US News
UPDATE: Pet-Food Industry's dirty little secrets out
By Stone Martindale Mar 21, 2007, 17:40 GMT
Dogs pose during an animal fashion show in one of the elite women’s clubs in Kiev, on Thursday 18 January 2007. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO
Not only Americans adore their pets. The recent news of the tainted animal food has caught the attention of people worldwide who love their animals.
The massive pet-food recall has so far caused the deaths of at least 10 pets is also letting consumers see the industry's well-kept secret, that some of most premium pet-food brands in the U.S. use the same manufacturer that processes dozens of low-price private-label products, according to AdAge.com.
The recall affects 60 million products and sold under more than 80 brands, the majority of them as retailer private labels.
AdAge reports that despite variations in formulations, the canned or pouch pet food for Procter & Gamble Co.'s Iams and Eukanuba, Colgate-Palmolive Co.'s Science Diet and Nestle Purina's Mighty Dog brands have been caught up in the same recall by processor Menu Foods as private labels for retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores, Food Lion and Meijer.
AdAge reports nine cats and one dog's deaths are confirmed and reported by Menu Foods. Last night on Fox News 11 in Los Angeles, it was reported that 8 area Los Angeles dogs and cats were fighting for their lives due to tainted food.
"We anticipate those numbers [of deaths] will increase as the investigation continues," said Stephen F. Sundlof, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine. The recall affects 60 million products in all, produced between Dec. 3 and March 6 and sold under more than 80 brands, the vast majority of them retailer private labels. He said the affected products include about 1% of all pet food sold in the U.S.
AdAge reports that in late 2005, a dry product produced by Diamond Pet Food led to the deaths of 100 dogs.
The scandal has revealed the shameful secret of pet food manufacturers. The Same stuff is repackaged and sold at a higher price.
"Branded companies for years when they used co-packing arrangements have tried to keep that their little shoppers' secret," said Burt Flickinger to AdAge, principal with the consulting firm Strategic Resource Group. "But now this whole scandal can dismantle the pricing architecture for branded products when consumers can see that branded is essentially the same stuff with a higher price point."
"Most consumers will give them the benefit of the doubt that they must have separate formulas for expensive Eukanuba," said Laura Ries to AdAge, president of marketing consultancy Ries & Ries. "In many cases you know with private labels that those products are coming off the same belts as the branded products, and in some cases there is very little difference. ... But most people want to believe in brands, buy brands and trust brands."
P&G said in a released press statement that "Iams and Eukanuba dry products are not manufactured at Menu Foods and are not affected by this recall. Only a small portion of our wet canned and foil-pouch products for dogs and cats are affected by this recall."
P&G is recalling 43 Iams items and 25 Eukanuba items in what appears to be the most extensive list of products from any single marketer involved in the recall, according to AdAge.
Besides P&G, Colgate and Nestle Purina were the only other companies to issue separate recall notices, according to AdAge.
A spokesman for Nestle Purina reported to AdAge that 5.3-ounce pouches of Mighty Dog moist food were the only products in the company's assortment affected by the recall. "We have no indication of any quality or safety issue related to that pouch product," he said. "No other premium products are involved or affected in any way. ... Mighty Dog canned products are not affected. ... The pouch variety is a part of the business where at this time we don't have the existing capacity at our facilities to make it, so it makes sense to use a co-manufacturer."
FDA's Consumer Complaint Coordinators
To report adverse reactions or other problems with FDA-regulated products, contact the FDA district office consumer complaint coordinator for your geographic area. If you require the use of a Relay Service, please call the Federal Relay Services (1-800-877-8339). This is a toll free relay service to call Federal agencies from TTY devices.
What should I include in my report?
* Report what happened as soon as possible. Give names, addresses and phone numbers of persons affected. Include your name, address and phone number, as well as that of the doctor, vet or hospital if emergency treatment was provided.
* State the problem clearly. Describe the product as completely as possible, including any codes or identifying marks on the label or container. Give the name and address of the store where the product was purchased and the date of purchase.
* You also should report the problem to the manufacturer or distributor shown on the label and to the store where you purchased the product.
