Recall Update: Thursday
Updated throughout the day:
Who Else is Using Wilbur-Ellis Rice Protein?
- Wilbur-Ellis recalls all rice protein. Urges pet food makers to do the same. We expect them to do so, soon.
- Rice protein concentrate shipped to Diamond Pet Foods plus 4 others. They are located in Utah, NY, Kansas and 2 in Missouri.
- Itchmo readers making a list of foods containing rice protein.
- Vets working on a list of suspected contaminated foods.
- Natural Balance asks their customers to stay away from all rice protein concentrate.
The Source, The Cause and The Motive:
- Pet food investigation turning into fraud probe.
- Tainted rice protein from a different Chinese firm.
- China “blocked requests” from FDA to send inspectors there.
- Melamine possibly contaminated via “dirty bag”.
- US supplier says one bag was marked “melamine” out of 146.
Other Recall News:
- ASPCA: Crisis far from over. FDA must ID “all the contaminants”.
- Sen. Durbin (D-IL) pushing to consolidate all federal food safety responsibilities into one agency.
- P&G “vows more control” over Menu Foods ingredients. We reported on Iams’ new “promise” campaign here.
Popular Recall Links:
- Recalled Food List
- What to feed my pets: Cat or Dog
- Sign up for Itchmo’s Pet Safety Alerts
- Have questions? Ask in our Forums
(Thanks to many reader tips)
April 18th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
Am I seeing things? This is copied from the Forbes article that is linked to in the post, regarding the “dirty bag” theory.
“Thacher said an April 4 delivery from Futian Biology included 146 1-ton bags of rice protein concentrate. All were white except for a single pink bag, which was stenciled “melamine.”"
They LABELED the shipment containing melamine?! I feel like I’m taking crazy pills right now!
April 19th, 2007 at 9:38 am
It is CRAZY!!!! An importer, who knows that have been problems with melamine contaminating shipments that came from China, receives a shipment of grain product that also contains a bag of melamine. Their logical response is to test two bags and call it good???
It is ludicrous. How about, instead of deciding that it was clearly a good product to send to the pet food companies, they decide there is something wrong instead. Perhaps they could have called the FDA and told them that they might have a clue relating to how the wheat gluten could have gotten contaminated. Nope. It was most important to make sure that the rice protein ended up in pet food. I’m so furious!
April 19th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Hold on. If they’ve voluntarily recalled “all rice protein,” shouldn’t all their rice protein products be on the FDA recall list? I mean, how can you recall something but not name it?
Products are recalled but we don’t know what they are? Right? Have I got that right?
Is that even possible? Or is this “recall” rather meaningless outside of the Natural Balance products?
What a racket.
April 19th, 2007 at 10:00 am
From the voluntary recall article: “However, subsequent and potentially more sensitive tests by the FDA came back positive for melamine, leading Wilbur-Ellis to voluntarily issue the recall.” So, in other words, oops? As in, oops we foolishly thought that product shipped with melamine would be perfectly safe. As in, our cursory preliminary testing said it was ok, and now that it’s killed some people’s pets, we decided it was worth more thorough testing.
They should have known better.
April 19th, 2007 at 10:13 am
“Wilbur-Ellis first detected melamine in one of the bags that was pink — while all the other bags were white — and had “melamine” stenciled on the outside. When Wilbur-Ellis asked the Chinese firm about why a rice protein concentrate would show up in a bag marked melamine, Wilbur-Ellis was told that the rice protein concentrate had simply been put in a wrong — but new — bag after its original bag broke during loading, says Thacher.”
I really can’t say anything about the above without using profanity so i’ll restrain myself from commenting further. They must think we’re stupid.
EMAIL WILBUR-ELLIS to RELEASE the NAMES of ALL MANUFACTURERS the RICE PROTEIN WAS SUPPLIED TO. I agree with JM Leong - how do we know to stop using something that we don’t know if the product is even in? Natural Balance, to name just one, didn’t even have it on THE LABEL!!!!! This is outrageous!!
