Pet-food recall: Trust isn’t so quick to return
By Gina Spadafori
March 25, 2008
The bulk of the heavy lifting when it comes to reporting on food-safety issues in the mainstream media continues to be carried by USA Today, specifically by USAT’s Julie and . From Ms. Schmit today:
More than a year after the biggest pet-food recall began, sales of wet pet food continue to struggle, and many products still are missing from store shelves.
About 20% of recalled products, mostly wet foods, have yet to return, and 10% of recalled products have been discontinued, says PetSmart, the nation’s No. 1 pet-food chain.
While sales of dry food grow, sales of wet are still off about 25% from pre-recall levels, says Dave Bolen, chief merchandising officer at Petco, the No. 2 chain.
Both chains say sales of dry pet food have fared much better, especially premium and natural brands, and both chains are devoting more floor space to the more expensive foods.
[...]
A recent USA TODAY/Gallup Poll of 574 dog or cat owners showed that 30% had less confidence in the safety of pet food than before the recall; 46% had more confidence; and 17% had the same level of confidence.
So … where do you fit in, confidence-wise? Have you changed how you feed your pets and even yourself? Has the change lasted? Or have you gone back to what you were feeding, figuring the problem has been solved?
Update: Hooray for Lisan Jutras in the Globe and Mail (Canada):
In March, 2007, a number of pet-food companies recalled products in Canada and the United States following reports of animal deaths. Melamine-tainted food was blamed for about 4,000 deaths of cats and dogs in the United States. As many as 40,000 pets reportedly became ill.
(Emphasis mine.) Here’s the rest.
Update: The American Kennel Club is running an informal poll on its Web site, asking what people look for in dog treats. “No ingredients from China” is the top response so far, with 30 percent. “Human-grade” ingredients is just a nick behind, at 27 percent.
***
Elsewhere: The deaths of three dogs at the Iditarod is the focus of an interesting New York Times piece by Douglas Robson:
For that and other reasons, animal-rights groups continue to voice concerns about the appropriateness of the race. But unlike in the early days of the Iditarod, when few records were kept and dogs died more often, researchers are bringing a new level of transparency and scrutiny to the way the 40- to 45-pound huskies function — and sometimes fail.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Dr. Randall J. Basaraba, the lead author of a study published last month in The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. It provides the first detailed analysis of the 23 dogs that died during the Iditarod from 1994 to 2006.
Basaraba, an associate professor of pathology at Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has made it a particular crusade to understand and root out avoidable Iditarod fatalities.
“Despite all our attempts, there are unexpected deaths,” said Basaraba, who has been studying dogs on the Iditarod since 1995. “The goal is to try to avoid that. We don’t know if that’s realistic or not, but this gives us the best chance.”
At least one dog has died every year since the first Iditarod, in 1973. Animal-rights groups denounce the race, which requires dogs to pull sleds weighing 250 pounds or more across mountain passes, frozen lakes and tundra in biting winds and temperatures that can dip below minus 50, a journey that can take 9 to 18 days.
Mr. Robson then gives PETA a call for comment, of course, and the sound bite is predictable:
“The death toll continues to mount,” Lisa Wathne, a spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said in a telephone interview. “This is a grueling event that is cruel and inappropriate to the dogs, who obviously don’t have a choice in the matter.”
Hmmm. Kind of like the animals who end up at PETA in search of new homes.
Update 3/27: PETA’s attorney has just sent us a letter demanding a retraction. Jeffrey S. Kerr, General Counsel and Vice President of Corporate Affairs at PETA, informed us that, “The animals that you are referencing were not brought to PETA to find new homes. These animals were brought to, or picked up by, PETA because they were unadoptable for a variety of reasons, and had been surrendered precisely because they were not adoptable. Many ofthese animals were sick, and euthanasia brought them a peaceful release from the suffering that they endured.”
Here is the entire letter.
According to the Commonwealth of Virginia 97 percent of those animals that end up at PETA were killed in 2006. Talk about a death toll that continues to mount!
Why is anyone still listening to PETA?
***
USA Today also scores with a super piece on pets abandoned when homes are foreclosed. This hits home here — three homes on my street are empty, and if not bank-owned now surely will be soon. My neighbor Judy and I have been in the yards and peered through the windows of all to make sure no pets were left behind.
I was an editor at The Sacramento Bee when USA Today launched, and people in the industry made fun of it, calling it “McPaper” and “a weather map with ads.” Well, guess what? In the last half-dozen years I have seen as much important, well-done reporting from USA Today as any other paper in the United States. You guys rock.
My take on what PETA actually meant: The death toll continues to mount which brings us endless joy as it aids in our quest for total pet annihilation.
