilution factor”…
Am I worried about outside terrorists? I’m more worried by my own government, putting it mildly!
Comment by petlover — June 2, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
petlover: Did you know they only tested ~SIX~ *chickens* out of 2 million or 23 million? Have read different stories.
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Planet Dog sent me a press relase last week about making toys here in Portland. It is true.
Nancy in Maine, still chuckling about the synchronized sniffing
Comment by nancy — June 2, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
WHY HAVEN’T THEY DONE A FULL SCALE TOXICOLOGY SAMPLING???
Noted this which relates to this post on Itchmo:
I wonder if it might be wise to randomly test pet food from as long ago as Summer, 2006. I know this is probably a difficult order just to find the foods themselves. I have a number of packets and cans that as far I know are not on the recall list though some other lot numbers of the same foods were.
We know the usual suspects: the melamine, the cyanuric acid, etc., but I have become curious as to what is IN THE FOOD as a RULE, not as exception. What did they fill with? Are the counts on the can accurate? Are the proportions correct and what manipulative trickery may have been used to give the illusion of quality?
I am curious if there is a way to analyze a food for all of its constituents, checking for freshness, foreign matter, drugs, uncatalogued chemicals, hazards like heavy metals and other pollutants, and other equally disastrous ingredients which would impact pets (and humans also). Also, things for which my imagination is inadequate to even contemplate.
So far, I am guessing that the labs have been searching for specific chemicals or poisons. I think this because I have not seen new items added to the list of toxins since the beginning of the outrage. Not necessarily deadly contents, but hardly helpful ingredients placed in these foods as a “profit” supplement. I would like to see a complete breakdown of a variety of foods stretching over these many months. And if by chance, some unopened cans prior to the influx of foreign, cheap, and risky additives could be located, it would be an interesting tell of how the industry sold itself away.
An expensive project no doubt, but it might put the seal on why so many of us have lost animals or seen them deteriorate long before their time, and long before this latest episode.
Comment by Jay — June 2, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
A bit off topic, but here’s a little bit of “good news” I think most of us need right now. It shows that citizens can make a difference:
http://www.organicconsumers.or.....e_5432.cfm
Comment by ango — June 2, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
Just checked the dogs toothpaste and its made in the USA. But I also checked the little tennis balls that the dogs love and they are made in China! I guess they were too good to be true. They are actually for cats but but my little cat/dogs like them. They’re from Walmart and come four mini tennis balls in a pack for 88 cents.
We were in Dollar Tree today looking around. I realizied I’ve bought acetominophen and generic Motrin etc there and in other dollar stores before. I wonder where that was made and if the strength was correct etc. I won’t be buying it again. I also looked at the toothpaste and they seemed to have all US named products. They did have off name brands of baby vaseline and powder etc. I also wonder where Walmart’s pain relievers are made. They only state who packages them and distributes them. On the other hand their Equate baby powder says Made in the USA. Wonder if this will ever end.
Comment by Maureen (Lilly and Lucy's mom) — June 2, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
Isn’t it interesting that the US government is using the “Made in China” wording on the toothpaste as a tool to get through this crisis, but COOL is so difficult to implement?
Comment by ango — June 2, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
Jay: FERN: http://www.fernlab.org/
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
ango: “Made in the USA” doesn’t mean much these days.
It just means they hauled it in from SOME ~UNKNOWN/UNDISCLOSED~ PLACE and mixed it up;
SENT IT OFF TO ~SOMEWHERE~ ~ELSE~ FOR PACKAGING & LABELING;
Then, sent off to even ANOTHER PLACE FOR DISTRIBUTION;
And, even on further to your *favorite* store.
ALL THE WHILE RACKING UP EXPENSES & CHANCES FOR PRODUCT TAMPERING.
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
ango - can’t tell by the text where these are made, but if you email SitStay, I’m sure they’ll tell you (they’re VERY customer-responsive):
http://www.sitstay.com/store/toys/balls3.shtml
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 2, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
What scares the crap-ola out of me is — now, it’s WELL KNOWN that our food supply can be breached…
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
What I meant was that the government has instructed the public to dispose of toothpaste that says “Made in China” on it, yet the same government is making Country of Origin Labeling is so hard to implement with the food supply. To me, their telling us to look for “Made in China” on the label is the governments own admission that Country of Origin Labeling is absolutley mandatory.
Comment by ango — June 2, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1997/12/musa2.shtm
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 2, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Someone should go and smack them on the side of the head and ask them WHY.
Comment by Jill — June 2, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Thanks to Don for his efforts and for the shocking information … I have wondered many times since the initial recalls in March—what happened to the discovery of RAT POISON in some of the foods??? um, hello!!!!!!!! I don’t remember any real follow-up to that finding—anyone?
