Pet-lovers and private food testing
By Gina Spadafori
July 1, 2007
As all blog readers know, many pet-lovers have decided to pay on their own to have pet-foods tested, most notably Don Earl. Today Abigail Goldman of the L.A. Times reports:
Retired real estate developer Don Earl wasn’t interested in playing detective when his cat, Chuckles, died in December of sudden and mysterious kidney failure.
Earl, a resident of Port Townsend, Wash., said he suspected he knew what happened to his 6-year-old orange-and-white longhair when he heard reports of thousands of similar dog and cat illnesses last winter and the recall of tens of millions of containers of pet food.
But his cat’s food never made the list. Earl called the Food and Drug Administration, offering to send officials unopened samples of the food for testing, but he said they declined.
So Earl, like scores of pet owners determined to safeguard their animals or explain their pets’ demise, took matters into his own hands and found a private lab to conduct tests at his own expense.
“If anything comes out of this, it’s going to be through the efforts of people like me doing the research and testing on their own,” Earl said.
“We’re over three months into this thing and private citizens are finding evidence that no one else is even bothering to look for. And that’s beyond unacceptable.”
Here’s the rest.
It requires registration to read.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — July 1, 2007 @ 6:38 am
Gina:
I tried to sign up for the LA Times more than once to read the rest of these stories. Why is it telling me that my address is not in their system? It says registration is free…..why do I need to be in their system?
I’d like an acct so I can read these stories. Do you need to be a subscriber perhaps?????
HELP…..
Comment by JanC — July 1, 2007 @ 6:38 am
It won’t let me register…..
Comment by JanC — July 1, 2007 @ 6:40 am
Got it that time…..sorry…..thanks for your help.
Comment by JanC — July 1, 2007 @ 6:43 am
“Zawisza said she didn’t know why investigators declined to take Earl’s sample. The agency, she said, has picked up samples from consumers throughout the pet food crisis, which began with the March 16 recall of 60 million containers of dog and cat food manufactured by Menu Foods Income Fund of Canada.”
I don’t know who these consumers are but not one of them has ever posted on any of the animal websites I followed since March. Every single pet owner I know of, who contacted the FDA, was told they weren’t interested in getting a sample for testing.
Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t ever remember hearing anyone say the FDA was ever interested in the food PERIOD. I know some people sent them the pet food & never heard back from them.
Maybe I’m just biased because I don’t trust any of these gov’t agencies but I don’t have a clue why everyone seems to defend them & make it sound like they backed up all these pet parents & did the right thing. The only ones I ever saw them back up were big business/PF companies.
Comment by JanC — July 1, 2007 @ 6:53 am
I was able to get into the article without registering by plugging Don Earl’s name into the search box at the top of the registration page. It brought up a link that went to the article.
Comment by yet another pat — July 1, 2007 @ 7:06 am
Re: reading the L.A. Times online. You have to click “register” first before you can “log in.” Then, of course, once you’ve registered you click log in each time you go online. Be sure and keep track of the user name you use as well as your password for future access. The L.A. Times is free.
As many have written in a previous thread, we owe a great deal to Don Earl and others who have had their own pet’s food tested. I was shocked at the harsh comment in the intro to the previous acetaminophen thread as written by Gina, which was pointed at Don as everyone realized. I’m glad that Abigail Goldman followed up on this and her editors at the L.A. Times let her go forward with an article that leaves the reader suspicious of the FDA and commercial pet food manufacturers.
After reading the L.A. Times article, I suggest reading this archived interview with Dr. Poppenga from UCD, which appeared in the Washington Post in May. (Free registration required to read the Washington Post.) Readers who have educated themselves since this mess started will surely take issue with a couple of his statements.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....iscussions
Comment by Maureen — July 1, 2007 @ 7:31 am
You can try to get a password from Bugmenot.com. Doesn’t always work, but if you don’t want to register, even for free …
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 1, 2007 @ 8:06 am
If the FDA or U.C.D. is thwarting discovery of other toxins, then our country is no better than a Communist State where official Party line must be adhered to - I do believe we are better than a Communist State and I don’t understand what is going on - but for sure all of us need to be making our own pet food - we cannot trust anyone or anything with the lives of our beloved pets and I certainly hope our children are not at risk.
Comment by Linda — July 1, 2007 @ 9:04 am
“I certainly hope our children are not at risk.”
well, since they are putting GMOs in infant formula and baby food . . . also in cereals and everything else, who knows how safe the little ones are . . .
Comment by straybaby — July 1, 2007 @ 9:07 am
More companies testing food ingredients/supplies from China
http://tinyurl.com/3cmfk2
Comment by Linda — July 1, 2007 @ 9:10 am
Also, is there a web site that we can go to that shows the lab results of these other people and tests that have found the toxins in question? And do they also identify the pet food company?
Dee posted on this blog that she had tests done that also found the same results as Don using the same lab - but for some reason did not mention the pet food brand - and that bothers me - as I think it is important if anyone is having problems or makes a statement regarding toxic pet food not as yet recalled - the brand needs to be identified.
And if I just overlooked it then I’m sorry - but it is difficult to keep up with all the comments.
Comment by Linda — July 1, 2007 @ 9:41 am
Don has his cat’s and some other lab results on his website:
http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com
Comment by Maureen — July 1, 2007 @ 10:08 am
Ok all, I screwed up big time. I realized I was trying to log in WITHOUT registering first. Once registered, I got in just fine. I’d love to read that Washington Post article but I have enough signs-ins all over the place w/o having to add a few more. Why do they do this??????? I’ll take Gina’s advice & try that website…..Thanks.
And a big duh for me!
Comment by JanC — July 1, 2007 @ 10:10 am
Thank you Maureen. I did go there but only saw labs results for cat food.
I was hoping to see something on dry dog food. As my Mercy and Snoopy were having problems on dry dog food - two different brands (Hills SD Lamb and Rice dry and Innova green bag dry) - Mercy had the worst problems.
I don’t know what was in the food but I suspect it was/is something that is in many dog dry foods - but I have no evidence and do not have the food anymore as this was happening with my dogs at late Nov of ‘06 and then March 07 and all I heard was “wet” - no, not dry.
I also wonder if my little Angie that is on Chemo could have been adversely affected with the tainted food making her condition worse - the thought scares the you know what out of me - ……….
The past is the past and I doubt if we will every get to the entire truth of it all - sorry for being such a skeptic - but at least I know what to do now to protect my pets thanks to the Pet Connection, Gina and all her hard work, Christie too, and to the many bloggers for sharing their experiences.
Comment by Linda — July 1, 2007 @ 10:51 am
I’m trying to maintain my Vulcan cool. But frankly this has really got me seeing red.