Alabama--866-289-3399
Alaska--(425) 483-4949
Arizona--(949) 608-3530
Arkansas--(214) 253-5200, ext. 5233
California (Northern)--(510) 337-6741
California (Southern)--(949) 608-3530
Colorado--(303) 236-3044
Connecticut--(781) 596-7700
Delaware--(215) 597-9064
District of Columbia--(410) 779-5713
Florida -- (866) 337-6272
Georgia--(404) 253-1169
Hawaii--(510) 337-6741
Idaho--(425) 483-4949
Illinois--(312) 353-7840
Indiana--(313) 393-8100
Iowa--(913) 752-2440
Kansas--(913) 752-2440
Kentucky--(513) 679-2700, ext. 124
Louisiana--866-289-3399
Maine--(781) 596-7700
Maryland--(410) 779-5713
Massachusetts--(781) 596-7700
Michigan--(313) 393-8100
Minnesota--(612) 758-7221
Mississippi--866-289-3399
Missouri--(913) 752-2440
Montana--(425) 483-4949
Nebraska--(913) 752-2440
Nevada--(510) 337-6741
New Hampshire--(781) 596-7700
New Jersey-- (973) 331-4917
New Mexico--(303) 236-3044
New York -- (718) 340-7000 ext 5588
North Carolina--(404) 253-1169
North Dakota--(612) 758-7221
Ohio--(513) 679-2700, ext. 124
Oklahoma--(214) 253-5200, ext. 5233
Oregon--(425) 483-4949
Pennsylvania--(215) 597-9064
Rhode Island--(781) 596-7700
South Carolina--(404) 253-1169
South Dakota--(612) 758-7221
Tennessee-- 866-289-3399
Texas--(214) 253-5200 ext. 5233
Utah--(303) 236-3044
Vermont--(781) 596-7700
Virginia--(410) 779-5713
Washington--(425) 483-4949
West Virginia--(410) 779-5713
Wisconsin--(612) 758-7221
Wyoming--(303) 236-3044
Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands--800-332-0127
FDA's Consumer Complaint Coordinators
To report adverse reactions or other problems with FDA-regulated products, contact the FDA district office consumer complaint coordinator for your geographic area. If you require the use of a Relay Service, please call the Federal Relay Services (1-800-877-8339). This is a toll free relay service to call Federal agencies from TTY devices.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Pet Connection was reporting deaths around 250 and sick animals above 600 as of a full day ago. The numbers are getting very high very quickly.
SO the animals have had their day in the news. What makes anyone think the High priced or low priced foods listed for humans are any differant.
Hyvee, price chopper, Albertsons and etc are probably just as good or may be better than the name brands.
PS Skippy peanut butter recall proves that.
That would be Peter Pan's peanut butter that was recalled.
Is anyone so naive as to believe that wheat gluten is killing all these pets? The Menu damage control salesmen do, but I sure hope nobody else does!
Indeed, this scandal has me infuriated three fold...
1. I have been unknowingly poisoning my 12 year companion German Shepherd.
2. I have been buying Iams Select Bytes pouches at Wal-Mart when their Old-Roy brand right next to it is half the price for the exact same contents !
3. I have two shelves full of these Iams pouches and the company is not replying to emails concerning a refund.
So, it looks like we've been takin' it up the tail pipe for quite some time.
Glad I always buy the off brand name and use only dry dog food. Time to send these folks a message: be up front or be out of business!
i have dog it eat good we eat my food only steak he poop good-- i feel good
dog live long time no can food me no can food-- good life
people read the lables you will find out that all have the same ingredients in them
from medicine to tooth brushes. have your ever read the lables at the gas pumps?
It's not really a dirty little secret. It's called Market Segmentation. When you have a manufacturing plant that has a fixed cost to operate, you loose money every moment it isn't producing something. Thus while you may actually need $8.00 a can to make money at it, you won't fail to sell some at $3.00 a can if that'll at least cover costs and keep you from loosing money.
Thus segment the market and make your money in one, while keep the manufacturing plant alive in the other one.
Every manufacturer eventually does it.
It's not really a dirty little secret. It's called Market Segmentation. When you have a manufacturing plant that has a fixed cost to operate, you loose money every moment it isn't producing something. Thus while you may actually need $8.00 a can to make money at it, you won't fail to sell some at $3.00 a can if that'll at least cover costs and keep you from loosing money.
