FDA officials announced today that they had found traces of melamine, a chemical used to produce plastics, in the tainted Menu Foods products recalled earlier this month.
But the real shocker was the revelation that a batch of the toxic wheat gluten had been shipped to a manufacturer of dry pet food, though federal officials did not yet know if it has been used in dog food.
Though they are in contact with the company, they declined to disclose its name.
On Thursday, the FDA warned Iams that some of its diet pet foods contained chromium tripicolinate, which is not an approved food supplement. The prescription brands, which are not being recalled, are Eukanuba Veterinary Diets Optimum Weight Control/Canine dry, Optimum Weight Control/Feline dry, Restricted-Calorie/Canine dry and canned, and Restricted-Calorie/Feline dry and canned.
Comments (44)
Okay,I'm starting to get a bit worried.After feeding Nutro for sooooo long, I switched to wellness dry.I have been feeding Wellness wet for some time.No wheat,corn,soy or animal by-products.
PETA is trying to get FDA to pull all dry food off the shelves.It is freaking people out.Lets hope this gets over with soon with no more death.I am sick over this.
Emma girl, please get better.Beat what ever is wrong girl.Love you
As the owner of four cats, William Wallace, Robert the BRuce, St. Patrick and Macfuzzy, we have been feeding or cats Iams dry for several years, William Wallce and Rober the Bruce are young cats, St.Patrick is 7, however our 13 year old Macfuzzy is beginning to show signs of what we think is kidney failure, lots of water, sleeping a great deal and vomiting, and our cat box is afloat, to be delicate, Is Macfuzzy in danger as an older cat. before the recall we also gave them each a tiny bit of Friskies wet cat food, now feeding them tuna fish, they are very happy with that, but what can we substitute for dry food.? Thanks, Annie
Anne,
I'm feeding my cat Purina for urinary problems, but there are other Purina foods. There is also Natural Balance cat foot and it has a great rep...read some of the sites and you'll know which kinds of food you can fee.
Have you taken MacFuzzy to the vet? If you haven't, you should right away.
Well, yes here I am again. I tried to warn people ahead of time of the dangers of the wheat and this poisoned wheat gluten, but I was attacked and accused of frightening people and worse not even trying to be helpful.
I still don't want anyone's pets to die. They depend upon us. Take the wisest course of action now - just avoid all wheat in our pets products until we know more.
Best to everyone.
Alpo is now on the recall list - wet food. See their website for info; Science Diet Cat food special diet m/d is on the recall (DRY). The only science diet product believed to contain the poisoned deadly wheat gluten. More to come - beware of the dry food with wheat gluten.
Del Monte just pulled many many brands of wet cat food off the shelves. See the pet connection site for a list. Del Monte doesn't have it on their web site yet.
Anyone hear anything about PetGuard ? (Dogand Cat food) My vet has always liked it very much and Whole Dog Journal has always given it great reviews.
I'm wondering too if Menu factories use the same equipment for all the brands
Nancy, its holistic isn't it? I didn't see it on the list of bad foods...nothing in it that should harm the cat.
Anyone know if wheat flour and wheat gluten are the same? Thanks
Wheat gluten is the, or a protein, in wheat flour. It makes bread rubbery rather than crumbly. You can buy it to mix with regular flour when you are making bread- bagels have alot of gluten, cake flour has very little.
Seems to me - if the wheat gluten is poisoned - so is the wheat - being a product of wheat. Unless, of course, the poison etc. happened during processing and not harvesting/storing etc.
The AKC Agility Nationals are going on right now in Ohio. This is a cross post related to them, just for fun:
VOTE FOR THE DOG AGILITY STORY
ON THE CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC
UNTIL SUNDAY MIDNIGHT
Assignment America with CBS News correspondent Steve
Hartman gives viewers three stories to choose from aspotential features on the CBS Evening News. This
segment airs during the last five minutes of the showat approximately 6:55 p.m. EDT (Please check yourlocal listings for other areas).
After Steve Hartman announces the choices, viewers areinvited to vote for their favorite story. The story that receives the most votes will be selected to airon the following week's broadcast on April 6.
Please cast your vote for the Dog Agility Story. Voting takes place immediately following the broadcast until 12 a.m. Sunday.
