Dozens of Chicken Farms Fed Toxic Pet Food
38 poultry farms in Indiana were given melamine contaminated pet food in early February. Plus the number of pigs that may be tainted is now at 6,000. It keeps going, and going and…
(Thanks KatieKat)
104 Responses to “Dozens of Chicken Farms Fed Toxic Pet Food”
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April 30th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
I was just looking at the page on Wysong about recent posts. Seems to be a lot of that sarcasm around that site. Now I know that the menu page is for real.
April 30th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
If I start with the chickens I’ll just rant. Best go with another comment.
This has been brought up before but bears repeating. How many people/pets have developed a systemic and/or atopic allergy to melamine? “Generally safe” doesn’t mean anything if they haven’t looked at that aspect lately. Add the word ’scrap’ melamine and it takes on new meaning.
April 30th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
I wonder how much stock in Menu foods, Wysong owns? There has to be some kind of money connection there for them to defend Menu like that…
I am tired also…bed is calling.
But I need to add this. Altho I feed raw to my dog and was switching my cat over when he died of renal failure due to the pet food, I had recommended Wysong as a better grade pet food to some friends of mine. Thank goodness they are now feeding raw also…just wait till I see our health food store owner this week. They sell Wysong. Maybe I will print off a copy of this drivel to give to him. These pet food people are no different. Doesn’t matter which ones they are…..disgusting.
April 30th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
calliekitty,
That is wonderful that you are thinking of contacting elected officials and the media. I’ll think about a short form type letter, but I don’t think we even need to justify or explain much at this point. You could just write something like this to an elected official:
“What are you personally doing to ensure the safety of food that is imported into this country? This issue is of the utmost importance to me as a citizen and it is obvious that imported food and feed products are not currently safe.”
And to the media:
“Why are you not covering the safety of imported foods and feed products adequately? This issue is of the utmost importance to me and it is obvious that our food safety system is dangerously flawed.”
Just a few words will be effective to show your concern and you can always expand in a later communication if you like.
Hang in there!
Grace
April 30th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
And here I thought feeding our pets with fresh chicken was safe. This is getting insane.
The news media sure has been quite about it. Havent’ heard anymore stories about the recalls, hogs, much less the poultry.
Don’t know whats safe to eat anymore.
And how safe are vegs. and fruits at this point?
It seems that we have been eating tainted grains for a very, very long time and just have begun to notice it because of our pets. Some one got greedy and put too much of this crap into the grain proteins and caused our pets to die. All for the sake of making more money. It’s all about the money.
Now the FDA and USDA is trying to lessen a panic. I’d like to see them eat a big dinner made with tainted grains, hogs, and chicken….Hmm….finger lickin good…..lol…
April 30th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Bizarre is right. My first thought was that it was a dummy web site too. While I do agree that there is a lot of hysteria, jumping to conclusions, and conspiracy theories, still, the tone of that page is incredibly patronizing and dismissive of the feelings and concerns of pet owners.
It’s unnecessary, and it’s amazingly defensive. I just can’t see why they thought it was a good idea. I don’t think that it’s going to convince anyone to buy Wysong. It’s just wrongheaded–even if the facts are legit, and they probably are, the tone is just wrong wrong WRONG.
April 30th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Ellie Wysong seems pretty heavy on New Age Gestalt like stuff from what I can tell. The Guru is obviously Dr. Wysong.
April 30th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
If humans are consuming melamine from the different foods in combination - I would think that it would accumulate at a faster rate than as they say ” just eating the hog & chicken meat is okay”
Now how about our pets that are getting a double dose from the chickens and the other additives of scrap melamine from the grains.
Maybe we need a list from our government at what foods not to combine while eating - melamine overdose!
April 30th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Maybe Wysong can regain credibility by revealing who all the suppliers for their ingredients are and country of origin.
April 30th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
re: Wysong….Ferraris and tricycles both use tires. When the tire is made of inferior material, you’re gonna crash.
Finally…FDA learns houw to count
http://www.itchmo.com/read/fda.....ment-12577
April 30th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
CNN is going to say something about the food now. Put it on your t.V.
April 30th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
CNN, its about damned time
April 30th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
I’m not very good with a computer, can anybody tell me how to get a copy of the cnn report. I would like to take it around to some places.
April 30th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Does anyone remember that book “The Silent Spring”??? All the birds died one spring. The book is from the late 60’s early 70’s….DDT was the issue. What’s going on now…..is the cycle in the book.
