Howl911 Threatened with Lawsuit from Blue Buffalo
UPDATED 4/7: The original author of the Blue Buffalo menadione concern wrote us today to let us know of other information supporting their position: A response from Blue Buffalo on when they would remove menadione.
ORIGINAL: Blue Buffalo just sent the editor of Howl911 a threatening email asking them to remove the post to Blue Buffalo’s inclusion of menadione - a substance that’s banned in the UK. Instead of explaining why this substance would be good for our kids, they threatened to silence the grassroots blogs because it happens to appear on a page that has recall news. It’s not known if the original poster on The Dog Food Project has also been legally threatened. We expected more from a company like Blue Buffalo. We demand an apology!
Reading Mr. MacLean’s logic, it’s clear that Itchmo can post this news since we cover much more than the recalls. Shall we temp the law?
Full email from Blue Buffalo’s legal counsel after the jump.
Dear Web Master,
I am General Counsel for Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd, the manufacturer of BLUE brand cat and dog foods. I am writing concerning the piece that appears on your web site (http://www.howl911.com/), under the headline “THE DOG FOOD PROJECT: MENADIONE IN BLUE BUFFALO FOODS” dated 4-2-07.
Virtually your entire web page is devoted to news, information and links about the recent pet food recalls, except for the article about Blue Buffalo. While your work regarding the recalls is commendable, the placement of the Blue Buffalo article in this context is irresponsible, and leaves the the reader with the impression that the BLUE products are under recall. The explanation “Unrelated to the Menu Foods recall” appearing in much smaller font below the headline does little to reduce the clear association of BLUE products with the Menu Foods recall, or some other recall, or, at the very least, a dangerous health issue.
No BLUE products have been implicated in any of the recent recalls, and there is no reliable scientific evidence that even remotely suggests that BLUE products are anything but safe and healthy for pets. For you to suggest otherwise on your web site is defamatory, particularly in light of the current consumer concerns about pet safety.
That your piece consists almost entirely of quotes from another site does not shield you from responsibility or liability for this defamation. Any cursory inquiry by you into the allegations of the author would reveal that the claims are factually and scientifically inaccurate, and unsupportable.
This piece does not deserve coverage on any site, but it certainly does not belong on a site that attempting to provide valuable information about the recalls to pet parents who are truly, and deservedly alarmed about the foods that have been recalled.
My client demands that you immediately remove the BLUE article from your web site, and refrain from any references to BLUE products on any page of your site that references the recent recalls. If this is not done within 24 hours, we will assume that you are intentionally creating an association of BLUE products with the recent recalls, and we will take immediate action accordingly.
Respectfully,
Richard E. MacLean
General Counsel
Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd
April 3rd, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Oh, this is just atrocious. A dog food company threatening to sue for the sole reason that we are all trying to educate ourselves about *exactly* what is in the dog food that we buy, and why. Shame on them. This letter is going to be reproduced far, and wide. I will see to that. Let all of us concerned pet owners see the extremes that this industry, be it a large or a small company, is willing to go to perpetuate their profits, their secrecy and their bottom line. All at the expense of our four legged friends. Too bad Blue wasn’t part of the recall, at least that was a wrong without intent. This is an INTENTIONAL wrong being done to all of us. If I may so in-eloquently say to Blue Buffalo, its CEO and especially its general counsel, “screw you.”
April 3rd, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Predatory Capitalism. Profits before people.
April 3rd, 2007 at 8:31 pm
I just crossed Blue Buffalo off my list of pet foods to consider. Sorry to be so blunt.
Good luck
April 3rd, 2007 at 8:40 pm
F em
April 3rd, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Actually I believe Mr. Maclean might misrepresenting himself.
Richard E. MacLean
General Counsel
Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd
http://www.gandb.com/attorneys.htm#maclean
If I’m wrong my apology Rich. Wouldn’t want you to have a credibility crisis.
April 3rd, 2007 at 8:56 pm
And Rich. Don’t you understand that Americans are hurting? Doesn’t that mean anything to you?
Please. Enlighten us.
April 3rd, 2007 at 8:58 pm
This is just disgusting. Thank you for reporting this. Another pet food company gets a “never to be fed to my pets” grade from me. I wish these companies would use their energy, talent and money to produce a healthy, safe product instead of wasting my time with corporate PR and attorney spins. Make a good product, be honest when mistakes occur and no one would have the need to write the drivel that we have just been subjected to by Mr. MacLean.
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Steve - thanks, that site had a great little email link. I also found this link useful for general spewing
http://www.bluebuff.com/blueyou/comments.shtml
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Forget Blue Buffalo if this their idea of integrity forget it. I’ll never touch this product. And I’m going to tell my entire extended family also.
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Another sale for Blue Buffalo lost here, too. Nasty manners Blue Buffalo, and and hey, how about the great PR this just created for your products?
This is buffoonery at its best.
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:06 pm
If Blue Buffalo objects to comments about their ingredients, they should simply log on and offer an explanation.
To hire a lawyer over such a trifle indicates that their profits are much too high. Maybe Blue should consider reducing the price of their foods.
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:28 pm
I -WAS -considering a switch to Blue but this incident has made it clear that another pet food company can do without my money. I have a big mouth and broadband and several of the blogs where Blue has been mentioned will be hearing about this, I doubt that this will result in good results for Blue.
DO YOU HEAR ME PET FOOD COMPANIES??
Do the right thing, do it without being pressured and maybe, big MAYBE, you will get customers back. I promise that threatening lawsuits to sites like this is gonna cost you a lot of money. I am off to start cutting into YOUR bottom line!
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Blue Cheese???
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:45 pm
We won’t be silenced anymore our pets lives are at stake!Maybe Mr Blue ought to sue these people too for posting what they thought of their dog food.
http://www.rateitall.com/i-714.....;pagenum=2
According to your own website
Blue (our large breed Airedale), is the one who inspired us to start this company and one of the best pals who ever put on a collar. Blue just turned 10 in June and despite three cancer operations, he still sprints down the hill every morning to see if any deer are hanging around in the woods.
An Airdale with cancer? They are not even on the list of breeds where cancer is common in the breed.
Maybe it is that menadione in your food.
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:45 pm
We are not stupid and we can read. Blue Buffalo has been heartily and clearly recommended by folks on several blog sites as an ALTERNATIVE to the recalled Menu foods. I really thought BB were “good guys”. This email from attorney MacLean is just so inappropriate and wrong headed at a time when we are all scared and simply trying to educate ourselves and keep our adored pets alive and healthy in the best manner we can. My “Fluffy” just tonite finished our last can of BlueB and since he liked it in several flavors I was planning to pick up more at the store tomorrow. Not now. No. There are other organic brands out there to patronize. Shame on Blue Buffalo for making a mountain out of a molehill.
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:56 pm
For a long time I have been feeding one meal raw and one meal kibble, since this all raw. But if I ever go back to a kibble I will ask the company many questions and expect answers. This is way over the top. Why didn’t they just give their version and ask that it be published?
April 3rd, 2007 at 10:04 pm
If a pet food company feels the need to “hide” something…then they will not get my money for their products.
April 3rd, 2007 at 10:16 pm
No one trusts the Pet Food Industry right now.
If these outfits think they have guaranteed market share they are going to be in for a BIG SHOCK.
What are they going to do. Force people to buy their stuff?
Good Luck on that
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:06 pm
It was problably the worst thing they could have done. My wife is an Attorney and she is laughing her ass off.
