Another Recall May Be On The Way
PetConnection reports that a rice protein distributor has issued a recall notice to three companies, of which only two followed through. A third, unidentified company in the Midwest, has yet to issue their own recall.
If this recall is announced, it would mark the third time the FDA has been wrong in believing that the recalls are over.
The distributor, Cereal Byproducts Company announced the recall on May 4.
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May 8th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Well geez, now which products does that company manufacture? Keep patting yourself on the back FDA while the recalls keep rolling along.
May 8th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
actually, they are right on cue . . .
May 8th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
So what you think about “Self-Regulation”.
Quite a racket eh?
May 8th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Midwest- Let’s see here:
Purina
CJ Foods
Hill’s Pet Nutrition
Diamond
Anyone else like to add to that?
May 8th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
But it’s not Friday!
May 8th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
you know i’m getting mightily sick of calling fda and demanding information.
May 8th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Carol: no, it’s not Friday, but we just had a press conference!
RE: So what you think about “Self-Regulationâ€.
…….works for bowel movements…….what can I say?
May 8th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Stephanie Says, you can add one more: IAM’s, Aurora,Neb. got it off their website.
May 8th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
CathyA Says:
“…….works for bowel movements…….what can I say?”
HahahahaHAHAAAAAA!!!
*gasp, wheeze*
oh gawd………..I need a cannister of oxygen.
thanks, cathy……thanks heaps. ;-P
May 8th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Where is Purina plant 1160 again? Oh yeah, Jefferson, Wisconsin. hmmmmmm.
May 8th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Looking at the products on Cereal Byproducts website, it looks like they supply tons of farm feeds. Maybe enough to feed 50,000 hogs and 20 mill chickens??? (How much “salvage pet food” do you think there really was?)
May 8th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
I keep saying Purina or Hills should have been recalling more…we shall see
May 8th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
If memory serves me (and since it exploded today with the FDA newsbrief), I believe P&G Pet Care(Iams/Eukanuba) has several plants in the Midwest.
Katie
May 8th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
“CathyA Says:
“…….works for bowel movements…….what can I say?â€
What a mooooving comment, bwahahahaha!
“But it’s not Friday!”….They didn’t recall yet…they’ll wait. I’m sure we son’t be disappointed
If this is indeed the FDA’s third time saying stuff is safe and we get another recall, can we work under the “three strikes you’re out” rule?
Maybe we should start a pool on this one?
May 8th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Official FDA Motto:
Oops - our bad…
May 8th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
“Sandy Says:
May 8th, 2007 at 7:53 pm”
Purina won’t recall unless it was made by a contract plant . . . .
May 8th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Ahhhhh. The mysterious second importer. I don’t recall - no pun intended - any manufactuers reporting that they got their RPC (AKA wheat flour) from this supplier let alone two. Who is the third hold out?
May 8th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
According to http://www.grainnet.com/compan.....Inc_.html:
Taken from the site-
‘Purina Mills, Inc., headquarted in St. Louis, is the market leader in the United States in developing, manufacturing and maretking animal nutrition products. With 56 plants in 26 states concentrated in the Northeast, Midwest, Great Plans and Southeast, the company sells its products through a network of more than 4,000 independent dealers and over 4,000 direct customers.”
Not sure if it’s up to date, but 56 plants in 26 states…yikes.
May 8th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Sorry, here is that link again, hopefully it will work
http://www.grainnet.com/compan....._Inc_.html
May 8th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Midwest Pet Food Companies
http://www.hillspet.com/Menu_F.....007_en.htm
5/01/07 Hill’s
Update Message to North American Consumers About Vegetable Proteins.
We understand your concern about the safety of vegetable proteins used as ingredients in pet food.
Please note that Hill’s tests the imported vegetable protein it receives for melamine. Additionally, Hill’s has eliminated wheat gluten from our product formulas and does not use vegetable protein (including rice protein concentrate) from suppliers in China.
http://www.extrudedpetfood.com.....nformation
CJ Foods April 19 2007
The rice protein concentrate in question was approved for use and provided by Wilbur-Ellis, a grain and food company. The contamination was discovered during special testing for melamine by C. J. Foods and Lortscher Agri Service, a supplier of raw materials. The contamination was limited to a single bag of rice protein concentrate and a single production run. Most affected bags of product did not reach retail shelves and those that did are now being recalled.
http://www.purina.com/recallFAQs.aspx
– April 19, 2007 Purina
Do you use rice protein concentrate in any of your products?
No. Nestlé Purina PetCare Company does not use rice protein concentrate in any of its U.S. or Canadian pet food products.
Went over all non recalled Iams & Eukanuba products and found none using RPC/rice gluten.