Comment by slt — March 25, 2008 @ 9:32 am
Regarding pet food safety post recall: “46% had more confidence” Hullo! MORE confidence? Establishing that TWICE now, the pet food corps have turned their greed into thousands of dead pets and still NOTHING has changed to prevent them making the same mistakes which caused the deaths - uh no, that does not give me MORE confidence. Put me in the LESS column (the WAY LESS, if you have one).
Comment by slt — March 25, 2008 @ 9:35 am
Ah yes, the dogs don’t have any choice in the matter. Those dogs don’t want to run. Nope nope nope.
Comment by katie — March 25, 2008 @ 9:59 am
I buy only Merrick, Evanger, and Artemis (made by Evanger) canned cat foods because they make their food in their own factories and use only domestic ingredients. Almost every other brand I would contemplate feeding my cats admits that at least some of their canned food is made by Menu Foods and I will never buy anything made by them. The tragic irony is that we fed our George Iams because he was susceptible to crystals in his urine and Iams had a low magnesium content. Interestingly, the large chain supermarket that I used to buy cat food at no longer has Iams canned or pouch foods on the shelf.
Comment by Needles — March 25, 2008 @ 10:09 am
“4,000 deaths of cats and dogs in the United States. As many as 40,000 pets reportedly became ill.”
40,000—hmmmm—whatever happened to that original and purportedly valid Banfield number of 39,000 that vanished from sight? Poof…gone. Always wondered about that. Do hope it’s being dredged up again. Please.
Comment by Nadine Long — March 25, 2008 @ 10:14 am
Just back from the cat hospital (again).
The pet food scandal of 2007 still affects me: the vet bills are in regions I never thought possible and continuing - but I have no proof that our cat’s relapse was connected to the pet food scandal; our cat is weak and sick (but, bygosh, he seems to be pulling through again); and I have spent more time on my knees than a monk in a monastery, trying to convince the cat to eat.
I am trying to find the one list that had the names of the food, the ‘namegiving’ company and where they have their stuff cooked - I need to try different foods to entice him to eat, but that is one stubborn cat, let me tell you! There is no chance in heck to try home cooked meals for him (I tried!) so besides fish I need additional food from a reliable source.
Trust those PFI-boys? I don’t think so, but I hope I can spread the risk until the cat is well enough to try again with home cooked meals.
Comment by MaKo — March 25, 2008 @ 11:29 am
MaKo,
The Pet Food List: http://www.thepetfoodlist.com/
Comment by Needles — March 25, 2008 @ 11:32 am
On March 26,2007; I started home cooking for my dog. I am still home cooking and will never purchase commercial again. Doesn’t matter if it’s high end or cheap - no commercial food in this house again.
The pet food recall sure changed things for humans in my house too. We have very limited pre-packaged food. Cereal and granola bars but - they are now Organic. Organic produce and organic beef. I study the labels, ask questions, make a pain of myself to store management.
Just started reading “Twinkie Deconstructed” ; processed food will never look the same…
Katie
Comment by Katie — March 25, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
Comment by Needles — March 25, 2008 @ 11:32 am
Needles, thank you so much!
I knew I had seen it, read through it and whatnot, but for the life of me I couldn’t remember….
My cats and I thank you profusely :)
Comment by MaKo — March 25, 2008 @ 12:39 pm
Trust is not a word that applies to the pet food companies, how can you trust an industry that is more invested in covering up than making it right?
This last year? This nightmare? It was the second time, that we know of, that this particular deadly mix got loose. So much fun the first time for the PFI to kill and maim thousands of pets (pampered pets too, they were eating imported, from the good ole USA pet foods, in Asia, so you just know these pets were valued) , in 2004, and so very profitable, for everyone but the pet owners, they just had to do it again. Who knows how many other “mysterious” and “isolated” illnesses and deaths in our pets are due to an outlaw industry? Nothing would surprise me now.
The interest on the reckoning the entire pet industry owes these pets and their people grows every day that vet bills go unpaid and apologies unsaid.
That is where the matter lies and will stay until something that CAN be forgiven , or trusted, occurs.
More big budget, empty promise TV ads for the poisons that killed my pets will not help me trust.
How can I trust any part of an industry that has failed the pets they pretend to care about, daily, hourly, if you count the TV ads, for more than a year?
Not happening.
Comment by gotchapfi — March 25, 2008 @ 1:03 pm
I started out trying the high end foods after the recalls,& after health problems on 2 of them I quit. Al l3 dogs & 2 cats & the hermit crab[as much as possible] eat homemade. Food & treats.I don’t think I will ever trust the pf co’s enough to go back to them. Plus I see a huge difference in health on real food.I have also stopped eating junk food & prepared foods. Its homemade as much as possible for everyone here.
