List of Toxins Found in Pets Grows Longer, Pigs Fed Toxins
If it wasn’t confusing enough, three more toxins were found in the urine and kidneys of sick pets.
Researchers in at least three labs found cyanuric acid, amilorine and amiloride — all by-products of melamine — in the crystals of animals’ urine, tissues and kidneys…
Finding cyanuric acid is the more significant finding, Hoff, Goldstein and Mullaney said, although they are not yet certain how toxic it is to animals.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site said, “When ingested (by humans) in large amounts, the substance may have effects on the kidneys, resulting in tissue lesions.”
Also, pigs that ate contaminated rice protein were slaughtered and sold before the government could quarantine them. It is not clear whether the meat made it into consumers’ hands. The pigs ate salvaged pet food from Diamond Pet Foods.
Researchers also ruled out aminopterin, previously announced by NY state. No explanation is given as to how this decision was made.
(Thanks to reader comments)
April 20th, 2007 at 10:09 am
So is selling off recalled food to feed other animals a common occurance?
April 20th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Amiloride is a potassium sparing diuretic. It causes the body to lose water, but not potassium. In high enough doses, this will result in too high levels of potassium in the blood (a well known finding in affected animals). High levels of potassium can be devastating, and include sudden cardiac arrest.
Cyanuric acid is used to stabilize chlorine in swimming pools. Ingested over the long term it will cause kidney problems, liver problems, anorexia and metabolic changes.
I think we have started figuring out why the melamine was so toxic - since its breakdown products seem to be more toxic than the starting material (melamine).
April 20th, 2007 at 10:13 am
Maybe whoever put the melamine in the food didn’t have a good grasp of the chemistry involved. I still wonder if they just figured that, since melamine wasn’t supposed to be that toxic, nobody would notice.
I’m glad to see that SA has stopped importing Chinese gluten. I really doubt the US is going to follow suit, though.
April 20th, 2007 at 10:27 am
ok so let’s see. what human food products do we need to stop buying in order to make a statement that will be heard??? anyone willing to join me?
there are enough of us to make a difference…..
April 20th, 2007 at 10:28 am
Lisa C who knows but I for one have no desire to even engage in, much less win, a ‘race to the bottom’.
April 20th, 2007 at 10:31 am
The public release of these addtl toxins so long after the fact is nothing but stalling by investigators. This was probably known long ago. Stinks.
April 20th, 2007 at 10:34 am
I’ve been saying for days that from I will boycott every product from any company sourcing any ingredients from China. I’m just not sure how to go about determining who does and doesn’t. And if the pet food fiasco is any indication, most companies are gonna lie about it when asked.
April 20th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Re: KatieKat’s comment about frequency of feeding pet food to ruminants.
See hyperlink below. Basically, FDA has sought to include a label on pet food that would indicate not to feed to ruminants to prevent spread of BSE. Link is American Pet Products Manufacturers Association’s response (against it of course).
http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/docke.....04d355.pdf
April 20th, 2007 at 10:41 am
PLease remember to ask every government rep you have, and tell everyone you know - we need mandatory country of origin labeling on all ingredients, in both human and pet food.
April 20th, 2007 at 10:42 am
And we thought our food was safe from terrorism, just goes to show we are NOT safe! So much for Homeland security & the FDA…what a joke!
April 20th, 2007 at 10:42 am
In terms of what to buy and what not to buy for ourselves as humans, the old adage to buy local and organic whenever possible was never more true. And, eating lower on the food chain (i.e. limiting or even eliminating meat consumption) is not only very good for the planet by cutting back on a major contributor of greenhouse gases, and kind to animals, but keeps things simple because we really don’t know what livestock are being fed (see the reference to the pigs)
With regard to buying organic, I notice one of our large grocery chains here in Canada sells frozen organic vegetables–but the label says they are from China. Those I won’t't touch with a ten-food barge pole.
$0.02
April 20th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Joan Zheng: I actually had a chat with the chairman with the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing and he said that [of] the American companies, at least about 70% are making profits in China, like Motorola, GM, Coca-Cola. He also said that … 40% of American companies actually are getting higher margins in China last year than in the U.S. and over 80% of American companies based in China said they would reinvest in China.
Faber: Wages in China are averaging about 7% of what they are in Taiwan and South Korea and probably about 3% of what they are in the U.S. and in Japan and then you don’t have all the employee benefits that accrued or that are a cost to corporations in the U.S. like health care and so forth and retirement. So, basically, you can produce anything in China probably at least with 50% lower costs than in the United States and also at much lower cost than in Taiwan or South Korea.
Q. Why is the Chinese domestic market geared towards consuming Asian goods and not U.S. goods, because we know that China runs a large trade deficit with the U.S.?
April 20th, 2007 at 10:50 am
SymbaandTrooper..Thank you!!!!! That is awesome info! So why would Diamond sell for Pork comsumption being used for human consumption? SHouldn’t the Pork feeder know better?
April 20th, 2007 at 10:53 am
So, how are the pet food people disposing of contaminated product? Anyone heard anything on this? Did Diamond knowingly sell contaminated food as feed for livestock? Unknowingly, and, if so, why didn’t they know?
April 20th, 2007 at 10:54 am
KatieKat,
Thank you for invoking the word terrorism. I’ve been saying that for days now. I really cannot swallow that the Chinese manufacturers were completely ignorant of the chemical properties of melamine. I’m assuming they knew, and if so, they intentionally introduced a toxin into our food supply. Call me a reactionary, but that seems like terrorism to me.
April 20th, 2007 at 10:58 am
http://www.canadafreepress.com.....041807.htm ChemNutra, the U.S. company that imported the tainted wheat gluten from China seems to have disappeared off the radar screen.
“It was not until the president of the brokerage firm, Scott Pierce (the brother of Barbara Bush, wife of then-vice-president of the U.S.) entered his corporation’s guilty plea to 2000 criminal counts of federal mail and wire fraud in 1985, that the Hutton conglomerate fell apart.”
“Could it be that former Hutton vice president, ChemNutra’s Stephen S. Miller has FDA protection that originates from the highest office of the land? ”
DOES A BEAR SH88 IN THE FOREST?
April 20th, 2007 at 11:01 am
zenelvis…I felt that something isn’t right due to China blocking the FDA from investigating, I would thingk if China wanted to keep trade with the USA they would comply.
April 20th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Thanks KatieKat - I hope other readers take the time to read the link too.
http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/docke.....04d355.pdf
I was absolutely horrified when I read it.
It’s really shocking to read how the APPMA is absolutely aware of the trust that is placed in their hands, and yet willfully choose to take advantage of it. And, that potentially jeopardising their $12.5 billion/year industry is actually used as justification for not using proper labels (in this case, indicating that
The only comfort I take from this document, is that they are aware of (and estimate) the impact of losing consumer confidence on their profit margin.
As for why Diamond would sell the salvaged food to the pig farmer and vice versa: food no longer fit for pet consumption, so this is the only way to recover some profit. And pig farmer obtains cheap food (with high protein content! Hence higher protein content in the meat they sell too!)