The other thing that is increasingly of concern is what *can* we feed our pets? With the feed-tainted food now entering the human market with the FDA’s (and presumably USDA’s) ‘blessing’, I feel I can’t trust the ingredients I’m using to make homemade products.
One big problem for me is that one of my cats, for example, won’t eat the locally organically and humanely raised poultry (chickens—which are fantastic); she’s all into it while cooking but then shows no interest. I’ve tried different recipes, different meat/fish bases, and combinations but …
So it’s extreme vigilance and fingers crossed—not where any of us should be.
Comment by Sandy — June 2, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
To All,
Thanks for all the positive feedback on the site. I’ve updated the lab report section to add test results from Steve which also tested positive for acetaminophen, the generic version of Tylanol. From what I understand, the pet food companies are making an issue of the fact the bags have been opened. DUH!!! It is hard to get out of the bag otherwise and dry food is not sold in single serving portions.
For the record, the samples I sent in were unopened 5.5 ounce cans.
http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com/lab.html
Comment by Don — June 2, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
I don’t think the US ever confirmed the rat poison, that was the University of Guelph in Canada. I have no idea what follow-up on that has been done.
Comment by ango — June 2, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
Here’s a link to a University of Guelph follow-up memo. Looks like they couldn’t confirm the rat poison on follow-up.
http://www.labservices.uoguelp.....xicity.pdf
Comment by ango — June 2, 2007 @ 5:32 pm
Thanks Ango
Comment by Sandy — June 2, 2007 @ 5:42 pm
One of my cats will not eat warm chicken but likes it cold from the refrigerator.
The latest Consumer Reports warns about nanoparticles that might be harmful if you ingest them or apply to your skin http://www.nanotechproject.org/44. Consumer Reports states that the FDA should test and regulate this new technology because it might be harmful like asbestos. Real danger is unknown. The FDA does not do research or testing now on nanoparticles which the industries are developing.
Comment by Evelyn — June 2, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
Nanotechnology: “The presence of engineered nanomaterials in the workplace today poses an immediate challenge to how occupational safety and health is managed,” maintains Maynard. “So far, we have a number of ‘red flags’ that indicate some engineered nanomaterials might present a new or unusual health hazard—like recent research done with rodents suggesting that deposited, discrete nanometer-diameter particles are capable of being transported from the nasal region of the respiratory tract to the brain, and circumventing the blood-brain barrier.”
Comment by Nabiya — June 2, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
I would like to know when ACETAMINOPHEN was found in pet food? Was it found during this recall that was going on? I would like to know.
Comment by Jill — June 2, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
Comment by ango — June 2, 2007 @ 5:32 pm
Don’t we all agree that all recalled pet foods don’t necessarily contain the same contaminants? There very well might be more than one answer to all this. We read of two lab results today commissioned by owners who lost their beloved cats in which the contaminant was acetaminophen/Tylenol generic.
The Univ. of Guelph memo you posted is from March 30, before they announced they were able to create in their lab the same crystals found in dead animals by combining melamine and cyanuric acid in the equivilent of cat urine.
Re: aminopterin/rat poison. Here’s the info I posted a while back from the NY State Lab that found it initially. (I’d written them to ask for follow-up information about their findings):
“I am responding to an e-mail that you sent… regarding the NY State Food Lab and testing of pet food for aminopterin. It is true that both the FDA and Cornell University were not able to duplicate our lab’s finding of aminopterin in pet food; we suspect this was due to the breakdown of aminopterin in the pet food samples we tested. Very limited testing has been performed on pet food for aminopterin since shortly after we reported our findings the focus was directed to melamine and related compounds. Only one other lab (in Canada ) found aminopterin in pet food, in this case at very low levels. Our lab is currently testing pet food for melamine and related compounds in addition to aminopterin and other potential toxins. We have devoted a great deal of time and effort into developing and validating methods to test pet food and are just now at a point where we can test the many samples we have collected from pet owners whose pets became ill or died. Thank you for your interest; we have an excellent laboratory program dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure food supply for humans and animals.
(Note: I had a question about this and he responded as follows)
Regarding the breakdown of aminopterin……… Aminopterin has been reported to be light sensitive, unfortunately we failed to shield our original samples from light and believe this may be the reason for aminopterin becoming undetectable by our lab and others within days of our initial finding. We performed limited aminopterin stability testing in our lab and found that aminopterin stock solutions that were not protected from light demonstrated a reduction in detectable aminopterin over time.”
Comment by Maureen — June 2, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
Comment by Jill — June 2, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
“I would like to know when ACETAMINOPHEN was found in pet food? Was it found during this recall that was going on? I would like to know.”
Jill, read the two accounts posted today on http://petfoodtracker.blogspot.com/
One cat died in January, the other in April. All the particulars of what they ate is included.
Comment by Maureen — June 2, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
Thank you for the information. I guess I missed it.