FDA officials and other experts, however, don’t recommend the path taken by Earl, saying that consumers don’t have the means to determine whether a lab is reliable.
Okay, so they just called ExperTox unreliable. Well it was a subtle slur, so I guess it is okay. It’s the stupid CONSUMERS who can’t tell if a lab is reliable. How do consumers tell when a lab is reliable? The look at their certification. Who is the group that says a lab is good? The FDA. The lab has the FDA seal of approval. Is the FDA saying that customers shouldn’t trust their seal, that they don’t deserve it? Maybe the FDA should just revoke their seal of approval seeing as it is misleading to consumers and all. Or maybe that should be done by some other group. But wait, there IS no other group!
So it’s come down to a pissing match between the FDA and their experts. Who do you think is going to win that one? I’ve been around the block and I can tell you NOT ALL EXPERTS are CREATED EQUAL. You know those court cases where they bring in the experts and someone cross examines them? Who gets to cross examine Poppenga? Who is going to point out the lack of sample to sample and testing methodology to testing methodology comparison? NOBODY. Because now the experts have spoken.
In addition, the California Animal Health and Food Safety Lab at UC Davis tested a different sample of the same product that Earl submitted to ExperTox and also did not find acetaminophen, Poppenga said. [WHO SUPPLIED THAT SAMPLE? WAS IT THE SAME LOT? Did they find C-acid? Anything else that might have lead to sickness?]
“There’s no evidence of a widespread problem,” Poppenga said. “A lot of people are getting worked up about something that may not be real.”
[Thanks Dr. Bob, I’ll tell that to the dogs puking their guts out. Better yet, I’ll send you the puke and you can analyze the reality of it. Maybe they dogs just like to puke for the heck of it.]
Comment by spocko — July 1, 2007 @ 11:41 am
spocko:
That last comment that you quoted was the one that really made me see red. I already made a comment on Itchmo about it:
“There’s no evidence of a widespread problem,” Poppenga said. “A lot of people are getting worked up about something that may not be real.”
May not be real? Come on, you guys. Then I guess animals who continue to get sick on their “safe” commercial food will also be said not to be real? Geez, all these pet parents out there have a very vivid imagination I guess.
Comment by JanC — July 1, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
Ignorant/Dumb/Stupid consumers not having their pet food independently tested, is in the same camp with not home cooking your own pet food.
Same deal, same mind set, just different players…
Comment by Aunt Granny — July 1, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
I found a 1991 quote by Dr. Poppenga who was asked to comment on the preservative ethoxyquin, which had come under attack a couple of years earlier.
Chicago Tribune; May 12, 1991
BYLINE: By Mary Daniels
HEADLINE: Pet food debate
Controversy over preservative sparks calls for new research
“In the last two years, articles in pet magazines have questioned the safety of ethoxyquin, a preservative commonly used in feeds and dietary supplements for dogs, cats, horses and birds.
Some dog breeders are concerned that ethoxyquin may cause a variety of autoimmune disorders and may be responsible for unexplained skin problems, kidney and liver deterioration and reproductive problems. One researcher says it may be a carcinogen.
(…)
critics of ethoxyquin point out that veterinarians commonly sell dog foods that contain the chemical in question, and hence aren’t likely to denounce their own products. Others say that, at the very least, the average veterinarian hasn’t had much exposure to the subject.
(…)
“Certainly ethoxyquin at a high enough concentration may cause some problems, a possible carcinogenic effect,” said Dr. Robert Poppenga, a veterinarian and member of the American Board of Veterinary Toxicologists and assistant professor of veterinary clinical toxicology at Michigan State University.
“It is not conclusively shown,” he says. “Admittedly there is little toxicity information available to make an unequivocal statement. I think we are working from a position of not having all the answers. I don’t think your average veterinarian has looked into it too much.”
(…)
I won’t get into the whole discussion of ethoxyquin now. Premium brands and others make it clear that they do not use ethoxyquin at present. But this makes the point that Dr. Poppenga was not one to make waves even 16 years ago.
And your jaw rather drops when he says “little toxicity information available” about ethoxyquin in 1991, just like they all said about melamine a few months ago — before it seemed expedient to pin the current crisis on, well, melamine!
Citation: I found this article on Lexis, but Lexis is an expensive research tool that isn’t available unless you have access to a subscription. It would probably be available through the Chicago Tribune archives.
Comment by Maureen — July 1, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
Has anyone had any of the pet food companies offer to pay vet bills? I submitted a two page questionnaire to Hill’s a month ago for reimbursement of our vet bill, but I have not heard from them yet. The cover letter said it could take 30 to 60 days for a response.
Comment by Janice — July 1, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
“It is not conclusively shown,” he says. “Admittedly there is little toxicity information available to make an unequivocal statement. I think we are working from a position of not having all the answers. . . . “
Jaw dropping is right Maureen! Isn’t this how they came up with the current Risk Assumptions and all their current B.S.?!
Comment by straybaby — July 1, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
Straybaby….”Jaw dropping is right Maureen! Isn’t this how they came up with the current Risk Assumptions and all their current B.S.?!”
I firmly believe there is a SSHF(stop something hitting fan) template which is to be used in any circumstance deemed necesary ,that is, to shut up the stupid masses and keep them from getting too close to the truth.
So it’s like deja vu all over again.
Truth can be a dangerous thing ,especially if one doesn’t engage oneself in it very often.
Unbelievable .
Lorna
Comment by Lorna — July 1, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
That last post included “SSHF(stop something hitting fan)”,which didn’t show up in the post for some reason.
Lorna
Comment by Lorna — July 1, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
I can’t get the meaning of SSHF tp show .No crude words used.
Go figure.
Lorna
Comment by Lorna — July 1, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
Re: what the H is SSHF?
I didn’t realize that you can point your cursor at these initials and a question mark pops up with text saying what this means:
stop “something” hitting fan!
When no other words will do…SSHF will now become a regular in my vocabulary!
Comment by Maureen — July 1, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
The Google news site usually has a direct link to stories without the need to register.
http://www.latimes.com/busines.....;cset=true
If you know the story is available, a quick search using the advanced search option, sorted by date, will usually turn it up in the top 20 or so. It’s a good way to get a direct link to stories published by media sources such as the Washington Post, New York Times, etc., which otherwise require a lot of fooling around just to read a single item of interest.
Personally, my favorite was the part where us poor dummies just don’t understand the connection between our previously healthy companion animals suddenly dropping dead from symptoms consistent with acetaminophen poisoning, and certified independent lab analysis showing the food contained acetaminophen.
Geez, what could we be thinking?! Let’s all just close our eyes and pretend it never happened. Well, at least until the next time it happens, and it’s your pet you’re digging a hole for in the backyard, instead of someone else’s.