April 20th, 2007 at 11:05 am
how is the petfood industry disposing of the contam product?
wasn’t there 155 TONS of RGC? where’d it all go boys?
lot more than 1 bag there……….
April 20th, 2007 at 11:05 am
PFI and ts members strongly believe the use of the caution statement “Do not feed to cattle or other ruminants†would have a devastating effect on the pet food industry, its suppliers, agricultural commodities used in pet food products, and, possibly even, sales of products for human
consumption that contain beef, lamb and other animal-derived ingredients.
Docket No. 02N-0273
Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
February 4,2003
April 20th, 2007 at 11:07 am
Full response from APPMA in previous link.
April 20th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Because findings are coming out so slowly, with unexpected developments, should we all start keeping every empty package and can? As well as all receipts? What’s the best procedure to follow, just in case our pets end up ill?
April 20th, 2007 at 11:10 am
ok. what not to buy. most bread. most baked goods. most crackers/chips&cookies. any processed carb products. Anything w soy - flour. Cake and muffin mixes. Cheap flour, cornmeal, Rice. Corn.
Certainly not protein smoothies advertising protein, sure to be loaded with concentrates. what else?
I’m md as hl and I’m not gonna take it anymore.
April 20th, 2007 at 11:11 am
My fear level has gone up dramaticly, not just for our beloved pets!
Anybody else lossing thier appetite?
April 20th, 2007 at 11:12 am
KatieKat,
Yeah, you’d think they’d be interested in clearning their name, not generating even more suspicion. The most frustrating thing is - the US government is barely responding to this crisis. I don’t think we’ll see a ban on Chinese imports any time in the near future.
April 20th, 2007 at 11:19 am
4lgdfriend Says, I am haivng my mother send me wheat flour that only uses local wheat and and mills locally in Kansas.
Hudson Mills, Hudson Ks
April 20th, 2007 at 11:21 am
4lgdfriend Says…yep I am there with ya, I am looking for local garuanteed sources as we speak.
I am mad as H3LL right along with you!
April 20th, 2007 at 11:22 am
I was unable to buy a bottle of apple juice for my kids that did not contain ingredients from China. I read every bottle on the shelves. One needs a magnifying glass to find it, but every bottle had ingredients from China.
I left the store without a lot of other things because I could not determine the country of origin by reading the labels.
I hope the farmer’s market opens soon.
April 20th, 2007 at 11:22 am
beef, lamb and other animal-derived ingredients.
animal derived = by-products, digests, meals - scavenged from the lowest cost garbage and sold with a tidily sanitized innocuous sounding label in small print
April 20th, 2007 at 11:36 am
I called the White House this morning and asked someone what government agency is responsible for what happens to the recalled pet food. I was told that they don’t know. I said if the White House doesn’t know, who does? The response was we can’t be responsible for or know about everything. I am sick and disgusted.
April 20th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Hey FDA,
You guys need to get out the locks and shut DIAMOND down. They’re just like MENU.
GARBAGE IN GARBAGE OUT
Note to FDA: You ALREADY have a rule. Why not USE IT?
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/.....01073.html
April 20th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Sharon,
Good for you. Try this.
Look in your phone book blue pages and find your STATE FDA office. Call and get a SUPERVISOR. Don’t deal with the screeners. Just raise H.
Also, call your FDA Consumer Complaint coordinator:
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/back.....plain.html
Again, ask for the Supervisor and raise H.
If enough people do this, things will start to happen.
Ask why doesn’t FDA test the corn gluten. I’d really like to know if it’s contaminated too. Might explain the Beneful complaints.
April 20th, 2007 at 11:48 am
KatieKat,
Did you contact your area HOMELAND SECURITY folks?
Give it a try.
It’s hard to find the right person, but well worth the effort.
April 20th, 2007 at 11:50 am
4lgdfriend says, thanks for the canada free press link. I have to keep that site up. They are dogged investigators.
If this is possible, I am even more disillusioned. I knew about the FDA proposal to prevent certain pet foods from going to ruminants because of mad cow.
Naively I assumed they meant they were worried that zoo animals would get mad cow, as happened in the British mad cow epidemic. I honestly never thought of pet food going to farm animals.
The corn gluten may explain the death of an acquaintance’s dear cat last year. The kitty ate only Nutro MaxCat dry. My own cats which had eaten Maxcat dry for years had lost their ability to eat much of it sometime last year. The cat that ate the most of it got the sickest when they were also eating the recalled IAMS wet.
We think our cats still live because we share our food with them we are such suckers for their begging.
I am disgusted with the way our gov protects the Chnese connection. You would think with the horrible balance of payments where China has about a trillion excess US dollars, they would want us to send les dollars to CHina until it balances. But then, the big shot US companies might have trouble setting up shop over there.
They pretend they want us to help American farmers but let the big companies sneak in this Chinese garbage into pet and human food.
Howl911 has a lot of tributes to pet victims that will break your heart
April 20th, 2007 at 11:51 am
I am abou 30 minutes away from Meta, MO where Diamond is located….hmmmm starting a protest doesn’t sound like a bad idea and would get media attention!
April 20th, 2007 at 11:51 am
I’ve tried calling the FDA Consumer Complaint coordinator and got no answer, an answering machine, and no call back.
I’ve have called the USDA, the FDA, the CDC, the White House, about forty Senators (demanding the resignation of the head of the FDA), and the Department of Homeland Security. I haven’t talked to one person who knew what was going on or cared.
I’m probably on a watch list now as some kind of wacko but at least I’m trying to do something. Most everyone I talk to thinks I’m with the media.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Ok…we need to figure out where all the recalled pet food went, I don’t think Diamond will be the only one doing such a thing…
April 20th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Sharon welcome to the club. There was a time when people would eat what was put on their plate. And they didn’t complain or ask questions. It’s now Anti American apparently to care if our food supplies are safe and ask questions. Wouldn’t want to to inconvenience the shareholders.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Does anyone else find it odd that Purina has been so silent in all of this, they also have hardly pulled any products and have many direct connections and factories in China.
Purina also has factories in MO.
I wonder if this is why FDA is dragging thier feet, Purina is a huge Corporation, and I imagine with a ton of pull and serious connections.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Purchased Knorr Veg. Soup Broth to make my own dog treats yesterday. Looked at ingredients and the last item is Wheat Gluten. So I guess I will have to call them and find out who sold them the Wheat Gluten.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
KatieKat, I have been ranting about Purina for some time now. They’ve evaded the wheat gluten issue in their first round of FAQs, only to pull Alpo cuts a few days later. New FAQs then revealed they did get their gluten from China but won’t anymore. On the 18th, just after the rpc scare came out, Purina put on their site “Everything you wanted to know about wheat gluten, but were afraid to ask.” Old news. We’ve already looked it up and educated ourselves and have moved onto rpc and now corn gluten as well. I’ve been hearing alot about Beneful not being good, and will bet that will eventually turn up along with some corn gluten boo-boos in the future as well. Scarey. Sad part is there are 2 more companies out there with potentially bad products due to the rpc and no one’s naming names or fessing up. That is just plain wrong and if it was baby food, probably illegal.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
RC CANADIAN Recalls Now:
http://www.royalcanin.ca/index_en.php
April 20, 2007 Media Inquiries: (613) 292-9268
Royal Canin Canada Voluntarily Recalls Pet Food Products That May Contain Contaminated Rice Protein Concentrate
Guelph, Ontario — Following Royal Canin USA’s discovery of a melamine derivative in rice gluten in some of its dry pet food products and its decision to recall these products, Royal Canin Canada has decided to remove Sensible Choice Diet and certain veterinary prescribed specialty diet products from distribution.