Comment by Jill — June 2, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
Don,
Sorry about the loss of your kitties. Thank you for having the food tested - Tylenol! even for dogs that’s not good. Our pets must have gotten a chemical cocktail whether the Feds want to believe it or not.
Maybe that is why some pets had liver problems and some are still suffering with what appears to be gastric ulcers.
Katie
Comment by Katie — June 2, 2007 @ 8:24 pm
Don, do you have the levels of acetaminophen and cyanuric acid in the pet food? Thank you so much for your info and website. I am considering having some food, human and pet, tested and will advise you of the results.
As far as the Pennsylvania FDA district director’s finally adimitting that it is not beyond reason that human foods are contaminated, I think it’s great he finally said it. But what took so long? This should have been stated months ago. I, myself, have 2 dogs, one of which got very sick in March. But still, I would not wait to investigate the food chain further. Is Human food really the last priority? First pet food, then animal feed, now human food. It’s madness! Can anyone play connect the dots at FDA? I think they really have been waiting for us to eat the evidence while the manufacturers and processors revamp their lines for a new clean run. That would take about 2 months, wouldn’t it? Thank God the FDA finally got a live “indication” to indicate the obvious! But I do respect Gardine for finally coming forward and speaking out. I just wish it had been sooner. Like before they released all of the contaminated food animals. It might have made a difference.
Comment by DMS — June 2, 2007 @ 10:50 pm
RE: Comment by DMS — June 2, 2007 @ 10:50 pm
“I think they really have been waiting for us to eat the evidence while the manufacturers and processors revamp their lines for a new clean run.”
That’s about what I’ve been thinking too. FDA’s thinking - “just let ‘em eat all the evidence, then we can say there are no more cans/packages/bags with the lot numbers from ‘that’ time period. Case closed!”
Comment by Kat — June 2, 2007 @ 11:32 pm
I’ve just added yet another lab report to the site showing acetaminophen and cyanuric acid in dry cat food.
http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com/lab.html
On the levels question, I started out sending in two cans of each flavor I had on hand, and requested one test to be run of a mixture of half a can of each. Basically, I didn’t want to throw a bunch of money at it until I knew what, if anything, I was looking for.
At this point, I don’t know the quantities, or if one or both flavors are contaminated. I’ve ordered additional tests which I hope to have available to post on the site by the end of next week. On this round I ordered the two flavors tested separately, and asked for quantities. The hard part is we don’t know if there are chemical hot spots in the food, where taking a sample from one side of the can could produce different results than one taken from the middle. I’ve also sent samples to a second lab to see if they can duplicate the results from ExperTox.
From what I’ve heard through the grapevine, but can’t confirm, the levels of acetaminophen in dry food samples has been running around 1 part per million. That would be 1 mg. per kg. of food. From what I’ve been able to dig up online, a lethal single dose for a cat is about half a 325 mg. tablet, or about 160 mg.. I haven’t run across information on the effects of sub lethal doses at every meal in cats, but in people it causes kidney failure.
Comment by Don — June 3, 2007 @ 1:43 am
I checked Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Dry cat food ingredients on line and the product has been renamed to Multicare c/d and the ingredients are different from the bag of c/d that I feel killed my cat. Has anyone else noticed this change? I completed a form that Hill’s sent re: consideration of reimbursement for vet services. Even though they never recalled the c/d, I wonder if they know something was really wrong with it since they have changed the formula.
Comment by Janice — June 3, 2007 @ 4:13 am
“Tembec’s Valley said the pet food crisis differed from his company’s because Tembec used “pure melamine,” not that contaminated with cyanuric acid and the by-products.”
Yeah, I feel sooooooo much better now.
How about we add some melamine to *your*, or, even better, your *kids’*, food?
Comment by Pamela J. Betz-Baron — June 3, 2007 @ 5:21 am
Jill said, “I would like to know when ACETAMINOPHEN was found in pet food?”
I have a feeling that there is way more ‘stuff’ in pet food than we would ever want to know.
To be melamine free means squat.
What happens to all the *test* animals from the tons of labs all repeating the same testing for humans and other animals? Poor wording.I know what happens to them,sadly.
But after they have served their purpose,so to speak,what happens to them?
Anyone?
Lorna
Comment by Lorna — June 3, 2007 @ 5:48 am
Lorna - realistically, the only way to get answers to things like “Is it stored in the kidneys?” and so on is if - at the end of the study - you kill the animals and then do a thorough necropsy which includes examination and testing of all the internal organs.
This is the “trade-off” that I see people fail to acknowledge. We want those answers, but we don’t seem to understand what it takes to get them.
Necropsying animals that have already died - either as a result of poisoning or of natural causes (such as old age) gives you only part of the story. To really understand whether there are progressive changes in otherwise healthy-seeming animals, you have to *examine* (i.e. necropsy) those healthy animals.
