EXCLUSIVE: Lab Reports Cyanuric Acid In Unrecalled Dry Food
UPDATE: The company that tested the food requested that we remove the image of the report from this post after being contacted by Proctor & Gamble, the parent company of Iams.
UPDATE 2: We received a call from an Iams spokesman. We have updated the story with their response.
UPDATE 3: We believe the bags in question are located in the Denver area.
ORIGINAL POST: Itchmo has learned that a toxicology test reported the presence of cyanuric acid in an opened bag of what is alleged to be Iams Large Breed dry dog food.
According to the report obtained by Itchmo, the results have been certified by a forensic toxicologist. We have obtained a copy of the toxicology report. Iams Large Breed does not list rice protein concentrate or wheat gluten as ingredients.
In response, Iams says they are “fully confident” that no cyanuric acid or melamine entered their products. They also defended their “exceptional response” to handling customer complaints. When asked if they were testing for melamine and cyanuric acid after the manufacture of their products, Iams said that they were “constantly improving their quality control processes.”
We cannot stress this point enough: This test was performed on a sample from an opened bag. We do not know if this is an isolated case of contamination before or after the sale, or if it is widespread.
This information requires verification and we are asking for your help.
Itchmo is asking you to find an unopened 20 lb. bag of Iams Large Breed dry dog food that matches the lot number: 260608 70574173 F4 US30940 with the expiration date of 6/26/08.
If you find an unopened bag, please email us at tips@itchmo.com and we will provide further instructions. If it’s the right bag, we will pay for the cost of the bag of food, shipping and testing. There will be no cost to you.
If an unopened bag is found and tested, we will release the results as soon as they become available regardless of the outcome.
May 24th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
I saw this on your site yesterday. Then it disappeared. Now back. I was afraid that Iams flexed their muscles at you.
This is such an important service that you’re providing to pets and owners. I’ve been reading anecdotal stories about Iams dry foods for cats and dogs for a long time, that it’s about time this came out in the open.
Iams must recall. The FDA must be gutted and a new agency created that has regulatory teeth.
May 24th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
I am on my way to Agway. They carry Iams and I want to see if they have that particular size and lot #. I’ll let you know.
May 24th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
You provide an invaluable outlet for pet owners who want to know the truth. God bless you and protect you Mr. Itchmo. A lot of us care about you and we know you care about our pets too. Here’s hoping that you find the food and get it tested and get some answers.
May 24th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
All hail itchmo!!
We are not worthy!
May 24th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
ok, so i was searching around to see how CA could be purchased (solo or as part of a mix) and i found this lil’ tidbit interesting:
http://www.aqua-shine.com/Inde.....%20ACID%20(STABILIZER)
Testing for cyanuric acid is most commonly done with a turbidometric test, which uses a test reagent to precipitate the cyanuric acid and then uses the relative cloudiness (turbidity) of the reacted sample to gauge the CYA concentration.
A reagent called melamine is used. The melamine combines with the cyanuric acid in the water to form a fine, insoluble, white precipitate that causes the water to cloud in proportion to the amount of cyanuric acid in it. When the water clouds, it becomes more difficult to see an object in it.
so maybe we should be asking the pool companies for help ?!~
May 24th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
It has nothing to do with race, color, country or whatever. We are battling corruption and greed here. And it’s all concentrated at the highest levels of Government and Big Business.
Sad to see it come to this. Where America is sold out daily to any hack with a big bank account.
May 24th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
whoops!
here’s an unbroken link:
http://tinyurl.com/38fnvz
May 24th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
I am going to PETCO after work to get kitty liter will check the bags of IAMS while there, what color is the bag, I have 2 cats so not familiar with dog food, but glad to help.
They had issues last year with IAMS dry hairball vomiting and runny blood stool vet could not figure out what ws wrong. HMMM
May 24th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Heads Up
MAY 24, 2007 - 11:41 ET
Menu Foods Income Fund to Announce 2007 First Quarter Results May 30, 2007
TORONTO, ONTARIO–(CCNMatthews - May 24, 2007) -
NOT FOR RELEASE OVER US NEWSWIRE SERVICES
Attention Business/Financial Editors
Menu Foods Income Fund (TSX:MEW.UN) announced today that it will release its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2007 on Wednesday, May 30, 2007.
A conference call to review these results will take place the following day on Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. EST (Toronto time). The conference call will be chaired by Paul Henderson, Menu’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Paul will be joined on the call by Mark Wiens, Menu’s Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer.
To access the conference call in real time, please call 416-850-9150 or 1-866-809-4939. A replay will be available from approximately one hour after the end of the conference call until March 1, 2007 by dialing 416-915-1035 or 1-866-245-6755, using passcode 876984 followed by the number sign. A live audio webcast of the conference call is also available, it can be accessed by entering www.ccnmatthews.com/news/webcasts/index.jsp on an Internet browser. A replay of the webcast will be available for one year, it can be accessed by entering www.ccnmatthews.com/news/webcasts/index.jsp on an Internet browser.
May 24th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
I pray that Accutrace releases lists of foods that test positive for toxins to the press… I know that one test does not mean that a particular brand is completely unsafe. But if Accutrace would make their results public, then maybe these companies would wake up, and also lives would be saved!
May 24th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Hey - I wasn’t kidding when I said Itchmo for President!
You have done so much to help us all; I only wish our government would do such a good job of trying to protect our citizens!
May 24th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
ps. The report jpg does not say “cyanuric acid found” it just says that the material tests positive for some chemical. Were there additional pages to the report not posted?
(many many thanks mr. itchmo, for all that you do… I lost my cat, Jasper in March, and now I check your site several times a day. )
May 24th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
it says cyauric acid detected right on the page
May 24th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Ben,
Noticed the #’s in your article are different than the #’s on the lab report. I plan on checking for a bag at local stores this afternoon. I’ve copied both #’s just in case.
ITCHMO ADMIN: Yes, we confirmed the number with the person who ordered the test and our published number is accurate.
May 24th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
tf - see ‘details cyanuric acid: detected’ below the box on the page; the test is called an ‘unknown chemicals/toxins’ test.
May 24th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Wow, just wow. Thank you Itchmo!
I almost bought the IAMS Large Breed the other day at Costco, since I didn’t want to get my usual bag of Nutra Nuggets. Glad I didn’t get it. I feel like I’m playing Russian Roulette when I go dog food shopping.
May 24th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
I am just waiting for the 10 million dollar Purina plant that started operations in Feb this year, and that was strategically located in close
proximity to a port…..to start shipping their canned ‘goods’ to other
countries. Go ahead and google it, there is a statement from the plant
operations manager, and he says that it was located near a port ‘in case’ they decide to start exporting the product. Oh but don’t worry, they will
be using local ingredients……..I don’t know how I will react if I ever see
a can of pet food that is made/canned in China. I wonder when they pan
to start exporting, it sure seems like part of their plan. Been to the Purina website, and there is NOTHING about their new fancy plant in China. Why not Purina?
May 24th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
The reason I think this is dramatic is because the sample appears to have tested *negative* for melamine, but *positive* for cyanuric acid. This is the first time I, for one, have seen this type of test result.
Therefore, if companies continue to test for melamine alone, it doesn’t confirm that the food is actually “clean”, does it?
I hope you get this confirmed and keep up the great work!
May 24th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Note to FDA:
I’m confused.
Didn’t you guys tell us repeatedly that the exising food supply is safe?
Did you see that lab report? It says “cyanuric acid”. That doesn’t sound safe to me.
Why don’t you just tell us that you don’t have a clue about what’s going on with the pet food supply?
May 24th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Unjbelieveable, how could this company do this?
They blew the whistle on the contaminated pet foods
Sandi
May 24th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
If you did not before, this would be the time to make a donation to Itchmo(like I just did). The testing by Itchmo must cost them. This is a service to their readers that goes way beyong the wonderful updated unbiased news. It will send the pet food makers into shudders of fear… now they could be caught. Now more hiding behind the PFI or FDA.
Many pet parents cannot afford individual testing. Making a donation, even if small, to Itchmo, and have a concerted effort by testing suspect petfood not recalled- yet. Will flush out the creeps among pet food manufacturers. What a wonderful valuable service by Itchmo.
May 24th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Sandi,
only if they can conffirm it wasn’t tainted by someone with an agenda (peta comes to my mind) other than the Chinese . . .
May 24th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Kirsten - EXACTLY! Some of the pet food companies are posting results that tested negative for melamine. That’s now meaningless.
May 24th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Kirsten said: Therefore, if companies continue to test for melamine alone, it doesn’t confirm that the food is actually “cleanâ€, does it?
