Pet food recall: And now, Purina joins the recall

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From a little "Friday at midnight" press release drop from the folks at Purina:

Nestle Purina PetCare Company today announced it is voluntarily recalling all sizes and varieties of its ALPO(R) Prime Cuts in Gravy wet dog food with specific date codes. The Company is taking this voluntary action after learning today 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.

Earlier today the FDA announced the finding of melamine in products related to the March 16 Menu Foods recall, and advised Purina of the source of the contaminated supply. Purina then determined that it had received some quantity from the suspect supplier. The company proactively notified the FDA and immediately began this recall process.

Press release here.

Itchmo asks:

 

The FDA announcement stated that one other manufacturer received the same wheat gluten. After the Hills announcement, and now Purina, we would like to know who else is using this tainted wheat gluten. And for the love of our pets, pet food companies, please speak up now to save our pets’ lives. FDA, do you even know who is using this food? 

What they said.

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Comments

[Sandy]

In January one of my greyhounds almost died. She was suffering acute abdominal distress, then started bleeding under the skin in the abdominal area. She was tested for every disease the vets could think of to no avail. We were asked over and over if she had gotten into decon or some other poison but it just wasn't possible. She had been on Hill's z/d. It supposedly doesn't have wheat gluten but maybe there's something else?

[Marilyn]

I can't believe that Purina would publish a recall at midnight on Friday and then not have a phone number to call until 7:00 AM Monday morning. I may have fed some of this food to my dog a couple weeks ago but, of course, I don't have the cans anymore to check the codes. I'd like to find out from Purina where these shipments were distributed. They need to have a 24-hour number available so we can get our questions answered now.

[Sandi Schreiber]

This whole nightmare is completely out of control?? Who is going to stop it and HOW are the pet parents going to stop it??? It's a tail spin....just when you think you have a clear day, it starts all over.. how many more babies are we going to have to lose over this? I did receive a pre-recorded message from Menu on 03-26 saying someone would contact me in 72 hours - still waiting..... I did have my Blue's bloodwork done yesterday with a FULL chemical check, hopefully I will hear today from the vet and keep everyone posted. Also, has anyone found a lab yet? I still have 36 pouches of the Nutro Natural Choice and it's driving me crazy because I can't do anything with it

[Sandy]

There is a reason for late Friday news releases when it's bad news for the company. I worked in the media for many years and this was usually standard procedure when corporations were breaking bad news to the public. It's all part of "damage control". It should be criminal to withhold news like this when it can be a matter of life or death.



And it's not just with press releases. Ever notice that when you receive bad news in the mail it usually comes on a Friday or Saturday? It's timed that way so that you don't get it until Friday at the earliest, usually when you get home from work, and their offices are already closed for the weekend. Insurance companies are especially notorious for this if it involves a denial of benefits. Most companies hope that by Monday you'll either have forgotten or you'll have cooled down and won't be so irate on the phone when you do call them.

[Melinda]

Does the recall for Purina, include Purina One cat dry food? The reason why I ask is because my 3 year old baby Nemo, eats Purina One, Special Care Urinary Tract Health Formula. He was on Science Diet, but that was expensive and his doctor said that Purina One was basically the same thing. He has been on the Special care product for about 2 years now. He has had problems with his tummy before, and I almost lost him 2 times. I don't want to go through that again, nor do I want to lose my little baby. I checked the list and did not see Purina One on there, but you know how they release the info in the middle of the night. :-) If anyone knows if Purina One is one of the foods, please let me know!! My kitty is my life. :-)

[Sandro]

Notice how they use the term "voluntarily recall" like it's some sort of favor they're doing the public. The truth behind that is the pet food industry remains UNREGULATED and buying ingredients from UNREGULATED China to save a few cents is likely common practice across all their ingredients. Has it ever occurred to them that the Chinese have a ghastly reputation for the inhumane treatment of cats and dogs? They consider them vermin, make products from their fur and in some regions a source of food.