I sent out emails to both women below. PLEASE EMAIL THEM AS WELL and DEMAND TO KNOW WHO THE OTHER 4 ARE:
Ann Barlow for Wilbur-Ellis
415-438-9826 or 925-200-6539
abarlow@peppercom.com
or
Deborah Brown for Wilbur-Ellis
212-931-6113
dbrown@peppercom.com
April 19th, 2007 at 10:34 am
My one cat is currently under observation from eating Fancy Feast Elegant medley, had all symptoms gagging at sightof food drooling lip licking projectile vomiting,had biopsy of stomach to rule out othre problems her creatitine level has double in 3 weeks needs to be rechecked in a month plus currently trying to get urine sample. Purina main plant is in St Louis, MO. people at Purina very snippy on phone about whole situation.
April 19th, 2007 at 10:39 am
So far–some of these listings come from thepetfoodlist.com:
New York–Chenango Valley Pet Foods:
http://www.careersinfood.com/i.....s/CatID/46
Chenango Valley Pet Foods
Manufactures dry pet foods.
Sherburne NY
Back to Basics (verified by company 3/30/07)
Manufactured by Chenango Valley Pet Foods in Sherburne, NY, a USDA inspected Facility
Drs. Foster & Smith Products (verified by company 3/29/07)
Dry foods manufactured by Chenango Valley Foods
Triumph Pet Industries, Inc. | 7 Lake Station Road | Warwick, NY 10990 | 1-800-331-5144
http://www.triumphpet.com/
http://www.triumphpet.com/triumph-home.html
TRIUMPH product line includes natural biscuits and natural dry and canned food for all life stages of your dog or cat.
The EVOLVE line of cat and dog foods include dry and canned foods made from holistic type ingredients including real lamb and chicken, brown rice, beets, spinach and tomatoes. These ingredients, combined with state-of-the-art packaging make EVOLVE the food of choice for those looking for a holistic pet food.
HI-TOR special diets have been formulated for the special dietary needs of your dog or cat and can be purchased in retail pet food stores.
American Nutrition–Utah
Breeder’s Choice (information provided by company 4/06/07)
Canned manufactured by Menu Foods, and American Nutrition
Diamond Pet Foods (verified by company 3/28/07)
Brands include Diamond, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul, Nutra Nuggets, Premium Edge, Professional Pet Food
Canned foods made by American Nutrition
Kansas–
http://www.extrudedpetfood.com/ (CJ website)
http://extrudedpetfood.com/ind.....facilities
C. J. Foods, Inc. currently operates manufacturing facilities in Nebraska and Kansas.
The Bern , Kansas facility houses a fully equipped computerized extrusion production operation utilizing the very latest in twin screw technology available to our industry.
http://extrudedpetfood.com/ind.....troduction
Many of the world’s best marketers of Super Premium quality pet foods and treats utilize our services. We value their trust in our abilities to meet challenges and help them succeed in their markets.
All American Pet Company (verified by company 3/30/07)
Brands Include Bow Wow Breakfast, Chompions, Barkfast Squares, and Chewa-Bunga
Manufacturer is CJ Foods
A reminder that Menu has a KS plant–
Blue Seal (verified by company 4/03/07)
Menu Foods manufactures Blue Seal - The Loaf Style wet
Breeder’s Choice (information provided by company 4/06/07)
Canned manufactured by Menu Foods, and American Nutrition
The 5.5 oz canned cat AvoDerm Natural and Pinnacle is from Menu.
The Pinnacle canned dog food has 3 formulas, only one is made at Menu. It is the the chicken formula.
Drs. Foster & Smith Products (verified by company 3/29/07)
Wet foods made by Menu Foods
Neura (verified by company rep 3/26/07)
“Menu does make some of our canned cat and canned dog foods.
Other manufacturers are used besides Menu Foods.
Newman’s Own Organics (verified by company PR firm 3/30/07)
At least some products made by Menu Foods
Old Mother Hubbard (verified by company 3/26/07)
“Menu does make some of our canned cat and canned dog foods
Trader Joe’s
Wet food manufactured by Menu Foods
Wellness (verified by company 3/26/07)
“Menu does make some of our canned cat and canned dog foods
Wysong (verified by company 3/27/07)
Menu Foods is used for 2 canned products. These are Au Jus (chicken, duck, turkey, NOT rabbit) and Stew & Gravy (beef & chicken)
Royal Canin
Brands include Canine Health Nutrition, Feline Health Nutrition, Kasco, Sensible Choice, as well as prescription available through veterinarians.
Menu foods is used for a limited number of foods.
