The no recall recall
By Gina Spadafori
August 21, 2007
Is this going to be the trend of the future? Don’t recall products, just quietly remove them and hope no one notices? That way, people will keep buying and not become outraged.
From the AP:
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. quietly stopped selling two brands of dog treats in July, after customers voiced concerns that the Chinese products may have caused their pets to fall ill, but no recall has been announced, a company spokeswoman confirmed.
The world’s largest retailer started pulling Chicken Jerky Strips from Import-Pingyang Pet Product Co. and Chicken Jerky from Shanghai Bestro Trading on July 26, spokeswoman Deisha Galberth said late Monday.
Wal-Mart also placed a computerized block on all cash registers to prevent workers from selling the products, Galberth said.
“When we took it off shelves at the end of July, we pulled it based on the customer feedback so we could do testing prior to announcing anything publicly,” Galberth said. “That’s why did not make a public announcement — it was still going through the testing process.”
Wal-Mart’s action follows a massive pet food recall in March, when retailers began pulling products made in China that included the chemical melamine — a contaminant that’s a byproduct of several pesticides.
While I’m certainly glad Wal-Mart acted to pull these products … where’s the recall? Surely Wal-Mart isn’t the only place they went, and other retailers may still be selling them. Hello, FDA? Hello?
The FDA is a joke, after the first recall in march, they seemed to be interested in our pets welfare for awhile. a few months have passed and now they look the other way?
Comment by veda — August 21, 2007 @ 5:46 am
they could at least warn people. what about the people that may have some of it in their homes and are still using it?!
Comment by straybaby — August 21, 2007 @ 7:15 am
Well, I’m warning everyone I can via Internet lists, and hopefully that sort of thing has a way of getting around.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — August 21, 2007 @ 7:45 am
If you do not already know about this class-action lawsuit, read this. You may also join in by using the link listed at the end. It’s about time somebody sued these companies for misrepresentation!!!
Nationwide Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Pet Food Companies and Retailers For Misleading Consumers Regarding the Contents of Pet Food
“Premium” Pet Food Marketed and Sold as “Complete and Balanced” Has Historically Contained Such Items as Euthanized Dogs and Cats, Restaurant Grease, Hair, Hooves, and Diseased Animals, and Other Inedible Garbage
MIAMI, FL — May 15, 2007 — A cat and dog owner from Michigan and two cat and dog owners from Florida have filed a nationwide class action against food industry giants Mars, Inc., Proctor and Gamble Co., Colgate Palmolive Company, Del Monte Foods, Co., and Nestle U.S.A. Inc. These manufacturers have a combined approximate 70% of the market share in the $16 billion dollar a year pet food industry. The suit also names as Defendants Nutro Products, Inc., Menu Foods, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Target Corp., Publix Supermarkets, Inc., Winn Dixie Stores, Inc., as manufacturers and marketers of their own brand pet food and retailers PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc., Pet Supermarket, Inc., and Petsmart Inc.
The Plaintiffs maintain that these companies have spent $300 million a year in making false and misleading marketing statements regarding the contents of their pet food to the dog and cat loving American public. While these Defendants tout their pet food products as choice cuts of prime beef, chunks of chicken, fish, fresh wholesome vegetables and whole grains to induce consumers to buy them, the Plaintiffs contend the food is actually made from “inedible” slaughterhouse waste products of the human food chain such as spines, heads, tails, hooves, hair, and blood. Rendering companies who process this waste have also added other inedible “waste” such as euthanized cats and dogs from veterinarian offices and animal shelters, road kill, zoo animals, rancid restaurant grease, toxic chemicals and additives. Additionally, dead animals and those declared unfit for human consumption due to disease and illness are also placed in the mix.
The lawsuit was filed in United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida by attorney Catherine J. MacIvor of the 23 attorney Miami litigation law firm of Maltzman Foreman, PA. The case is pending before the Honorable Cecilia Altonaga. Class Counsel, Catherine J. MacIvor says that “The melamine debacle is not the only serious problem with pet food. The number and frequency of lethal pet food recalls in the last few years clearly shows the seriousness and extent of this problem.”
The lawsuit alleges that pet food companies market their products as wholesome, choice cuts of meat, natural and complete and balanced diets even though they are fully aware that this food is largely carbohydrates and sugars combined with toxic preservatives and additives with very little to no meat at all. The lawsuit seeks damages to consumers for the false representations made in the Defendants’ advertising as well as punitive damages.
