The dog food recall

[Guest pax]

I was reading dailykos and followed a link to CBS that says Menu Foods started testing for the problem a month ago, and two weeks ago had enough data to suggest a real problem. You know about the testing already, so I won't go into that. CBS

 

They were shipping the product the whole time. There was a two week gap between where their animals in their "test" died and the issue of the recall.

 

I think they are going to be in for some trouble.

 

Anyway, that's not the purpose of this.

 

The point is, there is apparently some noise about class action suits and getting the company to pay for expensive treatments like dialysis and transplants.

 

Just in case anybody knows someone effected.

[kelpiegirl]

That's my contention- there was constructive negligence in this matter. The company knew that dogs that were fed this food subsequently died, yet they continued to ship/sell this food. There are inherent risks in all foods- as we learned from the Diamond debacle, but THIS case shows either a complete disregard for consumer (animal) health, or unconscionable neglegence in acting on the problem.

Julie

[bc4pack]

Sure makes the argument for feeding raw or premium kibble.Holistic foods are flying off the shelves. I feed a holistic kibble and add raw.Dogs are liking it and doing well on it.

 

I feel awful for all the folks affected. I did see a news report where a woman had lost her cat and is suing.From what I have seen more cats affected than dogs,smaller bodies,metabolize differently.

[2 Devils]

I know someone whose dog may be affected. Harley is an adorable bulldog. He has been sick for 2 weeks now and is now being tested for liver and kidney failure. I feel bad for her and the dog. The vets are trying to figure out if the problem is from eating the food OR if some other cause... The wait and see game sucks.

[BustopherJones]

Menu Foods tested the foods on 40 animals, of which almost 25% died. What I find despicable is the fact that this company, which is supposed to care about animals, murdered these animals simply because they didn't want to acknowledge the feedback they were getting from the field. The tests weren't done to diagnose a problem; they were done as an exercise in CYA in the hopes that they would disprove the fact that Menu Foods was at fault (which obviously backfired).

 

Another example of American corporate greed without conscience...

 

I was among the fortunate ones who was unaffected by this whole situation; all of the foods and treats we use for Annie and Missy are manufactured by Innova (Natura), Merrick, and Royal Canin (including IVD).

[Rebecca, Irena Farm]

Thank goodness, if you've heard of dogs/cats possibly affected by this, that it appears to be more treatable than, say, antifreeze poisoning or even the aflatoxin tainting a couple years ago.

 

It's really despicable, and I'm pretty willing to give a company the benefit of the doubt. The responsible thing to do would have been to stop production immediately. There's no way they could have known which food that was on the shelves, was suspect, for a couple weeks, but they could have stopped what they still had going out. It's like they just didn't even consider our animals real live entities - just more test subjects, I guess.

 

If you want an alternative to canned cat food - try this: http://www.felinefuture.com/products/ It's a mixer you add to raw meat to make a balanced diet for cats.

 

I've used this with wonderful results - it's a little more trouble than opening a can but at least you know what's going into your cat!! You make up a batch (it makes a bunch) and then I freeze the individual servings in greased muffin cups. They strongly encourage using raw meat but you can use minced cooked, if raw makes you squeamish.

 

They make a dog mixer too, but I haven't tried it as the cost is prohibitive for all my gang.

[Root Beer]

Sure makes the argument for feeding raw or premium kibble.Holistic foods are flying off the shelves. I feed a holistic kibble and add raw.Dogs are liking it and doing well on it.

 

I know what you mean. I wish I could afford to raw feed all four of my dogs completely right this minute. True, any food supply can become contaminated, but I'd still feel like it was safer.

[Carlasl]

A friend of mines one year old cat is in kidney failure after eating some of the affected product, she has the containers it came in and her reciept. They don't know if the cat is going to make it. I know she is interested in joining a class action suit if needed. It is so sad.

[Guest pax]

Welp... here we go.

[Maralynn]

I used to feed the Special Kitty canned food to our cats for part of their food. Last fall I switched them to premade raw instead. I am soo glad I did.

[Journey]

Another example of American corporate greed without conscience...

 

 

I seem to recall seeing that Menu Foods was not an American Company.

 

I wonder if this is why there may be more issues? I will have to find the link I saw that says the FDA already looked at the Kansas plant but the one in question was in Canada?

 

Karen

[MJWPG]

Here is video that is surfacing from this company Menu Foods, from what I hear it's pretty graphic, I can't watch it, maybe they'll go belly up one can hope :

http://www.petatv. com/tvpopup/ video.asp? video=menu_ foods&Player=rp&speed=_med

[MrSnappy]

The source of the contamination is RAT POISON. They have just announced it.

 

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

 

EXCLUSIVE: Rat Poison Believed to Be Source of Some Pet Food Contamination

Sources Tell ABC News Rat Poison Has Been Found in Some of the Contaminated Pet Food That Has Killed Scores of Animals

By DAVID KERLEY

 

March 23, 2007 — ABC News has learned that investigators have determined that a rodent-killing chemical is the toxin in the tainted pet food that has killed several animals.

 

A source close to the investigation tells ABC News that the rodenticide, which the source says is illegal to use in the United States, was on wheat that was imported from China and used by Menu Foods in nearly 100 brands of dog and cat food.

 

Watch "World News" for full details on the extent of the poisoning.

 

A news conference is scheduled for this afternoon by experts in Albany, N.Y., where scientists at the state's food laboratory made the discovery a week after a massive recall of 60 million cans and pouches was issued.

 

The chemical is aminopterin.

 

What investigators can't say so far is whether this is the only contaminant in all of the recalled food.