The following Royal Canin Canada products are being recalled:
ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET CANINE EARLY CARDIAC
ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET CANINE SENSITIVITY RC
(Rice and Catfish)
ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET CANINE SKIN SUPPORT
ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET FELINE HYPOALLERGENIC HP
ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET FELINE SENSITIVITY RD
(Rice and Duck)
In the interest of pet safety, Royal Canin Canada has taken the proactive measure to recall the products listed above.
“We cannot express how devastated we are to notify pet owners of this finding,” said Xavier Unkovic, CEO Royal Canin Canada. “However, we feel that this recall is necessary as we absolutely cannot put pets at risk.”
Based on today’s announcement, pet owners should immediately stop feeding their pets the Royal Canin Canada pet food products listed in this statement. Pet owners should consult with a veterinarian if they are concerned about the health of their pet. No other Royal Canin Canada diets are affected by this recall and CONTINUE TO BE safe for pets to eat.
Along with the recall announcement, Royal Canin Canada will no longer use any Chinese suppliers for any of its vegetable proteins.
Pet owners who have questions about this recall and other Royal Canin Canada products should call 1-866-494-6844.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Maybe I’m missing something, but the article from the Pittsburgh Tribune Review says that the contaminated salvage food was purchased by the hog farm on April 3 and 13…before Natural Balance initiated the recall of their venison foods containing rice protein concentrate…so it doesn’t seem like they were necessarily shipping returned, recalled food off for pig feed.
Also…pigs aren’t ruminants, at least not last time I checked.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Re: Symbaand Troopers comment
Thank you for that article. Every word made my blood boil. I don’t know if I am reading it correctly but if they wanted that label to prevent BSE from getting into the human food supply from pet food does that mean that BSE can be in pet food and that is OK? Are pets immune to BSE or just that they don’t care if they get it. Or am I not undestanding this.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
I’m sorry to keep repeating myself, but the FDA is part of the Bush administration, the most secretive & corrupt government in USA history. As far as how the FDA is dealing with this, we should be outraged, sad, concerned, etc; but NOT SURPRISED.
They care about $’s, not living beings.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Leadership Quote for Today
Dictators ride to and fro upon tigers which they dare not dismount. And the tigers are getting hungry. - Winston Churchill
April 20th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
To all,
Here’s the best I can do. This is the phone number to the President’s Message Office:
202/456-1111 They’re all out to lunch right now
Tell the Pres. We have a NATIONAL EMERGENCY. The food supply is being contaminated with MELAMINE due to contaminated pet food being fed to hogs. This MUST stop.
FYI, I’ve called EPA, FDA, Homeland Security at both the State and Federal levels. No one can help because it’s not their responsibility, they don’t understand the problem, they’re out to lunch, or off on Friday.
This MUST STOP NOW.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
I have the 2 sick cats to prove Purina is bad. They are very rude and short on phone accussed me of my cats being old and that is why they are having issues yea right within 12 hours of each other they both decided to stop eating and licking their lips consitantly one even decided to drool and projectile vomit just to make me think I am the one that is CRAZY. And now they both have increased kidney levels the smallest ones have double in 3 weeks. Here is the number I was given for my case it is a back door number. 1-866-270-9304
April 20th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Gudewife: The ruminant issue is a separate one, the issue that food capable of transmitting BSE is being fed to our pets, and so, it is not allowable to feed to ruminants - and the pet food industry is against including the labeling, to protect their interests, and that galls many of us.
As far as what Diamond did, and when they knew - we will never know for sure. It is indeed possible that they dumped the lot of poisoned pet food because it simply failed a palatability test. Chances are, they probably did know something independent of the recall by Natural Balance. When Natural Balnce initiated their recall, the FDA and Wilbur Eillis had already been informed - We’ll never know why the timing of so many of these things happened as it did - but I’ve lost of my ability to remain objective and open-minded, and just lost all sense of trust in all the major pet food players.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Lorie…what Purina formula where you feeding?
April 20th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
I just called the White House comment line…. the recording said…. “Because of today’s special event, the comment line is closed”… how could that be possible? A recording is closed?
April 20th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
KatieKat, it was fancy feast elegant medleys chicken florentine lot # 63031160L 4FV11416 Best Buy Oct 2008. it was the second can into a new case of 24 that this all started for me. Continue to use FF cause they claimed it was safe.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Lorie thanks for letting people know, I am sooooooo sorry about your kittys, my heart goes to you.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Pet Food May Have Been Intentionally Tainted
By ANDREW BRIDGES
AP
WASHINGTON (April 20) - Imported ingredients used in recalled pet food may have been intentionally spiked with an industrial chemical to boost their apparent protein content, federal officials said Thursday.
Chinese authorities have told the FDA that the wheat gluten was an industrial product not meant for pet food, Sundlof said. Still, melamine can skew test results to make a product appear more protein-rich than it really is, he added. That raises the possibility the contamination was deliberate.
http://news.aol.com/topnews/ar.....0000000001
April 20th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
I would not trust any food made by Purina. They have been the worst in how they have dealt with customer calls and this entire issue. They lie on the phone and after my conversation with a terrible person yesterday I am boycotting any product made by Nestle. That company has been making money at the expense of human lives for decades and there is no reason to believe anything they say is true or anything they produce is safe.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
I have sent several emails to Bush and the White House but have never gotten any type of response from anyone. Not even the standard generic reply.
The comment line is closed? What’s the special event? Is Friday golf day or something?
April 20th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
GARYN: Yes, pets are susceptible to BSE. Cats are highly susceptible.
I feed no beef but that’s no guarantee.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Lorie I fed my cat a variety of Fancy Feast starting in December 2006 through her death on March 4, 2007. The cans that I have left from the batch I bought are best by November and December 2008. She was also eating Innova wet but decided that she didn’t like that in December 2006 and so I alternated between Fancy Feast and Innova from that point until she died. It was before the recall and we buried her so no vet records. I know what happened in my heart but since I don’t have proof I will just leave it at that for now…
April 20th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
4LGDFriend… Oh great. Unbelievable that they know this is a possibility in pet food and don’t care. Actually, I don’t think anything can suprise me anymore. They are all pathological as far as I am concerened.
And as an addition to my post about my cat, she was only five and had no known medical condition before this.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
ScatMom, I’m interested in the conversation you had with Homeland Security!
