Dangerous Dog Food Recall

[cdw]

The Food and Drug Administration says contaminated dog food that was sold in 23 states has killed almost two dozen dogs nationwide and sickened 18 others.
The recalled pet food was sold in 23 states under the brand names Diamond, Country Value and Professional, and bears the date codes of March 1, 2007, through June 11, 2007. The FDA is advising consumers to immediately stop using the product.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/31/earlyshow/living/petplanet/main1172326.shtml

Diamond Premium Adult Dog Food

Diamond Hi-Energy Dog Food

Diamond Maintenance Dog Food

Diamond Professional for Adult Dogs

Diamond Performance Dog Food

Diamond Puppy Food

Diamond Low Fat Dog Food

Diamond Maintenance Cat Food

Diamond Professional Cat Food

Country Value Puppy

Country Value Adult Dog Food

Country Value High Energy Dog Food

Country Value Adult Cat Food

Professional Chicken & Rice Adult Dog Food

Professional Puppy Food

Professional Large-Breed Puppy Food

Professional Reduced Fat Cat Food

Professional Adult Cat Food

[cdw]

Another one... pets are dying.

A major manufacturer of dog and cat food sold under Wal-Mart, Safeway, Kroger and other store brands recalled 60 million containers of wet pet food Friday after reports of kidney failure and deaths.
The recall covers the company's "cuts and gravy" style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches between Dec. 3 and March 6 throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Menu Foods did not immediately provide a full list of brand names and lot numbers covered by the recall, saying they would be posted on its Web site - http://www.menufoods.com/recall - early Saturday. Consumers with questions can call (866) 463-6738.

P&G announced Friday the recall of specific 3 oz., 5.5 oz., 6 oz. and 13.2 oz. canned and 3 oz. and 5.3 oz. foil pouch cat and dog wet food products made by Menu Foods but sold under the Iams and Eukanuba brands. The recalled products bear the code dates of 6339 through 7073 followed by the plant code 4197, P&G said.



Gee, pets are dying, let's not release the specific names of the brands yet. That's horrible!

[cdw]

Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority
Award
Best Choice
Big Bet
Big Red
Bloom
Bruiser
Cadillac
Companion
Demoulas Market Basket
Fine Feline Cat, Shep Dog
Food Lion
Giant Companion
Great Choice
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy-Vee
Key Food
Laura Lynn
Loving Meals
Main Choice
Mixables
Nutriplan
Nutro Max
Nutro Natural Choice
Nutro
Ol'Roy
Paws
Pet Essentials
Pet Pride
Presidents Choice
Price Chopper
Priority
Publix
Roche Bros
Save-A-Lot
Schnucks
Springsfield Pride
Sprout
Stater Bros
Total Pet, My True Friend
Western Family
White Rose
Winn Dixie
Your Pet


That's the dog food list... There is also a cat food list. And...I guess the thing with Iams and Eukanuba is in addition to all of this and the op.
Poor kiddies!

[Fiona]

Thank you Cyd. I've shared this with dog owners I know...

[MNeedham73]

Thanks for the heads up, Cyd.

I damn near freaked when I saw Nutro Max on the list, until I noticed it was for canned food.

[Piobaireachd]

Two others are IAMS and Eukanuba. We just checked our stash of cat food and we're good.

http://us.iams.com/iams/en_US/jsp/IAMS_Page.jsp?pageID=PCA&articleID=300003

[Stiofán]

What's funny about this list (the dying of pets is not funny) is that many of these brands are so called "super premium" labels which charge 4 and 5 times as much as other brands, including many low priced private label and store label brands which are also on the list and are obviously the exact same product.

[cdw]

Yep. Actually, that is the same with a lot of products. I remember a relative of mine that works for a suntan lotion manufacturer telling me don't buy our brand, buy this stuff...she said it's the same exact thing, just different label and of course a lot cheaper.
That's why I highlighted the Eukanuba and Iams...I know they are considered premium. We buy Pedigree dry food which is also considered more of a premium dog food. I should check who makes that and what other names it's sold under.

[tke711]

Just remember that even though the different name dog foods are made by the same people, doesn't mean that all the foods are the same. Many of them have completely different recipes, even if made by the same company.

[Steve]

We buy Pedigree dry food...You should be OK, then. I thought it was only certain wet, canned foods that were affected.

[cdw]

Just remember that even though the different name dog foods are made by the same people, doesn't mean that all the foods are the same. Many of them have completely different recipes, even if made by the same company.


Ahhh. Then I'll stick with what we get. My German Shep has a VERY sensitive stomach and changes in his diet gives him the loose poop syndrome.
We can do with out that, thank you very much, lol.

