Pet food recall: More recalls from Del Monte

• If you have a sick pet or a question on your pet's health, call your veterinarian.


• If you're new to the site, please check out our general information page (includes links to recalled foods).


• If you'd like suggestions on what to feed, click here.


• If you want to report a sick or deceased pet, click here.


• If you want to know what you can do, please read our call to action


• If you want to read all our recall-related blog posts, click here.

It's late Friday afternoon, must be time for another recall announcement. And here's Del Monte with just that.

From PR Newswire:

As a precautionary measure and in continued cooperation with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Del Monte Pet Products modified its voluntary recall list today to include additional select code dates in the U.S. market only.

Complete list of affected products here.

Weren't we just assured yesterday by the FDA there were no more product recalls in the works? Was I imagining that?

The FDA knows of no other pet product companies planning recalls, agency officials told reporters."Other than that, I think, you know, the public should feel secure in purchasing pet foods that are not subject to the recall," Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, told reporters.

Heck of a job, Sunnie.

Go to the latest blog post | Go to the PetConnection home page

|Technorati Tags: pet food recall, dogs, cats,veterinarian, veterinary

Comments

[marcy]

Yeah, here we go again........ with late Friday releases, stores won't see the recalls until Monday meanwhile these items will still be on the shelves being sold over the weekend.... it's all about the dollar..

[Steve]

With I a little encouragement from unexpected sources I suspect.



PR Web (press release), WA - 15 hours ago



Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) April 6, 2007 -- Representing pet owners nationwide, Sacramento law firms Kershaw Cutter & Ratinoff, LLP and Wexler Toriseva Wallace, LLP, have filed the first Class Action lawsuit against Del Monte Foods (U.S. District Court, Central District of California, CV 07-1958-GHK AJWx) arising from its alleged sale of contaminated dog food and other pet foods to the public. The pet food class action lawsuit alleges that Del Monte’s Jerky Treats, Gravy Train Beef Sticks, and Pounce Meaty Morsels are contaminated with chemicals that can cause fatal kidney failure in animals that consume it. All of these brands were the subject of a recent nationwide recall and are believed to be contaminated by tainted wheat gluten from China. The lawsuit seeks reimbursement for all veterinary bills that were paid by affected pet owners.

[E. Hamilton]

Safe yesterday, deadly today.

They got all the bad food off the shelf, except for what they missed.

No need for panic.

Drink the koolaid.

[Steve]

Comment by marcy — April 6, 2007 @ 4:24 pm



Yes and not to forget skeleton weekend crews with no authority holding down the fort while the managers in charge are off for the weekend at point of sale.

[GingerTom]

....did that not just shift the dates back to September from November... or DelMonte got this stuff first?

[Jackie]

Weren’t we just assured yesterday by the FDA there were no more product recalls in the works? Was I imagining that?



Good question, Christie. So, what did Del Monte find out today, that it didn't know yesterday, or last week for that matter? Oh, I forgot, it's Friday afternoon.

[Mary Ann]

Evey fri. it's more bad news

[MFEMFEM]

"The FDA knows of no other pet product companies planning recalls, agency officials told reporters."



“Other than that, I think, you know, the public should feel secure in purchasing pet foods that are not subject to the recall,” MFEMFEM Sundlof, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, told reporters."

_______________________________________________



This tragedy didn't have to happen. The chickens are guarding the hen house and the pet food lobbyists have done everything they can to weaken the FDA and keep the industry self-regulating (read no regulation). I wonder how many political appointees at the FDA will use the revolving door to get lucrative jobs with the industries they are supposed to be watching? Oh, sorry, that would never happen would it? As for the PFI, they must be honest folks with our best interests at heart - we pet owners are just too dumb to realize that.



Please have another spoonful of Pablum (preferably made with Chinese wheat gluten), thank you.

