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Sunday's news that two foods made by Natural Balance were being recalled due to melamine contamination, and today's news that two others by the same company were also being recalled for the same reason - and that none of the foods contained wheat gluten - left many pet owners wondering, what's next?
The answer is, Menu Foods updating its recall list with one food that previously did not appear on it:
In a press statement, the company said it was "refining" the list:
One additional item has been added to the recall list and is shown below.
Two additional production dates of eight varieties of pet food have been added to the recall list. These eight varieties of pet food had previously been withdrawn from the market and should already be off the retailer shelves.
The added food was Natural Life Vegetarian 13.2oz cans with the date Nov/22/09 and the code 12344-07114.
With thanks to Therese at ThePetFoodList.com, who has been doing great work researching the claims of foods not involved in the recall and staying on top of this ever-changing story:
They've also added updates to dog foods:
- Ol Roy
- Pet Pride
Cat food updates have been done on:
- Best Choice Last Updated: April 17, 2007
- Hill Country Fare Last Updated: April 17, 2007
- Pet Pride Last Updated: April 17, 2007
- Sophistacat Last Updated: April 17, 2007
I know industry likes to keep saying that people should stay calm. And in all honesty, I believe that most of the food on the shelves is perfectly safe. It's just that I have no idea where the ones that are not safe are lurking.
So instead of "staying calm," I'm afraid a lot of people are just going numb. And two family friends who swore never to even consider homemade diets for their pets phoned me today to ask for a recipe. I'm sure they'll go back to commercial foods when, to quote the FDA's Dr. Stephen Sundlof, "the dust settles," but for the moment? Not so much.
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Gina, I was wondering if Dr Becker is going to be taking questions on the Good Morning America show? Or if he could respond to a question here? One thing I have noticed in this pet food recall, is the standard of testing BUN and creatinine thru blood tests. I have read that many vets arent having a urinalysis done if the kidney labs show normal. One thing that I do know is that especially if you have an older kitty, hyper-thyroid can be a separate issue. While most would say thats not at all related to the testing for melamine, it actually can be at least IMO. Hyper-thyroid at least in a cat can mask underlying kidney disease so you can have a cat show normal kidney readings but if it is hyper-thyroid without the Dr or owner knowing it (as a T4 is not necessarily a standard test)that may not be an accurate picture without a urinalysis. Im wondering if many cats are getting a thyroid test done along with the kidney panel and if not, shouldnt they be or at the very least shouldnt a urinalysis be performed as a standard process along with the kidney lab test? I know our cat had elevated thyroid readings but her kidneys showed normal. She never did have the urinalysis done as she died before the recall but I suspect because she was eating the tainted food, the urinalysis might have shown the affects. So I guess its not a matter of having a thyroid test done, but making sure that all vets are performing both the kidney lab and urinalysis to be sure?
Posted by: Sandi K | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Wilbur-Ellis
http://www.connellbrothers.com/loc/china/divisions.cfm?id=57
Posted by: Steve | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
i'll take carpet stains from raw meaty bones, thank you very much!!
good thing I have hardwood floors and my dog is matt trained ;)
Posted by: straybaby | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Steve...yummm, doesn't this sound delicious??? NOT! (from your link)
For pet treat applications, our MGPI Chewtex™ resins can be molded into countless shapes to create a wide variety of healthy and appealing choices. MGPI Chewtex™ is highly digestible, nutritious and palatable, and readily accepts desired flavors, aromas and colors. Furthermore, these products won’t crumble or stain carpets, which are benefits to any pet owner.
We also offer a line of textured proteins developed specially for pet food products. Called MGPI Pet-Tex™, these proteins possess the fibrous structure and appearance of meat and poultry and can be easily flavored to match a preferred taste profile. In addition, MGPI develops custom formulations and can provide packaging solutions for customers who want retail-ready products.
Posted by: Marcy | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Just wondering...
has anyone noticed the texture and consistency of FF Grilled varieties of cat food?
Kind of reminds me of rubber...
Posted by: Marcy | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
I think we need to step back and take a deep breath and try to make rational decisions based upon - all are lying, nothing is safe, trust no one, and watch your back.
Linda MS
Posted by: Linda | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
And just who here isn't going off the deep end about this?
Linda MS
Posted by: Linda | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
you know, it reminds me of one of those suspense-thriller novels, that just sounds too incredible to believe and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I would imagine that everyone here is just as exhausted as I am. We all need to take a deep breath, take care of ourselves, do the best we can with what we know, and stay informed.
Posted by: Marcy | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
I agree Linda and I bet Mr Pet Food Institute exec director is talking in his sleep still saying, the food is safe, the food is safe, the food is safe.....its only 1%, its ony 1%....I dont think he has yet learned that saying it often doesnt make it so.
