Vets Suspect 5 Foods, Will Test Soon
From the Sacramento Bee article:
Local veterinarians who’ve tracked kidney ailments nationwide 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. Pion said it would be premature to name the foods.
Emphasis ours. We should also note that we hold Dr. Pion in the highest regard and we hope that you will also trust him to do the right thing at the right time. We do.
Why is releasing this information important if there’s no confirmation? We want the FDA and others to take notice and tell us who else got the rice protein. Dr. Pion shouldn’t have to do this. It’s not his job. The supplier already told us the food went to more than Diamond. Someone already yelled “fire” in a crowded theatre.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
When do CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS begin?
April 18th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Steve, I’m curious, what would the charges in be in these criminal investigations you propose?
April 18th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Let’s have the five names NOW!
Do you want more pets to die?
Why protect the brands that are still selling this poison — so they can eek out a few more dollars to pad their own wallets at the expense of our pets?
GREED, NOTHING BUT GREED — WITH NO REGARD FOR SUFFERING AND DYING FAMILY PETS!
I hope the CEOs of these greedy, reckless companies have nothing but nightmares for the rest of their lives filled with images of cats and dogs screaming, howling and writhing in pain.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Just what is it they’re testing for? As far as i know they still haven’t even identified the ingredient(s) that are killing our pets.
I hope there is a very short lag time before the brand announcement.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
I suspect the veteranarian is considered with being sued by corporations & their on call attorneys if he released the names & even 1 then tested negative. That VERY SADLY makes sense in today’s America.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Adrienne Says: I’m curious, what would the charges in be in these criminal investigations you propose?
Just because someone is presumed innocent Adrienne doesn’t mean there is no criminal intent or potential criminal liability.
I think it’s time for some people to be investigated and questioned. Did you know that White Collar crime dwarfs the typical run of the mill stuff you see on the local TV news like liquor store robberies, purse snatching, and drive by shootings?
April 18th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Steve, I totally agree but …. good luck getting it to happen in today’s political climate.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Yes, Johnny….equal to yelling “Fire…and by the way we’re not opening the exits.”
April 18th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
I have lost all respect for Paul Pion. There is a way to release this info without opening oneself to criminal liability if you are wrong, and he should release the names.
And, as far as criminal charges - Sundlof at the FDA has already mentioned the possibility. The Chinese firms are suspected of intentionally doctoring the gluten, or now, rice protein, with melamine. Since melamine is cheap and is a small molecule with a LOT of nitrogen, a small amount of melamine makes it seem like there is A LOT of protein - the way you measure protein content is by measuring nitrogen. There is a ton more nitrogen per gram of melamine than per gram of protein - so you use cheap starch (wheat chaff) then add a small amount of melamine and sell it as wheat gluten (wheat protein). When it is tested, the nitrogen content makes it seem like it is pure protein. These Chinese firms CAN be prosecuted, and all future imports of grain protein can be highly regulated and taxed.
This is capitalism out of control. We need a stronger firmer FDA to be examining foods that we import.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Geff no doubt. Apparently nothings sacred anymore including integrity. Who needs integrity when your rich enough to buy your way out of your messes.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Well I guess we know what todays agenda is . Wait to find out which five additional brands are toxic-contaminated.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
This is something I heard from the owner of our local healthfoody pet supply store - again, it is NOT confirmed, just what he was told in conversation w/their regional mgr…the regional mgr said she/he “wouldn’t be surprised if Wellness is next to be recalled”, that “they have heard of quite a few problems w/pets w/it recently”. I don’t want to panic anyone or start rumors, but simply wanted to let y’all know - I think w/any commercial pet food these days, no matter who makes it or what form it is it, we need to be extra paranoid and watch our pups and kitties very very closely. We feed one of our kitties raw, and I am so glad and greatful! Our other kitty is on Nature’s Variety canned - unfortunately he is so picky and has such a sensitive tummy, I can’t switch him over to homemade or raw “just like that”. I have to slip in a few tiny pieces of raw into his canned little bit by little bit….
April 18th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Steve is correct - I strongly believe that a criminal investigation/inquisition should take place to determine criminal negligence. This crisis is so out of control and clearly the FDA’s role is fairly meaningless.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Steve - have you read the Huffington post? http://tinyurl.com/2wb6j6
His source told him about rice protein AND CORN GLUTEN. So I think today’s agenda may involve more than just 5 brands… just a hunch.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Kiki Says: I strongly believe that a criminal investigation/inquisition should take place to determine criminal negligence.
It’s probably time to include that with every complaint letter and correspondence to our Senators and Representatives.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Here is VIN contact information. Let’s all call and email.
WE WANT THE NAMES OF THE 5 FOODS!!!!!!! NOW!!!
http://www.vin.com/VIN.plx?P=ContactUs
April 18th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Why are 4 companies being given benefit of the doubt vs the lives at stake from a proven fatal kidney toxin? LIVES trump profit. Not to mention if any of this crap went into human food - which looks quite likely.
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?
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 ACTING AS 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.
Dollars are all these people understand. Vote with your shopping cart folks – only way to stop them.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Please forward this to anyone in the industry or FDA you have contact info to:
It is vitally important that we force Wilbur- Ellis, Paul Pion, and anyone with knowledge of these unreleased contaminated foods to RELEASE THE INFORMATION NOW! Get a court order. Withholding information that subjects animals to death is ILLEGAL! There are laws about cruelty to animals. If someone walked through a city park with a gun shooting and killing thousands of dogs, they would go to jail. This is essentially the same thing. EVERY person contributing to these deaths through deceit and withholding information should be held accountable for a CRIMINAL ACT.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
This could be the new label on some brands of our pet food
WARNING Not safe for human consumption. Pregnant women, young children, and the elderly do not handle this food when preparing your pets meal. If consumed Call The Poison Center Hotline
April 18th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
A few minor changes:
WARNING Not safe for human or animal consumption. Pregnant women, children, dogs, cats and the elderly should not ingest this product. Do not induce vomiting. Call The Poison Center Hotline Immediately.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Does anyone know if there is a “pet food recall” resource for Europe and the U.K.? I have fairly complete news for South Africa and Namibia and a Belgian listing of six Menu Foods items, but just wondered if they were running into their own crises given that they surely use the International Brands like Science Diet and Royal Canin. Also, they surely import wheat from China, as well.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Thank goodness for Dr. Pion.
At last someone has stepped forward. Just hope Dr. Pion keeps FDA out of his lab.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
>>>”noticed the five foods kept recurring in vet-described disease reports, said Paul Pion, the Davis vet who co-founded the service. Pion said it would be premature to name the foods”
April 18th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
The Bee article I read, Steve, said they were going to try to get the samples to the UC Davis lab today, not get results today. I still have no idea how long it takes to do a melamine test. Depends on how many samples they have also.