My guess right now would be Diamond.
May 8th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Anyone want to speculate?
http://www.cargillchina.com/lo.....loc_en.htm
May 8th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Maybe rice protein not the real issue? I’m about cross eyed from reading blogs, lists, updates, releases, …..
I think there was something today indicating that rice protein may not actually be a source of the problem - some evidence that products labeled as having rice protein actually had been manufactured with wheat gluten. Anybody else see something like this?
May 8th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Wheat Gluten and RPC were actually adulterated Wheat flour. They spiked the wheat flour with melamine and passed it off as rpc and wheat gluten.
May 8th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
My understanding of the latest story is the suppliers in China were taking relatively cheap wheat flour, adding melamine to make it look like a good protein source, then passing it off as wheat and rice gluten to get a good price for it. But to the american producers it would have been labeled as wheat or rice gluten.
May 8th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
“My understanding of the latest story”
lol!~
May 8th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
I am just a bear of little brain.
(Winnie the Pooh)
May 8th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
On Friday evening, after the FDA once again strongly re-iterates that the pet food crisis is over….
these guys are the biggest losers….gaaawwwddd…..
May 8th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
I think it will be a Hills product. Because I think that’s killed My cats, but they still have it on the market. Trudy
May 8th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Trudy Jackson Says: May 8th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
What flavors were you using of Hill’s? And was it wet or dry food?
May 8th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Del Monte is located in Kansas…..that is my first bet..Why? Because my cat died of renal failure in early March before the recalls started after eating 9 lives canned food all his 7 years of his life! And they have not recalled any of their canned food. PLUS, I know personally of several other cats who either died or are sick who ate 9 lives canned food……
So, they are definitely a number 1 choice of mine…He was sick for a couple months because I also fed him human food so he didn’t get a straight diet of that crap. It was “diluted” as the FDA would say……grrrrrrr.
May 8th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Published: May 8, 2007 at 1:30 PM
World wheat production may be threatened
WASHINGTON, May 8 (UPI) — U.S. scientists say a new destructive strain of wheat stem rust is continuing to evolve and has the potential to devastate the world’s wheat production.
Stem rust of wheat was responsible for massive plant epidemics during the early 20th Century in North America. Then, in the mid-1950s, breeders developed wheat that had genetic resistance to the disease.
Despite that success, scientists say a new, virulent strain of wheat stem rust, Ug99, evolved in Uganda and has spread into Kenya, Ethiopia and Yemen, with the potential to spread into Pakistan, India and China. It might eventually reach North America.
“This new race could attack wheat varieties in many countries and could virtually overcome most of the wheat resistant varieties around the globe,” said David Marshall, a plant pathologist research leader with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
According to Marshall, if the new strain were to reach regions at risk, it could create epidemics more severe than farmers have encountered in decades and destroy harvests in wheat-producing areas worldwide.
The threat will be discussed Aug. 1 in San Diego during a joint meeting of The American Phytopathological Society and the Society of Nematologists.
May 8th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Hills makes me sic. They act all high and mighty about testing their products, but they still pump them full of synthetic cancer causing toxins!!!!
May 8th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Mary, My cats were on perscription Z/D wet and dry. The one cat [I have many] that it was supposed to be for wouldn’t touch the wet. so, I let My other cats that were old or were in need of wet food. One was only 9 so she was alright, but went down so fast i couldn’t believe it. I called the FDA, but I bet they still haven’t tested it yet. Trudy
May 8th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Yes, and I meant Hills’ Z/D. Trudy
May 8th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Thanks Trudy for answering. I have trouble remembering who fed what that was bad. I just wish this whole nightmare would end.
May 8th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
I doubt it would be Diamond, they’ve already been hit.
May 8th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
If this had been a terrorist attack with an immediately deadly to humans contaminant, every single one of us would have been dead before the FDA was aware of a problem.
May 8th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
Menusux, on second thought maybe you are right, these guys don’t seem to learn, could very well be Diamond. They had the aflatoxin
recall, this would probably do them in.
May 9th, 2007 at 4:10 am
[…] FDA: Recalls may not be over yet. […]
May 9th, 2007 at 6:30 am
I wounder if the last one could be midwest pet food, they make pro-pac and others….
May 9th, 2007 at 7:22 am
God I hope it’s not Evanger’s. They are in Wheeling, IL and their food does contain rice flour.
May 9th, 2007 at 8:40 am
My cat ate Hills Prescription c/d dry and died in January. Hills’ has sent a two page questionnaire for me to fill out and asked that I send a copy of the vet bill. They also mentioned they will ask the vet to send his records as well. Hopefully, they will reimburse for the vet bill. Our cat ate ONLY Hills’ c/d dry and we had just bought a new bag a couple of days before he became ill.