I say this neither in support of nor in opposition to animal testing, but simply to clarify the things that are done to get us some of the answers we seek.
If someone has direct knowledge of other ways scientists can thoroughly assess ongoing organ changes in a living healthy animal that don’t require killing that animal, please feel free to chime in.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 3, 2007 @ 6:13 am
TOP(may I call you TOP?)said,”and so on is if – at the end of the study – you kill the animals and then do a thorough necropsy which includes examination and testing of all the internal organs.”
And then?
I didn’t ask the original question very well.
Where do the bodies go after all is said and done?
I have a theory…and hearing about acetaminophenetc etc. turning up in pet food doesn’t do much to change my mind.
Lorna
Comment by Lorna — June 3, 2007 @ 6:22 am
That post turned out stangely.
What I did was use your initials and then ask if I may call you that.
Didn’t look like the above when I sent it.Sorry.
Lorna
Comment by Lorna — June 3, 2007 @ 6:23 am
China rejects FDA warning on toothpaste:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....rjAHjMWM0F
Comment by Tammy — June 3, 2007 @ 6:39 am
Lorna, I haven’t directly confirmed this (this is memory talking, here), but I believe that animals used in testing that are necropsied must be disposed of by such means as incineration so that they do NOT re-enter the food supply. This requirement would be in place to cover those cases where - for example - an experimental drug was under study.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 3, 2007 @ 6:53 am
Was just reading Tammy’s link. It’astounding! It’s almost like the FDA’s dilution effect spiel:
“China’s main food safety regulator said in its statement that the ingredients of toothpaste exported to the U.S. is offered to the FDA, showing the amount of diethylene glycol. Also, the toothpaste’s labeling has already been registered with the FDA, allowing it to be sold in the U.S, the statement said.
“The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine [Chinese gov.] said experts from the Health Ministry had deemed diethylene glycol a “low-level” poison that does not accumulate in the body and found no evidence the substance caused cancer or deformities.
It also said European Union standards allow for a certain amount of the chemical and cited a 2000 Chinese study that found toothpaste containing less than 15.6 percent diethylene glycol was not harmful. The Chinese toothpaste the FDA is concerned about contains between 3 percent to 4 percent of the drug, according to the FDA.
“Therefore the warning issued by the FDA … is unscientific, irresponsible and contradictory,” the agency said.
“The agency “requests the U.S. clarify the facts in a scientific manner as soon as possible and properly handle the issue.”
The FDA alert Friday said the agency found diethylene glycol, or DEG, in three products manufactured by Goldcredit International Trading in China: Cooldent Fluoride, Cooldent Spearmint and Cooldent ICE.”
Ya’ gotta read the whole thing: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....waSs3MWM0F
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 3, 2007 @ 7:06 am
They may think “less than” 15% radiator fluid is not harmful. I’d say that any more that 0% is uncalled for and doesn’t belong in toothpaste.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 3, 2007 @ 7:09 am
I guess China is getting there shakes the past few days. As I put it What comes around goes around. I hope the ground shakes them so much that they fall big time. They need it since they have been putting things in products that don’t belong in it.
Comment by Jill — June 3, 2007 @ 7:35 am
“…..but I believe that animals used in testing that are necropsied must be disposed of by such means as incineration so that they do NOT re-enter the food supply.”
Well,TOPat,I haven’t slammed my mind shut on this one yet,and would be relieved if we found this were true.And if,in fact, it were what really happens.
Gawd it’s hard not to be cynical these days.
Lorna
Comment by Lorna — June 3, 2007 @ 8:08 am
Don: So sorry to read about Chuckles. The pictures of him are so beautiful. He obviously was a loved and cherished friend. You have certainly turned your personal tragedy into greatness by developing your site to keep track of lab reports that will prevent the deaths of other pets.
I’ve thought for some time that independent lab testing of non-recalled foods is desperately needed and I’m grateful that you took the initiative to start this. I know the expense is also tremendous so I’d like to make a contribution to help with future testing. There are probably others that would also like to do the same. Can we contact you via personal email?
Comment by Nabiya — June 3, 2007 @ 8:18 am
Did anyone notice this bizzare corporate statement in the Karen Roebuck article?
“The wheat gluten being held in an Allegheny County warehouse was destined for Pittsburgh-based Del Monte Pet Products, but that company never bought or received any of that shipment, Gardine said.” So they’re getting a delivery that they never ordered?
What is this, someone sending Del Monte “Wheat Gluten Grams”?
Comment by Kristi — June 3, 2007 @ 8:46 am
I agree with everyone. I have been on this since the first recall from FDA. 9 tv shows and
10 newspaper columns later I keep thinking it
is over. Wrong.