Comment by Don Earl — July 1, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
I’m hoping that the dry dog food is now safe - but I really wonder who is being duped now. My dogs are rather large, except Angie and she is 43 pounds and elderly - hence and is having the most problems with what the vet believes is Cancer - but there’s no definitive test that has turned it up.
My vet told me over and over again with Mercy and Snoopy that it wasn’t the dry dog food - and the pet food companies that I called denied problems also, but many bloggers have reported the same issues with their dogs on the same food -
I hope that the food has stopped being toxic. Because if the dogs are still getting sick and the vets say they don’t know why or even what is happening -please note my dogs are young and healthy except for Angie who was healthy but elderly(but the vet are sure for some reason that the problem is not/or was not the food), then there’s a lot of misguided, ill-informed people out there with sick dogs and the vet community is equally duped.
How one gets to the bottom of this I do not know. It just seems so odd that there could be a massive cover-up going on - but a lot of ill-informed people that have no where to turn and no one as their advocate.
Including me. The dog food is gone, thousands of dollars in vet bills, a dim future for one of my dogs, and a lot of unknowns. I don’t like any of it and there’s not much I can do about it now.
Comment by Linda — July 1, 2007 @ 5:44 pm
“I didn’t realize that you can point your cursor at these initials and a question mark pops up with text saying what this means:
stop “something” hitting fan!
When no other words will do…SSHF will now become a regular in my vocabulary!”
Comment by Maureen
Well you GOT it,Maureen!
My cursor won’t do that,and I was baffled because I used “something” so as not to offend but knowing the intended word was obvious.
You must have pull.LOL.
In any case SSHF seems to be the operative phrase in a wide-spread area these days.
Lorna
Comment by Lorna — July 1, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
I would not trust ANY dry dog or cat food right now. I’m sorry but I believe there are still problems. How all these animals are getting sick, many of them with crystals…..coincidence? Come on, cut me some slack. I may not be a rocket scientist but I can read the writing on the wall.
I met a guy walking his dog & we got talking. He’s feeding a “premium” (boy oh boy, do I use that term loosely) dry food & doesn’t understand why his dog has crystals in his urine & irritable bowel syndrome. I printed up some stuff off the internet about this “premium” dry food & handed it to him the next time I saw him. I had also listed some foods that I felt were pretty safe at this point in time (very short list). He said he was headed to one of the small, holistic pet stores to get a couple of samples to see which his dog liked. Mind you, this is not a food that has been recalled yet we have heard enough complaints about it to know something is wrong with it. I can’t wait to hear how his dog gets “well” once he takes him off that crud. This is also one of those foods where the website assures all pet parents that their food is perfectly safe (excuse me while I gag)….also one where they are giving away freebies & coupons.
That’s just my opinion & you know what they say about that……
Comment by JanC — July 1, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
Related to the larger recall issue—in case you hadn’t heard, a HUGE tire recall is going into effect Monday … and guess where the tires are manufactured? Yup, you got it—CHINA
“Chinese tire recall to start Monday”
New Jersey tire importer will begin replacing defective tires, but only until they run out of money.
POSTED: 12:08 p.m. EDT, June 28, 2007
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The company that imported Chinese tires at the center of a recall demand by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will recall the tires and replace them until the company, Foreign Tire Sales (FTS), has run out of funds.
A lawyer for FTS said the company will begin notifying owners of the tires on Monday and will continue the recall until the company has run out of money.
Once the company has replaced as many of the tires as it can, the company will have to declare bankruptcy.
Lawrence Levigne, the attorney representing the New Jersey-based distributor of the imported tires, estimated that the company has enough funds to replace about 10 percent of the 450,000 tires that may be defective.
The tires, made by China-based Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co., have an insufficient or missing gum strip, a rubber feature that helps prevent steel belts inside the tire from separating or from damaging the rubber.
FTS alerted NHTSA to the problem in an official document filed in June. NHTSA responded by ordering a recall. Failure to recall the tires could result in fines for the importer, NHTSA reminded in a letter faxed to the company yesterday.
“At the risk of putting ourselves out of business, this company did the right thing and we reported [the problem],” said Levigne, who faults NHTSA for not doing more to help the company correct the problem.
Heather Hopkins, a spokeswoman for NHTSA, responded that NHTSA does not have the resources to help companies carry out recalls even if it puts the company at an extreme financial hardship.
“We don’t have the mechanism to pay for a business to continue being in business,” she said.
In statements made to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, Hangzhou Zhongce has denied that the tires are defective.
Story at: http://www.cnn.com/2007/AUTOS/.....re_recall/
Comment by Sandy — July 1, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
Looks like a lot of people are going to get stuck with bad tires since the company doesn’t have the money for a complete recall.
I read an article in the past few days stating that there were other brands of tires from that same Chinese company imported into the US. Wouldn’t give names of brands (except the 4 brands from FTS) but said the total number of tires would be around 1 million if they are also recalled.
Comment by Aunt Granny — July 1, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
Why in the world are we importing tires from China. These companies have lost their ever lovin minds!
I went to Pet Club today to buy some odor/stain/urine remover and a collar for one of my dogs and I met a young man with a Treeing Walker Hound (female) 8 weeks old - the sweetest little thing - and I told him I had a 90 lb male and he mentioned that she howls a lot and asked what I fed my male - I told him I cooked homemade and then he asked me what he should buy and I pointed to a brand I believe is okay. (In the checkout line I saw that he had chosen something else.)
I have a feeling that his little girl hound that is howling at eight weeks will be more than this young man can handle and she will end up at the pound or SPCA or something. The sweet little girl dog - I wanted to take her home. Hound dogs howl - some more than others - but a Treeing Walker does nothing but howl and quite a lot of it too.
I wish there was a way that the entire world would know these dog foods are poison so we could lessen the suffering of the animals and their owners too. But it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen anytime soon.
Comment by Linda — July 1, 2007 @ 8:54 pm
P.S. Oh, I forgot to add - that the Treeing Walker hound at 50 or 60 lbs for a female was larger than this young man wanted in a dog - that big he said? Yes - probably.
Comment by Linda — July 1, 2007 @ 9:31 pm
Poppenga here’s a hint for you.
GET USED TO IT.
Comment by Steve — July 1, 2007 @ 9:59 pm
Linda,
Something that came up in conversation with Teri at AccuTrace is that ExperTox does regular testing on hair samples to detect drug use, and that acetaminophen will show up in those tests.
The hair has to have time to grow out enough to include the exposure period, and with people hair exposed to regular washing, it apparently wears out after about three months, but she seemed to think the tests could be run on animal hair as easily as on people hair.
