Exclusive: Lab Finds Toxin In Unopened, Unrecalled Pet Food
The same Texas lab that has reported acetaminophen in pet food, has reported finding cyanuric acid after receiving an unopened container of Hills Science Diet Light Adult canned dog formula. This is the first report we have received that was tested from an unopened container. The picture above shows 2 more cans from the same batch.
Science Diet Light Adult formula has not been recalled by the manufacturer.
The lab report from Expertox obtained by Itchmo states that the tested product had a best before date of 01 2009 and had the lot number T0520917 7048. Cyanuric acid was reportedly found in concentrations of more than 400 ug/g — that’s micrograms/gram.
Hill’s representatives declined to be interviewed over the phone and emailed questions were not returned in time for this deadline.
An Itchmo reader tested the food based on veterinary tests on a dog. The reader’s email is after the jump. It has been edited to remove personal information.
Reader’s email:
I received today the test results on the canned food from the case lot my 4-year old Shih Tzu was eating from when her blood work indicated that she was in kidney failure. We did IV for 4 days, antibiotics for one month, and now fluid therapy once a week. She is still alive, eating home cooked food, has a good appetite, but I don’t know where her kidney levels are at present. Her BUN was 160 before the IV therapy. The BUN came down following 4 days on IV, but was still high when I brought her home.
The reader also said that another dog that did not eat the canned food had normal blood tests.
June 12th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
For a friend,has anyone had problems with Nutro dry cat food?
Lorna
June 12th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
I wonder why the toothpaste “Urgent Recall” is dated June 8 and is only showing up now? 4 days more to be able to buy/use product?
June 12th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Carol Says:
June 12th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
I wonder why the toothpaste “Urgent Recall†is dated June 8 and is only showing up now? 4 days more to be able to buy/use product?
***************
Could be. All I know is that it wasn’t there earlier. FDA does have a bad habit of taking their time in posting things on their site. Frustrating.
June 12th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Lorna
These Nutro products have been involved in recall
Dog Canned
Nutro Max
Nutro Natural Choice
Nutro Ultra
Nutro
Cat Canned
Nutro Max Gourmet Classics
Nutro Natural
June 12th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Lorna
Sorry just saw that you said dry food. Duh! I been looking at too much stuff. Eyes not what they were 3 months ago. Turning off computer now. LOL
June 12th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
This is so upsetting!! Makes you want to jump off the roof screaming REVOLUTION !!!! We all know this is far from over, has been going on for a very long time… inform apathetic Americans that not only our furbabies but our human babies are greatly at risk too.. you better believe it is in our food chain too - WAKE UP AMERICA !!!!
June 12th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Lorna,
Here’s an article about Nutro dry.
Lorna –here’s an artcile about Nutro
http://www.consumeraffairs.com.....all53.html
I saw on PetfoodTracker that animals have gotten sick from it.
http://petfoodtracker.blogspot.com
Hope that helps.
Susan
June 12th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
MelaBeef anyone?????
Susan - you are right the cyanuric acid is in the livestock feed.. But check out this patent, that includes melamine as a member in making Biuret that is added to the cyanuric acid. urea mix for cattlefeed.. Do we have melabeef too???? And they wondered why the 2 USA livestock feeds tested positive for melamine!!!
Biuret purification - US Patent 4698443
snip from the above patent link:
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said higher molecular weight urea condensation products comprise a member selected from the group consisting of triuret, melamine, cyanuric acid, ammonium cyanurate, ammelide, methylene diurea, and combinations thereof, and said higher molecular weight urea condensation products constitute less than 5 weight percent of said extract based on biuret.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Then we go to this that allows the combination of biuret , urea and cynauric acid…. (there you go 2 in 1, nitrogen based boosters) The toxic brew!!!
Off the FDA page for cattle/animal feed…Sec. 573.220 Feed-grade biuret.
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/.....0.1.1.20.2
————————————————————————
Percent
————————————————————————
Biuret…………………………….. 55 minimum.
Urea………………………………. 15 maximum.
Cyanuric acid and triuret……………. 30 maximum.
Mineral oil………………………… 0.5 maximum.
Total nitrogen (equivalent to 218.75 pct 35 minimum.
crude protein).
FDA permits a certain amount of cyanuric acid to be present in some non-protein nitrogen (NPN) additives used in animal feed and drinking water.[4] Cyanuric acid has been used as NPN. For example, Archer Daniels Midland manufactures a NPN supplement for cattle, which contains biuret, triuret, cyanuric acid and urea.[5]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanuric_acid
June 12th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Lorna - LOTS of reports of Nutro dry foods making pets sick. More than any other food that hasn’t been recalled. An article about them and a bunch of reports can be found in one post, at this link.
http://petfoodtracker.blogspot.....s-for.html
June 12th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Oops, I was typing as Susan posted! The link I posted takes you directly to the Nutro information. I’ve got posts for Nutro, Iams, and now Hills/Science Diet, as well as one for other foods. I’ve still got lots of reports to add.