And to all those people screaming about VIN, get real. The company that sold the rice powder knows the names, knew it had melamine a week ago and they’re not talking. By this time the FDA knows also and they’re not talking. And these are the people who should be telling us.
VIN already gave you a HINT on their public page as to the “rumors” about pet products they were talking about on their boards. If you can’t read between the lines get new glasses. This isn’t just about rice powder any more either.
It took a lot of guts to even put this stuff on their page.
http://www.vin.com/Promo/MenuRecall.htm
April 18th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Oops! The rest of my post disappeared….
I’ll try to reconstruct. What is premature?
These are already listed as the top-5 involved ~ what’s premature in naming them?
Whether they test positive in this case or not I STILL want their names/brands! If they showed up at the top 5, there is something wrong and I do not want to buy that product just to find out later on down the way it was this or (as yet unnamed) another ingredient…
We need the names and we need them without delay. IMO it is illegal to withold this information, if not legally - then morally.
This could be life and death information Dr Pion is sitting on. How many more fur children will be affected while he sits mum? Not anything to hold him in any high esteme about…not IMO
April 18th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
It’s likely that all grain “products” similar to gluten (like meal) are contaminated.
Wheat, Rice, Corn, & SOY
Wonder if FDA has tested any SOY meal.
This is a systemic problem, so wouldn’t be a surprised if it’s in many things.
Also, FDA said to expect other toxins. In addition to melamine, they may have already confirment other toxins (aminopterin, cyromazine).
There’s a real “news blackout” at FDA. Really makes you wonder.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
FDA should stop serving industry and release the names of the companies the rice protein was sold to and let us make our own decisions. BTW I was advised by my very ethical vet two weeks ago to stop feeding ANY commercial pet food - he sent every product he was selling back recalled or not - and apparently he was not overreacting. Finally, some might be interested in this email reply I received from the Canidae folks. I wrote them last night and received this in the AM:
Safety is purchasing commodities from a supplier you trust. We donotpurchase any ingredients from China or any other foreign country. Allingredient are from the US. Unfortunately, It appears as though themost recent recall was from Rice Gluten that was imported from China aswell. To reiterate, we do not import any ingredients nor do we useanyglutens.
Sincerely,
Canidae Pet Foods
April 18th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
What I find most interesting is in the USA Today article: “The other major customer, which Thacher would not name, tested the rice protein and found no melamine”
This means one of two things: Either the other company is wrong, or the contamination occurred AFTER the rice protein was sold to Natural Balance.
Either way, whatever is going on is really scary. It will be interesting to see if these 5 other foods are linked to the wheat gluten, the rice protein, or something else. At this point nothing would surprise me!
April 18th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
I talked to Canidae on the phone and they also assured me they use no glutens, powder, etc. Only whole grain. They were easy to contact and polite. I hope their assurances hold true.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
what about either calling or e-mailing the pet food companies and asking them if they purchased the rice protein from Wilber-Ellis?
April 18th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Bonnie,
I too as my dog and two cats are eating Canidae/Felidae. Thanks for reporting this as I was about to contact them.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Corporations Out of Control
FDA seizes all implantable devices, including heart valves and arterial grafts, from Shelhigh
April 18, 2007 Michael O’Riordan
Union, New Jersey - FDA investigators, along with US marshals, yesterday seized heart valves and other implantable devices made from animal tissue from Shelhigh Inc, a New Jersey-based company, because of concerns about their sterility.
The federal officials seized the tissue-based devices, which include pediatric heart valves and conduits, surgical patches, dural patches used in neurosurgery, and arterial grafts, because problems in the manufacturing process are believed to have compromised their safety and effectiveness, including the sterility of the implants.
The seizure followed an inspection of the company by the FDA last fall and comes on the heels of previous warnings about these problems issued during meetings with company officials. The FDA also issued two warning letters, first in 2000 and again in 2005. According to the agency, critically ill patients, pediatric patients, and immunocompromised patients may be at greatest risk from the use of the devices.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
“And to all those people screaming about VIN, get real. The company that sold the rice powder knows the names, knew it had melamine a week ago and they’re not talking. By this time the FDA knows also and they’re not talking. And these are the people who should be telling us.”
Excuse me, but just because the FDA and Wilber-Ellis aren’t standing up and doing the right thing, does this give VIN the excuse they need to avoid doing what’s right?
Right now, there is no justification for any of this. We should have the information, and I don’t have respect for anyone that refuses to supply it. Including the pious VIN.
Giving ‘hints’ isn’t cutting it. It’s time that everyone gets the message, loud and clear, the longer we treat this like just an awful tragic ‘incident’ and not as a threat to our entire food chain security, the worse it will get. And sitting down and whispering is not doing any service to anyone.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Teresa Says:
April 18th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Does anyone know if there is a “pet food recall†resource for Europe and the U.K.?
My brother is in UK…has NOT heard of any recalls there
April 18th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
I wish USA Today would file a FOIA, Freedom of Information Act, request with FDA, asking for the names of the five companies. It would at least put some pressure on them.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Steve, thanks for posting that. A couple weeks ago, I signed up at the FDA’s site for its warning bulletins and was SHOCKED to get that one yesterday … along with a note for pediatricians to monitor their patients with those devices. Monitor? If I were a parent whose child had one of those devices, I’d be beyond hysterical.
Looks like every American should sign up for the FDA’s alerts + also monitor every scrap of news, like Itchmo is doing, so we can track the alerts that the FDA isn’t warning us about. More and more, we’re really on our own, and our government no longer protects us.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
http://www.naturapet.com/
Natura’s Response to the Pet Food Recalls
April 18th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Canidae has also updated their to include info on the latest recalled product:
http://www.canidae.com
April 18th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Bonnie,
I also noticed the Canidae web-site. It sounds good and I hope correct. I used the Canidae Sr. on my old Dobe for the last couple of years of his life and he did well on it.
April 18th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
It is astounding that The United States Government (whats left of it) has become so dysfunctional that it can not even master a simple basic fundamental like maintaining and enforcing impeccable safe food standards.
April 18th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
This is a nightmare. I feed my cat food with rice protein concentrate (Blue for kittens). I can’t believe they are not releasing the names of the companies that purchased this ingredient from Wilbur Ellis. I will stop feeding Blue until I hear more details, but I don’t know if I should be freaking out because she has been eating it for weeks! Should I be rushing her to the vet or is there nothing to worry about ? What the hell are we supposed to do??
