USA Today: Rice Protein Sold to 4 Others
Supplier was identified as San Francisco-based Wilbur-Ellis. CEO John Thacher said “his company sold the concentrate to five pet-food makers, but that most of it went to two firms.” USA Today says of those five, only Diamond Pet Foods is named. The other major manufacturer tested for melamine and it did not test positive. Diamond Pet Food says they do not use rice protein in their foods.
According to Thacher, the melamine contamination was reported to the FDA a week ago on Sunday.
The rice protein concentrate was imported from China from Binzhou Futian Biology Technology. Their Web site lists three different types of feed grade rice protein.
Also of note, as you may have read in our comments, Natural Balance has updated their list of ingredients to include rice protein in recent days — raising questions about when the substance was actually added to the product. Howl911 has a side by side ingredient comparison.
April 17th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
I recommend viewing an independent film called China Blue as to why we should boycott Chinese goods (”edible” or non-edible). I caught it on Seattle PBS last week at 2am when I had insomnia.
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/chinablue/
True, this may seem like it is off-topic from pet food, but not really ;)
April 17th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Looks more like this was an intentional process to add cheap protein (through a biochemical reaction) - which went very, very wrong.
April 17th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Wait a minute. I thought Natural Balance said that the “rice protein concentrate”, (aka cheap filler) was sourced domestically. Did they “forget” that they bought it in China? Perhaps they should start telling the truth. It’s easier to remember.
April 17th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
the sourcer is in the US. kinda like “made/manufactured in the US”
methinks we need some serious overhauls in many areas . . . full disclosuer anyone?!
April 17th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Oh, God. I bought NB because they said all of their ingredients were from the US (except for venison & lamb from New Zealand). I can’t believe it was from China!
How can their Chicken & Brown Rice be safe? That’s what I was feeding my cats until early this morning when I first found a news report on this (I missed it earlier b/c I didn’t come to the pet blogs, ugh).
I was going to switch them to Spa Select but am terrified of anything until the other companies who bought this poison are named.
If you have any recipes for cats, PLEASE post them! I really want to just cook for them now.
April 17th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Why arent they other pet food companys being names? If there are four others, why did only ONE of them get tested???? I hope one of those is not natura….
April 17th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
http://www.connellbrothers.com/
April 17th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
I can hardly believe I just read that Thacher knew a WEEK ago the rice protein had melamine in it. I hope that’s actionable. Strip his clothes off and toss him in the street, with a couple of bags of rice protein dog food.
April 17th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
We need to know WHEN it was sold to those 5 pet food makers … When? and To Whom?
April 17th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
The Largest Private Companies
#224 Wilbur-Ellis
11.09.06, 6:00 PM ET
There are those who work position beyond complicity and into the house of maximum gain.
Wilbur-Ellis ranked #209 in 2005.
Industry: Agricultural Chemicals (agricultural supply distributor)
345 California Street, 27th Floor
San Francisco CA 94104
Phone: 415-772-4000
Fax: 415-772-4005
http://www.wilbur-ellis.com
contactus@wecon.com
CEO: John P Thacher
CFO: James D. Crawford
Forbes.com
April 18th, 2007 at 12:07 am
So Natural Balance notified the FDA of the melamine contamination a week ago … then why just yesterday on 4/16, did their website say, “We do not know what is wrong with the food at this time, but we have heard that animals are vomiting and experiencing kidney problems.”
Either they KNEW or they didn’t KNOW. Which is it?
That, combined with the stealth and sudden update to the ingredients list on their website … I’m utterly disgusted with the ongoing deception not just by NB, but by the pet food industry as a whole.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:13 am
I find it interesting that suppliers of pet food products also supply chemicals and plastics.
http://www.wilbur-ellisfeed.co...../products/
April 18th, 2007 at 12:24 am
JM Leong,
I think it means that Wilbur-Ellis notified them a week ago, not NB. I’d bet that NB is furious with that info, as well.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:27 am
I read it that Wilber-Ellis notified FDA last week. They have more incentive to play by the FDA rules than Natural Balance pet food. FDA wasn’t truthful with Goldy at Horsesass.com today. And FDA has more incentive to protect Wilbur Ellis than Natural Balance.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:29 am
Bridget, try here:
http://www.catnutrition.org/
keep in mind, buy supplements with caution also. they *should* be fine, but these same export/import companies are dealing dietary supps and vitamins.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:18 am
Thanks for the clarification a couple of posts up, guys.
I’m still disgusted, though. IF the FDA indeed knew there was a possible contamination problem a week ago with the rice protein, that meant they had to know there would be more recalls coming. ‘Makes me want to go back and re-read the testimony from last week’s Senate hearing.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:44 am
Holy Crud!
My computer was struck by lightning on Friday and I have been unable to keep up with the news very well. I just switched all my pets to over from Iam’s to Chicken Soup Dry food. Now I find that Diamond (who makes Chicken Soup) is affected?
And they won’t eat the food I cook for them. What the heck am I supposed to do?
April 18th, 2007 at 1:56 am
Nice find, Steve.
Pull out a credit card - any one will do. Unless I am totally dumb something close to the same resins are going into the dog and cat food. So the next time you feed Fido of Fluffy commercial food, visualize your credit cards in the food bowl.
http://www.mgpingredients.com/.....utions.htm
April 18th, 2007 at 1:58 am
BINZHOU FUTIAN BIOLOGY TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
Anyone notice the number of hotmail.com email accounts for their reps?
April 18th, 2007 at 2:10 am
I’m getting tired of checking recall lists that aren’t complete based on information we find out through the grapevine.
Wouldn’t you rather have a list of those foods that are NOT on the recall list and appear to be edible?
I suggest someone check out the the Manufacturer’s Register under the appropriate topics and make two lists:
1. the names of all the pet food manufacturers in the US and Canada, and
2. the names and locations of all the processing plants.
Then make another list:
3. Names of all the pet foods that have NOT been recalled.
Each name listed in list #3, should be checked to see if:
3.a. where they get their raw materials from
3.b. where is their food made
3.c. is their food made at a plant they own
3.d. if 3c is true, do they rent out the plant to other companies; which ones
3.e. do they lease plant space to have their food made? If so, from who? What other brands of food are made there
April 18th, 2007 at 2:16 am
Thanks, straybaby, I will check it out!
I re-read my Spa Select bag from Blue Buffalo and guess what? “Rice Protien Concentrate” is in it! I wonder if Blue Buffalo is one of the other four. I gave it to my babies last week-10 days ago while trying to switch them away from Iams. Some of my cats threw up once each, but they were only on it for two-three days. I put them back on it today to switch away from NB but now to know this gluten is in it, well, I’m switching to home-cooked now. Enough is enough. I know all my cats but one love homecooked chicken, I’m praying the one will come around since she’s a but thin as it is.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:32 am
This is from emails I received from NB:
“Please know that all of our ingredients, except for the venison and lamb, come from the United States. Our venison and lamb come from New Zealand. Further, all of our ingredients are human grade. Have a great day”
“Hello,
Please know that our dry and canned formulas are “co-packed” at a separate facility in the United States. Our dry products are co-packed at Diamond in California, and our canned products are co-packed at American Nutrition in Utah. What this means, is that we use their machinery to manufacture our OWN products. We also have our OWN quality control over seeing any manufacturing/production of our products. Further, all of our products are tested prior to production, after production, and then once again at our facility before the product ever leaves for distribution. If you should have any further questions or concerns please feel free to contact me via e-mail or phone. Have a good day”
April 18th, 2007 at 2:47 am
Here’s a letter I just wrote to Wilbur Ellis on this topic, not that they’ll respond…
Why can’t you release the name of the companies who were sold the contaminated rice protein? Do you have pets, do your children have pets? Can you really stomach the responsibility of contributing to the long, excruciatingly painful deaths of healthy young dogs and cats? PLEASE put life over protecting corporations and saving face! PLEASE do not let any more people kill the pets they love by feeding them contaminated food. These will not be recalled until MORE die and MORE people who love them suffer, just to protect the pocketbooks and “good” (yeah right!) names of these companies. Do the right thing! Don’t be responsible for more pain and suffering. Every minute you wait to do this MORE living being will suffer and die.