“Sadly,” MacIvor said, “the Defendant pet food companies and retailers recognized that American pet owners love their cats and dogs like members of their family. The Defendants deceptive advertising specifically marketed premium healthy food to the American public knowing that they want to buy the best food that they can for their loved one and knowing that the food consists largely of garbage, chemicals, additives, diseased meat and even residual pentobarbital from euthanized animals.”
The 58 page lawsuit outlines in grotesque detail the actual manner in which most commercial pet food in the United States is made. The lawsuit also attaches and cites numerous news stories and research articles outlining the real content of the Defendant’s pet foods and the misleading and deceptive advertising undertaken by the Defendants.
The Defendants targeted in the Complaint produce pet foods under a wide array of brands and names including: Pedigree®, Sheba®, Goodlife Recipe®, Royal Canine, Iams®, Eukanuba®, Science Diet®, Prescription Diet®, 9 Lives®, Amore®, Gravy Train®, Kibbles-n-Bits® and Nature’s Recipe®, Snausages®, Milk Bone®, Pup-Peroni®, Meaty Bone®, Canine’s Carry Outs®, Jerky Treats®, Wagwells®, Alpo®, Beneful®, Beggin’ Strips®, Dog, Cat, Puppy and Kitten Chow®, Fancy Feast®, Friskies®, Mighty Dog®, Deli-Cat®, Pro Plan®, Purina One®, Natural Choice® Dog and Cat Products, Max® Dog Products, Max® Cat Gourmet Classics, Natural Choice® Complete Care® for cats, Ultra™ Products for dogs, Americas Choice Preferred Pets, Authority, Award, Best Choice, Big Bet, Big Red, Cadillac, Companion, Compliments, Demoulus Market Basket, Eukanuba, Fine Feline Cat, Food Lion, Food Town, Giant Companion, Hannaford, Hill Country Fare, Hy-Vee, Iams, J.E. Mondou, Laura Lynn, Li’l Red, Loving Meals, Medi-Cal, Meijer’s Main Choice, Mighty Dog Pouch, Mixables, Natural Life, Nutriplan, Nutro Max, Nutro Max Gourmet Classics, Nutro Natural Choice, Ol’ Roy, Paws, Pet Essentials, Pet Pride, President’s Choice, Price Chopper, Priority US, Publix, Roche Brothers, Save-a-Lot Special Blend, Schnucks, Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans, Sophistacat, Special Kitty, Springfield Prize, Sprout, Stop and Shop Companion, Tops Companion, Wegmans, Weis Total Pet, Western family US, White Rose, Winn Dixie, Your Pet, LIFELong™, Ol’ Roy and Special Kitty brands of pet food.
The lawsuit alleges, among other claims, that the pet food companies have fraudulently and/or negligently misrepresented and concealed what is actually in their pet foods, violated Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices, and Failed to Warn the public of the health risks to animals associated with a diet consisting of their commercial pet foods. Through the lawsuit, the Plaintiff’s hope to recover financial damages for all pet owners who have been similarly deceived. “Ultimately we are hopeful that our lawsuit will force the Defendants to more accurately describe what is in their pet foods and to offer more healthful pet food options that provide pets with food quality similar to that provided in human food products.”
A copy of the Complaint and supporting research materials is available at http://www.mflegal.com/petfoodlawsuit
For more information about Maltzman Foreman PA please visit http://www.mflegal.com
Comment by John — August 21, 2007 @ 8:19 am
I’m shocked. I bought these chicken jerky strips for my dog, but stopped feeding them when he seemed to develop diarrhea from them. Now there’s a recall???
What can we do to find out more? How do I know if my dog has lasting damage from these?
Comment by H.A. — August 21, 2007 @ 10:09 am
I have not heard anymore about the recalled pet food and if it is still being recalled.
Comment by Jill — August 21, 2007 @ 10:34 am
Is the cat,kitten,puppy chow being recalled or is it all ready. Is that Purina. I give Purina cat chow complete to my cat and she has had no problem for 5 years. Or is that about what they consider Road kill in the food?
Comment by Jill — August 21, 2007 @ 10:39 am
I think it’s wrong to pull a product off the shelves without telling anyone, didn’t we learn anything from the recall in March?
Yesterday was the anniversary of my 4 1/2 year old Sheltie’s death from tainted pet food, I feel like the nightmare continues. Will our pets ever be safe?