April 18th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
So? we can launch criminal invertigations.. gezz it’l maybe put a couple of
bigwigs in the cooler? what about the source? when does someone
get the whole picture.. it’s treachery, it’s treasonable , it’s a sure attempt
to test the U.S. and might happen to a large group of people? someone
like you, or your kids , or a comunity.. mass poisonings are usually a sign
of REAL threats?
we need to end trade with china.. (that unmentionable band of criminals).
we’v got a problem here people? who’s gonna standup and tell congress
and the sennate , when does the light go on..!! it’s not only corporate crooks it’s much bigger , and if we want to stay free we’v got to answer
this , tell the corrupt individuals (unmentionable country) thats china !
we no longer want their products.. it’s a must, we have to answer ..
or we’l be subject to more , and worse?
April 18th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I can’t believe the names of the other four still haven’t been released!!! I went to bed last night after reading the SacBee story and thought that surely by the time I got online again today I would know which brands to avoid. I have a chance today to go to my special “feed, seed, & need” store but what am I going to buy without knowing what brands are involved. It would be nice to find a grain-free food but after Dick Van Patton’s Natural Balance lied about their Venison & Green Pea being grain-free and still sneaking this poison in, how can I trust any label? I’m am so angry.
April 18th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
I am not using any foods containing rice protein concentrate until the company assures me that Wilbur-Ellis is not their supplier. If the names of the other four companies have not been released, I’m going to assume that every product with RPC is unsafe for my kitten. Perhaps if enough companies feel pressure to announce that they use a different supplier, we can narrow down the list to those companies that refuse to confirm or deny purchasing RPC from Wilber-Ellis.
April 18th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
I called Sensible Choice and they had no info on rice, but kept saying their wheat gluten was fine. I said- I know you’re not involved in the Menu Food recall, but what about the rice? She declined to say who they get their rice from, and had no info and was of no help. Sensible Choice uses various forms of rice and corn gluten.
I emailed them and said they need to be honest with their customers and update their website.
Lets be real- Any company that has nothing to do with the distributor in question would add that to their website, right?
April 18th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
I am running through pet food websites. Many have updated their websites to ensure that they are not affected by the rice protein nightmare.
I am starting to suspect what might be next, based on who’s stating that they are not affected versus who is keeping quiet and has rice protein in their food.
But I got to tell you, Natural Balance was a bit of a surprise. I was telling people to stay away from meat and go with a natural food. I guess that was bad advice.
April 18th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
I meant to stay away from wheat and go with a natural food.
April 18th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
I 2nd SueJ. and add:VIN/vets will let you have a one free recipe put together by a UCDavis consulting group (or SELL you one for $20 PLUS
$20 or so more for supplements PLUS shipping) based on the idea that Vets -who mostly sell food for the petfood industry-KNOW BEST. Does anybody still believe this bull? Here’s the group (note the word INDUSTRY?): http://dvmconsulting.com/contact.html “Davis Veterinary Medical Consulting, PC….We advise veterinary medical professionals and the pet food industry on veterinary nutrition. …..we offer an unmatched ability to meet the needs of any size company from start-up to international pet food corporation……Our trend and market awareness is industry leading and enhanced by our proprietary software…” Offers “Product Analysis ,
New Product Evaluation, Competitor Product(s) Analysis ” “Dr. Delaney completed a clinical nutrition residency at UCD. After attaining Diplomate status with the ACVN in 2003, he founded DVM Consulting to specialize in nutritional consulting for the pet food industry. Today, DVM Consulting has completed projects for a wide variety of pet treat, supplement and food manufacturers. These contracts range from product development and analysis to product literature creation” http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-.....amp;EDATE= Wal-Mart Teams With Veterinarian/Nutritionist ”
HOW COMFORTING!!!!! WHAT UNBELIEVABLE GALL.
get the books on the sidebar of howl911.com you don’t need to pay VIN’s pals $20/recipe. AND YES I DID SAY VETS WOULD FIND A WAY TO PROFIT FROM THIS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. I’m truly sick of the hypocrisy all around. VIN: Thanks but no thanks.
April 18th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Surely the four unnamed companies who purchased this suspect rice protein know by now: Oh, crap, that’s our supplier and our ingredient. Obviously at least one does because it has been stated that they’ve tested for melamine and not found any. Why would they not announce this themselves?
Maybe Wilber-Ellis is afraid that they’d get sued for revealing contractual information of their buyers? So whose responsibility is it to tell us which additional four companies bought the rice protein? The food makers themselves, the supplier (W-E), or the FDA? If the industry had ANY integrity, the pet food makers themselves would’ve announced by now and assured us that they are already in the process of testing. If the FDA was at ALL an effective organization, THEY would have revealed it by now. Wilber-Ellis may be the lesser (least) of the three evils as far as releasing information in this case goes, because they probably have sensitive legal contracts with their buyers. I feel that their moral obligation, while present, is not as obligatory as the food manufacturers themselves or the FDA.
Same deal with the five foods that the VIN/Pion is talking about. Certainly it is reasonable to assume that Pion or the VIN has suggested their findings to the manufacturers of these five brands? I think? If that is a correct assumption, then I think the moral obligation to announce that there may be a problem falls more to the brands/companies themselves than the VIN. Due to what someone said earlier about the potential for lawsuits should the VIN’s suspicions not be correct, they are in the unfortunate position of not being able to announce names without cold, hard proof. This is frustrating, but understandable. Again, it is the brands themselves that have the highest moral obligation to be forthright — and timely — in their release of information. It is THEIR names on the bags and cans we buy. Instead it seems as if they’ve dumped this unfairly in the lap of the VIN to prove or disprove.
April 18th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Robin said:
“I wish USA Today would file a FOIA, Freedom of Information Act, request with FDA, asking for the names of the five companies. It would at least put some pressure on them.”
I have filed several FOI’s in the past, including one after the Diamond recall, and it takes anywhere from 9 months to 2 years to receive the requested information. My Diamond recall info. was not received until March of this year.
April 18th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
No Grains whatsover…..Innova Evo. My dog loves the Evo Treats!
April 18th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Feel free to copy this letter or write one yourself to Senator Durbin concerning holding another hearing on the pet food recall/overhaul of the pet food industry.
It’s a bit rambling, but I think the points come through.
Dear Senator Durbin:
As a pet owner, I am calling on you again, sir.
Please conduct an investigation into this continuing and ever-widening PET FOOD RECALL HORROR. Now, RICE PROTEIN, which has been added to some pet food, is CONTAMINATED with MELAMINE. There are several other “proteins” on the market that are being added to pet foods, and I don’t think we should have to wait for, perhaps CORN PROTEIN or another kind of protein powder or protein concentrate, to be named as the next possible contaminant in products that need to be pulled from store shelves. The lives of pets are at stake.
When are we going to stop protecting the big corporations and think about safety first? Stop the production lines. Padlock the doors of the manufacturing plants. Force the brand name pet food companies to immediately disclose that their food might be tainted once they know an ingredient is suspect. This issue must be sorted out, and the public must not be kept in the dark.