[Garyn]

And how about this statement from Delmonte's press release



"In addition, since the beginning of the recall in mid-March, Del Monte has discontinued sourcing product from this plant."



They stopped sourcing from this plant in Mid March and yet didn't issue their first recall until Saturday evening on March 31, 2007.



At that time they said:



"The Company took this voluntary recall action immediately after learning this morning from the FDA that wheat gluten supplied to Del Monte Pet Products from a specific manufacturing facility in China contained melamine."



Now they admit they knew it was tainted weeks before they recalled. Otherwise why would they stop sourcing. I guess dead and ill pets wasn't convining enough. They had to wait until the FDA found them, knocked on their door and told them the product had melamine. If they cared one bit, they would have recalled when they stopped using the product.



And if this was a human issue, they wouldn't recall faster because they actually care. They would recall faster because a human with lifelong kidney issues will get a verdict in the millions of dollars. Times that by a thousands of people and that is motivation to act fast. Don't think for second that they actually would care if we were sick. They care only about $$$.



And now this further delay.



There aren't words to describe how angry I am...

[Nadine Long]

….did that not just shift the dates back to September from November… or DelMonte got this stuff first?



It will probably go back to before August 2006 when ChemNutro set up the Las Vegas office and left town.

[Kim]

Geezuz this ticks me off. I'm with you Garyn, it's just revolting. I feel like getting every Del Monte can (corn, peas) out of my kitchen and throwing it at somebody. THEM!

[Laura]

This is beyond stupid. And insulting, and revolting, and pointless. I'm not sure what would be worse...did Del Monte withhold it for two weeks, or did they just not know? Hope their food records are better...but I'm betting they aren't.



You know, when I was talking about expecting more Friday recalls, I thought I was joking. Guess I'll be keeping an eye on the wires. It IS a holiday weekend.

[Steve]

Comment by Garyn — April 6, 2007 @ 4:59 pm



You not alone. I don't to feed my cat this crap ChemNutras supplying them.

[Steve]

Don't want. I'm half in a daze excuse the grammar.

[Lois Kimball]

From the D & B Database. Their primary SIC is "pet supplies."



D&B D-U-N-S Number 14-078-3601

Company Name(s) Chemnutra Inc.



Street Address 810 S DURANGO DR STE 102

City Las Vegas

State / Province NV

ZIP Code 89145

County CLARK

Phone Number (702)818-5019

Sales $220,000 US (ESTIMATED/MODELED)

Employees Here 3

Employees Total 3

Location Type Single Location

Line Of Business WHOL NONDURABLE GOODS

Primary SICs 51990305 Pet supplies

Primary NAICS 424900 Other Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Merchant Wholesalers

Ownership / Control Date 2005

Metropolitan Area

State of Incorporation

Import/Export Not Available

Public/Private Private

Ticker Symbol

Company Web Sites

According to the D&B Database, this company's D&B D-U-N-S Number is matched or associated to the following Web site(s). The Web site(s) may represent branches, divisions, and/or special promotions of this company. This listing may not identify all Web sites for this company. Select a URL to visit the Web site. A second browser window will open. To close that browser window and return to this MDDI session, choose FILE, then CLOSE.

Site URL

http://www.chemnutra.com/

This web site(s) have been identified for this business location through the matching of the domain name/address to the D&B database.

Bank

Accountant Grobstein, Horwath & Company LLP., Sherman Oaks, California

CEO Mr Stephen Miller Chief Executive Officer

Executives Ms Sally Q Miller President

Other Officers

Executive Biographies

STEPHEN MILLER YEAR OF BIRTH: 1952 2003-present active here

SALLY QING MILLER YEAR OF BIRTH: 1967 2003-present active here.

[Steve]

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 6, 2007 @ 5:21 pm



How many damn rackets are these two running already?



This is getting ludicrous.