I haven’t looked into it enough to make a good guess one way or the other if it’s a viable research tool or not, but I find the possibilities interesting. Among other things, it’s such a common test, there should be a ton of labs able to do that sort of testing. For those whose pets were sick some months back after being exposed to suspect food, it might be a way to backtrack evidence that is otherwise missing.
If anyone is interested is running some tests from that angle, I’d love to hear what you come up with.
Comment by Don Earl — July 2, 2007 @ 12:05 am
Have you seen the Iams commercial for NEW Healthy Naturals dry dog food?
Comment by VJ — July 2, 2007 @ 3:03 am
Comment by Linda — July 1, 2007 @ 8:54 pm
“I have a feeling that his little girl hound that is howling at eight weeks will be more than this young man can handle and she will end up at the pound or SPCA or something. The sweet little girl dog – I wanted to take her home. Hound dogs howl – some more than others – but a Treeing Walker does nothing but howl and quite a lot of it too.”
Linda - This goes back to Responsible Breeders. A Responsible Breeder will NOT PLACE a dog with an owner who has not been made to understand and ACCEPT the downsides of the breed in question. Not every breed is right for every person, and if all dogs were placed through the Responsible Breeders who had produced them, we would see few if any of the kinds of mismatches you’re describing here And when they DID (rarely) occur, the breeder would take the dog back leaving NO dogs languishing in the pound or the shelter as the result of such a mistake.
Wrong thread for this I know, but since you brought it up . . . . . . .
Comment by The OTHER Pat — July 2, 2007 @ 4:36 am
Don Earl - thank you so much for the info on the hair - I will look into it - maybe nails too???
The Other Pat: Yeah I know. I really know. Soooo sad for that little girlie hound dog.
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 5:55 am
I checked out the Science Diet Lamb and Rice - now new package logo “New” Improved - maybe no toxic poison??????
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 5:58 am
Comment by Linda — July 1, 2007 @ 8:54 pm
well, since i’m feeling optimistic this AM (haven’t listened to the news or checked email!lol!~) maybe he’ll fall in love with all her other houndness and the howling won’t be such an issue for him. he could be in the middle of a new puppy ‘OMG! what did I do?!’ period. brining home a dog is a major change, a puppy is beyond that for some. Once they all settle in, they can’t imagine life with out them, howls and other ‘lovely’ traits and all. And he may just enjoy her size once she hits it. Lot’s less bending over to pet the dog! ;) My dog is 50lbs and the perfect height to see hand signals when we are walking (among other things!) and for scritches on the head. ;)
Comment by straybaby — July 2, 2007 @ 6:38 am
Straybaby: I hope you are right because she sure was a gem!
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 6:50 am
linda, one of the shelters i worked with would let the dogs go on overnights if they thought it would help a potential adopter decide one way or the other. obviously, they were very careful who they allowed this with, but it was helpful and gave the potential family a bit of perspective since it wasn’t a done deal. and the dogs got a break from the kennels ;) i actually brought my dog home on a 2wk foster type deal. i was afraid the lady below me would raise a ruckus every 5 minutes with my LL. After 1 day my LL said it was obvious she wasn’t going anywhere and he would deal with the woman if needed :D i was heavly invovled with the shelter and had NO intention of adopting a dog, lol!~ she was ‘just’ part of my pack there and i can’t imagine life without her now. even though she spent the first few months spinning the mattress and box spring off the bed when she was overly happy . . . and we won’t talk about her aerials over furniture and sitting on the coffee table! :p
Comment by straybaby — July 2, 2007 @ 7:21 am
Gee your house sounds like mine! LOL
Trial runs - good idea. But I will admit that the dog I found, also a Walker Hound, was quite a handful at first and he has settled down nicely. Likes going for rides, doesn’t howl so much, and knows basic commands - and wants all the attention - don’t they all. So there’s hope for that little girlie dog - with a little time and training - most problems are resolved. Just seems that new owners should be excited when someone admires their pup not mentioning all the problems?????
The little hound girlie, named Lola, had a sweet sensitive expression - touched my heart as my guys are rascals.
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 7:32 am
Mine’s a Dalmatian and she has also settled nicely with time (maturity!!) and training.
Love hound faces, especially the puppy ones! My mom is a Beagle person, but I would prob enjoy the size of a Walker more. And a dog must have energy to live with me! I LIKE the insanity, keeps things interesting, hehe.
Hopefully the guy was just tired/overwhelmed from the newness. She may have been howling in her crate all night. I’ve seen the shell shocked new owner a few times ;)
i think i’ll take my not so little bundle of fun off to the park. it’s absolutely stunning out today!
Comment by straybaby — July 2, 2007 @ 7:57 am
Hill’s has also changed the Prescription c/d feline dry food. Not only has the name changed to Multicare c/d, but the ingredient list is different from the old c/d. To me that says something was wrong with the old formula!!!!!!!! Our cat died of acute renal failure after we opened a new bag of c/d in January.
Comment by Janice — July 2, 2007 @ 8:23 am
For those of you out there who have a short list of “safe” foods to feed your dog, you need to go over to Don’s website & see the latest addition. This was on my short list & I WAS BLOWN AWAY when I read the test results AND the attitude of the company. This is a real eye-opener for me.
One less on my “short list”!
Comment by JanC — July 2, 2007 @ 8:24 am
I knew that Innova had problems because of what happened to one of my dogs in March - and I also believe it is (or was) in the SD Lamb and Rice but this is a hunch as I don’t have the food anymore to test and that is why I think it may be an additive or vitamin or something (amino acid) enzymne that is common to all these that are/were bought in bulk - just a guess here too.
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 8:39 am
Article about Don Earl’s private food testing was in today’s Denver Post. I was left with the impression that the authorities say people should not test pet food in private labs. Not reliable.
What are we to do? Relying on liars, minimizers, misrepresenters, and political manueverers is not a good idea, so private testing I applaud loudly.
Comment by Evelyn — July 2, 2007 @ 8:49 am
So the only reliable labs are those sanctioned by the Government or the FDA?
I’m getting a creepy feeling here….you know the kind…the kind where something foul is in the air……
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 8:55 am
Gina, I hope you let me digress just a bit:
you can delete it if you so choose.
I saw “Sicko” yesterday, a Michael Moore film and was overwhelmed by the facts. Oh, if only Moore would film about the pet food or even the human food—what a difference he could make in shaming the food industries.
However, on Larry King Live he said when he went for an operation, he was afraid of being overdosed on the anesthesia he was given. Maybe he was kidding, but one never knows where the enemies are lurking. Have to send “Batman” to the rescue!
Comment by Evelyn — July 2, 2007 @ 9:03 am
I believe there are many more victims of this Pet Food Scandal then we will ever know about.