[tke711]

LOL...no kidding. :)

[Stiofán]

Yeah, that's why in this recall case the SAME formulation was used in over thirty brands......... ;)

I've got a degree in marketing. If you want to buy a bridge....

[tke711]

Different recipes doesn't equal completely different ingredients or completely different equipment.

The company, based in Missouri, issued a recall of 19 varieties of dog and cat food on Dec. 21 because some of the pet food made at the Gaston plant was discovered to have contained aflatoxin.

Aflatoxin, a naturally occurring chemical that comes from a fungus sometimes found on corn and other crops, can cause severe liver damage. Aflatoxin poisoning can cause sluggishness, lack of appetite and in severe cases heavy vomiting, fever and jaundice.


I would imagine that all recipes would have at least one, if not more, ingredients in common. I also know from experience in animal food plants that they do use the same equipment, they just make different batches. So, if afloxtoxin got in one piece of equipment, or one ingredient common to all recipes, it could taint all of the batches and recipies.

Think of brewery. Miller Brewing makes how many kinds of beer, but they all get made and packaged on a few lines. That doesn't mean that all the beer is the same, it just means they are all made utilizing the same equipment.

[Stiofán]

Believe me when I say it's more to do with marketing than not.

[tke711]

In some cases, absolutely. There are lots of products out there that are exactly the same, just under different labels.

However, I don't know if I would go as far as to say "more then not", as a general rule. I work extensively with all the major food/beverage makers (and my father owns an animal feed ingredient company) and I've seen first hand the different ingredients used in different batches.

[mikeky]

We had two dogs pass away within 2 weeks of each other about a month ago. If I was of a conspiratorial mind, I would blame the dog food, but since they were both 12-14 years old, guess I won't go there. Makes you wonder though.

[Violet1966]

Yep. Actually, that is the same with a lot of products. I remember a relative of mine that works for a suntan lotion manufacturer telling me don't buy our brand, buy this stuff...she said it's the same exact thing, just different label and of course a lot cheaper.
That's why I highlighted the Eukanuba and Iams...I know they are considered premium. We buy Pedigree dry food which is also considered more of a premium dog food. I should check who makes that and what other names it's sold under.

I remember someone telling me that walmart brand dog food is the best to buy. They get their food from somewhere that produces premium dog food.

We had in the news last night that there's been quite a few shelter deaths already in NH. I suspect it's the hannaford brand :(

[Steve]

Reports are that rat poison has been found in the contaminated food.

Now, I suppose it's possible that a container of rat poison got knocked into a processing line, somewhere between the farm and the cannery.

But I have a suspicion someone did this deliberately.

[Violet1966]

They're finding that the animals that are dying, are having kidney failure :(

[saber11]

Looks like it is RAT POISON

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/23/pet.food.recall.ap/index.html

ALBANY, New York (AP) -- Rat poison has been found in pet food blamed for the deaths of at least 16 cats and dogs, a spokeswoman for the State Department of Agriculture and Markets said Friday.

The toxin was identified as aminopterin, state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said in a statement. Aminopterin is used to kill rats in some countries but is not registered for that use in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

[MNeedham73]

But I have a suspicion someone did this deliberately.

Wouldn't surprise me in the least if that were indeed the case, Steve.

[Steve]

Especially now that Saber11 pointed out it's not a poison available in the U.S. Although, grain does come from Canada and, to a lesser extent, Mexico. Can't imagine what a Canadian or Mexican would have against doggies, though.

Of course, if I put on my tinfoil beanie, it looks like one way to poison the food supply has been discovered.....

[Biker]

May not be a poison used in the US, but it is still used here. It's one of the ingredients used in chemotherapy.

[Steve]

Well, now I'm just pissed. What are we doing, importing wheat from China, of all places? Hello! Canada!

[MNeedham73]

What I find interesting is that most of the deaths reported to Menu Foods to this point have been cats.

Having a cat that is in the early stages of chronic renal failure, I've learned that a cat's kidneys are, as my vet put it, 'over-engineered' for an animal that size. That fact gives me the idea that either this particular type of poison is extraordinarily lethal to cats or there is a very high level of it in the food.

[Stiofán]

If I'm not mistaken, the food is manufactured in Canada by Menu Foods, a Canadian company.

[Steve]

Reports I'm reading indicate the wheat gluten came from China. But yes, the food was made in the U.S.

[Stiofán]

Maybe it's just a Canadian owner then.

[saber11]

I doubt it's deliberate, however I'd be looking at the suppliers of ingredients for the pet food. Chances are one of them has a rat problem.