Straybaby said: Testing for cyanuric acid is most commonly done with a turbidometric test, which uses a test reagent to precipitate the cyanuric acid …
A reagent called melamine is used. The melamine combines with the cyanuric acid in the water to form a fine, insoluble, white precipitate that causes the water to cloud in proportion to the amount of cyanuric acid in it
??? why doesn’t melamine show in the test then? and if it was in there to begin w, how could they tell if it was the adulterant melamine or the
reagent melamine?
not a chemist here….
May 24th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
This just disgusts me. This is what happened to our kitty. I complained about food in Dec/Jan only to be blown off and then a private vet decides to test on their own and they find contamination. And look what happens again? And the only thing FDA has done is sent a letter to pet food companies saying they are allowed to police themselves and are”expected” to ensure their food is safe. Well FDA when are you going to get a clue that they obviously arent going to do anything? And in the meantime more pets have to get sick and die? Does anyone know if FDA can be sued or are they protected also?
May 24th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Kim said: Kirsten - EXACTLY! Some of the pet food companies are posting results that tested negative for melamine. That’s now meaningless.
So this is really going to blow the lid off. FINALLY! About d*** time
uh, and, also,
FDA RELEASE THE IDENITIFED 5TH TOXIN TO THE PUBLIC NOW
May 24th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Note to above, it wasnt our vet that tested it, it was the lady in California…just to clarify.
May 24th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Sandi K said: FDA has done is sent a letter to pet food companies saying they are allowed to police themselves and areâ€expected†to ensure their food is safe. Well FDA when are you going to get a clue that they obviously arent going to do anything?
duh, never. The mfrs PAY the FDA to speed their approvals.
The FDA works FOR THE MFRS. not for us.
When are people going to understand?
May 24th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
For some reason I cannot explain, I do not want to see BARF, Billinghurst diets or promos.
Enough, is enough,
It really peeved me.
Sandi
May 24th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
hello Sen. Durbin, got a min.?
May 24th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
ok so we have a whole different realm of symptoms to consider here.
let’s get rolling…….
I knew the melamine was a red herring. I KNEW it.
May 24th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Thanks itchmo for the great work!! I am wondering if the american agri businesses in China are involved in the tainted pet foods. I read Dr. Fox’s theory on the possibilities of GMO seeds being involved. When you become aware that Dupont has teamed up with Dekalb in China , Pioneer seeds is operating in china. Conagra is operating in china it makes you wonder if just the chinese are involved in this or are others?
I also have wondered if the USDA and FDA are being told to ease up on the infestigation as they could hurt some companies bottom line?
May 24th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Iams “blew the whistle” because they were getting slammed with complaints and they NEVER put an ad on TV to make people aware of the symptoms, Iams did what they did to COVER THEIR BUTT, not yours, not your pets, not to be doing the right thing.
I have been saying from day one that NONE of the big pet companies can be trusted to give clear test results, give honest answers on the phone or make food that I will ever feed a pet!
May 24th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Okay guys….I need some help…..I had blood work done on my 13 year old dog her BUN and CREA levels are in the high area. Not way, way high but still on the high side. She was fine 6 months ago. The vet wants me to put her on a kidney veterinary diet…
Has anyone seen the ingredients in this type of dog food. It is all junk….I had to pick one so I picked Purina NF Kidney formula. It breaks my heart to feed her this….but I do not know what esle to do.
What are people feeding their dogs that has kidney failure?
If anyone has went through this and can give me some ideas I would really be grateful. Thank you
May 24th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
[…] Itchmo has a toxicology report showing cyanuric acid was found in a pet food not on the recall list, and is looking for help in finding additional bags of food from the same lot. Head over there and see if you can assist him with his ongoing investigation, and watch his site for new developments. […]
May 24th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Natura Pet Products Adds Cyanuric Acid Testing to its Quality Control Program
Tuesday May 22, 1:46 pm ET
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070522......html?.v=1
SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–To further ensure the safety of all of its pet foods, Natura Pet Products has announced that, effective immediately, a new protocol will be added to its standard 120-point quality control program that will test for cyanuric acid.
Although Natura has not been implicated in any of the recent recalls, the company is committed to producing the healthiest pet food in the world and has pledged to test all of their products to ensure 100% safety. Natura is currently testing for melamine contamination, but recent reports have found that melamine combined with cyanuric acid — rather than melamine alone — likely caused the kidney damage in pets that ate tainted food.
Cyanuric acid (1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triol, C3H3N3O3) is an organic compound commonly used as a water treatment stabilizer for swimming pools and hot tubs and is a metabolite of melamine. This compound was found in some of the tainted ingredients and in the tissue and urine of some of the animals that ate the contaminated food.
Since the March Menu Foods recalls, Natura has made several bold decisions related to the nutritional health and safety of its products. In addition to becoming the first pet food company to guarantee its products are 100% safe from melamine, Natura is in the process of acquiring a canning plant so that it can exercise complete control over the production of all of its products. Natura does not use any protein supplements from non-U.S. sources.
May 24th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Has anyone heard any complaints about Science Diet? Someone informed me that their dog is sick. The dog is vomiting, isn’t eating and had blood in her urine. I haven’t heard of blood in the urine as being a problem, but if it were my dog, I would panic. The vet diagnosed her with a UTI and gave antibiotics, but she doesn’t seem to be getting better. Just wondering if anyone had seen any complaints about SD during the last couple of months.
May 24th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Stephanie..does your friend still have any of the food left? Maybe a good idea to get it tested by a lab.
May 24th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Well, this is going to be interesting…since I have had a problem with Eukanuba Senior Maint. dry dog food. My information on food,symptoms,purchase, etc… was just sent to my FDA investigator this AM. Maybe I’m not nuts and hysterical after all!
Thanks Itchmo, I hope someone has a bag that can be tested.
Maybe finally, finally us dry dog food people will have some answers.
Katie
May 24th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Stephanie - yes, I’ve seen a few reports about Science Diet. Here’s a few on the DRY DOG Science Diet:
http://www.itchmo.com/read/sev.....omment-656
http://www.itchmo.com/read/sev.....omment-606
http://www.itchmo.com/read/sev.....omment-699
May 24th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
itchmo…send that report to Sen. Durbin’s office.
May 24th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Jody, there is a Yahoo group called K9KidneyDiet. By far one of the best groups I have seen. They can help you with interpreting the labs and coming up with a diet that would be suitable for your dog. Commercial diets are usually much to high in phosphorous for a kidney dog.
Hope this helps….
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/g.....d=48323739
May 24th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Stephanie, I have read umpty complaints about SD products on this blog alone. They are spread out over months, but their have been many many complaints by posters here about a variety of SD both wet and dry.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Jody,
I don’t know if you saw my post above.
What my dog showed: restlessness, gut pain, hot dry nose, excessive water drinking - 128 to 256 oz/day and she weighs 47lbs. When I started home cooking for her, her water drinking returned to normal: 40 oz/day. She is now taking Pepcid AC for gastric distress.
Her Chems: BUN and Creat. high side of normal. But double what those chems had run for two years.
Her Urine: WBC’s and RBC’s have been on the rise, last cysto had 4-10 RBC’s/hpf and granular casts. Protein too.
Diet: I’m feeding a home cooked kidney diet. I have the time and therefore chose not to go the commercial kidney diet route. A good place to find info: Yahoo groups: K9KidneyDiet also dogaware.com which is Mary Strauss’s web site and she owns the Kidney Diet group. Good info. there.
Hope this helps,
Katie
May 24th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Can’t find all symptoms of ingestion of Cyuaric acid but here is one :
INGESTION: DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. If the victim is conscious and not convulsing, give 1 or 2 glasses of water to dilute the chemical and IMMEDIATELY call a hospital or poison control center. Be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital if advised by a physician. If the victim is convulsing or unconscious, do not give anything by mouth, ensure that the victim’s airway is open and lay the victim on his/her side with the head lower than the body. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim to a hospital. (NTP, 1992)
I have read some peoples pets have had siezures which would be the same as convulsions
May 24th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
has anyone has their pets tremble? Someone on another list just lost their pup today. sounds like it came on fairly quick (renal failure w/trembling) i don’t want to email and ask what the pup was eating (i think they may believe it’s age related, 12yo Dal), but that little alarm bell is going off in my head . . .
May 24th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
had their pets tremble! not has :-/
May 24th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Katie,—— thank you so much for the information. I love my dog so much and only want to do the BEST thing for her. I will look at these website.