[4lgdfriend]

if you're thinking about ordering any petbooks from amazon...do it now...some are out w 4-7 wk ship time.......or call your B&N to hold one if they still have it. just a thought. or note that

http://tedeboy.tripod.com/drmichaelwfox/id19.html has a dog and a cat recipe. Perhaps he could be trusted?

[Lois Kimball]

The pet supplies thing is scary. I can't find them in Reference USA. I've searched every way possible.

[Linda]

These are very smart educated men. I really don't believe that they knew about the problem. And I can't even see how Menu CEO knew, otherwise he wouldn't have taken the risk of having all those pets die - he couldn't have known that the wheat was or could have been altered or GM or whatever with protein toxic junk, and I don't believe Del Monte Did.



And these very smart educated Chemists working for top biological firms in the ChemNutro, how could they have taken such a risk knowing the effects of anything added without testing like the Protein Feed Enchancer for Cattle and put it out for pets, just my five cents.

[Steve]

Sales $220,000 US (ESTIMATED/MODELED)

Comment by Lois Kimball — April 6, 2007 @ 5:21 pm



Wait a minute here damn it their claiming their revenues are 50 to 100 Million on their China Site.



Hello Feds? Are you out there? Does this compute?

[Steve]

Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 5:27 pm



You need to upgrade your street smarts.

[Laura]

Didn't someone mention a connection between ChemNutra and Mexico? I sure hope I'm mis-remembering, and I'm almost sure there's not connection...but this story sounds a little odd, especially the time frame.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6534081.stm

[Jackie]

….did that not just shift the dates back to September from November… or DelMonte got this stuff first?



Here's what I think is up with these Del Monte production codes. One is TP7C05, another is BC6M21. Del Monte's canned veggies use a code that goes like this, Yjjjx. That is year, Julian calendar, and the x means nothing. In the Del Monte pet food codes, the first number is likely the year it was produced. The last 2 numbers are likely the day of the month. The letters in between likely represent a month. A = Jan, B = Feb., and so forth. This is assuming the Jerky treats have a shelf life of 6 months, and the canned gravy crap has a shelf life of 1 year. Only thing that stumped me, was a couple lots have "M" in between the dates. M is the 13th letter in the alphabet, so they skipped a letter for some reason, and "M" appears to represent Dec. If this logic is right, they produced the stuff from Dec. to March. I'll have to go back and look for the day they stopped using it.



I might check some of Menu's codes and see if I can figure out their production codes as well.

[Lois Kimball]

Please don't forget about the lilies. It's a big problem for cats. We've got enough poisons going around without that added to the mix. I don't know if it could be posted on the front page as a public service reminder.

[Linda]

Are you talking about upgrading my street smarts as far as ChemNutra goes or as far as Menu goes.



Look Steve and everyone, you are talking about highly educated people here, you are not talking about back alley poppy smokers or something.



Making a fast buck without proper assurance that pets are not going to die just does not make any sense. Now if the Justice Department or the FBI or the FDA or Congress can prove this diabolical plot then okay....but just looking at the players here and their education - it seems a bit too much.



When I read the docs yesterday, I dismissed it as being too dangerous to use the powder - it just doesn't make sense that Greed would override caution. Maybe a mistake happened -



But more supporting evidence needs to be gathered and no wonder they would shut down their website - wouldn't you. Who would want the grief -

[Kim]

LOL Steve, you said it better than I was about to.



It really is time to stop believing what these companies are telling you. People DO lie. Companies DO cheat. Think PG&E/Erin Brockovich. Think cigarette companies and nicotine.

[Kim]

Alright everyone. Is it just me, or... is it a bit fishy that they didn't say 'wheat gluten', but instead said 'ingredients'? PLURAL!



"The complete updated chart of voluntarily recalled product codes is below. Del Monte is confident that all contaminated product sourced with ingredients from the specific plant in China has been identified and is being removed from store shelves. In addition, since the beginning of the recall in mid-March, Del Monte has discontinued sourcing product from this plant."

