Dog Food Recall

[Jeni D]

Hey Bonnie
Will you let me know if you find anything about the Nature's Recipe? I feed Maya and Dudley the same wet food, and I want to make sure it's okay.
Jeni

[Chip's Mom]

Jeni - I will keep you posted but I am thinking that it isn't going to be on the list.

[Mvons]

Holy Cow on the recall. I didn't read the whole article to know how far back the food was. Pepper's kidney's were already shot from chronic kidney disease and she didn't vomit. The gravy packets were part of her "last meal" on Feb 11. She thought they were great and she wished I had bought more than four! The food went right through her in 2 hours so I'm glad they didn't reside longer to cause the vomit if they were part of the bad batch.

In the back of my mind, causing quick kidney failure...rat/mice poison...I wonder if that is found in the food!

Merrie

[glencorgi]

Another story:
60 million containers of pet food recalled - Pet Health - MSNBC.com

Looks like wheat gluten might be the suspected source of contamination. Wheat gluten is used as a source of protein.

Debbie

[Michael Romanos]

As I have said a few times very pointedly already, dog food can be tested by AAFCO and this fact mentioned on the packaging , BUT it doesn't mean that AAFCO has actually approved of the product.
I mentioned Pedigree casseroles. Now I have taken another look at the package (Taylor had won three packets as part of prize parcels at agility) and here is what is says: " Pedigree provides a complete diet for adult dogs as established by the AAFCO dog food nutrition profiles."
No where does that say that AAFCO has approved or passed as compliant with their standards and content requirements.
Dr Nick Cave said to watch out for packaging that does not says or means approved and passed by AAFCO.
So I think I should amend the comments I made about Pedigree. It seems a trap that we can all fall into.

Peggy _ I never said til two months ago for AAFCO approval of Eukanuba, I said two months ago their food was not approved by AAFCO. There is a big difference between these two statements.

[ColColt]

I use wheat gluten to make homemade rye bread in my bread machine and I know one of the two containers must be two years old. I can't tell if it's contaminated as it still looks the same. This has to be the same thing they use in dog food I would imagine. Maybe more light will be shed on this tomorrow.

[Chip's Mom]

Jeni - No wheat gluten in Natures Recipe and the codes on my can are nothing like the ones that are in the article that Debbie just posted. I will look on the site tomorrow when they list the brand names just to make sure.

Thanks so much Debbie for posting this.

[darci]

Menu Foods manufactures only wet (canned) dog and cat foods. A dry dog or cat food with one of the labels listed below is most likely manufactured by a company other than Menu Foods. Ask your supermarket officials to tell you which company produces their foods for them if you buy dry dog or cat food under any store label.

Albertson’s
A&P’s Master Choice
Authority (PetSmart brand)
Award (PetSmart brand)
IGA
Kroger
Loblaw
Pathmark
Safeway Select
ShopRite
SophistaCat (PetSmart brand)
Stop & Shop
Wal-Mart’s Special Kitty Pouches




For those that feed Iams or Eukanuba;
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.

[glencorgi]

And yet another update:

Huge Pet Food Recall

News Release -- SooNews.ca -- Friday, March 16, 2007, 10:48PM



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.


____________________________________


The Facts You're Looking For:
- only "cuts and gravy" style wet food is affected
- list of specific brands will be released Saturday
- includes most store brands, including Walmart, PetSmart, Wegmans, Safeway,
Kroger
- includes Iams and Eukanuba brands (Procter & Gamble)
- Purina has also issued a recall, so Alpo, Mighty Dog, Pro Plan, Fancy
Feast and Friskies may also be affected


____________________________________


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 --
_www.menufoods.com/recall_ (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
Streetsville, Ontario.