I wish so much that these companies would just recall all their food and just start clean.
June 12th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Lorna,
Someone on here I think is was Helen that has a sick cat from Nutro dry
Nutro Dry CAT food
From Helen, posting over at itchmo.com:
Kim: Yes you have permission to cross-post my comments about Nutro. My cat DID know there was something wrong with it. She had eaten it all her life and suddenly didn’t like it anymore. She ate very little of it, but got sick anyway: vomiting, which she had never done much before, lethargy, drinking extra water, extra urination, suddenly looking like “an old lady catâ€, difficulty jumping. She continued to have good appetite for the other foods she was eating. I had attributed the above symptoms to her age (until the recalls started), but she is fine now. She is completely herself again. I feel like it is just dumb luck I still have her with me, and if you want to use my comments to help inform other people who are trying to keep their pets safe, please go ahead. As far as I know I am the only “Helen†posting here, and I have made several past comments about this, which you are free to copy.
June 12th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
WHY does the FDA keep telling people to throw this crap away?! (yes, toss the evidence)
aren’t *we* supposed to properly dispose of things like toxins? yet they keep telling people to toss the stuff like it’s safe . . .
June 12th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Has anyone noticed that Menu Foods changed their website to have the recall info now be only a part of their first page. Now they have a section about customers and touting how wonderful the products are they sell and a section on investor relations. They are trying to back away from it all….
June 12th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Lorna, anyone had problems with Nutro dry cat food?
Yes.
June 12th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Has anybody asked Hill’s (or others) what they think happens when the cyanuric acid collides with the melamine *already* in our furkids from this ongoing unspeakable pet food tragedy?
Like crystals -ya think?
June 12th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Thanks everyone for Nutro cat dry info.I did check your great site ,too,Kim. Lots there.
My friend’s cats are fine ….right now….but he’s not sure he should stay with Nutro.
Lorna
June 12th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
As far as ASKING Hills anything- why bother to ASK a proven liar who poisons pets anything at all?
All you will hear is more lies and spin.
You can TELL the vets something though.
Tell your vet, tell ALL the vets that if they sell a known poison then they can STOP being a vet because they are gonna LOSE their license.
As for some “other” companies?
The cops can read them their rights when they slap on the handcuffs.
The pet food company that has delayed recalling a product that they have KNOWN is poisoned for over a month now- that is clear proof of animal cruelty and a criminal offense.
And we are coming for ya!
June 12th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
I have already “fired” three vets who tried to push Hill’s products down my cat’s throat. I told them I would no longer be spending my money when they are serving a master who is driven by greed. They either work for me or they work for Hill’s but they cannot have it both ways. My cat was not sick until the first vet I went to for another problem prescribed that crap.
June 12th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Took them a while, but it seems they may be onto something here (sarcasm)
Camp Lejeune Water Under Scrutiny
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics.....id=3268887
June 12th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Until the company that has known of the poison they sell for OVER A FREAKING MONTH comes clean - then I say ALL brands take the heat!
ALL brands might be poisoned, how can you know? So ALL BRANDS could be the poison.
If you MUST call a pet food company for ANY reason, ask them the question
“Are you the company that had the product tested and has know of a poison product for over a month?” and if they deny it, well, I STILL would not believe them.
We have proof that somebody is selling poison and has been continuing to sell poison even after getting the lab results, the FDA knows, the only people who DON”T know are the people who NEED to know.
June 12th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Sandi K–I checked the website earlier today (as I do every day) and it was just Recall Info–now they have changed back to the webpage that they took down on March 17-18. I wonder their reasoning—maybe it has something to do with the plummeting of their stock price since this am…
June 12th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Hey Guys, Look at Itchmos’ pics. On the front page is a pic of My hummingbirds. won’t be there long.
June 12th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
The vet I no longer go to? He said my 2 FLUTD cats would die if I didn’t put them on c/d. They got the pukes and bloody poops on that crap. I found extra water and cranberry powder in their food has helped the situation tremendously - normal pH and specific gravity. No crystals, no blockage. Do you think these vets realize that what was Hills, a private company in 1975, is now Hills, branch of Colgate-Palmolive? To be honest, I don’t think they care. IMHO they like the Hills kickbacks.
June 12th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Susan Says:
June 12th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Those hills kickbacks won’t look so good when it costs them malpractice lawsuits and the very license they need to BE a vet!
I have HAD it with this lie and spin and all from the pet food companies and the PFI and the whole reeking industry.
If any one had done the right thing, oh I don’t know, say 3 FREAKING months ago- maybe this could have been worked out, but NOW I SAY THEY ALL GO DOWN!
