Major "wet" pet food recall of dog & cat foods ~ NOW Includes Treets & Biscuits [Archive]

Cinder & Smoke

03-16-2007, 06:16 PM

Here's the Menue Foods original Canadian press release ...
worded to minimize the damage and put as positive a "spin" on the problem
as they could.

Menu Foods Income Fund Announces Precautionary Dog and Cat Food Recall
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - March 16, 2007) -

NOT FOR RELEASE OVER US NEWSWIRE SERVICES

Attention Business/Financial Editors

Menu Foods Income Fund (the "Fund") (TSX:MEW.UN) today announced the precautionary recall of a portion of the dog and cat food it manufactured between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. The recall is limited to "cuts and gravy" style pet food in cans and pouches manufactured at two of the Fund's United States facilities. These products are both manufactured and sold under private-label and are contract-manufactured for some national brands.

Over the past several days, the Fund has received feedback in the United States (none in Canada) raising concerns about pet food manufactured since early December, and its impact on the renal health of the pets consuming the products. Shortly after receipt of the first complaint, the Fund initiated a substantial battery of technical tests, conducted by both internal and external specialists, but has failed to identify any issues with the products in question. The Fund has, however, discovered that timing of the production associated with these complaints, coincides with the introduction of an ingredient from a new supplier. The Fund stopped using this ingredient shortly after this discovery and production since then has been undertaken using ingredients from another source.

At the same time, the Fund's largest customer, for which it manufactures on a contract basis, received a small number of consumer complaints and has initiated its own recall. Furthermore, for the time being, the customer has put future orders for cuts and gravy products on hold. This customer's cuts and gravy purchases in 2006 represented approximately 11% of the Fund's annual revenue.

"We take these complaints very seriously and, while we are still looking for a specific cause, we are acting to err on the side of caution" said Paul K. Henderson, President and CEO, Menu Foods. "We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that our products maintain the very highest quality standards."

While the number of complaints has been relatively small, Menu is taking this proactive step out of an abundance of caution, because the health and well-being of pets is paramount to the Fund.

In addition to changing suppliers, for production after March 6, the Fund has increased testing of all raw materials and finished goods. It is also working closely with regulatory authorities and its customers to learn more and will take whatever additional actions are appropriate. The Fund estimates that based on currently available information, this recall could cost between $30 million and $40 million, which will be financed from a combination of internally generated cash flow and bank credit facilities. Furthermore, the Fund is aggressively producing product, utilizing a different supplier for the ingredient in question, to replenish customers as quickly as possible.

In order to determine whether cat and dog food in their possession is subject to recall, consumers should refer to the list of brand names ("listed products") at www.menufoods.com/recall (http://www.menufoods.com/recall). This will be available by 6 a.m. Saturday March 17, 2007. Products not identified on the website can continue to be used.

Menu is the leading North American private-label/contract manufacturer of wet pet food products sold by supermarket retailers, mass merchandisers, pet specialty retailers and other retail and wholesale outlets. In 2006, the Fund produced more than one billion containers.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Menu Foods Income Fund
Media and Investor Relations
Sarah Tuite (416) 848-1703 or

Menu Foods Income Fund
Consumers call 1-866-463-6738
__________________________________________________ ___
Taken from:
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Press_Recall_03162007.pdf

by Phred

ShihtzuBeauty

03-16-2007, 06:53 PM

I found this on MSNBC, this link just worked for me. Soo very sad.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17650075/

Craftlady

03-16-2007, 07:07 PM

I have PetSmart's Authority brand of a chicken cuts in sauce (1 can left). My gang has eaten the other cans with no problems.
It says on the can "product of canada" but that's all it reveals.
The rest of the authority brand is a mushy solid mix that I have bought.
I got this stuff before December.

One thing that burns me is this company "Menu Foods" puts out limited information and then their website goes belly up. Makes one go "hum".

Tomorrow we will be a PetSmart and I will check the Authority brand isle for futher information. We were there Thursday and didnt see any "alert notices" We bought Authority kibble.

I found the following on yahoo.com

************************************************** *******

WASHINGTON - A major manufacturer of dog and cat food sold under Wal-Mart, Safeway, Kroger and other store brands recalled 60 million containers of wet pet food Friday after reports of kidney failure and deaths.

An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, Menu Foods said in announcing the North American recall. Product testing has not revealed a link explaining the reported cases of illness and death, the company said.

"At this juncture, we're not 100 percent sure what's happened," said Paul Henderson, the company's president and chief executive officer. However, the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, since dropped for another source, spokeswoman Sarah Tuite said. Wheat gluten is a source of protein.

The recall covers the company's "cuts and gravy" style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches between Dec. 3 and March 6 throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The pet food was sold by stores operated by the Kroger Company, Safeway Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and PetSmart Inc., among others, Henderson said.

Menu Foods did not immediately provide a full list of brand names and lot numbers covered by the recall, saying they would be posted on its Web site — http://www.menufoods.com/recall — early Saturday. Consumers with questions can call (866) 463-6738.

The company said it manufacturers for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies, including Procter & Gamble Co.

P&G announced Friday the recall of specific 3 oz., 5.5 oz., 6 oz. and 13.2 oz. canned and 3 oz. and 5.3 oz. foil pouch cat and dog wet food products made by Menu Foods but sold under the Iams and Eukanuba brands. The recalled products bear the code dates of 6339 through 7073 followed by the plant code 4197, P&G said.

Menu Foods' three U.S. and one Canadian factory produce more than 1 billion containers of wet pet food a year. The recall covers pet food made at company plants in Emporia, Kan., and Pennsauken, N.J., Henderson said.

Henderson said the company received an undisclosed number of owner complaints of vomiting and kidney failure in dogs and cats after they had been fed its products. It has tested its products but not found a cause for the sickness.

"To date, the tests have not indicated any problems with the product," Henderson said.

The company alerted the
Food and Drug Administration, which already has inspectors in one of the two plants, Henderson said. The FDA was working to nail down brand names covered by the recall, agency spokesman Mike Herndon said.

Menu Foods is majority owned by the Menu Foods Income Fund, based in Ontario, Canada.

Henderson said the recall would cost the company the Canadian equivalent of $26 million to $34 million.

Catty1

03-16-2007, 08:07 PM

When I went to the site and it timed out, this was part of the message.

"The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a few
moments."

With the news out on MSN and others, this site will likely be swamped for a week. Wouldn't surprise me.

Zippy

03-16-2007, 08:19 PM

I feel so bad for the people who's furbabies got sick or died. :(

Catty1

03-16-2007, 08:52 PM

Apparently only pets in the US were affected...poor babies!

There is a bit more product name information here, I think.
************************************************** *******
Dog, cat deaths in U.S. prompt $40M recall from Canada's Menu Foods

1 hour, 31 minutes ago

By Colin Perkel

TORONTO (CP) - One of North America's largest pet-food suppliers said Friday it would recall some of the premium dog and cat food it sells through stores such as Wal-Mart and Safeway at a cost of up to $40 million after several animal deaths in the United States.

Menu Foods Income Fund (TSX:MEW.UN), based in Streetsville, west of Toronto, called the recall of its products sold in cans and pouches precautionary.

CEO Paul Henderson told The Canadian Press that exhaustive tests by both internal and external specialists had failed to identify the problem.

"We're not entirely sure what has happened," Henderson said in an interview.

"We've undertaken a battery of technical tests . . . and all of those tests have failed to identify any issues at all with our product."

One dog and a "small number" of cats in the U.S. are reported to have died from kidney failure after eating the food, Henderson said.

There had been no complaints from Canadian pet owners.

The company said it had also beefed up the testing of all raw materials and finished goods.

Menu Foods, one of the leading North American private-label and contract manufacturer of wet pet-food products, produced more than one billion containers last year.

It supplies its products to 17 of the top 20 retailers in North America for sale under store labels such as Master Choice, Compliments and Select and manufactures for several national brands.

Starting in December, concerns began filtering back to the company through toll-free customer lines about its "cuts and gravy" style pet food.

Callers complained their animals had fallen ill although no direct link to the food was established.

Henderson said it was "very frustrating" not being able to identify the exact nature of the problem.

"The company has always built its reputation around, and is very concerned with, animal health and well being - that's the whole reason for the company's being," he said.

"That's why we opted to take this precautionary recall simply because it appears that there is a link between the food and the illnesses."

The company did not immediately identify which of the "large number" of products were affected by the recall but said it would post a list on its website Saturday at www.menufoods.com/recall.

Concerned consumers were also incorrectly referred to the Nestle-Purina pet-care hotline which was swamped with calls on Friday.

The Menu Foods customer service hotline can be reached at 866-463-6738 as of 6 a.m. EST Saturday for more information on what brands were affected.

One large customer in the United States - which accounts for 11 per cent of Menu's revenues - initiated its own recall after receiving complaints and put future orders for the products on hold.

In what Henderson said was a "coincidental event," production associated with the complaints coincided with the introduction of an ingredient from a new supplier, which has since been discontinued.

He refused to name the ingredient or the supplier.

The recall affects products made between Dec. 3, 2006 and March 6 at two of its American facilities in Emporia, Kan., and Pennsauken, N.J.

Menu's other plants are located North Sioux City, S.D., and Streetsville.

The cost of the recall, which spooked investors, would be financed from internal cash and bank credit, Henderson said.

Following a trading halt for the announcement, Menu Foods Income Fund units plunged more than 25 per cent on the Toronto Stock Exchange to close at $5.50, a drop of $1.90 on a trading volume of more than 271,000 units.

elizabethann

03-16-2007, 09:27 PM

This is such horrible news. My heart goes out to the pets that died. I wish they would tell people what products were recalled. :(

beeniesmom

03-17-2007, 07:21 AM

I don't have any of the dog foods listed in my house.
It's for canned wet food.
I have Nutro dry but not wet.

Freedom

03-17-2007, 07:51 AM

Today's newspaper says some were sold under both the Iams and the Eukanuba brand names.

Ugh!

Craftlady

03-17-2007, 08:35 AM

The company website is up and running ok today.
Here's the link website (http://www.menufoods.com/recall)
The recall list is in excell format.
There are thousands of listing and this is going to be a HUGH impact on dog/cat can industry. I'm betting prices we go SKY high as a result. :(

Cinder & Smoke

03-17-2007, 08:59 AM

Here's some of the info from the Menu Foods Recall web pages ...

LIST **REVISED** Wednesday, March 21, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
to ADD More Brands to the original list posted on Friday / Saturday.

*Click* on each Store or Brand Name you're interestred in checking;
spreadsheets pop up after *clicking* each Store or Brand Name on the list;
the spreadsheet page gives the Lot Numbers recalled for each Brand.

From the Menu Foods web site on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 -
the Dog list now has 53 Recall enteries;
the Cat list now has 42 Recall Enteries.

Recalled Dog Product Information (3/21/2007)
Recall Information 1-866-895-2708

Americas Choice, Preferred Pets (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Americas%20Choice_Preferred%20Pet.htm)
Authority (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Authority.htm)
Award (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Award.htm)
Best Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Best%20Choice.htm)
Big Bet (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Big%20Bet.htm)
Big Red (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Big%20Red.htm)
Bloom (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Bloom.htm)
Cadillac (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Cardillac.htm)
Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Companion_AholdDog3%2018%2007.htm)
Demoulas Market Basket (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Demoulas%20Market%20Basket.htm)
Eukanuba (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/EUKANUBA_Dog.htm)
Food Lion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Food%20Lion.htm)
Giant Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Companion_AholdDog3%2018%2007.htm)
Great Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Great%20Choice.htm)
Hannaford (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Hannaford.htm)
Hill Country Fare (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Hill%20Country%20Fare.htm)
Hy-Vee (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Hy-Vee.htm)
Iams (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/IAMS_Dog.htm)
Laura Lynn (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Laura%20Lynn.htm)
Loving Meals (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Loving%20Meals.htm)
Meijers Main Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Meijer's%20Main%20Choice.htm)
Mighty Dog Pouch (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_mightydog.html)
Mixables (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Mixables.htm)
Nutriplan (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Nutriplan.htm)
Nutro Max (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Nutro%20Max.htm)
Nutro Natural Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Nutro%20Natural%20Choice.htm)
Nutro Ultra (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Nutro%20Ultra.htm)
Nutro (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Nutro.htm)
Ol'Roy Canada (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Ol'Roy%20Canada.htm)
Ol'Roy US (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Ol'Roy%20US.htm)
Paws (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Paws.htm)
Pet Essentials (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Pet%20Essentials.htm)
Pet Pride - Good n Meaty (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Pet%20Pride%20-%20Good%20n%20Meaty.htm)
Presidents Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Presidents%20Choice.htm)
Price Chopper (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Price%20Chopper.htm)
Priority Canada (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Priority%20Canada.htm)
Priority US (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Priority%20US.htm)
Publix (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Publix.htm)
Roche Brothers (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Roche%20Brothers.htm)
Save-A-Lot (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Save_A_Lot.htm)
Schnucks (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Schnucks.htm)
Shep Dog (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Shep%20Dog.htm)
Springsfield Prize (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Springsfield%20Prize.htm)
Sprout (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Sprout.htm)
Stater Brothers (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Stater%20Brothers.htm)
Stop & Shop Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Companion_AholdDog3%2018%2007.htm)
Tops Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Companion_AholdDog3%2018%2007.htm)
Wegmans Bruiser (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Bruiser.htm)
Weis Total Pet (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Weis%20Total%20Pet.htm)
Western Family US (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Western%20Family%20US.htm)
White Rose (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/White%20Rose.htm)
Winn Dixie (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Winn%20Dixie.htm)
Your Pet (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Your%20Pet.htm)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Recalled Cat Product Information (3/21/2007)
Recall Information 1-866-895-2708