Thank you again
Jody
May 24th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Everyone: go back and read the link in straybaby Says: May 24th, 2007 at 2:23 pm - do’t skim it - READ IT in full.
If I understand correctly [and those of you with chemistry knowledge please correct me], it’s possible that if there was another toxin in the bag that the cyanuric acid dissipated it before the test.
Does this mean that I can go out to a pool supply company and buy a cyanuric acid test kit, drop a kibble of ground up dry dog food in the test tube, add tap water, shake it up like crazy and then read the results? [And Teri at AccuTrace - if this is a viable method of testing I truly don’t mean to waylay business from you - I just so want to get home test kits to the consumer. You have pets - you know what it means to us.]
CYA: pool professionals acronym for cyanuric acid. Hmmmmmm - CYA - cover your a**. How appropriate.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Jody…chapter 13 DIET and chronic renal disease…. HOME PREPARED DOG AND CAT DIETS THE HEALTHFUL ALTERNATIVE BY DONALD R. STROMBECK,DVM.PHD
May 24th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
RE 4lgdfriend Says: May 24th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
“FDA RELEASE THE IDENITIFED 5TH TOXIN TO THE PUBLIC NOW”
Where? What? I don’t see anything on their website that relates to this [today].
May 24th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
straybaby Says:
May 24th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
“has anyone has their pets tremble? Someone on another list just lost their pup today. sounds like it came on fairly quick (renal failure w/trembling) i don’t want to email and ask what the pup was eating (i think they may believe it’s age related, 12yo Dal), but that little alarm bell is going off in my head”
Omigod. After following all of this information obsessively for weeks, I had to rush my 10 yr. old Westie to the Animal Medical Center in NY at night three weeks ago just after she ate. She was trembling and having trouble breathing. Diagnosed after xray with non-specific chronic lung condition, but now I wonder…I will look into this immediately.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Lynn,
I asked this question over in the forums under Misc. I’m trying to figure out the same thing. I need to shower and play with my dog, but i will be writing a couple of the companies that developed the strips and other test devices and see if we can’t come up with a home test.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
My cat eats Iams Active Maturity dry. I’ve been trying to get her to switch to something else but she is so addicted to it. I just checked the Active Maturity ingredients list against their Large Breed dog food, and many of the ingredients are the same. Yikes!
May 24th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Straybaby,
A vet at VSEC (Veterinary Specialty Emergency Clinic) told me that animals may tremble when they are in pain.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
anonymous at 4:18 is me…sorry
May 24th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Anonymous,
where were you during 9/11? that may be another thing to look at if you were here. my apt got smoked out on the 13th. i came in later that night, so i don’t know how long my pets were breathing it, but i am concerned. especially since i lost one suddenly a year and a half ago. he, had blood coming out of the side of his mouth and the vet said possible embolism. i was too shaken to think clearly at the time, so i didn’t have a necropsy. a cough from a pet does raise my alarm bells now though.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
eep your right 5cat! i forgot that! mine trembles from fear, so that’s where my mind goes first.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
So, say you feed your pet the dry with cyanuric acid and a wet with melamine - tests show those two combined create LARGE crystals in urine/kidneys.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
IAM’s keeps saying that their dry dog food is not affected because it isn’t made at the Menu Plant like their wet food. They have said it’s made at their plant.
My pet dog died from what I believe was the Mini chunks. I have called several times and filed with FDA and nothing.
They think because they were the ones to come out with the tainted wet food they have done their part with the recalls. They told me IAM’s reported it to Menu Foods to start the recalls.
I have asked what have they done to be sure their other foods wasn’t tainted and was told its safe because it doesn’t have the protein that was in the recall.
Itchmo I hope they respond to your emails. I still believe…..believe… but I know what I saw in my pets symptoms and the horrible pain and death my pet went through. She was a little Chi/terrier, only 6 yrs old. and a healthy dog.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Hi, Straybaby. My dog, Freedom, trembles almost constantly and has since she ate the toxic pet food. I think I remember a few others on this site writing about how their dogs trembled. Most of the trembling happens in her back legs. I hope this helps.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Thank you very much Mikescats, Gerry and everyone. I will look at everything. I just love this website. I learn so much
Thank you too Itchmo.
Jody
May 24th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
straybaby Says:
May 24th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Good question about 9/11, but we hadn’t moved to NY yet when that occured. When this happened 3 wks ago I assumed that perhaps she aspirated food since it happened right after eating dinner. I had eliminated wet food and kibble (both Wellness) and had her on cooked organic freshly ground beef, rice and a supplement (Dr. Goodpet — 1st ingredient chicken meal).
May 24th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Maureen,
Your unknown lung problem, check the AVMA website, the study they posted about the sheep. The sheep had fluid in the lungs. My cat had fluid in his lungs after he ate the tainted food. Tell your vet!
http://www.avma.org/aa/petfood....._sheep.asp
May 24th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
I would like to add that I have problems with ORGANIX DRY CAT FOOD. I started feeding this to my three cats two weeks ago, and they started throwing up. They threw up the food and what looked like phlegm. I quit feeding it to them and they seem fine now. Castor & Pollux assured me that it is “safe”.
My vet thinks it’s because I switched the food too fast and not gradually.
I’m not sure what is going on. I switched them back to the Natural Balance Reduced Calorie formula, but I am worried about this too. Since NB has had recalls of their other formulas. I just don’t know what to feed them.
I can not get any of the “better” foods from the smaller companies like Evo, Innova, etc… There is no place around me that carries them. What to do?
May 24th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Itchmo..Thankyou as I have said before this site is awesome..if it was not for this site we would all be in the dark on all these recalls…GREAT WORK on your part
May 24th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I just emailed IAMS last week asking about the sources of their ingredients. I got a reply stating:
“I wish I could be more helpful, but supplier information is proprietary and
not shared outside the company.”
It does not exactly instill confidence in their foods.
The email also states:
“Because of the recent issues on processed vegetable proteins, we have made an exception to this rule and shared with our consumers that Iams and Eukanuba products currently on retailers’ shelves are not formulated with any processed vegetable proteins (wheat gluten, corn gluten or rice concentrate protein).”
May 24th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
You can’t use a pool test kit to test for cyanuric acid in pet foods. You’d have to do an extraction step first. You’d also want to know what range of contamination you are looking for (grams of contaminant in total volume of substance). I highly doubt that the amount found in pet food would react to the pool test kit anyway. (Remember, part of the problem is that melamine and cyanuric acid are concentrated in the kidneys.)
I can’t tell for sure, since the report just reads “detected” which tells me nothing of the detection limit used, method, anything. Are there more pages to this report?
May 24th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Janet,
I had the same problem as you - my 15 year old cat Seamus REFUSED to try new foods. I tried 2 years ago to move him to a higher quality food (felt like I was feeding him the cat equivalent of Doritos!), but every food I tried he just turned up his nose and refused to eat.
But with everything going on I got stubborn (and clever)… or maybe just desperate. So… I bought a new quality food (Innova) that I was comfortable with. I often give Seamus treats during the day, so I started by slipping a kibble of the Innova in with his treats from time to time. Then one day I put out a whole bowl. He thought it was a bowl full of treats and started chomping away! Now he’s happily eating a higher quality food and I can sleep at night.
Even with this method, I’d recommend buying the smallest size bag you can - cats are picky and I wouldn’t want you to invest in a 10 lb. bag only to have your cat refuse it (even as a treat!).
Good luck!!!
May 24th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Mark - read this post by Moony from the itchmo forums “help with my sick pet” topic regarding NB reduced calorie:
Moony
Newbie
Posts: 11
Re: If your pet survived the food poisoning
« Reply #35 on: May 08, 2007, 02:41:34 PM » Quote
——————————————————————————–
2dachsunds - One of my cats died from food that’s still not on the list that she’d been eating for the last year and a half, so just because you’re not having problems with it *now* doesn’t mean its going to stay that way.
Ajmac - there are a LOT of links on this forum to places concerned with CRF and a lot of stories like yours, even in the titles to the threads. I would STONGLY suggest you read them. Incidentally, my cat died from Natural Balance Reduced Calorie kibble, and my remaining cat has kidney damage from it.
