Comments on: Pet-food recall: Do the math, take the lead http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/ Blogging by a team of pet-care experts. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:26:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Concha Castaneda http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/comment-page-1/#comment-133031 Concha Castaneda Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:26:01 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/#comment-133031 FDA critisized by Washington Post for being lax on recall of approved drugs...no surprise there. Problem is they can only test 1%....where have we heard that before? Here in Ohio the local news finally informed us that Top Hamburger is recalling Hamburger...much of which has already been sold...no surprise there. It is probably the 1% factor again. We Ohioans are probably just eating too much of it...like the Wagon Train pets. Has anyone used the lead testing kits on the Mc Donalds toys Made in China? FDA critisized by Washington Post for being lax on recall of approved drugs…no surprise there. Problem is they can only test 1%….where have we heard that before? Here in Ohio the local news finally informed us that Top Hamburger is recalling Hamburger…much of which has already been sold…no surprise there. It is probably the 1% factor again. We Ohioans are probably just eating too much of it…like the Wagon Train pets. Has anyone used the lead testing kits on the Mc Donalds toys Made in China?

]]> By: 2CatMom http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/comment-page-1/#comment-132729 2CatMom Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:53:31 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/#comment-132729 I finally found the answer to what 1 ug stands for - its a microgram which is 1/1000 of a gram. That obviously isn't nearly as good as the Expertox testing (which reads down to 1 million or 1 billionth of a gram depending on who you read. I finally found the answer to what 1 ug stands for - its a microgram which is 1/1000 of a gram. That obviously isn’t nearly as good as the Expertox testing (which reads down to 1 million or 1 billionth of a gram depending on who you read.

]]> By: priscilla http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/comment-page-1/#comment-132457 priscilla Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:13:10 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/#comment-132457 What is being done about the dog food recall. My dog Buddy which is a chihuahua was eating Hills Science diet,which I dont believe was recalled but my dog was fine one day then we had to rush him to the vet because he was having problems breathing, throwing up, wouldnt eat or drink. They did several test on him which he was dehydrated ,gave him Iv. They kept him over night Then charged $300.00. He is fine now but we stopped that food and started feeding him table food. I feel something should be done. I also feel we should be helped on our bill. Please inform me what is being done. thank you What is being done about the dog food recall. My dog Buddy which is a chihuahua was eating Hills Science diet,which I dont believe was recalled but my dog was fine one day then we had to rush him to the vet because he was having problems breathing, throwing up, wouldnt eat or drink. They did several test on him which he was dehydrated ,gave him Iv. They kept him over night Then charged $300.00. He is fine now but we stopped that food and started feeding him table food. I feel something should be done. I also feel we should be helped on our bill. Please inform me what is being done. thank you

]]> By: Trudy Jackson http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/comment-page-1/#comment-132361 Trudy Jackson Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:39:59 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/#comment-132361 I bought a test kit too. I have only so far tested My dishes, cups, etc. so far, everything is neg. I hope it's right? I bought a test kit too. I have only so far tested My dishes, cups, etc. so far, everything is neg. I hope it’s right?

]]> By: Gwen http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/comment-page-1/#comment-132146 Gwen Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:37:08 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/#comment-132146 2CatMom- that's good to hear. I've been meaning to invest in some of the test kits, and I'm dreading what I'll find. And I can't believe how many of the decorative holiday plates *we've* been eating off of are made in China.. I'm almost afraid to test them. As we've got far too many cat toys to test at our house, I will probably just be testing their dishes and the toys that spend the most time in their mouths as well. I figure a plastic ball that occasionally gets batted across the room every now and then probably doesn't pose much of a threat.. but the fuzzy mice Nick regularly chews to bits and the little tennis balls and fleece things Thomas is always gnawing on.. those make me nervous. For once in my life, I'm actually GLAD Tyson shirks the cat toys in favor of nicking rolls of paper towels from the closet and shredding them all over the living room, lol. 2CatMom- that’s good to hear. I’ve been meaning to invest in some of the test kits, and I’m dreading what I’ll find. And I can’t believe how many of the decorative holiday plates *we’ve* been eating off of are made in China.. I’m almost afraid to test them.

As we’ve got far too many cat toys to test at our house, I will probably just be testing their dishes and the toys that spend the most time in their mouths as well. I figure a plastic ball that occasionally gets batted across the room every now and then probably doesn’t pose much of a threat.. but the fuzzy mice Nick regularly chews to bits and the little tennis balls and fleece things Thomas is always gnawing on.. those make me nervous.

For once in my life, I’m actually GLAD Tyson shirks the cat toys in favor of nicking rolls of paper towels from the closet and shredding them all over the living room, lol.