Here’s a few pictures of the dogs and cats who were healthy a few months ago and are now GONE due to the delayed information in the menu foods fiasco. Be better than them, please!!!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/petfoodrecall/pool/
April 18th, 2007 at 2:54 am
What I find terrible about the Natural Balance recall is that they CHANGED their ingredient list recently to add the rice protein (aka cheap protein) to their Venison & Pea formula. The V&P is an allergen formula….it is specifically marketed as a SINGLE-SOURCE protein which is why so many pet owners rely on it for their sensitive/allergic pets. How could NB add a second protein source like this to a very specific allergen product?
Here is the OLD V&P Dry Cat food ingredients list
Venison, Whole Dried Green Peas, Venison Meal, Canola Oil, Venison Liver, Natural Flavor, Phosphoric Acid, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride,
Here is the NEW V&P Dry Cat food ingredients list
Peas, Venison, Venison Meal, Rice Protein Concentrate, Canola Oil, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Methionine, Choline Chloride
The new product has less protein and a big portion of the venison has been replaced by rice concentrate. A big, big drop in quality!
April 18th, 2007 at 3:23 am
GENETICALLY MODIFIED GRAIN: I think that’s the strongest possibility why toxin is in different concentrations and why we are having so much trouble tracking it down. This would be a by-product of this unatural genetic modification and it could also account for different concentrations of toxins and the producing the other toxic chemical originally found….. something I hope FDA starts thinking of very soon. Our dear cats and dogs are like canaries in the coal mine with their delicate little bodies.
April 18th, 2007 at 4:08 am
According to the Sacramento Bee, veterinarians who’ve been tracking kidney ailments nationwide also have tentatively identified five more foods, not at this point under any recall, that they plan to have tested as soon as possible .
The Veterinary Information Network, used by about 16,000 of the estimated 35,000 U.S. veterinarians, noticed the five foods kept recurring in vet-described disease reports, said Paul Pion, the Davis vet who co-founded the service.
He declined to name the foods, saying that would be premature, but described the issue as serious enough that his network decided to collect samples from the vets who treated ailing cats and dogs.
He said hopes to get them to the UC Davis-based California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory as early as Wednesday.
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/156792.html
April 18th, 2007 at 7:17 am
I thank God for this Website and have been reading for the last week since the nb incident. I can’t believe this has been going on since Sunday and we haven’t heard anything on mainstream media. I know the shooting is important but so are our pets, what the heck is going on. The FDA sure has a lot to explain and what else are they hiding. I have a shih tzu, Poofy, who has been my joy for the past 1 1/2, I am so thankful that he’s OK and I have been feeding homecooked meal of late but he was on dry food, Nutro Max, then Wellness but now I don’t trust any comm. food. How can any of us feed anything comm. without worry! This is totally crazy and I think it’s going to get alot worst. What about these fillers in human food, vit. suoplements???? Thanks to the owners of this site. Please keep up the good work and get the media’s attention so people that aren’t onling will know!
April 18th, 2007 at 7:36 am
At this point, people have a right to know about all suspect companies, ingredients, EVERYTHING, regardless of whether or not it is premature. ANYTHING suspect needs to be put on the table until it is ruled out. That way, dogs and cats can be better protected. This crisis has been so mishandled that anything short of giving ALL information, I feel is criminally negligent. Everyone from vets to the FDA have a moral obligation to warn people of everything that is currently suspect - until it is ruled out. All these bastards are murdering our pets with their antics…
April 18th, 2007 at 7:53 am
The USA Today article says the FDA was notified Sunday, not a week ago. To quote:
“Thacher says it told the FDA on Sunday that it had detected melamine in some rice protein concentrate imported from China about a week ago.”
My reading of this is that the product was imported about a week ago…although it could be that the melamine was detected a week ago. But, it looks like the FDA was only notified Sunday. Has the USA Today reported different information elsewhere?
ITCHMO ADMIN: I just re-read that and I have updated our reports. Thank you!
April 18th, 2007 at 7:59 am
Kiki, I agree and we all need to start a email campaign to all media, to get the proper attention to this matter. I have been watching CNN, Headline News and all the rest, they are so focused on this Virg. Tech. shooting it’s like there is no other news in the world. This news about the rice protein, gulten or whatever it is must get out. I know people who do not get on line for all there info, believe it or not. The FDA needs to hear loud and clear, we want the truth if they are capable of giving truth. I myself am starting to wonder, what else don’t we know. Emails need to fly everywhere to flood media, FDA, these companies so they know we’re not satisfied with the way this whole situation has been handled. Lies are abounding, we have to get to the truth. I also want to say to all those who have ill pets or lost pet, I’ve been praying for healing and my heart goes out to you. I can’t image how hard it must be. May there be justice in the end of this horrible mess.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:22 am
So it wasn’t a week ago, but today is Wed. and we still don’t hear anything about it on the news???? That’s more days than I would want to pass if I was feeding my dog any of this junk. 1 day should not pass considering what the history of this situation is. And what about the other companies it was sold too????? We all need to boycott the pet food industry until the govt. gets to the bottom of this.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:24 am
You are welcome. You guys are doing such a great job disseminating all the different information for us. With as much info as you have, a mis-read is absolutely understandable every once in a while. Also, I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing that info elsewhere. I post updates at the message board I frequent. I’ve become sort of the unofficial recall “expert” there. Really more of an expert in seeking out and compiling information from sites like yours (and many google searches). I thank you for all the work you do for us and I’m glad I could contribute. We are all just trying to help each other through this mess right now.
One of the things I did when this started was join the FDA Recall email list. I have been floored by the number of things recalled just in the last month…not just the pet foods, but products across the board. I just wasn’t at all aware how many things are deemed unsafe after they’ve been sold. I think I was a happier consumer when I was oblivious.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:30 am
To Rose,
Rose GETS IT.
As posted previously, I believe off shore companies have bought up the world’s supply of degraded/GMO/tainted/contaminated raw ingredients
and dumped the junk into the US pet food supply.
Ingredients that are imported as “human food grade” (like the ChemNutra wheat gluten) may have contaminated the human food supply.
YOU DON”T KNOW IF YOU DON”T TEST.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:47 am
I would really like to see a list of all the companies that Diamond OEM manufactures for. My cat got sick on Solid Gold 2 weeks ago. Diamond manufactures S.G.
Sorry to be political, but i don’t think the fda cover ups are going to go away until & unless Bush/Cheny/Rove are impeached. And who knows even then. Corporations come first these days.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Regarding the Blue Buffalo comment: It’s my understanding that they brought on a guy that used to work for Iams. He’s already slowly started substituting lower quality ingredients without alerting anyone. There has been infighting in the company about it. The moral of the story is to always check the ingredient labels. Even if you’ve been buying a product for years - check the label. Companies have learned how to gain consumer trust and then slowly back down from quality in order to increase profit. We just need to get better at catching them at it!
