Menu takes the recall out for another spin
By Christie Keith
July 2, 2007
One of our intrepid commentors posted a link to Menu Foods’ CEO Paul Henderson’s June 28 address to shareholders, so since I’ve no life at all, I sat down and read it. It leads off with an overview that stresses that no one anywhere was monitoring ingredients for the presence of melamine, which is certainly true:
It’s important to understand that everyone involved in the industry -– suppliers, competitors, regulatory authorities – never suspected melamine. It just hasn’t ever happened before and none of the industry standard tests — which we all used –- could have detected it. To our knowledge, no pet food or human food manufacturer had ever tested wheat gluten for melamine, prior to this incident.
He also says that Menu Foods has never had any kind of “food safety recall” before. Then we get on the merry-go-round:
I cannot stress enough that the entire pet food industry was baffled by the inclusion of melamine and related compounds in pet food ingredients. Menu Foods, other industry participants, the US Food and Drug Administration and many others worked feverishly to determine the nature and source of the problems that began to be identified in early March. Menu cooperated fully with the government investigators and threw an array of its own technical and management resources to discover what was going on.
Recognize that for several weeks, there was conflicting information about whether a problem even existed . . . let alone what the source of that problem might be.
Nevertheless, even in the face of inconclusive data, we acted.
We demonstrated our responsibility to our customers, the pet food industry and pet owners, by acting with diligence and speed.
We devoted our technical resources to finding out what was going on.
In fact, even before contaminated wheat gluten was identified as the possible source of the problems, we suspended its use out of an abundance of caution. And once the problems were identified, we recalled the products we believed were affected.
In fact – and I will emphasize this – Menu Foods’ first recall was more than two weeks before any other manufacturer initiated their recall.
And more than two weeks AFTER the first cat died in Menu’s test labs, and nine days AFTER Menu changed gluten suppliers. And only a day after Iams basically told them that with or without Menu, they were recalling the next day — as heard in Henderson’s own testimony before congress in this exchange with Rep. Bart Stupak:
STUPAK: “But even before you – I don’t mean to be argumentative, here – even before you, at Menu Foods, and the FDA decided to recall, Iams had already told you they would no longer accept your product, and they were going to recall all food manufactured by Menu Food in, at the KS plant, right? So, really, IAMS was the first one to really start it, the ball rolling here that something was wrong. And I guess maybe what we’re getting at here is there’s also a corporate responsibility, instead of waiting for the FDA. If Iams, the pet food manufacturer sees a problem, and they’re recalling it, I would have hoped that the corporations would have done it without FDA authority. But even WITH FDA authority, if we could grant that to them, I think we could have maybe limited the scope of the harm caused throughout
our country.”HENDERSON:“Well, again, relative to the facts as they actually transpired, the conversation that took place with Iams, they, they essentially shared some information with us. We got together the next day, and essentially in a, in a rather lengthy meeting, both parties exchanged what they knew. Being that individually there wasn’t enough information to, to draw conclusions. But together, it looked as from a circumstantial evidence perspective, as if we had the basis for a recall. They opted to recall, we went along. We announced first.”
Ah, how soon they forget. Fortunately, spocko’s brain has a nice little video clip of the whole thing.
The PDF file of Henderson’s remarks is here. [UPDATED WITH FRESH LINK HERE.] It’s an interesting read.
UPDATE: And for more interesting reading: Therese at PetSitUSA.com blogged these choice words:
Henderson says people had confidence in Menu Foods before the recall. As we’ve all learned though, many, many people had no idea who Menu Foods was nor did they know Menu Foods was the manufacturer of their favorite brands. So it’s not actually Menu Foods they had confidence in, it was the private labels that Menu Foods manufactured for. Because of the recalls, people have lost confidence in the the brands they used to feed their pets, and now that they know who Menu Foods is, they don’t think much of them either.
Whole thing here.
Most despised company in the Northern Hemisphere.
Comment by Steve — July 2, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
I don’t have a life either apparently as I read it too. Blah, blah, blah…and so it goes!