Americas Choice, Preferred Pets (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Americas%20Choice,Preferred%20Pet.htm)
Authority (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Authority.htm)
Best Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Best%20Choice.htm)
Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/CompanionProductRecallListAHOLD3%2018%2007.htm)
Compliments (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Compliments.htm)
Demoulas Market Basket (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Demoulas%20Market%20Basket.htm)
Eukanuba (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/EUKANUBA_Cat.htm)
Fine Feline Cat (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Fine%20Feline%20Cat.htm)
Food Lion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Food%20Lion.htm)
Foodtown (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Foodtown.htm)
Giant Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/CompanionProductRecallListAHOLD3%2018%2007.htm)
Hannaford (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Hannaford.htm)
Hill Country Fare (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Hill%20Country%20Fare.htm)
Hy-Vee (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Hy-Vee.htm)
Iams (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/IAMS_Cat.htm)
Laura Lynn (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Laura%20Lynn.htm)
Li'l Red (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Li'l%20Red.htm)
Loving Meals (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Loving%20Meals.htm)
Meijer's Main Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Meijer's%20Main%20Choice.htm)
Nutriplan (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Nutriplan.htm)
Nutro Max Gourmet Classics (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Nutro%20Max%20Gourmet%20Classics.htm)
Nutro Natural Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Nutro%20Natural%20Choice.htm)
Paws (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Paws.htm)
Pet Pride (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Pet%20Pride.htm)
Presidents Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Presidents%20Choice.htm)
Price Chopper (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Price%20Chopper.htm)
Priority US (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Priority%20US.htm)
Save-A-Lot (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Save-A-Lot.htm)
Schnucks (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Schnucks.htm)
Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_sciencediet.html)
Sophistacat (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Sophistacat.htm)
Special Kitty Canada (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Special%20Kitty%20Canada.htm)
Special Kitty US (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Special%20Kitty%20US.htm)
Springfield Prize (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Springfield%20Prize.htm)
Sprout (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Sprout.htm)
Stop & Shop Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/CompanionProductRecallListAHOLD3%2018%2007.htm)
Tops Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/CompanionProductRecallListAHOLD3%2018%2007.htm)
Wegmans (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Wegmans.htm)
Weis Total Pet (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Weis%20Total%20Pet.htm)
Western Family US (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Western%20Family%20US.htm)
White Rose (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/White%20Rose.htm)
Winn Dixie (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Winn%20Dixie.htm)

ADDITIONAL Information is leaking out ---
Some Pet Food Labels that are really manufactured by Menu Foods must not have
wanted their names associated with this recall - even though the foods are possibly tainted ...

Guess Who is recalling and now admitting involvement?

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.,
Announces Voluntary Participation in Menu Foods’ Nationwide U.S.
and Canadian recall of Specific Canned Cat Foods.
Topeka, KS (March 16, 2007) – In response to the recent Menu Foods, Inc. nationwide recall of wet pet foods, Hill’s® Pet Nutrition, Inc. has announced a voluntary precautionary recall in the United States and Canada of a very small number of canned cat products that are co-manufactured by Menu.
Hill’s is voluntarily recalling the following products:

1. Science Diet® Kitten Savory Cuts® Ocean Fish 3 oz. and 5.5 oz.
2. Science Diet® Feline Adult Savory Cuts® Beef 5.5 oz.
3. Science Diet® Feline Adult Savory Cuts® Chicken 5.5 oz.
4. Science Diet® Feline Adult Savory Cuts® Ocean Fish 5.5 oz.
5. Science Diet® Feline Senior Savory Cuts® Chicken 5.5 oz.

No other Hill’s products are affected by this recall.
Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., is taking this precautionary step to protect the health and well being of your pets. Hill’s has received no reported cases of illness. Consumers of other pet food brands manufactured by Menu Foods have reported a small number of cases of cats becoming ill with loss of appetite, vomiting, and lethargy which are potential signs of kidney failure.
This voluntary product recall involves discontinuation of all retail sales and product retrieval from consumers. Consumers should stop using the affected products immediately. Consult with a veterinarian if any symptoms are present in your pet. All Science Diet products carry a 100 percent guarantee, and consumers can receive a refund for recalled products. For more information, consumers can contact the company at 1-800-445-5777 or visit www.HillsPet.com (http://www.hillspet.com/) for details.
Hill’s is recalling the following product codes. Product codes can be found at the bottom of the can. Only relevant code numbers have been listed (‘X’s indicate irrelevant numbers).

BESTBEFORE 09 2008
M06XXXXXX 4414

.
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4416

.
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4415

.
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4601

.
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4603

.
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M25XXXXXX 4457

.
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4414

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., has informed the Food and Drug Administration and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on this issue. The company regrets any inconvenience to its consumers, retail customers and veterinarians.
__________________________________________________ ______________

"Science Diet" is the "retail" brand of Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc - the people who sell
the Prescription Only Dog & Cat foods through Licensed Veterinarians.

There's no reason given on the Hill's site WHY their products aren't listed on the Menu Foods recall pages.

Makes ME wonder how many more of the major pet food suppliers are not allowing their names to be listed by Menu Foods.

Not being on the Menu Foods Recall list doesn't necessarily mean that a wet food is "safe".
________________________________________________

Products

Menu has approximately 4,600 stock keeping units and produces a variety of loaf and chunk and gravy products, in aluminum, steel and pouch containers in sizes including 85g, 150g, 156g, 170g, 374g, 396g and 624g and 652g. Packaging includes high cone, six pack, 12 pack, mixed variety and 24 and 30 pack formats.

Menu strives to execute a “quick-to-follow” strategy whereby once a leading brand establishes a popular product format or formulation, Menu offers an analogous product to its customers. Menu’s manufacturing and product development capabilities often permit it to introduce analogous products for retail customers within a matter of months following the introduction of the new product by a branded manufacturer. Menu also develops proprietary and innovative products at the request of certain customers.

__________________________________________________ _____

by Phred on 3/17/2007 & REVISED 3/21/2007

IRescue452

03-17-2007, 09:08 AM

46 brands of dog food and 37 of cat fod! Including names like Authority and Nutro. This just goes to show how careful you have to be when choosing a pet food. How many people knew that Menu Foods controlled this many brands? I sure didn't.

catnapper

03-17-2007, 09:44 AM

My heart almost stopped when I saw that it causes kidney damage.... since thats what Pouncer's emergency was this week. Fortunately, I haven't fed my cats any of the listed wet foods.

gini

03-17-2007, 10:14 AM

I saw this article this morning and raced here to post about it. Thank you, Phred for beating me to it and also posting all of the brands of dog and cat food.

This is very serious - and I hope we all keep bumping this thread and the others so that everyone sees it.

Again, thanks Phred!

Cinder & Smoke

03-17-2007, 10:25 AM

:mad:
ADDITIONAL Information is leaking out ---
Some Pet Food Labels that are really manufactured by Menu Foods must not have
wanted their names associated with this recall - even though the foods are possibly tainted ...

Guess Who is recalling and now admitting involvement?

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.,
Announces Voluntary Participation in Menu Foods’ Nationwide U.S.
and Canadian recall of Specific Canned Cat Foods.
Topeka, KS (March 16, 2007) – In response to the recent Menu Foods, Inc. nationwide recall of wet pet foods, Hill’s® Pet Nutrition, Inc. has announced a voluntary precautionary recall in the United States and Canada of a very small number of canned cat products that are co-manufactured by Menu.
Hill’s is voluntarily recalling the following products:

1. Science Diet® Kitten Savory Cuts® Ocean Fish 3 oz. and 5.5 oz.
2. Science Diet® Feline Adult Savory Cuts® Beef 5.5 oz.
3. Science Diet® Feline Adult Savory Cuts® Chicken 5.5 oz.
4. Science Diet® Feline Adult Savory Cuts® Ocean Fish 5.5 oz.
5. Science Diet® Feline Senior Savory Cuts® Chicken 5.5 oz.

No other Hill’s products are affected by this recall.
Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., is taking this precautionary step to protect the health and well being of your pets. Hill’s has received no reported cases of illness. Consumers of other pet food brands manufactured by Menu Foods have reported a small number of cases of cats becoming ill with loss of appetite, vomiting, and lethargy which are potential signs of kidney failure.
This voluntary product recall involves discontinuation of all retail sales and product retrieval from consumers. Consumers should stop using the affected products immediately. Consult with a veterinarian if any symptoms are present in your pet. All Science Diet products carry a 100 percent guarantee, and consumers can receive a refund for recalled products. For more information, consumers can contact the company at 1-800-445-5777 or visit www.HillsPet.com (http://www.hillspet.com/) for details.
Hill’s is recalling the following product codes. Product codes can be found at the bottom of the can. Only relevant code numbers have been listed (‘X’s indicate irrelevant numbers).

1. .
BESTBEFORE 09 2008
M06XXXXXX 4414

2. .
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4416

3. .
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4415

4. .
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4601

5. .
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4603

6. .
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M25XXXXXX 4457

7. .
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4414

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., has informed the Food and Drug Administration and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on this issue. The company regrets any inconvenience to its consumers, retail customers and veterinarians.
__________________________________________________ ______________

"Science Diet" is the "retail" brand of Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc - the people who sell
the Prescription Only Dog & Cat foods through Licensed Veterinarians.

There's no reason given on the Hill's site WHY their products aren't listed on the Menu Foods recall pages.

Makes ME wonder how many more of the major pet food suppliers are not allowing their names to
be listed by Menu Foods.

Not being on the Menu Foods Recall list doesn't necessarily mean that a wet food is "safe".

by :mad: Phred

lizbud

03-17-2007, 10:30 AM

Eukanuba, Iams & Science Diet also may be involved. Makes some of
the opinions of what's the best food to feed you dogs seem silly now, since
they all can be made by the same company under vastly different names. :confused:

Company Recalls Millions Of Pet Food Products
Major Brands Affected

POSTED: 10:23 am EDT March 17, 2007
UPDATED: 10:29 am EDT March 17, 2007

Email This Story | Print This Story

WASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration is warning pet owners of a massive pet food recall. Menu Foods, Inc. is recalling 60 million containers of wet pet food.

The Canadian-based manufacturer is recalling all its "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food produced between December 3 and March 6. The company distributes the products to numerous retailers in the form of cans and pouches and under different brand names.

The products are sold stores including Wal-Mart, PetSmart, Pet Valu and Kroger.

Consumer complaints prompted the recall and so far nine cats and one dog died from kidney failure after eating the product. Brands like Eukanuba, Iams and Science Diet may be involved, officials with the company said.

Officials are warning pet owners to immediately stop feeding the contaminated foods to their pets and should see pet's veterinarian if they develop signs of kidney failure, including loss of appetite, vomiting or lethargy.

The company said they have conducted tests, but are so far unable to locate the source of the contamination.

A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates is available from the Menu Foods Web site at menufoods.com.

Dog Products
Cat Products

elizabethann

03-17-2007, 10:59 AM

I don't have excel so I can't open any of the files to see what pet foods are being recalled. Does anyone have a link to a non-excel list?

Uabassoon

03-17-2007, 11:38 AM

This is from the Iams Website

P&G Pet Care Announces Voluntary Participation in Menu Foods’ Nationwide U.S. and Canadian Recall of Specific Canned and Small Foil Pouch ‘Wet’ Cat and Dog Foods

Dayton, OH (March 16, 2007) – In response to the recent Menu Foods, Inc. nationwide recall of wet pet foods, P&G Pet Care has announced a voluntary recall in the United States and Canada on specific 3 oz., 5.5 oz., 6 oz. and 13.2 oz. canned and 3 oz. and 5.3 oz. foil pouch “wet” cat and dog food products manufactured by Menu Foods Inc. Emporia, Kansas plant with the code dates of 6339 through 7073 followed by the plant code 4197. This voluntary recall is part of a larger product recall by Menu Foods Inc., a contract manufacturer that makes a small portion of canned and foil pouch ‘wet’ cat foods for Iams and Eukanuba as well as other non-P&G brands. There have been a small number of reported cases of cats from the US (none in Canada) becoming sick and developing signs of kidney failure. The signs of kidney failure include loss of appetite, vomiting, and lethargy. P&G Pet Care has received no case reports involving dogs.

This voluntary product recall involves discontinuation of all retail sales and product retrieval from consumers. Consumers should stop using the affected products immediately, and consult with a veterinarian if any symptoms are present in their pet. All Iams and Eukanuba products carry a 100 percent guarantee, and consumers can receive a refund for recalled products. For more information, consumers can contact the company at 1-800-882-1591 or visit www.Iams.com and www.Eukanuba.com for details.

To read can product codes, refer to the bottom of the can. The first four numbers of the second line of numbers are the date code, and the following four numbers indicate the plant code. For example, if the second line begins with four numbers from 6339 to 7073 followed by the plant code 4197, then the can should be recalled. For foil pouches, the code numbers are located at the lower left hand corner on the back of the pouch. The date and plant codes appear in the third group of numbers, beginning an 11-digit sequence. See www.Iams.com and www.Eukanuba.com for illustrated details. Review the list of involved products here.

P&G Pet Care is taking this proactive step out of an abundance of caution, because the health and well-being of pets is paramount in the mission of Iams and Eukanuba. Tests of some affected product have not revealed the cause of sickness, and testing will continue until a better understanding of the facts has been achieved. All other canned and small foil wet pouch products produced at other plants are not affected by this issue. Iams and Eukanuba “dry” products are not manufactured at Menu Foods and not affected by this issue. Iams and Eukanuba biscuits, treats and sauces are not affected by this issue.