Comment by Leslie k — March 25, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
I had to right Mr Robson about his article - made sure to tell him:
Peta is the last place you should go to for a statement regarding ethical treatment of animals. This is the group that has killed over 95% of the animals given to them to find homes for and then dumped many of the corpses in shopping center dumpsters. They wouldn’t know ethical if it bit them in the ass. Going to Peta for an animal rights statement is like going to the Nazi’s for a statement about human rights. Peta is more an acronym for People for the End To all Animals.
Comment by cheryl — March 25, 2008 @ 5:30 pm
make that write :-)
Comment by cheryl — March 25, 2008 @ 5:30 pm
I do read my e-mails from the FDA that tell me almost daily of recalled human and pet foods as well as some drugs and some medical devices. Gina had posted the web address a long time ago and I wouldn’t dare unsubscribe from it.
Unfortunately I do not have the web address right now because I deleted my messages.
Comment by Colorado Transplant — March 25, 2008 @ 7:47 pm
I do think USA Today is doing a terrific service for consumers by printing the reporting of Julie Schmit and Elizabeth about food safety issues.
Comment by Colorado Transplant — March 25, 2008 @ 8:52 pm
oops—that is Elizabeth Weise, not just Elizabeth. Sorry, it is getting late for me.
Comment by Colorado Transplant — March 25, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
Do you mean the OASIS import refusals?
http://www.fda.gov/ora/oasis/ora_oasis_ref.html
Comment by The OTHER Pat — March 25, 2008 @ 9:29 pm
My girlfriend and I have switched our brand of cat food—which was on the recall list (and claimed to be healthy while still containing all sorts of things that cats and dogs should not eat. Gotta love pet corps’ efforts at greenwashing). After some research, which was eye-opening, we’ve settled on a smaller, Wisconsin manufacturer that does not source any of its ingredients from China (some from Canada—but this company is ethical and has a good reputation). The recall changed the lives of our cats, who now receive only organic food and treats. We have become far more conscious of the things we feed and provide our two cats and are hoping to spread the word about better alternatives to other pet owners.
Comment by Mark Bullock — March 25, 2008 @ 10:10 pm
My kitties only get human grade, organic cat food now. A big difference from what I used to feed them, Fancy Feast and IAMS dry.
Trust? How can that word and most of the pet food companies be used in the same sentance?
I will never trust most of them again. I lost my kitty last year…and in her memory, I am using every chance I get to inform other pet owners of what really happened, and what to look for in pet food.
I am very discriminating in what I buy my kitties now. No more grocery store brands…and only select pet store brands, as they don’t seem to care for home prepared foods.
Comment by Marcy — March 25, 2008 @ 11:12 pm
Or the FDA recall notices? Sign up for e-mail alerts here:
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html
It’ll make you want to grow your own food, let me tell ya.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — March 26, 2008 @ 7:15 am
I wasn’t comfortable with the celebration of the Iditarod here on Pet Connection a few weeks back and wish I would have spoken up. I put the Iditarod in the same category as flat-track horse racing — a sport or event that needs massive overall for the good of the animal participants. I challenge you to open your collective eyes, Pet Connection!
There IS a model that can be followed for an extreme sport involving animals that DOES NOT accept fatalities — or even metabolic distress or injuries — as par for the course. It’s a form of horse racing called endurance.
The races are 50 to 100 miles and multi-day events that can be hundreds or thousands of miles. Mandatory vet checks are performed at preset intervals (every 10 or 15 miles) and if the vet says the horse is not “fit to continue”, it does not. If the horse is not “fit to continue” at the end, it is eliminated from the competition. At those vet checks, the horse is given a mandated break. The horse must meet mandated metabolic and soundness criteria before it is allowed to continue.
Those of us who participate brag about completion rates as much as wins or placements. The motto of endurance racing is “to finish is to win” — and to finish, you must have a lot of horse left!
It’s time to implement some new standards for the Iditarod. And stop celebrating it in its current form.
Comment by Deanna — March 26, 2008 @ 8:29 am
I started home cooking for my cats during the recalls and have no plans to switch back.
Comment by Katherine — March 26, 2008 @ 10:10 am
I’ve changed brands for my cats to one that reads like real food. They also get some home cooked food special for them.
My animals will never get another taste of the corn and roadkill (and worse, obviously) of Iam’s. I also avoid products from Proctor & Gamble… the parent company, which I used to buy lots of. I also stopped shopping at Petco and PetSmart except for the occasional cat litter.