Comment by Therese — July 2, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
The self-righteousness, the hubris. If there is a hell I hope they have earned a reservation for one of its special places. They were responsible for the death of my best friend and the deaths of thousands of other innocent souls. I will never purchase another product from any company associated with Menu Foods, NEVER AGAIN!
Comment by MFEMFEM — July 2, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
Menu Foods has a new & improved (yet modest) website. Full of drop-down menus, customer info, product info, stock info. Looks like they’re trolling for business. And, back to business as usual. :(
http://www.menufoods.com/index.html
Comment by Kat — July 2, 2007 @ 7:07 pm
So what killed our pets? ACETAMINOPHEN, MELAMINE, CYANURIC ACID, AMILORINE AND AMILORIDE, AMINOPTERIN, or an overdose of vitamins? For God’s sake, what the h#!# has been happening?
Sorry, God really has nothing to do with this.
What a corrupt country we live in. What kind of government do we have that will not respond to our questions - local, as well as national. I’m so disgusted and tired of all of this. This is supposed to be the greatest nation in the world. So much for that.
Comment by Cathy — July 2, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
Cathy: You are gonna really chomp into this:
*Paulson: U.S. on guard against tainted Chinese goods*
http://tinyurl.com/2x8e4e
“WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on Monday defended Bush administration efforts to protect consumers from unsafe products from China and said close economic ties between the two countries were vital.”…
… “Concerns over the safety of Chinese products entering the United States have climbed after a series of recalls and product bans on items as varied as children’s toys to seafood and toothpaste, leading one lawmaker to call for an “import czar” to oversee import safety.
But Paulson said such a step was unnecessary.
“I frankly don’t see the hole. I think it’s being dealt with and I’m not sure that the answer to everything is creating another government position,” he said.” …
Asleep at the Wheel… and he’s our Treasury Sec.!
Comment by Kat — July 2, 2007 @ 7:53 pm
In the local paper today there is a syndicated cartoon called “Mallard Fillmore by Bruce Tinsley”. He finally touched on what is going on with China. The cartoon shows a picture of a torn bag of dog food with a dog on it’s back, all 4 feet in the air and Mallard says “I can’t believe that some people are surprised that China’s exporting deadly dog food, toothpaste & toys..from the way the government treats its own people..you oughtta know it doesn’t care about ours.”
Comment by VJ — July 2, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
Menu Foods is full of an abundance of something, all right—but it ain’t caution…
Comment by Sharron — July 2, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
Another one of these self-righteous eruptions from Menu Foods, who killed one of my loving pups and sickened another. Every day that I feed my dog, slowly and carefully because he’s not the lively guy he was, feed him with stuff that I’ve cooked myself, every single meal of every day, I think of Menu Foods. They could have saved my dogs and chose not to.
Comment by Nancy Nielsen — July 3, 2007 @ 4:35 am
Just got a an FDA notice that a hold has been placed on imports of farm-raised Chinese Seafood until proven safe from antibiotics banned in the U.S.
Anyone can go to the FDA website and subscribe to the FDA digest and get notices. I think the website is http://www.fda.gov
When will this nightmare end?
Comment by Evelyn — July 3, 2007 @ 7:49 am
Evelyn,
Is this notice the same one that’s been in the news for a bit? Or has it been expanded?
Comment by straybaby — July 3, 2007 @ 8:01 am
straybaby:
Just got it in my e-mail box today—From the FDA Food Digest so I am not sure.
But I am ready to throw up when reading the Huffington Post today’s issue (www.Huffingtonpost.com) Article say’s China Finds kids’ Snacks Substandard and then goes into a long list of disgusting problems. Ugh.
Comment by Evelyn — July 3, 2007 @ 8:11 am
What a tangled web we weave when we choose to deceive…….Henderson, you are a pompous ass along with the rest of the jokers from FDA, PFI & PF companies. I think you all have told so many lies that you wouldn’t know the truth from a lie if it smacked you in the face…..which I wish it would……
Sorry, but I couldn’t finish reading that press release or whatever the hell it was. My anger got in the way…..
