Dogfood Screwup Comes Home

[Anonymous]

Does not the FDA, or the importer, or Customs or someone have a list of who all this imported product went to :???: Do they just have to wait until more dogs and cats die and get reported before they know they used this stuff? What happened to the Billions $ of Homeland Security money we poured in to keep track of our borders and our imports :???: ( I already know- most of it was smoke screen and went to local Pork Projects)
FDA still refuses to name the company this imported China wheat came from or who imported it....
And I have still seen no where that they can ascertain this wheat gluten didn't end up in human foods :shock:

Wife just told me to throw all the Purina-Alpo sacks we have in the back shed (maybe it'll poison the mice if its tainted- mouse poison ain't working :wink: ) and headed to town to get some sacks of Vigortone dog food....

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Many More Pet Deaths Could Come, According to the FDA

March 31, 2007 — The pet food recall linked to the deaths of cats and dogs across the country is growing and now includes both wet and dry pet food.

This morning, the Food and Drug Administration announced that the Nestle Purina PetCare Company was voluntary recalling of all sizes and varieties of its Alpo Prime Cuts in Gravy wet dog foods.

And after initially suspecting rat poison was the cause of the contamination, officials now believe the food was tainted by a chemical used in plastics and fertilizer. For the first time, the FDA has admitted to ABC News that there will be a lot more deaths than the current official count of 15 cats and dogs.

Government scientists found melamine, a compound used to make plastics for kitchen utensils, in the recalled food. Melamine's also used as a fertilizer in Asia, and was in wheat gluten imported from China and used in pet food.

But FDA officials caution that melamine might not be the culprit they're after.

"We are not fully yet certain that melamine is the causative agent of illness and death in pets," said Dr. Stephen Sundolf of the FDA Veterinary Center.

Another recall was issued this morning. Hills Pet Nutrition is voluntarily recalling some of its dry cat food that was made with the same tainted ingredient. Since March 17, more than 60 million cans and pouches of wet pet food have been recalled.

There's no absolute number of how many dogs and cats have been affected, which is making some reevaluate how pet illnesses are
reported.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=2997700&page=1

 

[PPRM]

Way too Bad!

AS a guy that sells Gates and Panels, I see this all the time. The pressure to get to a certain price. That is why there are so many grades of things.

When I first went to Alaska, the feedstores up there described a tremendous anger at Iams...Those sled dogs are really tested and Iams pretty well owned a good share of the market at the time. They changed the formulation without saying aything and it showed immediately on the dogs.

Dogs are also like other animals. Those that work need more, so there is not a one size fits all formulation....

PPRM

 

[redneckcowgirlmn]

Oh, Man, I managed a dog food retail store for 3 yrs...(Got fired for having an opinion...imagine that!) I could tell y'all stuff about just about every brand that would make you never buy a bag of dog food again!
Anyways, here's a link to the current list on this topic:
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/

Here's a link to what to watch for:
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/advice-to-pet-owners-after-nationwide-food-recall/page1.aspx

We feed our dogs Diamond, and people have commented about the whole thing that happened last yr with them... we just tell them, "Yea, who do you think is going to be watching ingredient quality the closest now for a while?"

Anyways, hope these links help y'all weed out what food you're NOT going to buy 'till they get this all cleared up, or helps ease your minds in looking out for your friends, working partners, and companions!

 

[Anonymous]

Some interesting info on wheat gluten- this article says that 50% of the wheat gluten used in food and pet products is imported- another article I read yesterday said it was closer to 70%...

This is just hard for me to believe in a country that has had bins full of wheat sitting stored waiting for a profitable price to develop so it could be sold... :???:

The other article went into the fact that if our new changing pattern to a global market continues- Government bureaus like FDA & USDA, along with the food industry, are going to have to step up their oversight- as many of these countries are using many chemicals and pharmaceuticals that are considered hazardous or carcinogenic and are banned in the US......

They said the old days of trusting that the ingredients of your foodstuffs were domestically produced are probably gone- and our days of being able to trust these foodstuffs are over...