P&G Pet Care has informed the Food and Drug Administration and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on this issue. The company regrets any inconvenience to its consumers and retail customers.

jazzcat

03-17-2007, 11:38 AM

Could some one tell me what is listed for the cat Nutro Max Gourmet Classics
Nutro Natural Choice please. I don't have excel either so I can't see the specific info.

Is this just for wet food? I usually feed dry only but I've been feeding Ripley wet per vet orders the past few weeks and it's been those two types. I'm feeding him wet to help his kidney failure - OMG! I could be making him worse!

Cinder & Smoke

03-17-2007, 11:41 AM

Two more sellers of Wet Pet Foods - Iams and Eukanuba - announce on
their web sites that Menu Foods is the actual manufacturer of many of their
products ... and those Dog & Cat products are being recalled.

Iams main recall page:
http://us.iams.com/iams/en_US/jsp/IAMS_Page.jsp?pageID=PCA&articleID=300003

"P&G Pet Care Announces Voluntary Participation in Menu Foods’ Nationwide U.S. and Canadian Recall of Specific Canned and Small Foil Pouch ‘Wet’ Cat and Dog Foods...

As i posted before ...

The fact that a particular Wet Dog or Cat food, canned or pouched, is NOT listed on
the Menu Foods Recall pages is NOT a good indication that the food is "safe".

For unknown reasons, some of the Brands that Menu manufactures are being
left off the Menu Recall List - yet these "unlisted" brands ARE Being Recalled!

Go buy a bag of Krunchies till you have Positive Knowledge that your brand of
wet, chunky, or gravey Dog or Cat food is KNOWN to be SAFE!

/s/ Phred

jazzcat

03-17-2007, 11:46 AM

Here is the list of specific cans and pouches of Nutro brand from Nutro's website.
Nutro Recall List (http://www.nutroproducts.com/menufoods.asp)

Thank goodness nothing I've been feeding Ripley is listed but I still don't feel safe. :(

krazyaboutkatz

03-17-2007, 11:57 AM

I read this thread last night and then I also saw it on the news. This is horrible.:( Luckily I feed my cats Royal Canin Prescription food in both dry and wet and I've just started feeding Starr Hills Prescription in dry. The only wet and dry foods that I've been buying lately were bought at Petco and it's the Natural Balance Green Pea and Venison.

jazzcat

03-17-2007, 12:05 PM

I just checked Purina's website and they are voluntarily recalling Mighty Dog 5.3 ounce pouches but say that no other Purina product is on the list.

Beware, it isn't listed on the Menu Foods List so even if you don't see your brand of food there check the specific brand's website to make sure. Better safe than sorry.

gemini9961

03-17-2007, 12:25 PM

Yikes!!! What a HUGE recall with so many different brands of food. I feel horrible for those affected.

momoffuzzyfaces

03-17-2007, 12:56 PM

My cats always eat the "Special Kitty" brand. They don't eat the cuts and gravy though. Just to be safe, it's all going out!!!!
They best hope their crummy food didn't harm my kids!!!! :mad:

Luckily they mostly eat crunchy Meow mix!!!

catnapper

03-17-2007, 02:07 PM

Add Iams and Eukanuba to the list. They were on Petsmart's pull list when I went into work this afternoon. Sneaky.... they are telling the stores but not admitting it to the general public. I knew I never liked Iams, this only reinforces it.

cyber-sibes

03-17-2007, 02:17 PM

:( What a disaster, I hope they get this whole thing sorted out. I'm glad everyone is posting the brand info they've heard.

Some of us may never know if those brands of food affected a pet we already lost - like my ChowChow kitty, put down for kidney failure. :( I know it was before the listed manufacture dates, but several of the canned foods I switched him to are on the list. If it's happening now, it could have happened then, too.

Star is going in for that dental surgery in a week & I was planning to give her wet food for a while till her mouth heals. Perhaps I should reconsider....

Roxyluvsme13

03-17-2007, 02:28 PM

Oh my gosh. Lily ate some of the Nutro food listed and I'm pretty sure the dates matched up. :(

BC_MoM

03-17-2007, 02:37 PM

The M&M's eat Priority. I'm shocked at how many brands are being recalled!!

How do we know if we have "bad" cans or not? I don't keep cans so I can't match up UPCs (wouldn't they all be different, anyway???).

My parents are saying it's okay, but I think I'll be going out to find something else to feed them today......

lizbud

03-17-2007, 05:19 PM

I've been looking everywhere but didn't see Pedigree dog food (cans)
listed on any list? Does anyone know if it's included in the recall?

Dorothy39

03-17-2007, 05:23 PM

I saw this article posted , yesterday, and I called my Son, leaving a Mother's voice on his answering machine~ He feeds his Chihuahua Pedigree Pouches on occasion!!!

I didn't see Pedigree listed, but that food looks disgusting to me anyway :o(foil pouches)

gini

03-17-2007, 06:33 PM

I've been looking everywhere but didn't see Pedigree dog food (cans)
listed on any list? Does anyone know if it's included in the recall?

I have been reading all of the news online looking for Pedigree as well
as my neighbor feeds her goldens Pedigree.

I have not seen it listed anywhere.

It is amazing how many brands come from just one source. Makes you wonder doesn't it?

Cinder & Smoke

03-17-2007, 07:58 PM

See the Purina / Mighty Dog site at:
http://www.purina.com/company/press/2007/MightyDog.aspx

Purina to voluntarily withdraw Mighty Dog® 5.3 ounce pouch products in response to Menu Foods recall

No other Purina products affected

St. Louis, Missouri, March 16, 2007
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company today announced that as a precautionary measure, it is voluntarily withdrawing its 5.3 ounce Mighty Dog® brand pouch products that were produced by Menu Foods, Inc. from December 3, 2006 through March 14, 2007. This withdrawal is in response to the recall initiated earlier today by Menu Foods, a contract manufacturer that does limited business with Purina as well as with other pet food manufacturers. Only Mighty Dog 5.3 ounce pouch products are being withdrawn by Nestlé Purina, including those pouches contained in multi-packs. Importantly, no Mighty Dog canned products, or any other Purina products are affected by Menu’s recall.

While Purina has no indication of any product quality or safety issues specifically related to our Mighty Dog pouch products, Purina is taking this proactive action out of an abundance of caution in response to the Menu Foods recall.

Consumers who have the indicated Mighty Dog 5.3 ounce pouch products should discontinue feeding them to their dogs and can receive the full replacement value of the withdrawn products by calling 1-800-551-7392.

The Mighty Dog pouch products and pouches in multi-pack cartons have code dates of 6337 through 7073, followed by the plant code 1798. This information should be checked on the bottom or back panel of the individual pouches. Specifically, if the code following the “Use By” date begins with four numbers from 6337 to 7073 followed by the plant code 1798, then the pouch is included in this voluntary withdrawal.

by Phred 3/17/2007

Chica

03-17-2007, 08:10 PM

Thank God I don't use those store brands!!!!!!!!I make my gogs their food.!!!! :) ;) That is so sad for those animals that died!!!! :) ;) Somehow those people should get something back from loosing their loved pet!!!!If anyone has lost their pet, I think you should write the company a letter letting them know your lose,

Chica

03-18-2007, 10:20 AM

Hi, I checked some food I had in the garage for my 2 Chihuahua's. I have pouches of Nutro Natural Choice puppy food, Chicken and Cheese Casserole and Yankee Pot Roast. The Chicken is dated Dec, which is a recall date, and Pot Roast is dated Nov. which is not a recall date.I am not going to use them in my dogs food, which I sometimes mix with Royal Canin dry food. I am going to throw them out. I make them ground chicken or turkey every week to put in their dry food. That is much safer to. I will not buy canned or pouch food for a long time.

lizbud

03-18-2007, 12:30 PM

I have been reading all of the news online looking for Pedigree as well
as my neighbor feeds her goldens Pedigree.

I have not seen it listed anywhere.

It is amazing how many brands come from just one source. Makes you wonder doesn't it?

Thanks. I haven't found it on any recall lists either.I never have used
any food in pouchs, so that's good, I guess. It's strange that the company
involved can't find anything wrong in the food they've tested so far. :confused:

Pom mommy

03-18-2007, 07:23 PM

I don't think Menu foods make Pedigree. I had some of the varieties of food here that were recalled :mad: . The dates and numbers didn't match but were in the time frame. I'm disgusted that "good" pet store brands of food are made with the same ingredients as the Walmart and grocery store brands. I'm also worried the girls may have eaten some of the lots that are considered contaminated :mad: . They have no signs of being sick but we'll call the vet tomorrow am and see if she wants to do a blood or urine test.
My girls won't eat their kibble without some canned food added so I went to good old Walmart and got a couple of cans of the Pedigree. I still don't feel safe about any of this.
I did drag all the affected brands we had back to the store and got a refund on all of it.

momoffuzzyfaces

03-18-2007, 09:37 PM

At going on 17, Leonardo's teeth aren't what they used to be so he really needs some wet food. I'm going to go tomorrow and get him some Friskies or 9 Lives. They aren't shown on any of the lists I've seen. I'll be sure to stay away from the cuts and gravy stuff too. :(

Cinder & Smoke

03-18-2007, 11:02 PM

<bump>

We're getting some New Threads on this subject that do not have all the details.
/s/ Phred

Logan

03-19-2007, 07:28 AM

Connie, Butter likes the fishiest pouches of Whiskas. They are not on the list, either. You might try that.

ramanth

03-19-2007, 09:25 AM

Wow. I heard there was a pet food recall but had no idea it was this massive. :(

So are all those brands pretty much identical food but sold under different names and at different prices? How sad. :(

No one here has had wet food in a long time, but I've forwarded the list to everyone I can think of that has pets.

lizbud

03-19-2007, 10:12 AM

I read yesterday that the thing causing the problem was a new ingrediant
they had just used from a new supplier. It was indentified as a 'wheat glutin"
mixture. I wonder if they tested this before adding it to the mix?

Recall of pet food alarms owners
Vets report a surge in calls after many big-name brands are pulled from shelves.

By Kimi Yoshino
Times Staff Writer
Published March 19, 2007

Worries about food safety hit America's pet owners last weekend as they came to grips with a dog and cat food recall affecting 88 brands of mostly canned "cuts and gravy" selections.

In all, about 60 million cans and foil pouches of items made by Streetsville, Canada-based Menu Foods Income Fund were being recalled.

As the food became linked to at least 10 recent animal deaths, pet owners began making nervous calls to their veterinarians and flooding the Canadian company's phone lines. Many of the best-known U.S. brands of pet food are on the recall list.

Patrick McElroy was annoyed and a little nervous Sunday while playing with his dog Eli at the Silver Lake dog park. "I did recently just buy three to four cans of Mighty Dog," he said. "I guess I'm just going to throw it out and not think about it. It's not even worth the chance."

McElroy expressed anger at the recall, particularly at a time when there have been increasing reports of contaminated foods.

"It's indicative of the trend of the entire country — not just dog food but human food too. If my dog ever died, I'd be outraged."

The large number of brands affected — all made by the same company at a Kansas facility from Dec. 3 to March 6 — also caught people's attention.

The list included big names such as Iams, Eukanuba and other private-label brands sold at major retailers. Nestle Purina PetCare Co. and Hills Pet Nutrition Inc. also voluntarily recalled some of their products made by Menu Foods.

"Oh my god, Eukanuba, too?" said Victoria Levy, 31, of the brand she occasionally buys for her teacup Yorkshire terrier. "That's so disturbing. When they put food on the shelves, you trust that it's safe."

On Sunday, an investigative team from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration collected more samples from the Menu Foods plant in Emporia, Kan., for testing and analysis. No cause had been identified.

Menu Foods spokeswoman Sarah Tuite said the complaints from consumers coincided with use of a new ingredient from a new supplier, but she declined to give more details until tests confirmed the problem. The company has stopped using the ingredient.

Most retailers have pulled the recalled products from their shelves. Now the FDA is encouraging consumers to check the company's website at http://www.menufoods.comfor specific recall information, including Universal Product Codes. They should purge their cupboards if necessary, said David Elder, the FDA's enforcement director. Distribution of the food appears to be nationwide and not necessarily isolated to a specific region.

The company's stock Friday dived nearly 26% on the Toronto Stock Exchange when news of the recall surfaced. The company said the recall could cost it $40 million.

The FDA is tracking reports of sick pets, Elder said. Local FDA offices can be reached through the agency's website at http://www.fda.gov .

Local pet clinics reported a surge in calls, and some veterinarians said they had treated potential cases. The recalled food may be causing kidney failure, whose symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.

Joel Pasco, a Costa Mesa veterinarian, said he treated a Yorkshire terrier Saturday that had suffered intermittent vomiting for a week. It had been fed one of the recalled pet foods. Lab tests were due back today.

"Those are common symptoms in dogs, whether it be spoiled food in a garbage can or food that was poisoned when it came out of the can, which is extremely rare," Pasco said.

Los Angeles pet owner Charles Marder fears his Belgian shepherd Ranger may have become sick after eating nine cans of recalled Iams food last week.

"He would just throw himself on the floor and start whimpering," said Marder, who took Ranger to the vet Thursday. "He would just be laying down and then just defecate."

After he heard about the recall, Marder made another appointment.