May 9th, 2007 at 9:04 am
For the love of everything holy, tell us who it is already!! This not telling us to protect the bottomline of corporations is making me insane! Who is protecting our babies? I do the research, and have mine on what I “think” is a safe food (manufactured here, no wheat, rice anything, no china imports except taurine), but who really can say for sure. You can’t trust the corps, they’ll tell you it’s safe til the cows come home, only to issue a recall. We need to know who it is, now!
May 9th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Isn’t Diamond in Central California, not the midwest?
May 9th, 2007 at 10:36 am
well they have to have time to get rid of the papers sell their sock, and move their money off shore, to @@ with us! I have 6 cats, all are at the vet every month, just like all of you. i was told to feed freiskes, for the wet. they have always goten hills for the dry, now they are just laying. heaven help they if the kill mt cats ! pet smart said to feed friskes!grrrrrrrrrrr
May 9th, 2007 at 10:38 am
i guess the bomb has dropped but most people aren’t aware of it yet :(:(
where are the news channels ?????
May 9th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Our news just reported the melamine in fish feed story, but said the FDA said there is not risk to humans, and they would tell us if there was a problem. No mention of 20 mill contaminated chickens and 50,000 hogs. They didn’t sound too alarmed.
May 9th, 2007 at 11:52 am
When will they come out and tell us what it is? we could be feeding poison right now. I can’t stand the waiting. I’m half crazy now. This doesn’t say much for democracy to Me. Trudy
May 9th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Local News Story:
Here’s a report from the FDA. Fish Farms. Gluten. Wheat. Cats. Dogs. No Biggie. All clear. Keep eating. Chicken OK. Bacon OK. China? China Good. FDA your best friend when a friend needs a friend.
Now a word from our sponsor.
(to music) kitty eats. kitty eats some fishey treats, is fishy and crunchy, trusty and crusty, kitty, kittty kitty treats (music ends) Brought to you by Luv-a Pup Melameats
Come back tomorrow for more news at eight
May 9th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Cereal Byproducts Company has the following Corn Gluten Information on their website:
Earth Friendly is corn gluten meal. Corn gluten meal is a product of the corn milling industry. Corn gluten meal has been used for years as a pet food and animal feed ingredient. Recently, researchers have found corn gluten meal to have weed control properties. Since corn gluten meal is all natural, it is an excellent source of slow-release nitrogen.
Fertlizer
Earth Friendly contains 9 percent nitrogen. Earth Friendly is all natural, making it an excellent source of slow-release nitrogen. Using the recommended application rate, your lawn will receive 4.50 pounds of nitrogen per 2500 square feet, approximately double the amount found in inorganic fertilizer.
Environment
Corn gluten meal is an all natural ingredient. In fact, it may be found in your pet’s food. (PERHAPS WITH A BIT OF MELAMINE? SHOULD OUR PETSS BE EATING ANYTHING PROVEN TO KILL WEEDS? COMMENTS IN CAPS MINE)
Your children and pets can play on the lawn immediately after application. Store in a cool dry area.
The EPA has exempted corn gluten meal from FIFRA regulations. (THAT IS COMFORTING, AGAIN WITH A BIT OF MELAMINE!)
The above scares me because there is no end to the potential cross contamination and/or intentional misuse of the pet food/fertilizer/industrial scrap product combo since the supply company sells all the above in huge generic bags for mass distribution.
SOMEONE HELP US! It does not appear that ’someone’ will be the vendors, suppliers or pet food companies. It will not be the FDA. And it will not be the Chinese govt or Chinese manufactuing plants.
May 9th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
I am currently feeding my 5 month old Pug——-Eagle Pack dry, my cat –Purina One Sensitive sytems dry food. I have switched my dog from Purina(breeders choice) to Iams smart Puppy(he did not like) to Nutro(I switched because of they where part of the recall), to what I thought was safe Blue Buffalo until they showed up recently– to the current food Eagle Pack. As all of you I am impaitienly waiting the discloser of this manufactuer. It is ridiculus and should be criminal that the FDA and this distributer can withhold that information when they know for a fact that the hold out received tainted product.
May 9th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
It is crimnal, and a shame to this nation. I need to know what’s next? How many pills do I have to take now?? Trudy
May 9th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Might it be Midwestern Foods, makers of Pro Pac?/
How about Muscatine, makers of Blue Seal Feeds and Needs.
, or are they owned by Kent?
May 9th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
How about Blue Seal Feeds??