[tke711]

Maybe it's just a Canadian owner then.

I believe Menu Foods is a Canadian company, but the production plant in question is in Kansas I believe.

[Lovehound]

What's funny about this list (the dying of pets is not funny) is that many of these brands are so called "super premium" labels which charge 4 and 5 times as much as other brands, including many low priced private label and store label brands which are also on the list and are obviously the exact same product.
Stiofán is one smart dude. :)

[Lovehound]

As alluded to earlier:

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Rat poison has been found in pet food blamed for the deaths of at least 16 cats and dogs, a spokeswoman for the State Department of Agriculture and Markets said Friday. Spokeswoman Jessica Chittenden would not identify the chemical or its source beyond saying it was a rodent poison. USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-03-23-poison-pet-food_N.htm)

[Stiofán]

It's been traced to the Chinese wheat (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070323160755.ayf41dzr&show_article=1).

[Lovehound]

It's been traced to the Chinese wheat (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070323160755.ayf41dzr&show_article=1).

Damned dog eaters...

[ethics]

Tell me this isn't a wake up call?

[Stiofán]

Just a fact of life when you use a third world country as a provider of consumer goods.

[cdw]

Please tell me that is all Chinese wheat is used for.

[Plunge]

Please tell me that is all Chinese wheat is used for.

A cheap filler.

[cdw]

Yes, I understand that, but please tell me that is all it's used for...a cheap filler for dog/cat food. Not that I think our animals are less valuable than us, I just am questioning what else the wheat is used for. And don't we have enough wheat in the US?

[Plunge]

Yes, I understand that, but please tell me that is all it's used for...a cheap filler for dog/cat food. Not that I think our animals are less valuable than us, I just am questioning what else the wheat is used for. And don't we have enough wheat in the US?


Ah, my uncle farmed wheat. When it was harvested, it would be graded. Human consumption was the highest, animal grade was the lowest. The grade determined the silo it went into and the money my uncle would get.

So, I doubt we are eating any of that wheat.

[Violet1966]

Wasn't it mentioned that the rat poison was used in the wheat fields? I could have sworn I saw that on the news. If so, then no matter what grade it is, it would contaminate human grade as well wouldn't it?

[Stiofán]

Ah, my uncle farmed wheat. When it was harvested, it would be graded. Human consumption was the highest, animal grade was the lowest. The grade determined the silo it went into and the money my uncle would get.

So, I doubt we are eating any of that wheat.

I think the point is that this is not US wheat from US wheat farmers. What they do in peasant farmed China is different than here, or any of the west really. After all, here there are child labor law offenses, or even child labor laws themselves, but that's not the case in China. A lot goes on there that would appall the average consumer who would rather just get their products cheaply and not know how it comes to be here.

[cdw]

Which is the other question.. don't we have enough wheat in the US? Can it be possible that it is less expensive to ship wheat in from China than to use the wheat we have here in our own country? Something's just not right with that. *sigh* I'm just getting too friggin' old for all this crap. I'm getting back to the point of what the hell is the point of all this...but that's a different thread.

[Violet1966]

I'm sure it's all about bidding for the contract cyd. We have wheat farmers here sure, but if they can't beat the price then they don't get the contract. I'd think it's that way at least. There should be more quality control in those situations though.

[tke711]

Which is the other question.. don't we have enough wheat in the US? Can it be possible that it is less expensive to ship wheat in from China than to use the wheat we have here in our own country? Something's just not right with that. *sigh* I'm just getting too friggin' old for all this crap. I'm getting back to the point of what the hell is the point of all this...but that's a different thread.
It's not surprising. We have plants here in Wisconsin that ship their milk needs in from California instead of getting it right here in the Dairy State. They can quite literally get milk cheaper, even with freight, from California then they can from buying it here in Wisconsin.

Yet another example of price controls NOT working.

[Steve]

Please tell me that is all Chinese wheat is used for.No can do, sorry.

Wheat gluten is widely used as a meat substitute in vegetarian products. Wherever you read "textured protein" in an ingredients list, it's typically wheat gluten (there's also "textured soy protein"). Many Chinese dishes available in restaurans use wheat gluten and you can purchase spongy wheat gluten at any Asian food store.

Going out on a limb, here, I'm going to guess that it all comes from China.....:whistle:

[cdw]

It's not surprising. We have plants here in Wisconsin that ship their milk needs in from California instead of getting it right here in the Dairy State. They can quite literally get milk cheaper, even with freight, from California then they can from buying it here in Wisconsin.

Yet another example of price controls NOT working.

That just seems soooo dumb. I'm sure there are very good explanations for it but I can't think of one.

