Iams expands recall to additional products on Salmonella concerns
By Gina Spadafori
July 30, 2010
It doesn’t appear to be on their website yet — and I’ll post the link when I have it — but we’ve just heard from Iams that they’re expanding their recall. With half our team on the road we’re just getting to this, but of course over at PetSitUSA.com, Therese never sleeps. (I like Austin, I really do, but I swear if I ever moved there it would be so she could take care of my pets when I’m gone.)
Therese has the list here.The products include more foods sold for specific health problems through veterinarians, but also expands into a couple of their main product lines.
But she also reports:
Bev VanZant, from P&G, just emailed this info. In emails we exchanged regarding last week’s recalls, she told me that the FDA pretty much dictated the timing of the release. The fact that it’s happening again on a Friday is of concern. It looks like the folks at P&G are doing their best to get the info out as soon as possible, but it sure would be nice if the FDA could get things together so these don’t always happen on Friday (or Sunday!) evenings. FDA, what’s up? Can you give us some insight on why these recalls seem to be happening on Friday evenings?
Again, P&G will have people available to answer questions 9:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. I’ve just confirmed this with Bev VanZant, of P&G. The number is 877-340-8823.
We’ll be calling the FDA Monday to try to get the answers. If the FDA is behind the dump-and-run recalls, I’d sure like to know why.
In the meantime, check the list over at PetSitUSA. When we get the links from Iams/FDA, we’ll add them.
Update: Bev VanZant just sent the link to the information on the Iams site. She said she got the information out faster than their programmers could get it posted.
Update: Regarding the claim that the FDA is forcing the timing of Friday night dump-and-run recalls, the FDA representatives here at the American Veterinary Medical Convention conference pointed out that the FDA has no power to force a mandatory recall, and only after companies refuse to put out information on these so-called “voluntary” recalls — which are often the result of FDA arm-twisting — will the FDA put out information in advance of a company’s own efforts to share — or not share — the information.
As Dr. Christopher Melluso of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine said, “It’s unlikely that we would hinder a firm from releasing press related to a public safety issue.”
In other words, regarding the Friday night dump-and-runs, it would seem the ball is back in the the pet food company’s court.
And Iams has it posted to Twitter. I hope other pet food companies are taking note. They have done a good job on announcing this expandede recall.
Comment by Sandi K — July 30, 2010 @ 10:29 pm
Im confused, I was looking at the best by dates…starting with 7-1-10…isnt that already expired? When was this food made?
Comment by Sandi K — July 30, 2010 @ 11:19 pm
IAM’s is also using facebook to post this info..they did not for the 7/25 recall and I had asked them on facebook why they didn’t
Comment by Carol V — July 31, 2010 @ 4:41 am
This is starting to remind me of certain aspects of the 2007 recall. The trickling in of information with a slowly but surely expanding list of affected pet food, treats and supplements… there is sadly some familiarity here. So I was thinking that maybe what we need to do is, like with the Melamine, try to figure out what common ingredient could be in all of these affected products.
I started to think about the ongoing recall of salmonella-poisoned Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP) being found in all manner of human and animal foods. From what I understand, that recall was initiated 3 months ago when a raw ingredient manufacturer found salmonella in batches of their HVP.
Could HVP be the common “carrier” ingredient in this expanding set of pet product recalls? Could it be that it is just now being recognized in pet products some 3 months later? I thought probably…. because these latest salmonella pet product recalls are being initiated from FDA sampling and the FDA does not normally sample/test pet products unless there is a reason to suspect adulteration. Were they testing pet products as part of this bigger HVP recall?
Think about it….many, many pet foods, treats and supplements DO contain HVP but AAFCO allows this ingredient to be listed as “Natural Flavoring” or something similar. And many pet food companies, claiming proprietary rights, do not disclose the true ingredient definition of “Natural Flavoring”.
In fact, quoted from the Iams website:
“The blanket term “natural flavorings” is a regulatory option that allows pet food producers to keep some easily copied aspects of their foods proprietary. We have used “natural flavoring” on our ingredient label for years for selected palatants.”
So, if “Natural Flavoring” or similar additive names could be HVP….and if the FDA is currently struggling with an HVP recall…could all this salmonella in pet products be traced back to this HVP recall?
I looked at the FDA Reportable Food Registry and found that, of the 1,001 entries for salmonella-tainted HVP, 209 of them were in the category “Stabilizers/Emulsifiers/Flavors and Colors” (aka “natural flavorings’).