]]> By: 2CatMom http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/comment-page-1/#comment-131889 2CatMom Wed, 26 Sep 2007 01:19:15 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/#comment-131889 On an earlier thread someone had shown a link to where you could buy a lead test kit oHere are the results from my lead test kit. The kit is supposed to detect lead on surfaces where the concentrations are 1 ug or more. I'm not sure what this means but it says if its below this amount the object should be "safe." I tested 8 food/toy objects from a variety of stores/manufactuerers. The toys I tested are ones my cats like best and carry around in their mouths. Small ceramic plate from PetCo (says made in China) Deep ceramic dish from PetCo (no country of origin) Small ceramic dish from PetSmart (says made in China) Avg ceramic dish from PetSmart (no country of origin) -Multipet Crinkle Catnip Balls, ordered online - (says made in China) -Spot Ethical Spotnips (plastic slinkies) from Private pet store - (says made in China) -PetSmart Pet Holiday toy - fuzzy blob with feather tail (says made in China) -Petking Cat Toy - sponge balls (made in China) All tests came out NEGATIVE! The kit comes with lead coated paper so if you get a negative result you can confirm that the swabs are working properly. I don't really know whether this is good or not because I don't know the sensitivity of the test. But it is better than getting 8 positive results, I hope. On an earlier thread someone had shown a link to where you could buy a lead test kit oHere are the results from my lead test kit. The kit is supposed to detect lead on surfaces where the concentrations are 1 ug or more. I’m not sure what this means but it says if its below this amount the object should be “safe.”

I tested 8 food/toy objects from a variety of stores/manufactuerers. The toys I tested are ones my cats like best and carry around in their mouths.

Small ceramic plate from PetCo (says made in China)
Deep ceramic dish from PetCo (no country of origin)
Small ceramic dish from PetSmart (says made in China)
Avg ceramic dish from PetSmart (no country of origin)

-Multipet Crinkle Catnip Balls, ordered online - (says made in China)
-Spot Ethical Spotnips (plastic slinkies) from Private pet store - (says made in China)
-PetSmart Pet Holiday toy - fuzzy blob with feather tail (says made in China)
-Petking Cat Toy - sponge balls (made in China)

All tests came out NEGATIVE! The kit comes with lead coated paper so if you get a negative result you can confirm that the swabs are working properly.

I don’t really know whether this is good or not because I don’t know the sensitivity of the test. But it is better than getting 8 positive results, I hope.

]]> By: Trudy Jackson http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/comment-page-1/#comment-130583 Trudy Jackson Sun, 23 Sep 2007 20:50:37 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/#comment-130583 Very Important- Please go to You Tube and watch the video of this- Inside a Rendering Plant. It might be the answer to what I keep finding in the cat food. Please watch it. Very Important- Please go to You Tube and watch the video of this- Inside a Rendering Plant.
It might be the answer to what I keep finding in the cat food. Please watch it.

]]> By: Billy http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/comment-page-1/#comment-130201 Billy Sun, 23 Sep 2007 00:03:24 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/#comment-130201 http://johnedwards.com/issues/food-safety-fact-sheet/ http://johnedwards.com/issues/.....act-sheet/

]]> By: Concha Castaneda http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/comment-page-1/#comment-130133 Concha Castaneda Sat, 22 Sep 2007 21:49:26 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/#comment-130133 johnedwards.com/issues/food-safety-fact-sheet/ gives you an idea of where he is coming from. I can't find the original link but I saw the letter and I wish I would have copied it. I think he sent it to Congress as well. johnedwards.com/issues/food-safety-fact-sheet/ gives you an idea of where he is coming from. I can’t find the original link but I saw the letter and I wish I would have copied it. I think he sent it to Congress as well.

]]> By: Lynn http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/comment-page-1/#comment-130007 Lynn Sat, 22 Sep 2007 15:21:52 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/09/19/pet-food-recall-do-the-math-take-the-lead/#comment-130007 I don't know how many specimens ExperTox examined, one or several. Regardless, China enforces few [if any] safety regulations. I don't even want to think about their manufacturing and quality assurance practices. In all likelihood they are inconsistent, which translates to a huge range of toxic values in the end product, some of which may not be lethal, and others of which may be lethal. Remember during the pet food recalls when we were told that certain levels of melamine weren't lethal? Of course, no one considered that other chemicals synergized with melamine to create lethal toxicity. So who is to say that the same isn't true with the current testing [i.e., that there are other chemicals acting as a catalyst]? I don’t know how many specimens ExperTox examined, one or several. Regardless, China enforces few [if any] safety regulations. I don’t even want to think about their manufacturing and quality assurance practices. In all likelihood they are inconsistent, which translates to a huge range of toxic values in the end product, some of which may not be lethal, and others of which may be lethal.

Remember during the pet food recalls when we were told that certain levels of melamine weren’t lethal? Of course, no one considered that other chemicals synergized with melamine to create lethal toxicity. So who is to say that the same isn’t true with the current testing [i.e., that there are other chemicals acting as a catalyst]?

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