[Sandy]

Yeah, that "voluntary" part irks me too. If they didn't do it "voluntarily", the FDA would probably make them do it anyway. It makes them look better if they do it voluntarily.

[Sharon]

The only way to stop this nightmare is to completely STOP giving these companies your money. As consumers, that is our only avenue of action. I have tossed everything except what I need for proof that my three cats were exposed to this. I won't be giving one red cent to these people ever again. The complete lack of responsibly by everyone involved (above and beyond Menufoods) has been reprehensible.

[Melinda]

I agree with you Sandro, on the issue with Chinese reputation against inhumane treatment against cats and dogs. I mean, could the ingredients been "purposely" effected? What about the issues that China and the U.S has had in the past. I am not pointing fingers, but it is something to take in consideration. These are our pets, they are family members, and it saddens me to hear this happening to animals. I am a big animal lover. I have 4 dogs and 1 cat. I would be furious and no telling what I would do, if I lost them to a "human error"... Yeah, "voluntarily recall" is not a favor, they should do it anyways. And with them not giving the names of companies that think their food is tainted, well I think that is just poor service. I mean what if we have a bag, can or pouch of food in our cabinets that came from that company. We wouldn't know until it was too late. I really think that all cat and dog food should be tested. The FDA needs to stop worrying about protecting the companies and start protecting our animals.

[MARY ANN]

more bad news,last night on our local news the reporter was talking about the recall said hill's m/d but also SAID That there is a dry dog food co the FDA is checking into but the FDA WILL NOT RELEASE NAME THE PET FOOD CO.

[Sandro]

Why doesn't the FDA name the supplier? Why doesn't the FDA issue a cease order for the manufacturing of food using this Chinese wheat gluten/flour? Who is the FDA protecting, consumers or industry? There shouldn't be a voluntary recall, it should be a forced recall and cease production order.

[Melinda]

The FDA needs to release the name of the company so we can try to protect our animals. I am telling you, if they do not release the name of the company and it is the brand that my dogs eat. The FDA will pay big time!!!!!

[Georgeann Heckman]

OK PEOPLE I TOLD YOU THERE IS A MYSTERY OUT THERE. DON'T TRUST ANY DOG FOOD RIGHT NOW. THEY ARE HIDING SOMETHING? THEY ARE SO AFRAID THERE PROFITS WILL DROP DRASTICALLY IF THEY TAKE ALL THE FOOD OFF THE SHELVES? WHICH I THINK THEY SHOULD DO RIGHT NOW. TAKE THEM ALL OFF. YES I MEAN EVERY DRY AND CAN AND WET AND OTHER AND EVERY BRAND NAME THEY HAVE OUT THERE.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH? IT SEEMS TO ME THEY WANT US AS THE CUNSUMER TO BE THE GUINY PIGS FOR THEM EVERY TIME THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND CALL IN ONE AT A TIME SO THEY CAN TRACE EVERY CASE? WHY DON'T THEY MAKE THE MANUFACTURER TAKE THE BRUNT OF IT INSTEAD OF OUR BELOVED PETS? LET THE MANUFACTURER TAKE THEM ALL OFF EVERY DAM ONE OF THEM SO THERE WOULD BE NO DOG FOOD LEFT ON THE SHELVES. THEN THE FDA CAN WORK WITH ALL THE COMPANIES OUT THERE AND TEST THEM ALL? DON'T YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE BETTER THEN TO LET ONE BY ONE CALL IN AND ONE MORE ADDED TO THE DEATHS EVERYDAY? MEANWHILE ALL OUR BELOVED PETS HAVE TO DIE WHILE THE FDA TRACES EACH CASE. NO I SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGHT. IS THIS SOME KIND OF PROJECT BLUEBOOK? GET ALL DOG AND CAT AND PET FOOD OUT OF THE STORES NOW. EVERYTHING IS EVERYTHING. NOT JUST A FEW HERE AND THEIR?