And cyanuric acid is not all THAT toxic. It leaves the body fairly quickly (dog study here):
http://www.inchem.org/document.....52je21.htm
April 20th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Garyn Just reading your email gave me chills I knew in my heart it was the food the minute she started getting sick, I immediately stopped using it my husband kept telling me i was crazy that it was not on the list and if it was bad they would say so he is not syaing taht now. he has a few things he would like to do to Purina if Geisha or Topaz turn out to have perm damage. You should call that number i posted and just report the batch number just to create a pattern. I have also called animal poison control and they told me they were not a reporting agency that i still needed to call the FDA but thedue have it on record in the database if anyone else calls syaing there cat is eating FF. Never hurts to throw those red flags around
April 20th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
IF you read about render cows in pet food they say they use spinal cord and brain matter asked my vet at last visit with Geisha about mad copw and BSE and she said it is very possible to have a pet infected from it. They even have documentation at one web sight of a golden retirever in England they had autopsied and it had liesions on its brain like made caw.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
IF you read about render cows in pet food they say they use spinal cord and brain matter asked my vet at last visit with Geisha about mad copw and BSE and she said it is very possible to have a pet infected from it. They even have documentation at one web sight of a golden retirever in England they had autopsied and it had liesions on its brain like made cow.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
March!
I would like to add a plug for the national KOPS- Keep Our Pets Safe March taking place next weekend.
http://pnv2.com/page2.html
This FDA latest bull is an incredible reason to join the march. I got a permit to march here in Portland Maine in only 2 phone calls and a quick online questionnaire. It was not very difficult at all and it may not be too late for your cities to join us. Here in Maine if you have under 25 people you do not need even need a permit. Nancy
April 20th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Sue J…I certainly agree with you, and there was, some time ago, a movement in Canada to stop feeding meat and bone meal-based proteins to swine that was pretty soundly ignored in the US.
My only point is that it’s probably not illegal to feed pet food to hogs (at least I don’t think it is), and that’s the state of agribusiness in the US…I think we’re trying to make the same point from different directions.
I also don’t think we’ll ever know how the food got to the pigs, but based on the dates given, I don’t see Diamond bundling up palettes or recalled Natural Balance food to ship to hog farmers. More likely, it WAS rejected in post-production testing and sold off as pig feed. I just wasn’t quite sure of the rush to conclusions. I am as distrustful of the pet food industry as anyone, but because I’m monitoring the recalls and safety issues for a shelter, I’ve tried very hard to keep my wits about me so I can make good decisions, and not react in panic or fear…which hasn’t been easy sometimes.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
PFI’s Brochure to Download titled “Handling Salvage and Distressed Pet Food”
http://www.petfoodinstitute.or.....re_New.pdf
April 20th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
What is happening is against the law based on the Bioterrorism Act of 2002. The federal government is not doing it’s job. The directors of both the FDA and FEMA need to resign today. Unfortunately they are probably on the golf course with George.
April 20th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
nancy,
I’m in Sanford, ME. Any more details on the march in Portland?
Feel free to email me the info at
zenelvisx AT hotmail.com
April 20th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
http://www.avma.org/aa/menufoo.....70420a.asp
Breaking news
April 20, 2007 (12:15 pm CDT)
The American Hog Farm, a 1500-animal facility in Ceres, has been quarantined by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and lab testing has revealed the presence of the chemical melamine in pig urine. Additional testing of tissues, serum and urine from animals at the farm is underway at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory at UC Davis to determine if melamine is present in meat.
It is believed the melamine originated with rice protein concentrate shipped from China. Through an importer, the concentrate was distributed to Diamond Pet Foods, a pet food manufacturer in Lathrop, which sold salvage pet food to the farm for pig feed.
For more information, see the California Department of Food and Agriculture press release at
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/exec/pa.....CDFA07-038
April 20th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
CathyA,
Thanks for the link on disodium cyanuric acid. For a slighty different point of view, here is some info on monosodium cyanuric acid from the National Toxicology Program site. (Note: I am not yelling - this is how it is presented on the website).
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.....0FB33B0FC8 This info is about halfway down the page
• RENAL EFFECT OBSERVED IN FEMALE & MALE RATS FED 8% MONOSODIUM CYANURATE FOR 20 WEEKS IN DIET. 14 MALES & 4 FEMALES DIED DURING 20 WEEKS. AUTOPSY–HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN KIDNEY RELATED TO DIURETIC EFFECT OF CYANURIC ACID: DISTAL COLLECTING TUBULES & BELLINI’S DUCTS WERE DILATED; FOCAL AREAS OF EPITHELIAL PROLIFERATION. NO EFFECT @ 0.8% IN DIET. [CANELLI E; CHEMICAL, BACTERIOLOGICAL, AND TOXICOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF CYANURIC ACID AND CHLORINATED ISOCYANURATES AS APPLIED TO SWIMMING POOL DISINFECTION; AMER J PUB HEALTH 64 (2): 155-62 (1974)]**PEER REVIEWED**
• THREE DOGS FED 8% MONOSODIUM CYANURATE FOR 2 YEARS. TWO DOGS DIED @ 16 MONTHS AND 21 MONTHS. AUTOPSY–KIDNEY FIBROSIS, FOCAL DILATION & EPITHELIAL PROLIFERATION OF BELLINI’S DUCTS. THIRD DOG SACRIFICED AFTER TWO YEARS SHOWED THE SAME RENAL CHANGES PLUS ATROPHY OF THE THYROID WITH LYMPHOCYTIC INFILTRATION. A DIET CONTAINING 0.8% OF MONOSODIUM CYANURATE, HOWEVER, GIVEN TO 3 DOGS FOR 6 MONTHS CAUSED NO EVIDENT ADVERSE EFFECTS. [CANELLI E; CHEMICAL, BACTERIOLOGICAL, AND TOXICOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF CYANURIC ACID AND CHLORINATED ISOCYANURATES AS APPLIED TO SWIMMING POOL DISINFECTION; AMER J PUB HEALTH 64 (2): 155-62 (1974)]**PEER REVIEWED**
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If I am reading this correctly, there is a kidney effect, though these results sound more like a chronic condition and not the acute kidney disorders which seem to be resulting from the melamine (and other?) substances/metabolic byproducts. It could be a compounded effect (?) Or maybe the amount ingested is way higher that what would have been provided in regulatory tests in the past (?) which gave melamine GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status within the regulations (even though not approved in food).
Struck by the ending comments on the dog following the word However, where no adverse effects at 6 months. If there were effects at 1 or 2 years, but none at 6 months, I guess that makes it “okey-dokey” (?).
I am not afraid of the pork issue (for some reason) maybe because I think the substances are primarily sequestered within the cleansing organs of the body (kidney/liver) and muscle meat less likely to be contanimated - though - I don’t really know. Anybody out there know?
Does anyone know the type of cyanuric acid found and in what ratio in the food?
April 20th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
i just got off the phone with purina #1-877-590-3068 - they said that they have tested all products for wheat gluten and other than the recalled, they are safe. That they do not use rice concentrate in any of their products. That they have just started (yesterday) testing the corn gluton (keep watching their site). They indicated that they do buy it from china, but not from the manufacturer who is named in the wheat and rice issue.