From what we have seen there wasn’t anything that wasn’t a fact. I would feel better if this company would just take out of their ingredients.
So are you “pet people” or what?
Customers/consumers dictate the market not you, keep this in mind or go back to economics class or get out.
Don’t send your corporate attorneys after us.
Good job on Damage control and welcome to the internet age!
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:07 pm
Can’t anyone admit to anything anymore with out the whole smoke and mirrors game.
Threaten us all you want I could care!
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Hey fell free to check his bar records too,
http://www.martindale.com/xp/M.....&cnt=1
Keep it up buddy.
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Kill that last post, he isn’t even in the Bar.
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:29 pm
This ill advised letter has gone viral and folks are laughing their butts off!
The company is now called Blue Buffoon in several blogs and groups and I am thrilled to report that many people who MIGHT have considered feeding BlueBuffoon have reconsidered.
But thanks for the entertainment, Ritchie.
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:29 pm
From what I was reading Blue was trying to let ever one know that what was posted and off wysongs sight who caused all the commotion in the first place, wysong I would never buy any his foods just the way he talks about other company’s, But That is not the issue at moment, People are scared of any pet food and I don’t blame them, But I do know I have been feeding Blue since nov, and it has made a big difference in my pets, not only skin and hair but total body and energy, and I’m thankful to have been feeding it or I be like some these other Pet Parents with my pets at the Rainbow bridge. I think this should be the bottom line at moment,not destroy or bicker but get to the bottom of who and what is killing pets,and to let public know on what is tainted, and what one can feed that is safe. Oh and I don’t thank Blue is any Higher than any the other Premium Holistic foods, and some them does use corn and wheat.
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:31 pm
I can’t find him in any BAR association database. I have looked.
As far as I know he can’t even practice law.
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:34 pm
Check that,
http://www.jud2.ct.gov/Civil_Inquiry/DspAtty.asp
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:37 pm
juris number 413680
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:46 pm
I have nothing against Blue, just the threatening letter.
It would have been better to have someone who actually decided to put that into the product to write a response to clear it up.
Like having that ingredient in the product will help anyway. As far as I see the article was factual and the company should answer to that or loose customers. It is a free country last time I checked. Not like howl911 is slandering them or anything.
Thats the job of the consumer and pet.
My cat slanders IAMS..lol
slander n. oral defamation, in which someone tells one or more persons an untruth about another which untruth will harm the reputation of the person defamed. Slander is a civil wrong (tort) and can be the basis for a lawsuit. Damages (payoff for worth) for slander may be limited to actual (special) damages unless there is malicious intent, since such damages are usually difficult to specify and harder to prove. Some statements such as an untrue accusation of having committed a crime, having a loathsome disease, or being unable to perform one’s occupation are treated as slander per se since the harm and malice are obvious, and therefore usually result in general and even punitive damage recovery by the person harmed. Words spoken over the air on television or radio are treated as libel (written defamation) and not slander on the theory that broadcasting reaches a large audience as much if not more than printed publications. (See: defamation, fair comment)
In no way did howl911 say that consumers should not buy this product.
April 4th, 2007 at 12:07 am
Thank you, Sharon. I feel the same way you do about BLUE BUFFALO. My cat has been thriving on it. Perhaps they panicked in the way they came to their own defense. That tells me that the Company feels strongly about their superior products. We’re all in panic mode. Our first and only concern right now is the health and well being of our precious pet. Those of you who are so angry at BLUE BUFFALO should be redirecting that anger at the companies that killed the thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of our best friends… not at a Company with excellent products.
April 4th, 2007 at 12:14 am
Wow. Perhaps Blue should be responding by pulling the offending ingredient that landed them in the middle of that article in the first place. If they are going to hide behind lawyers, that places them in the same place that Menu Foods, Proctor & Gamble, Del Monte, etc. are in. If their first step is to hire a lawyer to attack a blogger then they aren’t looking out for the best interest of our pets. They are looking out for the best interest of their bottom line. Bottom line. They’re sold in Petsmart. There are plenty of stores out that that didn’t carry ANY of the foods that were recalled. Petsmart had how many? What is safe at that store? Need any toys?
April 4th, 2007 at 8:59 am
I’m looking at a can of dog food by NATURE’S RECIPE and guess what’s in it? Yep, Menadione Bisulfite Complex.
Today, my Blue Buffalo will be returned to Petsmart along with this Nature’s Recipe.
April 4th, 2007 at 9:02 am
1. Blue is selling like CRAZY and PetsMart can’t keep in on the shelf so bare shelves make them look like part of the recall and they have to protect themselves.
2. To be looking into the guy’s Bar records is really a sign that you have WAY too much time on your hands
3. If you won’t feed Blue to your pet because of this letter than you don’t care too much about the health of your pet, Blue is one of if not the best choice in pet food before and after the recall!
4. Check your facts… most of you sound really stupid!
April 4th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Correction: I read the Nature’s Recipe wrong. The Menadione is listed as Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex. I’d left off the “sodium” in my first posting.
April 4th, 2007 at 10:02 am
Why anyone would come here to defend this company is beyond me. Unless of course you are an employee or paid spokesperson. The point is, if a company really did care about its food, or its customers they would explain or defend. To go on the attack, against an altuistic information website is just arrogance. Don’t you get it? Its not Blue Buffoon in panic mode - it’s Blue Buffoon throwing a temper tantrum because those damn customers are questioning THEM.
There are PLENTY of other good foods out there. Canidae, Natura, Solid Gold, Nature’s Balance plus many more (go to the petsit.com website) etc. They may or may not be pefect, but at least they have been reasonably upfront about providing information. What Blue Buffoon has done is not only refused to provide info, but gone on the attack for us asking for it.
Allowing this kind of behavior is allowing the industry to perpetuate in much the same way it has been - and that is why the recall took so long, and why it is still taking forever to finalize the list of food that should be recalled - becasue the industry is still trying to AVOID scrutiny. It must become transparent, or else you give them license to do it all over again. Blue Buffalo is acting irresponsibly and arrogantly, and this needs to change before they deserve anyone’s trust.
April 4th, 2007 at 10:45 am
I don’t work for Blue, But some one tell me what is wrong with Menadione Bisulfite Complex, when I googled it I got source of vitamin A, good for skin bones etc. I saw also its in a lot foods.Only other time I have heard complaints is from the sellers of Healthy Pet Net and what Dr Jane tells her multi level pyramid food sellers.and how her food is better than any one elses…..
Also, Im not changing, If it its Not Broke Dont Fix it..And as said before,If not been for me feeding Blue I would be like all these other People with sick Pets…….So For Blue Im very Grateful……..
April 4th, 2007 at 11:22 am
Do you not understand? The use of menadione is not the point - but if you really care see later in this comment) The point is, when asked for info about the use of this chemical, Blue Buffalo first lied by claiming it had been removed from the food, then outright threatened to sue to shut down any discussion of this issue having to do with Blue Buffalo food. If there’s nothing wrong with it, why not just state that, and be done? What else don’t they want us discussing?