So many people just believe their vets – no it’s not the food. So one’s dog has incontinence and runny stools and is vomiting (one symptom or all symptoms) – the pet is diagnosed with liver disease or kidney failure or something else unidentified – as was my Mercy…and I was frantic so I started home cooking her food even though my vet said that it most certainly was not the result of a bad pet food - SD. And maybe I just saved her life and she is a larger dog at 63 pounds. I feel for the people with small dogs and delicate systems.
And the frantic pet owner believes the vet and they start treating this insidious disease with medication and expensive tests but nothing is pinpointed and then the pet dies.
I was preparing for a liver biopsy – a liver biopsy of all things after spending over $1,000 on many other tests that all came back negative. She is due for another blood panel (the 6 months test) and I’m nervous about taking her in – what if her diet change didn’t help because the damage was already done?
Is this poison pet food like the tire recall – just too darn big to do anything much about?
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 9:14 am
Sample from an FDA Warning Letter.
“We request that you take prompt action to correct these violations. Please notify this office in writing within fifteen (15) working days of the receipt of this letter as to the specific steps you have taken to correct these violations, including any steps taken with violative products currently in the marketplace, and an explanation of each step taken to ensure that violations do not recur. Also include copies of any available documentation demonstrating that your corrections have been made. If corrective action cannot be completed within 15 working days, state the reason for the delay and the time within which the corrections will be completed.
Failure to immediately cease distribution of your violative products could result in enforcement action by FDA without further notice. The Act provides for the seizure of illegal products and injunctions against the manufacturers and/or distributors of violative products.
In addition to the violations described above, FDA has the following comments concerning the labeling of your products.”
And speaking of labeling Doc. What did the PFI have to say? How did ChemNutra respond? How did Menu and all the others respond?
Want to let America in on the details? Ever heard of the freedom of information act?
Comment by Steve — July 2, 2007 @ 9:42 am
Has anyone found out what US company this is referring to for live stock feed additives, and who the cyanuric acid from China was going to? Amino acid product? Like in vitamin premixes? Like Taurine? Has anyone followed up on this one?
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/en.....proe.shtml
“On May 30, the CFIA determined that imported livestock feed additives *produced* *in* *the* *United* *States* were contaminated with melamine and cyanuric acid. The products have been recalled by the manufacturer and the Canadian distributor. “
“On June 5, an amino acid product imported from China and destined for use in animal feed tested positive for cyanuric acid. The CFIA has detained the product and an investigation is underway. The importer is voluntarily recalling all of the affected product.”
Comment by Ann H — July 2, 2007 @ 9:43 am
Oh, and hey Doc. In case you didn’t notice.
n May, the Senate unanimously approved a Durbin amendment to give the FDA several new responsibilities. Some of the items in the amendment would:
# Establish an early earning system for human food and pet food. The legislation directs the Food and Drug Administration to work with professional organizations, veterinarians, and others to disseminate information about pet food contamination and in cases of both pet and human food, to keep up-to-date, comprehensive searchable recall lists on its Web site.
# Require the FDA to establish a registry to collect information on cases of potentially dangerous food contamination.
Importers and domestic processors and manufacturers of food would have to submit information pertaining to actual or suspected contamination of food.
# Require companies to maintain records and make them accessible to the FDA as part of an investigation. This provision is designed to prevent delays that could keep contamination from being traced as quickly as possible.
# Establish uniform federal standards and better labeling of pet food.
Comment by Steve — July 2, 2007 @ 9:53 am
We need another directive from Congress: FDA needs to be truthful, truth in reporting and discovery - admit when problems exists.
Congress please tell the FDA to stop stonewalling.
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 9:55 am
This is a bit off topic for this thread but good news.
Animal welfare issue boiling
Many firms in the industry have moved to undertake a number of changes in response to customer concerns.
“There is a real tidal wave of progress,” said Paul Shapiro of the Humane Society. “Animal welfare is reaching a tipping point.”
http://www.latimes.com/busines.....-businesss
Comment by Barb — July 2, 2007 @ 10:01 am
Ditto from me: read Donna’s posting about testing Innova dog kibble on Don’s site:
http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com/lab.html
I just posted this on itchmo, but I think it’s important here because we now have a new ingredient, at least it’s new to me:
vitamin mineral premix. When you read about Donna’s conversation with Natura (Innova), you’ll see that they tell her that the black (and beige) chunks in her dogs’ kibble were the vitamin mineral premix that wasn’t mixed in properly. So is that contaminated vitamin mineral premix, or vitamin overdose, or both? Her food tested positive for trace acetaminophen and for cyanuric acid.
Here’s a March 2007 article about a lawsuit I hadn’t read about in which the vitamin mineral premix is considered the culprit:
Lawsuit says pet food was tainted; Food had harmful levels of vitamin D3, claims lawsuit against Royal Canin
28.mar.07
Guelph Mercury (Ontario)
Laura Thompson
“A class-action lawsuit, claiming that excessive amounts of vitamin D in certain cat and dog food caused serious illness or death in some pets, has been launched against a pet food manufacturer with local connections.
The story says that the suit, filed last week in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, alleges Royal Canin Canada was negligent in testing pet food to make sure it was safe before marketing and selling it.
Royal Canin is based in Toronto but is building its new headquarters and health nutrition plant in Puslinch Township. The facility is slated to open in 2008.
The claim seeks $60 million in damages for consumers who purchased Royal Canin dog or cat food since Aug. 1, 2004. The claim is not related to the most recent pet food recall by Streetsville-based Menu Foods.
The Royal Canin products were recalled in March 2006 exclusively through veterinary clinics, which prescribed the food products.
Royal Canin said in a release it voluntarily withdrew seven canned products as a precaution because the food contained elevated levels of vitamin D3, which causes loss of appetite, lethargy, excessive drinking and urination in pets.
A supplier of the vitamin-mineral premix was responsible for the error, the release said.
Royal Canin officials declined to comment yesterday.”
http://archives.foodsafety.ksu.....h_28-2.htm
Comment by Maureen — July 2, 2007 @ 10:12 am
Thanks Maureen - probably vitamin-mineral premix from China -
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 10:17 am
Don’t forget this.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Saying “Made in China” should be considered a warning label when it comes to imported food, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin on Sunday renewed his call to strengthen the country’s food safety system.
“I think the basic rule of thumb is this: You should buy local when it comes to food, if you can. You should buy American … and you ought to think twice before you buy imported food from China,” the Democratic senator said during a news conference outside his Springfield home.
“At least for the time being, until the Chinese have assured us that the products they are exporting to the United States can live up to the standards of the United States, I would think twice before I’d buy these products,” Durbin added.
Durbin’s comments came on the heels of news last week that federal officials discovered tainted seafood being imported from China.