The way the information about recalled products has dribbled out is reprehensible. Many lives could have been saved if there was a defined short deadline for reporting suspected toxic food and stiff six-figure DAILY FINES for each day the suspicion was not reported. Menu Foods claimed a “clerical error” when the recall expanded. Please investigate pressing criminal charges against this company for delaying announcing problems with the pet food and for not knowing where its gluten was shipped. Records and documents should be kept clearly and should be required to be produced on the spot when a problem is detected. Do we as consumers have to test individually each bag of food ourselves before feeding our pets? That’s how one recall was finally brought to light!
Only when daily six-figure fines are slapped on the importers, brand name companies or manufacturing plants for not testing their products for safety before they are used, will there ever be any small measure of assurance about the food we feed our pets, not to mention the human food supply. Many consumers now are very savvy about what they will or will not feed their pets. The entire pet food industry needs to be examined and revealed for what it is.
Real “Truth in Labeling” laws also have to be enacted. Allowing companies to have a six month “grace period” from the time they change their ingredients list to the time they must change their labels to reflect the changes is absolutely ridiculous and another disaster just waiting to happen.
During the April 12 Senate hearing, we heard that the pet food industry was basically on the “honor system” of policing itself because it was considered a “low risk” industry for contamination. Let me say that those days of the “honor system” have ended as of March 16, 2007, with the evidence of the many deaths and illnesses of pets in the U.S. and other countries (which are still being erroneously reported officially as 16 deaths). We need an accountability system for every step of the process in manufacturing foods with steep fines and jail sentences for violators.
With even more budgetary cuts to the FDA, how can the agency be expected to “police” the industries? The pet food recall nightmare should be a resonating “wake-up call” to reallocate more money and personnel to the FDA so they can try to do their jobs.
As soon as possible, please hold another hearing on the pet food recall issue. Thank you in advance for stepping up and showing a continued interest in this topic.
April 18th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
BJ,
If some big news organization like CNN, USA Today, filed a FOIA, I’ll bet the pressure would be on. At least much more than you are I could apply.
April 18th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
I will take parts of the letter and email Anderson Cooper 360. I emailed him before quite a few times, and I will again.
Also, please feel free to post my letter to other sites.
A lot of people are extremely strapped for time and would be glad to copy and paste something that’s already out there to send. There is a link to email Senator Durbin on www . howl911 . com’s home page, near the top.
Maybe someone could write a paragraph about “nutrition” in the pet food. I didn’t at all get into the “Guaranteed Analysis” or the inadequacy and misleading nature of the “feeding trials” issues.
April 18th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
JM: If the industry had ANY integrity, the pet food makers themselves would’ve announced by now and assured us that they are already in the process of testing. If the FDA was at ALL an effective organization, THEY would have revealed it by now.
Well I guess we know the answers to those 2 now, don’t we?
April 18th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
JM Leong Says: April 18th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Agree wholeheartedly! I keep wondering if the FDA CAN actually announce it legally without the company doing it first. Companies are supposed to announce problems in a timely fashion, but there’s no hard and fast rule. And since there’s no CDC for animals, this whole thing may be in some kind of legal gray zone.
My notes from the Q & A hearing:
Q - PF companies required to notify FDA WRT problem?
A - Sundlof - Yes
Q - What is the timeline for reporting?
A - Anytime they have a problem; we hope that as soon as they had a problem they would report to us, no set time for reporting
FDA site also has transcripts of all their press conferences now. I read the Ap 5 one. Somewhere in there I think there’s an answer about how far they can go, if they can really OUT these people. I don’t think they can do it without proof. And in fact VIN doing the testing may be an out of sight FDA operation to put pressure on the companies.
I don’t know how it works for peanut butter for example - how long a timeframe there was between recognizing the problem and the official FDA announcements. Somewhere in there I’m sure they notify the company first. I’ll have to go look and see if all the FDA withdrawals are actually initiated by the companies.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Cathy- the FDA does not initiate recalls. They are all ‘voluntary’. I believe that at best, they can seize products, and stop distribution via an injunction, but they cannot require a company to do a recall without initiating legal action.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
JM Leong Says:
Maybe Wilber-Ellis is afraid that they’d get sued for revealing contractual information of their buyers?
Maybe ole Wilber should realize there are a lot more of us than the 4 he’s worried about!
April 18th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
[…] depressing) comments section on this post at Itchmo. There is also another post at Itchmo regarding more suspect foods that are not yet under any recall. In fact, Itchmo seems to be more on top of this mess than anyone […]
April 18th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Bonnie Says:
April 18th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Canidae has also updated their to include info on the latest recalled product:
http://www.canidae.com
I didnt see it. Does Canidae have a recall?
April 18th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Solid Gold also states they are OK:
http://solidgoldhealth.com/news/
Teric - try doing a refresh. If you still don’t see it try F5 to refresh instead of the refresh button
April 18th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
I never though I would do this but I’m in the process of changing my cats to Eukanuba from Royal Canin (has wheat gluten in it & was afraid to start feeding the new bags I had). At least there are no glutens or rice proteins in it plus I feed canned. I was handling this recall pretty good until the Itchmo email today. I was almost in tears. I feel like I’m playing Russian roulette feeding my cats.
When are they going to tell us about the other companies, does anyone know?
April 18th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Cathy - I’ve been using Royal Canine Weight Control (prescription, dry) for years. I haven’t had any problems with it. Was scary though that the recall they had for Vitamin D was the canned version of the same.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
CATHY:
I would try Innova EVO Grain Free Cat food over Eukanuba. Also Back to Basics has a great site you should check out: Beowulfs.com. They will send free samples. And another site..samples on the way…thehonestkitchen.com.
raw, dehydrated, human grade food. Just add warm water!
April 18th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Jenny,
So they are recalling all canned food?
April 18th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Hi Teric, it was recalled a while ago. I had just bought about 6 cans of it for one of my cats two days before I read about it. But checked the dates and it was OK. I think the most recent date was Feb 2007 - mine were all close to the end of the year.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
In case anyone has questions about Blue Buffalo and Menadione - I received the following email from them:
Dear Jenny,
Due to the extrapolation of the human research data about the toxicity of vitamin K as a cancer drug, some consumers still worried about the potential harm to their pets, even though it has never been documented. BLUE elected to eliminate any worry from our loyal pet parents and removed Mendadione from our formulas as of Oct 06
Because of the holistic nature of our diets, we felt that the inclusion of while some vegetables, and the normal bacterial activity in the colon, was enough to supply the required vitamin K needs of the dog and cats.
Unfortunately we still have some old packaging inventory that is the process of being used up. This is standard industry practice and is allowed by both the FDA and AFFCO as high quality packaging materials are very expensive
It was listed on our site for a while, however, we were undergoing many changes to our website and that was on the list. It has since been updated.