–Moony
May 24th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Magazine dedicated to providing consumers with information about products MADE IN THE USA. I am going to subscribe.
http://www.madeinusamag.com/mission.htm
May 24th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Anon says: The sheep had fluid in the lungs. My cat had fluid in his lungs after he ate the tainted food.
http://www.avma.org/aa/petfood....._sheep.asp
HEAD EXPLODING OFF NECK
May 24th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I’m a member of multiple online survey groups (all together they bring in an extra $100-200 a year and I sometimes get free stuff). Well, I just finished a 20 minute survey about the pet food recalls. Wanted to know what brands I recognized by name and packaging, my “impressions” of them and their wholesomeness, whether or not I thought they were safe, what companies I thought had handled the recalls well and badly, etc. It included other brands but overall was VERY Purina focused (including asking me who I thought the parent company of Pro Plan, Friskies, and Fancy Feast was). I think they’re concerned. And somehow I don’t think I gave them the answers they wanted. LOL
May 24th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Mark Says:
“I can not get any of the “better†foods from the smaller companies like Evo, Innova, etc… There is no place around me that carries them. What to do?”
You can buy many of them online. I know Pet food Direct carries the Natura products. I’m sure others do as well.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Mark:
Have you tried asking any local, indepedent pet stores or livestock feed stores to special order for you? I’ve found my small, local stores very willing to add to their inventory and obtain another buyer.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Well it IS almost Friday of a 3-day weekend. I bet nothing becomes official until late tomorrow. These SOBS!
May 24th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
The sheep had fluid in the lungs BOOM
From Material Safety Datasheet: Melamine: Potential Acute Health Effects: Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, OF INHALATION (LUNG IRRITANT).
Special Remarks: Inhalation: May cause irritation of the respiratory tract and affect respiration.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
well other organ things can cause fluid in the lungs too - kidney failure?
nevertheless: FDA RELEASE THE 5TH TOXIN TO THE PUBLIC NOW!!
May 24th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
THANKS Itchmo for staying on their case.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
CompCat,
can you check this link?
http://www.palintest.com/parameters/cyanuric
May 24th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
4lgdfriend Says:
May 24th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Sandi K said: FDA has done is sent a letter to pet food companies saying they are allowed to police themselves and areâ€expected†to ensure their food is safe. Well FDA when are you going to get a clue that they obviously arent going to do anything?
duh, never. The mfrs PAY the FDA to speed their approvals.
The FDA works FOR THE MFRS. not for us.
When are people going to understand?
****************************************
4lgdfriend, I totally understand, I lost my cat due to this. And maybe i didnt get my point across, but to me even though FDA may work for the MFRS doesnt make it right and Im personally not willing to just accept things the way they are. Everyones answer is to not buy China products or pet food but that will not stop the companies from continuing how they have been doing things all along. Thats great if people dont want to buy pet food any longer and I dont blame anyone, but that doesnt help others who will continue to buy pet food such as animal shelters etc. They have the right to know the product they are using is safe and the only way to that will ever come to be is to take on FDA, pet food companies, etc and not give up.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Suzi Says:
May 24th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I just emailed IAMS last week asking about the sources of their ingredients. I got a reply stating:
“I wish I could be more helpful, but supplier information is proprietary and
not shared outside the company.â€
It does not exactly instill confidence in their foods.
The email also states:
“Because of the recent issues on processed vegetable proteins, we have made an exception to this rule and shared with our consumers that Iams and Eukanuba products currently on retailers’ shelves are not formulated with any processed vegetable proteins (wheat gluten, corn gluten or rice concentrate protein).â€
Re: “Sharing”
Until the company can “share” this information with me, I am unable to “share” my $ with them. What they’ve “shared” can be found on the Iams website under ingredients for each product. Perhaps if enough of them hear what we can’t “share” with them, they’ll be more willing to disclose information.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Jody,
Even though I used to feed Purina products for years, I’ll never trust them again. I’d find something else for your dog. Our 13 year old Australian Shepherd was switched to canned Alpo last fall, (way before the recalls) he started going downhill in October, not kidney related, but liver enzymes way off, weight loss, energy loss, etc. Vet couldn’t find reason. We expected his death any day. When Alpo was recalled, I immediately switched him to Merrick canned, and within 2 weeks he was a different dog! Energy, gaining weight, total turnaround. I believe that something in the Alpo even last fall was slowly poisoning him. Hope another food works as well for you. Good luck.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Thanks for posting that Amy! I was gonna say it myself. :D
Also, Mark, are there any horses in your area? Even just outside the city? If there are, there’s also a feed store somewhere in the area where the horse owners get their grain. They carry cat and dog food as well, and often brands the pet stores don’t have, like Ivo, Felidae, and Evangers. Plus, you can mail order food. NB should be considered BAD all around now, even their customer service has been lying to people. I started feeding Castor & Pollux Natural Ultramix shortly before my cat died, and my surviving cat was recovering on it, but I switched to Felidae & Pounce from The Honest Kitchen, with some fish mixed in, and he’s been doing MUCH better on it (tho he doesn’t apparently like the Lamb & Rice Felidae…)
May 24th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
Catching up on reading this now, but must say thanks for all your efforts here at Itchmo. My head is swimming with all the news on this, but I have to know and without sites like yours, this would be even more of a horrific tragedy than it already is. You are doing something very good.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmr.....05_07.html
Hong Chang Corporation Recalls Monkfish Because of Possible Health Risk
Contact:
Steven Luo
(562) 309-0068
“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Santa Fe Springs, CA — May 23, 2007 — Hong Chang Corporation, Santa Fe Springs, CA is recalling product labeled as monkfish because it may contain tetrodotoxin, a potent toxin. Although the product was identified as monkfish, we are concerned the product may be pufferfish because this toxin is usually associated with certain types of pufferfish. Consumption of foods containing tetrodotoxin can result in life-threatening illness or death. This toxin cannot be destroyed by cooking or freezing.
“Initial symptoms occur within 30 minutes to several hours after consuming food containing the toxin and are characterized by lip and tongue tingling and then followed by facial and extremity tingling and numbness. Subsequent symptoms may include headache, balance problems, excessive salivation, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea with abdominal pain which can be severe. In severe cases, muscles can become paralyzed and death may follow resulting from respiratory muscle paralysis. Consumers experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical care.
“A total of 282, 22-lb. boxes of monkfish were distributed to wholesalers in Illinois, California and Hawaii beginning in September 2006. This product was sold in retail stores, restaurants, and cash and carry stores in these regions.
“The monkfish are individually packaged in clear plastic sleeves and placed in a plastic liner which is inside a cardboard box. There are no lot numbers on the box. The boxes are packed by total weight, 22 pounds, with labeling on one panel that reads “MONK FISH GUTTED AND HEAD-OFF PRODUCT OF CHINA”. A second box panel bears nutritional facts and the following, “Ingredients: Monk fish; Imported by: Hong Chang Corp, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670; Product of China (P.R.C.).”
“The problem was discovered after two people in the Chicago, IL area fell ill after consuming soup made with the “monkfish”. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) analysis of the fish confirmed the presence of life-threatening levels of tetrodotoxin.
“At this time, Hong Chang Corp. and FDA are investigating how the problem occurred.
“Consumers who have purchased this monkfish are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Care should be exercised in handling the fish as the tetrodotoxin may be present on the skin and flesh of the fish. Wash hands thoroughly after handling. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-562-309-0068.
“Consumers who may have consumed these products and have concerns are encouraged to contact their health care provider. Consumers should also report illnesses associated with consumption of these products to the nearest FDA district offices and to their local health authority.
Note the origin of the fish product and that it was imported beginning last fall, and that neither the importer nor FDA are certain if the product was pufferfish or not….
May 24th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Well, Moony, it came up again today when I tried to make someone feel a little better about possibly dodging a NB bullet… they’re still listing the reduced calorie as fine on the NB website. But, hey, they’ve done that before and that’s how I wound up with a kidney problem cat after feeding their other crap. Now one’s on Rx diet and the other is on a variety of things… currently he likes Evangers and Felidae but he’s a hard core Fancy Feast addict and getting him through withdrawal has been tough!
May 24th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Kidney Failure Link for Jody
http://www.shirleys-wellness-c.....htm#kidney
This view point is very different from what conventional vets would suggest. Dave
May 24th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
I add my thanks along with all the others I have read here, to Itchmo for digging out the hidden information and giving us a forum to share our experiences and help each other. I have made a donation to Itchmo to help with expenses in maintaining this site. I also click on some of the ads, since that provides additional income to Itchmo.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
From Menu, with Love:
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/US%20Residents.htm
“May 24, 2007
“Dear Pet Owner:
“Thank you for your interest in Menu Foods. Menu Foods wants to express sympathy to those pet owners whose pets have become sick or died, and to assure you that we are doing everything we can to address your concerns. It has always been our desire to compensate pet owners for reasonable expenses that we can identify as being caused by contamination of Menu Foods’ products.