Midwestern , manufacturers of Pro Pac
Agway manufacturers,
Sandi
May 9th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
I am betting on FF PURINA plant 1160. Two sick cats at my house and several others on here have sick or dead cats from same plant number. Funny they say their food is safe but it is the only food they both eat. And they both go poisoned.
May 9th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Lorie VA,
How fast did your cats become ill, was it slow or fast, was it dry of wet food? I am feeding Purina Dry sensitive system systems formula, my cat thew up 2 weeks ago 2 days in a row then nothing seems to be acting normal but now that you brought Purina up I am concerned and curious, if you have time please let me know.
Thanks
May 9th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
And I feed Mine Purina One right now?? Trudy
May 9th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
andy121106,
it was FF wet with gravy, it was 2 cans into a new case of FF they have eaten FF for 6 years and out of the blue both cats became ill within 24 hours of each other. The youngest more so than my older 16 punder. Both refused to eat lots of lip licking, very skittish, when they would eat they would vomit. They seemed to us the liter box less and did not drink water. When they did try and eat they acted like their mouth hurt to eat. Food would fall back out.
May 9th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
LorieVA,
Thanks for the quick response, I should have derived that FF meant fancy feast with all this going on my mind is mush and I drew a blank. I am sorry for what you have had to go through —–all these companies should be forced to pay dearly for the misleading products they have put on the market!
May 9th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
I’ve stated this before - IF THIS was a product for INFANTS and there was a sick baby, we would ALL know the companies they supply.
We need an underground group of people who work in the companies with recalled ingredients, helping to let this information reach the media. I realize they would have to risk their jobs but they’d also become overnight heroes for providing the information that their COMPANIES won’t.
Many have already said this, but I’m sure we will have the official word late Friday afternoon or maybe Saturday morning. What I hate is that I may be feeding another RECALLED pet food and I won’t even know if I am until SOMEONE decides to tell the public.
In my opinion, this practice of not releasing life-saving information for our pets, should be illegal. I’d be interested to know why it IS legal to delay going public. And I’m sure the answer has to do with money.
May 9th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
many of these companies mentioned today do not have manufacturing plants, many are just brokers of many products. They never see or handle the product, they just match up buyers with sellers.
I am surprised there is not more backlash onto China!! The pet food companies do stringent testing on inbound products, but it is the Chinese who are poisoning us and their own people! Why not boycott Chinese products? Their human rights violations alone should make you want to not buy their products, and now they purposely taint the supply chain. BOYCOTT CHINA!!!
May 9th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
I just spoke with Cereal Byproducts Company. I asked them who their two customers were that issued the recall. They kept repeating to check the FDA website. Well, I kept repeating that there was no info on the FDA website specifically linking recalls with their company. Again, I was told to check the FDA website. I teach 4th grade, and get straighter answers out of 9 year olds!
May 10th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
I feed my two cats Wellness Complete Health chicken dry for now; I do not trust Wellness or any other brand right now. As long as stuff is imported from China I don’t think that any pet food is safe. My next choice will be Nature’s Variety Raw Instinct dry & their freeze dried diet but I am NOT starting this until I see what happens for a while—I don’t think that the recalls are stopping anytime soon. It’s sick that we have to abide by companies who only worry about profit!!! Why hasn’t the media reported more?? Sponsers??
May 11th, 2007 at 10:46 am
dear ann, did you speak to someone in charge, or just someone who answered the phone? maybe due to legal reasons they aren’t allowed to speak to any Joe (or Ann ;) ) that calls?
I wonder how much of this slow release of information is FDA-mandated versus the companies?
I still assert that the FDA’s main focus is preventing the largest-FOOD-scale recall. McDs is the largest buyer in America of chicken and beef. Each beef patty can have over 100 different cow-meat in it…. and same with chicken. I’m sure McDs does not want to recall every chicken nugget or beef patty that they sell.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
I spoke with someone who answered the phone. I figured if it was public info (like they said) that they would have no problem saying who they sold their product to. Apparently, the only one we know about is Royal Canin….
August 8th, 2007 at 12:37 am
I feed my cats fancy feast seafood and some chicken/beef. My 17 yr. old cat suddenly began to list to one side, teeter, and fall over very recently. I chalked it up to his diabetes. But a friend in the Baltimore area, in casual conversation, mentioned the same EXACT symptoms with her cat, beginning at the same time. I was stunned. No, beyond stunned. It did not occur to me that it could be anything except old age and diabetes. It may be just a horrible coincidence, but maybe the problem is now more widespread, and older animals cannot fight it as well as younger animals. Has anyone else had this problem of late? I decided to write, because too many people did not see the “writing on the wall” because no one was told of the problem, and now at least we know that problems have existed with tainted food.