Greg Collins, 40, said he immediately checked the list. "I was like, 'Whew,' " he said. "Your dogs are your kids. Knowing the way owners are, they'll do like I did and they'll scramble to see which brands were responsible."

momoffuzzyfaces

03-19-2007, 12:46 PM

lvpets2002

03-19-2007, 01:01 PM

:( It is all so sad to know that the food you trusted to feed your babies could have killed them.. Oh I am so so glad that I dont feed my girls any of those brands.. They like Whiskas Tender Bits & Dry & Meow Mix.. :)

Craftlady

03-19-2007, 01:10 PM

jazzcat

03-19-2007, 01:22 PM

king2005

03-19-2007, 01:53 PM

I freaked & checked the list.. then realized its for wet food, thank goodness! Bear will be ok then...

Streetsville is ooooh a couple blocks away from where I work :(

What I do have to say is that I'm THRILLED the company is reacting in a very timely mannor (from what I can see anyways) & is getting it into the news asap!!

I remember all too well that toxic food last year, & If I recall, it wasn't made public soon enough & many many animals died, or are physically damaged for life.

The news report I read yesterday said they tested the new ingredient & wasn't able to find the problem (yet), so they pulled the ingredient anyways, as that was the only change in the food.

IF I was buying that brand of food, I'd be in a panic as well, but I'd also be thankfull that the company is trying to correct it asap...

We don't live in a perfect world & from exp. doo doo happeneds. Its how the company reacts is what makes the difference & also how often this sort of thing happeneds from said company.

Bengalz

03-19-2007, 07:30 PM

When I went to Walmart this morning, it didn't look like a thing had been pulled. All the pouches and Special Kitty still in stock. All cat food fully still stocked. When I checked out, I asked the checkout person if 9 Lives was on the recall list. She asked "What recall list?" So I told her!!! :mad: :(

My experience yesterday at my local pet store was somewhat similar but actually worked out very well. I went in to buy Eve's supply of Innova cat food and asked Rene if he had many inquiring customers about the food recall. He and his colleagues had not been informed by 1) the food manufacturer or 2) any of the reps who sell the various brands. When I told him about the recall he immediately started calling every rep the store dealt with to get as much comprehensive info as he could. Some of his reps responded immediately (for a Sunday morning, that's good!). I then offered to download as much as I could and bring it to him for reference.

When I went back into the shop a short while later with my lists, Rene was pulling every item they stocked I had mentioned earlier and assured me he would be calling his customer list to inform anyone who hadn't heard. Their database holds information on regular customers and the brands of pet foods they purchase :) I was so impressed and happy that he chose to take a very proactive stance on the matter.

Rene incidently is the person who recommended I put Eve on the Innova brand when I asked for advice and I am so glad I listened to him :)

Betty

momoffuzzyfaces

03-19-2007, 08:23 PM

The 9 Lives brand is ok. There is a list on their web site of the brands they make. All ok. They are by the Del Monte co.

Here is the link. There is a link to click on at the lower right telling about their brands and the recall. I should have known you could trust Morris!!!

http://9lives.com/default.aspx?page=home#

CNN had a report tonight that said only 10 pets have died but they expect there to be more!!!! :eek: :( :mad:

CathyBogart

03-19-2007, 08:41 PM

This is scary. We've had to keep as up to date as possible at the clinic because a lot of worried owners have called us. Fortunately, we haven't seen any animals come in with problems related to this. *Knock wood*

momoffuzzyfaces

03-20-2007, 03:00 PM

Fox news just ran an update. They said the company still has no idea what is killing the pets. It did it's own tests by feeding it to some dogs and 1 out of every 6 dogs died!!!! :( :( :(

smokey the elder

03-21-2007, 07:30 AM

I'd be surprised if they are not testing the plant the gluten came from. It's possible that coolant (ethylene glycol) got into the feed stream. EG is the same as antifreeze, and has severe kidney effects.

mugsy

03-21-2007, 08:28 AM

Keep checking....the list keeps growing and the lower end foods like Purina and Whiskas etc are the ones added. In the higher end foods you don't have wheat gluten (in fact they don't have anything wheat in them since wheat is such an allergen), so it's not as worrisome.

This recall is very scary and a wake up call for so many people.

We are lucky, none of our foods that we carry were recalled. In fact Mike put out a sign that none of our foods were recalled and he's had 8 people come in and ask about it...it just goes to show that people are now starting to pay attention to what they're feeding their animals.

gini

03-21-2007, 10:35 AM

I haven't seen a list of recalled foods that included Whiskas or Purina with the exception of Mighty Dog 5.3 oz. pouch being pulled.

Does anyone have an updated list of recalled pet foods as of today?

cmayer31

03-21-2007, 11:00 AM

Here are some useful phone numbers for those with concerns on this recall:

Iams/Eukanuba Customer Care 800-882-1591
Mighty Dog 800-778-7462
Nutro 800-833-5330
Variety Pet Food's Mixables 303-768-8400
Hill's Science Diet 800-445-5777

Here's some info from Iams/Euk on how to read their date codes:

How To Read Product Code

To read can product codes, refer to the bottom of the can.

The first four numbers of the second line of numbers are
the date code, and the following four numbers indicate
the plant code.

For example, if the second line begins with four
numbers from 6339 to 7073 followed by the Plant
Code 4197, then the product should be recalled.

For foil pouches, the code numbers are located at the
lower left hand corner on the back of the pouch.The date
and plant codes appear in the third group of numbers,
beginning an 11-digit sequence.

See www.Iams.com and www.Eukanuba.com for
illustrated details or call P&G Pet Care Consumer
Relations at 1-800-882-1591.

Cinder & Smoke

03-21-2007, 12:11 PM

Does anyone have an updated list of recalled pet foods as of today?

From the Menu Foods web site on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 -
the Dog list now has 53 Recall enteries;
the Cat list now has 42 Recall Enteries.
Recalled Dog Product Information (3/21/2007)
Recall Information 1-866-895-2708

Americas Choice, Preferred Pets (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Americas%20Choice_Preferred%20Pet.htm)
Authority (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Authority.htm)
Award (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Award.htm)
Best Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Best%20Choice.htm)
Big Bet (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Big%20Bet.htm)
Big Red (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Big%20Red.htm)
Bloom (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Bloom.htm)
Cadillac (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Cardillac.htm)
Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Companion_AholdDog3%2018%2007.htm)
Demoulas Market Basket (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Demoulas%20Market%20Basket.htm)
Eukanuba (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/EUKANUBA_Dog.htm)
Food Lion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Food%20Lion.htm)
Giant Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Companion_AholdDog3%2018%2007.htm)
Great Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Great%20Choice.htm)
Hannaford (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Hannaford.htm)
Hill Country Fare (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Hill%20Country%20Fare.htm)
Hy-Vee (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Hy-Vee.htm)
Iams (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/IAMS_Dog.htm)
Laura Lynn (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Laura%20Lynn.htm)
Loving Meals (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Loving%20Meals.htm)
Meijers Main Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Meijer's%20Main%20Choice.htm)
Mighty Dog Pouch (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_mightydog.html)
Mixables (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Mixables.htm)
Nutriplan (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Nutriplan.htm)
Nutro Max (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Nutro%20Max.htm)
Nutro Natural Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Nutro%20Natural%20Choice.htm)
Nutro Ultra (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Nutro%20Ultra.htm)
Nutro (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Nutro.htm)
Ol'Roy Canada (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Ol'Roy%20Canada.htm)
Ol'Roy US (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Ol'Roy%20US.htm)
Paws (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Paws.htm)
Pet Essentials (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Pet%20Essentials.htm)
Pet Pride - Good n Meaty (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Pet%20Pride%20-%20Good%20n%20Meaty.htm)
Presidents Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Presidents%20Choice.htm)
Price Chopper (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Price%20Chopper.htm)
Priority Canada (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Priority%20Canada.htm)
Priority US (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Priority%20US.htm)
Publix (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Publix.htm)
Roche Brothers (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Roche%20Brothers.htm)
Save-A-Lot (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Save_A_Lot.htm)
Schnucks (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Schnucks.htm)
Shep Dog (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Shep%20Dog.htm)
Springsfield Prize (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Springsfield%20Prize.htm)
Sprout (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Sprout.htm)
Stater Brothers (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Stater%20Brothers.htm)
Stop & Shop Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Companion_AholdDog3%2018%2007.htm)
Tops Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Companion_AholdDog3%2018%2007.htm)
Wegmans Bruiser (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Bruiser.htm)
Weis Total Pet (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Weis%20Total%20Pet.htm)
Western Family US (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Western%20Family%20US.htm)
White Rose (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/White%20Rose.htm)
Winn Dixie (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Winn%20Dixie.htm)
Your Pet (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Dog/Your%20Pet.htm)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Recalled Cat Product Information (3/21/2007)
Recall Information 1-866-895-2708

Americas Choice, Preferred Pets (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Americas%20Choice,Preferred%20Pet.htm)
Authority (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Authority.htm)
Best Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Best%20Choice.htm)
Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/CompanionProductRecallListAHOLD3%2018%2007.htm)
Compliments (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Compliments.htm)
Demoulas Market Basket (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Demoulas%20Market%20Basket.htm)
Eukanuba (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/EUKANUBA_Cat.htm)
Fine Feline Cat (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Fine%20Feline%20Cat.htm)
Food Lion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Food%20Lion.htm)
Foodtown (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Foodtown.htm)
Giant Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/CompanionProductRecallListAHOLD3%2018%2007.htm)
Hannaford (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Hannaford.htm)
Hill Country Fare (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Hill%20Country%20Fare.htm)
Hy-Vee (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Hy-Vee.htm)
Iams (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/IAMS_Cat.htm)
Laura Lynn (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Laura%20Lynn.htm)
Li'l Red (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Li'l%20Red.htm)
Loving Meals (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Loving%20Meals.htm)
Meijer's Main Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Meijer's%20Main%20Choice.htm)
Nutriplan (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Nutriplan.htm)
Nutro Max Gourmet Classics (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Nutro%20Max%20Gourmet%20Classics.htm)
Nutro Natural Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Nutro%20Natural%20Choice.htm)
Paws (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Paws.htm)
Pet Pride (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Pet%20Pride.htm)
Presidents Choice (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Presidents%20Choice.htm)
Price Chopper (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Price%20Chopper.htm)
Priority US (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Priority%20US.htm)
Save-A-Lot (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Save-A-Lot.htm)
Schnucks (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Schnucks.htm)
Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_sciencediet.html)
Sophistacat (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Sophistacat.htm)
Special Kitty Canada (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Special%20Kitty%20Canada.htm)
Special Kitty US (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Special%20Kitty%20US.htm)
Springfield Prize (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Springfield%20Prize.htm)
Sprout (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Sprout.htm)
Stop & Shop Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/CompanionProductRecallListAHOLD3%2018%2007.htm)
Tops Companion (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/CompanionProductRecallListAHOLD3%2018%2007.htm)
Wegmans (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Wegmans.htm)
Weis Total Pet (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Weis%20Total%20Pet.htm)
Western Family US (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Western%20Family%20US.htm)
White Rose (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/White%20Rose.htm)
Winn Dixie (http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Cat/Winn%20Dixie.htm)

ADDITIONAL Information is leaking out ---
Some Pet Food Labels that are really manufactured by Menu Foods must not have
wanted their names associated with this recall - even though the foods are possibly tainted ...

Guess Who is recalling and now admitting involvement?

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.,
Announces Voluntary Participation in Menu Foods’ Nationwide U.S.
and Canadian recall of Specific Canned Cat Foods.
Topeka, KS (March 16, 2007) – In response to the recent Menu Foods, Inc. nationwide recall of wet pet foods, Hill’s® Pet Nutrition, Inc. has announced a voluntary precautionary recall in the United States and Canada of a very small number of canned cat products that are co-manufactured by Menu.
Hill’s is voluntarily recalling the following products:

1. Science Diet® Kitten Savory Cuts® Ocean Fish 3 oz. and 5.5 oz.
2. Science Diet® Feline Adult Savory Cuts® Beef 5.5 oz.
3. Science Diet® Feline Adult Savory Cuts® Chicken 5.5 oz.
4. Science Diet® Feline Adult Savory Cuts® Ocean Fish 5.5 oz.
5. Science Diet® Feline Senior Savory Cuts® Chicken 5.5 oz.

No other Hill’s products are affected by this recall.
Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., is taking this precautionary step to protect the health and well being of your pets. Hill’s has received no reported cases of illness. Consumers of other pet food brands manufactured by Menu Foods have reported a small number of cases of cats becoming ill with loss of appetite, vomiting, and lethargy which are potential signs of kidney failure.
This voluntary product recall involves discontinuation of all retail sales and product retrieval from consumers. Consumers should stop using the affected products immediately. Consult with a veterinarian if any symptoms are present in your pet. All Science Diet products carry a 100 percent guarantee, and consumers can receive a refund for recalled products. For more information, consumers can contact the company at 1-800-445-5777 or visit www.HillsPet.com (http://www.hillspet.com/) for details.
Hill’s is recalling the following product codes. Product codes can be found at the bottom of the can. Only relevant code numbers have been listed (‘X’s indicate irrelevant numbers).

BESTBEFORE 09 2008
M06XXXXXX 4414

.
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4416

.
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4415

.
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4601

.
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4603

.
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M25XXXXXX 4457

.
BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4414

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., has informed the Food and Drug Administration and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on this issue. The company regrets any inconvenience to its consumers, retail customers and veterinarians.
__________________________________________________ ______________

"Science Diet" is the "retail" brand of Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc - the people who sell
the Prescription Only Dog & Cat foods through Licensed Veterinarians.