Comment by JanC — July 3, 2007 @ 8:16 am
Guess I’ll just have to rant some today. Have tried to avoid politics but can no longer refrain from commenting. The Bush administration is the most corporate centered administration in our history. We have been sold out to China and other countries where labor is cheap. Now we can no longer just go to a pet store or grocery store and buy food without worrying what the heck is in it. The FDA has been gutted and is at the beck and call of the companies whose products it should be regulating and inspecting. Yet we are supposed to be reassured that all is OK and our government is watching out for us.
I saw Michael Moore’s Sicko over the weekend. The point he made was that in other countries people take to the streets and protest when there is a good reason. The last time we did that was before Iraq and the protesters were labelled as “unAmerican.” We are a ME group of people not a WE group. The closest thing to a WE group are the pet lovers who have tried to do something about this crisis.
Until the big $$$ gets out of our government it’s going to be a long haul for the rest of us.
Comment by Carol — July 3, 2007 @ 8:17 am
Glad you saw Sicko, Carol.
Michael Moore is urging everybody to tell their friends about “Sicko”.
The movie theatres are reluctant to show documentaries unless there is enough demand for them.
Normally, I don’t fall for the plea—but this movie was so spellbinding that I did not go to the ladies room until the very end and was glad I was the first in line there—no more supersize diet pepsi before movie next time.
Did not want to miss a minute.
I laughed and I wept, both at different times.
Straybaby, the FDA digest was dated 7/2/07
Comment by Evelyn — July 3, 2007 @ 8:31 am
ChemNutra still supplying the USA market?
China Finds Problems With Kids’ Snacks
Authorities in China Find Children’s Snacks Fail Food Standards.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Inte.....id=3339998
Comment by Steve — July 3, 2007 @ 8:41 am
I mean. How much more do we accept as safe for pet and human consumption?
China Faces a New Worry: Heavy Metals in the Food
Studies Warn of Produce Grown in ‘Hot Spot’ Soil;
http://online.wsj.com/article/.....lenews_wsj
Comment by Steve — July 3, 2007 @ 8:43 am
The movie was wonderful. As Moore so accurately says, “What have we become?” My friend died of pulmonary hypertension in 1993. She was very sick for 3 years and had nothing but insurance hassles. She also worked for a major telecommunications company! When you’re ill billing problems should not be your problem! This has been going on for a very long time - too long.
Am going to contact Michael Moore. Hopefully he’ll start an independent investigation into the problems we face with our human and pet food supply.
Comment by Carol — July 3, 2007 @ 8:45 am
Do you suppose the stock that was dumped at Menu (the unfortunate coincidence) had to do with being tipped off by IAMS?
Comment by Concha Castaneda — July 3, 2007 @ 8:57 am
I wrote to Michael Moore. A long letter and also told Him to check out Petconnection, and Itchmo. Please go ahead and write Him a letter. If He hears from enough of us he might do something.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — July 3, 2007 @ 9:58 am
Steve, I read one link and some of the other one. I couldn’t get the whole thing. china lies and lies. What in the Hell have i been eating for all these years? No wonder I have so many problems. And they will keep right on lying. I just had a couple of eggs and they really did taste funny. Were all those chickens for meat or are some of them for laying? And probably My Grandkids are getting this rotten junk food. I can’t take much more.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — July 3, 2007 @ 10:18 am
Is Itchmo down again? I can’t get it?
Comment by Trudy Jackson — July 3, 2007 @ 11:13 am
Quote: Do you suppose the stock that was dumped at Menu (the unfortunate coincidence) had to do with being tipped off by IAMS?
Comment by Concha Castaneda — July 3, 2007 @ 8:57 am
To the best of my knowledge, the CFO of Menu sold 45% of his stock on February 27th, and that should have been about one week after the lab animals started their deadly work.
Since I have no access to Menu Foods INCOME Fund paper work, I don’t know when the first animal died, but it is likely that it could have happened around that time. They must have been very sick, at least, when the CFO (Chief FInancial Officer = BigBwana responsible for money in company, knows what is going on) via some *unfortunate, horrible* coincidence got rid of stock that started plummeting shortly after.
Yeah, right.
Comment by MaKo — July 3, 2007 @ 11:42 am
Thanks, all you guys and gals, for writing to Michael Moore.
I am at my wits end to think of anything I can possibly do to help save pets from being poisoned, as you all are trying to do.