I fed my 1st cat (passed away age 21 two years ago) fancy feast food his whole life. I currently have 2 cats (2 years old) and they have eaten the fancy feast wet and dry exclusively. A month ago, I switched to the natural balance (and we all know what happened there) - so, I have switched back to the fancy feast until this whole thing goes away. I think if we keep switching to products that “We think” are safe, we will hurt our pets digestive systems more with the constant changing.
April 20th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
“Does anyone know the type of cyanuric acid found and in what ratio in the food?”
no. In the wheat gluten contamination, Sundlof was widely quoted as saying the percentage of melamine was as high as 6% - I assume on a weight basis - so if cyanuric acid is there as a breakdown product of melamine, it would represent significantly less than 6% of the total weight of the gluten. - Most of the studies are done with a lot more than the amount you would expect a small dog or cat to be exposed to as the gluten, or protein, it does not constitute a main ingredient in the food, and it can at most have 6%… I know, clear as mud, sorry I’m not being clear, but I’m really tired..
April 20th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Linda, i am sure some of the fancy feasts without the glutens are fine my 2 cats actually at FF for the last six, seven years. But I have vet bills and 2 sick cats to prove Purina is lying about their gluten. And alot of other people have lost or sick animals due to people not telling the truth do you really think calling them they are going to say oh yes we know our food is killing cats but the FDA hasn’t made the connection yet so we are not going public. LOL
April 20th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Sent to Lou Dobbs:
“Lou, I find it ironic that on the day it become known that melamine-contaminated ingredient from China that has killed many pets has made it to humans through pigs that were fed toxic rice protein, despite all assurances from FDA, the only pig story on the CNN website is about Alec Baldwin calling his daughter ‘pig’! People, Alec may be a monster but he does not poison neither your pets nor you. Chinese companies do.”
April 20th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Has anyone heard anything - even -’boo’ from Iams lately?
April 20th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Vitaly -
Nice!
April 20th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
People have reported that they cannot find Iams Savory Sauce on store shelves, even though it has *not* been recalled. I checked myself… not there.
April 20th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Iams has been pretty quiet other than to offer free food
April 20th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
IAMS Savory Sauce:
A stock boy told me they pulled it from the shelves when other food was recalled. I asked why and said it is NOT on any of the recall lists….. He said he didn’t know.
April 20th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
IAMS is the company that took out, I think, Full-page ads in 59 newspapers across the country after this recall story broke. Now, they’re giving away all kinds of food. No thanks!
April 20th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
dose of humor for the day…let’s call this PET GATE…suggested by a dog loving friend of mine
April 20th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Royal Canin Canada now also issuing a recall
http://www.royalcanin.ca/index_en.php
April 20, 2007 Media Inquiries:
(613) 292-9268
Royal Canin Canada Voluntarily Recalls Pet Food Products That May Contain Contaminated Rice Protein Concentrate
Guelph, Ontario — Following Royal Canin USA’s discovery of a melamine derivative in rice gluten in some of its dry pet food products and its decision to recall these products, Royal Canin Canada has decided to remove Sensible Choice Diet and certain veterinary prescribed specialty diet products from distribution.
The following Royal Canin Canada products are being recalled:
ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET CANINE EARLY CARDIAC ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET CANINE SENSITIVITY RC (Rice and Catfish) ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET CANINE SKIN SUPPORT ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET FELINE HYPOALLERGENIC HP ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET FELINE SENSITIVITY RD (Rice and Duck)
In the interest of pet safety, Royal Canin Canada has taken the proactive
measure to recall the products listed above.
“We cannot express how devastated we are to notify pet owners of this finding,” said Xavier Unkovic, CEO Royal Canin Canada. “However, we feel that this recall is necessary as we absolutely cannot put pets at risk.”
Based on today’s announcement, pet owners should immediately stop feeding their pets the Royal Canin Canada pet food products listed in this statement. Pet owners should consult with a veterinarian if they are concerned about the health of their pet. No other Royal Canin Canada diets are affected by this recall and CONTINUE TO BE safe for pets to eat.
Along with the recall announcement, Royal Canin Canada will no longer use any Chinese suppliers for any of its vegetable proteins.
Pet owners who have questions about this recall and other Royal Canin Canada products should call 1-866-494-6844.
April 20th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Does any one know whatever happen to the vet I think his name was Pion that was going to have food tested that was showing up too much on dr’s notes
April 20th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
What time does the stock market close on Friday, 4 or 4:30?
April 20th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Vitaly!
That’s brilliant! I hope they run it on his show.
April 20th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Good question, Lorie.
April 20th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
KatieKat, selling off of outdated, test foods, and other protein sources
to be used as hog feed is commonplace. This I have seen with my own eyes. A large Dairy near where I live has trucks come in and pick up outdated products, largely yogurt, cheese, butter, cottage cheese…etc
even eggs, lots of milk, big trucks come they are not even refer’s and take it to pig farms to be used as feed. Again I have seen this with my own eyes people…..all this stuff is not so bad really….it’s put into a huge
cooker, and cooked at super high temps. The thing that bothered me was
(this was in 1990) beside the cooker were dead carcasses of farm animals like new born calves that did not make it, I saw a huge bloated and green pig laying there on it’s back stiff and bloated like a balloon……
I found out to my horror that those carcasses were also going into the cooker…….I will never forget that sight……THEN on the way out of the pig farm the owner says to me, ‘want some pork roast?’ by that time I was as green as the old dead pig waiting to be cooked and fed back to pigs.
This was 1990. I had a whole tour of the place, dead piglets everywhere
and they too go into the cooker. I used to like sausage and bacon but
have not eaten it for a long time! They say it’s cooked so it won’t do any
harm, but it is immoral imho. Pigs will eat anything, and they feed them
practically everything. The old dairy products were the good part.
April 20th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18210224/
Diverted to hog feed
The FDA and Agriculture Department also were investigating whether some pet food made by one of the five companies supplied by Wilbur-Ellis was diverted for use as hog feed after it was found unsuitable for pet consumption.
“We understand it did make it into some hog feed and we are following up on that as well,†Sundlof said.
Later Thursday, California officials said they believe the melamine at the quarantined hog farm came from rice protein concentrate imported from China by Diamond Pet Food’s Lathrop facility, which produces products under the Natural Balance brand and sold salvage pet food to the farm for pig feed.
“Although all animals appear healthy, we are taking this action out of an abundance of caution,†State Veterinarian Richard Breitmeyer said in a statement. “It is unknown if the chemical will be detected in meat.â€
Officials were investigating American Hog Farm’s sales records to determine who may be affected by the quarantine, said Steve Lyle, a spokesman for the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The 1,500-animal farm operates as a “custom slaughterhouse,†which means it generally does not supply meat to commercial outlets.
“Mostly it is not so-called mainstream pork. This is an operation that sells to folks who come in and want a whole pig,†said Lyle said.
Officials urged those who purchased pigs from American Hog Farm since April 3 to not consume the product until further notice.
Dr. Mark Horton, state public health officer, said so far “evidence suggests a minimal health risk to persons who may have consumed pork†from the farm.