I told my editor the other day that I keep
expecting a big black SUV with black suit and
dark glasses in my parking lot any day. He
laughed and said keep them coming I will make
bail.
BJ
Comment by witchi — June 3, 2007 @ 9:15 am
Thanks Don - my dog’s poisoning matches acetaminophen poisoning, including the severe abdominal pain she endured.
From: http://www.peteducation.com/ar.....cleid=2226
Acetaminophen:
Toxic Dose
Dogs: 45 mg per pound of body weight.
Cats: 22 mg per pound of body weight.
Signs
Dogs: Symptoms begin WITHIN HOURS OF INGESTION. They include depression (progressive), vomiting, abdominal pain, dark-colored urine and serum, and death in 2-5 days.
Cats: Symptoms begin WITHIN HOURS OF INGESTION. They include lack of appetite, drooling, vomiting, depression, blood in the urine, brown or blue mucous membranes without difficulty breathing, dark chocolate-colored blood and urine, edema of face and paws, and death in 18-36 hours.
I’ve read a single tablet can kill a small dog or cat, with cats hit hardest. Also a LEAN dog will be more affected. (Like my Stafford girl.)
From the Grayhound Adoption site: http://www.galtx.org/needs/sapoisonings.shtmlSince “grayhounds have such a low body fat percentage, most drugs and toxins tend to circulate in their bloodstreams longer, causing continual symptoms and organ damage.”
Comment by Kristi — June 3, 2007 @ 9:42 am
So is Acetaminophen the 5th compound? Maybe there are a few other mystery ingredients lurking in pet food, our food, and toiletries.
Comment by DMS — June 3, 2007 @ 9:54 am
I agree with Maureen - I believe there are more than one contaminants in the food, and more, that we have not even identified all the various ones that seem to randomly show up in pet food and cause all sorts of harm. And of course, without knowing what substance to test for, it makes the process of eliminating these things a very slow one.
And yes, I see the Chinese govt. is slapping the FDA over the harmless amounts of antifreeze components in toothpaste; however, the glaring error is that there is no mention by them of the 51 dead people in Panama. This stuff was in both toothpaste AND cough syrup, and it killed people. So what is their answer to that little inconvenient truth?
Comment by TC — June 3, 2007 @ 10:14 am
SPCA-National Animal Poison Control Center, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Toxicosis to 3 commonly available analgesics—ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen—occurs in dogs and cats after acute ingestion or repetitive administration of therapeutic or excessive doses.
Comment by Kristi — June 3, 2007 @ 11:19 am
So, if we’re seeing lab results showing acetominophen (Tylenol) in cans and in bags of dry food intended for cats, do we assume that not just greed (boosting protein levels with melamine/cyanuric acid) was at play here, but the DELIBERATE POISONING of cats and dogs?
I can easily see the “greed” factor on the part of unscrupulous Chinese producers/manufacturers to gain a higher price for their “products,” but add the acetominophen to the picture now (China or U.S.??), and to me, this would strongly suggest a reasoned, calculated move to kill pets intentionally.
Unless acetominophen can falsely boost the protein level in ingredients, the “greed” factor no longer holds water, and we need to look for another motive. I’ll bet there is much more to this story going on than will ever be disclosed in our life times.
Comment by petlover — June 3, 2007 @ 11:46 am
See Don’s explanation - still plain old greed -on his site:
http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com/chuckles.html
Comment by Kristi — June 3, 2007 @ 12:02 pm
Did they find Acetominophen in the cat and dog food during this recall? Besides Melamine what else did they find in the pet food?
Comment by Jill — June 3, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
DON: Great job on your web site. Thanks for creating it and to everyone who is sharing their lab results.
This acetominophen finding is troubling…
TO ALL:
What are some of your thoughts about the acetominophen? How could greed still be a factor if (and I don’t know this) acetominophen provides no “added value” to an ingredient or product? Was this a case of contaminated cyanuric acid? And, can we start a list of the foods (Don’s site lists 3 lab results), especially the individual ingredients in each can or bag, to try to determine the common ingredients which might harbor the acetominophen? From there, we might be able to discern the possible origin of acetominophen. Don stated that melamine was not found in the samples he had tested.
Comment by petlover — June 3, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
Nabyia,
Other than tests I’ve ordered on my own stuff, the other results posted to the site were paid for and submitted by others. While I do think there’s a need for more information resources specific to the recall, I’d be doing the tests and research for my own reasons anyhow. Maintaining the site takes a bit of time, but isn’t expensive. At the same time, I really appreciate the willingness of others to share their test results on the site. I’m glad you and others are finding the information useful, and it is kind of you to offer to help, but I don’t see how accepting donations under the circumstances could be viewed as anything other than shameless profiteering. Unless bandwidth costs reach a point where a bit of help would be appropirate, if folks feel a need to donate to something, I’d rather see it go to the smaller rescue operations and no kill shelters that could always use a little help.