[Cathy]

What I'm wondering is didn't Hills and Purina KNOW WHERE their wheat gluten came from? Why didn't they pull their products with wheat gluten supplied by the same supplier as Menu in the beginning?

[MAC]

Our dog has been showing signs of kidney failure for 4 days but we weren't too concerned as she eats only Alpo Come N' Get It and Wal Mart's hard biscuits. Now this issue has become so huge we can only wonder if these items should be on the "list" also.

[Cathy]

In case anyone is wondering, Royal Canin's wheat gluten in their dry foods come from the US. I called them in a panicked state yesterday when I heard there was an unnamed company that used the same wheat gluten in dry food.

[Linda]

All the food companies are afraid of the financial fallout over this. They care more about covering their sorry you know what's than they care about the suffering of our pets. This is criminal. I am expect more from America - but evidently these companies have sold their soul to the devil.



Who and what is next?

[Melinda]

I agree with you Georgeann.... All the food should be removed.. Our animals should not have to risk their lives just so the FDA can say, oh, I guess it was in that brand. It makes me sick to think they are treating our animals that way. I am with you, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!

[expat]

Since menufoods is a Canadian company it might be a good thing to call in or e-mail protests to the Canadian Embassy and the consulates. Also contact Congresspersons and ask for a Congressional investigation of the pet food industry.

[Melinda]

I agree, the pets should not be in danger.. Enough is enough. The FDA needs to release the names of the companies now!!!!!

[MARY ANN]

on the today show -they had a vet.on and she said if the pet food has wheat or wheat gluten do not give,the dog bones i give have wheat flour.at this point i don't know what to feed them. i heard wellness is good but they hate it.

[Lois]

My guess is the reason the FDA is holding back is the fact that this stuff COULD already be in human food and a lot of it!

[Melinda]

Has it occured to anyone that this might have been done on purpose? I mean look at all the terrorism that is going on today. This really scares me. I do not know what to feed my babies, nor do I know what to eat my self, because you have a very good point there. It could be in human foods as well.

[Jenny]

I heard the today show as well. I checked all my pet food labels - no wheat at all. I wonder about the human food link too.

[Deb]

Purina has shown us their true colors. If they truly cared about pets, they would have proactively searched to see if they purchased Wheat Gluten from the same supplier as Menu foods several weeks ago and voluntarily recalled the product at that time. I own a pet boutique and while we didn't have any food with wheat gluten, we did have one treat on the shelf that included that ingredient. I pulled everything and will not sell them until we can verify that the wheat gluten originated from a domestic source. We will not be purchasing anything else with Wheat Gluten EVER.



Now that the FDA has told us that there could be other food (and treat?) manufacturers that purchased the tainted Wheat Gluten, I'm surprised that Petsmart and Petco haven't voluntarily pulled all the products that contain that ingredient until it can be verified safe. Again, the almighty dollar wins out.

[Melinda]

I would really like to know what foods they are holding back? Why wont they tell us?

[Robin]

The FDA is conducting a pilot program to alert consumers of recalled human products. In this FAQ

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/pilot.html



"FDA is conducting a six-month pilot program to educate and assist consumers in identifying recalled food products that may pose a significant health risk. FDA wants to help consumers identify recalled food products that pose a significant health risk by posting a photo of the principal label panel."



They indicate that they are considering other including other FDA-regulated products in this program and give an email address for consumers to comment. In addition, they say that "Consumer as well as industry feedback will weigh heavily into FDA's decision process."



I wrote them an email suggesting they include pet products in this pilot program. I thought I would mention it here in case anyone else wanted to email them.

[Steve]

"From a little “Friday at midnight” press release drop from the folks at Purina:"



There are no conspiracies at work, just stunning and startling coincidences.

[slt]

Not to sound overly dramatic but a certain mantra keeps coming to my mind:

What did they know and when did they know it?

[Melinda]

Thank you Robin. I e-mailed the FDA with my concerns about the Pilot Program. It is scary to think of what we and our pets are eating and that something could happen to one of us at anytime.