Comment by Greer — August 21, 2007 @ 11:54 am
Wow, chicken from China. Haven’t gotten those melachickens approved for humans here - yet. But they are trying!
The consumers are “lucky,” in my opinion the strips likely just had melamine. (sarcasm, melamine is used there a lot, http://tinyurl.com/279mfv )
After all, with the recent Asian flu outbreaks in Chinese poultry it could have been Asian Bird Flu melachicken in chicken jerky strips (http://tinyurl.com/243c2v ). There have been reports of two recent asian bird flu outbreaks this year, but good luck searching for the China “bad” news articles as some search engines apparently are busy honoring requests to self-censor and improve China products image by eliminating any bad news stories’ links and not just in China (http://tinyurl.com/2qrkgr ).
There is also presently another blue ear swine epidemic this year in 25 out of 33 Chinese provinces and farmers reportedly rushing to sell hogs quickly to market before they can be seized and destroyed (http://tinyurl.com/36mynv ). What’s next? Blue ear viral hog chews? How about sausage for our breakfast? Are they trying to import Chinese pork YET?
Or carcinogenic laden Toxi-apple treats (http://tinyurl.com/242fvx )? How about the cutsy pet toys and glazed pet food bowls (http://tinyurl.com/28kxny )? How many people have had their pet items tested for LEAD content proactively???
We need a new consumer advocate like the old Ralph Nader to stand up and start suing corporations and government officials for the taints and government not following its own laws.
And I still love that acronym - FDA - Faith Based Dining Administration. If we can’t get China or the U.S. corporations to clean up their act, and we can’t get the Bush Admin to replace the top cronies in these protection agencies that don’t, and we can’t get Congress to reorg the agencies out of existence in favor of one health administration agency, then we could at least rename the FDA the above.
Come on guys, clean this stuff up if you want us to buy your goods. I’d lobby against any American company that presented this number and volume and severity of taints and defects. And don’t play games with the consumers by trying to make bad news secret. Apparently until the taints are cleaned up, we MUST lobby to get Country of Origin labeled on everything, including restaurant menus’ foods.
If none of this happens, then they can expect us to get some corporations to label “China Free” and many of us will buy it, just like the Administration says we can do now, except they KNOW we cannot identify what came from where, by sales design. I just read this morning that quietly the huge Tyson and Mission Food Companies had asked their suppliers to cease using or providing any Chinese ingredients (http://tinyurl.com/3by8fg , http://tinyurl.com/32wu9a ). So I guess when we post, we best tell where something came from since the internet search indices may not be there…
Comment by Dennis — August 21, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
When we say boycott China perhaps we should also say boycott every company that has shut down factories in the USA and opened factories in China. Look at the number of companies operating in China. Go to http://www.transnationale.org . Our companies moved there for cheaper labor , larger profits, less environmental and safety issues harrassment .
Until we get the Government agency out of the cozy bed they enjoy with agri businesses, some farm bureaus and farm orginizations , large corporations the corruption will continue.
DON”T BUY any commercially made pet food or products WHILE PETS STILL DIE!
Comment by thomas — August 21, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
Dennis,
The Tyson and Mission Food story is an old one. The reason they “Quietly” asked suppliers to cease using China ingredients was, IMO, a publicity ploy to try to make themselves appear innocent. However BOTH companies have plants in CHINA!
USDA has proposed a rule to allow cooked chickens imported from China IF the chickens are owned by a U.S. company. How convenient for Tyson, as they are expanding their chicken growing operations into China in 2007!
You don’t suppose that some big company is buying favors from the USDA, do you?!
Comment by Elaine — August 21, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
How can they be “quietly removed” yet “people will keep buying”?
Comment by Bee — August 21, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Bee,
A growing number of people are reading labels and refusing to buy items from China. Let’s hope even more people become aware.
It is also important to boycott the companies that have outsourced production to China, however that is harder to do.
I don’t buy Mission or Tyson products anymore now that I know they have facilities in China.
Comment by Elaine — August 21, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
Hello, I’m still around.
Poison clothes add to China export scares
By Geoff Dyer in Shanghai
Published: August 20 2007 19:56 | Last updated: August 20 2007 19:56
The safety problems affecting Chinese goods spread from toys to textiles on Monday as New Zealand said it would investigate allegations that imported children’s clothes contained dangerous levels of formaldehyde.
