Pet food recall : DANGER !!!

[Scott_B]

I believe this may have to do with an ingredient in Iams food.

[Mypetsrmykids]

I just read a news article saying that melamine (used to make plastics) was found in the wheat gluten from China. The additional testing apparently didn't find anymore of the rat poison, according to this article. They said they are not sure how melamine(sp?) can affect pets but they did say that some companies have used this in dry dog food also. I'm wondering if they will be recalling some dry foods now also.

[Mypetsrmykids]

I went back and rechecked, here is the part about the dry food:

In a news conference, FDA officials said that the apparently melamine-contaminated wheat gluten also was shipped to a company that manufactures dry pet food, but they would not name the company.

[rainbow]

I have emailed Iams to ask if it is their pet food that is involved. I'll post my reply when I receive it.

It makes be sooo mad that they keep making these kind of announcements on a FRIDAY. Are we supposed to forget about it and calm down by Monday?

[Mypetsrmykids]

I do think that is what they're hoping for. I can't believe they won't tell us which dry food is involved. They said they are over there now to see if the wheat gluten that was shipped to them, has been used. After all this time, why wouldn't it be?! Are they going to make us wait all weekend and then some to find out which one it is while more animals get sick?!

[Stacer]

I posted this in another thread, but i'll post it here too. Sorry if it's already been said somewhere amongst the 300+ posts.

I was wondering if anyone has heard form Performatrin? I emailed them the other day and asked if any of their foods were affected by the recall and where both their wet and dry foods are manufactured. So far they haven't responded and there is no mention of the recall on their website.

[Mypetsrmykids]

I went to their site and they say they are "wheat-gluten free" and since the ingredient that is suspect is the wheat-gluten, I wouldn't think they would be involved. If they later name a different ingredient, I would check their ingredients on their packaging. As a matter of fact, since they make that claim now I would check their ingredients on the package just to make sure.

[Stacer]

Ok, after I posted I rechecked my email and here is Performatrin's response.
Please tell me I'm reading this wrong.
I've hilighted the areas of this response that I find contradictory to what we have learned.
First they say that the recall is for cans manufactured in the US by menufoods then they say that their foods are not manufactured by menu foods, then they say they are manufactured by menu foods in canada. This entire email doesn't make sense. Maybe the woman who wrote it is completely clueless.

Please be assured that none of our Performatrin foods are affected by the Menu recall. It is limited to canned foods manufactured in the US, none of which are our Private Label foods (i.e. Performatrin).
Those canned foods affected are primarily those under the Iams, Eukanuba and Nutro umbrella manufactured in the US.

All of our Performatrin kibble is manufactured in upstate New York and not
by Menu foods.

The majority of our Performatrin canned food is manufactured by Menu Foods
in Canada. The Ultra products do not use gluten as they are all meat-based
products.
Certain Peformatrin products (excluding Ultra) are manufactured by Menu
Foods in the US, but at a different facility than the one about which has
been in the spotlight. Our Performatrin brands have not been affected at all
by this recall.

Additionally, similar quality control processes are in place in our pet food
manufacturing facilities as you would find in those facilities manufacturing
human grade foods.

I hope that this answers your question and puts your mind at ease.

If you have any questions, please call me at 1 800 PET VALU x 2109

Sincerely,

Cathy Davis
Product Support Co-ordinator
Peton Distributors
(A Pet Valu Co.)

[hazelrunpack]

Originally Posted by Stacer

Ok, after I posted I rechecked my email and here is Performatrin's response.
Please tell me I'm reading this wrong.
I've hilighted the areas of this response that I find contradictory to what we have learned.
First they say that the recall is for cans manufactured in the US by menufoods then they say that their foods are not manufactured by menu foods, then they say they are manufactured by menu foods in canada. This entire email doesn't make sense. Maybe the woman who wrote it is completely clueless.

I think she's saying that the kibble is not manufactured by Menu foods; some of their canned food is--but not at one of the affected plants.