[Sandi Schreiber]

What can we do???? There are so many people and pets that are affected by this..... I have called written every Tom, Dick and Harry- I feel like I am going in circles - seems like no-one gives a damn!!! What do we do next???

[Shawn]

Well, I have this to say. The FDA could save itself a lot of time by reading the posts here from real people. (Alpo was questioned early on) Everyone bought this wheat. I think that the Chinese were dumping it on us and it was such a deal that the US Supplier just couldn't resist it. This stuff must have been Filene's basement prices. Guess these companies never heard the saying "if it looks too good to be true, it must be". Well now they know and our pets are paying the price for their greed. I want to know who the US Supplier is so that I can try to avoid giving them any business. And as far as the FDA goes, they should tell American Pet Owners to avoid all products tainted with wheat period. Somebody somewhere processed the chinese tainted/poisoned wheat into wheat gluten and maybe just plain old flour. Enforcement Action by the FDA?? Pets are getting sick. FDA just tell us to stop using products containing wheat. That is what people need to hear to protect their pets. Then you FDA go after the industry. Please. And if this goes beyond our pets to the Human Food chain, there needs to be some straight talk right away. Sorry for a near rant, but this is just unbelievable. And just think, a little over a week ago they were saying that PetConnection was over the top!!! Yeh, right. I used to think PETA was over the top, but no more (except the paint throwing thing).

[Eskie Lover]

This just irks me. I want to know what other dog foods have been supplied the wheat gluten.

[Steve]

Figures Nestle might do a "midnight express"



How they doing on these issues?



In May 1999 a ruling against Nestlé was issued by the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Nestlé claimed in an anti-boycott advertisement that it markets infant formula “ethically and responsibly”. The ASA found that Nestlé could not support this nor other claims in the face of evidence provided by the campaigning group Baby Milk Action.



In November 2000, the European Parliament held a public hearing into Nestlé's alleged malpractices. Although management told shareholders months before that they welcomed the hearing, they refused to send a representative. At the time, Nestlé objected to a presence of an expert witness from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN). Later Nestlé claimed none of its 230,000 employees was available.

[Adrienne]

I am to the point where I am scared to death to even read the news anymore for fear that another product is going to be recalled. I changed from Ol Roy to Alpo after the recall for my dog. Thankfully, it's not the prime cuts that I have in my cabinet although you can bet your bottom dollar I won't be using any of their products anymore irregardless.

[Sue N.]

My cat died last month from the tainted wheat gluten and now do I have to worry about my dog? He eats Purina Pro Plan dry and wet. Am I safe does anyone know?

[karen]

Comment by Shawn — March 31, 2007 @ 8:03 am

"FDA just tell us to stop using products containing wheat. That is what people need to hear to protect their pets."



Totally agree with you, Shawn...

Watching CNN this morning, a vet being interviewed said to avoid pet food products containing wheat and wheat gluten for now. I wish this advice were being broadcast more broadly in the media since the FDA seems so reticent to take a stronger stand.



I, too, used to think PETA was over the top but found myself cheering yesterday watching video of their call for an expanded recall.

[Steve]

Who and what is next? Comment by Linda — March 31, 2007 @ 8:17 am



Human Food Problems? Scary.



Nestle acquires Joseph's Pasta City to have largest filled-pasta plant in the nation

Eagle-Tribune Online - Mar 21 9:06 AM

HAVERHILL - Like a big Italian meal, it has plenty to dig into. A main course featuring a pasta-making plant that will be the biggest in America. A side dish of new jobs, allowing the company to continue as the country's top producer of pasta and sauces.

[Eskie Lover]

Well thankfully my dogs food is grain free for that matter so I'm not worried about wheat products. No food is safe from being recalled though. There are recalls almost everyday in some form or another, but this is just crazy that they aren't telling us what they know. Oh yeah, I don't like PETA regardless of what they do.

[Gary]

I wonder if the FDA is finding it hard to turn down the sudden upsurge of "donation" money arriving?