April 18th, 2007 at 9:04 am
From Wilbur-Ellis quaility assurance page:
“If you are a supplier, our search for quality products begins with a sample of your material. Please see further information on providing our specialists with samples here.”
They must have missed this sample.
And if the protein distributed has melamine than it would logically follow that the entire batch has melamine. How can these other unnamed companies say they tested and found no melamine. Did they use a test kit from Toys are Us!! Are we supposed to believe them. Not on your life. Never ever again.
And if you want to boycott China take a good look next time you stroll through Pier I Import. Everything, with few exceptions, is imported from China. I noticed this the other day and in doing my small part I decided I would live without more candles.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:13 am
Please call and leave a message
415/772-4000 Wilbur Ellis - tell them that disclosing who the companies were that also received the rice protein concentrate HAVE to be disclosed, otherwise EVERYONE is going to face more liability in this abhorrent foot dragging cover-up!!
April 18th, 2007 at 9:16 am
Deb Says:
April 18th, 2007 at 8:49 am
The moral of the story is to always check the ingredient labels. Even if you’ve been buying a product for years - check the label.
People please! The label means nothing. Call the company and ask if they adhere to the practice of substituting or changing the formulation without changing the label. Eventually perpaps this might become law. Right now it is not. The label ingredients can lag behind the contents by 6 months. Ask them point blanck to send you a list of ingredients for whatever lot number you have. If it is different let them know how you feel about that. If enough people keep on about it and vote with their pocketbooks, perhaps the companies will finally listen.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:27 am
Deb: “The moral of the story is to always check the ingredient labels.”
The problem with this is that they don’t have to actually print what is in the package. supposedly, they have six months to change the packaging after they reformulate, but what if they run a batch with the old formula five months and 29 days later, then switch back to the cheap stuff? We have no way of knowing.
I mentioned on another board last night… shampoos and other products often are labeled with ingredients that include a statement like “(contains one of the following: X, Y, or Z).” This covers them when they swtich ingredients based on which one is the cheap commodity that week. If the pet food industry objects to having to change their labeling to keep up with reformulating, they ought to be required to publish everything they might put in there. No more grace period where they can put in rice into a product that is supposed to be a single protien source food for six months before anyone finds out about it.
All I want is to be able to make an intelligent choice as a consumer, but none of us can do that if the labels aren’t reflecting reality.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Natural Balance was one of the foods I purchased after I stopped feeding the recalled Nutro. I only fed one can of the cat food, the Natural Balance Turkey variety, however I have a can of the venison and a few other cans as well. Now I don’t know whether I should feed any of those cans. None of them list the rice as an ingredient BUT as stated above, neither did their dry food as of a week ago. Knowing how paranoid I’ve become, I will be returning those cans of food too.
If this were “people food” that was missing a listed ingredient and someone with an allergy got sick and died, this would be a MAJOR news story and lawsuit.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Geff,
You are right on! As long as Bush is in charge of the FDA, etc, this sort of thing is going to continue to happen. Anyone who thinks this isn’t political is kidding themselves.
Think about all the recalls that are going on… The FDA has been stripped and cut back. Sound familiar? (FEMA) The problem with their brand of conservative is that we NEED a govenment to help us , especially when most of our food sources are coming from all over the workd and country. We need inspections. Small govenment doesn’t work here. Nor does it work when when the whole purpose is to get a handful of men richer.
“due to the Bush administration’s across-the-board evisceration of government regulatory agencies — the FDA is bleeding both field staff and its corporate-independent inspection capabilities.”
See this link for more: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/4/1/192253/9381
April 18th, 2007 at 10:26 am
What about establishing a list somewhere here of products which contain rice protein concentrate? It would be strictly a WATCH LIST, but posting something like this might let the manufacturers know that it would be best to do voluntary recalls, if they’ve dealt with the supplier. It might force some answers as to who the other 4 are.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Anonymous Says:
April 18th, 2007 at 9:13 am
Please call and leave a message
415/772-4000 Wilbur Ellis - tell them that disclosing who the companies were that also received the rice protein concentrate HAVE to be disclosed, otherwise EVERYONE is going to face more liability in this abhorrent foot dragging cover-up!!
I just emailed and called. I encourage everyone to do the same.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:36 am
LYNN!
Thank you for digging up this website. I can’t believe resin is being put into not just pet food but vegetarian food and fiber and high-protein food! What the F? I’m also a vegetarian and this is scaring the hell out of me.
I urge all of you to PLEASE check out this website…… http://www.mgpingredients.com/.....utions.htm
Also, I am equally appalled to find that Wilbul-Ellis is making plastics and chemicals right along feed. I hope they release the other companies they sold the rice protein to.
[I just wanted to take a quick moment and give a huge shout out and thank you to Itchmo - I am so grateful and appreciative that this outlet exists - the alerts and quick information and all of the people leaving such informative comments. I wish everyone knew about it. Please pass it on to your friends and make sure they sign up for the alert letters. Thank you to all.]
April 18th, 2007 at 10:39 am
Posted on their website.
WHAT SETS US APART
Wilbur-Ellis Company has grown through eight decades of changing business conditions. Our growth is the result of commitments and beliefs that set us apart from other organizations.
Commitment to employees
Belief in supplying the highest quality products
Strong service orientation
Commitment to the integrity of our contracts
Strong, long-standing relationships with business partners
Entrepreneurial approach
In short, what sets Wilbur-Ellis Company apart is that we have always been a company for and about people-about relationships between employees, customers, business partners, and owners, about the integrity we bring to these relationships, and about the vision and ingenuity we bring to solving customers’ problems.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:50 am
Lisa Clay,
I started to do a preliminary search of pet foods that use RICE PROTEIN CONCENTRATE (i did two other searches as well, RICE PROTEIN and RICE GLUTEN) and I have found these companies so far that have/or continue to use it:
NUTRO - Natural Choice & Natural Care Adult CAT food (dry)
PROPAC - Lamb Meal & Rice DOG food (dry) lists RICE GLUTEN as
their 4th ingredient
BLUE BUFFALO (in their top 10 ingredients for dog food they list rice protein
concentrate at #7… http://tinyurl.com/2zje3k)
SENSIBLE CHOICE (how ironic that name now) RICE GLUTEN appears in a lot of their products
I’ll be updating as I get more info.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:16 am
I spent all day yesterday trying to get through by phone to Natural Balance as my dog eats the Venison and Brown rice. The lady who I finally talked to said that they started adding it on March 28th. Hmmm… not sureI really believe that. If it is true then the food he’s been eating prior to the other day when I found out about this wasn’t contaminated. Why change a perfectly good product? They should have been making plenty of money assuming a portion of those who had fed some other brand prior to the first recall of wheat gluten switched to NB.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:18 am
CONTINUED……
More pet food containing RICE PROTEIN CONCENTRATE (RPC)
CASTOR & POLLUX - Natural Ultramix Canine Weight Management
WELLNESS - WellBars - 2 of the flavors contain RPC
LIVESMART - Weight Mngmnt. Chicken & Brown Rice (dog, dry food)
BLUE SPA SELECT - Hairball Control Cat (dry)
HILL’S - Prescription Z/D Cat food (dry) - IT’S THE FIRST INGREDIENT!
