Pet Food scandal - beware of lethal pet food brands!

Noodle

I just copy the last email I got yesterday here, it summarises what has been going on so far and gives links to important articles about this topic, and lists of the foods recalled. The writer, a vet, is also available via email for questions.

Dear **** ******,

Hi - It's Dr. Jon again. I don't want to overload you with emails but I want to keep you updated on the new recalls. It was brought to my attention that a couple more foods were added to the pet food recall list. The food recall information in the press has taken a back seat to the horrible Virginia college shooting and our prayers are with them, but I want to keep you up-to-date.

According to the FDA, "Menu Foods has previously recalled wet cat and dog food produced with adulterated wheat gluten supplied by ChemNutra Inc. Over the past several days, Menu Foods continued a detailed analysis of production records at its Emporia, Kansas, plant as part of the US Food and Drug Administration's ongoing investigation of this adulterated wheat gluten. As a result of his work, Menu Foods advises the public that one additional item has been added to the recall list as well as two additional production dates of eight varieties of pet food. These eight varieties of pet food had previously been withdrawn from the market and should already be off the retailer shelves."

Most of the foods are already off the shelves but it is important to check what you have in your homes and make sure it is not on the list! Check them often as new brands are periodically being added. For information on an updated list, call Menufoods at: 1-866-895-2708 or go to this article, where you will also find a full history of the pet food recall:

http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?lYJtrWbdXFWEiM5vpLkM2Q

Here is the list of the Additional Recalled Foods:

* Dog Food - Natural Life. Look For This Date on the Bottom of
Can - Nov/22/09 Variety - Vegetarian 13.2oz cans.
UPC Codes: 12344-07114
* Natural Balance - Venison and Brown Rice Dry Dog Formula
* Natural Balance - Venison and Brown Rice Canned Dog Food
* Natural Balance - Venison & Brown Rice Formula Dog Treats
* Natural Balance - Venison and Green Pea Dry Cat Formula

If your pet is eating or was eating one of the recalled foods and is experiencing any symptoms, please call your veterinarian immediately. The most common signs are vomiting, not eating and lethargy. We recommend testing and treating all affected pets! If caught early, kidney failure can be treated successfully in some pets.

I sincerely hope that your pets are not affected. If you have any questions, send them to me. I won't be able to respond to every email but I'll try to include answers to your questions in my next update.

Again, if you have any doubts about this matter and you want to get the latest details to know how to keep your pet safe, go to:

http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?lYJtrWbdXFWEiM5vpLkM2Q

Regards,

Dr. Jon

P.S. If you have any comments or have had problems resulting from these foods, email me. I'd love to share your comments with other PetPlace.com readers. email: drjon@petplace.com

In an earlier mail it was said that only foods manufactured between December 06 and March 07 were affected.

Here are links to lists of recalled brands

For cats: http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_cat.html

For dogs: http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_dog.html

FAQ: http://www.menufoods.com/recall/FAQ_...ers_041607.htm

Up until now mainly wet foods have been recalled. But Royal Canin has now started to recall some of their dry food products as a safety measure.

The products are

ROYAL CANIN VETERINARY DIET(TM)
Dry Dog Food
Canine Early Cardiac EC 22(TM)
Canine Skin Support SS21(TM)
Dry Cat Food
Feline Hypoallergenic HP23(TM)

ROYAL CANIN SENSIBLE CHOICE(R)
Dry Dog Food
Chicken Meal & Rice Formula Senior
Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Puppy
Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Adult
Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Senior
Rice & Catfish Meal Formula Adult

Royal Canin is also available in India.

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birds

Royal Canin is also sold in India.

Royal Canin also happens to be on the list of company which test their products on animals. So, other animals have had to suffer to produce dog food . See also: http://www.buav.org/campaigns/petfood/facts.html.

One wonders whether it is a coincidence that companies which are prepared to let animals suffer in tests because they can not be bothered to use good quality ingredients which do not need to be tested, end up with this type of problems.