Thus segment the market and make your money in one, while keep the manufacturing plant alive in the other one.
Every manufacturer eventually does it.
have you talked to walmart or Iams for refund?? Walmart customer service always takes care of me for any return. (And by the way-- My cat just died that was eating Iams ... good luck proving any of it to a company -- it still would never bring back my cat...)
Had this same problem with kidney failure in two of my cats nearly three years ago days after both cats had eaten the Walmart 'Special Kitty' canned cat food, the younger cat got high doses of pennacillin and recovered quickly the older cat was near death but I let the vet gave her two treatments of Ringers Lactate over a few days and she recovered fully and both cats are alve and well to this day.
I also microwave ALL of their canned cat food a day before serving to 200 degrees just in case.
Now I know why my dog refuses to eat dog food!!!
If it really is contaminated Wheat Gluten why would we believe that Menu Foods is the only company to get contaminated product from their supplier?
Wheat Gluten is used in lots of foods for human consumption too. Small Animals have higer metabolisms and consume more of a product relative to their body weight, so they would show the effects more quickly and dramatically than people. It may take several weeks more for people to start getting sick.
Watch this story and wait for the other shoe to drop once the source of the contamination is tracked down.
Pet owners, get a life. What is so unusual here... these types of specialty products probably do not sell in large enough qualtities to justify a company investing in processing facilities when a contract manufacturer with capability is available. This type of recall is no different than a drug recall or a human food recall... We do not live in a perfect world... Read the labels and buy whatever you feel is best for your pet or your family for that matter... I will buy a generic topical drug but am not too keen on buying a generic ingestible drug for treatment of high blood pressure or cholesterol when my branded product has proven successful. The most important thing here is that these products are being recalled even though the reason for the reported animal deaths is not known. The investigation is ongoing. In the meantime, maybe you should just feed your pets food you cook for them yourselves...
This doesn't have anything to do with gluten. My guess would be aflatoxin.
search wikipedia for Aflatoxin
This is commonly tested for in grain.
hteas- while the suspect gluten is being viewed as a potential source of contamination, it's not the gluten itself that's the problem, but whatever it may have been contaminated with. It's not uncommon for grains to become contaminated with fungi. Though processing ultimately kills the fungus, if said fungus is a producer of mycotoxins, these may still remain- and a number of them are nephrotoxic (toxic to kidneys). The FDA has yet to confirm the cause of the poisoning, but mycotoxins are high on their list of contaminants to be ruled out.
Its amazing,the same mentality that kills people by the thousands for the sake of control of natural resources in Alaska, the Gulf, Iran , ..., is now killing beloved pets. I can't wait to witness Cheney's leading the march of the neocons and multinationals to hell.
Another issue mainstream media isn't touching base is the dangers associated with mass processing facilities. When something goes wrong at one plant, everyone (in this case it's pets) from Alaska to Panama is affected.
I will be following this story very closely. My Samoyed is 12 years old, and has skin and hip issues. I have been feeding him a Solid Gold Hundenflocken kibble for adult weight maintenance I buy at PetSmart, and combining it with IAMS Wet food in the can-the Lamb and Rice formula-which I now have ceased doing. I have been cooking him chicken thighs and dark meat turkey and mixing it with a vegetable chop of leftovers from every days dinner, and it seems to be a good mix.
I am furious at the lack of any monitoring of this industry, and my heart goes out to anyone whose pet has suffered as a result of the negligence of this industry. If you read the stories on this website, you know I cover mainly TV and Celebrity beat, but this one hit close to home for me too.
Please keep sending your leads and local news reports to me that are related to the story at stone@monstersandcritics.com
Thank you.
Luckily my cats only eat the dry stuff (better for their teeth) but I have friends who use the moist. What symptoms should they be looking for in their cats?
Hello Stone,
That's exactly the regimen my 12 year German Shepherd was on (Iams pouches mixed with his dry food). I started mixing the Iams a year ago year thinking it would be healthier considering his age. He has since developed what the vet thinks is ulcers on his neck and hip problems have suddenly surfaced. I can't help but wonder if it has something to do with feeding him this stuff...