There's no reason given on the Hill's site WHY their products aren't listed on the Menu Foods recall pages.

Makes ME wonder how many more of the major pet food suppliers are not allowing their names to be listed by Menu Foods.

Not being on the Menu Foods Recall list doesn't necessarily mean that a wet food is "safe".

by http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/mad.gif Phred on 3/21/2007

wolf_Q

03-21-2007, 12:25 PM

I've checked the lists but just in case I missed something...has anyone heard anything about ProPlan? I feed Nebo Natural Balance and Keva Royal Canin and they rarely get wet food, but about a week ago I bought some ProPlan canned dog food. Keva's trainer said it was good to give northern breeds fish so I bought the salmon kind (for sensitive stomach I think?) to mix in with their food. It made Nebo really quite sick, he had diarrhea in our front room. :o He's pretty sensitive about food so I figured it was just the food not agreeing with him, but I thought I'd check just in case.

I see that Nutro is on the list, does anyone know if this includes the "desserts?" I buy those fairly often, I have a few at my house, but I don't know if I dare give them to the dogs or not.

Cinder & Smoke

03-21-2007, 12:48 PM

... has anyone heard anything about ProPlan?

... about a week ago I bought some ProPlan canned dog food.
It made Nebo really quite sick, he had diarrhea in our front room. :o

I see that Nutro is on the list,
does anyone know if this includes the "desserts?"

From the Purina Pro Plan web site:

Purina to voluntarily withdraw Mighty Dog® 5.3 ounce pouch products in response to Menu Foods recall

No other Purina products affected

St. Louis, Missouri, March 16, 2007
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company today announced that as a precautionary measure, it is voluntarily withdrawing its 5.3 ounce Mighty Dog® brand pouch products that were produced by Menu Foods, Inc. from December 3, 2006 through March 14, 2007. This withdrawal is in response to the recall initiated earlier today by Menu Foods, a contract manufacturer that does limited business with Purina as well as with other pet food manufacturers. Only Mighty Dog 5.3 ounce pouch products are being withdrawn by Nestlé Purina, including those pouches contained in multi-packs. Importantly, no Mighty Dog canned products, or any other Purina products are affected by Menu’s recall.

Consumers who have the indicated Mighty Dog 5.3 ounce pouch products should discontinue feeding them to their dogs and can receive the full replacement value of the withdrawn products by calling 1-800-551-7392.
The Mighty Dog pouch products and pouches in multi-pack cartons have code dates of 6337 through 7073, followed by the plant code 1798. This information should be checked on the bottom or back panel of the individual pouches. Specifically, if the code following the “Use By” date begins with four numbers from 6337 to 7073 followed by the plant code 1798, then the pouch is included in this voluntary withdrawal.

Purina regrets any inconvenience and apologizes for any concern caused by this product withdrawal. The Company will continue to take any and all actions necessary to ensure the quality and safety of our products.
------------------------------------------------------------------

NUTRO Information - from their web site:
NUTRO TO VOLUNTARILY WITHDRAW CERTAIN "WET" CAT & DOG FOODS
IN RESPONSE TO MENU FOODS RECALL
No dry Nutro pet foods, biscuits or treats are impacted
City of Industry, Calif. (March 17, 2007) – As a result of the Menu Foods North American recall of specific canned and small foil pouch ‘wet’ cat and dog food, Nutro Products, along with many other pet food companies, has announced a voluntary recall on specific pet food products manufactured for it by Menu Foods. This recall applies to certain wet food only. No dry Nutro pet foods, biscuits or treats are impacted by this matter and no other canned or pouched Nutro products are subject to this recall.

The only Nutro products involved in this recall are:
Cat Pouch Products (Best by dates: December 03, 2008 through March 07, 2009);
Dog Pouch Products (Best by dates: December 03, 2008 through March 07, 2009);
Certain Dog 12.5 oz Canned Products (Best by dates: December 02, 2009 through March 07, 2010).

Nutro customers may check Nutro's website (www.nutroproducts.com) or contact Nutro's Consumer Hotline (800) 833-5330 for further information about its products.

by Phred 3/21/2007

wolf_Q

03-21-2007, 12:57 PM

Thank you for the info Phred, I wasn't too concerned because Nebo has been fine since then.

gini

03-21-2007, 01:22 PM

Phred, a big thank you to you for all of the information. This whole situation is frightening enough without adding rumors of other products that may be safe.

Thanks for the FACTS!!

lizbud

03-21-2007, 01:41 PM

I was surprised to see none of these brands had been removed from
shelfs at a nearby Kroger store.(I really dislike the current manager there)
They had printed out a list of recalled items & just taped it on the shelfs.

I never buy much there but staples anyway. (milk, bread, etc)

ramanth

03-21-2007, 02:08 PM

My mother in law just sent this email to me:

I just came back from the store and they got a new list of recalled cat and dog food. It now includes some dry food and snacks or treats. Probably it would be best to give a call to the number on anything you keep regularly on the shelf for your pets and get a heads up before accidentally poisoning your furry children.

I wrote back asking what brands...maybe she saw a brand that sells both dry and wet and assumed it was both? I'm just curious if anyone else had heard of this.

BC_MoM

03-21-2007, 06:53 PM

Canadian Purina pet food NOT impacted by Menu Foods recall
Dear Valued Pet Priority Member,

Throughout the past few days there has been a great deal of media coverage regarding the Menu Foods Income Trust product recall of wet dog and wet cat food. We are very sympathetic to the concern and would like to clarify with our valued Pet Priority members that Purina products in Canada are not impacted by the Menu Foods recall.

Ensuring the safety and quality of Purina pet foods is our priority. As this recall relates to wet pet foods, please be assured that you can continue to feed Purina wet dog and wet cat food, including Fancy Feast®, Friskies®, Pro Plan®, Purina Veterinary Diet® wet cat foods, and Beneful®, Purina Veterinary Diet® wet dog foods. We also wish to assure you that Purina® brand dry dog and cat food products can continue to be fed with the utmost of confidence.

As a precautionary measure in the United States, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company has voluntarily withdrawn its 5.3-ounce Mighty Dog® brand pouch products. Please note that the Mighty Dog® brand is not available in Canada. For a complete list of recalled products, click here.

To learn more about the Purina® pet food brands available in Canada, please visit www.purina.ca. If you have any questions about Canadian Purina products, please call Consumer Relations at 1.800.268.5345.

Thank you for your continued support and confidence in Purina products.

Cinder & Smoke

03-21-2007, 09:23 PM

MSNBC.com is carrying a Newsweek article about the Recall.
Here's a few paragraphs of a 3 page article:
Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17728426/site/newsweek/ (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17728426/site/newsweek/)
Titled: "Limited Resources" - questions about the regulation of pet foods.

"March 21, 2007 - It's been nearly a week since Canadian pet-food manufacturer Menu Foods Inc. recalled some 60 million cans and pouches of wet food linked to the deaths of at least 15 cats and one dog, yet authorities still can't explain exactly what went wrong. Some critics and animal lovers are honing in on what they see as lax regulation of the $15-billion annual pet-food industry in the United States.

"There's almost a void there," says Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association. "There is no real pet food department of any federal agency."
Technically, the Food and Drug Administration is responsible for ensuring that, like human foods, pet foods are safe to eat, truthfully labeled and produced under sanitary conditions. But on Tuesday, FDA officials admitted that the regulation of pet food takes a backseat to its regulatory obligations of other food and drug sectors, and that inspections of pet-food processing plants are done only on a for-cause basis.

"There are limited resources," said David Elder, director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance in the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine in Rockville, Md. Elder added that inspections of companion animals' food products are, "based on risk." Which means that the processing plant in Emporia, Kans., where the tainted food was manufactured, had never been inspected by government officials until after consumers started complaining about pets dying of kidney failure. The Emporia plant remains open and continues to produce new food, according to a Menu Foods spokesperson, who adds that safety tests are being done around the clock.

"The FDA says Ontario-based Menu Foods began to receive complaints about renal failure on Feb. 20 and began on Feb. 27 to conduct a series of taste tests on 40 to 50 dogs and cats, leading to the eventual death of at least 9 cats. On March 16, the company issued its North American recall of pet food sold under 95 different brand names manufactured between Dec. 3 and March 6, including popular brands such as Iams and Eukanuba, plus many store brands sold in large retailers such as Wal-Mart, Winn-Dixie and Publix. ...

But without regular inspections, the pet-food industry is largely self-regulated. ...
"It's wide-open. As far as ingredients go, there is no regulation," says Ann Martin, a Canadian pet-health advocate and author of three pet-food related books, including 1997's "Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About Pet Food." While the raw materials used in commercial pet food often contain animal protein derived largely from slaughterhouse offal--unused animal parts--Martin contends that there are other sources of that material, including road kill, zoo animal carcasses and fecal matter. ...

The industry insists their products are absolutely safe. "Pet foods are the highest regulated product you'll find in the grocery store," says Duane Ekedahl, president of the Pet Food Institute (PFI), an industry trade association representing the interests of 20 member companies whose products make up about 97 percent of the dog and cat food produced in the United States. ...

On Tuesday, PFI issued a statement claiming that, "All cat and dog food products on store shelves are safe. The recall is now complete and all suspected products have been removed from the stream of commerce. ..."

[ {{:rolleyes:}} Anybody care to believe that?? ]

Wonder if Phish Food or Hamster Pellets would be safer?
:p

/s/ Phred

momoffuzzyfaces

03-21-2007, 09:42 PM

"It's wide-open. As far as ingredients go, there is no regulation," says Ann Martin, a Canadian pet-health advocate and author of three pet-food related books, including 1997's "Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About Pet Food." While the raw materials used in commercial pet food often contain animal protein derived largely from slaughterhouse offal--unused animal parts--Martin contends that there are other sources of that material, including road kill, zoo animal carcasses and fecal matter. ...

The industry insists their products are absolutely safe. "Pet foods are the highest regulated product you'll find in the grocery store," says Duane Ekedahl, president of the Pet Food Institute (PFI), an industry trade association representing the interests of 20 member companies whose products make up about 97 percent of the dog and cat food produced in the United States. ...

On Tuesday, PFI issued a statement claiming that, "All cat and dog food products on store shelves are safe. The recall is now complete and all suspected products have been removed from the stream of commerce. ..."

[ {{:rolleyes:}} Anybody care to believe that?? ]

Wonder if Phish Food or Hamster Pellets would be safer?
:p

/s/ Phred
If pet food is "highly regulated" I hate to think what's in our food! No wonder Peanutbutter was having such a time lately!!! :eek:

If they don't know for sure what is causing the problem, how do they know it's been fixed? :(

Crazy-Cat-Lover

03-21-2007, 10:18 PM

We have two cases so far here in British Columbia, Canada. It hasn't been confirmed whether or not it was tainted food that made the cats sick. Poor kitties. :(

BC Cats Believed to be Sickened by Tainted Food

Wednesday, March 21 - 03:45:00 PM Reshmi Nair

KAMLOOPS (NEWS1130) - A veterinarian in Kamloops believes two cats have now suffered kidney failure because of tainted food involved in the massive recall.

Doctor Diane McKelvey says thankfully, both felines are expected to survive.

"These two cats have been on that food. We treated them with I.V fluids, one has recovered quite well and has just gone home. The other will be in the hospital for a few days."

She says it is extremely important to diagnosis kidney disease as soon as possible so animals can receive the proper fluids to survive.

The frantic search continues for what exactly is in the food that has killed 14 pets in North America.

Vets are urging pet owners to remain calm and check their pet's food labels against the list of brands recalled on the website menu-foods-dot-com.

If you're concerned your pet may have eaten tainted food, keep an eye out for any behavioral changes.

crow_noir

03-22-2007, 03:07 AM

The latest in the pet food scare

Pet Owners Report 241 Deaths from Food
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2963443&page=1

Snippet:
"If owners believe that their pet has been eating the food, Becker said that they should bring their pets into the vet's office immediately.

Cats, Becker said, can lose 80 percent of kidney function before showing evidence of a problem. But once the animal reaches this tipping point, the problem becomes apparent. By this time, treatment may come too late."

http://www.menufoods.com/recall

http://www.petconnection.com/ Click here to report a sick pet. (Owners have reported over 500 deaths) I took the time to hunt down this link since the article didn't include it. PLEASE pass it on.

cmayer31

03-22-2007, 11:52 AM

AVMA Offers Advice to Pet Owners after Nationwide Food Recall
3/20/2007

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.— The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), in response to a national pet food recall, offers the following information and advice to concerned pet owners:

Menu Foods, Inc., a Canadian private-label pet food manufacturer based in Streetsville, Ontario, has issued a recall on all its "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food products produced at its facility in Emporia, Kansas, between December 3, 2006, and March 6, 2007.

This recall includes 90 brands across the entire manufacturing spectrum. A complete list of affected foods including date and product information codes is available through the AVMA Web site at:

http://www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/070318.asp.

If you have any of the products identified on these lists, immediately stop feeding them to your pet.

If you suspect that your pet has been affected by a recalled food, do the following three steps to help your veterinarian with your pet's diagnosis:

Retain food samples for analysis.
- Retain 4 cans or 1 kg of dry food, when possible.
- Freeze when possible or store at room temperature in airtight bags.

Document product name, type of product and manufacturing information.
- Retain all packaging.
- Identify date codes or production lot numbers.
- Retain purchase receipts.

Document product consumption.
- Dates products or products were fed.
- Consumption and palatability history.
- Time of onset of clinical signs.
- Detailed dietary history (ie, all products fed and feeding methods).