Missouri–
Sensible Choice
5600 Mexico Road Suite 2
St. Peters, MO 63376
(Royal Canin)
http://www.sensiblechoice.com/
And a reminder that Diamond also has a MO plant.
http://www.umassd.edu/cbr/studies/cranbpetfood.pdf
The link above is a Dartmouth study conducted to try to find more markets for the cranberry industry. The study involves the pet food industry, and the possible new markets there. It has a very detailed listing of the meny manufacturers they contacted starting on page 19 of the pdf (almost 3MB long). We may find more manufacturers in the “troubled” states in it.
April 19th, 2007 at 10:43 am
When you call the Purina number on the packaging they are now transferring you to the corporate office. The number there is 800-551-7392. The call wait was so long I could not get through. An online search found pet food manufacturing facilities in Utah, New York, and Missouri, three out of the four states named.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:02 am
Again, I will REPEAT here.
The bottom line is Durbin and the U.S. Senate really needs to get serious and begin reigning in these Global Corporates.
We also as a country need to consider that “Corporate Citizenship†should be an award for good behavior. NOT A RIGHT.e
The Rank and File of Industry are totally irresponsible to the point of being a threat to the welfare and safety of society.
If a nation of citizens can’t count on a central government to watch out for them in the face of the most egregious behaviors by private enterprise, then you really got nothing… No responsible government, no stable society.. Nothing… Not a good thing for a purported democracy.
And by the way, Communist China is not a DEMOCRACY. No matter how they paint their image and hype up their system. They got a LONG WAY TO GO before they can claim bragging rights as an advanced progressive society that has it’s act together. This American no longer buys the HYPE.
I as much as anyone wants a world that works together towards the highest standards and ideals. But obviously, we have a long ways to go.
This is NO WAY TO LIVE and it’s time to slam the breaks on upper crust gamesmanship and entitlement at the expense of the average person and their families lives.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:03 am
I got a reply from the Wilbur-Ellis person I linked above.
Vague, of course. And by “today” i’m sure they mean Friday.
Dear Ms. *****:
We believe the FDA will make them known today.
Deb
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Deborah Brown
Partner/Senior Director
Peppercom
470 Park Avenue South
5th Floor
New York, NY 10016
212.931.6113
212.931.6159 (fax)
917.885.0082 (cell)
dbrown@peppercom.com
www.peppercom.com
April 19th, 2007 at 11:17 am
RE: List of Pet Food Manufacturers in Utah, NY, Kansas, and Missouri
I found the following list of pet food manufactuers in these named states from the Pet Food Institute’s Active Members list (they are makers of dry, canned, and semi-moist dog and cat foods and treats for dogs and cats).
UTAH:
American Nutrition, Inc.
P.O. Box 1405
2813 Wall Avenue
Ogden, UT 84401
Phone: (801)394-3477
website: www.anibrands.com/products.htm
NY:
Chenango Valley Pet Foods
P.O. Box 720
8 West State Street
Sherburne, NY 13460
Phone: (607)674-2121
Eight In One Pet Products, Inc
2100 Pacific Street
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Phone: (516)232-1200
Website:www.eightinonepet.com
KANSAS:
Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.
P.O. Box 148
Topeka, KS 66601
Phone: (785)368-8523
Website:www.hillspet.com
Natural Life Pet Products
1601 W. McKay
P.O. Box 943
Frontenac, KS 66763
Phone: (316)231-7711
Website:www.fament.com/natlife
MISSOURI:
Land O’Lakes Purina LLC
10380 Executive Hills Boulevard
Kansas City, MO 64153
Phone: (816)459-6000
Nestle Purina PetCare Company
Checkerboard Square
St. Louis, MO 63164
Phone: (314)982-1000
Website:www.purina.com
April 19th, 2007 at 11:23 am
This is the follow up email I got from someone associated with Wilbur-Ellis.
Dear Ms. *****:
The company informed the FDA yesterday who they sold the rice protein concentrate to. It’s now in the FDA’s hands.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Behind the whole scandal is the fact that these suppliers have NO motive to provide a product of benefit to “consumers” (I won’t even say people/pets because we’re only $ to them) but only a motive to make more and more and more money. Corporations need to have their rights as “citizens” revoked and be issued charters again by the PEOPLE they are supposed to benefit. If they do not provide benefit or break the public trust, their charter should be revoked. WE ARE CITIZENS HERE AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE TO US. AND SO IS OUR “GOVERNMENT”……
April 19th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Monkia that from the other thread about NB can you email it to me
chadjackson AT allstate dot com
it’s a normal address “at” = @.
and the “dot” is a “.”
posted it like that so it is harder to get spammed. Thanks.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Steve, reining in big corporations — and both inspecting and regulating a larger percentage of both human and pet food — won’t occur until we get a Democratic president in the White House in ‘09.