“On May 24, 2007, a United States federal court issued an order that, for the time being, prevents Menu Foods from having direct contact with individual U.S. pet owners. In light of the order, we regret that we cannot communicate with you at this time. As soon as the court permits, we intend to resume efforts to resolve claims directly with pet owners. We will post additional information when we are able.”
http://www.menufoods.com/recal.....idents.htm
“May 24, 2007
“Dear Pet Owner:
“Thank you for your interest in Menu Foods. Menu Foods wants to express sympathy to those pet owners whose pets have become sick or died, and to assure you that we are doing everything we can to address your concerns. It has always been our desire to compensate pet owners for reasonable expenses that we can identify as being caused by contamination of Menu Foods’ products.
“On May 24, 2007, a United States federal court issued an order that, for the time being, prevents Menu Foods from having direct contact with individual U.S. pet owners. While we do not believe the prohibition extends to Canada, Menu Foods is reviewing how best we can be fair to both Canadian residents and U.S. residents, so that all of the claims of pet owners can be resolved. Until this review is complete, Menu Foods is not in a position to settle claims by Canadian pet owners. We will post additional information when our review is complete. ”
Posted on their website within the last 2-3 hours.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Colgate says they do not import toothpaste from China well here are some of their plants in China: http:/www.mindbranch.com/prod-toc/Toothpaste-R263-26991
READ ON
Conscious Consumers
China
Toothpaste Market
China-Largest Producer of Toothpaste in the World
Consumer Trends
Leading Players and Their Market Shares in the Recent Past
Table 101: Market Share of Leading Toothpaste Manufacturers in China in the Recent Past (2001): Guangzhou Colgate-Palmolive Co Ltd, Procter & Gamble (China) Company, Tianjin Liantian Group Stock Co Ltd, Dencare (Chongqing) Oral Care Co Ltd, Guangzhou Masson Group Corporation, Colpal Chemical Industrial Co Ltd and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)
Table 102: Market Share of Leading Anti-Cavity Toothpaste Manufacturers in China in the Recent Past (2001): Guangzhou Colgate-Palmolive Co Ltd, Shanghai Unilever Toothpaste Co Ltd., Liuzhou Liangmianzhen Co Ltd, Tianjin Liantian Group Stock Co Ltd, Procter & Gamble (China) Company, Guangzhou Masson Group Corporation and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)
Table 103: Market Share of Leading Herbal Toothpaste Manufacturers in China in the Recent Past (2001): Shanghai Unilever Toothpaste Co Ltd, Guangzhou Colgate-Palmolive Co Ltd, Liuzhou Liangmianzhen Co Ltd, Procter & Gamble (China) Company, Guangzhou Masson Group Corporation and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)
Table 104: Market Shares of Leading Whitening Toothpaste Manufacturers in China in the Recent Past (2001): Guangzhou Colgate-Palmolive Co Ltd, Procter & Gamble (China) Company, Shanghai Unilever Toothpaste Co Ltd, Liuzhou Liangmianzhen Co Ltd and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)
Table 105: Percentage Shares of Leading Players in Mouth Rinse Market in China in the Recent Past (2001): ORAL-B (Shanghai) Co Ltd, Guangzhou Masson Group Corporation, Tianjin Liantian Group Stock Co Ltd and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)
Table 106: Market Shares of Leading Toothpaste Brands in China (Historic Data for 2000): Colgate, Zhonghua, Crest, Signal, Liangmianzhen, Heimei, Legsuanling, Liubizhi, Kangchiling and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)
Table 107: Total Toothpaste Production Volume Breakup of Leading Players in China in the Recent Past (2001): Guangzhou Colgate-Palmolive Co Ltd, Procter & Gamble (China) Company, Tianjin Liantian Group Stock Co Ltd, Dencare (Chongqing) Oral Care Co Ltd, Guangzhou Masson Group Corporation, Colpal Chemical Industrial Co Ltd and Others (In million Yuan) (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)
Table 108: Anti-Cavity Toothpaste Production Volume Breakup of Leading Players in China in the Recent Past (2001): Guangzhou Colgate-Palmolive Co Ltd, Shanghai Unilever Toothpaste Co Ltd, Liuzhou Liangmianzhen Co Ltd, Tianjin Liantian Group Stock Co Ltd, Procter & Gamble (China) Company, Guangzhou and Masson Group Corporation and Others (In million Yuan) (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)
Table 109: Herbal Toothpaste Production Volume Breakup of Leading Players in China in the Recent Past (2001): Shanghai Unilever Toothpaste Co Ltd, Guangzhou Colgate-Palmolive Co Ltd, Liuzhou Liangmianzhen Co Ltd, Procter & Gamble (China) Company and Guangzhou Masson Group Corporation and Others (In million Yuan) (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)
Table 110: Whitening Toothpaste Production Volume Breakup of Leading Players in China in the Recent Past (2001): Guangzhou Colgate- Palmolive Co Ltd, Procter & Gamble (China) Company, Shanghai Unilever Toothpaste Co Ltd, Liuzhou Liangmianzhen Co Ltd and Others (In million Yuan) (includes corresponding Graph/Chart)
May 24th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Yeah, I guess that’s what it should be called - ‘withdrawal’! XD
Does anyone have a list of the 4 named toxins? I’m having trouble finding it in all the comments…I should write it down.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
my dog’s been eating iam’s dry for 4 years until february….i opened a new 8 lb bag, he came running as always, sniffed the food and refused to eat it. he’s a beagle mix…food is the most important thing in his life, but he wouldn’t touch that iams dry…no way, no how. i still have it. then the recall was announced. i’ve had my suspicions about iams ever since.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
menusux,
“Unable to communicate with individual U.S. pet owners due to a United States federal court order”. What’s up with that?
May 24th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Great–here in our office a lady feeds her golden Iams adult dry food. She is going to check her bag tonight for the lot numbers. My other GSD friend/breeder feeds all her dogs & puppies Iams in the green bag. Geez.
May 24th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
The cats out of the bag - Thank you, itchmo!
May 24th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
So NOW WE HAVE TO WONDER WHETHER WE HAVE CYANURIC ACID IN THE DRY FOODS TOO. i WONDER IF ANY OF THEM WERE CHECKED AT ALL? THERE JUST IS NOT ANYTHING SAVE ANY MORE!
THE FDA IS GOING TO HAVE TO ASK FOR A LOT MORE HELP BECAUSE THEY BETTER START CHECKING ALL OF OUR FOOD TOO.
PLUS IF THEY SAY WE CAN EAT THE TAINTED CHICKEN, FISH, AND PORK BECAUSE WE HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS IN OUR DIET, WELL THAT IS OUR DIET EXCEPT FOR BEEF AND THEY ALL READY PROBABLY SUPPLY ALL THE PRESERVATIVES THAT ARE IN MOST OF OUR PRODUCTS IN THE STORE AND WHAT IS IN THEM THAT MAY BE TAINTED TOO? NOW THE FDA IS CHECKING OUR TOOTHPASTE TOO. WHAT NEXT?
May 24th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
re:Sandi K said: FDA has done is sent a letter to pet food companies saying they are allowed to police themselves and areâ€expected†to ensure their food is safe. Well FDA when are you going to get a clue that they obviously arent going to do anything
I wonder if the FDA is telling them exactly what to look for. If so, I wonder if anyone with a conscience will spill the beans. Sooner or later…
May 24th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
If a company has something manufactured in their own plants in another country, does shipping it here even count as an ‘import’?
May 24th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Moony Says:
Moony, the so far revealed toxins are melamine, cyanuric acid, ammeloride and ammelorine. With some possiblity of still aminopterin thrown in there too…..
May 24th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
menusux wrote:
“Re: “Sharingâ€
Until the company can “share†this information with me, I am unable to “share†my $ with them. What they’ve “shared†can be found on the Iams website under ingredients for each product. Perhaps if enough of them hear what we can’t “share†with them, they’ll be more willing to disclose information.”
Exactly. I sent a reply saying I won’t be buying their products any more and suggested the re-think their policy of non-disclosure. Perhaps when their sales bottom out, they might reconsider.
May 24th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
DMS Says:
DMS thats what I keep hoping for that someone who has quit or wants to be a “whistle-blower” will come forward.
May 24th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
*writes it down* Thanks Sandi!
May 24th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
“Janet Says:
May 24th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
menusux,
“Unable to communicate with individual U.S. pet owners due to a United States federal court orderâ€. What’s up with that?”
Can’t find any news story about the order right now, but think it may have to do with one or more of the lawsuits filed against Menu–individual or class action. If we knew which district the order came from, we could try viewing the order online at the respective court’s website.