June 12th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
I agree with Krista. It’s time for a REVOUTION.
June 12th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Amen, E. Hamilton. It’s 3 months past time. We will fight to win!
June 12th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
What happened to the end of business day 6/1 deadline for the FDA to turn in complete answers in unredacted form?
WHERE ARE THE ANSWERS? WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY
June 12th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Susan
My littlest cat has crystals and was on Hills c/d mixed with other food, she has been off it since March when she became ill,(not form c/d but from FF) how much cranberry powder do you put in the water and where do you get it?
June 12th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
# 4lgdfriend Says:
June 12th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
What happened to the end of business day 6/1 deadline for the FDA to turn in complete answers in unredacted form?
WHERE ARE THE ANSWERS? WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY
Why don’t you ask Senator Durbin and the congress critters that demanded the answers? If they can’t get a straight answer from the FDA and apparently they can’t- then I don’t think giving more money and power to the FDA is a very smart thing to do!
June 12th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
I bought cranberry that was in capsules from the health food story. The capsules open up and the powder drops in. I add that and extra water. I did cranberry (it’s 250 mg capsules) because DL-methionine can cause liver trouble. A lot of drug stores carry it, too; it’s called Windmill Herbals. I called and the cranberry is from Wisconsin. If they don’t like the food diluted with water, you can make “gravy” with organic baby meat. I got pH test paper from the drug store, and once a week I close each cat separately in the laundry room with cut up plastic grocery store bags for litter. Once they pee, I test the pH. That’s how I know it’s 6.5 or under. I take some in to the vet sometimes for specific gravity. If I can keep their urine diluted, they shouldn’t make struvites. Until this is all straightened out, that’s what I have to do. No Hills, no Eukanuba, no Royal Canin, etc.
June 12th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Right now, TODAY, you can get the word out on this news about the poison results to every vet you can reach. Do whatever it takes, call, email , drop off a hard copy if you can.
How they respond will tell you a lot about what kind of vet they are.
If they don’t scream in outrage and pull every bag of food out of their office and put Hills’ to the thumbscrews then that is all you need to know about the vet.
June 12th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
PLEASE if you cannot afford to pay for having foods tested - contact your State Agriculture Departments - Animal Health/Animal Feed Divisions.
I discovered today that my State definitely has pet foods on a **high priority** and are/have set up LC test methods for acetaminophen - they know GC won’t find it.
June 12th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
This never ends. At this point, i’m ready to start following movie scripts (Remember the old Joe Pesci movie where he was a slumlord who refused to clean up his buildings? The judge finally sentenced him to live in those buildings - where is our judge to sentence these ceo’s of the pet food companies to eating this poison-in-a-can)
Does anyone know of any known problems, or even suspected problems with the cans of Mighty Dog Roasted varities? My dog would only eat those, the seared, and the tubs of beneful. For the past two months, she looks at them all like ‘Oh he|| no!’ and refuses to touch them. I trust her smell and taste over the companies and have a horrible suspicion that there is something tainted in these cans.
Not able to test these privately, but if any people are trying to nail down a problem with this brand I would love to hear about it
On a side note, thank you Itchmo. I honestly believe that the numbers of sick, damaged and dead pets would be many times higher then it is already. 1 is too many of course, and mine counts as 1, but the total could very easily be in the hundreds of thousands if not for Itchmo and their dedication
June 12th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Feeding ANY commercial food is like playing russian roulette with a fully loaded gun at this point.
It is no longer IF it will kill - it is how soon.
And beneful is a known poison. I have the dead dog to prove it.
June 12th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
My cat has crystals and has been on c/d for 5 years. When i recently saw all the topxins they put in their food, I found a replacement. He now eats Flint River ranch Adult Lite cat food and is doing great. I also took my dog off Science Diet and wrote Hills a nasty letter.
June 12th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Wendy44 Says:
June 12th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
And the vet you have been paying for the fabulous advice to feed your pet this POISON?
They need to hear today about the three positive for poison results!
Can you say MALPRACTICE?
June 12th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
I have to ask this question that just crossed my mind!
WHERE ARE THE BEE FOOD TEST RESULTS??? It’s been at least 2 or even more weeks ago now!
Some-body got some-thing to hide maybe??????????
Usually they are Real Loud about a Negative test {one they’ve know was negative for a while too} I’ve noticed.
{won’t say squat when they now it’s positive either :-P }
Where is the BEE Food Issue Results?????
Time is Up. Gonna Rock the Boat!
Got Melamine TOO????
June 12th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Yep–everyday I feed the commercial crap to my dogs I worry. My friend here at work just adopted a whippet/jack russell mix. They told her he must eat Science Diet adult small bites. I am trying to tell her SD is crap, but she will not listen. This was her response:
“But why would the kennel be feeding their animals SD? They should be the ones to know which are good and which are not.”