Many people are reporting renal failure in younger cats- not a typical occurence. I found this information at www.cats.about:
Chronic renal failure is a serious condition evidenced by gradual, irreversible deterioration of kidney function over a period of months or years. The kidney consists of tiny funnel-shaped tubes called nephrons, which filter and reabsorb the fluids that balance the body.
What are the Symptoms of CRF?
All but one (difficulty urinating) of the symptoms listed below can also be indicative of other disease, e.g., hyperthyroidism. In fact, hyperthyroidism may mask CRF, which points out the need for an accurate diagnosis.
* Weight loss
* Excessive thirst and urination
* Loss of appetite
* Vomiting
* Obvious difficulty in urinating
* Dull or ill-kept coat
When an individual nephron is damaged by any cause, (aging, poison, infection, etc.) it stops functioning.
Fortunately the kidney can still function with as few as twenty-five percent of its original nephrons, as other nephrons can grow larger to 'fill in the blanks.'
Kidney failure occurs when the remaining functioning nephrons drop below 25%. Kidney failure creates several body disfunctions: Toxins, such as urea and creatinine which normally are secreted as waste, build up in the blood.
Other components in blood, such as phosporus or sodium may rise or fall abnormally. Urine may contain protein which is not handled well by failing kidneys.
How is CRF Diagnosed?
CRF is diagnosed by a blood panel, which measures levels of critical blood components such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and a red blood cell count. Analysis of urine will test for protein, bacteria, and blood, as well as how well the kidneys are concentrating urine.
I think my pet may have died from this pet food recall. Who do i contact to report it and where do I send them the reciepts and death certificate from my vet?
I think that there dates are skewed too. I think it goes back to November, my just checked up and tested kitten suddenly got sick a month later and had been eating the recalled food prior to and into the recall dates.
Regarding IAMS:
This voluntary product recall involves discontinuation of all retail sales and product retrieval from consumers. Consumers should stop using the affected products immediately, and consult with a veterinarian if any symptoms are present in their pet. All Iams and Eukanuba products carry a 100 percent guarantee, and consumers can receive a refund for recalled products. For more information, consumers can contact the company at 1-800-882-1591 or visit iams.com and eukanuba.com for details.
Review the list of involved products here. To read can product codes, refer to the bottom of the can. The first four numbers of the second line of numbers are the date code, and the following four numbers indicate the plant code. For example, if the second line begins with four numbers from 6339 to 7073 followed by the plant code 4197, then the can should be recalled. For foil pouches, the code numbers are located at the lower left hand corner on the back of the pouch. The date and plant codes appear in the third group of numbers, beginning an 11-digit sequence. See www.iams.com and www.eukanuba.com for illustrated details.
Mae: I am calling every major pet food manufacturer trying to find out the answers to your questions-and I will post as I receive information.
Please email stone@monstersandcritics.com if you have any information I can share with pet owners. I appreciate your collective help and will keep good thoughts that your pets will be okay.
Personal note-I strongly recommend the kibble for dogs I mentioned I use for my old guy, it is 'Solid Gold Hundenflocken' and it is a great blend for dogs with various health issues. You can mix it with cooked chicken, turkey and chopped up leftover vegetables- don't throw away your leftovers!
My kitten had a wellness check up the first week of Nov 2006 at which time I was feeding him Nutro Natural Choice Kitten Pouches in Oceanwhite fish. A month later he became lethargic and weak. The vet thought he had a virus so antibiotics began. He went from 6.2 oz to 3.1 before he died in January.
His urine was dark yellow and it was hard for him to pass. He also began vomiting and not eating.
late December he stopped eating the food on his own and I switched brands, at this time the damage to his kidneys was so substantial. My vet pulled a complete blood panel and could not diagnose him. So he assumed it was FIP (which can only really accuratly be tested upon death) my kitten never recoverd and died at 6 months old mid january. I dont want to 'bandwagon' but they should know if there are other kittens and their dates might be wrong.
My sympathies Mae. There is nothing this billion dollar industry would like more than for you to stay quite. If your pet passed away from renal problems and was eating this recalled food, you should contact the lawyers of that lady who has initiated a lawsuit.
I wonder if Iams can be class action sued for misleading marketing. I thought I was buying premium food (at a premium price), when it seems I was buying the same crud they stuff in no name brand packaging.