The more pet food we test, the stronger our case for the poison being in pet food becomes, I think. (I might be right or wrong, but my thinking is limited due to poison in my food).
Comment by Evelyn — July 3, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
Close economic ties are vital between the Us and china ? What so we can become a 3rd world country? So we can continue to have sick and dying pets, unsafe tires , bad vitamins, bad tooth paste etc? When will we loose all our freedom thanks to bushie and his buddies?
I called my Federal Senators and Represenitive today and ask them to vote against Farm Act 2007 Title 1 Sect. 123 . If this passes we will loose even more rights. Go look see for your self!!!
Comment by thomas — July 3, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
Close economic ties are vital between us and China because we make so much $$$ from their cheap tainted products and we have so much invested in their homeland - factories, etc. Also we owe them a whole bunch of $$$. What a mess.
Comment by Carol — July 3, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
Stop the war, give them back their money and put an end to this. Period.
where is My FREE Country? I want it back.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — July 3, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
An article showing one of the ways to control the presidential election, but it back-fired on them this time.
http://www.desmoinesregister.c.....2/-1/ENT06
Comment by Elaine — July 3, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
To Mr. Henderson and Menu Foods:
Rather than whining about being a victim of the Chinese, you should admit to avarice that goes way beyond the norm. You are not victims; we are victims of your greed. Does your PR firm realize that blaming the Chinese makes you look childish? We customers have read enough news stories about multinational companies objecting to China’s attempt to improve workers’ rights. Companies similar to yours believe basic human rights will cost them some of their profit. We are tired of your doublespeak, and we are pressuring the pet food companies we do business with to find another manufacturer. I think you need to realize the average customer is a little more sophisticated than you believe. It’s past time for you people to admit the truth. You accepted a cheaper product without any kind of testing; you did not issue a recall without pressure from Iams; you did not follow some companies’ recipes; you did not clean systems between runs; you sickened and killed our pets; you valued profit over quality. Admit it.
Comment by Mrs. P — July 3, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
Some other executives at Menu Foods, with email addresses:
Robert W. Luba, Chairman of the Board of Trustees & Administration Board (rluba@menufoods.com)
Mark A. Wiens, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, Secretary of Administrator (mwiens@menufoods.com)
Randall C. Copeland, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Administrator (rcopeland@menufoods.com)
William F. Grant, Executive Vice President - Corporate Purchasing & Logistics of Administrator (grant@menufoods.com)
Christopher J. Mifflin, Executive Vice President - Operations of Administrator (cmifflin@menufoods.com)
Richard G. Shields, Executive Vice President - Technical Services Administrator (rshields@menufoods.com)
Boycott Menu and all who have a business relationship with them, now and future, including Wal-Mart (Special Kitty), Safeway (Priority), and Wysong (Menu apologist).
Comment by Jay — July 3, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
I went to the DesMoines story on Ron Paul, etc, but this caught my eye as a comment:
__
Do you want to know why the local media coverage was so bad? Most of these people were waiting for an AP Newswire. On a story IN THEIR OWN STATE.
Pathetic.
___
Many of us remember the abysmal media attention in the first days of the recall when if the Associated Press published a lie or half truth, it was repeated endlessly by these do-nothings who used to be journalists. Cats and dogs died because of them and it continues into the moment.
Blessings on those reporters who reported!
Comment by Jay — July 3, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
Just for the record, I am sick to death of these people. We had to put our two precious dogs to sleep on Feb. 28th. They had been eating the Ol Roy pouches for breakfast (one per day). They had kidney failure and the FDA has tested our samples and the food is what caused their renal failure. It is ridiculous that they waited so long to issue the recall.
Comment by Stephanie Gossett — July 3, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
Just checking to see if My post is getting through.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — July 3, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
Comment by Jay — July 3, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
“Most of these people were waiting for an AP Newswire. On a story IN THEIR OWN STATE.”
AP was busy covering a story on Paris Hilton’s new line of designer toilet paper.