Also, according to the FDA “All the hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) made in powder and paste form by one manufacturer, Basic Food Flavors Inc. on or after Sept. 17, 2009, is being recalled.”
P&G (makers of Iams & eukanuba) recently recalled some varieties of their Pringles brand for possible Salmonella contamination. In that recall, the seasoning (HVP) used in the chips was manufactured by P&G supplier…Basic Food Flavors, Inc. So, there’s a relationship there.
I just wonder, what other pet products contain “Natural Flavoring” and how much of it was processed by Basic Food Flavors, Inc.? Are we going to start seeing even more salmonella tainted pet foods and treats?
Comment by Joy — July 31, 2010 @ 6:02 am
…just realized. The HVP in the recently recalled salmonella-tainted dog joint supplement Cetyl was in fact provided to the company by Basic Food Flavors, Inc.
I wish there was a way to find out how much of this HVP was found to contain salmonella and what other pet food companies are buying raw ingredients from Basic Food Flavors, Inc.
Comment by Joy — July 31, 2010 @ 6:33 am
SandiK, I think you are giving too much credit to Iams/P&G for how they handle their recalls. Ever since the recalls of 2007, they became a “high risk” with any general liability insurance carrier and more than likely, their insurance requires swift public notification to limit their amount of liability. It would be nice to think they are doing so because of the love of pets, but in reality they are reacting to the terms of their policies. The very largest companies will always have covenants they must meet to limit liability payouts in their policies.
I also don’t think salmonella recalls are a fair comparison to the recalls of 2007, that had pet food tainted with deadly chemicals. Salmonella is everywhere in the environment like any other bacteria is. It’s much more of a threat to humans than it is to dogs and cats. It’s also rampant in human food recalls. I can’t see a “salmonella free world” anytime in the future so these types of recalls (pet and human foods) will continue.
Comment by 2ittybittykitties — July 31, 2010 @ 7:51 am
2ittybittykitties, you may be right, I am only comparing this recall with the way some other recent recalls were handled. But I am now questioning why food that has a shelf-life of 16 months meaning it was made as early as April 2009 is only now being recalled.
As far as salmonella, I have a new kitty with immune system problems, so salmonella could cause problems for her although we dont use this brand. I do know too well what happened in 2007 as we lost a kitty 5 days before the recalls were announced and she was eating recalled food. I do respect what you are saying and it does bring up good points. I guess I just want to believe that things have changed but am beginning to wonder if they really ever will. I appreciate your info and totally hear what you are saying.
Comment by Sandi K — July 31, 2010 @ 8:40 am
I put this in above, but since people don’t always go back to the original post:
Update: Regarding the claim that the FDA is forcing the timing of Friday night dump-and-run recalls, the FDA representatives here at the American Veterinary Medical Convention conference pointed out that the FDA has no power to force a mandatory recall, and only after companies refuse to put out information on these so-called “voluntary” recalls — which are often the result of FDA arm-twisting — will the FDA put out information in advance of a company’s own efforts to share — or not share — the information.
As Dr. Christopher Melluso of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine said, “It’s unlikely that we would hinder a firm from releasing press related to a public safety issue.”
In other words, regarding the Friday night dump-and-runs, it would seem the ball is back in the the pet food company’s court.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 31, 2010 @ 11:06 am
Gina, I guess when you think about it there really isn’t much motivation for the FDA themselves to time a recall towards the weekend media.
Comment by Joy — July 31, 2010 @ 11:42 am
Gina, if you move to Austin I’ll be happy to take care of your pets. But you’ll have to have a computer available in case I need to post a @#$! recall while I’m at your place.
Comment by Therese — July 31, 2010 @ 1:26 pm
Therese, I doubt you’d have to worry about that…
Comment by David S. Greene — July 31, 2010 @ 1:32 pm
Joy, that would be correct. There’s nothing in it for the FDA. They look better if more people know they’re doing their job, in fact.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 31, 2010 @ 1:50 pm
Regarding Fri night dump & run recalls, I am of the opinion the companies do this because they want to release bad news after the stock market closes on Friday. An interesting project if someone had time would be to look at records of stock sales on Friday afternoons by corporate executives of these companies to see if there is any interesting activity there.