[Stiofán]

Amazingly it gets worse. As California has overtaken Wisconsin as the number one milk producing state, and ships its milk out of state at below market prices, milk has strict price controls here and the average cost of a gallon runs close to $5.00 each.

Then again the US exports a good chunk of it's Alaskan oil to Japan, all the while being held hostage by the ME producers. How crazy is that? It all comes down to who can make the most money and screw what's right.

[tke711]

So, California has strict price controls in State, but not for export to other States? Wow....that is goofy. Here in Wisconsin the price controls are in affect for all situations.

Of course, I don't like price controls in either situation.

[MNeedham73]

You can add Hill's Prescription Diet M/D Feline dry food to t (http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/31/pet.food.recall.ap/index.html)he list.

About freaked when I first heard this, then they repeated the "M/D" and I settled down. My 18 year old cat is on K/D. I checked the ingredients for wheat gluten just in case though (there isn't any in it).

[cdw]

ALPO® BRAND PRIME CUTS IN GRAVY CANNED DOG FOOD
VOLUNTARY NATIONWIDE RECALL

No Dry Purina Products Involved

March 31, 2007

On March 30, 2007, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company announced it is voluntarily recalling all sizes and varieties of its ALPO® Prime Cuts in Gravy wet dog food with specific date codes. The Company is taking this voluntary action after learning that wheat gluten containing melamine, a substance not approved for use in food, was provided to Purina by the same company that also supplied Menu Foods. The contamination occurred in a limited production quantity at only one of Purina's 17 pet food manufacturing facilities.

Consumers should immediately stop feeding their dogs ALPO Prime Cuts products with the date codes listed below and consult with a veterinarian if they have any health concerns with their pet.

The recalled 13.2-ounce and 22-ounce ALPO Prime Cuts cans and 6-, 8-, 12- and 24-can ALPO Prime Cuts Variety Packs have four-digit code dates of 7037 through 7053, followed by the plant code 1159. Those codes follow a "Best Before Feb. 2009" date. This information should be checked on the bottom of the can or the top or side of the multi-pack cartons.

Importantly, no Purina brand dry pet foods are affected by the recall – including ALPO Prime Cuts dry. In addition, no other Purina dog food products, no Purina cat food products, Purina treat products or Purina Veterinary Diet products are included in this recall, nor have been impacted by the contaminated wheat gluten supply.

At Purina, nothing is more important to us than the health and well-being of the pets whose nutrition has been entrusted to us by their owners, and we deeply regret this unfortunate situation. We will continue to take any and all actions necessary to ensure the quality and safety of our products.

Please see our March 30 press release for more information and click here for an updated list of Frequently Asked Questions. If you have more questions or concerns, please contact our Office of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-218-5898

That's me... that's what I feed my dogs along with their dry dog food. Now I have to check the cans. About two weeks ago both dogs were not 'normal'...both the hubby and I remarked on it.. lasted two days. Don't know if it had to do with the food or what. We didn't see anything since then. *sigh* I love my dogs.

[ethics]

It's sad that it took so many pet's lives to get more attention the safety problems (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/24/AR2007042402539_pf.html) with China's food supply.

Turns out there's much cause for concern as the amount of food and medicine that China exports continues to increase. The Chinese government has vowed to crack down on problems but they keep cropping up in the local food supply and many have been sickened or killed as a result. Please, China can't crack down on their OWN problems within their borders when it only affects the Chinese. How much resources do you think they will pour in to this?

[tke711]

Turns out that the problem is growing, and now hitting livestock. Story Here (http://www.avma.org/press/releases/070424_hog_farms.asp)

As a side note, I was asking my father about this last night, since he's in the animal nutrition/feed ingredients industry. He said that in his work, it's a required practice to test every single container that comes over from China. If the test passes, they accept the container, if it doesn't, they container goes back to China with the Chinese company eating all of the transportation costs. This has been the practice for years, since it's been long known in his industry not to trust product coming out of China.

Too bad the pet food industry obviously wasn't living by the same practices.

[ethics]

Oh man, you wait till this hits humans.

[Fiona]

China finds two companies guilty in tainted pet food export
By David Barboza Published: May 8, 2007



SHANGHAI: China said Tuesday that it had found two companies here guilty of intentionally exporting contaminated pet food ingredients to the United States.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/09/business/petfood.php

[jfcjrus]

China finds two companies guilty in tainted pet food export
By David Barboza Published: May 8, 2007



SHANGHAI: China said Tuesday that it had found two companies here guilty of intentionally exporting contaminated pet food ingredients to the United States.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/09/business/petfood.php
So, what do we think is going to happen now?
A BAN on ALL foodstuffs from China, OR a wristwhack and a declaration of 'problem solved', and nothing changes?
Jeeze, we wouldn't want to upset that glorious trade applecart with China, even if they intentionally poisoned us for profit.