Comment by Don — June 3, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
great point petlover. I am pessimistic enough to believe that we may see some answer in our lifetime, ie re the deliberate issue, should human illnesses and deaths occur that are directly traceable to tainted products (more difficult to do a direct link if the poisons added are commonplace or take a long time to show effects).
I think in fact, we all need to be pretty careful and selctive right now in our choices, because if this continues at the same pace, I am worried that a major human event is already in the works or on our shelves. Deliberate or not.
Comment by TC — June 3, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
I can’t think of a reason for acetominophen being added for greed. I’m wondering if one of the added vitamins or minerals was actually acetominophen.
I wish the FDA would say if they or any of the labs - had found acetominophen.
In calculating for a dog: if they eat 1 lb of dry dog food/day they would have ingested 2.2 mg. not a toxic dose. Does Tylenol accumulate in a dogs kidneys and/or liver?? Haven’t been able to find any info. on long term ingestion of small amts.
I think Don is right about hot spots in pet food. It is probably why some pets had chronic vs acute symptoms.
Katie
Comment by Katie — June 3, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
Here’s something GRIM!
Made-in-China website BERYL sells acetaminophen, ivermectin & MORE!
http://www.made-in-china.com/c.....talog.html
*~puke~*
Comment by Kat — June 3, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
I’m thinking rather than greed, it’s sloppy manufacturing. My theory is, it came from China as a contamination for one of the glutens or other additives… maybe taurine or something similar.
Comment by Kat — June 3, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
I’ve posted a link to actaminophen in China, but it got snagged — will appear soon, I hope.
Comment by Kat — June 3, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
…ooops! in one of the glutens…
Comment by Kat — June 3, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
great point petlover. I am pessimistic enough to believe that we may see some answer in our lifetime, ie re the deliberate issue, should human illnesses and deaths occur that are directly traceable to tainted products (more difficult to do a direct link if the poisons added are commonplace or take a long time to show effects)….
Comment by TC — June 3, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
**********************
And, remember the FDA said it was going to investigate/test in other avenues *IF* the CDC finds spikes in HUMAN KIDNEY DISEASE. To me, the alert is already in place, and this widespread dumping of anything and everything has been occurring for quite some time, and we have been the unwitting consumers of this toxicity. I think we’re already seeing the effects. Google human kidney disease, and you’ll see a range of percentages in increases in the last several years.
KATIE: Good point about the pet vitamins/nutrients possibly being contaminated or substituted with acetaminophen. It’s plausible since China has the market cornered on vitamins/supplements.
Comment by petlover — June 3, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
I had 3 cats die between last year and just before the recall. I think Hills Z/D is what killed them. Some of my cats wouldn’t touch it. some ate it. It was perscribed. But I can’t prove it. I just know it. This has not been recalled yet.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 3, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
Acetominophen is used by vets for pain relief in dogs under what should be very controlled circumstances. However, would it not make sense that if the dog died, ended up in a rendering plant, the drug could end up in the cat food?
Comment by Nabiya — June 3, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
All of WalMart vitamins and herbs come from china is what I was told. One put Me in the hospital for 3 days. the FDA did nothing even though i called them when it happened.
My cat is on Taurine for a bad heart, I hope it doesn’t come from china.
And what is a Nanomite? My husband is a deisel mechanic.He works around so many dangerous things. So what is this? Thanks,
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 3, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Another 100% agreement on that petlover as well - I heard about the monitoring, and actually have even personally noted many people that me and dh are acquainted with whose have a family member with some kind of kidney dysfunction, and these are not extremely elderly people. Although, I do believe it will strike many elderly people in the long run, who never would have had such illness but for this tainted food crisis. Same with very young and vulnerable children. It makes me sick.
Pre-recall, we had already commented about what was up with all the kidney and liver issues we seemed to be hearing about? We even wondered if it was just the flavor of the month sort of illness, but I think the cause is perfectly clear to me now, at least for a certain percentage of cases.
Comment by TC — June 3, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
Study of rats eating acetaminophen:
p. 61: Discussion and Conclusions
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/h...../tr394.pdf
Comment by petlover — June 3, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
I also just found out My Dad had has kidney cancer. and one of My best friends had to have a kidney taken out. Too strange.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 3, 2007 @ 2:02 pm
From Don’s web blog. This is the comment about added acetominophen being done to save $$, I.e. for greed:
“Chemicals such as acetaminophen don’t come from the factory in neat little pills. It is shipped in bulk and has to be packaged for further distribution. While you would not want acetaminophen to be present in food intended for cats and dogs, it would not be a major concern if it was present in cyanuric acid intended to be mixed with 10,000 gallons of swimming pool water. . .”