VOTE FOR THE DOG AGILITY STORY ON ASSIGNMENT AMERICA
HERE'S HOW:
* go to www.cbsnews.com
* SCROLL 2/3 down the CBS homepage
* CLICK ON the Assignment America ICON on the
right side
* VOTE FOR THE DOG AGILITY STORY
After reading tons of things about wheat gluten, I also found that there is RICE GLUTEN..
With wheat gluten, they wash dough made from wheat flour until the starch is rinsed away. It's very confusing to me. From what I've read, its most popular in China, where it was first developed.....The Chiniese eat it so why are our animals the only ones that are dieing? Is the source for animal foods diff. than that for humans?
SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As a precautionary measure, Del Monte Pet Products is voluntarily recalling 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. A complete list of affected brands and products is below.
The Company took this voluntary recall action immediately after learning this morning from the FDA that wheat gluten supplied to Del Monte Pet Products from a specific manufacturing facility in China contained melamine. Melamine is a substance not approved for use in food. The FDA made this finding as part of its ongoing investigation into the recent pet food recall.
The adulteration occurred in a limited production quantity on select product codes of the brands below. This recall removes all Del Monte pet products with wheat gluten procured from this manufacturing facility from retail shelves.
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.
Del Monte Pet Products has proactively engaged and fully cooperated with the FDA since the start of its investigation. The adulterated ingredients were used in limited production over the last three months for those items identified by specific product codes. Del Monte Pet Products has not used wheat gluten from this manufacturing facility in China in any other pet products except those described below.
Consumers should discontinue feeding the products with the Product Codes detailed below to their pets.
Del Monte Pet Products are 100% guaranteed and all returned product will be refunded.
Susan you have to read the information before you go and post that Del Monte pulled the wet cat food, it DID NOT pull wet cat food, posting information without reading it makes people scared and you cannot do that. This is from their pet Connection site that you claim had the information. 9 lives wet cat food is made by Del Monte and I use it and have read the ingredients. Please make sure you read all the information before you post it, Thank You it would save alot of worrying.
FDA Pinpoints Suspected Seller of Wheat Gluten
FDA just issued this warning against the import of specific wheat gluten from a maker in China. The full name of the company is: Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Company Ltd. This company also exports wheat flour, cornstarch, sweet potato starch, protein powder, zinc oxide, carrots, garlic, ginger, and other agricultural products. (Web site)
This is the only known source of contamination identified by the FDA. Unfortunately, this was never released to the media from what we can gather.
If anyone else is using supplies from this company (for human or pet consumption), they should contact the FDA ASAP.
In the alert, the FDA has now authorized the quarantine or dentention of any wheat gluten from this specific company in China and passed through the Netherlands (a transit point) without the need to inspect it. Basically preventing the supply from getting into any food stream.
Judging by the date (3/30) we suspect that this definitive action labeling this supply wheat gluten as “poisonous” is what prompted many other makers from issuing their “voluntary recalls” last Friday. After all, legally speaking, their hands were now tied.
More information can be found at the following sites:
http://www.itchmo.com/read/fda-pinpoints-suspected-seller-of-wheat-gluten_20070401
http://www.howl911.com/#foods
Dammit, It's been found in dry food.....
Hill's Prescription Diet m/d Feline Dry Food has been recalled:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01599.html
Fortunately it's only available through vets, let's hope this is one of the few dry foods hit with this damn poison.
Who could imagine that melamine a plastic would ever be used as a fertilizer ingredient? Give me good old fashion horse manure any old time for my garden!
Diane,
I currently work for Rick Tomita and yes, I like boxers with cropped ears.
Diane I believe this info on the Science Diet m/d was released on friday, after seeing the post that Del Monte pulled wet cat I checked and posted the whole article beacuse I use it for my stray and it has no wheat gluten,so the Del Monte cat is ok. It's 9 lives who makes Del Monte not sure if they nake any others, Petco has all the foods pulled and signs up all over the shelves with the latest info. I have Iams dry for the cat but bought a bag of something else today as a back up just in case. You never know what will come out, my dog is on Science Diet prescription Diet food R/D and Hills said it is fine. Let's hope nothing shows up in it.