A man who answered the phone for American Hog Farm late Thursday declined to comment and referred calls to state officials. Phone calls to Diamond Pet Food’s Lathrop facility and Meta, Mo., headquarters were not immediately returned.
What’s being said in the MSNBC story is that it’s thought after the NB had to be recalled and couldn’t continue on as pet food, Diamond dumped it on the hog farmer(s).
A little dark humor here–too bad Diamond isn’t an active member of PFI–then Duane Donothing could come to their aid in this. They did this before in their SC plant with the aflatoxin tainted food in 2005-2006; looks like they’ve hung themselves out to dry here. and can’t wiggle off this hook.
April 20th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN) ran a segment on the pet food recall a few weeks ago. I just emailed him to ask if he would do another show or at least a 20 minute segment — since the contaminated pork is now in the human food supply.
April 20th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
alabelreader, I know how the beef industry works, but I had no clue on the pork industry..thanks for the info, I can see I will not be eating pork, I feel much safer with beef, and chicken is pretty much out, as alot is imported
April 20th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Doesn’t it seem odd, that the president hasn’t said anything about the on going pet food problem.
Has anyone heard anything?
Fox only had a tiny blurb on the FDA recent findings. Didn’t even mention the other pet foods that have been pulled off the shelf.
No mention of South Africa pets are also dying
I guess this is OLD news and not worthy of keeping it in the media.
Why do you guess?
Problaby big business is trying to settle the dust and keep the hysteria to a mininium.
Yet another concern is the hog feed and the hog meat that could end up in human food.
Why is the media not concerned about that?
Why won’t the FDA name the other companies involved with Wilbur-Ellis?
How much longer do we have to wait?
Sooner or later this will end up as a human food problem with the FDA lagging its feet saying we didn’t know it would happen.
April 20th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
I am sure the other companies will be issuing their recalls at the end of the business day when their phone lines are shut down for the weekend.
April 20th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Ruth said: Doesn’t it seem odd, that the president hasn’t said anything about the on going pet food problem.
Has anyone heard anything?
Fox only had a tiny blurb on the FDA recent findings.
No, not so odd: http://www.canadafreepress.com.....041807.htm “”It was not until the president of the brokerage firm, Scott Pierce (the brother of Barbara Bush, wife of then-vice-president of the U.S.) entered his corporation’s guilty plea to 2000 criminal counts of federal mail and wire fraud in 1985, that the Hutton conglomerate fell apart.”
Could it be that former Hutton vice president, ChemNutra’s Stephen S. Miller has FDA protection that originates from the highest office of the land? “
April 20th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
I don’t know if all hog farms are all the same, or if they are now regulated differently as this was in 1990….and yes I eat meat. One thing I forgot to say is that I could not find evidence of packaging removal, there was no crusher/extractor type machinery there, just the huge boiler cooker. So I wonder if the stuff went in package and all. Much of it was
tetra type packages, yogurt containers with foil lids lots of plastic. I am sure there are farms that do have a different protocol. This was not a small outfit. It all goes to market, all to the same place, our dinner plates.
April 20th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Fancy Feast canned: Friend of mine thought these were safe since not recalled. Now that glutens and protein concentrates are suspect – you may wish to avoid foods containing these even if NOT recalled. As far as I’m concerned, we do not really know how far back the problem went.
IMO: It’s not the recalled foods, it’s the ingredients. If you fed any of their MINCED, CHUNKY ROASTED, FLAKED, SLICED, W/GRAVY, OR ELEGANT MEDLEYS, YOU FED WHEAT GLUTEN AND SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE! (see below)
Only the ones labeled FEAST, like Ex. 1 do not have these. (look up ingredients at petfooddirect.com for many brands)
SAFER EX 1 (w/o gluten or protein concentrate):
Tender Liver & Chicken Feast LIVER, MEAT BROTH, MEAT BY-PRODUCTS, CHICKEN, POULTRY BY-PRODUCTS, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, GUAR GUM, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SALT, TAURINE, VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS (E, A, D3, B12), THIAMIN MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), FERROUS SULFATE, ZINC SULFATE.
Chopped Grill Feast, Turkey & Giblets Feast, Gourmet Beef & Chicken Feast, Beef & Liver Feast DO NOT have gluten or protein concentrate.
IMO UNSAFE: THE REST OF THESE FF VARIETIES ALL HAVE IT – SEE BELOW – CLUE: first word of label=minced, chunky, roasted, flaked, sliced, also anything with gravy or all the elegant medley varieties:
Minced Turkey Feast POULTRY BROTH, TURKEY, LIVER, MEAT BY-PRODUCTS, WHEAT GLUTEN, CHICKEN, CORN STARCH-MODIFIED, SOY FLOUR, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, …
Roasted Chicken Feast POULTRY BROTH, CHICKEN, LIVER, MEAT BY-PRODUCTS, WHEAT GLUTEN, SOY FLOUR, POULTRY BY-PRODUCTS, SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, …
Sliced Turkey Feast Sufficient Water For Processing, Turkey, Animal Liver, Wheat Gluten, Meat By-Products, Chicken, Corn Starch-Modified, Soy Flour, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Soy Protein Concentrate,…
Flaked Chicken & Tuna Feast POULTRY BROTH, CHICKEN, FISH, TUNA, LIVER, MEAT BY-PRODUCTS, WHEAT GLUTEN, TURKEY, SOY FLOUR, SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, …
Chunky Chicken Feast CHICKEN BROTH, CHICKEN, MEAT BY-PRODUCTS, LIVER, FISH, TURKEY, WHEAT GLUTEN, POULTRY BY-PRODUCTS, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, SOY FLOUR, SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE,…
Elegant Medleys Shredded White Meat Chicken Fare with Garden Greens Poultry broth, chicken, wheat gluten, liver, meat by-products, turkey, spinach, corn starch-modified, artificial and natural flavors, calcium phosphate, soy protein concentrate,
April 20th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Lorie Says:
April 20th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
I have the 2 sick cats to prove Purina is bad. They are very rude and short on phone accussed me of my cats being old ….
Lorie, I know exactly how you feel and what you are going through, we received the same response. Our kitty had other health issues also as she was 15 yrs old. What animal or pet doesnt have other health issues when they get older? It doesnt lessen the fact that poisoning probably killed her. But I am sick of hearing people say oh she would have died anyway. I suspect that in older cats the affects of these toxins was even worse.
I know not all vets do that but I have run into several that no matter what when you take them in for check-ups etc and tell them they are 15 yrs old, you see them kind of close off. Vets need to be a little more open minded about the elderly pets.
April 20th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Sandi K Says: Vets need to be a little more open minded about the elderly pets.
I AGREE!!!!!!!!!
April 20th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
SueJ said:
>
Swimming pools…. water. Anyone know if these chemicals are used in water treatment facilities?
April 20th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Here’s the best I can do. This is the phone number to the President’s Message Office:
202/456-1111 They’re all out to lunch right now
What else is new? I’m sure they’re out to lunch 24/7.
April 20th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Sandi K,
I completely agree.