Comment by MFEMFEM — July 4, 2007 @ 12:54 am
A good website with info about contaminated food from China and trade issues.
http://www.tradereform.org/
Comment by Elaine — July 4, 2007 @ 7:58 am
NY Times article on Country of Origin Labeling, we need to be contacting our congressmen after the 4th of July holiday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07.....ref=slogin
Comment by Elaine — July 4, 2007 @ 8:07 am
I do not care who Menu foods is or who any other manufacturer of pet products is…what I do care about is the safety of the ingredients used. Under no circumstance should any food processor use any imported food from China in the process from this point forward. Menu and others where dupped just like all we were….no one did their job and all testing standards are sub standard here in the USA and in China. China is at fault and has been at fault for many many years. His statement tells it all…we have all eaten melamine at one time or another and it is in everything processed that used any of these glutens from China. He said…..No one has ever tested for melamine!….get the big picture! Every day dialysis clinics are being built all over America…..open your eyes and protect your food supplies now…ban all imports of processed foods from China!
Obewan
Comment by Lew Orban — July 4, 2007 @ 8:27 am
WE need to contact our congressman and representitives in the federal government after July 4 th . We need to tell them no to Farm Act 2007. Mainly Title 1 Sect. 123. This part was “snuck in” . This section will not allow you to know country of origin , it will not allow states or local governments to pass laws that supersede federal laws on labeling, on country of origin or on animal welfare. Federal Law would rule. More of our rights would be taken away thanks to Bushie , his cronies , farm organization , agri businesses and corporations. I read an article today in our local newspaper that some states are passing laws that any government money used to purchase usa flags could only be used to purchase flags made in usa (most usa flags are made in China). How about adding to the law that any food produced for human or pet consumption must have all ingredients made in USA. How about all childrens toys must be made in usa , all tires etc. How about stopping all chinese imports., it is up to their people and government to become an safe industrial country it should not be done at the expense of our pets and our people.
Comment by thomas — July 4, 2007 @ 10:20 am
also farm act 2007 Title 1 sect 123 would not allow you to know if food is GE or Gmo’s . Produce, meat dairy etc.
Comment by thomas — July 4, 2007 @ 10:26 am
Thomas — I found the 2007 Farm Bill, http://agriculture.house.gov/i.....mBill.html.
It looks like section 121 repeals COOL (p11) and section 123 won’t allow states the right to say no to stuff approved by USDA.
http://agriculture.house.gov/i.....10/LDP.pdf
Comment by Mrs. P — July 4, 2007 @ 1:23 pm
Thank you very much Mrs. P !! Everyone please call , write and email your elected officals before we loose more rights. Also stuff approved by the usda can mean meets etc. also would effect animal welfare laws.
Comment by thomas — July 4, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
The members of the agriculture committee are listed on the website I mentioned above, so I plan on contacting all of them, too. I may not be in their district, but they need to know that bill is dangerous to us regular citizens and voters. I’m sure companies and factory farms not in their district are contacting them. (Except I don’t have a slush fund.)
Comment by Mrs. P — July 4, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
Thomas and Mrs. P.,
The 2007 Farm Bill has some good things in it,such as the requirement to implement mandatory COOL. We are working to insert competition titles to protect the family farms and ranches from predatory pricing tactics of the big 4 packers.
Mrs. P, Section 121 does NOT repeal COOL, it just protects it from being paired with the NAIS, which is the National Animal ID System, which would require all the millions of livestock and poultry in this country to be ID’d with a computer chip AND registration of Farm premises with our USDA, AND notification requirements to inform the govt if we move the animal or chicken from premise! What an invasion of privacy AND boondoggle that would be!
The Chairman of the Ag committee, Collin Peterson, was being pressured by the Big 4 Packers to pair COOL with the NAIS, because they knew how adamantly against NAIS family farms and ranches are, so the plan was to pair the two so that farmers and ranchers would then think that COOL legislation should be defeated.
Because the 2007 Farm Bill contains so many provisions, (I think it even addresses food stamp funding) there is no chance that the whole bill would be defeated. So we need to inform ourselves and work on getting the good provisions in (such as COOL and competition titles) and the BAD stuff out (Such as Section 123 which won’t allow states to make laws against foods that the USDA approves, such as GMO’s)
Comment by Elaine — July 4, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
Thanks Elaine
Are you a farmer? We do not want Cool repealed , want it enforced. Also I definitely want TItle ONE Section 123 removed. I know alot of small family farms do not like parts of this bill either. The problem with food stamps being in this bill is that some times peoples food stamps are cut so they can provide large farm welfare payments to factory farms.