I had a dog that died a little over 10 years from kidney issues. I didn’t know any better at the time, I fed her a Purina product. My vet had said it was from too much protein in the dog food. Looking back…..I was right the dog food killed my dog….I always thought that. The % on the bag….was lower than the other products available at the time.
I had an article on vitamin production….80% comes from China. The FDA does not inspect or regulate supplements. The article had expressed comcerned with vitamins….C being the major concern….that’s in just about everything too. The article vanished right off the net.
There are a handful of people who are going to make a ton of money on this at our expense. We have to stop it.
April 30th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
Deb
From your lips to God’s ears.
April 30th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
I don’t get this notion that somehow the pet food companies (or anyone else) are making money out of this debacle, that there’s some massive conspiracy for economic gain. From everything I’ve read, it sounds as if the pet food companies are the ones who’ve been cheated by, apparently, the Chinese.
I don’t see anything that indicates that the pet food companies were complicit in the melamine spiking–but plenty to show that the Chinese producers/suppliers were adding melamine so they could charge more to the buyers.
Yeah, now the pet food companies are badly damaged and scrambling to limit that damage, and yeah, maybe they should have had better controls in place, and yeah, some companies have responded better than others, but, bottom line, they seem to be victims too.
Am I missing something?
April 30th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Annie, YES, I was thinking about Soylent Green with regard to this disaster just the other day.
I just tuned in to the CNN news just as they were done discussing the part about the tainted feed for the chickens so I don’t know what they said about that part, but I heard the rest, and it threw me into a state of shock to actually see CNN covering it, so I may be wrong about what I heard, but I don’t think they used the absurd 15 deaths figure. That was a relief. I am going to try and find what they said online.
A few days ago, I tried to feed people chicken to my cats and they wouldn’t eat it, the only ones who did were the old 16 year old diabetic cat and the other 16 year old cat with kidney disfunction. Now I am upset that I gave it to them to eat!!! I was trying to help them.
Gee, damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
April 30th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Sorry about that, I didnt’ mean to be anonymous.
May 1st, 2007 at 2:04 am
Ellie Says: April 30th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
Yes Ellie, you are missing something - It’s the multi-billion dollar pet food companies that went to China for *cheap* labor/products that is to blame for this situation. They sure weren’t looking to save the consumer any money! I blame *out-sourcing* out of North Americia/Canada so that they can make more $$$$ on their *garbage* high-quality pet food. All of this out-sourcing also had cost many Americans/Canadians their jobs! That is the real reason I am against this whole *out-sourcing* band-wagon.
May 1st, 2007 at 2:10 am
Wysong has always been rather aggressive & out there–check out their Company Debates & Critiques of Pet Food Claims FAQ’s, I read these last year & thought they were rather vicious:
http://www.wysong.net/faqpets.shtml#fooled
May 1st, 2007 at 2:32 am
Thanks Ruth..
It seems that we have been eating tainted grains for a very, very long time and just have begun to notice it because of our pets. Some one got greedy and put too much of this crap into the grain proteins and caused our pets to die. All for the sake of making more money. It’s all about the money.
Now the FDA and USDA is trying to lessen a panic. I’d like to see them eat a big dinner made with tainted grains, hogs, and chicken….Hmm….finger lickin good…..lol…
It really is pathetic..there’s no big conspiracy going on, no Chinese trying to poison our pets with the very product they’re making money off of, and the pet industry is doing just what it does best..covering up their deceptive,greedy, unethical actions and not having any true government regulations to answer to. The FDA is a joke..they’re there AFTER the tragedy. Kind of like installing a stop light after the fatal accident. And they’re only concern is covering their butts..protecting the money guys..and downplaying the importance or scope of the recall.
I know I sound like i’m preaching..sorry, but GRAINS are not what’s killing our pets..it’s the nasty garbage the manufacturers are hiding in the food that’s finally been exposed. Here’s a great link to explain a RENDERING PLANT..that’s where euthanized and diseases animals are “recycled” and then sold for next to nothing to pet companies:
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/project.....essing.htm
Do you know what is in meat meal, the major constituent of dry dog food?…Urine, fecal matter, hair, pus, meat (from animals, afflicted) with cancer and T.B., etc.”
–Wendell O. Belfield, DVM
It’s the Rendering Plant that most pet companies use that is killing our pets..simple as that. The millions of pets euthanized each year that we could care less about are now killing our “beloved” pets, I bet those euthanized animals matter now. Karma baby
May 1st, 2007 at 6:24 am
AND, We wonder why we see all those new convenient dialysis clinics going up around our neighborhoods. Wonder why we see heavier-weight people walking around…our insides are being made plump, just like the melimine they coat on our food products, etc..Gross !!! Why ???? These criminals need to be punished and their respective businesses shut down immediately..