Menadione had some unique metabolic activity besides blood clotting. Human researcher experimented with Menadione at high doses as an injectable treatment for some forms of cancer. Unfortunately, the side effects caused liver problems in some patients. So the FDA banned the use of Menadione in any form in humans. However, for the veterinary branch of the FDA (CVM) determined that the very low doses, required for vitamin supplementation orally, presented no risk to animals. As we speak, the use of Menadione as a vitamin K supplement is approved by both the FDA and AAFCO for animal use.
Samantha Wuhrer
The Blue Buffalo Company
April 18th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Teric, I found the web page with information about the Royal Canine recall:
http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,.....1;,00.html
April 18th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
I am sticking to Serentgeti Dry and Merrick Wet. I don’t believe they have rice or wheat in either product.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Jenny,
This is all I see. No dates about what has been recalled. Can you provide a link?
Industry Can Recall
In light of the unfortunate current pet food recall by other respectable pet food manufacturers, our phone lines and emails are tied up with concerned customers. We want you, our valued customer, to feel secure with the continued use of our products. CANIDAE® Pet Foods in no way is affected by the recall, nor are any of our products produced in any of the recalled production facilities.
It appears from the latest news within our industry that all recalls are from Glutens imported from China, a protein source that is extracted from Wheat or Rice. The wheat or rice is not the issue, but the glutens extracted, stored, and then imported from China. Again, CANIDAE does not use Glutens in any form, and we do not import any ingredients from China or overseas.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Jenny- the FDA still allows downed cattle in dog food too. I’m not sure that they’ve banned euthanzied pets either. Why trust what they say is okay for pet food?
April 18th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
?? - Rhonda - was that addressed to me?
April 18th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Regarding info in your post from Blue:
“So the FDA banned the use of Menadione in any form in humans. However, for the veterinary branch of the FDA (CVM) determined that the very low doses, required for vitamin supplementation orally, presented no risk to animals. As we speak, the use of Menadione as a vitamin K supplement is approved by both the FDA and AAFCO for animal use.”
I just don’t trust the FDA (or most pet companies right now).
April 18th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Hi Teric - realized just now it was the Candidae link you wanted:
http://www.canidae.com/index.html
In light of the unfortunate current pet food recall by other respectable pet food manufacturers, our phone lines and emails are tied up with concerned customers. We want you, our valued customer, to feel secure with the continued use of our products. CANIDAE® Pet Foods in no way is affected by the recall, nor are any of our products produced in any of the recalled production facilities.
It appears from the latest news within our industry that all recalls are from Glutens imported from China, a protein source that is extracted from Wheat or Rice. The wheat or rice is not the issue, but the glutens extracted, stored, and then imported from China. Again, CANIDAE does not use Glutens in any form, and we do not import any ingredients from China or overseas.
CANIDAE Pet Foods also does not produce cuts and gravies, pouches, and does not contain corn, wheat or soybeans in any of our products or formulations, and all ingredients are of US origin, meaning proudly raised and grown in the USA.
Our heartfelt concerns go out to all those affected by the recall.
CANIDAE Pet Foods
It sure isn’t a 100 % thing for either Solid Gold or Candidae, but there are very few companies making actual statements. Most are hiding in the back ground.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
No - Rhonda - I don’t either. But I saw on one of these blogs people asking where the ingredient Menadione went to on the Blue list. So, just an fyi for people to judge on their own.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
None of these companies are telling us the whole truth. They all say, this one has been recalled but the rest are fine.
In other words.
Several have died from this type so dont use it. You can continue to use the rest of our products until a few more die from it. We will let you know when that happens.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Everyone should be boycotting any company doing business with Menu Foods.
Second, you really should call the pet food company of interest and ask point blank if they use 4 D and rendered animal parts (95% of all companies do). They need to answer that question explicitely. Just because they state it comes from a human grade facility - that is NOT enough. Ask them if the ingredients include 4D and/or rendered animal parts. Ask about corn, rice, wheat etc… Until these questions are answered, don’t use the company. Honest Kitchen and Fromm’s are two company’s that explicitly use ingredients from the USA alone and do not use 4 D or rendered animals parts - this is what they have told me. They are the only companies that have been able to answer accordingly…
April 18th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
New Statement today From Natura’s Website:
“Rice Protein Used in Karma is 100% Safe - April 18, 2007
This is to confirm that the organic rice protein concentrate used in our Karma 95% organic formulation IS NOT PURCHASED FROM WILBUR-ELLIS, and Natura Pet Products is not one of the five pet food makers cited in the USA Today article. Natura guarantees that the organic rice protein concentrate used in Karma is not sourced from China and that it is 100% safe and absolutely free from melamine contamination.
Peter Atkins
President”
http://www.naturapet.com/about......asp?id=20
&
“No products manufactured by Natura Pet Products were implicated in the recent recalls, including the latest recall involving organic rice protein concentrate.”
http://www.naturapet.com/
April 18th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Teri. . . Canidae has no recall. They updated the info on their website ABOUT the recall with more indepth info about their ingredients and they are not involved.
BTW, I saw someone mention the Honest Kitchen. . . I been add some of that to my dogs food in the evenings and they really go crazy over it.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
To: Cathy & Rhonda,
That Natura is good stuff. But if you go with the EVO grain free, be sure to check the amount of protein and make sure 50% will work for you.
My vet advises that 50% protein should be OK for a healthy cat, but maybe not so good for a cat with subclinical kidney disease.
He recommends testing kidney values before going with the higher protein, just to be safe.
Kidney’s are like food, you don’t know what’s in there if you don’t test.
Natural has another 34% cat food (orange bag) too.
Hope this help.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
TERI,
My two dogs as well as my friend’s dog are on Canidae. They are doing fine. . . no problems at all. And on the phone the company assured me they use no wheat of any kind and no glutens or rice concentrate, just whole grain rice.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
the FDA knows, VIN knows, and so do the distributors and manufacturers but no one will tell the public. This is unconscionable and morally reprehensible. As consumers and US citizens we owe it to every pet who has become sick or died to put the people who are responsible for this debacle out of business permanently. Sue them, boycott their products, demand change, and vote the politicians protecting corporate interests at the expense of life out of office. I would like to know what those people are feeding their pets. You better believe it’s not the same thing we are being sold.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
NaturaPet is NOT good stuff. I have a bag of horrifically rancid food (within the best buy date). When I opened the food (bought it this Saturday) it had dead fleas and hair and the kibble was ashen white and stunk to high heaven. The customer service has been horrendous - not an apology, an offer to send a new bag, nor can I get my money back without giving them the bag. I told them that I wanted to keep the bag (as evidence since I plan on testing it), but I would give them all the info and product code number and send a sample, but they still refuse to give me my money back - $15.00 for only 4.4lbs. I’m livid and will never do business with NaturaPet again. All these companies are fine until their pet food gets “found out” - then they are @$$$$%###@$ sonsof %^%$$^
April 18th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Bonnie,
Thank you!!!!! I’ve been in a panic here thinking they had a recall and I couldnt find it.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
What do you all make of this? Just found this on the web.
http://www.greenpeace.org/inte.....engineered
Amsterdam, International — Greenpeace International released findings today that show illegal genetically engineered (GE) rice from China has contaminated food products in France, Germany and the UK. Greenpeace International has notified authorities that the illegal GE rice poses serious health risks and calls upon European governments to take immediate action to protect consumers.