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Wheat gluten focus of pet food poisoning investigation

Scott A. Yates
Capital Press Staff Writer

SPOKANE - Reports of rodent poison found in wet pet food has focused attention on wheat gluten as a possible source for the contamination.

On March 23, New York State officials said aminopterin was found in the pet food manufactured by Menu Foods. Toxic in high doses, it has sickened and killed dozens of cats and dogs around the country.

The poison, which shuts down an animal's kidney function, is used to kill rats in some countries, but isn't registered for that use in the United States. It was once used as a cancer drug in the U.S., but newer drugs have supplanted it.

Although the Food and Drug Administration has said no ingredient is being ruled out as the source of the contamination, the gluten used in the dog food is under a microscope. Menu Foods has said the gluten originated in China. Jim Frahm, vice-president and director of planning at U.S. Wheat Associates, said U.S. Customs data indicates 13 percent of the wheat gluten imported into the United States comes from China.

Wheat gluten is also referred to as wheat meat or seitan by those who are familiar with macrobiotic diets. It is made by washing dough made from wheat flour in water until the starch is rinsed away. The remaining gluten can then be cooked or processed.

It is most popular as a human food in China where it was first developed. It is often used as an alternative to soy-based meat substitutes.

The International Wheat Gluten Association, made up of 16 members manufacturing 90 percent of the world's gluten supply, refers to the product this way: "The natural protein derived from wheat or wheat flour. In its freshly extracted wet form it is known as gum gluten, which when dried yields a cream-to-tan-colored, free-flowing powder of high protein content and bland taste. When re-hydrated, it regains its original characteristics. So unique is the functionality of wheat gluten and so persistent is the structural integrity after cooking, it appears to have no functional competitor."

Frahm said he's has calls from a couple of companies about the pet food contamination seeking information on pesticide use in China. He said there is no evidence the problem has to do with wheat grain itself.

"Wheat gluten is not a product that we normally follow, so we've also had to scramble around to find what might be available," Frahm said.

Total U.S. wheat gluten use is about 500 million pounds and about half that comes from imports. The EU is the largest U.S. supplier of gluten because the region derives much of its sweetener needs from wheat, whereas in the U.S. sweetener is often derived from high fructose corn syrup.

The current U.S. domestic price for wheat gluten is 65 to 70 cents a pound, up from 55 cents in spring 2006. Chinese wheat gluten is about 10 cents cheaper than U.S. gluten.

The IWGA lists a variety of ways wheat gluten is used including in aquaculture, breakfast cereals and tortillas. It said significant quantities of vital wheat gluten are used by the pet food industry.

"The usage may be in preparing simulated meat for canned pet food or in both canned and intermediate moisture-type products where the water absorption and fat binding properties of wheat gluten improves yields and quality. In dry dog biscuits, incorporating gluten into the dough before baking can improve resistance to breaking during packaging and shipping. Because it is a great source of protein, wheat gluten can significantly contribute to nutritional labeling claims."

 

[Mrs.Greg]

I wonder if theres any regulations on this kind of stuff.The rat poison that was found in the dog food was banned for use in US and Canada.So why then are WE allowing substances using banned products to enter our countries. :???: And why in the hell are we importing things we seem to have abundances of...a friend of mine was really complaining the other day that last years wheat is still sitting in bins because they can't sell the stuff Grrrrrrrr

 

[PPRM]

Some interesting info on wheat gluten- this article says that 50% of the wheat gluten used in food and pet products is imported- another article I read yesterday said it was closer to 70%...

This is just hard for me to believe in a country that has had bins full of wheat sitting stored waiting for a profitable price to develop so it could be sold... :???:

The other article went into the fact that if our new changing pattern to a global market continues- Government bureaus like FDA & USDA, along with the food industry, are going to have to step up their oversight- as many of these countries are using many chemicals and pharmaceuticals that are considered hazardous or carcinogenic and are banned in the US......