Incidentally, the very first journal article I pulled up to read started like this:
Sentence # 1
“Menadione bisulfite is a hepatotoxicant that damages periportal regions of the lobule in perfused liver in an oxygen-dependent manner. ”
link: http://molpharm.aspetjournals......t/38/6/959
Journal of Molecular Pharmacology
Hepatotoxicant = toxic to liver
So, don’t tell me that there isn’t negative info out there. Don’t threaten to sue me for wanting to know WHY you think it’s safe when I remain unconvinced. Tell me why you think I should be convinced that this ingredient is the best choice for my pet (when NO food I feed happens to include this ingredient). So why should I trust YOU when all you want is for me to stop asking question?
I don’t shop at Petsmart, and I have PLENTY of better choices for my pet that I DO trust. And if the Buffoons at Blue want to understand why I am so angry at them, they should email me and ask. I’ll explain it to them, r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w, o-k?
April 4th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Just for the record, I’m neither an employee nor a spokesperson for Blue Buffalo. The cat products (I can only speak about the cat products) are working well for us. Of course, I agree, the Company could have/should have handled their side of the story better… with explanations, not legal threats.
April 4th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Not saying I’m coming to Blue Buffalo’s defense, but some of the statements made about Vitamin K3 represeneted showed there was toxicity in large dosages. The same can be said for most any Vitamin if taken incorrectly. The same can be said for Bayer Aspirin or even Tylenol if not taken as directed.
Sometimes we get the impression that because something is “natural” it is healthy. I realize Vitamin K3 is synthetic but it must be approved as safe in x dosage by the AAFCO, otherwise it would not be allowed in the food.
I would suggest that the AAFCO be contacted to futher clarify what the safety is of this Vitamin since it certain has positive aspects to it. And if it is allowed as a supplement in Dog and Cat food. I noticed Howl 911 stated that the FDA site did not list it for dog and cat food.
It would also be good to see the link to the EU where the Vitamin K has been banned (some official document) instead of just making a statement. Not saying it is not true…I would just like to read the document.
That being said, I believe it is good to question ingredients on our companions food so a big thank you for asking questions and sparking the dialogue that is certainly needed in this age of recalled food.
Best Regards,
Robert Davis
April 4th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
One other thing I forgot to post on this is….
Didn’t we see a post about Iams and the FDA warning them about an ingredient? Wouldn’t there be a warning to Buffalo if there is a problem with the Vitamin K? And how do we know which foods really contain or do not contain this form of Vitamin K if there is a labeling threshold for food? Some manufacturers could be honest and post on their label…others may not put it on the label because of this “controversy.” And yet, the food could still contain the ingredient!
Just another piece of food for thought!
Best Regards,
Robert Davis
April 4th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
In a high end food that self proclaims “superior ingredients for superior nutrition”, I would expect that the food at the very least did not contain any ingredient the FDA would deem questionable. And no, I do not think menadione has risen to the the attention of the FDA as being questionable. That being said, this does not mean I think we should be happy that a “high end” food is not answering concerns about the choice of supplementation with this questionable chemical. Aspirin and tylenol are also chemicals, neither of which is safe (or even approved) for daily use for a lifetime so I am not quite sure what point someone was trying to make? In any case, if you would like to read a document (official from the UK) acknowledging the restriction on the use of menadione you can see one here:
http://www.food.gov.uk/consult.....2002_46_EC
Incidentally, Vit K is synthesized in the gut. It is not considered a required endogenously added nutrient. Like all vitamin supplementation, more isn’t always a good thing. (remember the fatalities associated with Vit D overdosing). If you really want a link to pet food standards for veracity here is one for fediaf that compares fediaf, NRC and AAFCO. None of which require Vit K supplementation of pet food.
http://www.fediaf.org/Pages/Nu.....202005.pdf
But again, we digress. The point of the focus should be on the legal threat made when a website representing concerned pet owners questioned the usage of what is undeniabley a controversial ingredient. And the fact that Blue Buffalo, instead of being forthcoming, issued a legal cease and desist request to stifle the conversation. And that, more than any one ingredient is the real issue. Accountability to the consumer is what is needed.
April 4th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
OMG, I am sooo confused… I switched to Blue Buffalo because they don’t use corn, wheat, soy…so they seemed like a safe alternative.
Vitamin K is the last ingredient listed on the package of dry dog food. Is it natural vitamin k or the synthetic version? I emailed them, asking if they use MENADIONE, I am waiting for a reply. I’m so stressed out by all of this I’m losing sleep and weight. The weights ok, but NOT the sleep.
April 4th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Vitamin K IS requied in cat food if 25% (on a dry matter basis) of the food is fish, according to fediaf, NRC and AAFCO. Vitamin K should be included in cat food if fish is present in any amount. Menadione is approved by AAFCO.
April 4th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Joyce…first, the National Research Council has not been able to determine a dietary requirement for vit K in dogs. As for cats, whether or not vit K is required as a supplement in cats is not the point. The point is WHICH form of vit K is used. Vits K1 and K2 are naturally occuring forms (plant and microbial, respectively). Vit K3, aka menadione, is synthetic and it is THIS form of Vit K (which technically isn’t even a vitamin, but a precurser) that is being questioned, due to its reportedly high toxicity. So why would a pet food manufacturer choose a synthetic, potentially toxic form of Vit. K over a natural form? One reason: Cost. Menadione is used because it is CHEAPER than natural vit K1 or K2. Also, there are plenty of dietary sources for natural vit K, such as fish meals, liver and green plant supplements (e.g. alfalfa, kelp and other seaweed, nettle leaf, blue-green algae, spirulina) … so why not use a natural source instead of a synthetic supplement which was banned by the FDA for human use. Again, the FDA has only approved use of menadione in chicken, turkey and swine feed. And regarding AAFCO’s manual, I received this email from a veterinarian today:
“The AAFCO book lists three forms of menandione. The one mentioned above refers only to Reg. 573.620 which you cited, and which is very specific on the allowable uses. This substance is NOT listed as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe, 21 CFR 170-186) so it is not approved for other uses.
The other two forms of menandione are listed for chicken, turkey,
poultry, and swine feeds only.
I will double check with some of my contacts, but this appears to be an
illegal ingredient for pet food–a situation that is identical to Iams’
use of chromium tripicolinate in its Eukanuba weight loss diets.”
April 4th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Nikki, you have my attention! Thanks for such complete information. Both Kumpi and Blue Buff, in their dry cat food, use Menadione Dimethylpyrimidinol Bisulfate as a source of Vit K activity. I’m sure there are other foods out there as well that use this ingredient. I have calls into two vets to try to garner additional info. Any advice on what to feed the babies?
April 4th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Is this the same thing as “menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite”??
I am trying to find a dog food that I can trust and really having a hard time. I thought about Evangers and today got a small sample bag. read the label and menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite was listed.
Help. Thanks!! Raven
April 4th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Raven, my error. It is Bisulfite.
April 4th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Dear Sue J.
You wrote, “The point of the focus should be on the legal threat made when a website representing concerned pet owners questioned the usage of what is undeniabley a controversial ingredient.”
Did they have a valid reason to write the letter? If not, then you have a point….But if they did have a valid reason then there is nothing to complain about.
It is fine to question what goes in our companions food - I do this constantly so I don’t disagree with that. But what I wanted to know was when a website states this form of Vitamin K (K3) “is directly toxic in high doses”…what evidence is there to back it up? The article was poorly written as an English document explaining this form of Vitamin K (K3) and the references were to documents in German that I personally cannot review for accuracy. I do not believe everything people post online (i.e. Wikipedia is an excellent example of that).