HILL’S - Rx CANINE K/D - Maize starch (hmmm.. is first ingredient) and RPC is 5th.
I’m also noticing a lot of Fish Protein Concentrate (Newman’s Own), Corn Gluten (too many to name), Soy Protein Concentrate (Nature’s Recipe, Fancy Feast) and Vegetable Protein Concentre (Advance Pet Foods) in a lot of my searches. All of those items are also things that come from China or otherwise stocked by places like Alibaba - I believe they were associated with Menu Foods in some way… http://tinyurl.com/yuxxdw
April 18th, 2007 at 11:31 am
CONTINUED… pet foods containing RICE PROTEIN CONCENTRAT (RCP)
CASTOR & POLLUX - Natural Ultramix Canine Weight Mgmnt.
WELLNESS - WellBars - 2 of the flavors contains RPC
LIVESMART - Weight Mgmnt. Chicken and Brown Rice formula
BLUE SPA SELECT - Hairball Control Cat (dry)
HILL’S - Rx food Z/D for cats (dry) RPC IS 1st INGREDIENT!!
HILL’S - Rx food K/D for dogs (wet) RPC is 5th ingredient while something called “Maize starch” (hmmm) is the first ingredient
Also, I’m noticing a lot of other concentrates and glutens in my searches.. i.e. Soy Protein Concentrate (Fancy Feast, Nature’s Recipe), Fish Protein Concentrate (Newman’s Own), Vegetable Protein Concentrate (Advance Pet Foods) and Corn Gluten (meal) - that one is in too many to name. The reason they piqued my interest in because a lot of these companies from China that made the wheat gluten also make these items above. Alibaba, I believe came up frequently during Menu Foods and if you look at their site you’ll see all of these items http://tinyurl.com/yuxxdw
This is all just frightening.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:32 am
http://www.thepetfoodlist.com/petfoods_pg1.htm
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
No products made by Menu Foods
All foods contain US and Canadian ingredients
Manufacture their own dry food
Canned foods made by American Nutrition
April 18th, 2007 at 11:46 am
4lgdfriend, the problem is the list you posted is just Diamond’s in house brands. They also OEM for a number of companies. So far, the only ones I’ve seen named are Natural Balance & Solid Gold.
OEM means “Original Equipment Manufacturer”. What that means (taken fronm the electronics industry) is that Diamond makes food for many companies who rebrand it.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:59 am
http://www.hillspet.com/zSkin_.....SNCnz3Pvcw!-1537894699!167846923!7005!8005&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441760715&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302037389&bmUID=1176906907477
Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D Feline Dry:
Ingredients
Rice Protein Concentrate, Brewers Rice, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Soybean Oil (preserved with BHA, propyl gallate and citric acid), Powdered Cellulose, Hydrolyzed Chicken, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Glyceryl Monostearate, Choline Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement,) Iodized Salt, Calcium Sulfate, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Ethoxyquin (a preservative), Beta-Carotene.
http://www.hillspet.com/zSkin_.....SNCnz3Pvcw!-1537894699!167846923!7005!8005&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441760658&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302037389&bmUID=1176905634290
Hill’s Prescription Diet H/D Canine Dry:
Ingredients
Ground Whole Grain Corn, Rice Protein Concentrate, Pork Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Chicken By-Product Meal, Chicken Liver Flavor, Casein, Dried Egg Product, Soybean Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Powdered Cellulose, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Citrate, Natural Flavor, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Magnesium Oxide, preserved with BHT and BHA, L-Carnitine, L-Tryptophan, Beta-Carotene.
http://www.hillspet.com/zSkin_.....SNCnz3Pvcw!-1537894699!167846923!7005!8005&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441760535&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302037389&bmUID=1176905450493
Hill’s Prescription Diet K/D Canine Canned:
Ingredients
Water, Corn Starch, Pork Liver, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, and citric acid), Sucrose, Rice Protein Concentrate, Flaxseed, Calcium Carbonate, Chicken Liver Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Citrate, Caramel Color, Iodized Salt, Choline Chloride, L-Lysine, Vitamin E Supplement, Magnesium Oxide, Taurine, DL-Methionine, Ascorbic Acid (source of vitamin C), Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Beta-Carotene, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Does anyone have information on Evangers brand cat food? I have been feeding my cats Evangers, they love it and my sick kitty who was fed Science Diet w/d and Purina d/m had returned to 90% good health. How-ever, I started giving her Natural Balance once in awhile for variety, as she seemed to like the venison and green pea flavor, I bought a bag of dry food to re-introduce her to dry foods. She had about 1/4 cup before the re-call. Now she is sick again. I want to continue on only Evangers as they did so well with it, but am fearful of rice gluten. Again, does anyone have any info on Evangers?
April 18th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Just got off the phone with a NB representative. He told me that to the best of their knowledge the rice protein concentrate was first added to the foods on March 28th. He did say emphatically that NB was NOT going to be using rice protein concentrate anymore and would be changing back to the old formula. (Hindsight is 20/20; now they are paying the price.)
I told him there were a lot of angry people out there…..
April 18th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
http://www.evangersdogfood.com/
Here is the website. They have th ingred. listed.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Responding to earlier post asking what else Diamond made, but Geff is right. NEvertheless, the quote is somewhat misleading “Diamond-made”??? : “Wilbur-Ellis CEO John Thacher said his company sold the concentrate to five pet-food makers, but that most of it went to two firms. One of the primary companies was Diamond Pet Foods, which packs some of the Natural Balance product but doesn’t use the concentrate in any Diamond-made foods, says Diamond spokesman Jim Fallon”
Personally I’d rather be safe than sorry so I’m ruling out anything made by Diamond. Others may feel the same. I don’t care what OEM means and I know that Diamond makes food for other mfrs. So does everybody else, I presume, since Menu was exposed. But still, safe rather than sorry if you ask me.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
I just sent the following email to the managing editor of my city’s newspaper. I had originally emailed him on March 26th. He responded the next day that he would have a story editor contact me, which never happened.
4/18/07:
Hi Dave - I wanted to let you know that no one ever got back to me on this. This is still a major underreported story & is getting worse. I
strongly believe there is a major cover-up going on by almost everyone in the industry & that likely almost the entire pet food chain has been tainted. At this time, sadly almost all useful information is coming from internet blogs & forums. Here are a few links if anyone is interested in pursuing this & hopefully helping to save some lives. If nothing else, I believe getting the word out on how serious this is is essential.
http://www.itchmo.com/
http://www.thepetfoodlist.com/
http://www.howl911.com/
http://www.thepetfoodlist.com/forums/
Thank You,
April 18th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
I just called Wilbur-Ellis and asked who the other four companies are that they sold the rice protein concentrate to. The woman on the phone took my name, phone number and email addy and told me someone would contact me. If I do hear from them and get any worthwhile info I will let you know.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
I just checked the ingredients in my Daimond Foods “Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul” and it does not list rice protein. It has “white rice” as the ingredient.
Does this make me feel safe? NO!
I am sick of this…every day it is something else that is tainted. When is our government going to wake up and quit outsourcing? What a bunch of crap! I guess we need an actual human to die before they wake up!
Sue #*#@*%$#@*** (complying with the “no foul language” policy)
April 18th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Oh, I forgot to add to my above post…so far my Wysong “Vitality” is still okay (I guess). They don’t have any white rice at all in this feline food. And…my Sammy and Shadow seem to love it.
Again…does this make me feel safe? Again….NO!
