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Menu Foods announces an ‘unsettling’ year
By Gina Spadafori
February 13, 2008
I didn’t realize “several” was the same as “thousands,” but then, math was never my strong suit. Apparently not too strong a skill at the Canadian Press, either, which filed this marginally rewritten media release (thanks, Nadine):
Menu Foods Income Fund (TSX:MEW.UN), which has been hammered by a pet food poisoning scandal, said it lost $62 million and sales dropped 31 per cent in 2007, a year it referred to as “the most unsettling time” in its history.
The Toronto-based company, one of 10 pet food manufacturers forced to recall a portion of its food after it was found laced with melamine, said its annual loss was worth $3.24 cents per share compared to a profit of $6.4 million or 35 cents per share in 2006.
Sales in the year ended Dec. 31 were $244.8 million compared to sales of $356.2 million in 2006.
In the fourth quarter, the company lost $21.7 million or $1.11 per share on sales of $55 million compared to a profit of $1.8 million or 9.4 cents per share on sales of $87.9 million for the same quarter last year.
“It would not be an overstatement to say that 2007 was the most unsettling time in Menu’s 37 year history,” the company said in a release announcing its results.
Menu Foods began a recall in March 2007 after some pets became sick, and several died of kidney failure, after eating its products. The contamination was traced to wheat gluten that had been laced with melamine to bulk it up by a Chinese supplier.
Here’s the rest, in all its fabulous self-pitying detail. Hmmmm. “Some pets became sick, and several died.” Gosh, I guess it really was no big deal huh? Sheesh.
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How I interpret this: We (Menu) lost money - that’s unsettling. Some pets died? Oh…
Comment by slt — February 14, 2008 @ 6:29 am
I think Mr H could have chosen some other more appropriate adjective than unsettling—-I have to agree with slt—-I only hope what my mother used to say to me holds true—-“what goes around comes around” and that is what has helped keep me an honest caring human being—-maybe more mom’s should say that!
Comment by Carol V — February 14, 2008 @ 11:32 am
Yesterday I was at the farm and all the snow we have gotten this year had to be brushed off of Brandy’s stone. I propped the heart I made for her up on her dish and left her a sausage McMuffin from the bag Scout and I picked up on the way out. I told her that it wasnt Valentines day yet but I still wanted the heart to show. It is snowing hard again today and I cant go out there to clear it off again.
Tomorrow it will be eleven months exactly since she died. Face it, I put her to sleep. Face it, I had her killed. The killing began when I bought her that case of Sprout Beef Cuts and Gravy just a couple weeks prior only I didnt know it. But Menu knew it. I expect the year would have been a good deal less unsettling for everyone if they had only told me what they knew then instead of pondering the “science” for all those weeks.
I wish I had bought her a bag of McMuffins instead of the Sprout. I just wanted to give her something more juicey and succulent. It never occurred to me that it wasnt fit for the proverbial dog.
Never again.
Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — February 14, 2008 @ 2:33 pm
Don’t they get it?
I’m sorry Menu Foods, but you can’t cause the death of THOUSANDS of animals, and expect to make a profit.
You have “bitten” the hand that feeds you, and now it’s biting back.
You can’t be trusted.
Comment by Marcy — February 14, 2008 @ 10:09 pm
Today, Feb 15 has been a year without my boy Cocoajoe. I miss him more than anyone knows and tears my heart out every time I catch his picture or imagine him doing thing he would do. All because I felt at his age, and with his lack of most of his teeth that I give him a special treat of soft wet food. Only to find out after the fact that the food is what ended his life. Menu foods has pretty much alienated pet owners and I doubt we will see any reimbursements from them. Actually I don’t know that I care about that much anymore. Just to have them come out and say, yes and it was thousands, not several. No matter what happens it can never bring back our boys/girls. I miss you Joe.
Comment by Jamie Brehmer — February 15, 2008 @ 11:24 pm
It’s been almost a year since our 4 1/2 year old Sheltie, Roxy, passed away…difficult year…most unsettling time…I can’t even put it into words. However, there is a beautiful new Evergreen in our front yard that we sprinkled her ashes under…as for Menu Foods…I can’t believe they are still in business, that they are still making food is MOST unsettling.
Comment by Greer H. — February 16, 2008 @ 9:16 am
I can’t stop missing LadyCat. Menu killed her and they want me to care they lost money. Right.
Comment by Roberto — February 16, 2008 @ 11:46 am
Has there been any word of problems with Innova Senior canned pet food recently? I’m rather paranoid about pet foods after losing our sweet dog Sombra to kidney failure last year. My 17 year old shih tzu Poudre has had foul smelling diarrhea twice from the canned Innova recently. She’s been eating it for 6 months or so with no problems. Also, my cat (who likes to eat dog food) threw up after eating some of this latest supply of canned Innova. I’m taking it back to the pet store and trying another brand — but, has anyone else had a problem?
Comment by Betty Stewart — February 17, 2008 @ 10:12 am
Betty, I’ve posted many times that I have no faith in any “dog food” anymore, innova or any other. Yes, I would take it back. It certainly sounds fishy to me. Better safe than sorry.
When Brandy got sick we thought it was because of her bladder problems. When she got better after being sick the first time what did I do? I gave her more because I knew she liked that gravy stuff and I wanted her to get better. She instantly got sick again and without having a proper exam done I just let me self assume that it was because of the bladder thing.
Take the food back and take your dog to the vet too but maybe keep a can in case something develops. I wish to hell I had done that! Better safe than tears.
Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — February 17, 2008 @ 3:34 pm
We haven’t heard anything, but remember there can be something wrong with a batch of any food product, human foods included. If you don’t feel there’s something right about the product, take it back for a refund.
And see your veterinarian about your pets!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — February 17, 2008 @ 3:58 pm
I am very sad that Menu is still in business and that Henderson isn’t living under a nasty old bridge.
Comment by CynthiaW — February 19, 2008 @ 9:16 am
What about the CEO’s and management at Menu Foods etc where they continued to produce and sell toxic food weeks after they knew pets were dying from their product? This was animal cruelty. Most states have laws against animal cruelty yet none of these participants have been prosecuted or punished by the States Attorney.
As long as criminal conduct goes unpunished, we will find diseased beef, toxic waste and dangerous substances in our own food and our pet’s food.
Comment by Larry — February 26, 2008 @ 1:51 pm