Greenpeace offices and Friends of the Earth in the UK tested samples of rice products such as vermicelli, rice sticks and other processed foods. Five positive samples were found containing an illegal GE organism not approved anywhere in the world. However this could be the tip of the iceberg with rice products included in everything from baby food to yoghurt. (1)
April 18th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Rhonda,
Just wanted to remark about the honest kitchen. I feed it to my dogs and they absolutely love it! It’s quite different from other pet foods, but they’re one of the very few companies that is allowed to print “human grade” on its packaging. Plus, the company has been very helpful. I hope it works out for you!
April 18th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
The rice protein wasn’t released to Diamond (Natural Balance claims they only package there).
April 18th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
The illegal GE rice, genetically engineered to be resistant to insects, contains a protein or fused protein (Cry1Ac) that has reportedly induced allergic-like reactions in mice (2)
That is not the composition of Melamine (which is Nitrogen based, but the nitrogen is burnt off through the heating process).
April 18th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Genetically engineered food is not in no way the same as food treated with, or doctored with, or tainted with, or contaminated with melamine.
I have a pet who died, and another who is ill, and I am a biochemist. I would feed myself and my pets genetically engineered food. I WILL NOT feed them poisoned food. There is a difference, and people with an anti-technology agenda are going to try very hard to make this an anti-GMO thing. IT IS NOT.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
I use Flint River Ranch. No wheat or corn gluten, no protein powders. I use their Lamb and millet formula
April 18th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
China’s state wheat auction sells 10.22 million tons.
Shanghai. March 20. 07 INTERFAX-CHINA - Wheat sold in China’s state wheat auctions amounted to 10.218 million tons following the 16th auction on March 15 in the provinces of Anhui and Henan, according to the National Grain & Oil Trade Center.
http://tinyurl.com/ys3z8z
April 18th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
The FDA has publically said there is an advantage to intentionally putting melamine into the gluten or the rice protein. If you mix melamine with low grade garbage like wheat chaff or rice hulls, you can then sell the stuff and have it pass off as high protein content food - because the melamine tests like super rich protein (it has a high nitrogen content). The reason the food is contaminated is because they are taking s-h-i-& and adding melamine and passing it off as wheat or rice gluten. they are ripping us off - and making s-h-i-$-l-o-a-d-s of money on c-r-a-&
April 18th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
I’m not content with boycotting Menu foods…I don’t want to buy any product - pet or human-grade - made by any company who sources anything from China. Where do I get *that* list?
April 18th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
The thing that makes me feel better about Solid Gold and Candidae is that they actually put a statement on their web page. The others send various emails, or say different things on phone calls but are not really willing to make a statement. My cats have been on Feledae only since Sunday but I feel OK at leaving them there for now based on what I’m hearing. They also still eat the Royal Canine for now at least - I plan on getting them off it completely at some time.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
FDA can’t get their inspectors into China - China keeps denying their visas - why the hell is China allowed to continue to bring any of their shit into our country. We oughta ban all imports from China until strong oversight and regulations are in place. Now there is even talk that their wheat and rice may all be GE - which is just great….that might be what all this contamination is about after all, since scientists have been saying for awhile that there may be multiple contaminants and they can’t figure out what it is…scary.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
DMC - you and me both! I think our only hope is that as a result of all of this we will be able to push for legislation for country of origin labeling. It has come up several times now - and I hope with Durbin’s hearings, and all of us writing out Senators (we are all writing aren’t we??) that it will become law. Both on pet food and on people food.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
I do question the wisdom of altering proteins in a way that may not allow for
for the uniqueness of the consuming organism. While the protein itself may not be novel the reaction on a cellular level could possibly create a toxic reaction in relation to chemistry. The majority of people are not allergic to peanut butter yet there are requirements about labeling. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to expect the same type of warning until science has caught up with biology, rather than the other way around.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Cool, I posted this in comments, but happy to see it’s getting more attention… thanks for posting it up high where it can be seen, Itchmo! Keep up the great work!!
April 18th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Has anyone else seen this?
http://webprod.wecon.com/WECOW.....events.htm
Wilbur-Ellis Collaborating with FDA on Rice Protein Investigation
As pet owners ourselves, the health and safety of pets is of the utmost concern to us. As such, we are continuing to work closely with the FDA in its investigation of melamine contamination of rice protein. Our goal is to ensure the safety and integrity of our products, as we have done for the past 86 years.
We are working with the FDA on two separate incidents:
Late Tuesday, Wilbur-Ellis learned that pet food distributed by Natural Balance tested positive for melamine. Natural Balance, which receives its pet food from one of our customers, a pet food manufacturer, said it suspects the melamine was in a rice protein concentrate that would have been supplied by the Wilbur-Ellis Feed Division. Fortunately, about the same time, we learned that our largest customer had tested its products and all came back negative for melamine.
Separately, Wilbur-Ellis reported an incident to the FDA on Sunday, April 15, after a single bag in a recent shipment of rice protein concentrate from China had tested positive for melamine. Unlike the normal clean white bags that the rest of the shipment was contained in, the aberrant bag was pink and had the word “melamine†stenciled on the side. The pink bag was immediately quarantined and the remainder of the shipment remains sealed in the warehouse until further testing is complete and we are confident the product is safe. Samples from the white bags in the first test came back negative for melamine.
We will continue to work closely with the FDA in its investigation to determine whether these are isolated incidents or part of a broader safety question. We will update this website as more information becomes available.
The FDA is the best source of information on recalled pet foods. We encourage you to visit the FDA website for additional information: www.fda.gov.
If you have any questions, please contact questions@wilburellis.com.
Webpage last modified: 4/18/2007 16:04.51
April 18th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Has any one been to Dr Michael Fox’s site recently?
April 18th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Sounds like Wilber is blowing a bunch a smoke up our *****
One single pink bag - not like the rest? The pink bag was immediately quarantined. If that’s the case then why is it in NB? Give me a break. We may have been born at night but not last night Wilber!
April 18th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
PLEASE - read Dr Michael Fox’s recent site.
April 18th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
Here’s the link to Dr. Fox:
http://tedeboy.tripod.com/drmichaelwfox/id74.html
April 18th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
THANK U 5CatMOM
April 18th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
elliott,
You bet.