Posted by: Sandi K | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Well, someone at the AVMA is working late...
Breaking news
April 17, 2007 (11:00 pm CDT)
Pet food products recalled by Natural Balance Pet Foods on Monday have been shown to contain melamine, the company announced today. The source of the melamine is believed to be a rice protein concentrate.
Natural Balance, Pacoima, CA, is issuing a voluntary nationwide recall for all of its venison dog products and the dry venison cat food only, regardless of date codes. The recalled products include Venison and Brown Rice canned and bagged dog foods, Venison and Brown Rice dog treats, and Venison and Green Pea dry cat food.
Posted by: Carole | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Im wondering if the new addition of rice protein to the mystery will aid FDA in coming closer to the true source of this problem and even to the truer toxin other than melamine?
Posted by: Sandi K | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
I doubt it make much difference only because they already have samples to test, and I think time is the biggest factor here. The only way the addition of rice protein may help is if more companies get involved with testing...the more heads the faster this may be resolved.
Posted by: Carole | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
it seems the common thread is these companies just changed over to this new ingredient or supplier, why are they not being more proactive and testing their foods in light of what is going on. Why wait till animals get sick, who is really controlling this cover up?
Posted by: BW | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Am I the only one going nuts with all of this? This crap has been going on since mid February with Menu and then mid March for the rest of us, courtesy of Menu.
And thanks Steve. I'm never eating again, except maybe to go chew on the pesticide and herbicide free grass in my backyard.
Posted by: Peg | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
re comment by Marcy.
As of late the FF Grilled looks like rubberbands that my cat chewed on. The last grilled batch I got them, all they did was lick the gravy off and wouldn't touch the "meat"
Posted by: Peg | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
On the last thread, people were talking about a celebrity spokesperson...
What about Goran Visnjic (from ER)? When I lived in LA a few years ago, he always used to volunteer for animal causes, especially for "Nuts for Mutts," a non-purebred celebration to raise money for local shelters.
(And as far as I know, he isn't mixed up with the PETA anti-pet wackos, like the endowed but befuddled Pam Anderson.)
On a *less serious* note, (humor alert - do not slam, please) there are some other candidates (since Oprah's out, apparently) -
Paris Hilton - she has a dog, and whatever she says, the world will listen.
Halle Berry - hey, she played a cat. And she could sure use some positive press.
Bruce Willis - ditto. And he's so sincere.
Jeff Corwin - who better to talk about "natural diets?"
Matthew McConnaughey - hey, he's all about the mystery chemicals! And he's cute.
Michael Moore - hey, if he can unmask the health care conspiracy, how hard could the pet food industry be?
Or what about a celebrity chef to talk about food quality and safety? Gordon Ramsay comes to mind - he has pets AND food animals, and appreciates both. And he accepts zero BS. Or Giada de Laurentiis - the camera loves her, even if food critics tend to be less enchanted.
Okay, jesting over. But in all seriousness, if some celebrity would run with this, it would help keep it in the headlines. I hate to say it, but over the long haul, (which this will certainly be) it couldn't hurt.
Posted by: Laura | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
I do not trust the pet food industry any longer. They are all about image and covering their own a$$es at the expense of lives. Everytime they have told us that it wasn't in this or that or it didn't go here or there....what happened? It showed up in this or that and it ended up here and there. Not only am I horrified about the recent poisonings but I am even more horrified what is actually in pet food and that I have been giving my fur baby ground up crap for years. And the fact that my precious 12 year dog that died 4 years ago may have ended up being another pet's meal makes me physically ill and wale inside. I am currently changing my cat's diet to raw meat. It is difficult but I am determined to eventually get her switched over and to never put another dime in the pet food industries pockets. They can all suck it!
Posted by: Tammy | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Anyone remember where we saw ESB protein powder listed on web. Was it ChemNutra or Anying?
I ask because nearly all products have disappeared from ChemNutra's site.
Posted by: Kathi | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
I have been researching various cat foods to make a decision about changing what I am currently using, and while doing so, last night I looked at Wellness and Nature's Variety. I both cases I noticed "garlic" listed as an ingredient. I had read that garlic was toxic to cats, so I e-mailed each of those companies to inquire as to why they are including in their formulations. Both promptly answered my e-mail. Wellness gave a long explanation about how the amount of garlic they use is not harmful, etc. etc. But, in the last paragraph, they said that because of customer inquiries and concerns, they were removing it starting with the next production run. Nature's Variety gave me a nice non-answer to my question, merely stating that they work with a pet nutritionist and holistic vet and are aware of the controversy of using it. However, they did not say they are removing it or state their opinion one way or another. Just thought this might be informative to those who use these brands.
Posted by: Linda P. | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Marcy,
About "the texture and consistency of FF Grilled varieties of cat food?"