Gary

[Gary]

Why would the pesticide on Chinese wheat be just on petfood grade wheat? doesn't make sense. More than likely, they apply the pesticide to ALL the grains. Especially the more valuable "human" grade grains.



Gary

[Linda]

Steve,



It's all co-op health food natural and homemade/local grown for me. But not everyone can do that, can afford that, or just can't believe these products are so hurtful. We can't turn to the FDA to help. It is now on "our" shoulders to spread the word, but sad to say - no one is listening much.

[Steve]

The Disinformation Age? WHO'S IN CHARGE?





NO AMINOPTERIN IN TISSUES OF PETS KILLED BY TAINTED FOOD 03/30/07

AUBURN, Wash., March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers from Syntrix Biosystems, Inc. and The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) announced today that there was no evidence of Aminopterin in the tissues of animals who had died from consuming food from Menu Foods ... Using a highly specific and sensitive test for Aminopterin, investigators at UMDNJ documented that there was no evidence of Aminopterin in the tissues of affected animals. ... "Aminopterin persists in the liver of animals for months at levels that are readily detected," said Barton A. Kamen, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Pediatric Oncology at UMDNJ. "Whatever is causing the renal failure, it is not Aminopterin." ..."To our knowledge, Aminopterin is not, and has never been, actually used as a rodenticide."



http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070330/sff035.html?.v=71

[Pamela J. Betz-Baron]

When this recall started, I called my parents to find out if they might have a problem. It turned out that they were feeding their dogs (two pekingese) Merrik's dry/canned and some Alpo canned, so we didn't worry too much.



Now I'm worried...and really, really pi$$ed.

[Sandi Schreiber]

I agree totally with the PETA thing - I really don't think they are over the top, might be a wide-opening thing for all of us. Go ahead and rant - I feel the same!! I JUST WANT ANSWERS!! To think I have been in this tail spin since the beginning of January trying to find out what is wrong with my cats??? March 12th it began a roller coaster ride with them in the hospital.... Menu has caused people to be in shock and anger. Does the CEO REALLY expect us to believe them??? FDA??? Petfood companies??? Maybe PETA will throw paint on Menu Foods???

[Cindy Schwarz]

I have lost my Newfoundland of 8yrs. she was our joy. And the big companies act as if they are guinea pigs. With all that is going on in the World I would be suspicious of any foreign company supplying tainted food. After 8 years of only giving her what I was told the best, I find out it killed her. We all know our pets and when something isn't right we know.For the media to report only a few dogs have died is bull. When I have been asked if whe was tested or an autopsy done to look for poisoning. This was a 160 lb. dog in good health. And no she was cremated. In January there was no news of any tainted food. For the money we spent trying to save her.After years of feeding the same Iams dry food and then to think I was giving her a treat 2-3 times a week of the wet food. Well I would like to take the CEO's of the companies and slowly feed them the same food.

[Jennifer]

everyone who has questions about the specific purina food should call the company. The number should be on the bag. There is got to be someone working there that will tell the truth!

[Adrienne]

Thanks Steve for posting that. I'm not ready to completely discount the fact that aminopterin might be in the products. When I had to have my cat put to sleep last week, the vet asked for permission to preserve her kidneys. Of course I said yes. When she and I had a chance to talk the next day, she told me that her liver was in pretty bad shape so she has that preserved as well. Additionally, her kidneys were also in bad shape as well.

[Linda]

About PETA. Some of what they do is wonderful, some extreme methods I don't agree with. But for the most part I believe PETA helps and in this situation they can just swing all the muscle to stop this insanity and killing of our pets. Again, these companies and CEO's etc only care about the financial bottom dollar - they will lie, hide, shred docs, etc. and watch our pets die to keep their company profitable and still selling pet food. They have complete disdain for us, for the consumers. They think we are idiots! No, they KNOW we are idiots. (present company excluded, of course.)

[Linda]

Adrienne -



What brand or brands of pet food were you feeding/using?