FYI, I sent an email to Dr. Pion today, and asked him to test food samples for :
Amenoptrin
Cypromine
Melamine
Not that Dr. P needs my help, but it never hurts. Anyway, I’m having a real hard time keeping my big mouth shut about this stuff.
Have made some new “friends” in D.C. this week!!! LOL LOL
I’m glad that Dr. P stepped forward to help, ’cause we ain’t gonna live long enough for FDA to get it figured out.
I’ve tried to talk to them about the Aminopterin, Cypromine, Melamine thing, talked to a Dr. who’s in Dr. Sandlof’s Department, but you have to submit a blinkin’ White Paper or something. I was in the process of writing an email to her when the news about Dr. P popped up.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:05 am
I wrote to Pion and received this in response:
I am sorry that the SacBee article unnecessarily upset you. Carrie Peyton Dahlberg, the reporter who wrote the article, did not intend the wording to communicate that I was keeping any information from the public. But I do think the way it was worded could have come across that way.
The reality is that we have contacted and requested food samples from some of our colleagues/members who have reported cases of renal failure in pets who were not eating recalled foods.
We are doing this only to be complete and to remove any questions surrounding a few of the cases reported to us.
Rest assured that none of the foods we are testing are associated with cases that have histories which lead us to believe the results will be positive. We will be very surprised if any of the results are positive.
Thus it would be unethical and irresponsible (to you and other pet owners) for us to name these foods.
If a pet has been eating a food throughout this disheartening time and is fine, then the likelihood is that continuing to eat that food is safe. My greatest fear would be to raise concern without any justification and cause a pet owner to change foods from a food that has proven safe for their pet to one that is potentially unsafe.
I talked to Carrie at the Bee today and she is going to try to insert a clarification in the paper. We have worked throughout this difficult time to keep abreast of the facts, collect data, keep veterinarians and the public informed, and help anyone who asks for help.
That our trying to leave no stone unturned and pay for the analysis of a few low probability foods has been misinterpretated and led to many letters that are mean and hateful is more upsetting that you can imagine.
I hope this letter gives you some peace of mind.
Thanks.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:34 am
That is a reasonable response from Dr. P and I thank you for sharing it.
Also, re the Dr. Fox page: Good info. However I do have question. Didn’t I see in several different places that the suspected wheat gluten was, in fact, in some instances marked “human grade”?
April 19th, 2007 at 2:37 am
They’ve updated that press release and are urging the manufacturers who bought the RPC from them to recall their products . .
http://webprod.wecon.com/WECOW.....events.htm
“Wilbur-Ellis began importing rice protein concentrate from Binzhou Futian Biology Technology in July 2006. A total of 14 containers holding 336 metric tons of rice protein concentrate were sent from Futian to Wilbur-Ellis. Wilbur-Ellis has distributed 155 metric tons to date.
On Monday (April 16), a pet food distributor issued a voluntary recall of its pet food, believing the source of contamination to be rice protein concentrate supplied by Wilbur-Ellis. As an additional precaution, Wilbur-Ellis is urging all pet food manufacturers using rice protein concentrate supplied through Wilbur-Ellis to recall any pet food that may be on supermarket shelves.”
there may be other changes in the release from the prior one, but I thought this was interesting. Let’s see how long it is until they step up . . . Who’s got Friday after the market closes? anyone?
April 19th, 2007 at 4:08 am
This letter should stand as proof that it wasn’t just one pink bag.
I’d bet on late Friday as well.
April 19th, 2007 at 7:18 am
How many animals are going to die because they are withholding this information? I can’t believe it. Will someone please picket the pet food convention in Chicago or march on Washington? While the government and industry sit around and figure out how to cya animals are dying.
April 19th, 2007 at 8:52 am
RE: Natura guarantees that the organic rice protein concentrate used in Karma is not sourced from China and that it is 100% safe and absolutely free from melamine contamination.
I want to know how they know this - just based on the fact they didn’t get rice protein conc. directly from China? Or did they actually TEST for melamine. Seems if they actually TESTED they would say that. We heard these same words from people who didn’t use wheat - no wheat, don’t get it from China, etc. Then there was a new problem with rice protein.
Nothing personal about Natura. I just think ALL pet food companies at this point need to show some proof they’ve actually been proactive in this situation and offer more than words.
April 19th, 2007 at 9:06 am
# Sue J Says:
April 18th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
the FDA does not initiate recalls. They are all ‘voluntary’. I believe that at best, they can seize products, and stop distribution via an injunction, but they cannot require a company to do a recall without initiating legal action.
…….Well sh*t! Obviously THAT needs to change.
Was looking for the Hearing next Tuesday (Googled House Committee Food Safety) and found a treasure trove of articles. Here’s one from 1998 which explains why we are are in this mess. A lot of talk - no action. And shows you how long Durbin has been on food safety issues:
http://www.cspinet.org/new/safoo_7_9.htm
April 19th, 2007 at 9:13 am
The Pink Bag
Oh please, like a giant arrow saying POISON HERE, POISON HERE. Give me a break.
In the future we’ll blame everything on the pink bag. What went wrong? Oh, it was The_Pink_Bag. TPB
April 19th, 2007 at 9:41 am
Dr. Pion, rather than clog up your email box, I’d like to offer a public thanks for your help in resolving this pet food fiasco.
“That our trying to leave no stone unturned and pay for the analysis of a few low probability foods has been misinterpretated and led to many letters that are mean and hateful is more upsetting that you can imagine.”
I am so sorry. Many people are in grief. Many are anxious. Most everyone is disgusted. Some think it is appropriate to lash out at anyone. Certainly after a month of not knowing anything, this latest event has pushed people way past the tipping point. I don’t even feed commercial food but I keep thinking about what it would be like to try to pick a “new” pet food based on what a company says or doesn’t say and what might happen tomorrow. I hope you can ignore these attacks and know that most people do not feel this way.
I feel the issue of labeling must be addresed by the AVMA. We must have current and truthful labels. Not knowing exactly what is in the bag or can is not only upping the anxiety but making people just plain crazy. We don’t have to wait for regulation change either. Pet people are asking for truth in this matter. Some statement backing this consumer driven issue by the AVMA would get us there faster. And certainly make diagnostics a bit easier for the veterinary community. It is obvious at this point that one cannot trust the label of any company, unless they explicitly state that the formulation will never be changed without a change in the label.
I commend you and the VIN community for stepping out of the box on this issue. I especially appreciate the pages from VIN professional pages that are accessible to the public (Promo page) and have passed them on to many people. Also your willingness early on to talk about “real” numbers is highly appreciated by the pet community, as the press is stuck on 16.
I’ve often held vets feet to the fire on some issues. This isn’t one of them. Taking the initiative to keep pets safe by doing something no one else is doing is commendable.