 

There is some good news according to the source. Knowing the chemical should aid veterinarians who are treating animals that have been sickened by the pet food.

 

The chemical is used in the United States in, of all things, a cancer drug, according to the source.

 

ETA: They are also not entirely certain that the contamination is restricted to pet foods at this point. That's incredibly scary. I have never been happier to have a wheat gluten allergy as I am right now!

 

RDM

[BustopherJones]

I seem to recall seeing that Menu Foods was not an American Company.

You are correct; Menu Foods is a Canadian company.

..the rodenticide, which the source says is illegal to use in the United States, was on wheat that was imported from China

Either we do not grow wheat in North America, or Menu Foods chose to use an obviously unproven and unvetted foreign source in order to save fractions of pennies per can of pet food. Of course, considering the interrelationships between US and Canadian companies and managerial styles, it appears that corporate greed is not limited to companies south of the border...

 

And before our Canadian friends think that, from my remark, I am condescending to them, please understand that I have immense respect for Canadians as a people; I am not only a Montreal Canadiens hockey fan (and devoted to the religion of hockey), but also have crossed US-Canadian flag decals on my truck. You see, I recognize that we are very much alike, and that the Canadians have stood by us as allies in every major conflict (except for Iraq) over the last century; I also remember the Iran hostage crisis, and the fact that Canadian diplomats put their liberty (and even their lives) at risk to smuggle US citizens out of Iran at the time.

[Rebecca, Irena Farm]

Rat poison! Uhhhhhhh!!!!!

 

That's it. Somehow, someway, I'm going to all homeade again ASAP.

[KrisK]

I'm glad they actually know what it is which will undoubtably help with treatment.

 

As for the US/Canada connection - If I understand correctly, the company is most definitely Canadian however the plant in question is one of the plants in the US (I can't remember if is was Kentucky or Kansas). Yep, there is a lot of corporate back and forth between our two countries whether we (that being both Canadians and Americans) like it or not

 

Bustopher, I don't think any Canadian worth his/her salt would take offence to what you said. At least, I don't

[Turbo4go]

You are correct; Menu Foods is a Canadian company.

 

Corporate greed knows no borders. Considering Canada is one of the world leaders in wheat production, why would this company import wheat from China? The answer is simple, Chinese wheat is much cheeper, as it is not regulated and controlled like Canadian grown wheat. One only wonders how many other companies are importing tainted wheat for their food production, and is that bread you are eating also poisoned, but due to our size, the effects won't appear for a much longer time ?

 

And before our Canadian friends think that, from my remark, I am condescending to them, please understand that I have immense respect for Canadians as a people; I am not only a Montreal Canadiens hockey fan (and devoted to the religion of hockey), but also have crossed US-Canadian flag decals on my truck. You see, I recognize that we are very much alike, and that the Canadians have stood by us as allies in every major conflict (except for Iraq) over the last century; I also remember the Iran hostage crisis, and the fact that Canadian diplomats put their liberty (and even their lives) at risk to smuggle US citizens out of Iran at the time.

No offence taken. After all, we are neighbours and have been friends for a long long time.

Remember also, it was a Canadian Rescue team that was first into New Orleans after Katrina, 3 days before FEMA, and they traveled all the way from Vancouver. We just didn't fall for the Bush lies concerning WMD's in Iraq. We do have 20,000 troops in Afganistan trying to clean up that mess.

[smileyzookie]

Oh my gosh. Rat poison?!?!? All I could think of when I read that was poor SincereArtisans 3 dogs. I remember the hell that was for her, I cant imagine that feeling, these poor poor people. I feed Science Diet to Rohan and Riven. Not wet food, but Im seriously considering taking them off ANY Menu Food, especially if this is how they react --- this is so horrible.

 

My best friend has a cat. She fed 1/2 a can of the contaminated food in 2 days to her kitty. Wet food is just like a treat for her. The first spoon full ended up puked on her bed and the cat was up restless all night. But this was before they announced the recall. The 2nd spoonfull stayed down ok, and the cat isnt showing any signs...still playful, eating, ect. I am now wondering if she should maybe take her to the vet just in case? Or would it have shown up within the 1 week it has been since she quit feeding it?

[Guest pax]

Well, Mr Snappy. I guess you've given me a reason to clear out my cupboards.

 

Other than coffee, to which I turn a blind eye, if I can't spell the ingredients of something in my head without looking back at the label, I don't buy it. I can spell lots of things without help. Almost all my vegetable, I've got all the fruits down, and I know about 43 pastas. Most dairy although the French cheeses trip me up sometimes and that week we have to eat something easy like cheddar. No mystery boxes of things like polyefdscfqwefobate or monoasdfasdfatol.

 

I guess it would be much safer to extend this rule to my animals' foods, too.

 

I told my husband I wanted to do the 100 mile diet. He told me we'd have to move to Italy. I'm ok with that.

[WyoBC]

Rat poison! I can't believe that.

 

We feed Sage Hill's WD. I hope that's not poisoned too. But we don't really have a choice.

[Guest pax]

So, now that I've caught up and am seeing it's rat poison and not the wheat, I guess my husband gets to keep his bootleg Cheerios and Triscuits.

 

 

 

 

 

I so do not have room in my life for RAW. Maybe we need an organic pet food thread.

[Jo&Tex]

I feed Tex a canned product made by Menu foods. I went scrambling to reread labels when I heard the news. Tex is on a grain-free diet and none of his food contains any wheat or grain other than rice.

 

Now that the culprit is rat poison, that is a whole other scenario. I can protect my dogs by feeding raw and reading labels but contamination such as this is hard to avoid. Is there a chance that Menu foods is blaming using unknown contaminated wheat to avoid being held liable?