Why are you people feeding your pets (Carnivores) WHEAT to begin with? Wheat is bad enough for omnivores (people), but for carnivores, its especially bad. Most of the pet food out there is mostly filler based upon agricultural products. You think fluffy would sit down to a big pile of wheat thins in a natural environment?
Wheat is a product that can affect people terribly, allergies and life threatening problems, or not. Wheat does not bother me at all.
My dog 'the carnivore' will eat steamed broccoli, iceberg lettuce, cantaloupe and almonds. He loves wheat thins too, but I don't let him have them.
Maybe you could add something constructive to the conversation like recommending some wheat-free kibble?
The kibble I have suggested to everyone that I use, Solid Gold, is wheat-free:
Solid Gold Health Products For Pets, Inc., has been a pioneer of natural, holistic animal nutrition since 1974. We now have a line of nine dry dog and cat foods, including our new high protein, low carbohydrate dry dog food, Barking at the Moon™. We also have a line of canned dog and cat foods as well as nutritional supplements, treats, and topical products.
We specialize in the development of 'low allergen' products, which work together to enhance total health, boost up the immune system, and protect against disease. We always use wholesome USDA Choice meats, USDA grade I and II grains, and healthful monounsaturated and polyunsaturated oils.
We never use chemical preservatives such as BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin, which may be related to some diseases in pets. We never use wheat, corn, or soy, which are often genetically modified and common allergens for dogs, causing them to have uncomfortable skin disorders, chew incessantly at their feet, or suffer from chronic problems such as ear infections. We never add animal or poultry fat to our products, as these are saturated fats that may contribute to heart disease and certain types of cancer.
Solid Gold is also an industry leader in the use of revolutionary foil 'barrier' packaging for all our dry food products, which means we don't have to use chemical preservatives or flavor enhancers. Barrier packaging keeps food fresher longer, maintains palatability, and helps to sustain the potency of valuable vitamins and other nutrients, which may deplete over time with conventional paper bags.
If you have specific questions on Solid Gold products or any other matter relating to Solid Gold, please feel free to call us at (800) 364-4863 or email dane@solidgoldhealth.com - please be sure to include your phone number in the event that a nutritionist needs to call you.
'The Same stuff is repackaged and sold at a higher price.'
Not exactly. Menu Foods produces customized products for many labels.
'Besides P&G, Colgate and Nestle Purina were the only other companies to issue separate recall notices, according to AdAge.'
Incorrect. Nutro did as well.
It isn't wheat gluten which is the problem, it is Aspergillus, a fungus which grows on things like wheat gluten.
hteas: True but wheat gluten can be infected with fungus, like Aflatoxin, a corn fungus, that sparked a 2005 dog food recall.
Furious: Standard recall proceedure, take all the cans/pouches back to WalMart. The retailer who took your money for purchase is the one to refund the same money during a recall.
My thoughts and prayers are with all those who lost a pet, my elderly mother included.
'Why are you people feeding your pets (Carnivores) WHEAT to begin with?' -- Because dogs are OMNIVORES.
IAMS has placed some of these wet food packages in their Dry Food Bags. A Free But Deadly Sample?
I wouldn't brag about buying off-brand food just because it's the same quality as the higher priced foods. Anything you can buy in the supermarket is crap, it's the same as if you fed your kid ramen noodles or McDonald's every day. Dogs and cats are carnivores and their bodies are made to digest one thing and that's MEAT.
All I can say is 'wow'.
My cat and dog both eat dry pet food. I suppliment their diets with meat protein. Ham or tuna for the cat, and beef or chicken for the dog.
I say, KARMA. It's time major corporations reap what they sow. But then, perhaps this serves as a lesson for people that 'trust brands?' A brand doesn't necessarily 'guarantee' quality? Who tests these things? Exactly how do they know what a cat/dog will like, anyway? They should have human testers. What's good for humans, should be good for our pets. Red, long-haired tabby owner, ~KogeJoe
After having a dog with allergies when I was a child, I wanted to avoid this problem with my new dog and cat. If you want to make sure your pets never have this problem, try reading this book: Dr.Pitcairn's Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. It explains what is in your commercial pet food and how to make your own pet's foods. My dog now has no allergies (after 4 years on commercial food and 2 years on steroids for allergies)and her energy and coat is amazing. My 10 year old cat now has no weight or coat problems, and it only costs a little more than an average to good commercial mix. The book is by a DVM (vet) who is also a PHD. A good read and even better recipes. Good luck to you all and my thoughts and prayers go out to all the owners and pets who have been affected by this horrible situation.