Comment by Mary — July 31, 2010 @ 3:38 pm
Mary, that’s certainly part of it, but even if a company isn’t public, a preponderance of eyeballs move away from mainstream media from Friday afternoon to Monday morning. Once the weekend starts you see many fewer news outlets picking up a story and spreading it wider. Release bad news when it’s quiet, and it makes a smaller splash.
Comment by David S. Greene — July 31, 2010 @ 3:44 pm
On Wall Street its called “Bad News Friday” but I think I read somewhere that most investors have become aware of that trend and tend to pay even MORE attention to Friday announcements.
Comment by Joy — July 31, 2010 @ 4:41 pm
So, am I the only one who thinks there’s a link between the HVP recalls and the salmonella being found in pet foods & treats?
Comment by Joy — July 31, 2010 @ 5:24 pm
I wanted to ask that very question — you had posted the comment just before I went in — but that was not the area of expertise brought by the FDA veterinarians on hand. I got information on who to ask within the FDA next week, however.
I have to say that both FDA veterinarians were helpful and open in their comments. Although, as I wrote in my post following the seminar, I think there’s a big gaping hole in the pet-food system — and therefore in the human public health system — it’s pretty clear the have been some positive steps in the agency’s handling of food-borne illness in animals and people. And there is more to come.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 31, 2010 @ 8:56 pm
Gina, it seems to me that HVP (which has many other names) HAS TO be the common ingredient in these recent pet food recalls.
Doesn’t it seem odd that these recall announcements have yet to address HOW the salmonella is getting into pet food? Was it through a meat product, a contaminated raw ingredient, dirty surfaces…how is salmonella getting into such a variety of brands and types of pet treats, foods and supplements?
It only makes sense that it would be a common ingredient, right?
With the salmonella outbreak last year (which was linked back to pet food) Mars Petcare said a “component” of the food tested positive. This can only mean that an ingredient was to blame rather than the manufacturing process.
But since most all dry pet food is extruded at very high salmonella-killing temperatures, it doesn’t seem likely that this ingredient or ‘component’ would be something included in the pre-extrusion process (like meat or grains). Rather, it would be something added AFTER the food was cooked.
HVP or ‘Natural Flavor’ (aka otherwise undefined palatability enhancers) are sprayed or vacuum coated onto kibble AFTER the cooking process. So, if HVP was contaminated and included in pet food this way, post-extrusion drying/spraying would not be an efficient “kill step” for the salmonella.
(This would also explain why no canned pet foods are being recalled.)
And since the salmonella-tainted HVP from Basic Food Flavors, Inc. is said to have been used in thousands of products (with the FDA saying there will surely be more recalls) and since HVP is a VERY commonly used flavor enhancer in pet food, it just makes sense that there will be more pet food recalls.
What is frustrating about this for me (as a pet owner and a pet food retailer) is that even the best of brands typically use some form of HVP. And worse, there is virtually NO way to find out if a pet food or other edible pet product contains HVP (companies are not required to name the ingredient on the label) much less whether the HVP was purchased from Basic Food Flavors, Inc. or one of it’s many distributors.
Comment by Joy — August 1, 2010 @ 4:53 am
i think it’s quite reasonable a hypothesis, Joy, and I will get your questions at least asked at the FDA tomorrow.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 1, 2010 @ 7:30 am
thanks Gina :-)
Comment by Joy — August 1, 2010 @ 8:49 am
In our vet clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah that fed this batch of food, sixteen cases of salmonella have been reported. Iams completely denies that their food was responsible and will not return phone calls.
Comment by EH — August 3, 2010 @ 8:43 am
EH, don’t waste your time trying to report to Iams/Eukanuba. These idiots did no safety checking for Salmonella for 16 months it looks
like.
Complain to FDA/CVM and file a formal complaint
on each pet illness that you’re aware of at:
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeter.....182403.htm
How to File a Pet Food Complaint
Use the HHS Safety Portal if your complaint coordinator isn’t receptive. And thank you!
Comment by 3catkidneyfailure — August 3, 2010 @ 9:17 am
Comment by EH — August 3, 2010 @ 8:43 am
This is awful! EH, thank you for letting us know. Cant something be done? Aaargh! I hope these pets get well soon.
Comment by Sandi K — August 3, 2010 @ 9:18 am
I just copied link showing EH’s comment on the IAM’s facebook page..