Comment by Steve — July 2, 2007 @ 10:22 am
I had a couple of very scary thoughts & just posted them at Itchmo. I’m just curious to see what others, who have followed the PF recall from day one, might think about this:
One possibility is a vitamin OD similar to what happened before with RC but the second possibility is frightening. I have read over & over that most vitamins & minerals are now made in China. WHAT IF THEY ADDED ACET/CA TO THOSE VITAMINS & MINERALS????????? EVERY PF company adds vitamins & minerals to their food……so if China has contaminated vitamins, all foods could very well be loaded with harmful ingredients. Same goes for our vitamins & other supplements.
If you read Don’s latest info on his website, you’ll see why these thoughts came to me.
Comment by JanC — July 2, 2007 @ 10:23 am
Yes, JanC, I was thinking along the same lines - so the brand basically doesn’t matter - it would be a toxin that is universal - and depending upon the weight and age of the animal - the effects might vary.
That’s why I had problems during that time frame but with different brands of dog food.
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 10:29 am
Or an amino acid or digestive enzyme or something equally innocuous.
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 10:31 am
And the beat goes on.
“Gangsters” beat striking migrant workers in China. Mon Jul 2, 2007
BEIJING (Reuters) - Hundreds of armed men clashed with about 300 migrant workers on strike against a power company in southern China, injuring 11, state media reported on Monday.
The migrants, who had stopped work at the end of last week to demand four months’ of unpaid wages, accused the owner of the company in Heyuan city, Guangdong province, of paying 200 to 300 people to attack them.
http://tinyurl.com/ypu963
Comment by Steve — July 2, 2007 @ 10:37 am
Why are we even dealing with a country that is wrought with so many problems?
I am so sad about Hershey chocolate!
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 10:38 am
Aargh! Here we go again. I’ll bet the scenario turns out something like this: the company in China who manufactures the vitamin/mineral premix also happens to manufacture acetaminophen. No one cleans the machines in between manufacturing runs and the vitamin mix gets tainted with acetaminophen from the previous run. Sound familiar? I seem to remember some cross-contamination in pet food due to lack of machine cleaning. Will this nightmare ever end?
Comment by Susan — July 2, 2007 @ 10:59 am
Or worse - the vitamins have no beneficial value becuase it is all toxic waste bought cheap from these drug outfits in china.
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 11:02 am
Well then, what the heck am I supposed to feed my cat? All commercial pet foods use vitamin supplements. And even if I homecook for him, I still need to add vitamin supplements, all of which are apparently made in China! There seems to be no way around it and it’s making me *crazy*.
Comment by Susan — July 2, 2007 @ 11:36 am
Evelyn—A fantastic idea! If lots of us write to Moore and/or post the idea at his website (http://www.michaelmoore.com/), I bet he would definitely consider it and maybe take it on. I think he hinted that his next venture continues in the heatlh care area—the pharmaceuticals (although he didn’t seem to say it was 100%).
Evelyn wrote: “I saw “Sicko” yesterday, a Michael Moore film and was overwhelmed by the facts. Oh, if only Moore would film about the pet food or even the human food—what a difference he could make in shaming the food industries…”
Comment by Sandy — July 2, 2007 @ 11:59 am
Besides a small amount of dry food, I also give my dog a glucosamine tab in the morn, a multi-vitamin in the evening…..plus I do use a small amount of a digestive enzyme in each meal. I don’t know what’s safe & what isn’t any more. I’m not even sure if the chicken or burger I give my dog is fit for either of us to eat.
Sort of feels like W & cronies have turned us into a Third World Country…..wonder if someone will take notice if people start dropping from kidney or liver problems.
I sure hope someone comes up with where this problems lies & whether or not it’s the ingredients from China that are a problem or if a supplier here is doing the dastardly deed. Otherwise, a lot more animals are going to die & then it’ll be humans.
Comment by JanC — July 2, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
JanC, in my opinion the problem is right here. certainly China has a poor product safety record, but they find a ready market here and other than posturing to mollify the public, not a lot is being done to stop it. and let’s not forget our good friends at tembec, producing contaminated fish feed bonding material right here in the good ol usa and then saying that’s ok because it’s exported.
until the public rises up and demands that government agencies stop whoring for big business, the poisoning will continue.
Comment by explodinghed — July 2, 2007 @ 1:17 pm
RE: Comment by JanC — July 2, 2007 @ 10:23 am
I think it’s cross-contamination due to sloppy manufacturing practices - in China. White stuff is white stuff. My guess is they run a batch of cyanuric acid; then, an order comes in for some acetaminophen, so they run that; then, another order comes in for acetic acid’ then, melamine & possibly even aminopterin occassionally — why not?? They’re thinking … “ah, no one will know we didn’t clean our machines.”
Don’s comments about having ExperTox blend the pet food better & wondering about “hot spots” in the food, gives me reason almost believe the above scenario is true.
You look at the world trade boards & those people are selling all sorts of “white” chemicals.
Comment by Kat — July 2, 2007 @ 1:18 pm
I brought two large pet pillows up to the cash register at a retail store and while standing in line saw that one was made in China, and then I remembered the stuffed animals filled with toxic waste, and I fluffed the pillow and had visions of fiberglass waste - so I gave the pillow to the check-out lady and said: “No thanks, it’s made in China - probably filled with scum.” I opted for the pillow made in Mexico.
As to the vitamins one is giving their pets - I use baby vitamins and for the others, Vit E etc., I use all human grade. That’s the best I can do.
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
Sounds good to me:
Schumer of New York Calls for New U.S. Import Chief
NEW YORK (July 2) – Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) yesterday called for the creation of an American import chief, pointing out that current federal oversight bureaucracy has failed to protect consumers against dangerous Chinese imports.
Schumer called for a new oversight post within the Department of Commerce to oversee all matters pertaining to the safety of imported goods.
The statement issued by Schumer’s office said federal agencies including the Food and Drug Administration have proven ineffective at protecting American consumers from dangerous Chinese products including pet food and toothpaste tainted with industrial chemicals.
More: http://www.myidaccess.com/inde.....p;id=63603
Comment by Kat — July 2, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
Maybe the New Administrator - The U.S. Import Chief should be an elected position - that way we can really say “Hey Bozo - you work for us!”
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 1:36 pm
Wow, Linda.. have you seen that work yet for Bozo BUsh ? :)
Comment by Ann H — July 2, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
No, but at least we could say it and it would mean something…..then we could vote him out….and take away his retirement…bennies…..something has to make these nuts accountable ….but we seem to be running out of options ….if our vote means nothing…then all is lost……
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
Do you think the pet food is still being poisoned - and are people testing the food they are now feeding their dogs - maybe the same vitamin mix/supplements (etc.) are being used today. And why aren’t we hearing more disgruntled pet owners here and on Itchmo….?
