Recall Update: Thursday
Is tainted food maker in China back in business? Binzhou posts new ad on June 12.
Recall-Related News:
- Analyst says Menu Foods future is “cloudy at best.”
- Investors believe Del Monte is poised to take business from Menu Foods.
- Pet owner issues a challenge to the FDA on acetaminophen testing.
- Regarding report of melamine in Country Value brand in Korea: FDA spokesperson says they are “not aware of any South Korean lab or the Korean government having contacted the FDA with respect to analytical findings.”
PFI attacks ExperTox’s reputation. ExperTox stands by findings.
“Through our contacts in Texas, which is where the lab is located that conducted the analysis, we have learned there is genuine concern among key toxicological and analytical experts about the lab and the actual test results,†Gallagher said.
The Lab Manager for ExperTox told us today that her company stands by its finding.
Expertox’s Donna Coneley also said she doesn’t have any idea what Texas experts Gallagher and PFI are talking about.
“They never name the experts they’re working with,†Coneley said. “When someone says ‘people I know say this,’ it sounds to me like they’re trying to say there are experts who have looked into this and don’t agree with the findings. But I don’t believe there are.
“To me, it sounds like they’re talking about imaginary experts,†Coneley said.
Coneley said the only experts her lab has worked with about the findings are those with the FDA. In fact, she told us she had the FDA on another line during our interview today.
“The pet food manufacturing companies have had ten-minute discussions with us about how we did our tests,†she said. “But they’re not experts.
Union of Concerned Scientists says FDA is not taking scientific concerns seriously:
The FDA mission statement calls for “helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.” Unfortunately, scientists at the agency are concerned that science no longer plays this crucial role in the FDA’s regulatory decisions.
Independent science must be the driving force for decisions made by the FDA. Based on the survey responses from FDA scientists, it is clear that the agency needs to demonstrate a greater respect for independent science and improve both the transparency and accountability of its decisions.
Testing Your Own Pet Food?
Here’s our guide to making sure your test results are as accurate and trustworthy as possible. Share your test results with other pet owners and coordinate testing in this thread in our forums.
Add Itchmo New To Your Site: Keep other pet owners informed with recalls and other pet news with our widget. The widget will update automatically with the latest headlines. Get it here.
Check out our non-recall news below. And as always, we’ll keep covering all pet news.
Also, if you have questions or need help, try our ItchmoForums. Get your questions answered by great pet owners.
(Thanks for the tip Rebecca and menusux)
June 14th, 2007 at 11:49 am
purringfur
Way to go! I hope others are contacting the Pet Food Institute as well!
June 14th, 2007 at 11:50 am
DON EARL: YOU’RE THE BEST!!!
“FDA ACETAMINOPHEN CHALLENGE”
found on Don’s site: www dot petfoodrecallfacts dot com
Thank goodness the pet owners were astute enough NOT to allow the poisoned samples to leave ExperTox’s property!!
June 14th, 2007 at 11:55 am
“Gotta love the power of the Internet and the power of the people!”
Yep, a new day has dawned - people and companies will actually be held accountable or held in disdain, as power of the people will begin to influence things. As long as we are steadfast and relentless…we will prevail, one way or the other.
June 14th, 2007 at 11:58 am
State Agriculture Field supervisor just left with pet food for testing - and at no charge.
http://itchmoforums.com/index......sg9409#new
June 14th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Sorry about my long posts above, but I’m VERY disgusted at the FDA’s refusal to test for acetaminophen — and the low-down FDA snakes in the grass, trying to get the poisoned pet food samples away from ExperTox AND now the CONTAMINATED TOOTHPASTE (which a relative may have just purchased).
People, keep typing and calling till your fingers are hurting! We’re making progress!
June 14th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead -
I just want to say thank you Itchmo and to all the members for speaking out and taking action. The only way we are going to make change happen is through relentless persistence and determination.
Never give up, never give in!