For the six-plus years of the anti-regulatory Bush administration’s control of the executive branch, all regulatory agencies (including the FDA) have been hit by:
1) severe budget cuts
2) intense pressure to “go along and get along” with corporations
3) inept, ignorant executives — e.g., Brownie at FEMA and Gonzales at Justice — which is purposeful because inept leaders allow less oversight.
Congress’s normal “power of the purse” was useless during this time because Republicans controlled both the House and Senate. Now, with Democratic majorities, Congress can do more, but is fighting against an executive branch that is hellbent on unregulating as many industries as possible.
That’s why, in one recent example, you have Bush planning to nominate the president of the Nat’l Association of MANUFACTURERS to head the CONSUMER Safety Commission. Now, Congress can fight this coming nomination, but in the meantime the Commission is constantly pressured by the White House to do little … so what we need is a president who will nominate a CONSUMER-friendly expert (duh!) to head Consumer Safety.
More background:
Dead By Sunset: Kill it, and make it look like an accident
http://www.dailykos.com/storyo.....21115/5213
The King of Everything
http://noquarter.typepad.com/m.....f_eve.html
Dick Durbin is surely aware of these challenges and is doing the very best he can to put pressure on the FDA, and to improve oversight. And in the House, Rep. Henry Waxman as chair of the Oversight committee, is conducting invaluable hearings. But they need a new president in ‘09 who’ll nominate the proper, qualified leadership of these regulatory agencies and begin reform.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Royal Canin is headquartered in MO. Anyone know where their food is made? According to their posted ingredients list, they don’t use RPC but as we learned with Natural Balance, that may not mean a thing.
I hope and pray that the names of these other companies will break soon and that this awful nightmare of a recall will end. Hoping all of our pets remain safe, happy and healthy.
Thanks also to Itchmo and all the commentators!
April 19th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Chad,
Check your email - I sent the info. I think i’ll just leave my info the way you have…….so…
If anyone else needs the Natural Balance contact info - to report a case - please email me: lola1923 AT yahoo dot com
make sure to put NATURAL BALANCE in subject line.
Monika
April 19th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
SymbaandTrooper,
Thanks for posting the names. Saves times.
April 19th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
I sent an email to Wilber-Ellis and here is the response I got:
Dear Courtney:
Thank you for your note. Wilbur-Ellis is an 86-year-old family-run business that just wants to do the right thing. We are pet owners ourselves and understand how important pets are to families. We have notified the FDA who our customers are and it us up to them to release the names. We think the FDA will let people know today who the companies are, and I hope we’ll all know more about what is going on with these ingredients soon. In the meantime, look to see if there is rice protein in the ingredients in your pet food. I also encourage you to check the FDA website often (www.fda.gov) for the most up-to-date information on the recall.
Best wishes,
Deb
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Deborah Brown
Partner/Senior Director
Peppercom
April 19th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
I called Natural Life Pet Products (Kansas). The woman who answered the phone says they are not using rice protein concentrate from Wilbur-Ellis in any of their products.
The information given above for them is out of date. Their web site is different and their phone number is incorrect, as southeast Kansas changed area codes several years ago. She said that manufacturing is still done in Frontenac, KS, but the offices and wholesale operations formerly in Girard, KS are now in Pittsburg, KS.
Here is the updated information I was able to find:
Natural Life Pet Products
112 N Elm St # A
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620) 230-0888
1-800-367-2391
http://www.nlpp.com
April 19th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
This didn’t post when I hit the Submit Comment button .. thankfully, I’d saved it in Notepad:
Steve, you are 100% correct. But reining in big corporations — and regulating a larger percentage of both human and pet food — won’t occur until we get a Democratic president in the White House in ‘09.
For the six-plus years of the anti-regulatory Bush administration control of the executive branch, all regulatory agencies (including the FDA) have been hit by:
1) severe budget cuts
2) pressure to “go along and get along” with corporations
3) inept, ignorant executives — e.g., Brownie at FEMA and Gonzales at Justice — which is purposeful because inept, inattentive administrators allow less oversight.