Although the exact cause is not currently known, animals that have become ill after consuming these products have shown signs of acute kidney failure.

Dr. Sandra Willis, DVM, a board certified diplomate and communications chair with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) and member of the AVMA Council on Communications, advises that signs of kidney failure include loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in water consumption and also changes in urination. Anybody who has a pet that exhibits these signs should take the animal to a veterinarian.

"Owners shouldn't panic, because there can be a wide variety of reasons a pet might exhibit these symptoms," Dr. Willis explained. "But it's always prudent that, when a pet is exhibiting any signs of illness, the pet owner should contact their veterinarian immediately."

A veterinarian may call for a urinalysis and blood work, and might also perform additional tests, such as an x-ray or ultrasound, to rule out other possible problems such as bladder and kidney stones. If it has been determined that the cat or dog has been affected by consumption of the recalled pet food, a veterinarian could decided to treat the illness with medications and/or intravenous fluids.

"If the kidney disease is severe, such as the animal is not urinating at all, the veterinarian can refer or consult with a specialist from the ACVIM for more specialized care," Dr. Willis explained.
Owners of pets affected by the recalled pet foods who wish to report the incident should contact the FDA, by going to the FDA Web site at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html to find the FDA complaint coordinator in their state.

Please monitor the AVMA Web site (www.avma.org) for the latest information on the recall. Consumers with questions for the manufacturer can contact Menu Foods, Inc. at 1-866-895-2708. A list of veterinary specialists can be found at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine at www.acvim.org, or by calling 800-245-9081.

Crazy-Cat-Lover

03-22-2007, 08:49 PM

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Menu Foods

Thursday, March 22 - 02:00:00 PM

Ontario (News1130) - A national class action lawsuit has been filed in the Ontario Superior Court on behalf of pet owners who bought dog and cat food made by Menu Foods.

The claim seeks compensation for all those who purchased dog or cat food manufactured by the company between December 3rd, 2006 and March 6th, 2007.

Toronto lawyer Joel Rochon says while most of the claims are for vet expenses, it's hard to put a price on a pet.

"The jury is still out has to how the court will deal with emotion damage or psychological damage from one losing a pet unnecessarily to a bad product."

Menu Foods has recalled about 90 brands of dog and cat food in North America after reports of animals dying.

A second class action suit filed yesterday in Windsor alleges the Canadian manufacturer was negligent and at least one other suit has been filed in Chicago.

crow_noir

03-22-2007, 10:57 PM

" http://progressivelaw.ezsitelaunch.com/main.asp?id=11

(If for some reason that page doesn't open, go to:
http://www.progressivelaw.com/
click on "Information on our Pet Food Lawsuit " at the top of the page.) "

crow_noir

03-22-2007, 11:51 PM

Banfield Helps the FDA and Victims of Pet food Recall

http://www.prnewswire.com/news/index_mail.shtml?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-22-2007/0004551873&EDATE=

PORTLAND, Ore., March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- To help treat Pets who have
been affected by the Menu Foods recall, Banfield, The Pet Hospital is
providing a 25 percent discount off the recommended medical treatment plans
received at participating Banfield hospitals across the nation. Specialists
and other experts have developed these specific treatment plans to screen
for and treat kidney problems seen in patients who have eaten the tainted
foods.
In addition, the Banfield Charitable Trust has created an emergency
fund and donated the first $50,000 in funding to financially assist clients
with Pet medical costs incurred at Banfield that are associated with the
Menu Foods product contamination. Banfield Charitable Trust funds from this
grant can be applied for at Banfield hospitals.
Banfield is assisting the FDA in their investigation of the Menu Foods
recall. All Banfield's Pet medical records are linked through a central
computer system, giving Banfield the capability of rapidly collecting a
large amount of Pet data. We hope that our cooperation with the FDA will
shed light on the problem and help the many Pets affected by these diets.
Banfield hospitals across the nation are treating Pets who have been
affected by the recalled Pet food. Young feline patients (especially cats
under the age of one) appear to have the greatest risk of developing renal
failure linked to the recalled diets. All Pet owners of Pets who have eaten
the wet food products that are on the Menu Foods recall list are encouraged
to take their Pet in to their veterinarian for a full exam. To locate the
Banfield nearest to you, call 1-800-768-8858.
It is important that Pet owners review the complete list on the Menu
Foods website to view the most updated list of the specific diets that have
been recalled. Pet owners with concerns or questions regarding the
effective foods should contact Menu Foods at 1-866-463-6738 or online at
http://www.menufoods.com/recall.
Founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1955, Banfield has become the largest
Pet general veterinary practice in the world, with more than 600 quality
veterinary hospitals in many neighborhoods across the U.S., in the U.K. and
in Mexico. More than 1000 veterinarians at Banfield are committed to giving
Pets the same level of care that their human family members receive.
Banfield hospitals offer a full-range of comprehensive, medical services,
computerized medical records, Pet preventive care plans, extended operating
hours, and is the only veterinary practice in the world with an extensive
quality assurance program. Banfield, The Pet Hospital helps extend the
lives of millions of Pets each year.
For Banfield media inquires, please contact the media hotline:
#888-355-0595
Contact: Jennifer Baque, Public Relations, (503) 922-5698,
[email protected]

SOURCE Banfield, The Pet Hospital

http://www.banfield.net/

Copyright © 1996-2007 PR Newswire Association LLC. All Rights Reserved.

smokey the elder

03-23-2007, 09:56 AM

There's a Banfield in our Petsmart.

finn's mom

03-23-2007, 10:14 AM

So are all those brands pretty much identical food but sold under different names and at different prices? How sad. :(

I didn't read all the information or all the posts, so this might be a repeat. It might also be false, but what the folks are saying at the pet store I get Freckles' and Dudley's food from is this...the food is manufactured by the individual companies (using their ingredients and recipes, etc) and then sent to be packaged at a different facility. What she said was that all those companies use about four or five facilities for the packaging of their foods, and that the problem was at the packaging facilities, not the food manufacturer's facilities. That sounds more feasible to me than the idea that all the food is the same (which was my initial thought as well).

I can't remember the last time I fed canned food, though, thank goodness, which is why I haven't really been following the recall or this thread.

elizabethann

03-23-2007, 10:18 AM

I just posted this in GENERAL - I just got a breaking news report. The pet food that was recalled had rat poison in it!

Ginger's Mom

03-23-2007, 10:22 AM

Could you please post a link. I would like to read about it. Thanks.

lizbud

03-23-2007, 10:24 AM

I just posted this in GENERAL - I just got a breaking news report. The pet food that was recalled had rat poison in it!

I just heard it was rat poison too. :( It was reported on CNN. No wonder
so many died. :(

Cinder & Smoke

03-23-2007, 11:02 AM

Posted by "smokey the elder" >>>

Here's a link from CNN News:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/23/pet.food.recall.ap/index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/23/pet.food.recall.ap/index.html)

It was not necessarily deliberate.
The suspect ingredient was wheat gluten, and
rat poison may have gotten into the grain by accident.

Cinder & Smoke

03-23-2007, 11:33 AM

... the food is manufactured by the individual companies (using their ingredients and recipes, etc)
and then sent to be packaged at a different facility.

What she said was that all those companies use about four or five facilities
for the packaging of their foods, and that the problem was at the packaging facilities,
not the food manufacturer's facilities.

This is incorrect ... the pet food is manufactured (ingredients assembled & "cooked")
in the same plant or plants that it is packaged in.

Many of the recalled Brands are sold by companies who just have no interest,
nor the facilities, to purchase, store, mix, and "cook" pet foods.
Example is WallyMart - they don't "make" anything - they BUY their products
in bulk from the actual manufacturer and have the WalMart Brand Label applied -
Ol'Roy in the case of the WalMart store branded pet foods.

Menu Foods has BIG Plants where they purchase & store the common ingredients that
most all of their "customers" (the Owners of the Brand Names) specify be used
in "their Brand" of food under "their" label. Menu whips up a batch of "ABC Dawg Food" today and stuffs it into "ABC Cans" ...
tomorrow they'll cook up "XYZ Cat Food" according to XYZ's recipe and pack
it into cans with the XYZ label.

ABC and XYZ never step in the kitchen - Menue Foods runs the kitchen and
packaging operations; ABC and XYZ just "sell" the stuff.

And when the Chief Cook (Mr. Menu) accidentally buys a couple railroad cars
of Bad Wheat (and uses the Bad Stuff in ALL the different brands he "cooks"),
a LOT of different brands are shipped out with bad food.

I now wonder if the "source" of the bad wheat gluton ONLY sold the bad stuff to
Menu Foods at their USA plants ... I'd like to know where else "wheat gluton" is used.

/s/ Phred

Jadapit

03-23-2007, 11:40 AM

The rat poison, which may have been used on wheat imported from China, is illegal in the U.S., NBC News correspondent Tom Costello told MSNBC TV.

I found this on MSN. Here is the link if anyone wants to read the whole story. Why do they import the wheat from China? There are plenty of wheat farmers in the States, I would think anyway.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17754681/wid/11915773?GT1=9145

king2005

03-23-2007, 12:00 PM

I now wonder if the "source" of the bad wheat gluton ONLY sold the bad stuff to
Menu Foods at their USA plants ... I'd like to know where else "wheat gluton" is used.

/s/ Phred

I'm almost positive the plant in question is the one here in Streetsville (Ontario, Canada)... Streetsville is really the city of Mississauga & Mississauga is part of the Greater Toronto Area(GTA)...gives an idea where the plant is located.

Not just Wheat Gluton as a whole, but this particular W.G.! Not all W.G. will be contaminated, just the stuff from this supplier.

CathyBogart

03-23-2007, 12:01 PM

Articles...fixed the links!

http://www.itchmo.com/read/rat-poison-suspected_20070323

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2975912&page=1&US=true

king2005

03-23-2007, 12:05 PM

Here are some articles about it...

http://www.itchmo.com/read/rat-pois...pected_20070323

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2...&page=1&US=true

Either the links are incorrect, or I cannot access them :(

CathyBogart

03-23-2007, 12:09 PM

FIXED! They should work now!

king2005

03-23-2007, 12:20 PM

FIXED! They should work now!

OOHHHHHHH... now that comment makes total sence... The Wheat was sold to the USA & imported to Canada for the plants that sell the product in the USA. DAMN!

ramanth

03-23-2007, 12:36 PM

That is just sickening.... :(

Cinder & Smoke

03-23-2007, 01:17 PM

I'm almost positive the plant in question is the one here in Streetsville (Ontario, Canada) ...
Streetsville is really the city of Mississauga & Mississauga is part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) ...

Menu Foods operates FOUR manufacturing & packaging plants:
* Emporia, Kansas
* Pennsauken, New Jersey
* North Sioux City, South Dakota
* Streetsville, Ontario

from their web site:
--------------------------------------
Facilities

Menu’s manufacturing platform includes four state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities located in Emporia, Kansas, Pennsauken, New Jersey, North Sioux City, South Dakota and Streetsville, Ontario. These plants utilize high-speed equipment and leading-edge technologies to produce pet food in aluminum and steel cans in all currently used sizes at rates of up to 1,000 cans per minute. With the pouch expansion completed in 2005, Menu is able to produce 85g pouches at the rate of up to 1,110 pouches per minute. Collectively, these plants are capable of producing more than one billion containers annually. These facilities are designed for maximum flexibility, which, in turn, allows Menu to provide the full range of products customers’ demand.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Depending on which news account you care to believe, two or three of the
Menu USA plants have been mentioned as the probable source of the contaminated
and recalled foods ... the Streetsville, Ontario, plant has NOT been mentioned
as a location that produced any bad lots of food.

Final resolution will probably depend on which plant locations actually received
a shipment of the suspected contaminated Wheat Gluton.

ANNNND ... there's always the POSSIBILITY that the rat poison contamination
MAY - stress MAY - not have happened at the supplier who produced the Wheat Gluton ...
the rat poison MAY have mixed with the Wheat Gluton in a truck or a railroad car,
OR at the storage container AT the Menu plant.

Hard to believe the Wheat Gluton was produced in CHINA ... but these days
nothing is impossible.

/s/ Phred

momoffuzzyfaces

03-23-2007, 01:37 PM

This just makes me sick!!! I'm surprised more animals didn't die!!! :mad:

todd

03-23-2007, 09:22 PM

This is so sad :mad: :mad:

NoahsMommy

03-24-2007, 12:05 AM

I'm so mad about this stuff, I can't see through my tears. These poor, poor animals and these poor, poor people. :( :( :mad: :mad:

Thankfully, I've only fed my furballs (all, even tho' they're spread all over - I buy thier food) dry Royal Canin.

Here's what their home page says:

The recent nationwide pet food recall initiated by Menu Foods and other companies does not include any
Royal Canin USA pet food products.

All of our pet food brands, including Feline Health Nutrition, Canine Health Nutrition, Royal Canin Veterinary Diets, Sensible Choice, and Kasco continue to be available at your local pet food outlet.

The safety and nutritional quality of our pet food is our top priority because we understand that the health of your pet is your top priority.

For details on the recall, contact Menu Foods at
1-866-895-2708 or visit the company's web site at: www.menufoods.com/recall.

I hope those people sue this/these companies up the ying yang!!! Quality control isn't hard and should be a normal business practice for goodness sake!!!!!!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Craftlady

03-24-2007, 08:14 AM

Part of article on MSNBC

Technically, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for ensuring that pet foods, like human foods, are safe to eat, truthfully labeled and produced under sanitary conditions. But on Tuesday, FDA officials admitted that the regulation of pet food takes a back seat to its regulatory obligations of other food and drug sectors, and that inspections of pet-food processing plants are done only on a for-cause basis.