“Continuous, unflagging effort, persistence and determination will win. Let not the man be discouraged who has these.”
James Whitcomb Riley
http://www.youmeworks.com/never_give_up.html
http://www.swanepoel.com/artic.....e-2005.htm
June 14th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Thank you, Cynthia!
I know that quote (sort of) in my mind and use it a lot, in essence. Now I know who said it. It has probably been said by many, over the years, in many ways. Seems I remember a quote “a committed and tireless minority” ? can overcomel
June 14th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Here is the quote I was thinking of—an earlier version. I would say that us pet bloggers are “an irate, tireless minority–God willing we will prevail.
“It does not take a majority to prevail……but rather an irate, tireless minority keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.”
-Samuel Adams, Founding Father
June 14th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Great Quote!! Very apropos…
June 14th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
I was thinking, back in March we all to some degree thought the FDA was here to ‘protect’ Us. That no Food maker is out to intentionally make Us {’Any-one’ who eats food} Sick or die. That there was an element of caring. That the FDA could move mountains to Protect us and would if need be. How naive we were, tho I know the slippage had started before This food fiasco.
It’s now mid-June.
The FDA and PFI are total Enemies to Us. They treat us and any support we get in any form, as useless Loons.
They try to use their fading psuedo-powers to Scare Us. Scare us into acceptance and silence.
It would have bee different If they gone to Congress and said Hey we have a Serious ad growing problem here and we need *Emergency Funding* to put it dead in it’s Track NOW!
We’re under-funded and Broken.
Too badly for such a Heath issue as this.
I would have sent Tons letters to Congress to Support such a plea, request, then.
I would have been rigth there with them and been so Pleased for the Attention this would get and finally fixing this Huge problem.
I would have said FDA, PFI is Wonderful.
BUT alas they did not.
They Blame US! They thwart our every move. Try to discredit our Lab exerts. Food makers have hounded us. Teired to intimdate Us.
{which reminds me of one of Us Here- Pet Parent, who spoke to an FDA rep. {Ohio?} and was told, no we don’t want to test your food, it will take too long etc, you can get it tested YOURSELF.}
We get Our Own Test, make our Own foods, stop buying the suspected products. Steer clear of the junk they allow into the Market HERE After contaminantions-HERE.
It’s not only Cominginto the USA it’s being Contaminated HERE, put out and SOLD HERE, even WHEN THEY KNOW!
It’s gone from Real Bad t the absolute worse it could be.
NOW *WE* are the Enemy!
They fight us every step.
They won’t Fix it or make the moves to get the Funding to Fix it SO We become the Bad guys now.
So now the only thing that will work for me is Total Close down of them All. FDA, PFI, USDA.
A New couple of agencies need to take over.
That’s WHAT I’d support.
And to Hell with the PFI- they are only the Tick on the Butt of the Food Makers anymore!!!!!!!!
Nope they treat us so Badly. Some of us cry alot. Worry until we can’t eat or sleep. Some are nearing bankrupcty for the Expenses this has caused. Some are Lonely for the Pets they’ve lost.
I could go on but the Human and animal suffering is near unbearable to talk about, that is *Inflicted* Everyday upon Us; by these Officers of Safety.
BUT Some of US are Mad as HELL and we re Not going to listen to your Garbage ridden Spin!
We do it for ALL of Us here. Those who can handle it and for those who Can Not right now.
FDA-PFI, we could have worked together, in the begining. But you choose to toss us away like mindless children. Then JUMP us in the Dark.
Guess what, We’ve Grown up in the last 4 months, Real Fast.
Blind Trust is G-O-N-E Forever.
It Ain’t Gonna Happen NO More!
The Slanderous Libelous rhetoric is Over the Top.
You are DONE!
{sorry folks, I can’t contain this ‘feeling’ anymore these days}
June 14th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
I hope the lab sues PFI for defamation of character. I know you can’t sue a gov’t agency - sure wish we could. After what has been happeining with the FDA - no amount of added funds or personnel are going to change the agenda of the chairman.