[Valarie]

Didn't I say earlier that there would most likely be more deceit for us to deal with by the end of the day

[Steve]

Itchmo exclusive: All recalled wheat gluten came through the Long Beach Port. You can put the Netherlands connection to bed now.



AP: Xuzhou Anying exports 10,000 tons of wheat gluten a year. Less than 900 tons tracked down. FDA “reluctantly dragged into [screening import food], kicking and screaming.”



http://www.itchmo.com/read/latest-recall-news_20070406

[Jackie]

The latest production code on their site is C12. . .March 12. What day did they start recalling?

[Steve]

Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 5:43 pm



Never Mind

[Valarie]

Somebody make a record of the Dunn & Bradstreet report that at least lists Sally's middle initial.

[Linda]

Companies do lie and cheat and cut corners and release toxic waste junk in the atmosphere etc., and people lie etc., etc.,



And I don't believe that most of the pet food is healthy for our pets but this theory that you are so sure of and out to catch the bad guys and their associates, is a bit over the top, even if CNN had said on TV that it might have been added intentionally. Did they say how they knew this?



Maybe I'm wrong and I will admit, but some thoughtful thorough fact finding needs to be done and not just over the internet either.

[Valarie]

Sorry, my eyes are fogging over. Her full name is listed along with her birthdate.

[Lois Kimball]

I've got the D & B report stored in a safe place. :)

[Steve]

Comment by Linda — April 6, 2007 @ 5:51 pm



It's hard cold cruel world girl. It's tough to face up to that. Believe me, I would love nothing more then the world to be shining center of universal peace and cooperation but thats not the current reality. I'm to old to start lying. And I'm not going to start now.

[A.C.]

Linda - I'm willing to concede that the initial inclusion of whatever is killing our pets may have been done without deliberate malice.



What is BEYOND FORGIVABLE, however, is the focus of these companies from the moment they received the first call from panicked and grief-stricken pet owners. For weeks, if not months, they ignored/hid/denied there was a problem. Then they launched into into protection mode, that is, protection of THEMSELVES. Every company involved should have pulled every product even marginally suspected of being contaminated. Instead, they keep waiting until they're forced to recall the foods, all the while assuring us the products outside the recall are SAFE. In the meantime, our furkids are dying.



THAT'S what we "hysterical" pet-owners have a problem with.

[Grace]

Nations Focus On Health Risks Posed by Globalization; Link to an article at Forbes (online).



http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2007/04/06/hscout603418.html

[Linda]

Did you all see the report listed on howl911 and itchmo about the GA Wheat Gluten:



http://www.itchmo.com/read/breaking-wheat-gluten-importer-identified_20070403



It goes on this link to talk about the effects of this GA Wheat Gluten and not just what the like id's as the importer identified.



GA it and all our human food supply is in danger for long term kidney effects. Please all do not eat anything with Wheat Gluten added, make sure all the flour and breads are organic with no extra wheat gluten.



Now this is scary to me.

[Lois Kimball]

Linda, "Organic" means nothing. It must be "CERTIFIED organic." Huge difference.

[Linda]

I posted a link earlier today to an article about how they are GM Wheat Gluten - it is a common practice and it isn't with the Feed/Protein junk.



The articles are very interesting and puts all of our food supply in danger - not just our pets - all of our flour everything has this wheat gluten in it.

[Linda]

Thanks Lois - you are right. Certified Organic and look to make sure anything you buy, sauces etc. do not have Wheat Gluten in it - please everyone - for the sake of our pets and our children and our grandchilden.

[Laura]

Comment by A.C. — April 6, 2007 @ 5:59 pm



A.C., I agree. I hope to God this isn't malicious or intentional, and honestly, I can't see how anyone in business who wants to stay in business would see tampering as a good idea...unless of course they thought they wouldn't get caught for some reason, like lax inspections, connections in the FDA, etc. I don't know whether that's the case.