May 1st, 2007 at 6:31 am
I find it sad that I actually said this to my dog last night, “No, you can’t have any of my chicken, Dee. At least I can handle the melamine, you can’t.”
May 1st, 2007 at 6:59 am
This situation is getting worse and there doesn’t seem to be an end in site.
I feel that the only way you can protect your pets and yourself is to buy 100% organic and make your own pet food.
Don’t allow yourself to be brainwashed by pet food manufactures, the media and veterinarians who sell pet food into believing that you can’t provide your pet with the nutrients it needs. I would be careful n choosing a pet supplement. Check with the company to make sue they don’t source their ingredients from China.
If you have health problems that prevent you from making your own pet food, there is one brand that appears to be a safe choice, Check out Evangers pet food… http://www.evangersdogfood.com.....sion1.html
Evangers is a small company that has their own plant. They use human USDA grade food that you can actually eat! The suppliments they use is made in the US. Evangers told me that they do not source any of their ingredients from China.
May 1st, 2007 at 7:16 am
Bloomberg talking about earnings for Procter & Gamble right now ….Believe Bloomberg may be talking with a Company official around 7:30 this morning.
May 1st, 2007 at 7:34 am
ASPCA on Bloomberg at 8:30a.m. EST - about an hour from now…
May 1st, 2007 at 8:44 am
Tyson locations in Indiana
Corydon — Poultry complex, chicken processing/further-processing plant, hatchery
Logansport — Pork processing plant
Portland — Mexican Original plant
Ramsey — Chicken feed mill
May 1st, 2007 at 8:57 am
I’m very healthy..no medical problems at all except for headaches. About a year ago, I was hospitalized for kidney stones. Which, by the way, are worse then any pain imaginable. I’d rather have my fingernails pulled out with a set of plyers then go through that torturous nightmare! LOL
But, looking back at my records..they state that I had toxic levels in my blood of some type of chemical agent? I thought nothing of it then, but now I wonder. Then 2 months later my cat also had kidney stones..which can be fatal for them..just makes you wonder just how long this has been going on?
So, those grains from China just started being used? And the companies who bought the garbage only used it in some of the foods? Why can’t there be some type of public meeting where we can ask the questions, instead of them deciding what will and will not be addressed?
Whatever..I have NO faith in them at all.
May 1st, 2007 at 10:47 am
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2007
P07-75
Media Inquiries: 301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
FDA Commissioner Announces New Food Protection Position
Commissioner of Food and Drugs Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach today announced the creation of the position of Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection to provide advice and counsel to the Commissioner on strategic and substantive food safety and food defense matters.
David Acheson, M.D., F.R.C.P. will be assigned to this new senior leadership role.
Currently, Dr. Acheson serves as chief medical officer and director of the Office of Food Defense, Communication and Emergency Response at the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).
In his new role, Dr. Acheson will work with individual FDA product centers, as well as the Office of Regulatory Affairs to coordinate FDA’s food safety and defense assignments and commitments.
In addition, Dr. Acheson will serve as the commissioner’s direct liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services, of which FDA is a part, and to other U.S. departments and agencies on food safety and food defense related inter-agency initiatives.
“The protection of America’s food supply and therefore the safety of Americans eating food of domestic or international origin is of utmost importance to me as a physician, and to the mission of this agency,†Dr. von Eschenbach said. “We’ve seen a rapid transformation of the food safety system due to advances in production technology, rapid methods of distribution, and the globalization of food sources. Dr. Acheson’s wealth of experience, and knowledge of the science behind food protection, will help the agency keep pace with this transformation in order to ensure that the safety and nutritional value of our food supply is second to none.â€
One of Dr. Acheson’s first projects will be the development of an agency-wide, visionary strategy for food safety and defense. The strategy will identify and characterize changes in the global food safety and defense system, and identify current and future challenges and opportunities. It will also name potential barriers, gaps, and most critical needs in a food safety and defense system. The strategy will serve as the framework in helping the agency prioritize and address food safety and defense challenges.
As a CFSAN office director, Dr. Acheson currently has had the lead for emergency response, as well as outreach and communications to industry, state and consumers on issues pertaining to the center. He manages a staff of epidemiologists, biostatisticians and others in providing risk assessments, aid in epidemiological investigations of foodborne outbreaks, and other important center-wide functions.