"There are limited resources," said David Elder, director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance in the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine in Rockville, Md. Elder added that inspections of companion animals' food products are "based on risk." Which means that the processing plant in Emporia, Kans., where the tainted food was manufactured, had never been inspected by government officials until after consumers started complaining about pets dying of kidney failure. The Emporia plant remains open and continues to produce new food, according to a Menu Foods spokesperson, who adds that safety tests are being done around the clock.

king2005

03-24-2007, 10:21 AM

Menu Foods operates FOUR manufacturing & packaging plants:
* Emporia, Kansas
* Pennsauken, New Jersey
* North Sioux City, South Dakota
* Streetsville, Ontario

from their web site:
--------------------------------------
Facilities

Menu’s manufacturing platform includes four state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities located in Emporia, Kansas, Pennsauken, New Jersey, North Sioux City, South Dakota and Streetsville, Ontario. These plants utilize high-speed equipment and leading-edge technologies to produce pet food in aluminum and steel cans in all currently used sizes at rates of up to 1,000 cans per minute. With the pouch expansion completed in 2005, Menu is able to produce 85g pouches at the rate of up to 1,110 pouches per minute. Collectively, these plants are capable of producing more than one billion containers annually. These facilities are designed for maximum flexibility, which, in turn, allows Menu to provide the full range of products customers’ demand.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Depending on which news account you care to believe, two or three of the
Menu USA plants have been mentioned as the probable source of the contaminated
and recalled foods ... the Streetsville, Ontario, plant has NOT been mentioned
as a location that produced any bad lots of food.

Final resolution will probably depend on which plant locations actually received
a shipment of the suspected contaminated Wheat Gluton.

ANNNND ... there's always the POSSIBILITY that the rat poison contamination
MAY - stress MAY - not have happened at the supplier who produced the Wheat Gluton ...
the rat poison MAY have mixed with the Wheat Gluton in a truck or a railroad car,
OR at the storage container AT the Menu plant.

Hard to believe the Wheat Gluton was produced in CHINA ... but these days
nothing is impossible.

/s/ Phred

sorry...

Freedom

03-24-2007, 10:56 AM

They have expanded the recall list, so you need to check the list again for the foods in your cupboards and closets.

Go here:

http://www.menufoods.com/recall/

The top listings have NOT been updated. The lower listings, specific for cat and for dog, HAVE BEEN UPDATED AS OF MARCH 23, 2007. Use those links.

So far, canned and wet. No dry foods. They have added a few brands, AND in the brands already listed, they have added more date stamps.

Now they are also discussing that what has come up so far are the "acute" cases - where the concentration in one pouch or can was enough to case immediate kidney problems. They are anticipating a second round, of "chronic" cases, where one feeding alone didn't do it but repeat feedings have caused a build up of the toxin and the pets are slowly being poisoned and getting sick.

UGH!!

momoffuzzyfaces

03-24-2007, 12:40 PM

I received this link from my vet today. Apparently, they want to recall all dates of this food, not just the Dec through March as first stated! :( This is as of March 23rd.
http://www.avma.org/press/releases/070323_expanded_recall.asp

crow_noir

03-25-2007, 11:34 PM

With out further ado, the long awaited...

Pet Foods NOT on recall list
http://petsitusa.com/blog/?p=210

momoffuzzyfaces

03-27-2007, 05:02 PM

Fox news ran a report this afternoon saying that it could take up to 6 weeks for animals to start to show effects of eating the bad food. Vets are getting lots of calls on animals who are just now showing signs.

They suggest everyone keep a close eye on your pets and get them to a vet if they show any signs even now. :(

Roxyluvsme13

03-27-2007, 05:04 PM

Is Pedigree on the safe list, cuz I don't see it?

finn's mom

03-27-2007, 05:15 PM

I didn't see Pinnacle on the list...although I only feed the dry kibble, it would still be nice to see it there. Hmm...

lizbud

03-27-2007, 05:18 PM

Is Pedigree on the safe list, cuz I don't see it?

Yes it is safe. Both wet and dry Pedigree is made by Master Foods and is not
part of the recalled stuff.

Pinnacle is one brand I've never hear of, but don't think it has been recalled.

Roxyluvsme13

03-27-2007, 05:19 PM

Okay, just checking. It's all Lily will eat, so I was going to be worried if it wasn't okay. It's also what Roxy eats, so good to know it's safe.

lizbud

03-27-2007, 05:23 PM

Okay, just checking. It's all Lily will eat, so I was going to be worried if it wasn't okay. It's also what Roxy eats, so good to know it's safe.

I use the chunks of beef & gravy for Smokey & Maggie. (put a little on
top of their kibble) It's fine.

Crazy-Cat-Lover

03-27-2007, 09:04 PM

I didn't see Pinnacle on the list...although I only feed the dry kibble, it would still be nice to see it there. Hmm...

Pinnacle is on the safe list, although their canned food is manufactured by Menu Foods.

Breeder’s Choice (http://breeders-choice.com/) (verified by company 3/27/07)

Brands include Active Care, Advanced Pet Diets Select Choice, AvoDerm Select Cuts, Health Food for Dogs, Pinnacle
Canned from manufactured by Menu Foods, and American Nutrition
The only products manufactured for them by Menu Foods are AvoDerm 3oz. can and Pinnacle canned dog & cat food
The only product they use wheat gluten in is Active Care cat treats (healthy joint treats)

cassiesmom

03-29-2007, 06:37 PM

Update: There is a class action underway out of Wisconsin ... here is the link ...
http://progressivelaw.ezsitelaunch.com/main.asp?id=11

lizbud

03-29-2007, 06:42 PM

I hope they sue the pants off that company. They have taken something
irreplaceable from those affected by their carelessness. :mad:

Freedom

03-29-2007, 06:55 PM

I'm sure the numbers of those affected are still being tallied. Don't know how those people whose pet was sick, and maybe died, prior to the announcement of the recall can prove their case. All the way back to last October? Could you prove what food you fed your pet on a certain day? It is so sad and must be agonizing for them.

Our Providence RI newspaper did a local story on this yesterday. ONE of the 3 ER hospitals in this state is CURRENTLY treating 3 cats in full renal failure from the tainted food. Fourteen nation wide? I don't think so.

Reachoutrescue

03-29-2007, 07:05 PM

My cousin's cat used to eat iams soft food. She was jus put down a few days ago due to kidney failure. She was always healthy, but just stopped eating and drinking. It came on suddenly and there was not anything the vets could do. She was a fisty cat at the age of 12. That is still pretty young for a cat. Her name was Jingles. I am sure it was the food. So is my cousin.

Craftlady

03-29-2007, 09:02 PM

There was case in our area of town. I had stopped in to say hi at our one local groomers, they are next door to my hair dresser. The client of theirs feed "Special Kitty" pouches and the cat just died recently within last couple days. The gals vet confirmed it was probably the food.

ramanth

03-30-2007, 12:15 PM

I stopped by the post office last weekend and it turns out one of the mail carriers dogs was in critical condition from eating the recalled food. They were flushing his kidneys every day but the outcome didn't look good. :(

tomkatzid

03-30-2007, 12:31 PM

new story I just got today in e mail

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2994975

Crazy-Cat-Lover

03-30-2007, 03:24 PM

Different Chemical, not Rat Poison Found in Tainted Pet Food

Friday, March 30 - 01:05:00 PM Tamara Slobogean

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The US Food and Drug Administration says while recalled pet foods from Menu Foods contained a chemical used to make fertilizer, tests have failed to confirm the presence of rat poison. The USFDA has found melamine in samples of the food and in wheat gluten used as an ingredient.

Veterinary Chief Stephen Sundlof says the chemical was also found in some of the pets who have died. They blame these substances for the deaths of at least 16 pets, and it's believed this number could be in the thousands. The new finding comes a week after New York Agriculture scientists identified a rat poison as the likely culprit, which is a finding the FDA says it cannot now confirm.

The animal right's group PETA is tabling an alarming new claim, as they believe the tainted pet food may not just be limited to wet food.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals want some dry foods pulled from store shelves too. The groups says it has been getting calls from pet owners with cats and dogs sick from eating the dry stuff. At the dog park this morning, some pet owners take PETA's claims with a grain of salt, and others say every precaution should be taken.

PETA wants to Expand Pet Food Recall to Dry Food

Friday, March 30 - 06:22:00 AM Tamara Slobogean

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The pet food recall may be much worse than first thought, as the animal advocate group PETA now wants to expand the recall. According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, dry food may be tainted too. The group says it has been getting calls from pet owners with cats and dogs sick off the dry stuff, and they want it pulled from store shelves.

For now, vets haven't noticed a spike in the number of visits that could be linked to problems with dry food. The US Food and Drug Administration says it has no plans to recommend a wider pet food recall. It is expected though, to release initial results of its investigation into tainted Menu Foods products, which are believed to have caused kidney failure and the deaths of over 100 pets.

momoffuzzyfaces

04-01-2007, 12:01 PM

Apparently this stuff is more deadly for cats!
Here is a link to the info that was on Yahoo this morning from the AP: :(
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070401/ap_on_bi_ge/pet_food_recall

Zippy

04-01-2007, 12:34 PM

I usually don't agree with PETA but I did think about the dry food haveing problems when the wet was recalled that is why I switched brands.I do think they should recall the dry food that was sold during the same time as the wet.

Roxyluvsme13

04-01-2007, 12:45 PM

They're recalling dry food, too? I wish Lily would eat Raw, because then I'd switch her and Roxy to it while this stupid food recall is in effect.

Cincy'sMom

04-01-2007, 02:50 PM

We've been having a hard time with food lately, as our pet store is discontinuing the food we have been buying for Sadie and Spot (Sensible Choice by Royal Canin). We tried Eagle Pack Holsitic and that worked good, but was hard to find too. So I tried Nutro Natural Choice. We are on our second bag and Sadie and Spot have each thrown up twice, Spot once three days again, and again today. Sadie the two days in between. I have no clue if the food is to blame, but it is the only thing they have had that Cincy has not. They are acting fine otherwise, and there wasn't any food in what they threw up.

I'm not taking any chances. Nutro had some food recalled, and even though it wasn't dry, I am throwing out the majority of the 20 lb bag, and have replaced it with Eagle Pack. I also stocked up on more Raw Diet, Nature's Variety, which I add at dinner.

Scary stuff!!!

jazzcat

04-01-2007, 03:51 PM

Cincy'sMom

04-01-2007, 10:11 PM

I feed all my guys Nutro Dry so I went to their site today and found this which gives me some sense of relief.

"If your dog and/or cat eats Nutro dry food, biscuits or treats, it is absolutely safe to continue feeding them any of these products. There are NO dry pet foods included in this recall, our dry pet foods contain NO wheat gluten and NONE of our dry pet foods are manufactured by menu foods."

I'm going to trust them when they say NONE of their dry pet foods are made by Menu Foods or contains Wheat Gluten.

I did read all the ingredients at the pet store today and did not see any mention of Wheat Gluten. it may just not agree with my dogs regardless of the recall...when we first got them and didn't know any better, we tried Iams, and that made them stink...they may just have sensitive stomachs...

Crazy-Cat-Lover

04-02-2007, 02:04 AM

Del Monte Pet Products Voluntarily Withdraws Specific Treats and Wet Dog Food

SAN FRANCISCO, March 31, 2007—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 voluntarily recalled products will be refunded.

Branded

Jerky Treats Beef Flavor Dog Snacks
Gravy Train Beef Sticks Dog Snacks
Pounce Meaty Morsels Moist Chicken Flavor Cat Treats

Private Label

Ol' Roy Beef Flavor Jerky Strips Dog Treats
Ol' Roy Beef Flavor Snack Sticks Dog Treats
Ol' Roy Bark'n Bac'n Beef & Bacon Flavor Dog Treats
Ol' Roy with Beef Hearty Cuts in Gravy Dog Food
Ol' Roy with Beef Hearty Strips in Gravy Dog Food
Ol' Roy Country Stew Hearty Cuts in Gravy Dog Food
Dollar General Beef Flavored Jerky Strips Dog Treats
Dollar General Beef Flavored Beef Sticks Dog Treats
Happy Tails Beef Flavor Jerky Strips
Happy Tails Meaty Cuts with Beef in Gravy Dog Food

Link: Del Monte (http://delmonte.com/petfoodrecall.html)

momoffuzzyfaces

04-02-2007, 04:47 PM

I just saw this info on the 9 Live site and bout fainted!
I switched my cats from Special Kitty (from Menu) to 9 Lives! They say the canned food is ok. I pray they are right!!!!

The cats did have some of the Pounce soft chicken treats. Luckily, it had not been opened. It has been thrown out!!! :( :( :(

cassiesmom

04-05-2007, 03:03 PM

Wal-Mart Dog Treats Join Pet Food Recall

By ANDREW BRIDGES
Associated Press Writer
Published April 5, 2007, 2:16 PM CDT

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.

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 only applied 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.

"Other than that, I think, you know, the public should feel secure in purchasing pet foods that are not subject to the recall," Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, told reporters.

gini

04-05-2007, 03:38 PM

This story just seems to get worse by the day. All pet owners should be screaming. We don't have wheat here in this country?

It makes me sick for all of those who have lost their pets. It also makes me sick for all of the innocent companies who in good faith have marketed their products and have been caught in the middle.

Logan

04-05-2007, 04:19 PM

I keep holding my breath. I don't have the time, nor the patience, to even think about creating my own pet food. I don't even cook enough for my human family, let alone the pets.