And, how surprising is it that the tainted food ingredients comes from China? Surely, China will deny all responsibility, as with the bird flu...

Noodle

Although we get only Iams dry food here, which is not on the list, I'm worried. At the moment I'm feeding Whiskas to my cats although I don't think highly of it, but what to do.

My dogs get a mix of Pedigree dry food and self cooked food.

Don't get me started on China ... brutal killing of dogs and cats for fur ... now this ...

capt_mahajan

Check out http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01590.html

Its not only one or two brands.

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Aishah

This is terrible - I have tried to open some of the links but don't seem to be able. Are many countries involved i.e. receiving these contaminated foods. I have friends with dogs and cats in both Australia and NZ and think I should warn them - I hadn't heard of this until now. Good that you have posted it, Noodle.

capt_mahajan

Must point out that this was brought up by Digital Drifter in his post in the 'pet photos thread'....

My concern is also that in future, the same companies may dump these products into India. Many pet foods seem to come in bulk and are repacked here.

We have switched to Sportimix dry food which, so far has not been recalled anywhere, as per my research.. and their website, for whatever it is worth, says its clean

http://www.sportmix.com/

Problem is our cat won't eat anything except dry catfood and doesn't have any mealtimes as such.. and I understand making catfood at home involves giving food a couple of times a day.

Noodle

Aishah, the links for the lists of recalled foods work just fine when I try them. Try again:

For cats: http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_cat.html

For dogs: http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_dog.html

FAQ: http://www.menufoods.com/recall/FAQ_...ers_041607.htm

Or try to copy the address in a new browser window.

The other two links I also cannot open. Maybe their server is down. But if you google you will find more info on this.

I think it's mainly the US at the moment and I heard Africa also had cases. But those foods could be imported anywhere so better tell your friends in Australia and NZ.

When I heard today that Royal Canine also started to recall some products I thought it better to post it here because some products from the list (other than Royal Canine) might get imported to India, sometimes on a small scale and only locally, so better to watch out.

@ capt, good your cats only eat dry food, so far I think only one dry cat food brand was involved. Nevertheless I stopped Iams. Ours won't eat Sportmix though so it's back to Whiskas.

Making cat food yourself is difficult because they have other needs as dogs, for example taurine and certain minerals, and preparing this all by yourself is very involving and often still doesn't result in a balanced diet.

Noodle

Try this PetPlace link

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/pet-foo...jon/page1.aspx

capt_mahajan

Like I said earlier, many manufacturers have recalled pet food. See..

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-huyk3...Hg--?cq=1&p=95

Another one of DD's links
http://commonsense.ourfuture.org/e_c..._an d_concert

Noodle

The menufoods links I posted lists them all.

birds

I have the same concerns. Like the Captain says, I would not be surprised if the would dump the stuff in India under a different brand name.

I would love to know whether there are companies in India which have animal welfare as one of the pillars for their existence.

In the US there are such companies which apparently do very good business purely on the fact that animal welfare is a main input in their business strategy. These companies are now profiting from the food scandal as many pet owners are becoming more discerning. Unfortunately, I have never seen in India their products in India

PETA USA keeps a list with companies which test on animals and those which do not (see: http://www.caringconsumer.com/resources_companies.asp). Three years ago I contacted PETA in India to see whether they do the same, and they said they have plans but so far nothing.

Would it be an idea to set up a 'sticky' on IM where we try to make such list specifically for products available in India?

capt_mahajan

My conclusion... everybody, including the FDA, cannot be relied upon for accurate information.

So then what?

Noodle

Sticky: good idea! Would you like to start it and one of the mods can stick it up?

Yes, I understand the concerns. It's not unlikely. And then Indian vets will wonder about the suddenly high number of kidney failures

I would stick to a brand that has never been on the list like Whiskas, ProCat or Sportmix, or for dogs Pedigree.

And hope that they won't use any of the rejected food. And hope for the best ...

Sama

made this thread a sticky

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Noodle

Oh good! Thanks!