Tainted pet food recall

[GeorgeJ.]

I'm surprised that I have not seen a topic on this here...

40+ brands of cat food and 40+ brands of dog food (moist with gravy) that is manufactured by Menu Foods of Canada is causing kidney failure in pets..Story today in USA Today said it has sickened "hundreds" of pets across the country...One of our cats has been at the local pet hospital since Sunday and will likely not recover. The vet office we usually went to has 2 or 3 sick pets there now. This is in a small suburb of about 10,000 people.

Anyone who has fed their pets moist food should check the website for the manufacturer for a list of the brands involved www.menufoods.com/recall It includes brands like Iams & Science Diet, many other major pet food names, plus house brands from many supermarkets & retailers like Walmart.

Menu Foods has a toll-free hotline but no one has returned my wife's calls from Monday & Tuesday. A newspaper story or press release said that they would be reimbursing vet bills for pets with kidney failure caused by their food...But they seem to be blowing off the people that call since they aren't returning the calls. Wasn't too impressed with Walmart either. Although they have a recording on their 1-800-Walmart customer service number regarding the pet food recall. But they only want to give you the number for Menu Foods if you call. One rep hung up on me but a second promised to have someone from corporate management call me after I explained that our cat was in the pet hospital after eating their house brand food...

My feeling is that Menu Foods ought to be offfering to pay for blood tests for any pet that might have eaten tainted food....They may not seem sick, but could be....

 

[Jestjoan]

I so sorry to hear that your cat is sick. I hope he or she will be OK.

Luckily, our cat isn't fed any of the brands on the list.

 

[Patri]

The stores in our area have pulled the products. The media have been interviewing vets and no cases at all around here.

 

[ouaifer]

Just a point...this is huge...we have not as yet seen the magnitude of this fiasco! Right now it is wet canned foods.

Pet Foods NOT on recall list
March 22, 2007 at 10:16 am · Filed under Random Thoughts, Pets, Pet Health, Pet Food Recall

[updated March 22, 2:11 pm CST] Most recent updates are underlined.

With the massive pet food recall that is going on, I have had people asking me what pet food is safe. At this point, feeding our pets any commercially prepared food can feel quite risky. The following companies have made statements that their food is not affected by the Menu Foods recall. Keep in mind that we are not “recommending” any of these foods. Rather, we’re compiling a list of foods that are reported safe by the manufacturers.

Artemis - Holistic Pet Food

Aunt Jeni’s (Home Made 4 Life)

They make all their own food (no outsourcing)
No wheat products of any kind
Azmira Holistic Animal Care Products

Back to Basics

Bil-Jac

Blue Buffalo

Breeder’s Choice

Brands include AvoDerm, Active Care, Advanced Pet Diets Select Choice, Health Food for Dogs, Pinnacle
Wet foods made by Menu Foods but not involved in the recall.
Canidae

Brands include Canidae and Felidae
No products made by Menu Foods
Castor & Pollux Pet Works

Brands include Organix & Ultramix
Wet foods made by Menu Foods but not involved in the recall.
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul

Del Monte Pet Products

Brands include Cycle, Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘n Bits, MeowMix, Nature’s Recipe, Reward, Skippy, 9Lives
None of their products are manufactured by Menu Foods
Diamond Pet Foods

Drs. Foster & Smith Products

Wet foods made by Menu Foods but not involved in the recall.
Eagle Pack

Some products made by Menu Foods but not involved in the recall.
Evangers


Manufactures and packs their own wet food.

Evolve Pet Food


Brands include Evolve, Hi-Tor, and Triumph
Fancy Feast

Flint River Ranch

Friskies

Fromm Family Foods

Halo

Mars Pet Food

Brands include Cesar, Pedigree, Sheba, Whiskas





Merrick Pet Foods

No products made by Menu Foods.
All Merrick foods, dry, canned and treats are made by their own facility.
Natura Pet Products

Brands include Innova, Evo, California Natural, Healthwise, Mother Nature, Karma Organic
Manufacture their own dry food.
Wet foods made by Menu Foods but not involved in the recall.
Natural Balance

Dry food is made at their own plant then shipped to the Diamond plant where it is bagged.
Canned food is made at their own plant, then shipped to American Nutrition in Utah where it is canned. Natural Balance has their own line at American Nutrition and no other canned foods are run through Natural Balance’s equipment.
Nature’s Variety

Brands include Nature’s Variety and Nature’s Variety Prairie
Dry foods are outsourced, but not by Menu Foods.
Frozen and freeze-dried raw foods are made in house.
Canned foods made by Menu Foods but not involved in the recall.
Newman’s Own Organics

Nutra Nuggets

Old Mother Hubbard

Wet foods made by Menu Foods but not involved in the recall.
PetGuard Organics

Pet Promise

Precise

Verified their products are not on the recall list but when asked if they use Menu Foods to manufacture any of their products I was told that information was “confidential.”
Premium Edge