Following this now for many months, originally thought it was an unusual occurrance. Now, I agree with everyone, this is the tip of the iceberg. There has been outright greed, manipulation,strong arm tactics,and disregard for human or animal life. GMO’s,pesticides,herbicides,faulty documentation,and the list goes on. The FDA needs to go. We need a new agency that is independent of gov’t and corporations. An agency that protects the people,animals and environment.
There has not been one grain of kibble in my house since March 28th and from this point forward, there never will be. I can never forgive PFI for their shenanigans and downright disdain for us. The humans in our household now eat only organic,local whole foods. Yesterday we switched all household products to enviromentally friendly - the wash smells better, the dishes are cleaner, and no more peeling hands! I hope the corporations start to feel the pinch.
Katie
June 14th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Kiki said: from quote “According to Cormark Securities analyst Aleem Israel, Procter & Gamble canceled its contract for Menu’s “cuts & gravy†style pet food product.”
None of these big companies can be trusted. They were willing to sacrifice animals lives for profit once - and that’s one too many times. I don’t care who they get to make their crap food full of crap ingredients. These foods aren’t healthy to begin with, even without killer toxins added to pump up stocksucker profits. Menu was a shell company working for all these greedy bisturds. They’ll just set up another one and continue to ignore petowners concerns and pets lives will again be at risk.
As far as DelMonte taking over: Didn’t Menusux post info on the mela-tonnage sitting in a Pittsburgh PA warehouse, originally tagged for DelMonte?
June 14th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
You guys miss this blog? Hmmm….
Christine Says:
June 14th, 2007 at 11:50 am
I know this situation was scary, but to be honest, these comments are worse than a 9/11 conspiracy page. You guys really need to settle down. Why on earth would anyone think that pet food companies would knowingly poison their customers? That is nonsensical. I agree that Menu didn’t react in a timely enough fashion, and I wouldn’t trust them with anything for my cats. But, the FDA has no interest in lying about the further testing that has been done. Someone in a previous post had the nerve to accuse the pet food companies of “spreading rumors†to invalidate the testing done at the private labs. What is really going on is that you people are spreading rumors about foods that have been officially tested clean. Luckily for you, the internet is an anonymous place, and no one will be able to charge you with libel or slander.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
I say yah-yah to Ya Ya–After spending hours trying to call MF on the weekend of March 16-17, I just knew that when I finally called the FDA emergency line, they would have some direction/help for me—-Was I never more wrong. I surely have had my doubts about the FDA looking out for our interests since then. It took nearly a week of continued calls and messages left before the FDA actually talked to me—I couldn’t understand why they would not be interested in my 2 cats as they had reported only “a FEW ISOLATED cases of renal failure in the US” so I really wanted them to know both of mine were affected here in a small town in RI but when I asked the woman to whom I finally gave info, she had said they didn’t need my food for testing or my cats as they had “plenty” so in my eyes there was lie #1–there were certainly more reports than they admitted to. And they continue to this day three months later. lie lie lie–I only can imagine they just want to downplay this as it is a real circus for them now. They made the same mistake that MF has made–try to make it go away!!!
June 14th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Re: eye gunk
While my dog was eating the PFI cont. products; we had big time eye gunk problems. One week we had very green mucous type discharge. The vet cultured it and did some eye tests. No positive cultures. Eye tests all negative. We live in Arizona also and thought perhaps sand, dirt, or pollen. But, it was off and on. Vet said it had to be the air. Amazingly…. since my dog has been eating home cooked - we have no more bad eye discharge.
Another thing we have noticed, since home cooking our dog is more alert in what she sees. Little bugs crawling among the stones, birds flying in the air, etc. Has anyone else noticed better eyesight?
Katie
June 14th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
http://www.blackwing.com/produ.....pet%20food
Any thoughts on the above organic pet foods?
June 14th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
AnnH, are You “Offy” in the forums? Do you mind my asking that and what State possibly?