A web site contains information on a old law suit against Roberts American Gourmet. It was filed in 2001. the sit is http://www.power_of_attorney.c.....ey_all.asp This web site says that in 2001 Roberts was a subsidiary of Keystone Foods . Where were veggie booty products manufactured?
Comment by thomas — July 4, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
Thomas,
I am a rancher (sort of retired now), and have been involved with R-CALF USA for quite a number of years, working on COOL and trade issues.
Comment by Elaine — July 4, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
Thomas,
These 2 pages are info on why we need competition titles in the 2007 Farm Bill, and which bills before congress accomplish this.
http://www.r-calfusa.com/Compe.....nTitle.pdf
http://www.r-calfusa.com/Compe.....rities.pdf
Comment by Elaine — July 4, 2007 @ 7:07 pm
Elaine thanks for the info. I live in ny the finger lakes region. I am very much opposed to these mega agribusinesses. Some local mennonite farmers are growing GMO produce and selling it at a produce auction with out anyone knowing it is GMO . Hence many grocery stores buy produce at this auction and sell this produce to customers, without having a clue as to the GMO status. The state farm bureau would favor us not having the right to know if milk is from cows on growth Hormones. I am aware we would not have the right to know what country meat comes from if all of the farm act passes.
I have been looking for a local organic farm to buy produce , meat etc. My dogs love carrots , organic of course.
Comment by thomas — July 4, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
Thank you, Elaine. I want COOL enforced and would like to see the end of NAIS. Everytime I write to Senators telling them I don’t like it, they write some drivel about we must have it. My sister does organic eggs and she found out the cheapest she could get those microchips is $9. That’s more than she can get for a chick. She thinks NAIS is a quick way to finish off the small farms, leaving only factory farms in business. The GMO stuff scares me. I hate the mindset that industry doesn’t have to prove it’s safe; science has to prove it’s unsafe. Talk about bassackwards. Personally I feel that the 2007 Farm Bill needs to be stripped down. (I guess all bills are like that.) I don’t understand why food stamps would need to be there. I will be reading the R-Calf USA pages.
Comment by Mrs. P — July 5, 2007 @ 5:47 am
In Ohio yesterday, this guy burned down two houses with a bottle rocket that didn’t go into the air as planned. Instead it went sideways into this guys garage. My first thought was that that little piece of pyrotecnic probably came from China. Hard to make people connect the dots!
Comment by Concha Castaneda — July 5, 2007 @ 7:34 am
Mrs. P,
I went to some of the NAIS meetings that were being promoted by county extension agents (USDA). It was very apparent that: Not only was the USDA pushing it, but the companies that were making the tags and developing the wands to read the tags were all set to profit tremendously!
I would bet those companies are giving big donations to certain congressmen to promote the idea.
I almost had to laugh about the 9$ tag for the chick! And, can you imagine your sister having to register her premises, then if she took the chick to the county fair she would have to NOTIFY the GOVT? And then when she took the chick home she would have to NOTIFY the GOVT again!?
So our federal govt can’t find 12,000,000 illegal aliens, but they think they can keep track of the hundreds of millions of livestock and poultry in this country?!
Comment by Elaine — July 5, 2007 @ 8:20 am
Meanwhile back in Panama: A top Panamanian prosecutor said tests show at least 94 people have died from taking medicine contaminated with diethylene glycol since July 2006 and that 293 more deaths are under investigation.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19611858/
Comment by Schnauzer — July 5, 2007 @ 8:30 am
Schnauzer,
I think one of the original articles on diethylene glycol said that over 1,000 have died world-wide from poisoning. Some in S. America and some in Africa.
Scarey to read that it is in allergy pills! My grandkids use them daily this time of year.
Comment by Elaine — July 5, 2007 @ 8:52 am
Elaine, where did you hear it was in allergy pills?