Professional Pet Food

Purina Pro Plan

Purina Veterinary Diets

PHD Products

Royal Canin

Solid Gold Health Food for Pets

No products made by Menu Foods.
Dry food made by Diamond.
Timber Wolf Organics

Trader Joe’s

Wet food manufactured by Menu Foods but not involved in recall. As a precaution, they are recalling all canned foods.
Verus Pet Foods

Wellness

Some products made by Menu Foods but not involved in the recall.
Wysong

IMPORTANT:
Do not take this list as the final word. Please check with the manufacturer of your pet’s food…check their website or call them. Also, as more pet foods are being added to the list of recalled pet foods, it’s imperative that you continue to check the Menu Foods recall list at http://menufoods.com/recall/ And if you find out your pet has eaten any of the recalled food, call your vet immediately.


Technorati Tags: pet food recall, cat food, dog food

 

[GeorgeJ.]

Unfortunately, Kramer the cat didn't make it...We went to see him last night & he looked like he was in absolute misery so we had him put to sleep before we left rather than see him suffer further.

I had been out of town in the middle of the week & my wife had been told he was improving but he went downhill yesterday. By improving, it turned out that it had been only slightly when I asked about the blood test numbers. Normal kidney function is supposed to be about a 1; when they got the results of the first blood test it was between 7 and 8; it went down to the 6's Tuesday and Wednesday but it was obviously way too elevated...

From what I've read, Menu Foods took almost a month to do their recall after getting the reports of animal deaths. I'm not impressed with their delay...there's a real good chance that Kramer would have been saved if they had made an annoucement jsut a week or two earlier...

I'm sure that Menu Foods will continue to report only a handful of pet deaths while the real toll continues upward.

 

[ctreelmom]

So sorry for Kramer. Our senior kitty had to be put down due to kidney failure as well (hers was due to aging) and it's no fun.

Several weeks ago, I ran out of our usual wet dog food and I just couldn't get to the store that sells it, so I bought a couple cans of the Iams Puppy just to tide me over, as I'd always thought it was a good quality food. My pup was SOOOO sick from it--vomiting, diahrea (one of those words I just can't spell). When I mentioned it to the clerk at the feed store where I buy the regular brand (Canidae) she said it might not have been tainted but that Iams really isn't that great a food and maybe he just couldn't digest it.

Our remaining cat who's 19 does eat the Iams hard food. I'm wondering if I should pitch it and get her something else just to be safe?

 

[JLB]

Yes, so sorry. I feel your pain.

I had to cull our five cats down to four this week, because the fifth and newest one wasn't gellin' with the others. Nothing violent, you just take em for a ride around here, the same as how we get adopted by them.

That's tough when it is the one who has bonded with you, and trusts you, but our county does not have a pet policy, other then, "We have no pet problems." Of course, everyone knows how many stray cats are living in the woods. If they were chickens, this would be Kauai.

Sadly, among stray cats, 20% have feline leukemia and are spreading to others, so any strays are a serious problem just waiting to break out among owned cats.

We have current issues with two of the other four, one issue too graphic to discuss.

So, the pet food issue was important to us, since Special Kitty is one of our brands. But that cat is doing OK, just moving from garage cat to house cat.

We are not using any of the posted foods, but I agree that if wheat gluten is the culprit, that is an mjor ingredient in the foods we are using, it being the thickener for the gravy-type foods. So, why should we not suspect any food with wheat gluten!

This unfortunate occurence real does not have a bad guy, someone to blame, except maybe that Menu Foods did not warn sooner. But they still don't know why pets are dying, just that they are.

 

[johnmfaeth]

George,

My thoughts are with you and your family.

John

 

[Mosca]

Today's news, rat poison discovered in the tainted food. Sounds like sabotage.

Tom

 

[wackymother]

They think the rat poison was used as a pesticide on wheat crops in China. The wheat used in the pet foods came from there.

 

[GeorgeJ.]

One take on it seems to be that Menu Foods changed gluton suppliers to one in China to cheapen up their costs....so that is really going to bite them in the ass. The rat poison/pesticide is not allowed to be used in the US...

One other report said that cats are more likely to be sickened by the tainted food than dogs (maybe because of weight?) I wish that Kramer vomited after eating the food; we might have caught it quicker....

 

[ouaifer]

UPDATE, Purina recall

The following was posted this morning. I'm sure it's not the end, yet.

"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."