Sue
April 18th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I still believe we need to flood the emails of CNN, FOX and all the rest to start reporting on this. Our pets are depending on us to get the word out and if there is some cover up we need to make ALOT of noise!!!! Not everyone is on-line and we need the media to do what they are there to do… this is big news….People need to know rice protein is added to this list!
April 18th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Why are 4 companies being given benefit of the doubt vs the lives at stake from a proven fatal kidney toxin?
LIVES are more important than their gd profit. Not to mention if any of this crap went into human food - which looks quite likely.
Again: The 4 companies are known and should be named. If they can PROVE w verifiable independent testing that their products containing the IDENTIFIED tainted ingredient are somehow safer than other products that killed animals, we will be happy to give them benefit of doubt.
Until then, the FDA has failed in its responsibility TO PROTECT LIVES, NOT PROFITS.
Senators Durbin, Kucinich - called into action again?
April 18th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
let the FDA name the companies on a hold list. During the next 3 weeks or so, while they fart around releasing conflicting analyses from separate labs, along with more bs cya on behalf of industry and lobbyists, at least lives that would have been lost may be saved.
FDA IS NOTHING BUT AN INDUSTRY SUBSIDIARY.
CONSUMERS HAVE TO TELL INDUSTRY PAPS WHO MURDER FOR PROFIT THEY WON’T PAY FOR THIS DISHONESTY WITH LIVES OR WITH DOLLARS.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
teric i appreciate your reply thank you had previosly checked evangers website and am very happy with what i read on it. need to know if all is as it states or if anyone has experienced any problems with their food have researched and find very little about them all comments are good wondering if its too good to be true! i’m continuing with evangers and praying avoiding their foods with rice flour until? have emailed them and waiting for a reply.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I called Hill’s Pet Foods and was told by a customer service rep that 4 of their foods contain rice protein concentrate. It comes from a US supplier he said but would not divulge their name. I inplored him to post this information on their website but he could not confirm that this would ever hit their website. Of the 4 foods, Large Breed Puppy lamb and rice and HD adult dog food was mentioned. I wasn’t happy with the lack of concern I received. Maybe someone else can get somewhere with them.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I do not know how to actually send email to someone who will answer me. I hope I have not done something incorrectly in sendingi my email replies here. I see the notice that my mail will not be published, and that is fine. However, my friend just told me, (as she was preparing to buy some Fancy Feast) that she just read that a womans cat died after eating a canned Fancy Feast food with wheat gluten in it!!
We are alarmed, since that is about all we are feeding our many cats now. I am feeding that and EVO with no grain, and I do not feed them any Fancy Feast that DOES contain wheat gluten, however, many people do because up till now we have not been warned against Purina’s Fancy Feast with wheat gluten.
I hope someone will look into this claim and say something about it on your Itchmo site. I rescue and have many cats and don’t know how I could cook for all of them with human food, but may have to try.
Thank you for your help.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
http://www.vin.com/VIN.plx?P=ContactUs
VIN contact info. Please email and call demanding they release the names of the other foods in question.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Hills Products Containing Rice Protein Concentrate:
Non-Prescription:
Hill’s Science Diet Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Puppy Large Breed Dry:
Ingredients
Lamb Meal, Ground Whole Grain Wheat, Corn Gluten Meal, Brewers Rice, Rice Flour, Cracked Pearled Barley, Dried Egg Product, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, Rice Protein Concentrate, Fish Oil, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, L-Lysine, Iodized Salt, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Dicalcium Phosphate, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, L-Carnitine, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.
Prescription:
Prescription Diet:
Z/D Low Allergen Feline Dry:
Ingredients
Rice Protein Concentrate, Brewers Rice, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Soybean Oil (preserved with BHA, propyl gallate and citric acid), Powdered Cellulose, Hydrolyzed Chicken, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Glyceryl Monostearate, Choline Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement,) Iodized Salt, Calcium Sulfate, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Ethoxyquin (a preservative), Beta-Carotene.
H/D Canine Dry:
Ingredients
Ground Whole Grain Corn, Rice Protein Concentrate, Pork Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Chicken By-Product Meal, Chicken Liver Flavor, Casein, Dried Egg Product, Soybean Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Powdered Cellulose, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Citrate, Natural Flavor, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Magnesium Oxide, preserved with BHT and BHA, L-Carnitine, L-Tryptophan, Beta-Carotene.
K/D Canine Canned:
Ingredients
Water, Corn Starch, Pork Liver, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, and citric acid), Sucrose, Rice Protein Concentrate, Flaxseed, Calcium Carbonate, Chicken Liver Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Citrate, Caramel Color, Iodized Salt, Choline Chloride, L-Lysine, Vitamin E Supplement, Magnesium Oxide, Taurine, DL-Methionine, Ascorbic Acid (source of vitamin C), Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Beta-Carotene, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite.
There is an H/D Canine canned Prescription Diet which does not contain rice protein concentrate. There is a K/D Canine dry Prescription Diet which does not contain rice protein concentrate. There is a Z/D Feline canned Prescription Diet which does not contain any rice protein concentrate.
There is a Science Diet Canine Dry Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Puppy NON-LARGE BREED which does not contain rice protein concentrate.
Alternatives are available in the Hill’s lines, so if Hill’s is one of those who received the potentially contaminated rice protein concentrate, a website notice that they are issuing a voluntary recall and suggest people switch to their brands above is needed NOW!
Would believe those involved in the pet food industry would have learned something by the “antics” of Menu, who were STILL recalling products as of yesterday, and the mind and website games played by Natural Balance from Sunday-yesterday.
Those who may have pets affected by the possibly tainted rice protein concentrate need to get them treated immediately. Doing a voluntary recall would both save lives and your public image.
If Hill’s did NOT purchase any rice protein concentrate from that supplier, NOW is the time to say something about that also.
Either way, Hill’s needs to take a stand NOW.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Hill’s website claims they are not using the same supplier for their rice protein concentrate…look under April 18 under updates on the top right hand corner
http://www.hillspet.com/zSkin_.....6921101354
April 18th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
June,
I dont know anything about it. It sounds like good stuff but the so did NB along with all the rest. I think (and just think) that Canidae is made there. Canidae sounds like a good product as well but who know these days. Until we find out who the other 4 companies are, I’m going to be cooking for mine.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
I spoke with my vet, there is a website u can use to cook your pet food. www.petdiets.com . you have they would prepare the recipe for you but you have to follow it strictly. You have to pay a certain amount to get the recipe that they will prpare for u tocook the ingredients. My vet also said it is not good to cook at home because they are sensitive. but the website she does rcomend, does it good. but you have to follow their recipe VERY strictly. I have Natural balance the ultra premium,. it does not have the rice protein concentrate.
Been feeding my cat for a couple weeks, i switched from purina dry and friskies wet food, cause of wheat gluten. I wanted him on wheat gluten free. He LOVES NB. I called NB and they said they wanted to try the rice protein. they got it from a US vendor. but they did not know that US vendor may have gotten it fom China. I told them I promise u they got it from china. If all their products are the real deal then Why go concentate on ur food? they said they never used it before they added it to make it better. But it is not working and they will NOT have that ever again. she ssaid from now on any dry and wet food will NEVER have the rice protein.