In addition to changing the way my pets eat, the whole ordeal changed the way we all eat at my home. I really had an eye opener and now make most of my meals from locally grown cert. organic farms. I joined my local co-op and am delighted with my food! I thought it would mean a lot of big changes in lifestyle to go co-op, but no… not true.
And on top of that, I talk about it. I recommend websites with great recipes, books and what I’ve learned about grocery shopping in the past year to my friends and family and anyone else who will listen.
The pet poisonings changed my life and there’s no going back. Not a chance.
Comment by CynthiaW — March 26, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
Gina, Christie:
What I would like very much to see is PetConnection running a survey on the Trust issue.
We know that poll was allegedly 574 people. 7% were not in either category. Was that 7% pet owners who no longer use commercial pet foods?
We know that poll questions distort the responses.
I would just love the poll to be conducted where it counts…no lobbyist controlling the questions.
Thanks for considering this!!
Comment by Ann H — March 27, 2008 @ 6:15 am
Peta, the ever popular animal lovers(?) I have to say that I am impressed with their legal team searching out this blog and any others that post defamatory comments (otherwise known as the truth) about Peta. It makes me wonder if all the owners who surrendered their dogs to Peta knew of Peta’a intentions? Yes, that could be quite a lawsuit.
Comment by Faith - Families Against Breed Bans — March 28, 2008 @ 10:02 am
PETA is like the Nazi eugenicists of the 1930s and 1940s.
1. Like the Nazis, PETA is funded by the global elite. (In the Nazis’ case, it was the Rothschild family funding the Nazis. In PETA’s case, In PETA’s case, it was and is the Rockefeller family funding PETA through the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.)
2. PETA claims to be “for the animals,” but evidence shows that they actually perpetuate a modern-day Holocaust on animals. In this essence, animals are “the new Jews.”
3. During the Nazi days, the same global elite funded the other side, basically what you would call “controlled opposition.” The same holds true today. Today’s controlled opposition is the Center for Consumer Freedom. Many say CCF is a front organization for the restaurant and tobacco industry, and while that may be true, that is really a non-issue when you realize that CCF has ties to the same Rockefeller family through its praisals of genetically-modified foods and aspartame, both of which were created by the Monsanto corporation (which receives Rockefeller funding). Anybody who concentrates solely on CCF being a restaurant/tobacco front organization get their information from the controlled opposition, namely PETA and the Center for Science in the Public Interest, with CSPI also receiving Rockefeller funding and being a vocal advocate of genetically-modified foods.
PETA claims to be against animal farms which raise animals for human consumption, but if the animal farm is owned by a Rockefeller, then PETA is for it. I found the following comment on a website:
“There’s an organic hog farm owned by the Rockefellers a few miles from the Indian Point nuclear power plant on the Hudson river North of Manhattan, but PeTA won’t protest there because one of PeTA’s top 20 benefactors are the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors… PeTA is fine protesting fur and meat eaters, as long as it doesn’t bite the carnivorous hand that feeds them!”
Comment by Darth Chaos — March 30, 2008 @ 10:11 am
Before the recall, I had been toying with the idea of switching our dogs to raw food. Last March, just a day or so after we realized that we had lost our Bubbles (Pom) to tainted food, I went to a Pet Expo and got a bunch of samples of small-company premium foods and mixed them (and completely quit using Nutro Ultra or any other big-company brand forever). When Daisy (Pap) finished that mix, I bought 2-3 bags of some of those same brands and mixed them, varying which brands I bought. I did that 2 or 3 times, then made the leap to raw. We now feed our dogs [we adopted Jack (Pom) in July 2007) Northwest Naturals raw food, varying the meats every time we buy. I have no desire to ever go back.
As for us humans, we have been eating almost 100% natural/organic at home for several years, so we haven’t changed what we eat for a while.
It’s so nice to go into a store to buy dog food without having that anxietly that I got for several months every time I went out to buy dog food.
Comment by Pamela J. Betz-Baron — March 30, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
Dear Jesus, please let the raw foodies choke on a chicken bone. I am so tired of their wacky pet food conspiracy theories.
I feed Science Diet without any guilt or worry whatsoever. My pointers are all still alive. Let’s move on.
Comment by Russ W. — April 2, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
You’re obviously new here . . . . . . .
Comment by The OTHER Pat — April 2, 2008 @ 12:55 pm
:::snort::::
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 2, 2008 @ 1:13 pm
“My pointers are all still alive.”
Comment by Russ W. — April 2, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
Please keep us posted.
Comment by slt — April 2, 2008 @ 2:31 pm