What would be beneficial is to have a Q/A with a Buffalo Nutritionist or even a Kumpi one ( I saw Kumpi mentioned in a post on here - I use their food and my cats and dogs have never been more healthy! ) where they can provide good information from a nutritionist point of view and validate why they use this version of Vitamin K (K3), instead of just assuming its cheaper or whatever the reason. I’ve not seen their invoices so I can’t tell you if it is cheaper or not. Has Howl911 or the Dog Food Project seen their invoices?
And to answer your comment about Aspirin and Tylenol….these pills in “high dosages” don’t have to be taken over a period of time to cause damage…. so that is why I question - what is “high dosage” compared to what is put in Buffalo Food. My giving Rymadyl to my German Shepherd over a long period of time can cause liver damage….so I monitor him with blood work - but I made that choice so he could walk (he doesn’t need it as much now that he eats Kumpi) again.
And don’t forget - just because it isn’t on the label doesn’t mean it isn’t in there - there is a threshold requirement - so if that threshold is not met, then the company does not have to list.
Thanks!
Robert Davis
April 4th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
AAFCO 2007 Manual
Pages 354,355
90.25 ADDITIONAL OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED VITAMIN INGREDIENTS FOR ANIMAL FEED USE AT NUTRITIONAL LEVELS AND IN CONFORMITY WITH CURRENT GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES
Menadione Dimethylpyri-midinol Bisulfite
Crystalline Menadione–Di-methylpyrimidinol Bisulfite
Commerical Feed Grade
Reg 573.620
This is listed under the approved and not to be confused with:
Menadione Nicotin-amide Bisulfite
Source of Vitamin K Activity & Supplemental Niacin
Chicken and Turkey feeds a 2 g/ton Growing and Finishing Swine Feeds at 10 g/ton 21CFR 573.625
OR
the third one listed which is:
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
The Addition Product of Menadione and Sodium Bisulfite Containing not less than 30% of Menadione
Poultry 2 to 4 g/T
This is the nomenclature directly from the 2007 AAFCO Manual.
These are the three menadione sources mentioned, with their individual caveats.
April 4th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Sounds like the AAFCO information contradicts what the Dog Food Project is stating….interesting….
April 4th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Anyone else that has an AAFCO Manual can refer to:
pages 137,138 to the AAFCO CAT Food Nutrient Profiles Based On Dry Matter which lists required nutrients and Vitamin K is listed on page 138.
We do NOT include Vit K in the DOG food since the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles Based On Dry Matter does not lis that nutrient as necessary for DOGS.
That profile information is on pages 132,133.
If anything, I hope this increases consumer trust in our products at Kumpi.
The TRACE of Vitamin K 0.1 parts per million.
Feel better?
Warm hugs to those people who are suffering a loss from the recall and/or have an animal who is suffering. I am so sorry for what you are having to go through.
April 4th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
I went back to read what The Dog Food Project said which is completely WRONG TO ASSUME for any article.
The Dog Food Project states that “Menadione (Vitamin K3)
One of the more obscure ingredients found in many pet foods are menadione derivatives - in the form of menadione sodium bisulfate, menadione sodium bisulfite, menadione dimethylprimidinol sulfate, menadione dimethylprimidinol sulfite or menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite, often listed as “a source of vitamin K activity” or “vitamin K supplement”. Unless otherwise noted, these compounds are summarily referred to as “menadione” in this article to make it easier to read.”
The DOG FOOD PROJECT CANNOT STATE these are the same when the AAFCO does not combine them. Otherwise YOU MAKE GROSS MISTAKES on your reading, INTERPRETING OF THE DATA and ASSUMPTIONS. Which is providing BAD INFORMATION to the consumer.
Sounds like Blue Buffalo HAS A REASON TO BE UPSET - False Information is being handed out.
April 4th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Sorry, but sadly Evy and Robert are both not correctly interpreting AAFCO’s manual. The manual specifically defers to FDA reg. 573.620,
Menadione Dimethylpyri-midinol Bisulfite
Crystalline Menadione–Di-methylpyrimidinol Bisulfite
Commerical Feed Grade
Reg 573.620
Which clearly states:
Menadione dimethylphyrimdinol bisulfite (2-hydroxy-4, 6- dimethyl pyrimidinol salt of menadione) - FEED, REG, 2.0 g/ton - As nutritional suppl in chicken & turkey feed for prevention of vitamin K deficiency 573.620; 10.0 g/ton - In swine feed - 573.620
There is no contradiction here. Sorry. Try as you may, it is unambiguous. I’ve place a call into the FDA regarding verification of this and will post on howl 911 their answer, when received.
April 4th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Here is the full text of reg. 573.620. You will note that 573.620 approves MDB’s use ONLY for chicken, turkey and swine.
TITLE 21–FOOD AND DRUGS
CHAPTER I–FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
SUBCHAPTER E–ANIMAL DRUGS, FEEDS, AND RELATED PRODUCTS
PART 573 — FOOD ADDITIVES PERMITTED IN FEED AND DRINKING WATER OF ANIMALS
Subpart B–Food Additive Listing
Sec. 573.620 Menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite.
The food additive, menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite, may be safely used in accordance with the following conditions:
(a) The additive is the 2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethylpyrimidinol salt of menadione (C17H18O6N2S).
(b) The additive is used or intended for use as a nutritional supplement for the prevention of vitamin K deficiency as follows:
(1) In chicken and turkey feed at a level not to exceed 2 grams per ton of complete feed.
(2) In the feed of growing and finishing swine at a level not to exceed 10 grams per ton of feed.
(c) To assure safe use, the label and labeling of the additive shall bear adequate directions for use.
April 4th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Nikki ~
Please get a copy of the 2007 AAFCO Manual.
Please tell me WHY AAFCO’s established Cat Food Nutrient Profiles Based On Dry Matter include Vit k?
This is on page 138 and the standard by which nutritionists formulate their products - this is the plumb line.
So are you trying to tell me that AAFCO is wrong in their recommendations to the pet food industry about how to formulate cat food??
There is nothing to interpet - I am confused by your statement.
There is AAFCO’s guideline for formulation.
There is the page of approved officially recognized vitamin ingredients for animal feeds on 354,355.
So AAFCO is giving the industry a bum steer?
I have a hard time believing that !!!
April 4th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Menadione dimethylphyrimdinol bisulfite (2-hydroxy-4, 6- dimethyl pyrimidinol salt of menadione) - FEED, REG, 2.0 g/ton - As nutritional suppl in chicken & turkey feed for prevention of vitamin K deficiency 573.620; 10.0 g/ton - In swine feed - 573.620
Is this what has you concerned???
This just means that this form can be used in chicken & turkey feed and swine food and what amounts. The way these things work is they add/subtract per species.
The form approved for cat food (not dog food) is the same as listed above and they were probably just expanding the 573.620 for use in other species.
It all fits :)
Also, that is posted in 2006 and I am referring to a 2007 AAFCO Manual, the book we all need to know proper formulation. It changes each year and the nuances are something my nutritionist stays very current with.
This is not a smoking gun like the chromium tripicolinate.
Please, before you post things online and disparage reputations, make sure that you have all of your facts, since there is enough warranted fear among consumers. I am sure you have honorable intentions, but check the facts and then post.
Online blogs are not the place to offer conjecture about matters this serious.