Congress’s normal “power of the purse” was useless during this time because Republicans controlled both the House and Senate. Now, with Democratic majorities, Congress can do more, but is fighting against an executive branch that is hellbent on unregulating as many industries as possible.
That’s why, in one example, you have Bush planning to nominate the president of the Nat’l Association of MANUFACTURERS to head the Consumer Safety Commission. Now, Congress can fight this coming nomination, but in the meantime the Commission is constantly pressured by the White House to do little … so what we need is a president who nominates a consumer-friendly expert (duh) to head Consumer Safety.
More background:
Dead By Sunset: Kill it, and make it look like an accident
http://www.dailykos.com/storyo.....21115/5213
The King of Everything
http://noquarter.typepad.com/m.....f_eve.html
April 19th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Melamine found in the CORN GLUTEN in South Africa
http://tinyurl.com/2tbogq
April 19th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Who are the other 4?
Please continue to add any companies/manufactures in the following States to the list.
OHIO
Iams
Bil-Jac
Best Breed
ALABAMA
Sunshine Mills (had recall)
MISSOURI
Purina
Doane
Diamond
Sensible Choice
Royal Canin
KANSAS
Natural Life
Iams
Hills
Crosswind
April 19th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
The article about South Africa notes that the corn gluten came from China. OMG! On another blog, someone posted that NB had told her that it was a gluten issue, that the specific grain didn’t matter. Looks like that might be the case.
THIS HAS TO STOP! It is not an isolated incident–there is a problem here that clearly goes beyond just wheat gluten, or one contaminated shipment of rice gluten. When will people realize that it’s only a matter of time before this gets into HUMAN food?
It’s really sad, but I’m really starting to think that the majority of people are still convinced that since it’s pets, it’s no big deal. Just wait until it’s breakfast cereal or bread! I know that human foods must contain imported ingredients.
April 19th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Your cat got sick from eating Fancy Feast? Is this food on the recall list? Oh my! That’s what my cat eats! What should I do? Also, can anybody tell me if Natural Choice Lamb Meal & Rice Small Bites kibble is on the recall list? I’m so confused! I don’t know what to do, where to look or who to believe. Thanks for any answers you can give me.
April 19th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
I suspect before it’s all over, that all the Glutens will be involved to some extent, that goes for Corn, wheat, rice, soy.
April 19th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
I suspect before it’s all over, that we ourselves are going to be in for a rude awakening. How was your toast and pancakes this morning?
Great Taste?
April 19th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
> can anybody tell me if Natural Choice Lamb Meal & Rice Small Bites kibble is on the recall list?
As far as I know, Nutro has not recalled (or mentioned) anything associated with melamine-contaminated rice protein concentrate. Rice Protein Concentrate (supplier unknown to me) is listed on their web site as being in some of their foods, but is NOT listed as an ingredient in Natural Choice Lamb Meal & Rice Small Bites. That product is listed as containing the following rice products: Ground Rice, Rice Flour, Rice Bran, and Rice Gluten.
See http://www.nutroproducts.com/ncdogsmbites.asp
Further, Nutro has not recalled any dry products…to my knowledge, as of this posting, at least.