Comment by Trudy Jackson — July 5, 2007 @ 9:40 am
I thought it was in allergy liquid, like the cough syrup. Allergy meds for kids. They use that stuff in place of glycerine to make it sweet so kids will take it. But, of course, we can’t upset the Chinese. They’ll call in their bonds and then we won’t have money for war.
Comment by Mrs. P — July 5, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Trudy and Mrs. P,
It was in the link posted by Schnauzer at 8:30.
Comment by Elaine — July 5, 2007 @ 10:09 am
Hi All,
I have been away from the computer for 3 days and I have a question, but I’m not sure where to post it. I got an email this morning from a friend who said there are problems with Innova dry food.
Does anyone know if this is dog and/or cat?
Does it also include the EVO?
I’m sorry about these questions, but I just bought a big bag of cat Innova EVO and no one wants to eat any. This happened this morning, before I read my email. This is making me totally nuts, not only on behalf of my cats but for all others and their cats and dogs too!!! Thanks for any info you have.
Comment by PegH — July 5, 2007 @ 10:47 am
Peg,
It seems the Innova problem was discussed a few days ago? I don’t have time to check and find it, and I don’t remember for sure which formula.
Wish I could be more help with a photographic memory! :)
Don’t hesitate to ask questions, perhaps the person that posted about Innova will see it. Maybe post your comment on the most recent thread, even tho the subject doesn’t match.
Comment by Elaine — July 5, 2007 @ 1:24 pm
Thanks Elaine
Will try to backtrack. Maybe the archives of PC
Comment by PegH — July 5, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
If anyone finds an answer to Peg’s questions regarding Innova Evo, please do update everyone. I too just bought a new bag of Evo but have not opened it yet. Peg, can you give any codes from the bag your pets are refusing?
Comment by Janice — July 5, 2007 @ 3:19 pm
Re: private testing of Innova Evo dog kibble.
Go to Don Earl’s site and scroll down to section about Donna’s test:
http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com/lab.html
Comment by Maureen — July 5, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
Who knows more I can look up about the Kibbles and Bits? My daughter feeds that to Her dog.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — July 5, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
I just found out from a vet [duh] that Hills SD does live animal testing. Wish We had a list of all who do live testing on the poor animals.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — July 5, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Maureen,
What about Evo for cats? Have there been any complaints about it?
Comment by Janice — July 5, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
It was Innova adult dog food I believe…..the 33 pounder. Innova & Evo are two totally different products, both made by Natura Products. So far I haven’t heard anything about Evo. All the info is on Don’s website…..link given above.
I just read something about Kibbles ‘n Bits at a forum over at Itchmo. I have to admit I hadn’t heard anything about that…..but don’t know where to go for more info. I was reading all the posts on the Innova problem & I believe somebody did mention something about K&B.
Comment by JanC — July 5, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
Re: Comment by Janice — July 5, 2007 @ 6:06 pm
“Maureen,
What about Evo for cats? Have there been any complaints about it?”
Janice,
I haven’t seen anything about Evo for cats. My cat still eats Evo kibble, as I haven’t completely gotten him weaned to homecooking, so I read these blogs obsessively, looking for new info about Evo. Donna’s information was distressing on many levels: Natura’s casual dismissal of her findings, and that it could be caused by a vitamin-mineral premix product. That means that homecooking isn’t safe either, when you have to add supplements. My apt. is too small, with no outdoor space, to feed my 2 dogs and cat raw food, I believe. That’s most likely the best option so that they get their nutrients from the food itself. (Though cats would still need taurine.)
Comment by Maureen — July 5, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Comment by PegH — July 5, 2007 @ 10:47 am
“I’m sorry about these questions, but I just bought a big bag of cat Innova EVO and no one wants to eat any.”
Sorry, I just backed up far enough to read PegH’s post before I wrote a few minutes ago that I hadn’t read anything bad (yet) about Innova Evo cat dry food. When cats turn up their noses at food they usually like, that’s a big warning sign, as we’ve sadly learned.
Comment by Maureen — July 5, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
The post about Kibbles and Bits was on the Del Monte recall thread from a few days ago here on Petconnection. Someone posted it this morning and I went to the post. He bought it recently at Walmart, and his dog has massive kidney failure and may have to be put down.