Nope, I predict that NO Politician or ANY US Government Agency has the starch to mess with the USA's balance of trade with China, period.
I think that ALL OF THEM just hope that this will all blow over in a few weeks so they can get back to simpler issues.

I think we all really OUGHT to be outraged.
But, I do recognize our quite pathetic bumbling bureauracys! :shake:

Whine ... WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THE JOB!
Yea, welcome to the club, assholes!
Meanwhile, until then, do your damned job!

Sorry folks, I just get so weary about excuses for incompetance.
Regards,

[Fiona]

I'm with ya. I wish WE as a government would do something.. but I realize that has less than a snowball's chance in hell. All *I* can do is educate myself as to what comes from where, and BOYCOTT!

It ain't much, but lots of people are already trying to do it.
It started with pet food, now we have a "maillist" at work for info on just this subject, so maybe we can keep eating healthily at least.

[cdw]

How would we ever know what food has an ingredient that came from China?
It doesn't tell you on the package....How could you ever know?

[cdw]

Well, we have one company trying to skirt around the court system and get rid of as many lawsuits as possible. I think they better face it...they are screwed. It's one thing for two people to sit down at the table and voluntarily agree to settle their case. It's another thing to harass people on weekends through automated phone calls," Hillman said to Edward Ruff of Pretzel & Stouffer, Menu's lawyer. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-05-26-menu-foods-harassment_N.htm

[Sacchiridites]

Very interesting developments. I found out in college and confirmed it in my career of doling out the first numbers of U.P.C. codes to companies worldwide and consulting them about their maintenance of product numbers and database handling, that it IS all marketing and movement of products globally and re-organizing subsidiaries, and buying and selling companies JUST for the name-brand, etc.....companies try to save money and make money, it's all marketing. Of course, by moving to competing, unsaturated markets are fine business approaches as well. If it be wise to stop trading these types of possible infected products with China, we'd have a good reason, no conspiracy theory needed. Counting on the US to play the blame game, though... could end up hurting relations deeply. I'd risk it, though. OK, the citizens of the US treasure, afford and spoil our cats and dogs as pets. What a great insult and blow, to take away the things we love. Chemical warfare? Well, it's acting like it is, even if it's not.

*sigh*
Cie

[Brazbit]

Wal-Mart had received complaints about dogs getting ill when given certain dog-treats and pulled the products while doing testing on their own. Those test now apparently confirm these "treats" are laced with melamine as well....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20390237/
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. quietly stopped selling Chicken Jerky Strips from Import-Pingyang Pet Product Co. and Chicken Jerky from Shanghai Bestro Trading in July, after customers said the products sickened their pets. Wal-Mart’s statement Tuesday said customers should be especially wary of jerky from Shanghai Bestro Trading with the UPC number 0087784900006 and item number 839751.
The Food and Drug Administration (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20390237/#) did not list the two Wal-Mart products on its recall Web site Tuesday. As recently as 2005, the FDA blocked some pet treat imports from Pingyang Pet Product Co. because of contamination with salmonella.

[cdw]

Ya know, I soooooo need to start looking at the manufacturers. Or are they just the distributors or what? Actually, the dog food thing, there wasn't a way to tell because it was just an ingredient of the product. I'm tellin' ya, I'm just going to start giving my dogs some good home cooked meals. Screw this crap!

[Arc]

Ya know, I soooooo need to start looking at the manufacturers. Or are they just the distributors or what? Actually, the dog food thing, there wasn't a way to tell because it was just an ingredient of the product. I'm tellin' ya, I'm just going to start giving my dogs some good home cooked meals. Screw this crap!

It is strictly the brand product and only certain lots/flavors/varieties. The only common denominator to all is they contain ingredients supplied by or put in from China.

One thing that I learned from all of this, especially when we were at the height of the dog and cat food recall or poisonings is that IMO you are wasting your money on the fancy over the counter brands like Iams, Science Diet, Eukanuba and so on. They are IMO no better than Purina and other reputable brands.

List of original recall of dog and cat food by product. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17689821/)

[cdw]

The only common denominator to all is they contain ingredients supplied by or put in from China.
Right..which is what I mean. There isn't a way for the consumer to know before the animal gets sick. Like, if I could read on the package it was made in china or has ingredients from china, I could skip buying it. Unfortunately for all our pets, we don't have the ability to do that. I don't really feed my dogs those treat things...mainly they just get the dog bones...milkbones. :)