My advice is to stay alert, remain vigilant, don’t panic.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Nutro Natural Choice lists rice gluten as an ingredient. I thought rice gluten was the same if not similar to rice protein concentrate.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
http://www.howl911.com/ FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY
SOUTH AFRICA PET FOOD RECALL: MELAMINE IN CORN GLUTEN 04/19/07
This finding–melamine in corn gluten–should seal the theory that melamine was added to wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate deliberately to boost their nitrogen values (a measure of protein content). All three substances are used as a cheap protein additive in pet foods. With this news, Howl 911 believes all pet foods containing additives of any kind from China should be tested for melamine and other contaminates. This finding also vindicates the claims of many pet parents whose pets were sickened or killed as a result of eating non-Menu Foods brands which did not contain wheat gluten. Virtually all pet foods and many treats contain protein additives in the form of gluten (wheat, corn) or from other grain or vegetable sources (rice, soy, whey), and many of these additives are products of China. I am sorry to say, but this newest information–combined with the lack of full disclosure from pet food companies as to where they source their raw materials from– renders ALL commercial pet food suspect.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Pickle Head, my youngest cat Geisha got sick from Fancy Feast Elegant Medley the second ingredient on the can is Wheat Glute and futher down it has Soy protien concentrate. My vet is monitoring her closely. She showed all symptoms on march 23rd refusing to eat gagging at sight of food drooling projectile vomiting no energy skiddish and trouble using back legs at taht time vet did not say it was food related but after biopsy of stomach on March 26th with normal results he said all symptoms point to exposed to toxin. Once that food was removed all symptoms subsided she just had blood work done on Apr 16th and her creatitine has double vet is very concerned we are trying ti get a urine sample UGH this is a total nightmare. My older cat which is almost 16 pounds should milder symptoms with in 12 hours of the baby. Her level is also slightly elevated. This was 2 cans into a new case I bought at PETCO it is lot number 63031160L 4FV11416 best by oct 08 reported this to Purina and had to call with lab results. Still claiming their product is safe. I said if it is so safe why don’t you eat some and prove it my vet bills are over a thousand dollars right now so this not me being parinoid or crazy. I do not even care if I get paid back just want my cats and everyone elses cats to be safe and for them to step forward and tell the truth.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
P&G - IAMS new “promise†campaign here - Where is your commitment in the financial payment for ALL the dogs & cats that have suffered in consuming your food? You have broken a lot of hearts and all you can think about is $$$$$.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Barry: avoid gluten all kinds. or protein concentrate all kinds.
better to avoid grains but whole grains at least so far do not seem to be
criminally adulterated with toxic ratcrap poisons to line the pockets of the international corporate mafioso.
FDA should have examined all glutens it KNEW were being imported from China TO BEGIN WITH. ESPECIALLY WHEN PETOWNERS WERE ALREADY REPORTING ILLNESS AND DEATH.
LET THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS PROCEED.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Now that we KNOW it’s in rice, corn and wheat protein, can fish meal, soy protein and others from China be very far behind? Three products and 3 different Chinese suppliers - obviously this is PERVASIVE throughout the products these companies make and export. If anyone still can believe that this has not made it into the human food supply, they have their heads in the sand. My only advice: avoid wheat protein or gluten, rice protein or gluten, soy protein or gluten, corn protein or gluten, fish meal, soy lecithin, etc etc etc. Avoid it all in your pet’s foods and avoid it all in your food. And good luck to you.
Or, write and call every government representative you can and demand that we have immediate country of origin labelling and that the US companies that import products are REQUIRED to test these products for melamine, and any other source of inorganic nitrogen, and that the overseas companies be required to PAY for such testing (but not perform it).
April 19th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
> I thought rice gluten was the same if not similar to rice protein concentrate.
It’s very confusing. Nutro lists “rice protein concentrate” as an ingredient in their Natural Choice Complete Care Adult cat food, along with “ground rice” and “rice flour”.
http://www.nutroproducts.com/nccatadult.asp
April 19th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
and the criminals in the petfood megachain should have IMMEDIATELY TESTED ALL GLUTENS AND OTHER CRAP THEY IMPORTED FROM CHINA AS WELL. NOT MONTHS AFTER THEY HAD SUCKED UP MORE BUCKS FROM DEAD PETS.
MAKE EM PAY. BUNCH OF CORPORATE CRIMINALS.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
On top of which, from the NB recall we know that some of the foods containing rice protein, etc., DON’T EVEN LIST IT ON THE LABEL!!!! How are we supposed to know what is safe?
April 19th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
gluten is a type of protein, and so wheat gluten is the protein from wheat. Technically, rice has no gluten, but it does have protein (it has a different name) so there really is no such thing as ‘rice gluten’. BUT - when an ingredient is listed as ‘rice gluten’ - it is taken to mean that it is the protein from the rice grain - just as the gluten is the protein from the wheat grain - and so, RICE GLUTEN = RICE PROTEIN.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Barry: STOP FEEDING THE NUTRO. keep the food as a sample and GET SOMETHING W/OUT GLUTENS OR PROTEIN CONCENTRATES OF ANY KIND.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Lisa asks: “DON’T EVEN LIST IT ON THE LABEL!!!! How are we supposed to know what is safe?”
The sad fact is, we don’t know what is safe. Not for ourselves, and not for our pets.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
demand FDA INSPECTOR ACCESS TO ALL CHINESE FACILITIES.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
4lgdfriend Says:
GET SOMETHING W/OUT GLUTENS OR PROTEIN CONCENTRATES OF ANY KIND.