“Offy” is a cute handle :-D
June 14th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
http://www.lacensebeef.com/shop/meat-for-dogs
Any Thoughts on this?
June 14th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
I just received word that my email has made its way to ExperTox’s Lab Managers and the ExperTox owners.
I told the person that I put out a call here at itchmo for some of you to call ExperTox to show your support of them/their findings and to tell them how outraged you are over the PFI’s derogatory quotes about ExperTox.
Since there are no actual customer service reps to answer phones, we are pulling someone away from his/her regular job, which we don’t want to do repeatedly. I told the person to call me if ExperTox receives too many phone calls and that I would post a note immediately for people to stop calling there.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Barb GSD Mom, Simple- Christine must be a troll or PFI employee.
Ignore ‘her’.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Barb, GSD MOM Says:
June 14th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
You guys miss this blog? Hmmm….
Christine Says:
June 14th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Barb, was that on this thread? It doesn’t show up for me.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Barb, I saw that and ignored it. Figured FDA or PFI employee.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Regardless of all other matters, the Menu Foods’ knowledge of their packaged death in pouches by December, 2006 and the refusal to mount a total and complete recall resulted in thousands of deaths. When they are delisted and broke, it will be time to follow the paths of the executives like Henderson and that stock-selling CFO just to make certain that if they try to form something out of the bones of their previous crimes, it will come to the same end.
Whether canned or pouched—if Menu makes it, never buy it again.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
If Christine is an FDA employee, doesn’t it just frost your cookies that WE are paying HER to SPY ON US?!
June 14th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Carol,
I knowwhatyou mean about the FDA when i finally got through to them and told them my story about my suspect food and my 2 sick cats and she asked about the ingredients etc…and then had my vet fax over the cats records of treatment I thought finally someone is going toblow the whistle on this company that is refusing to come forward. I couldn’t of been more wrong. That was the end of march begining of April and it is now June. I know Garyn had called with the same plant numbers to the FDA about her cat dying from the same food.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
IMO–I think waiting 3 weeks with dead test animals to announce “a problem” may be up right there with “willingly poisoning pets”–my opinion may be swayed by the number of tears in my home and the number of dollars spent (thousands) to try to keep my cats alive after doing something so risky as feeding them……..si I’d really like to be one of the first to know if there may be a potential poison in food again—3 weeks won’t do this time.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
From the article on EperTox:
———————————–
“They never name the experts they’re working with,†Coneley said. “When someone says ‘people I know say this,’ it sounds to me like they’re trying to say there are experts who have looked into this and don’t agree with the findings. But I don’t believe there are.
“To me, it sounds like they’re talking about imaginary experts,†Coneley said.
————————————
That’s exactly right. Fox ‘News’ and their rabid guests use much the same tactics, only with them it is, “Some people say…” Really? One. Name ONE. Yet, they never do. What. A. Shock.
As soon as the words “Some people say” or “People I know say this,” they’re lying. But the ignorant lap it up because it reinforces what they want to believe.
We live in insane times.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
You guys are right–I will ignore “her”. I found it on yesterdays blogs.
June 14th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Just a thought on purringfur’s post abut Support for Expertox: you could call the
AccuTraceTesting number and leave a message with one of the receptionists ‘there’ {one is Veronica. I think the other is Rita?} and ask them to pass it on to Expertox. :-D
They are very nice ladies!
I’m sure they’d keep a ledger/count of the Supportive calls and pass them along, ask them to!
Otherwise the Email to Expertox is Great Idea! They will See the support right there :-)
Good Idea purringfur!
AccuTrace # 1-800-224-9551
June 14th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
YES! YaYa, I AGREE! And good for you Katie. I like what your doing. I’m not buying into what our government and the corporations are trying to shove down our throats either. I eat only organic produced in the USA, cook organic for my pets and buy all earth friendly products from Seventh Generation. I stay out of Walmart and try to buy locally and buy products made in the USA.