I would just like to say, I'm upset, sad and in great pain over this food mess. I feel so much for the people who have lost pet, or who have ones that are having problems. I'm starting a candle site for the pet food mess..Go to FOOD AND LIGHT A CANDLE..WHILE YOUR THERE, LIGHT ONE FOR VIVI AND DUKE AND HOPEY AND ME...............XOXOXO ROOOOOBY, SAD IN CALIFORNIA, WITH ARNIE, ACKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
Hi Everyone,
This recall has been hell on a lot of people and their pets for sure. My daughter just called me to tell me they were recalling the pet treats also. My 2 old dogs love the Alpo liva snaps and have been eating them for years. I nearly had a heart attack when she told me about the dog treats. I went to the Alpo website and it is not one of the products recalled, Thank God! The website also stated that the recall was from their Nebraska plant. The treats I have come from Missouri. I'm still a bit leary about them eating these treats but my older dog will bark and bark and throw himself on the floor in a tantrum if he can't have these treats. I know, better mad and alive then the alternative, but as I said they didn't recall these particular treats. Any words of advice for me on this?
In case you didn't know - Iams is having problems with their dry food I believe - might be dog though. Even though you don't like PETA - look at their website. The FDA did not make them recall but has identified several elements not good for dogs, causes something very bad - it is also on the FDA website - but this IAM problem is not the same wheat gluten problem but something just as terrible. Go to pet connection and they had a thread on the IAMS and you will see many posts of people whose dogs have died after eating this IAMS -
I think IMAS was in trouble the minute they started selling in supermakrets...I could be wrong..........
Where will this end? I Keep thinking more pet foods will be recalled...LOrd have mercy on our pets. They deserve better than what has happened lately. I feel the pain of the people who's pets are in trouble..
I found cat food packaged as Organic and all natural - it had wheat gluten in it.
Read all labels carefully. This poison was human grade and the big concern is that it went from the importer, a U.S. company into the human food chain.
NOT ONLY ARE THEY CHECKING FOR SPAM, BUT THEY ARE SAYING "COMMENT TEXT IS REQUIRED..........ACCCCKKKK, i COMMENTED AND MY TEXT WAS THERE...WHATS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?????????
Iams went onto super markets when they were taken over by Procter and Gamble. I myself have not bought any of their products in over 30 years. Because they have no real regard for animals IMO and also test on animals.
Don't be fooled the - read down the Peta page on the IAMS recall - and look at the dry food - many deaths from the IAMS dry food.
Natural Balance has no artificial preservatives, flavors, colors, or bleached ingreadients. Does not contain corn, soy, what, eggs, dairy products or sunflower oil...It sounds good to me, thanks to someone on this blog..
Ruby Shoes - I guess you can call Pet Guard "holistic", it supposedly has "human grade" ingredients, it does NOT have by-products, sugar, artificial colors, flavors, etc. My animals always loved it but then again none of my cats or dogs are picky. I first heard about it from Marty Goldstein and he stays current on everything nutritional.
Whole Dog Journal runs periodic full evaluations on foods, they're kind of like a Consumers Reports for dogs. There's a Whole Cat journal too.
All the ingredients are from the U.S. too except for venison and one other meat from New Zealand - I use the Duck and Sweet Potato with no wheat, or corn anything.
I actually gave money to PETA years and years ago..What was I thinking? They talk a good talk, but I've heard too many bad things about them.
http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/7853/AZ/US/
Kathy, this makes my heart ache..That scum is going to get off with psychiatric help of some sort. He's a creep, not worthy of any kind of help.
"Baker Sipe, however, said Dean could get the psychiatric and substance abuse help he needs if he were placed on probation. He noted Dean has no prior felony convictions."
No felony convictions? He beat his girlfriend or wife up and got off by attending some kind of anger management thing..No matter what he said in court, the vet said he sexually abused the dog among other things. I would like to see him shot! I think I could do it myself.
R.I.P. Otis, you no longer hurt...Wayne Dean will get his if he is in jail with other inmates!
I'm sickened by this and the judge had a Greyhound that had recently died. I'd think he'd give Dean more than 2 years........
B-J: I am glad you feel the same way we do about Iams products. I work for a pet store, and they have been telling customers for years the same statement you made. Noone listens. Everyone thinks its a great food. When I groom a dog and the coat is real dry and they are shedding alot, I usually am on target when I ask them what are they feeding. 98% say Iams or Eukanuba. Same thing with Science Diet alot of people think becasue the vet sells it, it is good food. Our pet store goes to seminars all the time to learn about different foods, and they try to educate customers.
This whole recall is a big eye opener!