'Dogs and cats are carnivores' - frustrated. ........ WRONG! Dogs are OMNIVORES, just like humans and bears.
The formulas are not the same for the store brand foods as the premium foods. Please keep feeding your dogs the better diet. If you are that concerned that the formulas are the same you can try some other lines sold at the pet food stores that are not involved in the recall. Just because the manufacturer is the same does not mean the recipe is the same. You do get what you pay for. Look at the ingrediant labels and you will notice a difference.
this could be the tip of the icy berg - do we really know how our food is made and how our pet's food is made - reminds me of the movie soylent green, where the people when they outlived their usefulness were ground up to be served as food - what the heck is going on?
I have a hard time believing that there is *any* difference between the 'premium' brands I was paying extra for and the no-name wallyworld brands. Same lot numbers, whether it's Iams at 69 cents a can or Mutt Guts at 20 cents a can.
Anyway, I thought I was doing my poor old grouchy cat Fido a favor for the last few weeks by giving him a couple of cans or pouches a day in addition to his regular Iams kibble. I hand raised him from when he was a day old orphan found baking baking in the sun in an alley at 100 degree temperatures, with his little legs burnt and blistered and the umbilical cord still attached. Looks like mama had just enough time to clean him up after he was born, then something happened and she had to leave him behind.
That cat is now fourteen years old, and yes, he got some of the tainted cat food. He's not one to tell us when he's not feeling well, but his coat looks awful the last few days, he's drinking and peeing far more than usual, the vet says there are white blood cells in his urine -- he was seen for a thorough checkup the day before the news broke. He's on antibiotics now for what I hope is *only* a mild bladder infection.
He's a beautiful cat with white and tabby markings, long legs and beautiful gold-green eyes. When he sits up tall he looks just like those Egyptian cat statues. His favorite activity these days is snoozing in the sunshine on the roof of my garden shed.
If he dies from this, it will break my heart. He hasn't been the most congenial fellow for the last few months, and all I was trying to do was cheer him up with a little treat. Fido, please forgive me.
'I have a hard time believing that there is *any* difference between the 'premium' brands I was paying extra for and the no-name wallyworld brands. Same lot numbers, whether it's Iams at 69 cents a can or Mutt Guts at 20 cents a can. ' /// Lot numbers don't mean they are the same. Look at the ingrediants. Even if Menu Foods made both brands, they make different formulations for different labels.
Normally kidney failure is caused by one of 3 things: biological, heavy metal exposure, or solvent exposure. What's interesting here is that the manufacturer has samples that killed animals, but has not listed the cause. If it is the wheat, the normal suspects would be fungi infection, cadium contaminated fields, or a transport grain container contaminated with hydrocarbon solvents. And for wheat the most logical suspect would be fungi. But there is one thing interesting about the current state of wheat gluten (protein or casien) currently being marketed for the pet food industry. Several of the key suppliers are marketing molecularly modified and concentrated wheat protein. One of the early press releases indicated that this was a new addition to the food and was in very concentated form. Normally one would never suspect wheat casien as being problematic for renal failure, but in this modified and concentrated form, I wonder if there is some severe allergy or systemic reaction. Cats are true carnivores, while a dog is an omnivore, I would expect the canines to be more tolerant of the grain protein (and in this case cats appear to have a higher mortality rate, but this could also be a case of body weight to exposure problem.) Its a very remote thought, but one that should be checked out. No matter what it turns out to be, as mentioned before, the even greater concern is that it is also in the human food chain as these products have a way of crossing the various food supply lines.
To those who keep saying cats are solely carnivores, mind explaining why my cat munches on grass in the summer? She loves the stuff and it's not for lack of vitamins, she gets supplements as well as premium vet food.
For those not believing wheat gluten can be a problem, consider the mycotoxin (toxins produced by fungi) Ochratoxin A, which specifically wrecks kidneys. On a general European mycotoxin website an Italian distributor was arrested for trying to sell Ochratoxin A contaminated duram wheat bound for the pasta making market.