Geez Barb, who is that Christine??? Is she working for the FDA?
June 14th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
YaYa, yes, the Cincinnati office was happy to take the information on the food products our dogs were getting, I even explained the early symptoms of our dogs and was informed that that was not the symptoms they were seeing, so began to question the person, then realized he was not aware of what was found regarding the crystals in the urine. An update> the Tizwhiz dog food was negative, also the California Natural that I started feeding recently was negative in a 2-in-1 lab test at Expertox that I got this week. Three other foods that were tested in a 3-in-1 lab test showed Cyanuric Acid 220ug/g, therefore, am waiting on the separate testing of each of the 3.
June 14th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Why are we bothering the labs who are doing the testing? They are smart enough to stand up for themselves and don’t need the distraction. Save your emails and calls for the politicians who will not respond to this crisis until they think it will cost them an election.
June 14th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Katie–What part of Arizona do you live in? I live in Desert Hills. My GSD pups eyes are always watery and crusty. I brought her in to the vet several times. He said it could be allergies. He gave her eye drops. He ran all kinds of tests on her. Including all the blood work & urine test. Her kidneys were slighly elevated–this was about 8 weeks ago. I brought her in twice to get her blood work done. All because I added the wet crap that was poison. I tell ya–I had to educate my vet on the german shepherd breed. He WAS clueless. What are you feeding your dog?
June 14th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Sandi and Barb,
You both wrote about problems with your pet’s eyes. I had something similar happen. After being poisoned by the pet food, my dog’s right eye started get cloudy then it became infected, with pus coming out of her eye! It was terrible. The vet gave her antibiotics and eye drops and the infection went away but now she can’t see out of that eye. The first day she lost her sight was really traumatic for her. She ran from room to room as if she was frightened. I couldn’t calm her down. I took her to my vet and he said she was acting so strangely because she lost her eye sight so fast. He said dogs who lose their eye sight quickly are much more frightened by it then dogs whose sight goes slowly. She has adjusted the best she can and stay a bit closer to me now. I hope this answers your question.
June 14th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Rick,
I also emailed the PFI with your questions.
1) Who are the “key toxocological†& “analytical experts†that you refer to as your “contacts in Texas�
2) What is the “genuine concern†you have about the lab?
3) Who provides your funding?
I won’t hold my breath waiting for an answer though.
June 14th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
A friend’s dog suddenly went blind, and my cat has one eye that he keeps squinting. My cat had an ever so slight “tremor” to his head once or twice, lasting just several seconds each, shaking it side to side about 1/2 inch in either direction. He also did a lot of sneezing (as did my dog that died), which he never did before. I next noticed that he kept squinting his one eye, which he still does to this day. He’s been to the vet at least 4 times about his eye, having staining drops put in and inspecting his eye with a bright light. No foreign objects in there, but something’s going on.
June 14th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
YaYa, I love what you said. Very good!
When I called the FDA about My 3 dead cats, they acted like they didn’t really care. And they wouldn’t test the food, it still hasn’t been testd.
June 14th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Thank you JJ! Please keep up posted on those test results! Maybe consider sending a copy of the positive tests to Don to post with the growing numbers there.
Who makes those foods? Do you know? I’m not familiar with them.
I hope things are Better there for you.
Yeah I luv the FDA reps who said Oh those aren’t on the ‘recall” {magic} list I have.
They totally disqualified ANY others right then and there.
And I Never could get through on the phone to the Food makers {2 dif ones}. stopped trying after 3 weeks.
I always thought it was When there Were SYMPTOMS/Sickness is when the FDA Did- paid attention! Wrong.
But they {FDA} got ALL my info up to a certain Date. Told me to freeze open and save the unopened.
They did not call back for more after a while.
But the symptoms went on after I stopped the food. Long time to recover. Till I took charge, {had already decide it was the food before March 16th, as it was a BAM! moment here with her}
Vet, treatment, homemade food, checking ALL aspect of anything she gets now.