Miscommunication and noncommunication has figured prominently throughout this whole affair. Your willingness to clarify things is appreciated.
Thank you.
April 19th, 2007 at 9:49 am
I think you’re all missing the point of the “pink bag” theory. It’s not that the melamine came from the (obviously shipped in error) pink bag. Employees spotted the pink bag (d’oh! Unless you’re completely color blind, that’s gonna stick out…) and acted properly to pull it aside and quarantine it. The extra pink bag also would account for the odd lot shipping quantity of 146 - the pink bag clearly was not intended to be part of that shipment, and got loaded onto the wrong truck, ship, whatever. Anyone who deals with shipping and receiving will tell you those sorts of errors happen ALL of the time. Heck, who here can say they have never, ever ordered anything from a catalog and gotten the wrong color, quantity, etc, or at least knows someone who has? Just yesterday, when I pulled away from the drive thru window at McDonalds, I realized I had an extra french fry order in the bag. Poor guy behind me probably got no fries at all!
No, the smoking gun here is that the pink bag proves the bagging facility bags both rice proteins AND melamines. The “dirty bag” theory discussed in the Forbes article posits that the bagger may have reused bags previously containing melamine to pack rice proteins, resulting in residual contamination of the rice from the dirty (reused) bags. This would be an obvious cost saving measure: say a run of melamine was accidentally put into the wrong bags. Instead of destroying the bags at a loss, you just empty them out, send ‘em over to the rice line where they belong, and repack the melamine in the proper (apparently pink) bags. A very plausible scenario, and no grand consipracy needed. Simple human error + a drive to keep costs low by any means = bad decisions that end up costing pets their lives.
The irony of this is that in most cases, decisions like this come back to bite the corporation which made them in the arse. Pet food companies are in the business of making money, and recalls/bad press/consumer outrage seriously cut into the bottom line. Therefore, American importers are going to be far LESS likely to do business with this supplier again, cutting their profitability instead of improving it. Short term cost slashing seldom if ever yields ling term corporate gains. What truly amazes me is that so many people running corporations still fail to “get” this. Perhaps it is because too many of them are paid on short term results, and seldom stick around long enough to clean up the long term messes they create.
Anyhoo, I just wanted to add a bit of perspective on the whole “pink bag” thing, and wish everyone whose pets may have been affected the best. My Boxer baby, Apollo, eats nothing but NB venison & brown rice (only thing that got rid of a year’s worth of pudding poop… *sigh*) and his kitty brother Cody eats a range of the NB cat products, including NB Venison & Green Pea dry. I tend to buy in bulk and stock up, so my supplies were purchased long before NB’s ill advised decision to tinker with their formula, and the critters are still happily chowing down. No, I’m not going to throw out every scrap of NB food in my house. It’s high quality food that keeps my animals in amazing condition. And yes, as soon as NB starts shipping clean batches again, I’ll be buying it. Am I annoyed that they changed an allergy formula, of all things, without at least letting people know ahead of time? You bet. Do I think they’re likely to do this again, after the way this turned out? Um, no. They do want to stay in business, after all, and this will have cost them a BUNDLE in both bottom line and customer base. So I feel pretty safe with NB for the forseeable future.
Love to all the pooches and kitties,
donna
April 19th, 2007 at 11:10 am
FirstMate Pet Foods is okay. I called there head office and had a chat with their raw materials buyer. They are not affected in any way with the tainted Chinese ingredients. They get their ingredients from N. America and manufacture FirstMate in their OWN plant. www.firstmate.com
They are also certified by the EU - which holds companies to a higher standard.
www.firstmate.com
April 19th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Yes, wouldn’t it be nice if the Good Ol’ USA protected it’s citizens to the same high level as the EU………
April 19th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Purina just updated their site
http://www.purina.com/
They are elaborating on the wheat gluten and how they are dedicated to our pets’ health and nutrition, and go into details about everything you wanted to know about wheat gluten. I think we’ve all figured that one out and are staying away from it. No mention about the rice scare we’re having now or about their mysterious plant in China that they don’t know about. Be very careful with this company. They occupy a huge share of the foods out there in supermarkets that are reasonably priced for those feeding a multitude of assorted pets. They’ve evaded the wheat gluten issue before saying the rest of their stuff is good, then a few days later pulled Alpo cuts. They denied having a plant in China to me on the phone and are scampy on info that you’d be most likely to ask about.
Just a heads up on them; their remaining products may be good but buyer beware.
April 19th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Someone was asking on one of these boards for a list of where they can find products MADE IN CHINA. Dont know which board? I found this. Hope it’s helpful.
http://www.made-in-china.com/
April 19th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I’d sure like to see the US government put a temporary 100% ban in any food imports from China. It would not solve the problem, but it would send a message.
April 19th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
I’m sure by now you’ve all heard about the contaminated CORN gluten imported from China found in Royal Canin foods in South Africa only. Yes, it had melamine in it. My vet called Royal Canin (while I was in his office) and he was assured that none of the South Africa manufactured food is shipped here.
But
Now we also have CORN GLUTEN that came from China.
I called Purina Pro Plan and asked them where their corn gluten comes from.
I applaude Nestle Purina. The call was answered immediately by a real human being based here in the USA. The person could not answer my question, and asked me to hold while he transferred me to a supervisor. That person asked me to hold while she contacted her supervisor, and came back about 60 seconds later and told me that Nestle Purina is aware of the Corn Gluten problem in South Africa and at the corporate level is tracing all of their supplies of Corn Gluten immediately.
She took my name, phone number and email address and told me that they would both call me and email me the answer as soon as it became available. She said they would know either later today or else tomorrow.
They were the only company that both answered their phone AND were aware that a problem has now been found in Chinese corn gluten.
April 19th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
barb Says:
April 19th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
She said they would know either later today or else tomorrow.
…..hope you’ll post back! I do have a hard time beliving, in this age of computers, why it would take so long to find that information in the database. That is good customer service to get your answer so quickly. Haven’t been to their website, but hope that they have that information front and center. Would save on phone calls and let their customers know that they understand the worries.
April 19th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Uh oh Barb, I take that back. Here is what Purina put on their website today:
http://www.purina.com/company/.....purinafaqs
Updated FAQs – April 19, 2007
Do you use rice protein concentrate in any of your products?
* No. Nestlé Purina PetCare Company does not use rice protein concentrate in any of its U.S. or Canadian pet food products.
Do you source any other ingredients from the Chinese supplier of the rice protein concentrate in question?
* No.
Where do you source rice used in Purina brand pet foods?
* All rice used in Purina brand pet foods is sourced from North America.
……..Oops, they asked and answered the wrong question in number 2. Question should have been, do you source any other ingredients from China. We really don’t care about which supplier it came from as so far we’ve had 2 different ones.
…….so stay tuned I guess.
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