I think I posted it at Itchmo, just as a warning to others.
Comment by Elaine — July 5, 2007 @ 8:37 pm
It was someone that was not a regular at this website, and I guess he just posted it where he thought it would fit, but it has been a few days or more maybe weeks? since that thread.
Comment by Elaine — July 5, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
Janice and Maureen and the rest of the gang,
Will dig through recycling to get the bag for codes on the EVO. I dispense everything into airtight canisters to keep it fresh. I should know better at this point, but I have not had a problem before this and my cats have been on the EVO dry only since the April with no issues. I realize Donna’s report was for the dog version of Innova and I too, was a bit disappointed with Natura’s response to her.
I thought it was the heat that was bothering my cats, they are all long hairs and it’s really skanky here in NY. I waited a bit and redished the food and they walked away. I emptied their bowls again, they each have their own bowl, washed them and put in a scoop of KumpiKat and they went at that like they hadn’t eaten in days.
Makes me wonder if the “smaller” companies are getting a bit sloppy in order to meet the increased demands of the new post recall customers, of which I am one.
I will get the bag numbers and post back with them. I don’t think I will panic at this point, could just be the phase of the moon with my cats. I have only had 2 dry foods in my house since April and only one canned food. My cat friends are all going nuts trying new foods and making themselves and their cats crazy. Not really good for kitty digestive systems and my cat friends all seem to be impressed by all the “new and improved/natural” foods coming into play. I think I’ve made good choices and I plan to stick with them as my crew all looks very good, beautiful fur coats like I’ve never seen before, and they’re acting well for their ages. My new EVO bag that I purchased was the 15#. All prior bag purchases had been 4#. I realize that this should not make a difference. Will post back later with the bag info. I need a bit of sleep.
Comment by PegH — July 5, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
Peg H.
Thanks for checking for the numbers from the Evo bag. I buy the small size, but that probably would not make any difference. We not only have the cat on Evo, but we have also switched the border collies. We have noted a definite decrease in itching and scratching and a thickening of the coat. After losing a cat in January to acute renal failure, I was hesitant to adopt another, but have taken the plunge and want to do everything I can to keep her safe. I have filled out the form Hill’s sent for consideration of reimbursement of vet bills, but have not heard anything from them yet.
Comment by Janice — July 6, 2007 @ 6:33 am
I just received a reply from Hill’s concerning my request to be compensated for vet bills. They turned down my request because the feline c/d dry was not one of the foods they recalled. I had really hoped they would realize this contamination is larger than anyone realized at the time of the first recalls and that they would make a good faith effort to rectify wrongs and try to regain consumer confidence. I will certainly not use their products unless they agree to compensation and put in place better quality controls over their products. I plan to appeal their decision.
Comment by Janice — July 6, 2007 @ 9:34 am
Any info on the Evo for cats would be great. My best friend feeds it. and my daughter feeds the dog Kibbles and bits. so far, no problems.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — July 6, 2007 @ 10:21 am
Well, My hills isn’t on the recall list either. so I guess I can forget that. Stupid PFI
Comment by Trudy Jackson — July 6, 2007 @ 10:38 am
Trudy,
Don’t give up. Have you filled out a form to ask for reimbursement for vet bills? What kind of Hill’s were you feeding?
Comment by Janice — July 6, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
Like Trudy Jackson (3 comments above) I would very much like to know if anyone has had problems with Evo dry or wet pet foods for cats.
In earlier comments above PegH July 5 10;47am said she had an e-mail about problems with Innova dry food, and Maureen (July 5 3;31 pm said:
Go to Don Earl’s site and scroll down to section about Donna’s test:
http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com/lab.html
which claims her dry Innova dog food tested by Exper Tox labs showed cyanuric acid & traces of acetaminophen. Innova denies it.
I have been feeding my cats Innova EVO dry cat & kitten food since the Menu Foods recall without any problems.
But the new bag I bought this week was packaged late April, right about the time of the recall.
Innova tells me that while their canned foods are done at the Menu Foods Plant in South Dakota (which they claim did not have recalls)they package the dry food at their own plant.
Comment by Bill — July 6, 2007 @ 8:20 pm