May 24th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
does anyone remember who issued the order that they were not to destroy food because of the upcoming legal issues. this was back towards the begining. that may shed some light.
May 24th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
JODY: I second Gerry’s suggestion that you get Dr. Donald Strombeck’s book and read his chapter on diet and kidney disease. He is a 45-year small animal practitioner plus professor emeritis at Univ. of CA, Davis and very knowledgeable in gastroenterology. It is odd for a vet — particularly of his stature — to recommend home prepared diets for cats and dogs, and be so open about the horrors of commercial pet foods and the industry. I’m sue he took a lot of heat for his book, which I think is excellent. The kidney disease diets are extremely simple and easy to prepare. I would get your dog on one of these recipes immediately.
May 24th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Re: Colgate Palmolive toothpaste
I have used Colgate toothpaste probably most of my life–probably exclusively in the last 5 years.
I have not had a cavity in my mouth in 15 years. I brush and floss more than the average person, I would say.
I went to the dentist for my “yearly” cleaning/checkup.
I had 35 cavaties. (I sat in the dentist’s chair and just cried!) The dentist made impressions of my teeth and I use gel-flouride treatments twice a day. Less than two months have gone by since I had all these teeth filled—-and….
The dental floss is hanging up on my teeth and when I run my fingernail down the tooth there IS a pit which I am saying IS decay.
Hearing about the toothpaste coming from China, I now wonder could it be the toothpaste? My oral hygiene and diet has been consistent.
I’d be curious to know if anyone else is having any dental iproblems with using Colgate?
May 24th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Let’s reveiw some observation facts:
1. How long has this recall stuff been going on already, very long, right?
2. Practically every day people have been given constant reliable information on this wesite, which is very conclusive that the pet food companies are not safe and not to be trusted. see #8.
3. Yet, a lot of people are still questioning every single selection, treats, whatever, manufactured by brand companies that have put on the recall list to find out if they are safe to feed their pets.
4. The majority of people claim that they have learned not to trust the pet food companies and FDA for all the obvious reasons, and their comments saying so are repeated over and over again with good reason.
5. Yet, most or some people are still questioning the safety of every single selection and treats from those brand companies that are on the recall list. (sounds familiar with #3, doesn’t it?)
6. And they still want to know exactly what is in those brands that is “proprietary information.” (not including the people who had pet losses)
7. see #2 …constant reliable information, and see #3 and #5.
8. More than contamination has been exposed about the pet foods.
9. Yet it seems to me that some people are looking for reasons to trust the companies again since they want to know if those same companies still carry safe foods. see #3 and #5 and #8.
10. It’s quite clear to most people that the pet food companies’ goal is only to increase their wealth, and that has been repeated over and over again with good reason.
If my points from 1 through 10 has made anybody’s head spin, then that is to be expected. These facts have been making my head spin.
1. What does it take for some people to understand that with all the verified facts given, that those companies are not safe no matter what they produce?
2. How long and what does it take for some people to understand that the companies are not interested in the well-being of pets?
May 24th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Not sure if any one posted this or not but symptoms in humans is also labored breathing, stomach pain, and like I posted earlier convulsions. Just google Cyuaric acid symptoms and these things appear. Aslo cancer in long term exposure
May 24th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
I sure wish accutrace would/could publish a list of all pet foods it has tested and the results.
I also wish their fee for testing were more affordable. Someone on a limited income just cannot afford that much $ for a test. The brand(s) I have been feeding are NOT from any company involved in a recall…but even so, I’d sure feel better to know for sure that it’s all safe. Ah well.
May 24th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
This excerpt from Dolittler (March 20, 2007)
t = 0 days (Feb 20): When the first cases were reported. [Canadian press story mentions some knowledge of a problem in mid-December - Jay]
t = 7 days (Feb 27): When Menu Foods started testing.
t = 7-18 days: When their test cases were dying (one in six we now know).
t = 25 days (Friday, March 16): When they finally issued the recall.
Nearly a month has gone by. I’d have expected a lot more action from the huge conglomerates affected in this disaster. As if waiting a full ten days before an announcement isn’t horrific enough, delivering the news on the cusp of a sleepy weekend is the height of hubris. It’s a parting-shot insult that serves as much-deserved death knell for their collective brand equity.
end of Dolittler excerpt:
For all the talk of China, etc., let’s return to some flat out villainy as demonstrated above: Menu Foods and this delay that cost so many.
Reminder #1: Menu Foods manufactures Special Kitty: don’t buy it, tomorrow or anytime, as long as Wal-Mart contracts with Menu.
Of course, if Wal-Mart changes supplier, it will undoubtedly be for a Chinese supplier — so check those labels!
And thanks, Chuck, a good list
May 24th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Has anyone had a pet eat DRY food and immediately die? Seems like immediate death is more common with the canned food, and longer wasting illness with the dry, based on reports I have been reading. If the dry food poisoning is slow, it is then harder to recognize, and therefore companies have been “getting away with” not recalling it. My cat’s dry food illness was slow in progression and she recovered when the food was removed. Anyone?
May 24th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
i believe most animal guardians feel as i do…i will never trust the pet food companies again. the only well-being they care about is their stockholders.
May 24th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Also, as I have been reading all this time, as months went by, newer bags seem to have been faster acting, e.g. pet ate bag bought in April and got sick quickly, vs. pet ate food from bag bought in January got sick more slowly. Are we just on alert to notice right away, or is the new food worse than food from earlier months. Anyone?
May 24th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
A 2 year old springer spaniel eating 50% Eukanuba Puppy and 50% Adult Lamb and Rice Blue Buffallo. Since January she was throwing up off and on. In early April there was blood in her urine. She was diagnosed with severe urinary tract infection with possible early renal failure.
She was retested a week agi, the WBC and RWC counts are normal, however still some bacteria and struvite crystals.
She was taken off the Blue Buffalo April 30th and was changed to Iam Lamb and Rice. I am worried about the Eukanuba and the Iams as well.
May 24th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
I checked the Bloom by my house none of there 20 lbs green bags had the right number on them. Will check somewhere else tomorrow.
May 24th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
If I were a really cynical person, I might look at all these events and think, what would I do if I were heading up a pet food company and I had just found out there was some really bad contaminant that got in to many pet foods, but it was believed it wouldn’t actually kill many pets. Would I calculate the millions of dollars not just from recalls, but from certain future lost sales, and worse shareholders dumping my company’s stock, and then figure, well a few pets might get sick if they are already weak, but with so many different brands, people mixing and switching, whose really going to figure it out? Maybe if we just lay low, or recall a few limited runs, brands to make it look like we are preemptively doing something, most of this food will be through the line before people figure it out if ever. If there are complaints, sick pets, maybe a few deaths, we’ll just deny everything, deny there is a contaminant, deny we ever used it, deny we had knowledge of someone slipping it into the processing line, deny that there’s any more than a trace mix up, cross-contamination. Most pet owners, if they had a problem won’t have the feed or evidence left, won’t be able to prove it ever was in the food, won’t have a pet left to autopsy, or won’t even suspect it was the food, or won’t believe it could be the food. Now *if* after the fact we find out all this bad contaminant has a somewhat worse effect than we guessed, well that’s too bad, but we can’t expose our company to any liability. We’ll show we did the best we could not having any idea how pervasive this little problems was, or how bad it could be. And we will just keep assuring our buyers (and most of all our shareholders) that we are going to check everything. Which will be easy, because we know damn well what happened, so now we will just do it differently. And the corporate machine will continue to grind on. That’s what I would think if I were a really cynical person.
May 24th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
[…] Itchmo Safety Alert: EXCLUSIVE: Lab Reports Cyanuric Acid In Unrecalled Dry Food. Full Article: http://www.itchmo.com/read/lab....._20070524. Itchmo is asking "…if anyone has an unopened 20 lb. bag of Iams Large Breed drydog food […]
May 24th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
I vote for a new word: ITCHMOSIS - the process of outing the most disgraceful crimes against pets and humans … Alternative usage: “I’m gonna Itchmo you crooks!”.
May 24th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
furmom: I must be a very cynical person. :{
May 24th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
furmom
I totally agree with you I said all along IMO FF Purina in general has been letting everyone else take the blame just lie in this case IAMS. Because you have to prove from what I understand that one food is the only one your cat or dog has in eaten in the last XYZ days, weeks months and that is hard to prove. And so many people like you say switch the foods up for variety it is hard to pin point the exact one taht caused it if they are not admitting to anything, the only reason I am 100% sure mine was the FF Elegant medley is because it is the only food both my cats eat in common they both eat a different dry, but both eat FF wet.