Before joining the agency, Dr. Acheson held several research and academic positions. He has served as an associate professor at the University of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore, where he focused on research of foodborne pathogens and, prior to that, as an associate professor at Tufts University in Boston, where he undertook basic molecular pathogenesis research on foodborne pathogens.
Dr. Acheson is a graduate of the University of London Medical School in the United Kingdom, with training in internal medicine and infectious diseases. He has published extensively and is internationally recognized both for his public health expertise in food safety and his research in infectious diseases. Additionally, Dr. Acheson is a fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians (London) and the Infectious Disease Society of America.
Dr. Acheson will begin this new assignment immediately. He will report to Dr. Murray Lumpkin, Deputy Commissioner for International and Special Programs.
May 1st, 2007 at 10:50 am
SO…. Someone tell me why these FDA articles are saying it won’t hurt us and I haven’t seen ONE THING about the tainted poultry and if it will harm our pets!!!! If these chickens are filled with poision from tainted pet food and the poultry goes into PET FOOD won’t our cats and dogs start dying from this NOW? Why isn’t the FDA addressing this????????
May 1st, 2007 at 11:20 am
I just spoke with 3 people at Tyson Foods to try and find out where Plant P1A is. No one knows. They said they will call me back. “?”
May 1st, 2007 at 11:35 am
teric,
Did you get your Canidae, Felidae & Kumpi products tested? I remember you mentioned taking them Monday for testing. Any results yet?
May 1st, 2007 at 11:41 am
To anyone interested. Plant P1A is located in NC.
When asking about the plants in IN I was told there is a lot of incomplete information out there.
May 1st, 2007 at 11:42 am
Tiff,
Not yet. I’ll post when I get the results.
May 1st, 2007 at 11:47 am
What about the 2 companies that the FDA refuses to name?
Here’s the list of the so-called agencies that oversee the industry:
PFI is “the voice of U.S. pet food manufacturers. They function as the industries media relations and representative before the U.S. Congress and state and federal agencies. They represent the makers of 97 percent of all dog and cat food produced in the United States.
In writing her book, Food Pets Die For, Ann Martin continually asked this question of PFI: “Do any of the pet food companies actually test the raw material to see if it contains rendered companion animals?”
PFI denies that this practice takes place. Cook stated: “Please be advised that steps are done to assure that no such ingredients are used in their products.”
However, PFI has never stated what these measures are.
The AAFCO is an organization, not a government agency. So although they are usually the authority on defining what goes into feed, they have no authority to enforce any standards. They call themselves an organization “in which officials of state, provincial, dominion and federal agencies, engage in the regulation of production, analysis, labeling, distribution and sale of animal feeds and livestock remedies, may exchange ideas and share experience for mutual benefit and development of uniformity.”
Although it seems like a organization run by state employees, most of their members are on the payroll of pet food companies. They have representatives from Heinz Pet Foods, Bil Jac Pet Foods, Nutramax, Purina, Iams Co., Nutro and others. Other members are from the rendering industry and the Pet Food Institute.
The Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA/CVM):
Their regulations basically come down to the making and distributing of food additives and drugs for pets. They have no say in the sources of the actual ingredients for proteins or fats.
According to their Information for Consumers bulletin, “the Center for Veterinary Medicine is responsible for the regulation of animal drugs, medicated feeds, food additives, and feed ingredients, including pet foods… The Act does require that pet food, like human foods, be pure and wholesome, contain no harmful or deleterious substances, and be truthfully labeled.”
This makes them sound like a watchdog, however they are usually more concerned with testing any health claims that pet foods make, such as if they claim to prevent a disease.
All these agencies promise to safeguard our pet food..yet they’re all denying any authority to do so.
I love AAFCO..supposed to work for pets, but work for the industry..GREEDY CROOKS.
May 1st, 2007 at 11:52 am
Teric:
The Tyson plant, P1A that you are looking for, is it in Indiana but you are just trying to locate the city? If so, I have access to a Tyson database that could tell us. As long as they are reporting by plant code to the database we use it wont be an issue to find it.
May 1st, 2007 at 11:58 am
Teric,
I’m sorry if I’m being annoying, but did the lab give you a timeframe of when you might get the results of the Canidae, Felidae, Kumpi and KumpiKat?
May 1st, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Christi,
I had purchased some Tyson that had the plant code P1A. A lady from Tyson did call me back and said Plant P1A is in NC. Hope she was telling me the truth? I didnt tell her why I was asking until after she told me where it was. When I mentioned the concern in IN is when she said there was incomplete information. Tone changed slightly.