I trusted Dick van patten who was an actor 8 is enough. He loves animals and wants the best got the pets. They better change. I have no where else to go. The website I will think about going to it. But I am not sure. I will have to check itout. NB was supposed to be the Real deal. I go to a restaurant and do eat New Zealand lamb and it is Great. for my cat to eat it i feel like he is eating scraps. but by NB.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
#1 - Diamond
#2 - Could possibly be Hills ?
#3 - ?
#4 - ?
#5 - ?
Together we will probably figure it out before they tell us.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
June,
Following is a forum on EVANGERS. Hope it helps you a bit.
http://tinyurl.com/2bpfbc
I have purchased 3 cans of Evangers for my cats but haven’t yet
used them (i’m feeding Merrick after having fed them Natural Balance since
January 07). I have reservations because I need to research the addition of Vitamin K (menadione bisulfite something or other) and I thought I read somewhere that that is to be avoided. Does anyone know anything about the Vitamin K and cats?
April 18th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Teric,
I’m wondering if we could add any of the companies I named a few emails
above to your list? Most aren’t Menu manufactured so it might be something to look into. I wonder if any of the brands I found are brands currently receiving complaints that the vets are testing on right now.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
“#1 - Diamond
#2 - Could possibly be Hills ?”
I was looking at their Z/D allergy formula ingredients. “rice protein concentrate” was at the top.
http://www.hillspet.com/zSkin_.....6883006805
April 18th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
“There is an H/D Canine canned Prescription Diet which does not contain rice protein concentrate. There is a K/D Canine dry Prescription Diet which does not contain rice protein concentrate. There is a Z/D Feline canned Prescription Diet which does not contain any rice protein concentrate.”
That is good to know. I missed that on their website.
I suppose I should work down the latest posts than up. ;)
April 18th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Monika,
I’ve been reading your posts. Thanks for all the research you are doing for all of us.
We can all add who we think may be added to the list with a ? mark. From your research it appears that Hills may be one of the companies they are protecting. I guess we will find out if/when they decide to let us in on it. It would be my guess, someone (media maybe) will spill the beans before they do.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
I dont know if anyone has been searching for some safe treats. If so, I found the Wheat Free Boutique. I emailed her regarding their products (rice etc). My pups are missing their treats! I received the following email within 30 minutes.
Hi there!
That’s a great question. It’s crazy what’s been happening lately with the food supply. All our ingredients are human grade quality. We literally drive to the same super market we buy our own groceries at to purchase our supplies. We use oat flour and rice flour for most of our ingredients. Not the rice protein concentrate that has been found to be contaminated.
We would never put anything in our products that we were afraid to eat ourselves. We test our products on a weekly basis, and that means, yes, we do eat our own doggie treats!
If you are concerned about the rice products, we do offer our Mint Julep product, which contains no rice product. It’s made of oats and oat flour and is a low fat snack for your dog.
Thank you for your question! If you have any other questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Thank you!
Joan Giani
Customer Service
Wheat Free Boutique
www.WheatFreeBoutique.com
April 18th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
I wrote a letter to John Thacher who is the CEO of Wilber-Ellis, the company that sold the rice protein to five pet food companies and will not release the names.
To Anonymous: Good for you for writing to them. More people should.
Here’s a letter I just wrote to Wilbur Ellis on this topic, not that they’ll respond…
Why can’t you release the name of the companies who were sold the contaminated rice protein? Do you have pets, do your children have pets? Can you really stomach the responsibility of contributing to the long, excruciatingly painful deaths of healthy young dogs and cats? PLEASE put life over protecting corporations and saving face! PLEASE do not let any more people kill the pets they love by feeding them contaminated food. These will not be recalled until MORE die and MORE people who love them suffer, just to protect the pocketbooks and “good†(yeah right!) names of these companies. Do the right thing! Don’t be responsible for more pain and suffering. Every minute you wait to do this MORE living being will suffer and die.
Here’s a few pictures of the dogs and cats who were healthy a few months ago and are now GONE due to the delayed information in the menu foods fiasco. Be better than them, please!!!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/petfoodrecall/pool/
April 18th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Please call and leave a message
415/772-4000 Wilbur Ellis - tell them that disclosing who the companies were that also received the rice protein concentrate HAVE to be disclosed, otherwise EVERYONE is going to face more liability in this abhorrent foot dragging cover-up!!
I just called and they’re trying to direct everyone to a toll-free number, which I won’t even give you. Call the above 415 number and you will get a person. REGISTER YOUR COMPLAINT.
April 18th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
I called them and spoke to a woman who took my name, phone number and email addy. She said someone would get back to me on this. That was around noonish EST…it’s now 4:30 and I’m still waiting.
I also called Purina earlier about the plant I’ve heard they opened in China. The woman there said there is no plant in China and that all their plants are in the US. The only site I’ve found mentioning it, was HOWL911 which offered some Chinese news tidbit. Then I was transfered to someone who could tell me about if they use the rice protein concentrate. I’m on a switchboard, was on hold that time for-ev-er and managed to disconnect myself. Wanted to scream. May try again tomorrow.
April 18th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
After many calls today, Science Diet has posted an entry about the Rice
Protein Concentrate in K/D and others that are made by their company.
They claim to have no connection with the one in question.
You’ll find the notice dated April 18 on their site.
I’m sorry but my faith in dogfood companies is a little weak at present.
April 18th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Debbie,
Check this out…
Nestle bites into pet food market
By Jiang Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-02-03 08:55
Nestle, one of the world’s largest food companies, opened its first pet food processing plant in China on Friday in a bid to cash in on the nation’s growing pet-related market.
Nestle said it invested an initial 80 million yuan in the Purina Petcare factory located in Tianjin Economic Technological Development Area.
Nestle chose Tianjin, a port city close to Beijing, to meet demand from the country’s two largest markets - Beijing and Shanghai, said Sim Joohua, business unit head of Nestle Purina Petcare China.
It is Nestle’s fifth plant in Tianjin and part of its network of 21 factories in China.
Experts predict that annual sales of pet food in China might top 6 billion yuan in 2008, while the country’s “pet-related economy” could reach 15 billion yuan in the next five to seven years.
Sim declined to disclose Nestle’s market share in China’s pet food market but expects that “the growth rate will keep pace with growth of the pet market in China.”
The Tianjin factory is expected to produce some 20,000 tons of pet food a year.
Before building its domestic plant, Nestle’s cat and dog food sold in the Chinese market was imported from the United States.
The Tianjin factory increases Nestle’s competitiveness with rival Mars, which set up a pet food factory in the Beijing about 10 years ago and owned international cat and dog food brands that tapped the Chinese market in the 1990s.
(China Daily 02/03/2007 page10)
http://www.chinadaily.net/bizc.....800413.htm
April 18th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Nestle bites into pet food market
By Jiang Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-02-03 08:55
Nestle, one of the world’s largest food companies, opened its first pet food processing plant in China on Friday in a bid to cash in on the nation’s growing pet-related market.
Nestle said it invested an initial 80 million yuan in the Purina Petcare factory located in Tianjin Economic Technological Development Area.
Nestle chose Tianjin, a port city close to Beijing, to meet demand from the country’s two largest markets - Beijing and Shanghai, said Sim Joohua, business unit head of Nestle Purina Petcare China.
It is Nestle’s fifth plant in Tianjin and part of its network of 21 factories in China.
Experts predict that annual sales of pet food in China might top 6 billion yuan in 2008, while the country’s “pet-related economy” could reach 15 billion yuan in the next five to seven years.
Sim declined to disclose Nestle’s market share in China’s pet food market but expects that “the growth rate will keep pace with growth of the pet market in China.”
