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 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.