They said the old days of trusting that the ingredients of your foodstuffs were domestically produced are probably gone- and our days of being able to trust these foodstuffs are over...

Who watches what is put into things? A reason many people buy my Beef..A few weeks ago, a couple asked if I had Milk for sale.....Pet food..Maybe another opportunity....People do care where it comes from, at least eough that I can sell some stuff,


PPRM

 

[kolanuraven]

I know that the wheat that is imported is under the guidelines of the producer which is China in this case.

So who knows if they even get the labels right???

I can't remember the times I've seen grain ( wheat and corn) piled up in piles is and around grain silos/elevators over the years in MT to CO and so forth.

It is amazing!!! Glad my little garden is coming up cause looks like it will come in real handy this summer!!

 

[Anonymous]

I know that the wheat that is imported is under the guidelines of the producer which is China in this case.

So who knows if they even get the labels right???

I can't remember the times I've seen grain ( wheat and corn) piled up in piles is and around grain silos/elevators over the years in MT to CO and so forth.

It is amazing!!! Glad my little garden is coming up cause looks like it will come in real handy this summer!!

You don't think President Hu is losing sleep over this contamination? :wink: :lol:

Like one of the fellas in the coffee shop said the other day- they probably aren't even concerned if this poison or any other contaminant got into their domestic food- who's gonna care about or even notice a few million dying Chinese when you got 1.4 Billion and over population :roll: :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

RECALL EXPANDS AGAIN


Pet Food Recall Now Includes Dog Food Treats--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Jim Roberts
Apr 1, 2007

As the pet food recall continues to expand and make dog and cat owners worry if anything is safe to feed their pets, a new recall has now included dog treats. Concerned owners have been scouring labels to see if anything they are feeding their pets has any type of wheat gluten in it. Now a release from Del Monte is revealing that the company will voluntarily recall select product codes of its pet treat products sold under the Jerky Treats, Gravy Train Beef Sticks and Pounce Meaty Morsels brands as well as select dog snack and wet dog food products sold under private label brands.

Pet Food Recall Now Includes Dog Food Treats

Will it ever end? 'News 10 Now' notes that just like several other companies -- this latest recall comes after the FDA announced a chemical was found in the wheat gluten processed by Canada-based menu foods. Sixty million containers under about 100 brand labels have been recalled so far. The FDA says there have been a reported 14 pet deaths, but that they have received 8,000 complaints that are currently being investigated.

***

The company notes on its website that "No other Del Monte Pet Products treats, biscuits or wet dog food products are impacted by this recall,and no Del Monte dry cat food, dry dog food, wet cat food or pouched pet foods are subject to this voluntary recall. The affected products comprise less than one-tenth of one percent of Del Monte Pet Products' annual pet food and pet treat production."

The company notes that it has "proactively engaged and fully cooperated with the FDA since the start of its investigation."

 

[IL Rancher]

What bugs me is that the reason they are using the Chinese stuff is to save 10 cents a pound on the stuff.. 10 freaking cents, even if the bag of food was 40 pounds of wheat gluten instead of the other mixed ingrediants it would be all of 4 bucks more a bag.. Heck, half the food has already gone up that much saying it was because of more expensive grain prices...

As far as the grain being pilled up.. We see it around here most every year but by the end of June or so the grain is mostly gone.. The Machine sheds that have been converted to hold mega amounts of grain will be empty, most of the bins will be too... Than come October it will be pilled up again because storage building hasn't kept up with production..

 

[kolanuraven]

Dog treats!! OMG....that's the ' money' for my dogs. They expect 'pay' with treats after a good deed. Oh man... I can see it now...STRIKE!!!

I've got some hamburger in the freezer that's prob been there a wee bit too long....gonna thaw it out for the puppies supper tonite!!!

 

[Jerry H]

thanks redneckcowgirl
for posting that web site with the list on it
my wife fed special kitty to her cats and as of yesterday she only had one left and here we thought the coyotes were getting but i guess it us fedding them to death
thanks again
jerry

 

[Anonymous]

Sen. Durbin announces hearing


By MIKE RAMSEY
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
Published Friday, April 06, 2007


CHICAGO - Pet-food manufacturers should be punished if they delay reporting safety problems with their products, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said Thursday as he announced an oversight hearing into the national recall of tainted cat and dog food.