But this fiasco doesn't need to be intentional to be horrific, and the FDA response has been a joke regardless of the outcome.



But I do wonder whether the feds are trying to spin this as deliberate tampering in order to deflect criticism re their complete ineptitude in detecting and dealing with it. After all, if someone was trying to game the system, then it's a problem with the vendor, not the system, right?

[Lois Kimball]

One should assume anything and everything is GMO unless it has the NO GMO statement on the packaging.

[Steve]

Comment by Laura — April 6, 2007 @ 6:11 pm



I think these big time globalist "traders" and their wannabes are so intoxicated on profits they don't even care anymore if it's quality or not.

[Jackie]

I know, I'm going to start sounding like I've lost it, but this latest Del Monte, additional recall is really bugging me. Look at the Jerky Treats. Today they added TP7B16. Well, they previously recalled Jerky treats produced before and after the product added today. Did they just forget they had produced the TP7B16 batch? Unbelievable.



"BRANDED Production Code/Best By Date

Jerky Treats Beef Flavor Dog Snacks Code:

Best By: TP7B06

Aug 06 08 TP7B07

Aug 07 08 TP7B08

Aug 08 08 TP7B09

Aug 09 08 TP7B10

Aug 10 08

Code:

Best By: TP7B15

Aug 15 08 TP7B16

Aug 16 08 TP7C05 TP7C06

Sep 02 08 Sep 03 08

[E. Hamilton]

I might have been willing to forgive , as unintended, some things. I would not have been happy but I would not be out for blood like I am now. if not for all the lying, insulting, lack of respect and wholesale ass covering.

If the pet food industry had put 1/10 the energy into getting the word out, telling the truth, stopping those insulting news reports about hysterical pet owners and using their power to get the vets and us info then I would not be so mad. A lot of pets might not be so dead.

They shot themselves in the foot and I have very little pity to spare just now.

They got caught, they lied, they got caught about the lying, they insulted me and I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!

I know quite a few people who have said to the press things that are not true and by thunder they are gonna be on national TV or under oath, or both, and exposed for the lying scum that they are.

There would be NO story about this if not for this site and others like it.

They want us to lie down and die just like our pets and fork over money for the privilege and I, for one, am not going to do it that way.

Plenty of time to calm down when the dying and the lying stops.

[Laura]

From www.Howl911.com today...new theories re GM engineering of gluten grain stock to "improve gelling" so producers could use less for the same "rich gravy" effect.



Corn and soy, too. Whether or not it's true, I feel sick just thinking about it.



"This is theory which Howl 911 has been exploring for several days. On March 30, 2007, we received a tip from one of our readers about research a Chinese group has conducted on wheat gluten, using an enzyme, transglutaminase (TGase, for short), to enzymatically modify wheat gluten to increase it's gelling capacitiy by introducing more protein-protein crosslinks. Increasing the gelling capacity (as measured in water absorption rate) is advantageous in that one requires less wheat gluten to achieve the desired gelling effect. This means manufacturers could get by with using less wheat gluten in their formulations, thereby decreasing the cost of production.



But what does this have to do with melamine? We did some.googling and found other research articles which have used melamine as the crosslinking agent in other foodstuffs, notably for corn protein (known as "zein") and in soy. As melamine is likely a cheaper crosslinking agent than is transglutaminase, it would make economical sense that a wheat gluten manufacturer or a pet food manufacturer would explore the process of chemical modification over enzymatic modification. Robert J. Russell, Ph.D., has also been investigating the angl of chemical modification of wheat gluten. Dr. Russell's thoughts on the subject (The Gluten Story, Pt. 1 ) have been posted over at Itchmo's blog."

[Steve]

Check this out. Click through the archive Dates on the upper left.



http://tinyurl.com/25whcg

[Laura]

Comment by Laura — April 6, 2007 @ 6:20 pm

whoops - sorry - not GM modification - processing modifications via enzymes.