 

[stugy]

I lost my wonderful friend, Jesse on Feb 19th after being really sick for 2 days, in the intensive care of our pet hospital in critical condition. We were told he was in liver and kidney failure. It came on so sudden. We had him put to sleep on the 19th when we realized that he could get no better and we didn't want him to suffer. This was before the information was released about Menu pet foods. Last week in speaking with our vet he said Jesse
"might have" died from the dog food, but it was too late to be sure. He was a beautiful Scottie that I just adored, so gentle and loving and so trusting. We had fed him Pedigree soft pouch and some Ol'Roy canned (the recalled stuff). Well we have 2 other scotties who were on different dog food (Jesse had periodontal disease and could not chew dry very well). Also Sadie was a tad overweight and we gave her Pedigree lean. This past week I decided to purchase Alpo cuts in gravy (even checked to make sure it wasn't made by Menu foods). They only get 1 tbl in their bowl with dry. Well, today we learn that that is on recall. So now I have to watch and pray that I don't loose another one of my pets because of this. Why? greed! Get cheaper products and charge the same. There is no amount of money that will replace my Jesse. He was my pride and joy, my "little boy" and I will miss him forever. I just pray the problem doesn't repeat itself.
The worst thing is that Menu foods knew they had a problem in Feb and could have recalled immediately, but they ignored it. I wonder how many other pets have died needlessly. What a shame and when will there be regulations governing pet food. They are a part of our family. Anyone who has lost a beloved pet will tell you that.

 

[IreneLF]

Stugy and George,
I am so sorry for your losses. It is heartbreaking.

I have two 2 y.o. cats and at this point I am afraid to feed the anything but the dry food. I've got IAMS wet food in the house - the type affected by the recall, but apparently made before because of the dates - but I have gotten really afraid to feed it to them, and now that there is another recall, I"m afraid to switch to anything else.

 

[ouaifer]

Some Science Diet Foods have now been added.

 

[Sylvia W]

I have an unopened bag of Iams dry dog food which I am taking back. I am switching my dog to Natural Balance Organic dog food. In the future I will really watch what I buy. I will not support a company who's bottom line is profit and not the health of the animals they feed. They cannot be trusted.

 

[labguides]

I felt secure with the fact that we feed dry kibble to our dogs and cat. Now. there is report of some dry foods are tainted. We feed our dogs Candidae. Has anyone heard bad reports about Candidae?

We feed Iams to our 15 year old cat. I need to purchase more food. I hestiate to purchase Iams as I think it is made by Menu Foods.

 

[rapmarks]

my husband heard a recall of Purina dry cat food. can anyone confirm? I have two big bags we are mixing up and serving our little guys.

 

[ouaifer]

Del Monte has now recalled some of their foods.

They have a listed a toll free number for inquiries... (800) 949 - 3799 .

 

[taffy19]

Stugy and GeorgeJ,

I am so sorry for the loss of your dog and cat. How many more pet owners will have to go through this misery? This is heartbreaking and for the poor animals too that have to suffer.

We lost our cat many years ago thanks to Science diet too because it was lacking Taurine in the food. Many cats died because of their lack of "science".

 

[Cathy in Boston]

George and Stugy, I am very very sorry for your losses. Losing a pet is very tough, especially since so many of the people in your life won't understand how you're feeling. Been there.

One of the Hill's prescription diets for cats is now on the list - the m/d which I guess is for diabetic cats. (This is a dry food.) This one gave me a real scare, since our Gigi is on their i/d prescription.

I think this whole thing has really gotten to a lot of pet owners in a lot of ways. Many of the foods on the list are from the more "well-regarded" companies like Nutro, Iams, Hill's, etc. And seeing the interviews on TV with pet owners, holding photographs, etc., have really hit home. Such a sad situation and it doesn't look like it's near to being over yet.

 

[ouaifer]

........


Many of the foods on the list are from the more "well-regarded" companies like Nutro, Iams, Hill's, etc. And seeing the interviews on TV with pet owners, holding photographs, etc., have really hit home. Such a sad situation and it doesn't look like it's near to being over yet.

Except for certain items, the foods that these companies produce themselves...are still fine. Most of the large companies sub contracted out the production of their processed foods to other vendors. Most companies here is the USA process their own dry foods. If you have a particular food that you are using, please check that company's web site for any updates which might effect you.

 

[Icarus]

Never mind. I misread your "good list" post.

-David

 

[Cathy in Boston]

What I meant was that some of the brands affected are those that consumers consider "premium" brands.

Obviously everyone needs to check on whatever specific foods they use. My dog eats Nutro Natural Choice dry - according to Nutro's website, none of their dry kibble is manufactured by Menu.

 

[ouaifer]

What I meant was that some of the brands affected are those that consumers consider "premium" brands.

Obviously everyone needs to check on whatever specific foods they use. My dog eats Nutro Natural Choice dry - according to Nutro's website, none of their dry kibble is manufactured by Menu.

I agree with you. When this first was announced, I was stunned to hear that Science Diet, Eukanuba (Iams), and Nutro were effected...until I found out that all of these manufacturers sub contract out their moist foods' production.

Nutro produces its own dry kibble. I personally use Natural Choice Large Breed (only), and have use it since 1989.