So far, so good. The dry California Natural food that Honey and Butter eat (two different kinds, obviously) and the Iams Puppy food that Mack eats are safe. Mack will be switching to CN soon, too, since he is now one year old. I did learn that CN had one of their canned foods produced by Menu Foods and I got alarmed, but I don't use canned food for my pets and none of CN foods contain wheat, thank goodness.

luvofallhorses

04-05-2007, 07:02 PM

lizbud

04-05-2007, 07:10 PM

Iams & Eukanuba took out full page ads in our largest newspapers to
apologize and offer added info on contaminated pet food. These biggest
pet food makers are going to suffer for years for this mistake by a supplier
of their company. I think they should sue Menu Foods too. They were the
'middle man" in all of this.

Freedom

04-05-2007, 08:52 PM

Here is the link you are looking for, luvofallhorses!

http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/pet-food-recall-expands-again/20070405145509990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

luvofallhorses

04-05-2007, 09:08 PM

thanks! we fed our dogs those biscuits. :( but threw them out when we found out about it. I am baking their own treats from now on!

Kfamr

04-06-2007, 12:05 AM

Here are some wheat free, grain free products for everyone:
These foods and treats are NOT a part of the recall.
Foods:
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance - Potato & Duck Formula
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance - Sweet Potato & Fish Formula
Natura Pet Products - Innova Evo Dog
Natura Pet Products - Innova Evo Red Meat (I recently switch The Muttlies to this kibble. So far so good!
Natura Pet Products - Innova Evo Reduced Fat
Nature's Variety - Raw Instinct
Solid Gold - Barking at the Moon
Timberwolf Organics - Wild & Natural Dry
Timberwolf Organics - Ocean Blue
Canine Caviar - Venison & Split Pea Adult Dinner

Treats:
Buddy Biscuits - Veggie Madness and Sweet Potato Madness.
Wellness - Pure Rewards
Wellness - Well Bars
Wellness - Well Bites
Zuke's - Jerky Naturals
Zuke's - Power Bones
Zuke's - Mini Naturals
Zuke's - Z-Filets
Zuke's - Hip Action

There are many more wheat-free dog foods and treats/biscuits out there.

I made a batch of dog treats the other night. There was about 96 treats total which should last for a while.

crow_noir

04-06-2007, 01:32 AM

Wow, i was just reading the PetConnection Blog. The Mel.... the plastic stuff may have been added to the wheat gluten on purpose! To meet protein levels.

Records show that the substance has been being added since Nov. 8 2006! http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272612567.shtml

FDA now says they have over 12,000 claims to look at!!!

Freedom

04-06-2007, 07:53 AM

Here's a link to the FDA web site, listing the dog treats recalled on April 5 and mentioned above in post #127:

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/sunshinemills04_07.html

Scroll down to the chart with the brand nmaes, date codes and such.

Roxyluvsme13

04-06-2007, 09:57 AM

Pfft. If they purposely added the stuff now they're really going to get sued. :rolleyes:

Freedom

04-09-2007, 08:57 PM

Over 39,000 pets effected nationwide - either sickened or killed.

Numbers come from Banfield, The Pet Hospital. (They run vet hospitals with PetSmart as well as other places.)

During the 3 months that the tainted foods were sold, prior to the recall, they had a 30% increase in cats with kidney failure. There was no notable increase for dogs.

The figures are being forwarded to the FDA.

Here is the link for the full story:

http://rhodeisland.cox.net/cci/newsnational/national?_mode=view&_state=maximized&view=article&id=D8ODDM000&_action=validatearticle

anna_66

04-10-2007, 07:35 AM

I didn't see this treat mentioned any where.

Here's an email I received in the mail from PetEdge...

Dear Valued Customer:
One of our suppliers, Eight In One, Inc. has issued a voluntary
recall of all Dingo CHICK'N JERKY treats due to company concerns
that the jerky treats have the potential to be contaminated with
Salmonella. Salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs and cats,
and, if there is cross contamination, in people, especially children,
the aged, and people with compromised immune systems. The Food and
Drug Administration is aware of this recall.

The products subject to the recall are Dingo CHICK'N JERKY 3.5 oz.
(ZX34125) and 8 oz. for dogs (ZX34108.) We have removed these products
from our warehouses. We recommend that you pull these items from
stock and dispose of the product. Whether you purchased these products
through PetEdge, or from another source, we felt it was important to
share this information with our valued customers for the health and
safety of your customers.

To receive a refund for your remaining stock, send a letter to:

Eight In One, Inc.
1377 Motor Parkway, Ste 100
Islandia, NY 11749
Attn: Chick'N Jerky Refund

The letter should include your name and/or business name, address,
phone number, your receipt (if you still have it) and the UPC code
on the packaging. Do not return the product to the manufacturer.
Do not return the product to PetEdge. A refund check for your
remaining stock will be send to you by Eight In One, Inc.

We recommend that you post this information in your retail locations
so that consumers who purchased any of the above-identified CHICK'N
JERKY TREATS know to discontinue use of the products and discard the
unused portion. Consumers can obtain a refund by sending a letter to
Eight in One with the information stated above. FAQs and additional
information are available on the manufacturer's website,
www.eightinonepet.com or call 1-888-232-9889.

At PetEdge, our primary concern is for the health and well-being of
your customers' pets, and we will keep you informed with updated
information regarding this recall as it becomes available.

Sincerely,

PetEdge Customer Service

Cinder & Smoke

04-10-2007, 06:25 PM

Posted by: Lizzie

I felt so confident that my cats were safe because I feed Royal Canin, but this just came on the VetPet Digest:

ROYAL CANIN CANADA PROACTIVELY RECALLS FELINE DISSOLUTION FORMULA (canned)

Guelph, Ontario -- As a result of new information received from Menu Foods late yesterday, Royal Canin Canada is recalling Medi-Cal Feline Dissolution Formula canned diet because one production lot (January 08 2009) contains contaminated wheat gluten. This product is produced for Royal Canin Canada by the Menu Foods Ontario plant. Medi-Cal Feline Dissolution Formula canned diet is Royal Canin’s only wheat gluten-containing canned product. This is the only Royal Canin or Medi-Cal product being recalled.

Royal Canin Canada has informed all Canadian veterinary clinics that Medi-Cal Feline Dissolution Formula canned diet, prescribed exclusively through veterinary clinics, should not be fed to cats. Although only one production lot was affected, to eliminate any risks to cats, Royal Canin Canada is proactively advising veterinary clinics to remove all of the Feline Dissolution Formula canned date codes.
This product is not available through retail outlets.

“After being repeatedly reassured by Menu Foods, as reinforced by FDA public statements, that none of the contaminated wheat gluten had made its way to Canada, we were completely shocked to learn yesterday that this was not the case, and that this wheat gluten had been used in the Feline Dissolution Formula canned product” said Xavier Unkovic, CEO Royal Canin Canada. “Once Melamine was identified as a contaminant by the FDA on March 30, we immediately implemented a screening program for raw materials and finished goods including Feline Dissolution. Feline Dissolution canned product in our warehouse tested negative for Melamine. Unfortunately, the one code lot of Feline Dissolution Formula canned that was affected had already been shipped.”

“As animal health professionals and pet owners ourselves, we know this recall will cause concern for our customers as it has for our entire Medi-Cal/Royal Canin team,” said Dr. Brent Matthew, Veterinary Division Director. “We deeply regret that this has occurred.”

To date, Medi-Cal/Royal Canin Veterinary Diet has not received any reports of illness in cats eating this product. Royal Canin Canada has advised veterinary clinics that it will provide financial reimbursement for veterinary costs to ensure the health and wellbeing of cats eating Feline Dissolution formula canned diets. Medi-Cal / Royal Canin’s veterinary experts and representatives are available to support the veterinary clinics and pet owners.

Pet owners who are feeding the recalled product to their cats and have questions related to the recall should contact Royal Canin at 1-866-494-6844.

Reposted by Phred on 4/10/2007

crow_noir

04-10-2007, 11:20 PM

cmayer31

04-10-2007, 11:31 PM

A thought that has been fluttering around the shadows of by brain surfaced today... Concern for zoo animals with "carnivore" diets and such.

I had been researching "premium" zoo diets for carnivores a while back. One thinking that zoos would have better quality feed. HA! The foods that i found didn't even mention any real meat. The protein sources were almost all questionable.

I wonder how the zoo animals are faring in all of this?

I know the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal park use a carnivore diet made by the same parent company that has Dick Van Patton's Natural Balance .Natural Balance has not been part of the recall nor does it look like it will be. I'm not sure about other zoos though.

Natural Balance Zoo foods (http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/zoological/home.html)

crow_noir

04-11-2007, 12:00 AM

:D

Thanks! One zoo I don't have to worry about 13,999(?) more to go ;)

Seriously though, I wouldn't have expected any less from them. :)

I know the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal park use a carnivore diet made by the same parent company that has Dick Van Patton's Natural Balance .Natural Balance has not been part of the recall nor does it look like it will be. I'm not sure about other zoos though.

Natural Balance Zoo foods (http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/zoological/home.html)

Zippy

04-11-2007, 10:01 AM

posted by Lizzie
CEO sells out before recall
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070410.RMENU10/TPStory/Business

It's posted in cat general but some people don't visit there so I thought I would post it here.

pitc9

04-11-2007, 11:19 AM

Lizzie

04-11-2007, 12:59 PM

Here's an AVMA web link that just came up on the VetPet Digest. I'm sorry if has been posted before:

http://www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/products.asp

crow_noir

04-12-2007, 12:25 AM

I know it *could* just be coincidence, but YIKES!

Thank you btw... I only go in cat general about once every other week.

posted by Lizzie
CEO sells out before recall
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070410.RMENU10/TPStory/Business

It's posted in cat general but some people don't visit there so I thought I would post it here.

crow_noir

04-25-2007, 12:39 AM

Cross posting my own post...

Most articles lately haven't been able to keep my attention any more. I'm getting burned out fast. My cross posting has even almost dropped off completely...

I may be a "conspiracy nut" as some has put it, but even i draw the lines on some theories. Though if this poisoning was intentional it will be the second time I stand corrected and will have to apologize to those that i rolled my eyes at and called crazy.

I read this article(--->) about an hour ago and it entirely held my attention. Some parts almost beg "Just bare with me while i get to the point," but it's worth it. Quite the eye opener.

Bodies In The Morgue: Pets Are Dead And Dying -- Did Terror Strike? http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=24943

columbine

04-25-2007, 09:35 AM

According to this article, (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/dailycourier/news/s_504466.html) a totally different company added cyanuric acid as a nitrogen booster to rice protein, to increase its apparent protein content on testing. The symptoms are similar.

Although it was purely financially motivated, a lot of people are considering this contamination of the food stores an illustration of how terrorists might attempt similar contamination. But just talking to friends overseas, it seems to be common knowledge that the American people aren't represented by our government, and that terrorists would probably be more likely to set their sights on military, petrochemical, or administrative targets than on the disaffected populace.

We didn't "dodge a bullet," as some pundits are suggesting. Our cats and dogs took it for us. And the shooter wasn't politically motivated. It was pure greed.

Love, Columbine

Cinder & Smoke

06-25-2008, 12:45 PM

Update: June25, 2008 - Class Action Lawsuit
Information available at >>>
http://www.petfoodsettlement.com/ (http://www.petfoodsettlement.com/)

From the web site:

Pet Food Products Liability Settlement

If you purchased or your pet consumed pet food and/or treat product(s) recalled after March 16, 2007,
please review this information carefully as it concerns a proposed settlement that may affect your rights.
There is a proposed settlement of the class action lawsuits known as
In Re: Pet Food Products Liability Litigation, MDL Docket No. 1850, Civil Action No. 07-2867
(NLH) (All Cases) that are pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
and similar lawsuits pending in Canada.
This proposed Settlement Agreement is with various companies and persons or entities
that handled, distributed, purchased for resale and/or redistribution, supplied, manufactured
and/or sold or offered for sale pet food and/or pet treats that may have contained
contaminated wheat gluten or rice protein concentrate and were recalled beginning in March 2007,
as well as certain companies, persons or entities that supplied that wheat gluten or rice protein concentrate
("Recalled Pet Food Products"). The settlement includes the United States and Canada.
Complete lists of persons or entities involved (Defendants and Released Entities)
can be found here (PDF: 69.1 KB) (http://www.petfoodsettlement.com/documents/miscellaneous/defendants.pdf) and a list of the Recalled Pet Food Products
can be found here (PDF: 48.9 KB) (http://www.petfoodsettlement.com/documents/miscellaneous/recalled-products.pdf).

The defendants collectively have agreed to create a twenty-four million dollar (US $24,000,000.00)
cash Settlement Fund from which eligible consumers and/or pet owners may receive
a cash payment for up to 100% of all documented economic damages they incurred
related to their purchase of or their pet's consumption of the Recalled Pet Food Products subject
to certain limitations described in the FAQs (http://www.petfoodsettlement.com/faqs/). Economic damage means the expenses
you incurred related to your purchase or your pet's consumption of the Recalled Pet Food Products,
including but not limited to veterinary screening or treatment bills, expenses related
to your pet's illness and/or death, and other expenses such as lost wages and property damage.
For each of your pets that used or consumed Recalled Pet Food Products, you may recover
up to 100% of the reasonable economic damages you claim you suffered if you can supply
documents showing the economic damage subject to certain limitations described in the FAQs (http://www.petfoodsettlement.com/faqs/).