Cats are considered to be obligate carnivores, which means they must eat animal tissue to thrive (though they may eat some plant matter). Dogs are not obligate carnivores, though if I remember correctly they are classified as carnivores, (as their teeth would indicate). However wolf/coyotes and certainly the domesticated dog, along with some bears, are much more opportunistic eaters and have some nutritional needs outside of just animal tissue. They either get this by eating the stomach content of the plant eaters they kill or by eating select vegetation. (the local coyotes seem to have a fondness for berries).
Maybe the author of this artical can ask the FDA if they have looked into the possiblity that the molecularly modified wheat could have induced hypercholesterolaemia (it can in rabbits if fed in large quantities) and this contributed to renal damage. (This is pretty remote, but they should look at this if they cannot evidence of fungi infection)
I hope people are just as outraged by the scamming of the public by the food industry
that thinks nothing of putting health damaging products on the shelves. An unsuspecting
consumer thinks their children are receiving nutritious products. Maybe the dogs serve man
one more time by drawing attention to this issue. Unfortunately it is a tragedy for them and
the families that love them.
My cat went off his food middle of January shortly after I had switched him to canned food. He became istless, drinking a lot of water. Took him to Humane Society Vet 3rd of February, couldn't afford full laboratory evaluation of over $100.00,but had concerns about so much water intake and not wanting to eat his dry food. I had them run a mini battery of lab tests to rule out diabetes or a tooth problem. I Was told only cat not well, maybe a virus and put on antibiotic amoxi/clav for possible 'cold'. Vet checked his mouth thoroughly for tooth abscess since he didn't seem to want to eat his dry food anymore and she found nothing. I had started feeding him canned wet food (from Walmart and Kroger) including Walmart brand to encourage him to eat... then I added the pouches (mixed grill).... but he got even worse. Lost 2 pounds. Took him back for 2nd round of antibiotics on the 2nd of March... Vet re-examined his mouth since he had been drooling constantly for over a week and was still drinking a LOT of water.... and still losing weight. This time she found his tongue split towards the rear on the side and a large tumor/growth/abscess yellowish in color, which she HAD NOT seen 3 weeks earlier????? Nothing left to do for him at that point, so I had to put him to sleep so he wouldn't suffer anymore....Now he's been cremated and I wonder???? Cannot believe it was a cancer that grew in three weeks. Suspect something in the canned food or the pouches caused a major abscess that split the tongue is more likely the culprit in addition to the food causing him to drink so much water. All told it took about a month for this to take its toll on him. I really do wonder if it Was it the food?? He never got the full doses of the food, as I was supplementing with 'people food', so he was getting about 1/2 the 'recommended' feeding amount, which is probably why he lasted a month instead of only a couple of weeks. So I wonder Who I contact to add him to the list of lost pets? Up until I started feeding him the canned food in the middle of January he had been perfectly fine. I should have never switched him to the pouches, but I thought I was giving him a 'treat'. BIG MISTAKE!
How typical - kill a few animals and there are pages and pages of comment. Kill thousands of people in Iraq and hardly anyone notices. Pollute the rest of the world with your gas guzzling lifestyle and again hardly anyone comments or even admits there is a problem. What a sad reflection of the american way of life
Are you saying there aren't pages & pages of comments on Iraq and the environment? Get a life pal, better yet get a pet and you just might understand that for many people they are part of the family.
Guess its easier to win an argument with a pet than with concerned people in the rest of the world ?
Evidently Menu Foods bought the wheat gluten through a broker, and the FDA is trying to figure out who supplied the gluten. (It could be multiple sources). Two of the three US producers, MGP and Milandra, have indicated they did not supply gluten to Menu Foods during the suspect time frame. ADM has not commented yet.
If it came from a discount importer, quality is more suspect and chances for contamination increase exponentially. This will also make it harder to check it if has made it into the human food supply.
The Companies that 'are' responsible for these tainted pet foods should be closed down right away. Why? Because they were not careful, they were irresponsible! Companies should not be open if irresponsible people are running it. What would happen if it were people or babies that we dieing because of tainted ingredients?
....and the Companies in question apologies for any inconvenience that they might have caused?!?!?!? C'mon are they for real??........Animals should not be treated any less then us humans.