May 24th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
ITCHMOSIS! Anna_2007, you are a genius! I LOVE that!!!
May 24th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
furmom, you forgot to add in the ‘benefit’ of increased sales of prescription foods, and the reasoning that ‘it could be any number of things’ that caused the ill and dead pets.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Latest Re: Import Situation-
http://www.wtopnews.com/index......id=1149695
U.S. Asks China to Monitor Exports
May 24, 2007 - 6:16pm Associated Press
“U.S. officials asked their Chinese counterparts to increase oversight of food and drug exports Thursday as the list of potentially deadly products reaching U.S. shores kept growing.
“The U.S. asked China to require exporters to register with the government, amid other measures meant to provide greater assurance of the safety of their products. The requests came amid ongoing problems with Chinese exports, including chemically spiked pet food ingredients and, as of Thursday, potentially poisonous toothpaste and toxic fish.
“The Chinese understand very well that any nation that does not create an atmosphere of trust with consumers and customers, they will be disadvantaged quickly on the world market,” Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt told reporters.
“A Chinese Embassy spokeswoman declined to comment other than to refer a reporter to previous statements made by government officials. Earlier this week, Vice Premier Wu Yi, in Washington for high-level economic talks, warned against politicizing economic and trade issues.
“”Obviously, there is a problem in China. It keeps getting bigger and we keep seeing more problems in different realms,” said Chris Waldrop of the Consumer Federation of America.
“On Thursday, even more potential problems were disclosed: The FDA said it was stopping all imports of Chinese toothpaste to test for a deadly chemical reportedly found in tubes sold elsewhere in the world. The testing will look for diethylene glycol, a chemical commonly used in antifreeze and brake fluid, spokesman Doug Arbesfeld said. The imports will be released only if they test negative for the chemical. The announcement came following reports that tainted Chinese toothpaste was sold in Australia, the Dominican Republic and Panama.
“The FDA also announced an importer was recalling 282 22-pound boxes labeled as Chinese monkfish that it distributed to three states. Two Chicago-area people became ill after eating the fish, which FDA testing later revealed contained life-threatening levels of tetrodotoxin, a sometimes deadly toxin. Importer Hong Chang Corp., of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., believes the fish may actually be pufferfish, which can contain tetrodotoxin.
“”There is a harsh reality here: When it comes to food, ‘Made in China’ is now a warning label in the United States,” said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who earlier this month exacted a promise from FDA commissioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach and Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong that they would work toward a mutual agreement to improve inspections and the overall safety of food products and drugs traded between the two nations.
“When asked Thursday if consumers could trust the safety of food imported from China, von Eschenbach told The AP: “This is one area where we have an ongoing opportunity for continuous improvement and that’s what we are going to pursue.”
“Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., chairwoman of the House Appropriations’ agriculture subcommittee, pledged to hold a hearing to examine Chinese imports.
“”This is becoming a day-by-day event. We got monkfish _ poisonous pufferfish _ as just yet another example. And they’re investigating toxic toothpaste imported from China. This is truly out of control,” said DeLauro, who criticized the administration’s food and drug safety requests to the Chinese as nonbinding.”
May 24th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Furmom - count me in the cynics as well…
May 24th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Lorie Says:
May 24th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Not sure if any one posted this or not but symptoms in humans is also labored breathing, stomach pain, and like I posted earlier convulsions. Just google Cyuaric acid symptoms and these things appear. Aslo cancer in long term exposure
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Thanks for that info Lori, alot of these symptoms are what my kitty had before she died .thank you
May 24th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Sad to say that it was just a matter of time before the large conglomerate companies were found out
May 24th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Amy Says:
May 24th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Furmom - count me in the cynics as well…
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Amy, heck not only am I cynical, call me paranoid anymore. I have to admit I have gone as far as wondering if any of this is China citizens being paid by terrorists to do this, especially with human food being more and more involved too…..our cat died from eating recalled food and the only good thing now is I dont have to worry about what to feed a pet as Im not going to be getting another one for a long time. It was too heartbreaking to watch her die and I dont want to worry about it happening to another one, there is no way I could go thru that again and come out sane.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
“A Chinese Embassy spokeswoman declined to comment other than to refer a reporter to previous statements made by government officials. Earlier this week, Vice Premier Wu Yi, in Washington for high-level economic talks, warned against politicizing economic and trade issues.
******
Hmmmm…..is this a threat, of sorts? Fish, petfood, toothpaste, long history of other tainted or mislableled or foods and products such as baby formula missing necessary ingredients….all quite deadly….and they’re warning us? What will they do, stop sending us their crap?
May 24th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
re : FDA and prescription for my pet and refill from diif, store same fungus med -different generic co. I ha my dog on fungal wed bad yeast infection on skin was clearing up almost gone vet said refill to be sure is al gone I refilled different store was cheaper for same drug ( different generic ) I noticed it was a different color 4 days later I am right back where we started 6 weeks ago with infection ? I called store about different generic source and problem I was having ( I said I dont think this is ethier real med >as is not working as other generic did or do they use different stuff in generic co, that make (same med ) they said is FDA controlled so is exactly the same ,I said bull FDA doesnt care nor inspect anything ,os I am refilling at 1sr source of MED that was working ( fake drug is a real possibitly in my mind really a fast change could not be any where the same as 1st med took 42 pills to get almost healed 3 days on other generic and almost back to day 1 wont do it I hate the FDA they are killing us
May 24th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Last Fall Aug & part Sept. I started one of my Labs on Blue Buffalo for a health problem (paroxymal diskinesias sp?). I was told to get her on a “better” food. 3 weeks later she urinated in house which is very bizarre since she is paper trained as well as housetrained. She didn’t make it to the wee wee pad. 1st vet found pH problem in urine & put her on antibiotics even though no bacteria present. She seemed to get better. As soon as AB ran out she urinated again (not making it to the wee wee pad). I took her to a veterinary internist who did full blood workup and found crystals in urine and STRONGLY urged me to go back to the old food (sorry It was Pegdigree dry). With no other treatment (other than going back to Pedigree) the urinalysis came back normal in 2 weeks and she’s had no problems since.
I contacted Blue Buffalo and they assured me it had nothing to do with their food. But no Blue Buffalo = no urinary crystals in my dog.
The chemical makeup of the crystals was not determined at the time but I believe we likely saved her life.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Sandy K,
Sorry about your kitty, but at least now they symptoms make sense. : ( Which food was kitty eating I can’t remember. I think I am finally going to break down and send my FF away to be tested I have 20 cans of the crap.
What toothpaste is suspect I use Colgate and saw it mention it that the brand
May 24th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Does anyone know the key to the production codes Iams uses? For instance if my 40 pound green bag of large breed says Jan 2008 is there a way to tell when it was manufactured?
May 24th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Couldn’t you post the report but blur the lab’s info so they are not named - would that satisfy the sharks at Iams? Censorship!
May 24th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Since I switched from proplan to Innova dry for my dog, and NB Venison and Green Pea canned for my cat, I have not had any vomiting, urinating, excessive shedding, diarreah(dog) and vomiting, wheezing, excessive shedding and har chewing (cat) with either of them. They are the best they have ever been.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
OMG! This talk about toothpaste got me to bring out an unused tube still in the box Crest tartar Protection Whitening Cool Mint Paste. It says: “Warnings-Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If more than used for brushing is accidently swallowed, get medical help or call a Poison Control Center right away.”
Sounds scarey to me. Doesn’t say where it’s made or where the ingredients come from.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
# straybaby Says:
May 24th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Anonymous,
where were you during 9/11? that may be another thing to look at if you were here. my apt got smoked out on the 13th. i came in later that night, so i don’t know how long my pets were breathing it, but i am concerned. especially since i lost one suddenly a year and a half ago. he, had blood coming out of the side of his mouth and the vet said possible embolism. i was too shaken to think clearly at the time, so i didn’t have a necropsy. a cough from a pet does raise my alarm bells now though.
To Straybaby:
I was front and center. All the rescue dogs have died, and the first ones to go, they sealed their autopsy reports. Found out re. one of them, he had 9 different cancers, very rare ones. Check for thyroid esp. All I can tell you is that the first few days were the worst of the worst exposures. Healthy athletic young men in service uniforms got heart attacks from breathing that. It was a toxic cocktail of over 900 deadly contaminants, some of the deadliest known, with particles finer than had ever been recorded in human history, and blew through all bodily defenses. If your pets were indoors, electricity off, was best (no circulating air), If you stayed, there’s a deadly organic mold that floated around Lower Manhattan (the blob), lots of buildings got it, which were recipients of 9too gross to talk about)… but this one reason why they brought down the BT building.