Comment by Carol V — August 3, 2010 @ 9:32 am
Im wondering why AVMA or VIN or someone hasnt developed some sort of early warning system for vets. If they are seeing increased cases of certain illnesses such as salmonella, they could post that to a central place that all vets have access to, so that illnesses can be detected prior to a recall notice being put out. It just seems if there are 16 cases at the one clinic mentioned above, there would be more.
Comment by Sandi K — August 3, 2010 @ 10:05 am
Sandi,
AVMA is a trade group and VIN is a privately held company. Neither is a public agency, and both are obligated to serve their members, not the general public. Frankly, neither one of them should be in the business of protecting the public, since the good of their memberships will remain their primary focus, even if those goals can and often do overlap with the public good.
Dr. Melluso of the U.S Food and Drug Administration talked in general terms at the AVMA conference about a system the FDA is near roll-out on that will do exactly this, provide a reporting system for veterinarians, agencies and industry. The early view of it was pretty impressive, but still, it’s important to note that under the current regulatory structure the FDA cannot make reporting compulsory — it’s still, sadly, a voluntary system, and will remain so until Congress changes the law.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 3, 2010 @ 11:33 am
Thanks for that info Gina, cant wait to see what this new system is all about.
Comment by Sandi K — August 3, 2010 @ 3:15 pm
Gina, anyone reveal anything about HOW the salmonella is getting into the pet foods and supplements?
Comment by Joy — August 3, 2010 @ 3:30 pm
EH, I have checked with my teammates in Consumer Relations here at Iams. One of our veterinarians is in contact and currently having conversations with a veterinarian in Salt Lake City. If your veterinarians are not currently in conversations with our veterinarians, would you (or someone from your clinic) please call us again us at 877-340-8823. We have extended our phone center hours this week to 9:00 AM-7:00 PM EST Monday-Friday. The phone center will also be open this Saturday August 7 from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM EST.
Comment by Bev VanZant — August 4, 2010 @ 1:27 pm
I wish there was a way to find out how much of this HVP was found to contain salmonella and what other pet food companies are buying raw ingredients from Basic Food Flavors, Inc.
Comment by Joy — July 31, 2010 @ 6:33 am
Joy, I think you have a very valid point about the HVP contamination as a possible link to all the dry food recalls of late.
Basic Food Flavors (manufacturer of the recalled HVP) made an insurance claim against their carrier; the carrier has now filed some documents in Nevada to have a judge disavow the claim against their policy. Specific reasons unknown at this early stage. But, the insurance carrier has stated there are 100 companies involved in the recall; however, there are another 10,000 companies “downstream” from the first 100 that used it.
In any event, the only way to find out which companies are involved is by probably by their own admissions. I only use Wellness dry occasionally, so I called and spoke with their Chief Quality Officer. She has stated they don’t even use HVP and nothing from Basic Food Flavors.
Comment by 2ittybittykitties — August 10, 2010 @ 2:11 pm
I would bet most pet food companies would say they don’t use HVP. Generally it’s an ingredient within an ingredient, not added by the pet food company and not required to be listed on the label; I doubt they’re going to say they use it.
Comment by Joy — August 11, 2010 @ 5:31 am
I just posted this to the Iams Facebook wall, but the question has been asked here, too. Basic Food Flavors is not a supplier for Iams and Eukanuba and we don’t formulate our products with HVP.
Comment by Bev VanZant — August 13, 2010 @ 3:27 pm
the questions have been asked several times….does Iams know how the salmonella got into their food and what strain(s) they are and, if/when they do know, will they be telling the public?
Comment by Joy — August 13, 2010 @ 4:26 pm
IAMs (on facebook) answered my question:
Does this salmonella recall have anything to do with the HVP recall for Salmonella Tennesse? Do you use this in your products?
http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/.....203067.htm
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/.....-facility/
and the answer:
Iams @Carol V—I posted this on another thread you started on the Iams wall: Basic Food Flavors is not a supplier for Iams and Eukanuba and we don’t formulate our products with HVP.
(link for facebookers!)
http://www.facebook.com/#!/Iams?v=wall&story_fbid=136979259675486
Comment by Carol V — August 16, 2010 @ 12:05 pm
Yes but the questions I was referring to above are not specific to HVP or Basic food Flavors…
Does anyone at Iams have or want to share any insight yet into THESE questions?:
Does the company have any idea HOW the salmonella might have gotten into the recalled Iams foods?
Does the company have any idea WHICH strain(s) of salmonella were found?
Comment by Joy — August 17, 2010 @ 5:49 am