The Tianjin factory is expected to produce some 20,000 tons of pet food a year.
Before building its domestic plant, Nestle’s cat and dog food sold in the Chinese market was imported from the United States.
The Tianjin factory increases Nestle’s competitiveness with rival Mars, which set up a pet food factory in the Beijing about 10 years ago and owned international cat and dog food brands that tapped the Chinese market in the 1990s.
(China Daily 02/03/2007 page10)
April 18th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Debbie4747,
Purina told me the same thing - no plant in China. The people who answer the phones don’t seem to know what’s going on, they just read the script.
Doesn’t matter what your question is - the answer is the same. And then there’s the old fall back “it’s proprietary”.
If you call Purina back, tell them to google search “Purina China Plant”, here’s a link:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/engl.....688630.htm
April 18th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Debbie4747,
Here’re some more articles on Purina, Hersey, et al.
Everything’s going to China. Believe I may join Rocky at his next Chinese class LOL.
http://www.supplychain.cn/en/a.....mit=Submit
April 18th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
No, we dont have any plants in China ….
Nestle bites into pet food market
By Jiang Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-02-03 08:55
Nestle, one of the world’s largest food companies, opened its first pet food processing plant in China on Friday in a bid to cash in on the nation’s growing pet-related market.
Nestle said it invested an initial 80 million yuan in the Purina Petcare factory located in Tianjin Economic Technological Development Area.
Nestle chose Tianjin, a port city close to Beijing, to meet demand from the country’s two largest markets - Beijing and Shanghai, said Sim Joohua, business unit head of Nestle Purina Petcare China.
It is Nestle’s fifth plant in Tianjin and part of its network of 21 factories in China.
Experts predict that annual sales of pet food in China might top 6 billion yuan in 2008, while the country’s “pet-related economy” could reach 15 billion yuan in the next five to seven years.
Sim declined to disclose Nestle’s market share in China’s pet food market but expects that “the growth rate will keep pace with growth of the pet market in China.”
The Tianjin factory is expected to produce some 20,000 tons of pet food a year.
Before building its domestic plant, Nestle’s cat and dog food sold in the Chinese market was imported from the United States.
The Tianjin factory increases Nestle’s competitiveness with rival Mars, which set up a pet food factory in the Beijing about 10 years ago and owned international cat and dog food brands that tapped the Chinese market in the 1990s.
(China Daily 02/03/2007 page10)
April 18th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Here’s the link.
http://www.chinadaily.net/bizc.....800413.htm
April 18th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
5CatMom and Teric….thanks for the links. I only had the one from howl911 to go on, but it sounded real to me. I’ve seen Purina with their pants down already. At one point they listed some FAQs. I’d think the #1 FAQ would be where they were getting their wheat gluten from. Not mentioned at all. A few days later they pulled their Alpo cuts. New batch of FAQs then included that they did get some from China after all, no, they are no longer using that supplier, and once again they’re good to go. Did they come clean about operating a new plant in China? No. They have the biggest market share with multi varieties of dog food and cat food in numerous degrees of health related formulas (at least in my area) that is still reasonably affordable, especially those like me that are feeding 5 cats inside and a bunch of ferals outside. I’d like to continue feeding their stuff to these guys, but do I trust them? No.
If the woman even said, yes there’s a plant in China geared just for them…there I may have bought it. But I don’t think I can trust them…or many others. Bad enough there are troubled products, but the way everyone is just covering their butts has to be illegal. Everytime I feed my cats I can’t help but think, “Is this the can?”
Thanks again for the links.
This gets scarier by the day.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Urgh, this is absurd! Does anyone know if Natural Balance is paying Vet bills for blood, fectal and urine test as a result of feeding my boy their made in the USA Human Grade quality food?
I know I could call the #800 number and find out, but right now I am so pissed I think I would actually find a way to reach through the phone and choke someone.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
ChadJ,
Have been trying to call them all day - the phone is non-stop busy.
I want to know why their Nutritionist told me they test before, during and after production. I switched to NB based on her information. She even sent me an email!
There is some serious FRAUD going on here.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
From what I’ve read, I believe NB is picking up all vet bills caused by their food.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Natura has a new post on their website stating that they are not using any of the poisoned Rice Protein & that they are not one of the 5 companies under suspicion.
I tried to paste their post in here, but some word they used set off something in Itchmo’s system & my post was blocked repeatedly. You can read Natura’s actual wording here:
http://www.naturapet.com/about......asp?id=20
April 18th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Natura has a new post on their website stating that they are not using any of the poisoned Rice Protein & that they are not one of the 5 companies under suspicion.
I tried to paste their post in here, but some word they used set off something in Itchmo’s system & my post was blocked repeatedly. You can read Natura’s actual wording on their website.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Apparently, the problem of Chinese companies adding non-protein nitrogen sources to inflate protein content test results is not new. At least as long ago as 2005, one Chinese supplier warned its customers about doctored rice protein concentrate. A 2005 web page item on a Chinese food additives exporter’s web site warns: (click NEWS button at website)
Note: I have no reason to suspect this particular Chinese supplier of any wrongdoing and am pointing to its website merely to indicate that it was warning its customers of this problem in 2005.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Just noticed my LONG post got posted 3 times ???
Dont know why. Sorry about that all.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Debbie4747,
I’m concerned about Purina because of all the ancedotal evidence of problems with Beneful. My bag of dry Beneful contains corn gluten meal.
Don’t see any reason that corn gluten meal would have been spared from the debacle.
Seems to me it would be a great idea to ask Dr. Pion to test a sample of Beneful.
Other ingredients like soy protein or soy meal should also be tested. I’ve tried to contact FDA about this, but NO ONE is interested.
Does ITCHMO have any contact with Dr. P?
April 18th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
teric,
Purina???????????
April 18th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
teric,
Menu????????????????????
April 18th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
ChadJ and 5CatMom,
I have the info of a rep at Natural Balance.
I sent the company an email the morning of 4/16/07 to the general email address on their website. I received a reply right before the end of the day
at work today. It was a generic email and I knew all of the info it contained days ago. But I felt compelled to reply and share my grief about a co-worker who could not get through to NB for 2 days because it’s constantly busy. Surprisingly, I got an instant reply. I sent another reply and received another
quick response. He asked that my co-worker contact him directly about filing a case and seeking reimbursement for the vet (2 days on IV and fluids, the dog is now stable but with irreversible kidney damage) after eating the Venison Brown Rice for only a few days.
My point is, I feel compelled to help you. Not sure how I can share the info with you. I don’t think I should or could post my email address on here. I also cannot post his info on here (don’t want the guy to get overwhelmed with hate mail as he seems genuine about wanting to help). How should we do this?
April 18th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Monikad,
Not real clear about what you want to do. Do you want to send ChadJ or I an email?
Have you contacted ITCHMO and asked for help?
April 18th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
ITCHMO,
Sounds like Monikad has some important info. Can you help out here?
April 18th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Monika and Teric Thanks so much for the info you are providing. Find all very informative. Monika thanks for the referral. I also questioned the color of Evangers and decided it was due to the ingredients. The mackeral did me in ( a whole mackeral ina can ) but my 4 girls love it. Found that leftovers have to be kept in a plastic container in ref. as they pick up the can taste. I have also found that they eat less and are full and content until next feeding ( 3 daily ) Works well for me as they are not looking for dry food, I have yet to find one thats decent that they will eat. I also have been questioning vitamin k, think there are Evangers flavors that don’t have it but not sure. Just so thrilled at the moment to find a food that they will eat, that seems to be safe, that I’am leaving that part of it until this is over? First recall my cat barely survived and here we go again. I am FURIOUS over this.