Could be their vet (like mine) was telling them - no it isn’t the pet food?????? So there’s a large sub-group that are blind to the existence of each other.
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 2:02 pm
About all we see from these people defending corporate profits at this point is they will say anything to discredit the food safety debate in this country.
Comment by Steve — July 2, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
I know what I was feeding my dogs when they became sick - I have all the receipts - and I even told my vet at the time of my vet visits what brand I was feeding my dogs. What I don’t know with certainty is the causal relationship between their illness and their food. But considering the test results others are getting on the same dog food brand and from what I’ve read by other bloggers here, it does seem a little coincidental - and who is really going to believe that there is not a relationship.
But the important question now remains: is the food still toxic in these brands that are yet unrecalled and the poison of choice something known but widely unaccepted as an ingredient.
I’m thinking of having my dog’s nails tested.
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 2:02 pm
“And why aren’t we hearing more disgruntled pet owners here and on Itchmo….?”
I think many of us are indeed being told by vets that our cats’ problems are genetic, old age, or something else other than the food.
I have been feeding my 4 cats those foods on most people’s “short list” of safe foods. I have one cat who was dx with CRF 18 months ago. Now in the last 2 weeks another was diagnosed with CRF, and yet another with crystals. The 3 cats in question are between 7 and 10 yo. Is it a coincidence that 3 cats have issues at relatively young ages? I’m beginning to seriously doubt it! It was hard enough thinking I was going to lose my oldest to CRF, never mind a second one. Now the one company I have trusted through all this may be hurting all my cats.
The powers that be need to stop trying to cover up the acetaminiphen issue and give us some real answers. Like everyone else here I am so sick of worrying I could be killing my cats!
Comment by Brandi — July 2, 2007 @ 2:28 pm
Brandi - that’s terrible. I’m so sorry that this has happened to your cats - three cats - oh my!
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
Sandi:
I am so grateful to you for sending me Michaelmoore’s website.
I just wrote to him and told him about itchmo.com and petconnection.com and that he should consider making a movie about the rotting food crisis.
Letter was too detailed to go into here, but I wish any of you reading this would consider writing to him at
http://www.michaelmoore.com/
“Sicko” was best film I ever saw, “Farenheit 911” was captivating, and Mike Moore is such a well meaning, down to earth supergenious that maybe, just maybe, someday he could help our pets get good food and help us avoid poisonous food from China and the United States as well as other countries.
Comment by Evelyn — July 2, 2007 @ 2:55 pm
It’s a great idea to contact Michael Moore. Saw SICKO on Saturday. A terminally ill friend experienced the same sort of problems with her health insurance and finally had to go on Medicare with her corporate insurance as the 20%. That was over 10 years ago!
I see so many people just picking up pet food like nothing has happened. Makes me wonder if people are paying attention to what’s going on in the real world - that is, the world beyond Paris Hilton and company. Sad.
Comment by Carol — July 2, 2007 @ 3:07 pm
I don’t trust any dry or canned pet food, and quite frankly, don’t know what to feed.
Comment by Boot — July 2, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
Don,
Thank you for your website and helping all of us by having tested your pets food and having a place for others to post tested food results.
I can’t help but wonder too, if it isn’t something common to all the food like vitamin/mineral mix, fish oil, fish meal…something that would be common across the board to all pet food. Wish the FDA could be honest and truthful.
It is interesting what the FDA says about pet owners having food tested. When I called and the regional investigator got back to me six weeks later, they suggested I get my own testing done because they didn’t have the money… so why now try to lay blame on those who have testing done? Oh yes, I know - lays the “dirty laundry” at their feet.
Katie
Comment by Katie — July 2, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
I just wrote a long letter to Michael Moore. I also told him to come to Petconnection, and Itchmo and see the real truth. People keep writing to Him, He does great investgating.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — July 2, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
Oh no, more people getting sick!
Veggie Booty recalled due to tainting concerns -
Snack food may be cause of 51 cases of salmonella poisoning in 17 states
Comment by Barb — July 2, 2007 @ 5:50 pm
Ooops, forgot the link to above story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19489593/
Comment by Barb — July 2, 2007 @ 5:50 pm
Katie,
The common thread that runs throughout this and every one of last half dozen deadly pet food recalls over the past decade is shoddy manufacturing practices and shoddy rendering practices.
One source I’ve been working with is beginning to unravel a connection between lab animals and medical waste, and rendered meat. What happens when a lab concludes an LD 50 study and sends off a truckload of toxin saturated bodies to be made into pet food? In theory if the food is mixed well enough to extensively dilute the toxins, the knowing, illegal adulteration of the food supply would likely go unnoticed.
What Donna’s samples show is the mixing that should be taking place, is not taking place. It doesn’t have anything to do with boggiemen from China. It should be flat out impossible with good manufacturing practices to find visible chunks of any food additive present. If you’re throwing in sources of deadly toxins as well, you’re going to end up with product runs where those toxins occur in deadly concentrations. Then, on top of everything else, many of these substances are prone to catalize into even more deadly metabolites when combined. For example, phenobarbital and acetaminophen are an especially deadly combination.
The bottom line is the rendering industry is a garbage dump being marketed as pet food. Finished meat and bone meal runs around $200 per ton, or ten cents a pound. In a 6 ounce can of cat food, the can it came in is worth more than the food inside it.
I’ve seen more than a few bleeding heart articles about how the poor pet food companies can’t afford to put anything better in the food. The truth is less than a nickle was invested in that sixty cent can of premium food you bought at the time it came off the production line. As long as they are able to talk us into feeding our pets their garbage, they don’t have to go to the expense of properly disposing of their offal and biological toxic waste. You could throw a TV dinner in the blender and end up with better stuff than you’ll find in pet food, and for less money per pound.
For all practical purposes, we’re not looking at a pet food industry, but a garbage disposal industry. The nature of the industry eliminates any possibility of an improvement in the quality of the product. Unfortunately, after a lifetime of conditioning, the pet food habit is a hard one to break. Plus, the Pet Food Institute had their experts lined up around the block telling everyone how dangerous it is to feed a pet anything other than rendered garbage.
And if anyone thinks China is bad, go to the FDA site and pull up the 2006 recall list. You should be able to kill an hour just skimming the main list without clicking on any of the details. At least in China this level of abuse of the public trust is a capital crime.
By the way, did you know trace substances in Chinese fish is something the US FDA has been aware of for over 5 years? Who is the bad guy? The guy taking the short cuts? Or the guy who gives the short cuts a nod and a wink for so long the problem becomes endemic?