The government ordered the probe after scientists hired by a consumer watchdog programme discovered formaldehyde in Chinese clothes at levels of up to 900 times regarded as safe. Manufacturers sometimes apply formaldehyde to clothes to prevent mildew. It can cause skin rashes, irritation to the eyes and throat and allergic reactions.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f668.....fd2ac.html
Comment by Steve — August 21, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
The FDA, the USDA, they are all agencies of the Executive Branch and controlled by the White House. Place your disgust where it belongs, on the Administration. It is in bed with the government of communist China and the big international corporations. One call from the White House would get the FDA, USDA, etc. to change policy.
Has the White House EVER condemned the poisons, has it ever asked for more funds and resources to protect our pets and our children? NO, NEVER.
Stop diverting blame from where it belongs. The political appointees than run the FDA and USDA take their orders from the White House, not Congress and not from the American people.
Comment by MFEMFEM — August 21, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
We have to accept it!
The government ordered the probe after scientists hired by a consumer watchdog programme — from the article above.
The government didn’t find the problem, know of a problem, dream of a problem — it took a “private” and presumably citizen funded effort to protect the populace in New Zealand. New Zealand? We know that our government is much, much worse. Still …
Comment by Jay — August 21, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
I was sad to see that Priority Brand (sold by Safeway) was not on the list below. Menu made it for them and stilkl so remember the brand as you will not find the name Menu, China, or putrid listed anywhere.
The Defendants targeted in the Complaint produce pet foods under a wide array of brands and names including: Pedigree®, Sheba®, Goodlife Recipe®, Royal Canine, Iams®, Eukanuba®, Science Diet®, Prescription Diet®, 9 Lives®, Amore®, Gravy Train®, Kibbles-n-Bits® and Nature’s Recipe®, Snausages®, Milk Bone®, Pup-Peroni®, Meaty Bone®, Canine’s Carry Outs®, Jerky Treats®, Wagwells®, Alpo®, Beneful®, Beggin’ Strips®, Dog, Cat, Puppy and Kitten Chow®, Fancy Feast®, Friskies®, Mighty Dog®, Deli-Cat®, Pro Plan®, Purina One®, Natural Choice® Dog and Cat Products, Max® Dog Products, Max® Cat Gourmet Classics, Natural Choice® Complete Care® for cats, Ultra™ Products for dogs, Americas Choice Preferred Pets, Authority, Award, Best Choice, Big Bet, Big Red, Cadillac, Companion, Compliments, Demoulus Market Basket, Eukanuba, Fine Feline Cat, Food Lion, Food Town, Giant Companion, Hannaford, Hill Country Fare, Hy-Vee, Iams, J.E. Mondou, Laura Lynn, Li’l Red, Loving Meals, Medi-Cal, Meijer’s Main Choice, Mighty Dog Pouch, Mixables, Natural Life, Nutriplan, Nutro Max, Nutro Max Gourmet Classics, Nutro Natural Choice, Ol’ Roy, Paws, Pet Essentials, Pet Pride, President’s Choice, Price Chopper, Priority US, Publix, Roche Brothers, Save-a-Lot Special Blend, Schnucks, Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans, Sophistacat, Special Kitty, Springfield Prize, Sprout, Stop and Shop Companion, Tops Companion, Wegmans, Weis Total Pet, Western family US, White Rose, Winn Dixie, Your Pet, LIFELong™, Ol’ Roy and Special Kitty brands of pet food.
All of these brands should be on a no-buy list.
Comment by Jay — August 21, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
Nutro cat food in pouches killed my beautiful six year old cat. He died a terrible, painful death. Nutro NEVER apologized and they never returned my telephine calls. They at first hid from the problem and then they became defensive. They treated me like dirt. I will NEVER buy a Nutro product again, or a product form any company that has/had any relationship with Menu Foods.
Watch out for other companies that sell wet pet food, usually in pouches, some if it is made in China and even says so on the label in tiny print. Many of the “healthy, nutritious, enriched, natural, organic, wholesome, … ” claims are nothing but lies. Marketing lies to help sell garbage from China.
Comment by MFEMFEM — August 21, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
Fixing the blame is not the same as fixing the problem.
How can it be fixed?
Not debate and wait on the next administration, who will have other priorities, like putting THEIR buddies into the FDA to take bribes and screw over the people that who foot the bill, us. We are all buckled up for that ride anyway.
How can it be fixed NOW?