April 19th, 2007 at 12:09 am
In addition to the NB contact that Monikad has, here is another contact at NB, someone who also responds to emails sent on the general email address on their website.
This contact info was posted ‘Natural Balance Recall Expands to Canned Food and Treats’ thread’ as well.
On 3/19 Jennifer responded to my question of ‘Does NB use any outside sourcing? Her answer YES, Diamond.
Jennifer Freeman, B.S., R.V.T.
Animal Nutrition
Natural Balance Pet Foods Inc.
800-829-4493 X106
Jenniferb@naturalbalanceinc.com
Good luck!
April 19th, 2007 at 8:58 am
I am in agreeance with an earlier comment. It would be much easier now to make a list of “safe” foods for our pets since the list of “unsafe” has become phenomonally long. Does any one know of such a list?
April 19th, 2007 at 9:13 am
ITCHMO,
I want to give the contact info of the Natural Balance rep I have to ChadJ
and 5CatMom - should I just leave my email on here and trust I don’t get a bunch of irrelevant comments and only inquiries from people that need to contact Natural Balance? I’m willing to leave it on here if that’s what it takes.
Just let me know if that’s okay.
Monika
April 19th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Monika,
I’m still new here and don’t know all the rules. Here goes:
homermlw@earthlink.net
April 19th, 2007 at 10:29 am
Annie,
Nice lady there, but I’m not sure she’s part of the management team. The info I received was not accurate, in my opinion, based on what has happened at NB
Other companies also seem to suffer from poor communication, it’s not just NB.
Saying that ingredients are tested is not the same as saying “we test in house with our own technical staff”
To me, testing doesn’t mean that you simply read a tag on the bag.
April 19th, 2007 at 10:59 am
5CatMom,
Check your email. I just sent you the info.
Monika
April 19th, 2007 at 11:40 am
Hi Monika:
Thank you for much for being willing to help, can you please send me the info to chadjackson @ allstate dot com.
Their are no spaces in my email and the “dot” is obviously a “.” I just posted it like that so it is harder to programs to get my email off this site.
Thanks again so much!
April 19th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
This is just too much, how many of our healthy 4 legged family members have to die, or get so sick that we see the pain and agony on thier faces and incur huge vet bills that puts strain on our budget? Our children watch in horror and dont understand what is happening when they lose their best buddy…JUST HOW MUCH MORE CAN OUR PETS GO THROUGH..I have an idea, lets found out what these people and companies involved in all of this…WHAT THEY ARE FEEDING THIER BELOVED PETS????
April 19th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
i spent 40 minutes on the phone today with purina regarding fancy feast - they assured me that their product is not tainted with the wheat gluton or the rice concentrate - their product has barley rice, which when you look at it is crap, but at least it is safe. Their wet foods do not have corn gluton, yet their dry food does - i haven’t received a confirmation that the dry is safe
April 19th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Every one of you needs to safely switch your cats who are True Carnivores, over to Feline Pride Raw food. This is the most efficient way to feed your cats similar to how cats eat in the Wild. Dry food is poison and of no use to your cats body. We cannot trust any of these companies anymore!
April 19th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
The site I’ve been going to for information about what is safe (and they’re updating it on a regular basis) is www.thepetfoodlist.com.
I live in Canada and really never thought we had it in us as a caring nation to put pets at risk like this — makes me sick. We have less regulation than the US (which is now being reviewed in parliament thanks to a member of parliament and a long petition).
Anyway, I’ve switched my 5 cats over to Orijen (www.championpetfoods.com). No grains of any kind and all human-grade ingredients coming from neighboring provinces. The only ingredient I’m wondering about is the tapioca, which I will be calling them about in the morning. So far, so good, though it took about a week for my cats to get off the carbo wagon. They eat much less of this stuff, so the cost winds up being the same. Mom’s feeding her cats Felidae, Acana, Orijen and home-cooked stews.
I have also long dumped China as a country that I buy things from (from food to shoes, if it says made in China or somewhere remotely close by, I do without). Give me Canadian or US made goods anyday — I’ll gladly pay more for them.
April 20th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Regarding Natural Balance…
I still have faith in Diamond and NB foods. Why? As soon as they received phone calls from consumers, they IMMEDIATELY began pulling products off of the shelves and started a recall, BEFORE lab results were even back exposing the melamine. The same cannot be said for Menu Foods.
My dogs are eating Diamond Natural, and my cats, Natural Balance Ultra. All are doing well.
Diamond/NB did the responsible thing, pulling produts if there was even a CHANCE they could be contaminated. They didn’t sit there and try tro squeeze another penny out of people until the last minute like Menu has continued to do with “All fods cleared as safe” then later adding more foods, etc. I hope Menu Foods goes under! I also think that some of the companies sourcing these grain products to pet food companies have NOT been honest in revealing te sources of those products. THAT is utterly unacceptable! NB for example, bought their ingredients from an AMERICAN company, not realizing these ingredients had been sourced from communists! Shame on you China, I hope your “preferred nation” status gets yanked right out from under you. We cannot trust communists to supply ANY food products to this country, animal or human, under ANY circumstances! What if it had been something even more sinister?!!!
!!!!!THINK ABOUT THAT!!!!!
April 21st, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Regarding Natural Balance… I was assured they did never used imported sources of rice … so in essence, I feel they lied to me> My little Westie has been eating NB for about 2 years, and he has been sick off and on the last few weeks. Why in the world should I trust them?
My little guy already had allergy issues so as far as I m concerned..I am off NB. I switched to a blend of Merrick and Calif. Natural. until I figure out what to do next. Nik is being tested for all the crud they put into NB food.
Mia
April 28th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Some people have suspected for a while that a non-protein nitrogen ingredient has been killing pets. One possibility is the one cited in the Chinese importer site warning of a “Pseudo Rice Protein†which is BIURET FEED:
Here’s a Itchmo link to my findings re: Biuret Feed Grade:
Melamine/Urea, cyanuric acid and amiloride in a single feed ingredient
http://64.79.216.38/~itchmo/fo.....opic=122.0
But here’s something else interesting.
IBDU (isobutylidene diurea) is most widely as a lawn fertilizer. But, here is a reference to its use as a feed for monogastric (non ruminant) animals.
A quote from the description of US Patent # 3984572 titled “Feed for monogastric animals†reads:
“Currently, methionine and lysine are being used as artificial feeds for monogastric animals, and urea, isobutylidene diurea and biuret are being used for ruminant animals. Among these compounds, isobutylidene diurea is excellent as an artificial feed for ruminant animals because it is gradually decomposed in the first rumen to form ammonia, whereby it can be utilized for the synthesis of microbial protein of the microorganisms inhabiting the rumen. The microbes are digested and absorbed in a digestive organ below the abomasum so as to be effective for growth of the ruminant animals. Since monogastric animals have a different digestive mechanism from ruminant animals, one of ordinary skill would not have considered that isobutylidene diurea might be effective as a feed for monogastric animals.â€
The inventors of this patent are:
Sakaki, Yasuhiro (Yokohama, JA)
Kawai, Hiroshi (Tokyo, JA)
The Assignee:
Mitsubishi Chemical Industries Ltd. - Aka Mitsubishi Monsanto