We don't automatically close down human food processing facilities when they accidentally ship contaminated products. When a problem is discovered, there is an investigation and the problem is usually fixed. There is a lot which can go wrong in food processing and expecting there to never ever be any mistakes or problems is completely unrealistic. E Coli, salmonella, botulism, and many, many other problems occur every year in human food processing. Maybe people are just ignorant of it until it affects Fido and Fifi.
A very good point Dave - total over-reaction by these pet-fixated people. They really ought to see the problem in perspective
ABC news is reporting that imported Chinese wheat contained rat poison (aminopterin) and was used in 100 or so brands that Menu Foods produces.
If we would all put the dog food we buy through the evaluation below
none of us would be feeding our pets the food that has been recalled.
How to grade your dog's food: Start with a grade of 100:
1) For every listing of 'by-product', subtract 10 points
2) For every non-specific animal source ('meat' or 'poultry', meat, meal
or fat) reference, subtract 10 points
3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points
4) For every grain 'mill run' or non-specific grain source, subtract 5
points
5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five
ingredients (I.e. 'ground brown rice', 'brewers rice', 'rice flour' are
all the same grain), subtract 5 points
6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2
meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points
7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points
8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3points
9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points
10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil,
subtract 2 points
11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is
allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points
12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog is not
allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points
14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog is not
allergic to beef), subtract 1 point 15) If it contains salt, subtract 1
point
Extra Credit:
1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points
2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist,
add 5 points
3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points
4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points
5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points
6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3
points
7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2
points
8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points
9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2
points
10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point
11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point
12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than
the
first one; count 'chicken' and 'chicken meal' as only one protein
source, but 'chicken' and '' as 2 different sources), add 1 point
13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point
14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are
pesticide-free, add 1 point
Score:
94-100+ = A
86-93 = B
78-85 = C
70-77 = D
69 and below = F
Here are some foods that have already been scored.
Dog Food scores:
Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F
Canidae / Score 112 A+
Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+
Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F
Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B
Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+
Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+
Foundations / Score 106 A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 B
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D
Innova Dog / Score 114 A+
Innova Evo / Score 114 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+
Purina Beneful / Score 17 F
Purina Dog / Score 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A
Why do single issue individuals appear to have stopped thinking or knowing what goes on around them. A great deal of pet food is consumed by people living in poverty; just keep your eyes open when shopping in a supermarket in a poor neighborhood. They demand we shouldn't think about this pet food issue in case we stop thinking about the war. Here's a clue, most people's heads don't start to hurt when they think about more than one thing.
When toxic material appear in food it is essential we know why and how it came about. The animal and human food distribution chains are not as distinct as you might think. Food ingredients condemned for human consumption may be diverted to the waste industry, tavel through a number of hands and reappear in a laundered fashion as human grade. As we know from recent events we currently have no system of tracability to reliably find where something came from. Even if we did, there is a huge financial incentive for unscrupulous individuals to redesignate what something actually is and where it came from. We even have fake pharmaceuticals appearing through normal distribution chains from time to time. we need a vigilant and capable force to keep this in check just like any other criminal or antisocial activity.
Hello... am I just stupid or what? We have millions of acres of farm land and farmers who wish to sell their product to American producers. What in the damn sam hill are those people buying from China for God sake. Is anyone at those companys head quarters awake? It just makes no sense to me to buy form China when we have a safe product here... RIGHT HERE!!! in America. Who is trying to save a buck at the expence or our pets health. Shame on them they should be out of business.
Cattim Cat
i never did hear about the Diamond brand food recall 2 years ago. my parents have been feeding that to their dogs for... ever!
thankfully my kittycat only eats dry food. i thought i was giving him the really good stuff with Science Diet and Purina. Guess not!
good thing all his food was donated to me by a friend and was made a long time before this recall.
I think it is interesting that the 'filler' (supposed wheat gluten) that Menu foods bought was from China,a country that recently implemented a one pet per household law in their country. And since when is wheat in short supply in the United States? I believe a profit was probably more of an issue than our pets health.
page: 1
mikeMar 21st, 2007 - 18:11:17
Stone:
Please stay on this story. petconnection.com is assembling a 'data-base' and the final tally will be staggering. Sadly, the US mainstream media thinks we're all still hung-up with Anna Nicole.
thanks,
mike, orlando, fla, usa
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