Comment by Don Earl — July 3, 2007 @ 12:07 am
anyone see the posts on Itchmo about Innova being tested postive for toxins by private individual? her dog was sick she had it tested and it came up positive! Natura is not responding to this. Anyone else feeding Innova or evo, having problems with the food?
Comment by Jan — July 3, 2007 @ 4:27 am
Comment by Linda — July 2, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
“Brandi – that’s terrible. I’m so sorry that this has happened to your cats – three cats – oh my!”
Thank you Linda. I’m lucky - my cats are all still alive. I feel horrible for all those who aren’t so lucky. My 10 yo with CRF is doing amazing. She’s a tough girl with an incredible will to survive. My boy who was just diagnosed with CRF is doing pretty good. It’s still early so we are hoping our success with his sister will help us with him. I worry so much about my youngest now. He doesn’t seem to have any issues, but he is unusually friendly and happy so it’s hard to tell when he’s not feeling well. I don’t think I could handle it if something happened to him too.
By the way they have only been eating Natura dry foods since the recall. They’ve been eating primarily babyfood for wet food (so they can get their meds.)
Comment by Brandi — July 3, 2007 @ 6:19 am
I had been trying to find info on the Canadian refusals and found this for amino acids in OASIS:
Pizhou Tianzheng Bioengineering Co Ltd
54CMZ21 L-TYROSINE (PROTEIN);ANML DIET SUPL;STERILE POWDER 04-JUN-2007 UNSAFE ADD
Ningbo Zhenhai amino-Acids Factory
Ningbo, China , 54CMS02 L-ARGININE (PROTEIN);ANML DIET SUPL;ACTIVE PHARM INGRED/CHE 04-JUN-2007 UNSAFE ADD
http://www.fda.gov/ora/oasis/6/ora_oasis_c_cn.html
It would be nice if they gave the name of the importer/people who ordered it.
Comment by Ann H — July 3, 2007 @ 7:29 am
I didn’t remember amino acids on the melamine alert in april, but it is there…
http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/o.....a9929.html
Proteins (includes amino acids and protein hydrosylates
54[][][][][]- Amino acids and protein hydrosylates
Comment by Ann H — July 3, 2007 @ 7:45 am
Thanks for info about the postings to Michael Moore … and ALSO about Innova … everything is completely out of control.
My cats get Evo dry and have had no problems. However, they did have problems on some non-recalled Royal Canin (calorie control pouches and dry, from the vet)—one threw up the food and the other had loose stools after eating newly opened food/packages. They checked out okay at the vet and I put them back on Evo. They don’t like Innova canned, and one won’t eat homecooked food, so I give them ProPlanSelect canned as a treat. Avoderm canned (all organic, doesn’t look like it has fillers) gives them both the runs (oh boy!), so that’s off the list.
I’m almost ready to buy a new bag of Evo—it’s very frustrating and disheartening to say the least to just not know what to do.
Comment by Sandy — July 3, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
If there is trace substances in fish, what about the fish oil? Like the Omega vitamins I take? I just bought some and they used to be real clear and see through. this bunch is all murky, even my husband noticed it, and that’s unusual. They just look funny inside.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — July 3, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
*New July 2007 ORA/OASIS REJECT OUT*
http://www.fda.gov/ora/oasis/6/ora_oasis_c_cn.html
146 CHINESE IMPORTED REJECTS: From seafood to amino acids to dried fruit to dog treats all refused due to vetdrudges - filth - salmonella - poisonous + MORE.
Comment by Kat — July 3, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
Anybody like little gherkin pickles — with pesticides ~or~ tumeric powder laced with salmonella — from India?
Here’s the main list for June 2007: http://www.fda.gov/ora/oasis/6.....y_lst.html
Comment by Kat — July 3, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
http://www.nutreco.com/index.p.....;Itemid=33
“Monday, 19 February 2007”
“Nutreco Holding N.V. announced today the takeover of the animal feed blends, premix and base mix business of BASF in Poland, Italy, USA, UK, Mexico, Guatemala, China and Indonesia”
http://www.basf.com/corporate/.....harma.html
“BASF’s pharmaceutical active ingredient line of ibuprofen, acetaminophen and pseudoephedrine products plays an important role in over-the-counter pain relievers and cough and cold medications.”
Comment by The OTHER Pat — July 3, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
Any purchase of pet food from a company that is a member of the the PFI is aiding and supporting the poisoners.
Every dime paid to a member of PFI means that they have your permission to continue the lies and the poison.
NO pet food company can be trusted.
Comment by E. Hamilton — July 3, 2007 @ 8:38 pm
I cannot help but wonder if phenobarbital addiction is why it is so hard to switch my cats off pet foods with byproducts?
Is there some flavor enhancer that is used that can be purchased as an additive to help transition them over to organics? The other problem is that organics are not consistent. Some are soupy and some are firmer.. and that means the soupy gets “covered up” by my cats. They’ll smell the firmer and then draw back like they inhaled something bad.. sigh. If given the choice of organic with no green stuff and organic without, they’ll lick the no green and then cover it up… the one with green is a lost cause no matter which brand.
Comment by Ann H — July 4, 2007 @ 5:19 am
We keep hearing about the drought in the southeast and in the west, but this short article is a must read to describe the devastation that is occurring. I include it here because so many have written how they wish to buy food for their families and themselves that is “grown American.”
To me, this is key to other policy and regulatory decisions and legislation that we must support. These begin with COOL labeling regulations and effective FDA and USDA testing and standards. It appears impossible that the majority of us will be able to buy American — let alone American organic — produce, meats, and poultry.
Here’s the NY Times article. Note that you have to register first (it’s free), create a user name and password, then log in:
Drought Is Sapping the Southeast, and Its Farmers
By ADAM NOSSITER
Published: July 4, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07.....oref=login
Comment by Maureen — July 4, 2007 @ 7:21 am
Ann H:
Here’s what I’ve been feeding my kitties — and it’s EASY & nutritious!
I have it posted it here, on Peg’s site:
http://www.homecookingpetfoodr.....n_kat.aspx
Comment by Kat — July 4, 2007 @ 8:17 am
Kat and Peg,
Your simple recipe for cat food is the only one my cat will eat — so far. Many thanks for Peg’s website, posted above.
Comment by Maureen — July 4, 2007 @ 9:49 am
I’m adding pinto beans and macaroni and eggs to my dog’s homemade food and they love it - also put in chicken and use olive oil - wish I could buy safflower oil in bulk but so far can only find smaller bottles of it.
Comment by Sarejane — July 4, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Chrysler to begin making cars in China:
http://money.cnn.com/2007/07/0.....tm?cnn=yes
Comment by The OTHER Pat — July 4, 2007 @ 10:31 am