Geezzzzzz—–I did send the links to my vet re SD. I’m trying to spread the word as best as I know how. I did get a couple people here to switch from SD to Innova. Whew.
June 12th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
I wonder when it is going to sink in to the minds of our opponents, that rather than rancorous divisiveness, the public wants good-faith cooperation and problem-solving between all parties.
“SERVE THE PUBLIC” . . .. Get it yet?
June 12th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
They are fooling the poor public who is unaware about the dog food problem. Shoot–the dog food bags look real good…all natural, vet recommended-bull crap! I saw a beneful commercial last night. It was a really good commercial (cough, choke) I read these posts daily to get all my information. Thanks to all!
June 12th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Steve said: the public wants good-faith cooperation and problem-solving between all parties.
“SERVE THE PUBLIC†. . .. Get it yet?
Serve profits - all they know. They have demonstrated the OPPOSITE of good faith: LIES. NO COOPERATION. And they have no intention whatsoever of problem solving - only sweeping this huge scandal under the rug and getting back to business as soon as possible - no matter what.
Nope. They don’t get it. And I’m not putting my pets life on the line hoping they ever will.
June 12th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Of course they are continuing to try to fool the public. They have gotten used to it.
Now that their backs are up against the wall we are seeing their true colors shining through.
Not a flattering picture.
June 12th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Steve sums up my complaint from day 1. I have been made to feel like the pain in the a@@ for my continued calls, emails, contacts to senators and the press (mostly unanswered) but the fact of the matter is I was minding my own business in the privacy of my home, a law abiding 4 legged animal lover trying to do the best for her family when POW—sick animals all around me-1 with cancer and 2 with acute renal failure— and no one to call for answers—the message from MF was to call them–the message from the FDA to call them –but nobody wanted to hear it—4 months later I still am tring to keep my 2 cats alive—how ironic to maybe lose my cancer “winning” pup to a dog food due to non-disclosure…and to maybe feed my cats the posion again and not know it…the press may call us “crazy” the FDA may call us “out of control” but I know each of us here call each other a comrade–we know the damage this has done–the domino effect of our everyday life. It’s much more than a “few sick animals in the US”. Thanks again to Itchmo and posters, it is because of you that I have remained (partially ) sane and so far have not fed more posion..
June 12th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
I wonder if Hills is doing their silent recall now. Remove that lot number and not tell anyone.
Those true colors are the most putrid I’ve seen in a long time. I agree, 4lgdfriend. I don’t believe they will ever get it. They will always think they can fool us into buying their product.
June 12th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
On the other side of it, the public needs to learn, as much as is possible, to not be so easy to fool. Pretty sacks, neat but meaningless labels, happy faces on commercials, meaningless apologies - whoever in the public is capable of it MUST move past expecting to be told stuff like a bunch of first graders.
Easier to do that, where possible, than to expect evil doers to quit doing evil. I almost can’t read Itchmo today, because the headline stories are making me either well up with tears, or wanting to find the bas*** vets that punch tiny dogs or food companies that sell through vets only with cans now certified to contain poisons, or people who refuse to make any alternate plan in a real emergency for the pets they responsible for (can’t do that, don’t own the pet. Bet even if asked they wouldn’t leave their kid or grandma behind..well, if so, then put them all out of their misery)…
I am purely sick of stupid and gullible people, who could do better, but just want to remain stupid and gullible. Whether members of the public, of the vet community, of Congress, whoever. I am having a bad day contemplating how depressing I find human kind right now.
June 12th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Debbie4747: The water issue is a very good example. Not only do I want to know what’s in the food, I want to know what’s in the water. Three of the chemicals listed appear to be used in water treatment.
Are they common in our water supply? Do food manufacturer’s use filtered water for processing?
June 12th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
HomeGrown Says:
June 12th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Lorna
These Nutro products have been involved in recall
Dog Canned
Nutro Max
Nutro Natural Choice
Nutro Ultra
Nutro
Cat Canned
Nutro Max Gourmet Classics
Nutro Natural
I just opened a new bag of Swheat litter and guess what was inside? A sample of Nutro Natural Choice. Any takers on whether that package is pure poison? It’s going in the garbage. One recall-related CRF kitty is enough for me.
June 12th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Amy-
If you could swing it, it might be interesting to get the sample tested.
June 12th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
E hamilton, T C , Homegrown, don’t forget to write Your stories for Me? I know you are all busy, as I am too, with the PFC, but when you get some time[haha] please write. and anyone else who would like a letter about what to write if they have gone through all this, please let Me know. magesticats@net-change.com
June 12th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Didn’t you know Ya Ya, it’s too late. Up here in Alberta, we lost almost half of our bees. Its in all the papers here. How does that translate into lost food production for us?? Cut our fruit and veggie production by almost half too by this fall?? That leaves us very little to export to you guys south of the border.