Not sure if that would make me feel any better, either, Stacer... And I wish the FDA would just name the plant and the dry foods affected by the melamine announcement!

[kc567567]

Originally Posted by Stacer

.......
Please tell me I'm reading this wrong.
I've hilighted the areas of this response that I find contradictory to what we have learned.......

I see what you mean about the response .... you would think any pet food company would have a prepared, professionally written statement outlining EXACTLY which of there foods are effected. If they can’t even provide a simple, clear answer can they be trusted to have clean food?????

It looks to me if you bought their food in the USA your OK ….. Canada is a different story.

I wish I could find the results of my cats blood tests last December …. not sure any of these company can be trusted with their released statements.

KC

[Mypetsrmykids]

I had to read it a few times but they do differentiate each type of food and where it's made. I personally would no longer use any foods made by Menu Foods to avoid any future problems, but that's just my own opinion. I'm not happy about the fact that they bought their wheat-gluten from a country that doesn't follow our standards. I went out and bought Innova for my pets and they really seem to like it.

[Mypetsrmykids]

I just found this at a news station web-site, this is a portion of the report:


Meanwhile, Hill's Pet Nutrition recalled its Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry cat food. The food included wheat gluten from the same supplier that Menu Foods used. The recall didn't involve any other Prescription Diet or Science Diet products, said the company, a division of Colgate-Palmolive Co

[H.P.]

I just heard a guy on the radio saying that his dog had been affected. He called Menu Foods, and told them that he had been using Iam's. They transferred him to an Iam's call center. They asked him some really stupid questions (did he still have the empty pouches), and a little bit about the dog, and what the vet had said, then they gave him a fax number for the vet to send records to, an account number, and said that he would get a reimbursement check a couple of weeks after they received the records. He said that they were nice, sympathetic, and professional. I know it doesn't make it all better, but at least they are stepping up and taking responsibility.

[Stacer]

Luckily I'm using Performatrin Ultra, which is an all meat product and has no wheat gluten in it whatsoever, and it seems as though the Ultra isn't even manufactured by menu foods.

In that email it almost seems as though she has the US and Canadian menu foods plants mixed up, she says that:

It is limited to canned foods manufactured in the US

and she also says

The majority of our Performatrin canned food is manufactured by Menu Foods
in Canada.

in the context that being manufactured in canada means it's safe.
I thought it was the Canadian plant that was in question.

[kc567567]

Originally Posted by Mypetsrmykids

... Hill's Pet Nutrition recalled its Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry cat food. The food included wheat gluten from the same supplier that Menu Foods used. The recall didn't involve any other Prescription Diet or Science Diet products, said the company, a division of Colgate-Palmolive Co

Right, Right ...... they specifically deemed the "Prescription " OK last week ....... my cat was on Science Diet dry his whole life and last fall some of the wet .... do they even know what they have put in their food ??????

KC

[clm]

Nice, a prescription food that's really expensive that you have to buy from the vet and they're using cheap wheat gluten from China. Makes you wonder how they justify the high price tag.
These companies need to understand the insecticides and pesticides and fertilizers that are allowed in some of these countries, are banned from North America for very good reasons. If I'm paying top dollar for pet food, I expect the ingredients to be premium.
Hills has lost all credibility to me now, not that I have ever liked the science diet brand, even though they appear to be recalling the food in a timely fashion, there's no excuse in my eyes for them to be using cheap gluten to start with.

Cindy

[kc567567]

Originally Posted by clm

Nice, a prescription food that's really expensive that you have to buy from the vet and they're using cheap wheat gluten from China. Makes you wonder how they justify the high price tag.
....Hills has lost all credibility to me now, not that I have ever liked the science diet brand, even though they appear to be recalling the food in a timely fashion, there's no excuse in my eyes for them to be using cheap gluten....

My feelings exactly,

From their web site:
http://www.hillspet.com/menu_foods/Menu_Foods_en_US.htm

They state:
To ensure that our customers continue to have absolute confidence in all of Hill's products, Hill's has decided to voluntarily withdraw from the market all Science Diet® Savory Cuts® Feline products.