That's why I read the labels and choose food based on that. I have found very expensive foods filled with very cheap products. It IS an eye opener. That's the good part of this.
This poisoned wheat gluten was for human consumption - it is now under a detention order that is not allowed into the country unless it is safe - the FDA said clean it up. No more. I caution all to be careful of wheat gluten in our human food also. This is just not a pet food problem.
At least for now - this poison started, so they say, in December. Please avoid all pet products with Wheat Gluten and also human products. Read the labels.
The President of Del Monte Foods in a news report just mentioned that it probably went in our foods too, not just pet foods. It is Human Grade wheat gluten.
Please all avoid wheat gluten - eat fresh foods. Be careful of your children since they are smaller and might be more sensitive to this posion agent.
What else will surface??? Just went on line to subscribe to Whole Dog Journal. 12 issues for $20. This is money well spent.
Ruby, I cannot even begin to understand how these laws work! I do think that some people have animals as just pets, something to keep around for their kids and pet on the head from time to time and maybe throw a stick for them to run after if they feel like it. While others, like us, view "ours" as members of their family who are meant to be taken care of and loved!
This whole thing makes me stick to my stomach!! I did read somewhere (or heard) that while he has been in jail waiting trail, he has had a broken jaw, wrist and hand. I betcha, he has had alot worse than that happen to him. Times like this, I wish I had "connections"!!
you have to read this the Chinese firm that supplied the wheat is disputes the FDA in pet deaths...
http://money.cnn.com/2007/04/03/news/companies/petfood/index.htm?postversion=2007040309
here is another article about Iams!!!!!!!!!!!
http://money.cnn.com/2007/03/29/news/iam_pet_food.reut/index.htm
RECALL OF PET FOOD COULD EXPAND 04/03/07
USA Today reports the following -- as if we didn't have enough to be paranoid about, now we're told there could be still more brands of pet food recalled, and that melamine may not be the toxin-of-interest but merely a marker for some other as-yet-unidentified poison.
More pet-food makers could join the four that have already recalled cat and dog food, two weeks after the first recall set off a panic among pet owners, the Food and Drug Administration said Monday.
Melamine, which hasn't been documented to be highly toxic, may be a marker for something else in the gluten, says Neal Bataller at the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine.
Pet Food Express, a chain based in the San Francisco Bay Area, says it will ask its pet-food makers to supply a list of ingredients and where they come from, says Mark Witriol, co-owner.
Here is the link for the rest of the article:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/2007-04-03-pet-food-usat_N.htm
My heart aches for all the animals suffering right now as well as their heartbroken parents. I worry for some friends that I know that still refuse to see the severity of this situation and are still using commercial brands. I have warned them the recall list keeps growing and they should keep checking the sites for updates but they don't seem to be taking it as seriously as they should. I am really worried for them and it's so frustrating, but what more can I do.
I truly believe this has been going far longer than anyone realized...My Skully cat, who was a very healthy 7 year old cat had suddenly become very ill in late July, with blood levels that were off the charts, acute kindey failure, pancreatitis, diabetes, vomiting, deydration. I had fed him Iams can food and dry food, Science Diet, etc...so who knows, perhaps it's connected. It definitely makes me wonder why my perfectly healthy cat became so suddenly and severely ill and died within a week, even after being in the hospital and hooked up to IV's for 10 days. The more stories I read posted on the pet sites the more I realize I am not the only one with a story like this who is becoming increasingly suspicious with each passing minute.
*hugs to everyone out there with a sick furbaby- you are all in my thoughts and prayers*
CNN to Report on Pet Food Safety Tonight at 10pm EDT April 3rd, 2007
CNN will air a segment on Anderson Cooper’s show on the safety of pet foods tonight. One of our favorite writers, Christie Keith of Pet Connection, will be a guest. We wish her the best of clarity and quick thinking under fire to dispel any notion that the system is safe. People are still in the dark.
Update on Chelsea,she is doing better.She looks so much better and is so alert and loving.Thank you all for your kind thoughts and Prayers :)
Interesting website called vetratingz.com check it out.Check out reviews of your Vet.Blairstown NJ Animal Hospital was the Vet that I Thank for saving my girl Chelsea.
This is very scary especially the thought of your pet is affected. my oh my... Well, for now i am very cautious on what i give to my pets. I just give them the best and i got them from trusted buddies from pet supply and accessory http://www.petsupplyonlinestore.com .