April 4th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Out of curiosity, I chose 3 dog foods entirely at random from Google and looked at their ingredient list. All 3 had a form of Menadione listed for its Vitamin K activity. That makes me think that perhaps it’s commonly used and maybe not a problem. These are the three foods I looked up:
http://www.evangersdogfood.com/dog/40118.html
http://www.dog-food-zone.com/dog-food-info.htm
http://www.nutroproducts.com/ncdogcro.asp
April 4th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
I checked the ingredients of Canidae and didn’t see Menadione. So, I’ll be returning my Blue Buffalo and buying some of that.
April 4th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
“Please tell me WHY AAFCO’s established Cat Food Nutrient Profiles Based On Dry Matter include Vit k?”
Evy, “vit K” and “menadione” are not the same thing. Stop using them as if they were interchangeable. They are not. What is true for vit K (K1 or K2) is NOT true for menadione (in any of its three forms)
Regarding, 573.620: This is not listed on the FDA’s site as an addendum or “expansion” to include other species — what I posted is 573.620 in its entirety. So please, before you accuse me of not adhering to facts, try doing a little fact checking of your own. And do not accuse me of disparaging reputations. All I am doing is reporting what the FDA does or does not approve with respect to food additives in pet foods. If you feel personally offended by this then that is your problem.
I have contacted the FDA and will post their response as soon as it is available. Until then, the jury is out…
April 4th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Well I guess when Nikki hears back from the FDA she will find out how wrong she was about Vitamin K3 in Cat Food…..
April 4th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Dear Nikki,
I am merely referring to your own source at The Dog Food Project which google brings up when I enter ‘menadione’ and on their page, they headline this:
Menadione (K3)
which is the specific vitamin called for in the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles Based On Dry Matter in the 2007 Manual.
You are posting ‘facts’ but I am concerned that they may be out of reference. And the fact that you have already indicated that you need to contact the FDA to clarify things to me means that you should wait with posting anything until they can respond.
Also, the Menadione Dimethylpyri-midinol Bisulfite is NOT a food additive when it is used in pet food. It is listed under OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED VITAMIN INGREDIENTS. It isn’t an additive.
I am merely trying to do what you and other people who have posted had asked Blue Buffalo to do. You are not making it easy to do so.
I have given you information from the 2007 AAFCO Manual, their protocol for cat food formulations and even indicated pages. I was just thinking that I personally would not post something, especially during this time of panic and fright for pet owners who are concerned for their animals very LIVES, unless I was absolutely positive and had my facts substantiated by a credible source.
I have lived this industry for nine years and the only problem I have is that the innocence of pets have been betrayed.
I admire your dedication and fortitude in pursuing the FDA’s position and would ask that you also contact AAFCO as well and post the comments from them both. AAFCO is very prompt in responding to emails.
Long after all of this posting, I will still be at the forefront of scientifically sound pet nutrition, still working on average a sixty hour week and sacrificing a lot of time (which is well worth it) to help people understand this industry from the inside out…….and try to disspell the inaccuracies that many people I dialogue with have read online.
April 4th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Evy,
Thank you for your post. Your expertise, knowledge, love for our pets and dedication to quality ingredients and a healthy, balanced diet are many reasons I choose Kumpi food. You know what you are talking about and are always willing to talk on the phone or via email to help dispel the “inaccuracies that many people [like myself]…have read online.”
I just wish others would not post “National Enquirer” type stories as “fact.” It is really irresponsible journalism.
Thank you again Evy for bringing the truth out into the open once again!
Best Regards,
Robert F. Davis
April 4th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Nikki,
Just so you know, I understand the difference you were trying to make in clarifying the differences between the various ‘K’s.
This whole series on this blog I *think* will end up proving something valuable to consumers and online nutrition fans.
It is wise to question and you need to, I understand that. But please know that this industry has undergone some terrible fearmongering that started far before this recall.
Nikki - all I’m saying is that your questions should have been answered and your posts should have included substantive data, lest anyone can cut and paste and try to use anything you wrote to prove a point.
I’ve just seen so much out of context material that has taken me hours to help clear up for people.
Conjecture about pet food right now is dangerous since the community is so frightened. Today alone, I talked with over ten people who have lost a pet to this tragedy.
And now I will pursue my paperwork until the wee hours of the morning, since I am compelled to post facts from AAFCO to keep people from being scared. If you find any contradiction, your issue would be with AAFCO and not with a pet food company. But I doubt that you will. AAFCO is a very committed and dedicated group of people who have too much to do and not enough time.
They are careful in the guidelines they give to pet food companies as to how we are to formulate products.
NO menadione source should be in ANY DOG food. If anything, that will end up being the smoking gun out of this and I can say that will all confidence.
Thanks to all and to all a goodnight :)
April 4th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Evy…
Thank you so much for educating us. It takes a true professional to have your knowledge and a caring person to take the time to share it. My hat is off to you. No wonder Kumpi and KumpiKat are such superior products… they’re a reflection of you and all you put into them.
Thanks again.
Joyce
April 4th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
Where did any of you get the idea they were trying to hide anything? They simply didn’t like the placment of the article… and I agree.
I feed my dogs Blue and I’m so happy that I don’t have the troubles that everone else is having with there Pet’s Diets.
They are a very small company and I believe they have a lot to loose if the Quality of their food is any less than What I’m eating. In Fact, I think my 3 dogs eat better than I do!
I’ve researched a lot of foods, and I’m not about to risk changing my pets diet with all the trouble going on with those other brands.
April 5th, 2007 at 3:20 am
I was going to return my bag of Blue Buffalo, and I already called and told my daughter not to use it with her dog, adter telling her it is a great food for picky dogs. I also have cans of Blue Buffalo as well as the Health Bars.
Is there someone with a simple answer? Is this menadione in any of the 3 forms safe? My picky eater really likes this food. If I continue to let her eat it, am I going to kill her?
April 5th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
If your pet is healthy and eating the food, then I would not change the food at this point. I switched from Purina ProPlan and ProPlan Selects to Kumpi because my cats did not appear healthy and started vomitting. My dogs as well I felt were not getting the nutrition they needed.
Evy mentioned on a post that menadione (vitamin k3) is not supposed to be in Dog Food…it is okay in cat food per AAFCO requirements.
If you have any concerns I would give Evy a call at Kumpi - she is really good at talking about the nutrition and maybe you can gain some good advice from her.
Evy’s website is http://www.kumpi.com and her number is listed there.
Thanks!
Robert Davis
April 5th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
:-( I want an easy to understand answer. My dogs and cats both like their Blue Buffalo brand food. I felt very good about feeding it to them until reading all of the above posts. How can we find out what is considered to be a toxic level? BTW, Blue never responded to my question regarding the whether they add Menadione to their food, which of course means they still do. How do we find out how much they add???? Am I unknowingly doing harm to them? I have to put our pet rabbit down today due to old age, I don’t think I can take another animal getting sick or dieing.
April 5th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Debbie, I’m like you. Just confused at what I should feed now. I’ve bought Blue in canned and my cats love it. I’m still feeding them Science Diet Mature & mixing in Wellness to try them on that. I’m thinking of sticking with Science Diet though because I have to say these ingredients everyone is talking about have been used in pet foods for years. I had a Siamese Cat live to 19 on Science Diet so It certainly couldn’t have been bad for her. I would caution anyone against switching foods too rapidly and upsetting their pets tummies. While Blue’s idot attorney handled this wrong, I trust that their food is a good alternative (and any other holistic leaning pet food) to that which is on the recall.