My 12+ year old Abyssinian was in good health and very active, but the food killed her.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Yeah, I have been wondering and waiting to see when it would trickle down to human food.
Still waiting to hear who are the other companies Wilbur-Ellis or FDA won’t name.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
I have emailed the White House to ask what Bush is feeding his dogs. Havent heard back yet.
Huh,….they may be in Crawford.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Someone needs to find out who transports Wilbur-Ellis products and follow the trucks or trains. The FDA is asleep at the wheel just like FEMA was during Katrina. Have we not learned any lessons in the past few years regarding what this adminstration is capable of? They obviously don’t care anything about pets or humans. The public will have to find out was is going on for itself. Where would be now without the reporter from Pittsburgh? No one would even know what was happening to the recalled food. We certainly rely upon our government to protect our health when all they care about it protecting their friends.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Diamond sent the salvaged pet food prior to realizing melamine in the formula (they were still shipping Natural Balance). As was mentioned above, this is common practice in the Industry.
I think right now it is safer to not be a member of PFI, then to claim to be one (I wonder what Eckhart feeds his 12 year old cat? I’m sure it wasn’t very much from the foods his company represents - would have loved to seen that question asked).
April 20th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
And to test Corn Gluten - good grief - we’re talking billions of dollars lost at all levels of the industry (distributors, suppliers, manufacturers, packaging, shipping, and of course - lest we forget - the retailers.)
April 20th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Lorie Says:
April 20th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Lorie, that was Dr. Paul Pion who was going to try to get the food samles over to UC Davis lab on Wed. Don’t know if he managed to do that or not, but at this point it’s probably irrelevant as it is the same lab all those pork samples are going to. I’m sure they’re overwhelmed and we know who will be the first in line - people.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
I really dont care about the billions of dollars lost in the industry. I care about what we are eating and what our pet’s are eating.
They shouldnt have purchased this crap from China in the first place. It’s their own damn fault and they should pay the price.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
It does not take days or weeks to test this stuff. UC has expensive equipment paid for by you and I, US taxpayers. It was bought with Homeland Security money. It was to be used for this purpose. They have been dragging their feet on this for over a month now if not longer. It is unconscionable.
April 20th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
The actual test to search for the toxins should only take about 6 to 8 hours.
April 20th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Cathy A thanks for the info on my question.
Teric you are right about lab test now that my cat has been exposed her second set of labs some how where done in house with in minutes verses call the next day for result. Go Figure
April 20th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I think it’s ironic that our Government urges trade with china, but turns around and pays farmers subsidies to keep fields idle so that there is not a surplus of grain.
April 20th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Lorie,
Actually I was talking about testing the product in question for unknown toxins & chemicals. I had been feeding treats to my pups that had been recalled by Sunshine Foods. I immediately sent it to the lab for testing. Testing began about 9:30am and was completed by 5:30pm.
Testing of the product does not take 2 or 3 weeks. You are right by saying what’s in line first & what UC thinks is most important.
April 20th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Sharon,
You’ll know if you’re on “a list” if you try to travel by air I suppose.
Have you seen this article yet?
http://www.canadafreepress.com.....041807.htm
IMO it certainly clears up the whys of the FDA foot-drag…and no one “knowing” anything in response to your queries.
April 20th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Baby Food Recall note.
I’ve read some posts indicating pet parents considered feeding baby food after the pet food recalls. Baby food is not as safe for pets as you’d think.
And then there is this recall:
A Mendocino County child is recovering and doing well after being diagnosed with infant botulism earlier this month, the Public Health Department reported Tuesday.
According to a press release, the child’s mother reported that, in addition to being breastfed, the infant was fed Earth’s Best Organic baby food.
While there is no confirmed link between this case and the baby food, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has initiated an ongoing recall for the following jars of Earth’s Best baby food because of the risk of contamination with Clostridium botulism, a bacterium which can cause botulism.
The affected baby food is:
-
Earth’s Best Organic 2 Apple Peach Barley Wholesome Breakfast, 4.5 ounce jars, expiration date Sept. 17, 2008.
-
Earth’s Best 2 Wholesome Breakfast Variety Pack, 12 pack, expiration date Sept. 13, 2008.
-
Earth’s Best Organic 2 Apple Peach Barley, 4.5 ounce jars within 12 pack, expiration date Sept. 14, 2008.
Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, usually causes illness within 18 to 36 hours of exposure.
Older populations who may be consuming the product as part of a pureed diet might experience symptoms such as blurred vision, dizziness, dry mouth, and progressive weakness from head to legs. Constipation and urinary retention are also common. People observing these symptoms should seek medical attention for those affected.
Production and distribution of the baby food has been suspended and the company has initiated a recall of the food.
The Environmental Health Division of Mendocino County has contacted local stores to ensure these products have been removed from their shelves.
April 21st, 2007 at 2:29 am
I wish there was a way for everyone here at Itchmo to donate even a dollar and collectively raise enough money to take a full page ad out in USA TODAY demanding accountability and letting the pet food industry know we will NOT buy from most of these companies EVER again..Money talks, if we take it away from them one huge lobby is LOST….one that has bought our governments complacency
I can see it now: FROM THE CONSUMERS IN AMERICA TO THE FDA, PET FOOD INDUSTRY AND THE MEN AND WOMEN IN GOVERMENT WHO WANT TO STAY IN OFFICE our voice and that of our pets, will have our say when we buy and when we vote.
I do feel Purinia is way too quiet…..so many are and lol Wellness states they do not buy but DO buy from 3 other Asian companies Ohh that puts my mind at ease
April 21st, 2007 at 8:45 am
Our family lost our beautiful Shepherd, too, to the horrendous symptoms this food travesty causes. She had just turned 11 and was brought up entirely on Purina foods. The fact that she was an “older” dog has no play in this matter as far as I am concerned because she was happy, bright-eyed, healthy, frisky and never sick before that fatal day in February 07.
I called the FDA to express my concerns about Purina’s food, but spoke to an answering machine, and never received a call back.
When I called Purina’s Consumer Line (800 778 7462), I told them about our dog, and that I brought our pets up only on Purina products and now I had a cat mimicking the same symptoms after eating wet Beneful (contains wheat gluten) - blood tinged urine.
The young woman became sympathetic, but then asked me, “Are you sure you only fed them Purina Products?”. Ah, duh, yes, I am sure - I am the one who buys the food!
She also told me Purina would pay the vet bills and I would receive a call back in a few days. Pretty good, ha? NOT! That was almost two weeks ago and nothing has become of it since.
I am not holding my breath to hear from Purina. As a matter of fact, I don’t really expect to hear from them. Rather, I am hoping for a recall and the truth.
As to the suspect food, I saved some. I put a couple of cups in a ziplock bag and put it in the freezer, with a scanned copy of every VITAL piece of information that was on Purina’s bag. I did this purely as a safeguard, because if Purina does call for the food, I have some that can be used if necessary.