UC Davis Dr. Cahill team that went down there (didn’t test for Depleted Uranium, stopped one Atomic Number short, darn)… but all symptoms began to look like Gulf War Syndrome, and in fact those veterans came down to help us… when they started hearing about it.
The animals that first week 9/11 to 9/18 I can vouch for - we tried to take care of them since they were the only live things we found. We needed them as much as they needed us. The dogs just looked at us like “oh oh what have you humans gone and done now”. One just lay down and died right there. We IV’d cats and dogs - pets roaming around in shock… so many of my neighbors pets died soon after. The ground was saturated with crap, they were spraying for cholera for chrissakes down to Water street months afterwards. The dogs paws - they lick you know… we kept saying, get the children, pets and elderly the heck out of there, but the EPA refused to go along with speaking out…
Collected some data re my neighbors who suffered from bleeding eyes, noses, pharyngeal sores, dental work falling out, hair falling out, skin rashes that were horrific, stomach and lung disorders, all the symptoms of radiation sickness - which UC DAvis said it could mimic, so many multiple toxic chemicals were involved. The cancers showed up early, 3-5 years, a lot of thyroid… of COURSE the press isn’t covering… the one UPI reporter I worked with was almost fired.
Pets are small mammals, they go first. Humans can detox (like I did) because we sweat and the stored toxins can be gotten out of our cells through exercise and other agents, and then when they are dumped into the blood, using other agents to form large molecules to fool the liver to put them through the excrete cycle, rather than leaving in blood where they are quickly re-uptaked (to protect the CNS) and re-stored in tissues. Must be monitored and accompanied by sweating out (skin releases toxins quickly) or it can tax the liver and kidneys, but this is the best way to deep detox neurotoxins. Fur babies don’t sweat, so detoxing a pet is something for specialized holistic vets. Animals get some form of PTSD too, and that depresses their immune system.
PS FWIW I called Kathleen Callahan - the EPA rep - Callahan the Taliban in a public November 2001 State Senate Hearing in LM - for finishing off what the terrorists started… there are names I do not forget…
May 24th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Its because of the flouride. Children under 6 are not supposed to have flouride
May 24th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
To Itchmo, by P&G wanting you to remove the test result won’t change bloggers mind on IAM’s. I have had a feeling something has been wrong since my pet died. IAM’s can hide but can’t change how I feel.
Shame on you IAM’s.
On another note: I wrote Tyson foods concerning melamine in poultry. A response would be answered in 5 days. They didn’t waste any time, got and answer back today. I would laugh it off if I wasn’t so angry about this IAM’s test result. I will post it if any one wants to have a laugh.
I also wrote Kellogg’s and Ceasar dog food. Finally got a B***S*** answer from them too.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Beth,
Funny you should mention Colgate toothpaste. I pulled out a new box of Colgate this morning and read on the box that it’s made in Mexico. Then I called Colgate and asked if any of the toothpaste ingredients come from China.
The customer service representative didn’t know where their ingredients come from. She took my name and phone number, and said she’ll get the info and call me back.
Also contacted Starkist Tuna and learned that my can of water packed tuna contains soy broth and was canned in American Samoa (some of their tuna is canned in Equador). I told the rep they should print on their label where the tuna is canned.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
“On May 24, 2007, a United States federal court issued an order that, for the time being, prevents Menu Foods from having direct contact with individual U.S. pet owners. While we do not believe the prohibition extends to Canada, Menu Foods is reviewing how best we can be fair to both Canadian residents and U.S. residents, so that all of the claims of pet owners can be resolved. Until this review is complete, Menu Foods is not in a position to settle claims by Canadian pet owners. We will post additional information when our review is complete. â€
Posted on their website within the last 2-3 hours.
What the hell are they talking about? What court? Is this another Duane?
Menu also said they we’re suing Chemnutra. What ever happened to that? Menu also said they are phasing out ingredients from China. Were expected to believe this?
May 24th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
SandiK - that makes me so sad because we all know there are so many homeless furballs who could use a loving mom like yourself. As someone who is currently caring my chronically ill kidney cat (thanks NB) I completely understand how you’re feeling but I know there will be more kitties in my life after my current two have passed. The sheer volume of love, laughter, and devotion they give to us far outweighs the pain of losing them. I hope you find the strength to bring another baby into your world; you clearly loved the one you lost and a new little fluffy butt might help to heal. With that said, if you do get a new kitty you might want to look into homecooking until this crisis has had some resolution… if it ever does. My kitties send their love to you - you need it!
May 24th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Hey Helen - screw the wine, tonight I think I’ll be hitting the hard stuff; melatinis anyone?
Maybe that’s China’s master plan? Kill our pets, we drink when we grieve, we all get cirrhosis of the liver and die. They take over our country.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
So, Proctor and Gamble can move real farking fast when it suits them, huh?
Just not real quick to react to dying pets, frantic owners and suffering on an epic scale for 10 weeks?
You CANNOT trust any of them.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Itchmo. Why did the report have to be removed? They called and asked the company to ask you to remove it? I just noticed that now. Don’t know when it happened, but dangnabbit. Hmmmm I smell a rat poison.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Debbie 4747, as far as I’m aware, China holds a lot of U.S. debt, and as a result is in a position to influence what the U.S. government might actually say about any number of issues related to China. China could also refuse to accept goods from any country that makes a stink about any of this stuff.
I seem to recall that one of the reasons a lot of manufacturing jobs disappeared from North America is that a lot of companies that used to have factories in North America moved their operations to China because they could run their businesses at a far lower cost and with far fewer restrictions than they could here.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
“Phasing out” means they are going to continue to use ingredients from China.
Who knows how long “phasing out” will take. Plus they probably have a ton of stuff from China that they want to use up.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
UPDATE: The company that tested the food requested that we remove the image of the report from this post after being contacted by Proctor & Gamble, the parent company of Iams.
THE FUR IS FLYING NOW
May 24th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Well IAM’s has until midnight Friday to be honest. Whatya think??? IAM’s how much longer are you going to string us along? Sure you blew the whistle on Menu Foods…blah…blah…. you say you have done your part but why not be completely honest….
My pet died and you deny…..
May 24th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
SandyK Said:
I dont want to worry about it happening to another one, there is no way I could go thru that again and come out sane.
Those were my exact words to a girlfriend of mine a week or 2 ago she said I was to dramatic go through what she said a pet dying, told me I needed to get a life. Needless to say I was totally offended and hurt. She has children and does not understand taht my cats are the only children I will ever have and I too could not bare the worry of this whole ordeal again waiting for their test results etc…..panicing everytime I go to feed them.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Colgate says they do not import toothpaste from China well here are some of their plants in China: http:/www.mindbranch.com/prod-toc/Toothpaste-R263-26991
READ ON….
GONE!!!!! They took the info down… Did anyone save the website?
May 24th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
found this article on “KIDNEY DIETS”….might be useful for the lady looking for an alternative to the kidney diet suggested by her vet.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
It’s responses such as this update that ensure I will never buy a P&G product again. You may have forced Itch to remove the image but you can’t erase the minds of who saw it no matter how much you wish it so.
Spread the word peoples. You know…..through the troublesome blogger pipeline? Don’t forget to alert your favorite journalists about this too. The truth is out there. ;-)
May 24th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Is Proctor & Gamble going to try and strongarm every lab in the country NOT to test their foods? Come on! Your lawyer scare tactics may work on some poor lab P & G but they won’t work on the pet owning public. Boycott!
May 24th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
I talked to a Nicole at Wellness today.Wanted to know if they could put on their website that the manufacturers they use have had no recalls. She said no, they use ANI for some of their dry food. She said they keep samples of all ingredients & of each batch & tested them. Everything on the shelves should be safe. When I asked why some other co’s have had cross contamination she said they run only their food for 18 hrs & have an employee there to make sure the machines are cleaned. Sounds good but isn’t that something we’ve heard before other recalls? I asked if they are looking for a new facility; & she said no.It’s a shame ,my dogs & cats liked their dry but I won’t be buying it again.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
ally - great minds think alike (and at exactly the same time, hehe)
P & G - you can threaten but you can’t hide!
May 24th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Forgot to add that Timberwolf did put something up. They say they used to use Diamond but switched. Nowhere does it say the new facility hasn’t had recalls. Guess that means Chenango. Cross off another food !
May 24th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
I also called Arm &