Yes, my kitty loved it for a while but the ragged hunks of whatever that stuff was called chicken were so big I had to cut them up or she would have choked. Eventually she also only wanted the gravy and left the rubber stuff. Then the recall - and every one of those "grilled" varieties contain wheat gluten. She's had no more from that day and never will.
Posted by: Sharon G | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Is it that the pet industry is on its toes right now so they're testing everything that they put out there - it seems like everything out there either is either poisonous or riddled with salmonella.
The dust won't ever settle in my mind. The plot changes every day, the suspect ingredient has changed too many times. I just cannot believe that they haven't pinpointed it yet. I can't believe Menu foods still exists after this.
I hate to sound like one of those people who completely distrusts the government, but after this, can you really blame me? I would like to think this is a wake-up call for the govt. to improve the monitoring system, not only for pet foods, but for human foods as well; unfortunately, I see this episode becoming "yesterday's news" in no time flat. The monitoring system might improve temporarily - until the next episode. I remember when everyone was on their toes anytime the terror alert rose above yellow, but now I don't think anyone even pays attention. I often used to joke about how it seemed as if it was only a great way for Walmart to increase sales of bottled water and duct tape...
People are becoming numb to it - some people never even paid attention in the first place. I'm shocked that so many people I speak with don't even care what they're feeding their pets.
Posted by: Lara | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Kathi's 12:15 post.
Don't see esb powder on my copy of ChemNutra products.
Posted by: VJ | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Kathi
Should clarify that it is not on ChemNutra list I copied on Apr 4th.
Posted by: VJ | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
RE: Comment by Sandi K — April 17, 2007 @ 10:56 pm - new addition of rice protein to the mystery will aid FDA?
I'm sure the Royal Canin co. is testing for melamine, just to cover all the bases. If they find melamine, I'm counting on the German labs to get to the bottom of this. The more heads the merrier.
Posted by: CathyA | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
RE: Comment by Linda P. — April 18, 2007 @ 12:23 am: "they said that because of customer inquiries and concerns, they were removing it starting with the next production run."
Did you ask them if they were going to change the LABEL to reflect the CHANGE in the diet? Every company needs to have their feet held to the fire on this issue.
Posted by: CathyA | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Dear FDA, I hope you are still listening. It's time for another news conference.
I have a couple of questions. How long does it take to test for melamine - hours? a day? Has anyone come up with a fast test yet?
When you are notifed by a company selling an ingredient that it is contaminated, can you force them to go public? Whose job is that? When the CDC gets an inkling of a food problem, they go out and investigate until they find the culprit. Then we hear about it. Since we already know there's an ongoing problem with melamine in protein powders, this should shorten the time for investigation to the time it takes to conduct a test for melamine. Then we should hear about it - from you. If this is not legally possible I want to hear about it in a press conference, again. And I'd also like to know if you've expanded the scope to look at corn gluten. Don't worry about panicking the public - we're already there. Even those without pets are paying attention now.
We're writing, we're calling. We'd like to get you more money so you can do your job. The legal process to hold pet food companies responsible for truth in labeling, manadory notification of problems, monetary penalties for non-notification will take longer.
Please - time for another news conference. I will be listening between the lines.
Posted by: CathyA | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Comment by Kathi — April 18, 2007 @ 12:15 am
Kathi, I remember seeing the protein powder on Alibaba under Anying's company. It implied that they had created it if Im not mistaken.
Posted by: Sandi K | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Could the rice gluten contamination be a copycat situation?
I almost hope so; otherwise we have a huge underlying SYSTEMIC problem in our food supply.
Posted by: Pamela J. Betz-Baron | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
In think this whole thing is a case of fraud. Who decided they could get away with adulterating pet food with something that would falsely up the N analysis I don't know. And who knew that was happening I don't know either. Maybe we'll find out when they get to the bottom of Menu Foods file drawers.
Posted by: CathyA | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Pamela - you are right and that's what is so worrisome about this and mums the word from all sources and maybe that's way.
Linda MS
Posted by: Linda | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
I'm also angry that the media has just let this matter die. I just don't understand why no one is challenging the Pet food industry and the FDA on this matter alone. I want answers! I wanna know if it will be my child that will suffer next. Because it is just a matter of time before we hear the next story about another food contamination.
I guess no one is getting mad enough because it is just some cats and dogs. Had this happened in the human food there would be a lynching.
Posted by: Tammy | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
Tammy, others things have got the public's attention.
Even my friends don't care as much about this as I do, or so it seems. They just happily go along and think I'm overreacting.
Linda MS
Posted by: Linda | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM
To Cathy A -
I just came on-line today; saw your question. I did not ask about the label change, but will do so and post the answer when I get it. Maybe this will fall into that "six month" rule I have read about.
Posted by: Linda P. | 17 April 2007 at 08:00 PM