Durbin, D-Ill., said Menu Food Inc.'s voluntary recall of 60 millions cans and pouches of pet food in mid-March came several days after the Canadian company first suspected its products may have been contaminated.

"What did Menu Foods have to lose by waiting three weeks? Almost nothing," Durbin said at a Chicago news conference, where he was joined by a number of dog owners and their pets. "We've got to change that law. We've got to make sure that there are penalties for failing to report."

Durbin, a member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, said chairman Herb Kohl, D-Wis., has agreed to schedule the hearing within the next two weeks. Durbin said officials from the Food and Drug Administration as well as outside experts would be among the witnesses.

At least 16 animals are believed to have died from tainted Menu Foods products, but the number could be much higher. Some families from Springfield have reported pet deaths they believe are related to the pet-food recall.

"This was a breakdown and a failure," Durbin said. "It has brought a lot of pain, a lot of heartache and a lot of worry to pet owners all across America. We can do a better job in Washington."

Durbin said the FDA should be empowered to impose recalls. He also suggested centralizing the federal government's multi-agency system of inspecting food. State governments are left to inspect pet-food plants, Durbin said, but they should operate under a standard set of FDA guidelines.

Among the reform advocates joining Durbin on Thursday in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood was cat lover Brian Leber. The Chicagoan became emotional as he recalled how Max, his 19-year-old domestic shorthair, had to be euthanized March 12 because of abrupt kidney failure - four days before Menu Foods' recall was announced.

Leber said he and his wife realized then that Max had eaten one of the products on the recall list.

"That became the worst day of our life, to realize a cat that was raised from a 6-week-old kitten had to lose his life by eating poisoned food," Leber said.

Durbin said the FDA should create an Internet-based warning system to alert pet owners and veterinarians of future product recalls. He said there is no evidence the tainted wheat gluten has made it into the human food supply.

A Menu Foods spokeswoman could not be reached for comment Thursday.



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Pet food recall grows
By ANDREW BRIDGES

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON - The recall of pet foods and treats contaminated with an industrial chemical expanded Thursday to include dog biscuits made by an Alabama company and sold by Wal-Mart under the Ol'Roy brand.

The Food and Drug Administration said the manufacturer, Sunshine Mills Inc., is recalling dog biscuits made with imported Chinese wheat gluten. Testing has revealed the wheat gluten, a protein source, was contaminated with melamine, used to make plastics and other industrial products.

China has denied responsibility for several pet deaths in the United States. "China has nothing to do with the pet poisoning in the United States," said a report in the official newspaper of China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, which monitors the export of food, animals and farm products.

The China Inspection and Quarantine Times said in a report on its Web site dated Tuesday that as of March 29, 2007, China had "never exported wheat or wheat gluten to ... the United States."

This contradicted comments by two employees at the Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co., this week who said the company had shipped wheat gluten to the United States.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has identified Xuzhou Anying as the supplier of the tainted gluten.

Also Thursday, Menu Foods, a major manufacturer of brand- and private-label wet pet foods, expanded its original recall to include a broader range of dates and varieties. Menu Foods was the first of at least six companies to recall the now more than 100 brands of pet foods and treats made with the contaminated ingredient.

The recall now covers "cuts and gravy"-style products made between Nov. 8 and March 6, Menu Foods said. Previously, it applied only to products made beginning Dec. 3. In addition, Menu Foods said it was expanding the recall to include more varieties, but no new brands.

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

Sunshine, of Red Bay, Ala., sells pet foods and treats under its own brands as well as private labels sold by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Kmart, Longs Drug Stores Corp. and Stater Bros. Markets. The recall included specific brands like Wal-Mart's Ol'Roy, as well as a portion of Sunshine's own Nurture, Lassie and Pet Life dog biscuit brands.