And another recall - this time on pigs ears:

Recall -- Firm Press Release
FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals
from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other
interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
BJ's Wholesale Club Issues Recall of "Berkley & Jensen" Full-Cut Pig Ears
Dog Treats Because of Potential for Salmonella Contamination
Contact:
Stephanie LaCroix
508-651-6904
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Natick, MA -- March 9, 2007 -- BJ's Wholesale Club,
Inc. is recalling its 25-count packages of "Berkley & Jensen" Full-Cut Pig
Ears dog treats with no lot number and only the expiration advisory "BEST IF
USED BY 2009" (without referencing a specific month) because they have the
potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause
serious infections in dogs, and, if there is cross contamination, young children,
frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Confirmatory testing is ongoing but until the testing is final, consumers
should immediately stop feeding the treats to their pets.
Salmonella can potentially be transferred to people handling these dog
treats, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having
contact with the product or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy
persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be
bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection
with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and
producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected
aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. Consumers exhibiting these signs after
having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Dogs that become ill from Salmonella generally will have a fever and
diarrhea that may contain blood or mucus. Affected animals may seem more tired that
usual, and may have vomiting. Some dogs do not have diarrhea, but will have
decreased appetite, fever and excess salivation. If your dog has consumed the
recalled product and is exhibiting these signs, please contact your
veterinarian.
The potential for contamination was noted after testing revealed the
potential presence of Salmonella in a 25-count package of "Berkley & Jensen"
Full-Cut Pig Ears dog treats.
There have been no confirmed illnesses to date. These products have been
removed from sale while the problem is being investigated.
BJ's members who purchased "Berkley & Jensen" Full-Cut Pig Ears dog treats
between January 1, 2006 through March 8, 2007 should discontinue use of the
product and may return the unused portion to any BJ's Wholesale Club for a full
refund. Consumers who have further questions may contact BJ's toll free
Member Care line at 1-800-BJS-CLUB.

[Chip's Mom]

I hope it doesn't roll over into the dry food because I feed dry Pro Plan to my dogs. I think for safety's sake, I will switch tomorrow. They are about out anyway. Thanks Deb for the info. We buy Lady all sorts of canned and packages of dog food, I wonder if that is what part of her problem is? She seems to be doing alot better since we are feeding her Dale's puppy food and hotdogs.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Peggy _ I never said til two months ago for AAFCO approval of Eukanuba, I said two months ago their food was not approved by AAFCO. There is a big difference between these two statements.

It sure sounded that way. So they were approved and then not approved?

I've written the AAFCO for a list of approved foods and as of tonight have still not recieved one. I sure would like to know where to get my hands on one. I'd love to see which foods they do approve.

And if the food meets their standards, then why would it need to be approved. IMO, if it meets the standards that's the same thing as approval.

Peggy

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by yonae12

I find it very interesting that they called the FDA to have inspectors walk into the plant rather than someone from AAFCO when there was a problem with dog food..

I think the FDA is involved because canned pet foods have to meet certain requirements as sometimes people eat them too. (Yuck if you ask me, but it does happen!)

[/quote] I thought that AAFCO was the FDA equivalent but this does not seem to be the case in this situation. Perhaps the FDA have more legal power or know how to handle law suits?.[/quote]

The FDA has more power to enforce things or shut down plants. THe AAFCO only sets standards and recommends. The FDA enforces cleanleness, requirements, etc.

Peggy

[Michael Romanos]

Peggy - If I have to spell it out here goes - Eukanuba is not an AAFCO approved dog food unless there has been some radical shift in this situation within the last two months or less. Now is that clear.

If a package says AAFCO Approved or AAFCO tested and approved or some other phrase that means exactly the same -ie tested and approved, then that should be the case. Biut some dog food manufacturers will have the public believing their food meets AAFCO standards and requiremnets by fudging the wording. AAFCO Tested does not mean AAFCO approved only that the food may have been presented for scutiny to AAFCO. Meets AAFCO standards is another type of phrase that does not mean AAFCO approved. And there are many others. Is this clear?

[tandemgal]

I hope the dry Purina Pro Plan isn't involved too Bonnie - that is what The Girls eat!

Guess I will be looking for alternatives today too!

[Chip's Mom]

T-Gal

I am going to buy a bag of the Natures Recipe for adults when I go to Petsmart today. I am about out of the canned so I have got to check the list first.