They go on to list the recalled and withdrawn feline foods.

Only problem is I have a “Savory” product in my hands from last December they make no mention of ..... UPC 52742 66120 .......so what was I feeding my Cat ….air?

I think their lawyers may be writing the recall notices ….. no one else.

KC

[clm]

The canned food was bad enough, it's the prescription diet dry cat food that's the icing on the cake.
If you go to the Hills website, the have the recall notice for the prescription diet dry, but the link goes nowhere.

Cindy

[chico2]

When I read about Hills Prescription diet DRY Cat-Food beeing included in the ban,I got a sinking feeling in my belly one of panic:sad:
I have been giving my cats Medical Dental as a treat,it's made by Royal Canin,are they next???
I am writing the company and I am calling my vet this morning
I don't how to put the article here but it is at www.thestar.com

[ArboretumGreg]

I recommend reading the FDA's news releases on the subject, since it is possible that the various news media are not neccessarily presenting consistent information.

http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html


Here's the "melamine" press release.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01599.html

[chico2]

Thank you Greg,it does not mention Medical or Royal Canin,but who knows it might be next???
To be absolutely sure,I would not feed my cats ANYTHING with wheatgluten in it..

[ArboretumGreg]

Its still neccessary to check with the producer or manufacturer of the pet food you use.

It appears that we are far from having the problem solved though, and I predict more announcements.

[SableCollie]

Now Purina is recalling some of their Alpo canned food. Both Hills and Purina are giants in the petfood world, and if they purchased contaminated wheat gluten, this thing is gonna spread like wildfire. Purina especially makes so many different brands of food...I remember a month or so ago, one website had reports of dogs getting sick after eating beneful purchased from walmart. Now I wonder if that is related to the current problems in any way.

[satchelp]

This is an interesting site .. it is constantly being updated with responses from pet food companies stating who really manufactures their food. I am really surprised by some of the companies whose canned food (at last some of it) is manufactured by Menu Foods (Wellness, Wysong, Newman's Own Organics, Nature's Variety). I guess I was a little naive thinking that a lot of the better foods out there were made in the company's own factories under their direct control.

http://petsitusa.com/blog/?p=210

[chico2]

Thank's Satchelp...tons of info,which made it even more confusing,who CAN you trust???
Fromm(and probably others) making their canned food in China is scary,can't help thinking of what happens to the millions of cat/dog carcasses left in the fur-industry in China

[Mypetsrmykids]

This is getting crazy! Del Monte has pulled dog and cat treats now. I'm sure there are many others that followed them yesterday. Honestly, the best way to avoid this is to get rid of everything that has wheat-gluten in it!

[rainbow]

I second that. READ you labels and do not use anything that has wheat gluten in it.

[Mypetsrmykids]

I'm so pleased with my sister. She is the last person I would ever expect to do this but she went out today to get ingredients to make food for her cats! She said the vets in her area are recommending this because of the recalls. Finally the vets are starting to loose faith in the pet food companies just like we are!

[Jovin]

Originally Posted by chico2

Thank you Greg,it does not mention Medical or Royal Canin,but who knows it might be next???
To be absolutely sure,I would not feed my cats ANYTHING with wheatgluten in it..

What about 'corn gluten meal'....that's what's in alot of the dry foods that I've checked. Is it as bad as the wheat gluten or do you think it's safe? I can't find anything on it at all.

[Mypetsrmykids]

Originally Posted by Jovin

What about 'corn gluten meal'....that's what's in alot of the dry foods that I've checked. Is it as bad as the wheat gluten or do you think it's safe? I can't find anything on it at all.

No, it's not the ingredient that is involved in the recall. I would try to avoid it in the future. It's not a very healthy ingredient. There are alot of new foods coming out that don't have corn wheat or any kind of gluten. They are just fillers that they use in place of meat. They don't have much protein value and can go toxic easily.