GOOD ADVISE!!!!
April 19th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
No FDA access (joke that that is) to foreign supplier facilities = jokers, your food may not be labelled with glowing advertising lies
April 19th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
As I said, it’s not even possible to know that you’re avoiding all glutens/proteins. If it’s a recent change, it doesn’t need to be on the label! I have the sinking suspicion that the FDA will wait until tomorrow (FRIDAY OF COURSE) to release the other names.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Since “rice gluten” doesn’t exist, why does the FDA allow it to be listed as an ingredient?
If it’s “rice protein”, call it that. If it’s something else, call it *that*.
Yet some Nutro labels say “Rice Gluten”, others say “Rice Protein Concentrate”.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
This is the email I received from Canidae asking where the plant in Texas is & what is it called?
Our dry foods are produced in TX. Our plant has been involved in animal nutrition for over 75 years. The original pet food extrusion mill was built in 1978. We are currently under production with a brand new plant at the same facility to keep up with the growth and demand of our product line.
In order to ensure the highest quality meat based biscuit ever created, we ventured into the biscuit production business in 2003. Our 100 foot oven runs our fresh biscuits daily in a building opposite our extrusion plant in TX. Our biscuit plant is also regulated by AAFCO by (NRC), USDA, FDA, TDA and EU Approved.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Nutro has changed their recall information to address the rice protein concentrate issue.
See http://www.nutroproducts.com/mfrecall.asp
Statement by Nutro Products on
Rice Protein Concentrate Recall
City of Industry, CA (April 19, 2007)—In response to recent media inquiries regarding a pet food recall announced for certain Natural Balance products with rice protein concentrate containing melamine, Nutro Products wishes to provide the following important information:
(1) It has been reported that the recall is focused on products containing rice protein concentrate (also referred to as rice gluten) provided by Wilbur-Ellis Company.
(2) Nutro has never purchased or used rice protein concentrate from Wilbur-Ellis Company in any of our pet foods.
(3) Nutro uses rice protein concentrate in some of its products because it provides an important alternative source of protein for pets, especially for those with sensitivities to certain proteins.
(4) Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc. is not in any way affiliated with Nutro Products nor Nutro’s Natural Choice®, MAX® or Ultra® brands.
Nutro customers may check Nutro’s website (www.nutroproducts.com) or contact Nutro’s Consumer Hotline (800) 833-5330 for further information about its products. Nutro’s website will be updated as more information becomes available.
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April 19th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
TO Nutro and everyone else:
It’s in one product - wheat gluten. No - it’s in 2 products from 2 different companies - wheat gluten and rice gluten/protein. No - it’s in 3 products from 3 companies - wheat, rice and corn protein/gluten. What’s that you say - you didn’t get it from any of those companies? And WHY do you think YOURS is safe???
There is NO safe product that is protein coming out of China until proven safe. And no one is proving it safe right now. They won’t even let the US inspect one company!
April 19th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Sue J
Exactly. At this point it’s not enough for a company to say they didn’t buy their protein powders from a specific company. If the origin was China they need to run tests on their food immediately ……..and tell us that they’re doing it NOW, not wait a week. Enough with the weasel words and the obfuscations. Any company not coming forward by the end of the day and making a full disclosure can just eat their own pet food. They might want a little gravy with that though……..
April 19th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
petconnection: It seems the Wilbur-Ellis co. poisoned some dairy cattle a few years ago. According to this http://tinyurl.com/22york FDA warning letter (there are other references if you look around), the cattle died from acute selenium poisoning (selenosis).
The FDA found that samples of a Mineral Premix manufactured by Knox McDaniel Co. (which is owned by Wilbur-Ellis and manufactures pet food pre-mixes) contained some 1152 parts per million (ppm) selenium rather than the labeled amount of 13.25 ppm.
…….Dr. Richard Martorano, a big Melamine & Selenium researcher with lots of melamine/selenium/gluten based resin/feed/coating technology patents, has the position of Regional Technical Sales Manager at [b]Singapore-based Connell Brothers, Inc which is a division of Wilbur Ellis Co[/b]. Dr. Martorano moved to Singapore in 1990, converted to Islam and now has the name [i]Muhammad Ali Amin.[/i]
Comment by Joy — April 19, 2007 @ 12:39 pm