Eric,
Your not being annoying. I expect the results within the next couple of days. I got another bag yesterday and sent a handful of it also. I’ve pretty much decided that when ever I buy a new bag of anything, I’m going to have it tested. I’m paranoid that one bag may be good and the next one not. I am going to buy the largest bags available from now on. No more of these 4 & 5 lb bags.
May 1st, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Teric,
Thank you! Have your cats had ANY problems from Felidae or KumpiKat?
May 1st, 2007 at 1:42 pm
No problems.
My kitten is scheduled to be spayed tomorrow. I will have her blood checked prior to the surgery and let you know.
May 1st, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Received this from Three Dog
—– Original Message —–
From: Three Dog
Subject: RE: Grain in food
Good afternoon;
I definitely understand your concern- but I have good news. All of our wheat, wheat products, and rice are grown here in the US, and it is processed within driving distance from my location here in Kansas City. After that, it is made into delicious dog food and treats in a warehouse in the same building as our headquarters, in Kansas City, MO. Plus, all of our ingredients are USDA approved, and from the US. And completely safe for us humans to eat. You have my guarantee that all of our dog food is 100% safe for your pets to consume.
Yours Drooley,
Customer Care
May 1st, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Teric,
Thank you again. I’m as paranoid as you, but there are no labs near me to have my food checked.
Also, thanks for the post about Three Dog Bakery, are cats and dog all get treats from there.
May 1st, 2007 at 2:17 pm
I ordered treats from Three Dog. Havent received them yet. You might check on the internet - most labs will allow you to send it to them by mail.
I still think the companies should be sending the products to have them tested not the consumer.
May 1st, 2007 at 2:25 pm
I know there’s alot going on this site, but I just wanted to hear your opinions on what I mentioned in my other post.
What about the 2 companies that the FDA refuses to name? Has anyone heard the latest on that?
There’s alot of different stories going on and I was wondering if anyone has heard any mention of rendering plants or companies who knowingly buy this garbage?
Maybe I’m being too paranoid..I just think that’s the real reason our babies are getting sick.
May 1st, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Angie,
Your not being too paranoid at all. We are all wondering who they are as well. I’ve a feeling it’s the big boy companies who have the money to keep their name from being released.
Any guesses? I have mine…
May 1st, 2007 at 5:08 pm
How are we going to be able to feed our pets ANY pet food products that have chicken in them now that the FDA is NOT recalling the poultry that was fed contaminated feed? This poultry may already be in our pets dry and wet foods or on its way in and nobody will know. I’ve seen nothing that even addresses the potential harm for pets and only that it won’t “hurt” humans. Are we ready for another disaster in the making?
Call the FDA and tell them your concerns 888-463-6332 ext 5
May 1st, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Why in the hell did they make the pigs and chickens eat it? That makes no sense at all when they will be sold to us! I think that’s a bunch of crap too. There’s just no way..I hope their lives get ruined like those who’ve lost their pets have.
May 1st, 2007 at 8:39 pm
No worries now…5/1/07 the Bush Administration has decided it may be a good idea to find someone to monitor our food supply now. Wonder how long it’s going to take them to find the right person fer the job?
May 1st, 2007 at 10:51 pm
What I don’t understand is why everyone thinks that because these companies SAY that they USE only U.S. companies in their ingredients . . . why don’t you suspect that THOSE U.S. companies might be getting ingredients imported from China in the first place, but these companies may not know. Huh?
ChemNutra is an American based company (yup, it’s an american company that Menu used) BUT, BUT, BUT, they freakin’ imported from China.
Why do you all believe them if they say their products are US based?? My next question would be . . . “But how do I know YOUR suppliers didn’t get it from China?†Get it???
Please tell me that!!!
May 2nd, 2007 at 3:38 am
Joyce - your 1st post —
Yes you are right about the e-coli contamination. The chickens and cows are penned up and crowded too, fed processed food with animal digest (chicken poop) in it. They are also fed bone meal — yep — our chickens and cows are now officially cannibals. These practices are what started the rogue proteins that cause mad cow disease. And you cannot kill like bacteria by cooking it!
In addition, these practices have caused the cows’ stomachs to be higher in acid than they should be — the ph levels are askew. This in turn allows the e-coli to grow uncontrolled. (If the ph balance is correct the cows stomachs are inhospitable to the e-coli and it dies before it is excreted.) Then the run off from the cow farm gets on the vegetables growing, and of course, many farms use the manure. :> ( puke puke.