To further this …
After our Shepherd was put to rest, our RottieMix would not touch the Purina One and it sat in his bowl for days and days and days. I thought he was depressed and missed her, and even though I did not suspect corn gluten at this time, I did suspect certain foods by Purina, so I began making the food. Oh, he wasn’t depressed, and he was very hungry, but his stomach couldn’t take the transition, so I knew I had to find a dry food. I narrowed down three foods: Canidae, Eagle Pack and TimberWolf - all of which I learned about from Itchmo’s Forum - thank you everyone!
I decided to go with TimberWolf OceanBlue for my dog and TimberWolf Serengheti for my cat. Why? Because I will not take a chance on any food that contains wheat, corn, rice, soy or gluten anything.
But, I do have to tell you this … it may be worth its weight to those who still use Purina pet food …
A friend who had not seen our RottieMix in only a few days came over and said to me, “Wow, he looks great! Look at his coat, it’s so shiny and smooth. Did he get a good brushing?” “No,” I said, “No Purina products.”
Yes, tt had not even been a month and my pets were entirely off Purina products and with that, any possible toxins. Both my daughter and I had noticed his coat was shinier, his breath was not sour and his eyes were bright again! But the biggest improvement, and only I would notice this, was the lack of [his] black “furballs” on my kitchen floor!
April 21st, 2007 at 9:29 am
Re: teric’s thread at 7:36 pm last night……
I want to thank you for the best laugh I’ve had in weeks. When I read that you emailed the Pres to ask what he was feeding his dogs, I started to laugh & didn’t stop for an hour. Like most of you I have been reading, checking the internet three times each hour to see what else has been recalled…..I’m exhausted, blurry eyed & going bonkers at this point in time. I had to turn off my computer after I read that comment because of thunder & lightning but I kept cracking up every time I thought about that.
All these people must be so bogged down with emails, letters & phone calls…..maybe they’ll get the hint that the pet owners of America are MAD & WE AREN’T GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!!!!
April 21st, 2007 at 11:30 am
Donna, it is so true about once you get rid of the Purina products in my case the FF, I was just telling my girlfriend last night with my oldest cat Topaz who is a 15 lbs tortie , how all her dandruff seems to have gone away since I switch to organic food on March 24th, after my 2 started having symptoms from FF on March 23rd. When I called Purina 2 of the girls were very nice the 3rd time when I called with vet results like I was told to do the girl was like are you calling for payment, are old are they blah blah blah I should of offered to make her and the rest of Purina a Nice FF Chicken Florintene Casserole with the rest of the 22 cans from the case, seeing how it is so safe.
April 21st, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Everyone of them will hopefully be punished for what they have done.
For many Years I have talked my head off about IMPORTING.
I have 4 Dogs and eveyone of them have been effected by this food.
I am so tired of the Vet but Love my KIDS to death.
It has been non stop with my dogs for over 2 months.
Now I think there is a problem with the CANIDAE that I am feeding them.
ANy insite to Canidae Dog Food
April 22nd, 2007 at 12:57 am
Well, South African’s Pet Industry has bocked importation of corn gluten from China, ah? Too bad America’s Pet Industry Doesn’t Have The Same Intelligence.
The bottom line is always their new god, the almighty $$$$$$$$$$$$. They’ve sold our souls.
Want to change this? Write, not email, write your legislators. DEMAND CHANGE. WE ARE THE PEOPLE.
April 22nd, 2007 at 4:18 am
When I first heard that the contaminated wheat gluten was human grade, I quit eating bread/cracker type stuff and went to my usual midsummer diet of mostly salad/veggies.
I also bought some chicken livers and started transitioning my 3 cats off commercial food, since I was feeding one the Hill’s kidney disease canned foods whose matching dry food was recalled, and I had back in December fed several cans of another Hill’s Science Digest canned food that was recalled.
After 3 weeks my kitties are all eating totally raw, crunching fish bones and turkey necks like little wild things. (One growls and snarls like a dog if I come near his food, another purrs loudly as she eats and arches her back when I rub her, but doesn’t raise her front up from where she’s happily gnawing away.) They all have better coats and are putting on weight–the skinny chronic kidney problem kitty now has a little tummy and just clearly FEELS better.
I’m now a believer in raw feeding! It’s what cats evolved eating, what they NEED, and they can’t digest the crap our big business companies have conned us into feeding them. It’s easy to see that my cats were starving for real nourishment, while I was feeding them high-end garbage.
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:20 am
Mary:
Re your post at 2:08pm……I’m in the process of switching my dog to Canidae as I’ve heard nothing but good stuff about it. Pls tell me that you found out it was something other than the Canidae. I need to know as I just barely gave my dog a few pieces of the dry last night for the first time. You are the first person I’ve heard say anything bad about this dry food. I won’t know what to do if I start hearing that people are having trouble with Canidae……they claim nothing goes in from anywhere but the US & they use no glutens or proteins in their food. I hope you find this & answer soon because now I’m freaking out.
April 22nd, 2007 at 10:49 am
Lynda,
Can you share your raw food recipe?
April 22nd, 2007 at 11:38 am
Ref to KatieKat comment on why China isn’t complying with our request to inspect.
Let’s open our eyes here. They are cleaning up their act, disposing of evidence and creating a backup story. The longer the delay I would think the larger of a mess they have. Even if they even allow FDA inspectors in with their sunglasses, what are they going to tell us that we don’t already know?
April 22nd, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Pet Food that was caught and found to be tainted was sold to hog farmers for our pork…what the $#$%* is this country coming to?
It’s just ridiculous…but at least finally, the FDA is opening up a crimonal investigation. Why couldn’t they have opened this up a month ago once they realized that the pet food recall kept expanding????
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:37 pm
There’s no doubt that Chinese/American trade is financially beneficial for the American corporate giants since the Chinese labor rate is microscopic compared to what US labor would cost. It’s also beneficial for the owners of Chinese businesses [order fulfillment houses] who pay their workers a pittance, no overtime, work them round the clock 7 days a week if necessary - all to meet the delivery schedule.
What’s the saying? “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.”
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:40 pm
To CAthyA Says:
You missed the point. It’s what happens BEFORE it becomes cyanuric acid. Think Cyanide.
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Write to:
Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
2300 connecticut AV NW
Washington DC 20008
They have tortured and imprisoned thousands of their religeous people. Their country is a cesspool of pollution. They kill cats dozens at a time by swinging them by the tails and bashing their heads. They sell puppies for human consumption in open markets as if they are chickens. They eat horse. They simply have no repect for life nor nature.
Do you think bush is going to do anything about it? It’s up to you.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Ok, I am confused, have not been on in a while. Is it a current recall by Science Diet??
What are the safe foods?? We feed Science Diet dog and cat food at the shelter, pay only for the shipping, with donated food, always a change and problems for some dogs.
The shelter long term ones are doing great on the food. I know, it is not one that I would recommend or feed.
SOOO, another question, is the problem in our plants or inChina?/
Been out straight a cat of mine had surgery she has cancer, doing well, now my mini dachsie has hemorraghic gastritis again, God, only know what she got into outside. She will be wearing an electronic collar , like the other dogs, to keep her out of certain areas on our property.
SOO,
Sandi
Sandi