Additional Story/Information Diamond Food

[Craftlady]

diamond food (http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/09/toxic.pet.food.ap/index.html)

In this article they have set up call center for vet dr's and they are getting 2000 calls a day. It's spread to Europe too.

[elizabethann]

That poor woman...those poor pet owners...those poor dogs! I'd say that company will be filing for bankruptcy very soon. It didn't say anything about cats getting sick but it sounded like they're recalling cat food too?

Poor things.

[king2005]

thats terrible.. I don't know why I didn't do this earlier, but If someone could help me find all the links to this killer dog food, so I can pass it on to my forum & to a few others I belong to...

Thanks everyone & i HOPE this can be stopped asap!

[anna_66]

Here Jess, I received this in my email today. It shows all the foods affected.


PETS & ANIMALS IN DISTRESS ACTION ALERT
Health Scare: Contaminated Pet Food Proves Fatal


January 10, 2006


We wanted to update you on the recent pet food contamination issue that is
believed to have caused the deaths of at least 76 dogs so far, as reported by
the US Food and Drug Administration. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
launched an investigation into the deaths of dozens of dogs who apparently
consumed pet food contaminated with aflatoxin, a substance that can cause lethal
liver disease in animals.

Diamond Pet Food has removed its dog and cat food from sale after a dangerous
toxin was found in a product manufactured at the company's facility in Gaston,
South Carolina. States serviced by the Gaston facility include Alabama,
Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky (eastern), Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virgina,
Vermont and Virginia.

When the FDA announced its investigation on December 30, the agency was aware of
only 23 dogs who had died from eating the contaminated food as well as another
18 dogs who had become ill. Since then, news outlets have quoted FDA officials
as saying that the number of dead dogs has more than tripled to 76 animals.

The following cat and dog food products are affected by the recall:


Diamond Low Fat Dog Food
Diamond Hi-Energy Dog Food
Diamond Maintenance Dog Food
Diamond Performance Dog Food
Diamond Premium Adult Dog Food
Diamond Puppy Food
Diamond Maintenance Cat Food
Diamond Professional Cat Food
Country Value Puppy
Country Value Adult Dog
Country Value High Energy Dog
Country Value Adult Cat Food
Professional Chicken & Rice Senior Dog Food
Professional Reduced Fat Chicken & Rice Dog Food
Professional Adult Dog Food
Professional Large-Breed Puppy Food
Professional Puppy Food
Professional Reduced Fat Cat Food
Professional Adult Cat Food

On Monday, January 9, The New York Times quoted veterinarians at Cornell
University Hospital for Animals, who are tracking dogs affected by the
contaminated pet food, as saying they believe that 100 dogs have died nationwide
from aflatoxin poisoning. The veterinarians fear the number could rise
significantly, because dog owners, preoccupied by holiday activities, may not
yet be aware of the threat.

The pet food, sold under the labels Diamond, Country Value and Professional, was
produced by Diamond Pet Foods, a privately owned company based in Missouri. The
company issued a recall on December 20 when aflatoxin was discovered in pet food
made at its Gaston, South Carolina facility, and shipped to stores throughout
the east and southeastern United States as well as to 29 countries.

The State newspaper, based in Columbia, South Carolina, reported on January 6
that tests showed that about 30 samples-from about 3,000 tested samples of
Diamond brand pet food-contained aflatoxins that exceeded the maximum level
allowed by the FDA for human and pet food. "The positive results were found for
food made Oct. 1 through Oct. 16, which means they would bear 'best buy' dates
of April 1-16, 2007," the paper wrote.

Diamond recalled all dried pet food produced from September 1 through December
10 at the Gaston plant. The recall included both dog and cat food, but to date,
dogs appear to be the only animals affected.

Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring substance produced by fungi that grow on
grains, including corn. Humidity, high temperatures, or drought are some of the
conditions that contribute to aflatoxin growth on crops. Aflatoxin is toxic and
can cause severe liver damage in animals.

Pet guardians whose animal may have consumed a Diamond brand pet food product
are urged to contact their veterinarian if their pet exhibits any of the
following symptoms, which may indicate aflatoxin consumption:


Sluggishness;
Loss of appetite;
Jaundice (yellow whites of the eyes, gums, belly or areas where hair is very
thin);
Severe, persistent vomiting combined with bloody diarrhea;
Discolored urine;
Fever.

To get more information about the cause of illness and symptoms to watch for,
please see the FDA statement at
http://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=57879623&u=530913

The FDA said it is continuing to investigate the situation and is working
closely with the state feed regulatory agencies in the affected states. Some of
the products included in the recall were exported to at least 29 countries in
the European Union. The FDA said those countries have been notified.

According to Diamond, any unused portions of recalled pet food should be
returned to the retailer where it was purchased for a refund or replacement.
According to press reports, Diamond has also offered to compensate pet guardians
who can confirm that their pet died or became ill as a result of eating the
contaminated food.

Diamond Pet Food is requesting that customers whose pets have become ill from
eating contaminated food contact the company through its online help form.

Customers can receive more information about the recall by calling the Diamond
Pet Foods Customer Information Center toll free at 1-866-214-6945. The
Information center is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to midnight EST.

Please feel free to pass this message on to anyone who would benefit from it.

Thank you,

Pets & Animals in Distress


1511 east Commercial Blvd
PMB #129
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33334
United States

[king2005]

Thaks you SOOO much Anna :)