April 5th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
My cat is on Blue Spa canned and dry, alternating with Kumpi. I hope it makes you feel better to know that Blue Buff not only answered my emails, but I’ve been able to get a very nice lady, Samantha, on the phone twice. Blue uses/used an extremely low, low (accepted) amount of menadione when they used it. I’ve been told by them 3 times (phone and email) that they have removed it from both the dog and cat lines - although it might still appear on the packaging (using up already printed packages and labels). My baby loves Blue Spa and Kumpi, and although I certainly cannot give you a guarantee, I can highly recommend both brands from my own experience with them. Also, I, for one, am sorry that they did remove menadione from the cat food. Try calling/contacting Blue again. When I spoke to Samantha this AM she told me she had 500 emails to respond to… probably all of them about menadione. I hope this helps.
April 6th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Joyce/ Melanee,
Well that is great news to hear. My mom and I were talking last night about making our own pet food, but this seems like a large undertaking. I fear that there is so much more involved than just the melamine, and when we find out what it really is, there will be an uprising from pet owners. I read somewhere last night that the FDA is going to close half of their facilities???? When I mentioned Menadione to my vet last night she told me that she is against any of the synthetic vitamins and hormones. She said the only brands she trusts at the moment are Science Diet and Waltham. Waltham makes Royal Canain etc. I still think I am sticking with Blue. This is a great forum, let’s keep it going!!
April 6th, 2007 at 11:44 am
I have been feeding my cats Blue Buffalo for a few months, and they have been doing very well on it. One of them had skin and urinary tract issues in the past, and he hasn’t had any problems since I switched. I e-mailed them a list of specific questions after the recall hit the news, and they promptly answered my questions, so I’m sticking with it for now also.
April 6th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Yesterday on www.petconnection.com someone wrote about Wal-Mart offering a promotional coupon for a site that has pet food recipes. Hmm. Sounded interesting so I checked it out.
It’s a really great site. It’s called www.balanceit.com
They have lots of recipes that you make up with human food. Very easy. You purchace the recipes but if you use the Wal-Mart promotional coupon, it’s FREE.
You’ll need to add supplements. You can use human vitamins (they tell you what to get) or you can buy their powered supplements; one for dogs, another for cats.
I bought the one for cats. I wouldn’t buy the one for dogs because the very last ingredient is Menadione. I’m not convinced it’s safe to be in dog supplements. I’ve read tons of literature on it and I won’t use it for dogs. Cats are another matter.
That said, I phoned the company asking that they remove it from the dog supplement. She was very pleasant and took all the info I gave her and said she’d bring it up at today’s meeting. She also said if they heard from more people requesting that it be removed, well, that would help. So, if you would like to use their dog supplement but don’t want the Menadione please let them know. Consumers are listened to.
April 6th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Debbie…
Interestingly, I also spoke to my vet yesterday about Menadione. And before I could get the full sentence out of my mouth he chimed in with “it’s important for cats.” So there ya go. Unfortunately, due to consumer pressure, Blue took it out of their feline formulas. Can’t win, but I’ll take it as it is since my Dusty is happy and healthy and loving his BLUE.
Also, as an alternate dry food, I ordered and just received a 4 lb bag of KumpiKat. KumpiKat does have Menadione, and Dusty loves that also. Kumpi (for dogs) does not contain Menadione - and that’s appropriate. You can go to www.kumpi.com. Evy is a doll and very knowledgeable, as is Samantha at BLUEBUFF.
Since you mentioned Hill’s Science Diet, I have to tell you that this morning I had to check out some of the Hill’s Prescription Diets for a friend pet. We all know the M/D was recalled because of the wheat gluten. But did you know, I certainly did NOT, that most, if not all, of the Prescription Diets (in dry form) contain BHT and/or BHA and/or Ethoxyquin. So, perhaps it’s more than wise to stay away from anything Hills.
This is a major tragedy that continues to get worse. We all need to continue our efforts making sure that pet owners get the true answers to this horrific nightmare, hold all responsible to account for their actions, and get legislation passed that will prevent this from happening ever again. Pet Connection is doing an amazing job.
April 6th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
So has Nikki heard from the FDA or AAFCO yet? I know she said she was going to call them?????
April 7th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Not interested in Kumpi. For a wide variety of reasons.
Next
April 7th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Why should we trust the AAFCO?
April 8th, 2007 at 1:45 am
I think its terrorism!!!
April 8th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
I’ve been feeding Blue Buffalo (and Natural Balance) to my dogs and cats for a while now, and have been quite pleased with both brands.
With the recent recall, I went back on a nutrition-research kick, and took another close look at what I was feeding. I found the DogFoodProject site, read about Blue Buffalo and Menadione, and started looking for more information from my vet and from the company.
Short story: I’m still feeding my pets Blue Buffalo.
The longer story is posted on my website:
http://yourdreamdog.com/wp/200.....-dog-food/
I must admit, though, that I’m disappointed in how Blue Buffalo has chosen to respond to the sudden influx of questions concerning their use of Menadione. (I’m sure that others, like myself, discovered this through the DogFoodProject site or other sites that were quoting from that site.)
Whether I continue feeding Blue Buffalo or not remains to be seen. I do make purchasing decisions based as much on my opinion of a company’s policies as I do on the ingredients and quality of their products.
Ann Dupuis
Your Dream Dog
April 8th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
It’s hard to know what company to trust. Everbody is covering up to save their own asses. It really is a conspiracy. Everybody is playing the blame game the distributors and the FDA. THEY ALL DROPPED THE BALL!!! At this point I think people should be concerened,about not only the animals,but also about if this poison has made it into human food products. If they’re covering up about the pet food,do you really think they’re going to admit, that its in the human food supply???? I think in the next few weeks,we’re going to hear about people getting sick. I have no faith in the FDA anymore. I dont care what they have said about human food being safe at this point. I also believe that the majority of pet food has been contaminated. This whole travisty is about the mighty BUCK$$$.So what if thousands of animals,and possibly humans die???? as long as we get rich$$$ right…. right…. enough said!!!
April 10th, 2007 at 1:50 am
There are anti SLAPP laws in place in several states.
http://www.casp.net/
http://www.gracieland.org/RW/rwnews2.html
April 10th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
The AAFCO is a private company. They are not subject to FOIA requests, oversight, or anything else. Their purpose is to control legislation and regulatory agencies to the exclusive benefit of feed manufacturers.
AAFCO President, Eric Nelson, is going to testify before the senate regarding the pet food recall.
April 16th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
I’m still confused about which menadione compounds are considered safe and which are considered unsafe.
According to the manufacturers’ websites, menadione sodium bisulfite complex is found in these dry cat foods as well:
Organix Adult Feline Formula
Purina One Natural Blends Chicken and Oat Meal Formula
Purina One Natural Blends Salmon and Brown Rice Formula
PMI Nutrition Feline Medley Formula
Castor and Pollux’s website says the menadione in Organix is “Being removed with revised formula.”
http://www.castorpolluxpet.com.....ne_formula
Also, Wellness defines Vitamin K as menadione sodium bisulfite complex on their website, but I don’t see menadione listed as a specific ingredient on the pet food bags. Does this mean menadione is in Wellness dry foods or not?