Comment by Kristi — June 3, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
I can’t even spell right, I need to go and lay down. I probably just ate something from China.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 3, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
petlover, I was thinking about a botched batch of acetaminophen, maybe? It didn’t meet specs or whatever then was sold to use as a binder or something. I was thinking that the fillers or other stuff that’s used to make the pills may still have had a use?? I don’t have a bottle of acetaminophen handy but the aspirin and ibuprofen bottles that I do have both list corn starch on them. What do you guys think???
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 3, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
“Made-in-China website BERYL sells acetaminophen, ivermectin & MORE!”
http://www.made-in-china.com/c…..talog.html
Thanks for this Kat.
I’m feeling a little sick, and will want to contact the company from whom I buy Ivermectin for my horses…at a VERY good price.
Those other veterinary items on the list of Beryl products may well be of interest to other animal ‘owners’.
Lorna
Comment by Lorna — June 3, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
Ban the imports of all foods from China including soaps or toothpaste or medicine. Ban the process of any additives to any food substance that is not a food product based ingrediant. Here I thought China was stupid and here in the USA our own people are stupid. How can anyone justify adding a coal based product to any food for any purpose? To much Nitrogen can kill you and this company in Toledo needs to be shut down. Rules must be the same for everybody. No second chances with our food safety.
Obewan
Comment by Lew Orban — June 3, 2007 @ 2:55 pm
Katie,
I agree there would be no motive, financial or otherwise, to add acetaminophen to the food except as an act of outright sabotage, which would not be done with company approval. On the other hand, less than half a cent worth of cyanuric acid would be enough to fake the entire required protein content in a 5.5 ounce can of cat food. The profit motive for pet food companies to spike the food with cyanuric acid is the same as the gluten manufactures spiking gluten with melamine. What I believe these tests point to is the pet food manufactures illegally and intentionally added cyanuric acid, which unknown to them was contaminated with acetaminophen. Once they discovered the problem, they knew they were in heap big trouble and engineered a cover up which included letting the deadly food be sold out in order to destroy the evidence. Their liability insurance covers them for accidental contamination, but they’d be stuck with the bill in a case where the contamination resulted from illegal and intentional
adulteration of the food. There are also incidents where substances are mislabled in the process of filling gunney sacks for redistribution at packaging companies.
Acetaminophen could very well be only one of many various substances lethal to pets that could end up in the food under these circumstances. Ibuprofen, many medications, a long list of antibiotics, and hundreds of industrial chemicals target the kidneys. It wouldn’t be hard for anything shipped in bulk to pick up other substances in the process. Plus, there wouldn’t be a lot of incentive completely clean containers and equipment if the next load going through is an industrial chemical not used in food. There may even be an order this stuff is processed in. For example, start with squeeky clean equipment and do this one first, a little of the first doesn’t hurt the next in line, etc.. Who cares if a little Tylanol ends up in the swimming pool as long as it’s mostly cyanuric acid?
Comment by Don — June 3, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
Trudy! I’m so sorry about your dad. Does he live in Arkansas? There’s a link I need to go find. I put it up about 3-4 weeks ago. I’ll find it & repost here.
AR has the most number of kidney trouble for unknown reasons.
Comment by Kat — June 3, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
Kat, No, My Dad and girlfriend both live in Maine. I’m in N.C., but they are in Maine. And My husbands’ sister has something wrong with Her kidneys now too. she lives in Maine too?
And thank you
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 3, 2007 @ 4:26 pm
Trudy, so sorry about your Dad. Is he and/or your friend vegetarian by any chance? I know someone who is and has had kidney problems. It doesn’t seem to make much sense.
Comment by ango — June 3, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
China says U.S. acting……
http://tinyurl.com/2equo2
Comment by Issy — June 3, 2007 @ 5:02 pm
Wow, the Chinese say the US is irresponsible for putting a warning out because no one has died yet.
Comment by ango — June 3, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
Ango, No, they eat everything.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 3, 2007 @ 6:01 pm
Trudy: Here is the CDC/MMWR report on kidney failure increase. NOTE: Arkansas spike!
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/previe.....5339a3.htm
Comment by Kat — June 3, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
Also, here’s a WEBMD article: http://www.webmd.com/content/article/95/103177.htm
Comment by Kat — June 3, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
Kat, WOW that is a huge jump. There has to be a reason.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 3, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
Hi Witchi! I missed your post earlier: @ 9:15 am
Comment by Kat — June 3, 2007 @ 7:36 pm
Kat - I am so glad you find that article for Trudy, I meant to find some stats on kidney disease increases awhile back and got sidetracked.
Trudy - hope your dad makes out okay. Don’t know if I mentioned it here, but we just spoke with a neighbor whose wife whose kidney failures are requiring dialysis. Her docs said it was viral, picked up on a trip. ?? I must admit I wonder how they can know that, vs. whether it could at all be related to any of the food contaminants we’ve been ingesting. She isn’t young, but not old either, okay I think around our ages (50’s more/bit less).