And a slow amazing turn around. I’d say my Cat was Better through ME, what I did and did Not do, before she was BETTER :-D
DESPITE any Friggin’ {Non}recalled Help.
When any “official” institution whether FDA, USDA, PFI Pet Food Maker/manufacturer GETS HITS, as many as they have had and Continue to get; Without a Recall *Immediately* and Does NOTHING about any of it; That’s When {dear Christine} WE CALL THEM AS WE SEE THEM!
Greedy and Lazy Liars and Dangerous Hockers.
June 14th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Ann,
Sorry to hear about your dog. My vet gave my girl doggie antibiotics & eye drops. It keeps coming back. I may try benadryl. I really do not have a good feeling about Canidae. Just my opinion. I am going to add more home cooked to their dry. This whole thing makes me sick to my stomach.
June 14th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
My girlfriend just called her cat has jaw cancer that is not treatable……………it has all ready eaten half the jaw bone she is beside herself. Going to bring the cat home for a while and keep him comfortable then he will be put down when that is no loger and option vet wanted to do it right now and my friend said no way, she didn’t take him there to die today. I do not blame her that cat is expecting to be picked up today and go home, she cannot break that trust.
June 14th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
purringfur
My cat Geisha is always blinking her one eye like something is in it? What do you think it is that is happpening????????????? What were you feeding your cat and what are you feeding it now? I was using FF, Hills c/d and eukanuba. Now just Kumpi……..anyone have any issues with Kumpi my cats seem burpy or something???????????????????? This whole thing is driving me nuts
June 14th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Oh Lorie, please send Our Good hopes and prayers to her. It doesn’t sound good but I understand her wanting some time with him. I don’t know how he’ll be able to eat after a while tho. :-(
June 14th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Barb,
I use Benadryl and it does help my dog. It’s not a cure but it does help. You may want to try it. I hope your dog gets better soon.
June 14th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
YA YA,
she is a good cat mommy and will not let him suffer she will know when to let go. She has all ready been through this twice in her life time. She says they get a look in there eyes asking to be let go. She is also blaming herself for not catching it sooner. She the one who taught me to force feed my cat when she had her URI. She even had her one cat in her wedding with the rings tied to his collar.
June 14th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Here is the website for Tizwhiz, difficult to get as many places do not carry their products. We had a major problem back in 1999-2000 when our dogs got sick, then me, so had to find another dog food.
June 14th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Ann Jackson Says: I won’t hold my breath waiting for an answer though.
I won’t hold my breath, either!
Sorry about your dog. Glad she has you there for her.
June 14th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Lorie,
When did you notice the eye thing begin to happen. Did it just start with the change of food or was it before?
Could be your kitty is having allergies with the food he/she is eating. What do you mean burpy? My dog burps but dont believe I’ve ever heard my cat burp. Did this just start?
June 14th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
purringfur Says:
June 14th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Oh purr! Our poor cat had the same thing! She had the head tremor ever so slightly from side to side to that none of the vets could figure out! Along with the eye problem and other symtpoms. Oh this is making me sick to think about. She also was sneezing too but not all the time but we were so busy trying to get her to eat that we didnt stop and look at all these strnage symtpoms until after she was gone. Oh our poor girl!
June 14th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Here is the website for Tizwhiz, it didn’t get posted previously…. http://www.tizwhizfeeds.com/
June 14th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Randy, On the Ranch meats, I looked briefly at the La Cense one. It sounds good but, I didn’t check whether they butcher and ship it themselves or not.
That, I think You should check on Ok.
When a Big ranch does Grass feed {which is Great} sometimes, they send them off to the feedlots {which I feel is Bad} to fatten them up More before Butcher. {this is where they get a blast of things like the cyanuric acid etc}
Ask them if they do or don’t get shipped to a feedlot or if it’s ALL done at the ranch. And ask about Any Melamine.
Do this with both that you posted, to help you with your decision. That’d be my advice.