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:34 pm
i just sent a comment to the President of Blue Buffalo on their website - http://www.bluebuff.com/contact/:
Dear Mr. Bill Bishop,
How dare you threaten Itchmo.com with legal action unless they remove information posted for their loyal and concerned readers regarding factual information about your pet food! That site has been a godsend for many people trying to protect their pets and exchange information on the broadening pet food crisis.
I think menadione in pet food is news-worthy. Plus, Blue Buffalo has recalled several varieties of their food. Didn’t you notice your own letter that pops up on the first page of your website? Is Itchmo supposed to report all information on all pet food except for Blue Buffalo?
You have shown yourself to be a self-centered and vicious man, and company. I am deeply disappointed and will never buy your products again. The letter your legal counsel sent to intimidate Itchmo is going to, by your own actions, deter concerned pet owners from purchasing your products in the future.
Shame on you!
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Oops, i guess i can’t read. BB was threatening Howl911, not Itchmo. Oh well, hopefully they will get the general point.
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Well said Colleen - Mr. Bill Bishop - SHAME ON YOU!
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:48 pm
I think that all product brands with Menadione should be sent a letter regarding the use. Organix told me that they are removing it in June. If they all knew last year, what are they waiting for…using up the supplires…doesn’t speak of concern. I bought Organix thinking it had been removed last august as I had been told originally upon last ordering.
Thank you itchmo and howl911 - why don’t we name them all and send emails….
April 23rd, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Has BB done a retraction letter since recently it recalled some of their cat food products?
BB…….you have lost another customer.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Regarding the letter from Blue Buffalo’s counsel earlier this month:
In the words of Abraham Lincoln,
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
Res ipsa loquitor
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:19 pm
It’s nice that some folks are so enthused about Kumpi food, but the incessant adoration makes the opinions seem less and less credible all the time. They’re starting to sound like paid product announcements, which they probably aren’t, but I’m being turned off the food rather than feeling like I should try it. Maybe I’m the only one who feels this way, but thought it might be a good “fyi” to the individual(s) who fawn over the food repeatedly in these sorts of threads. I may be interested in Kumpi foods, but I’m not at all interested in the “cult of Kumpi” that the food seems to have spawned.
April 24th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
It is so frustrating…..Blue stated that the Rice Protein Concentrate was only in their cat food and only the Kitten food was recalled due to the tainted batch from China…..Well I feed my dog Blue Lamb and Rice and the 5th or 6th ingredient is Rice Protein Concentrate. … I took the bag back to Petsmart and exchanged it for Blue dog Chicken and Rice as this does not have the Rice Protein Concentrate.
I have read on Blogs that Blue doesn’t make their own food , but OVERSEE IT where it is made by another manufacturer.. something on these lines…Does anyone have more info on this????
Also how come it is sold only at Petsmart????????
I found this web site with only dehydrated food. It looks great, but it would cost me about $175 a month…..
http://www.thehonestkitchen.co.....ndex.shtml
Here’s another that seems similar to Blue…………..
http://www.trilogyonline.com/T.....;Ath=False
I was sold on Blue and would hate to switch, but I will if I have to.. Any comments???????????
God love and protect out pets, ALWAYS AND EVERYWHERE!!!
April 26th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Orlando Ken… Re: Blue Buffalo
The Rice Protein Concentrate in the Blue Spa Select Kitten dry food was found to be contaminated. The Rice Protein Concentrate in their other foods was found not to be contaminated, according to Blue Buffalo. Go to their website www.bluebuffalo.com. Personally, I think the company did an excellent job with this recall unlike most of the others. In one day they were able to notify the consumer on exactly what product was contaminated.
As far as the letter from their attorney is concerned… although certainly not condoning it, I have to say that I have been in my own business for the better part of twenty years, and the first five years I made more mistakes than I care to remember. Big mistakes. Unfortunately, there are times when the line between panic and sensibility becomes very thin and blurred, and (as a business owner) you act out of a sense of what you perceive as survival. I cannot speak for Blue Buffalo, of course, but I think I understand their action.
Right now and moving forward barring, God forbid, any additional recalls, I plan on staying with their Spa Select. My cat absolutely loves the wet turkey and chicken w vegetables. Equally important, the food seems to love him… there’s less shedding (I have a Himalayan w lots of hair), shinier coat, loads of energy.
April 27th, 2007 at 2:08 am
Joyce Says:
April 26th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Your Blue Buf Spa Select cat food is RECALLED!!!! Please get your cat to the vet and tested immediately for exposure to melanine.
http://media.corporate-ir.net/.....andout.pdf
April 27th, 2007 at 2:12 am
URGENT: Anyone feeding Blue Buf/Spa Select
Blue Buff has recalled 17 products April 26, 2007
Recalled products listed on Petsmart website:
http://media.corporate-ir.net/.....andout.pdf
April 27th, 2007 at 4:23 am
Sing it with me
Who’s sorry now?
Who’s sorry now?
Whose heart is aching for breaking each vow?
Who’s sad and blue?
Who’s crying too?
Just like I cried over you?
Right to the end
Just like a friend
I tried to warn you somehow
You had your way,
Now you must pay
I’m glad that you’re sorry now.
Right to the end
Just like a friend
I tried to warn you somehow
You had your way,
Now you must pay
I’m glad that you’re sorry now
April 27th, 2007 at 6:13 am
Blue Buff does not have these recalls listed on their Web site. As of today, April 27 at 6:12 Am Eastern time, this is the message on Blue Buff Website:
PET PARENT ALERT
In response to some pet parent confusion and incorrect reporting by the Associated Press, we want you to know the following:
1. No BLUE dog food has been recalled. The voluntary recall is limited to one production run of dry Spa Select Kitten Food, production code:
“Best Used By Mar. 07 08 B.”
2. The ingredient in the Spa Select Kitten Food that is a problem is Rice Protein Concentrate, NOT Brown Rice.
Yet I read elsewhere that All canned dog food has been recalled.
April 27th, 2007 at 9:44 am
ALL Canned Blue Buff/Spa Select is RECALLED!
http://media.corporate-ir.net/.....andout.pdf
April 27th, 2007 at 10:13 am
Blue Buffalo announced Thursday night it’s voluntarily recalling 17
additional SKUs.
UPC BLUE BUFFALO CANNED CAT Size
859610000586 HAIRBALL SPA SELECT CAN CAT FOOD 3OZ 3 OZ
859610000616 KITTEN SPA SELECT CAN CAT FOOD 3 OZ 3 OZ
859610000548 LITE CHICKEN SPA SELECT CAN CAT FOOD 3 OZ 3 OZ
859610000500 SALMON SPA SELECT CAN CAT FOOD 3 OZ 3 OZ
859610000654 TUNA SPA SELECT CAN CAT FOOD 3 OZ 3 OZ
859610000678 TURKEY & CHK SPA SELECT CAN CAT FD 3 OZ 3 OZ
UPC BLUE BUFFALO CANNED DOG Size
859610000708 CHICKEN & BROWN RICE DINNER W/GARDEN VEGETABLES 12.5 OZ
859610000760 SALMON DINNER W/ASPARAGUS & SWEET POTATOES 12.5 OZ
859610000722 LAMB & BROWN RICE DINNER W/GARDEN VEGETABLES 12.5 OZ
859610000746 BEEF SIRLOIN DINNER W/FRESH CARROTS & GARDEN PEAS 12.5 OZ
859610001026 HEARTY VENISON DINNER W/SWEET POTATOES & GARDEN VEG 12.5 OZ
859610001040 TURKEY MEATLOAF DINNER W/CARROTS & IDAHO POTATOES 12.5 OZ
UPC BLUE BUFFALO HEALTH BARS (DOG) Size
859610000104 BACON, EGG AND CHEESE 20 OZ
859610000463 CHICKEN LIVER CRUNCH 20 OZ
859610000128 NATURAL CHEDDAR CHEESE (Discontinued) 20 OZ
859610000081 NATURAL PEANUT BUTTER 20 OZ
85961000048 APPLE & YOGURT 20 OZ
April 27th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Please go to www.americannutritioninc.com. ANI set up a separate website for the recall list.