Comment by TC — June 3, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
Don—Chuckles
http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com/chuckles.html
I’m so sorry for the loss of your beloved and beautiful Chuckles … thank you again for sharing your—her story and for all the additional time and effort you’ve put in pursuing what happened.
Comment by Sandy — June 3, 2007 @ 11:34 pm
Anybody know which Hill’s dry food had the acetominephen (sp?) in it? One of the items listed on Don’s site was the Light but what about the other one?
Comment by BengalMom — June 4, 2007 @ 6:26 am
BengalMom, Kim put gathered the info on both at her site: http://petfoodtracker.blogspot.com/
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 4, 2007 @ 6:31 am
Peggy - do you ever sleep? You’re always on top of things… :-)
And fyi, I added a new ‘Dry Foods’ post that lists other online comments/reports about Hills Science Diet foods, along with some Purina ones. And I updated the Nutro post with more comments, and added comments to the Iams post. I’ll keep adding comments/links to all three.
Those 3 posts and the acetominophen post are all referenced in the top right section of the blog - under “New/Important Posts”.
Comment by Kim — June 4, 2007 @ 6:47 am
Kim, where do I find this?
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 4, 2007 @ 6:55 am
Trudy - http://petfoodtracker.blogspot.com/
(You can also just click on my name on any post, it’ll take you right there.)
Comment by Kim — June 4, 2007 @ 6:56 am
Yes, Kim, I sleep. (I could ask you the same, though, LOL!) I just check in periodically, a lot, I don’t always post a comment but I’ve read about 90% of it. I just care about animals a lot and want to help in anyway I can. We were real lucky here but there has been so much pain for so many people. My momma taught me that just a kind word or a smile or a shoulder to cry on can really help folks out. There is too much pain for some folks and I just want to help in some way.
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 4, 2007 @ 7:04 am
Kim, have you done a piece on Purina’s Friskies and Fancy Feast? There seems to be problems with those as well…
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 4, 2007 @ 7:09 am
Thanks Kim, I see mine are posted there. I also think I lost my beautiful Cinnamon bengal- 2d best HHP in the south east because of the cat food. also, My dog was at the vets all last week because of Purina Beneful. My friend just gave Me a small bad of nutro multicat dry food. they started vommiting so I got rid of it.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — June 4, 2007 @ 7:13 am
Not yet Peggy, I haven’t come across that many reports of them. (But, I haven’t Googled those yet - it takes a while because I search all sorts of combinations of words that commonly occur in these types of comments/reports)
If you know of some Friskies/Fancy Feast reports, I’d love to have them. Email me at pft@playingbig.com, or just post links here.
Thanks!
Comment by Kim — June 4, 2007 @ 7:15 am
Peggy - feel free to email me with details on your other kitty and your dog (and/or to add details about the ones I do have posted.) I’ll post as much or as little as you like.
And I’m SO sorry for your losses. My heart goes out to you. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}
Comment by Kim — June 4, 2007 @ 7:17 am
Thanks Kim, (But I don’t have a dog, just 7 cats) I wrote a bunch over at Itchmo. Mostly in this thread: http://itchmoforums.com/index......73#msg1373 That will give you a start. I’ll write to you and fill in details; and I can send you copies of the emails back and forth with Purina. I can also scan the X-ray report that tells about mineralization (crystals) on his kidney and fluid in his lungs.
Mine just had the Friskies but I’ve talked to others that seem to have the troubles with Fancy Feast. Some discussion about Fancy Feast here: http://itchmoforums.com/index......29#msg2329 I’ll try to track down where I saw more about Fancy feast after I get the other things off to you.
Thanks!
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 4, 2007 @ 7:27 am
dang, I posted 2 links in my response…it’ll show up sooner or later…Thanks for now, you’ll have to watch for it to show…
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 4, 2007 @ 7:29 am
Oooops, that was fast! Thanks you mighty behind the scenes moderators/wonderful writers!!!
Comment by Peggy (AKA: Big Fat Momma Cat) — June 4, 2007 @ 7:31 am
Oops - that last comment to Peggy (referencing a dog) was meant to be to Trudy. Must drink coffee before posting!
Peggy - thanks for the info. I fed my 5 kitties-that-are-now-angels a lot of Friskies (along with Nutro) - so this’ll be my next focus.
Comment by Kim — June 4, 2007 @ 7:59 am
Bengalmom and Kim,
Did you know that Hill’s has changed the name and formula of their c/d dry?
Comment by Janice — June 4, 2007 @ 8:52 am
Thanks Sandy.
Comment by Don — June 4, 2007 @ 5:58 pm