Waiting for a big daddy to save the pets, or us, aint working. We save ourselves and our loved ones from slow poison or it don’t get done. Not even a big daddy democrat who came here asking for help that was given freely, bothered to say thanks or give a media release to stop the big 16 “official” deaths lie. He just blew us off soon as he got support for his agenda and media attention for HIM so you can probably expect the very same treatment from whoever steals the next election. Dealocrat or Repugnant, they will screw us over, count on it.
Getting every pet organization to back Don Earl is a start, because a court supervised FDA is a heck of a lot better than a rogue agency that won’t even answer the senate or the congress or give them documents.
And THAT is the only way to get the FDA testing and reporting, on time or in the slam should be the judges motto, and under the watchful eye of the American public.
I am ALL for voting in a whole new bunch of lying politicos, just for a change of the scenery. Letting pets die in agony every day while I wait years for some dig daddy politician to get around to solving the problems, not so much.
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 21, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
“Comment by E. Hamilton — August 21, 2007 @ 5:55 pm”
If you have ever had any experience with the federal courts and government agencies you would know that in most instances court orders go on for years if not decades, after the months or years it takes to get a lawsuit heard after appeals. Do a search of the agencies that are presently under consent decrees, etc. and you will find that decades are the norm. The courts are no Big Daddy either, and right now most of the federal courts are very pro-business thanks to the current crop of judicial appointees.
Filing lawsuits is one tactic and it can have some benefit, but don’t expect any real relief from the courts in our lifetime.
The criminal route is faster, but do you really expect the Department of Justice to take the FDA to court - not in this lifetime.
Comment by MFEMFEM — August 21, 2007 @ 6:09 pm
Concerning the formaldehyde in the kids’ pajamas, just the chemical exposure and reactions was bad, but how about this report:
http://www.consumerist.com/con.....291690.php
In the article, this three year old boy’s PJs made in China and tainted with formaldehyde and having been washed at least 10 times caught the boy on FIRE when he sat too close to a gas heater. The boy received third degree burns from the jammies labeled “low fire danger”.
Comment by Dennis — August 21, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
Comment by MFEMFEM — August 21, 2007 @ 6:09 pm
So what? Getting started now on the years of trudging through the process is better than waiting. If it takes years then it does, if the court dates last for decades so much the better!
The pet food industry and the FDA can park their butts and the expensive lawyers butts on a court bench for years then. Being called liars and corrupt , for years, in court, might be GOOD for em. Years and years of mind numbing twists and turns through the court systems, think of the lies they will spew and how they will fume and stew at every new court case.
Really, I am not seeing any down side.
Throwing up my hands and saying there is nothing I can do is not something I am prepared to do.
The boycotts are making an impact, the truth is getting out and forcing the lying jerks to show up in court, a lot, and get the lies on the record is better than leaving them run loose to do god knows what.
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 21, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
H.A. - Lots of people reported similar reactions, I posted a few of the comments on my blog. (click my name)
And Wal-Mart just announced that these ‘treats’ have Melamine in them…
(Hi everyone…)
Comment by Kim — August 21, 2007 @ 9:23 pm
Kim, thanks. I read through all that and I’m going to call my vet to see if they can run tests on him to assess his kidney function. Luckily, I rationed the treats quite a bit; I would cut one strip into dime-sized pieces (he’s a 50-lb Std. Schnauzer) and essentially fed one strip over the course of 2 days. I noticed that he had diarrhea on days when he got the treats and none on days he didn’t, so I stopped giving them to him. I did have concerns when I saw they were made in China, but figured there wasn’t much that could be “added” to sliced, cooked chicken. Esp. if it was irradiated to kill bacteria. Boy, was I wrong…
Comment by H.A. — August 22, 2007 @ 6:33 am
I have so many questions. Does this mean the material I buy to make clothes comes from china? If so, what can We wear?
Then, where is Friskies in the can made?
Just so much garbage.
And on the local news today they said they are stopping the slautering of hogs at Smithfield Ham in Va.? Because of some disease, but I don’t know what? That’s just great.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — August 22, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
ALERT!! Purina Cat Chow…
My friends two cats, in the last 2 days have made emergency vet trips - lots of tests - unexplained painful illness. Vet said to bag and save Cat Chow and change foods upon return home. The Vets Office called other area vets - YES, unexplained rash of illnesses in cats in the past week!!
Is this another China Syndrome poisoning our cats!?!
Comment by Monica — August 28, 2007 @ 12:13 pm