There are two Spa Select cat foods that were actually poisoned with the melamine. Unfortunately, there are many more dog foods. It’s digusting and I hope ANI is shut down and jail time is handed out.
I’m happy that Blue pulled ALL their production out of ANI as did Harmony Farms. These are both small companies taking on a giant. They deserve credit for that, unlike the larger companies just pulling specific upcs and best sell dates.
I’m so very grateful that my feline furbaby is fine. I realize that it is only luck that this is so. The same holds true for all of us that are lucky enough to still have our pets. My heart goes out to all that are suffering so deeply from the loss of their precious babies. This entire episode is beyond comprehension. There are no words.
I switched to Innova dry. It’s my understanding that they make they’re own dry food. The balance of his food will be home cooking.
E. Hamilton… I wish you well.
April 27th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Oops… try this one www.americannutritioninc.com/
May 5th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Blue Buffalo, new CEO Hog on the scene, you are going to have to answer to tens of thousand of people who now know beyond a shadow of a doubt you are part of the corporate terrorist hellslime destroying democracy in America.
Don’t do it! Back down now with as much decency you can muster, while you still have a company left OR ELSE. I’ve already been on air about you slimeballs. What are you going to do now, SUE US ALL? Kill all our pets??
“This evil will have it’s day but it will only be one day.” You’ve heard that before, so back down now. You have been warned.
May 5th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Oh yea, about that one person above who is wanking Blue over this… I have two words for what you sound like - generational satanist. So back off, go somewhere else with this or else, the cops will be looking for Nikki in your back yard.
… there are some who kill puppies and kitties for sport, and other for some organized ritual. It goes on so badly all over the US that pet rescue organizations have specific rules how to be careful whom they let adopt their charges. For ritual pet killers, killing any pet (or person) is “part of their world order”. When someone show up with the language exhibited, they sound just like one of those evil people…
I hate to bring this up, but it’s time this is all spoken openly, and by leaving for a moment the fairy tales we were taught as a child that “this” just doesn’t happen: Remember the Animal Sanctuary in Utah is where the old Process Church and their ritual killers created… we shudder to think what goes on behind those closed doors in Utah, for years investigators HAVE been thwarted trying to get transparency, some have disappeared, and if you think this is nuts, talk to law enforcement.
May 5th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
BILL BISHOP, CEO Bully of Blue Buffalo, typical of all CEO Bullies, has removed the ability of PET FOOD CONSUMERS to EMAIL them with their concerns. Instead they think it is best for you to CALL them with your concerns.
Here where you can email Bill Bishop and his terrorist hell-slime lawyer and what you think of them: info@bluebuff.com
Copy their web marketing consulting jbrittain@bluebuffalocompany.com a/k/a Squeaky Wheel Media For The Blue Buffalo Company.
The way to make a difference, is to EMAIL ALL OF BLUE BUFFALO STAKEHOLDERS, especially their web presence positioners, and tell them why you are BOYCOTTING the whole lot of them.
Domain Name: bluebuffalocompany.com
Anthony Del Monte
Anthony Del Monte
300 9th street
jersey city, NJ 07302
US
Phone: 201-888-9766
tonydelturbo@yahoo.com
October 15th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I feed my dogs Lamb and Rice Blue Buffalo Dog Food, Adult. It works very well.
February 19th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
There’s that Anna Gates I see up there, but I don’t see any ‘reply’ things, so why don’t you just write to me at annamgates@yahoo.com if you have anything, as I don’t come by here often, yet am almost an expert. Surely my family thinks I am at least.
February 24th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
On February 16, 2009 I started feeding Blue Buffalo Chicken and Rice puppy food to my six week old (and weaned) litter of Puggles. I was serving the food soaked in water so it was moist. On the 18th, Emily (one of the female pups) was found gasping for air and acting as if she were choking. Immediately after eating. She died within seconds. Her gums were pale and cold.
Later that night one of the males, Cerast was shaking and acting lethargic. His gums were pale and his body temperature had dropped to 97 degrees. I gave him Nutri-Cal puppy to raise his blood sugar and sat with him under my shirt to warm him slowly. He died at 7:00 am the next morning.
The morning after that, the smallest of the litter ate, slept, played, ate a bit more and was dead five minutes later. Again, pale gums and cool mouth. His name was Wulfy.
We had autopsies done, blood panels, ex-rays… These were healthy dogs. My vet said “There is no reason these dogs should be dying”.
He remembered that I had changed food (exactly as you’re supposed to - slowly). He asked me to stop feeding BB and to bring the remaining pups to him. They have been there since Friday. No puppies died after I took away the BB food. No signs of illnesses… nothing at all wrong with these puppies except whatever the BB puppy food was doing to them.
Mr. MacLean of course is full of platitudes and condescending comments. I however am left with almost $2000 in vet bills, loss of income from the puppies who died, and heartbroken and traumatized children. And I’m wondering what BB intends to do about it?
March 21st, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Shannon, I just read your horrifying story about BB food. I recently was a product demonstrator for the company and occassionally get bad feedback about this food. No feedback was as sad as yours.
I am so sorry for your loss. I no longer work for the company because I stopped believing in it the way I had and the company did something to me that was unspeakable. They have questionable food and they treat their employees like crap.
I will pray for your babies in Rainbow Bridge. Good Luck
Kathleen
July 24th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Really interesting board. I have a 4 yr old bulldog named Kumar that we adore. Recently we have noticed that Kumar has had spells of collapsiing after using the restroom or playing for small amounts of time. I decided to bring him to the vet today about it. The vet (who is the best Ive EVER seen), ran a few test, and stated that he is suffering from severe anemia. After running additional test, we have ruled out internal bleeding, tumors, ulcers, etc. The only thing, short of bone marrow cancer being the cause, is his food. I had switched him from Royal Canin bulldog formula to BB fish & sweet potato due to the people in Petsmart telling me that this was way better than the food I had him on which worked fine. Looking back, the symptoms DID start at about the same time I switched foods. Now my dog is suffering from severe anemia as stated and is barely functioning on about half of his blood supply according to the vet. After reading on the internet, it appears that BB has been banned in some European countries for a Viatim K substitute that has been linked to anemia in dogs. If this is the cause of my dogs anemia, I plan on filing suit against BB. I immediately changed foods back to Royal Canin today at the request of my vet, feeding him steak, & giving suppliments etc. We have to go back to the vet next week. If red blood cell count is back up, it definitely points toward the food. If not its on to blood transfusions & more test. Has anyone else heard about something similar with BB & anemia, etc? Anything would help!
August 23rd, 2009 at 12:40 am
Except that the vitamin k supplement to which you are referring isn’t an ingredient in Blue Buffalo, so that obviously wasn’t the cause of your dog’s health problems.
November 10th, 2011 at 7:48 am
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