< dogscatskidslife, TJ Morgan, veterinary technician, veterinary medicine, consumer, activist, day to day real life events, writer, stories, photographs, photographer, CafePress.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Pet Food Recall...

***UPDATE*** March 30, 2007

FDA Announces: Melamine in Tainted Pet Foods...


**UPDATE** March 23, 2007

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has announced today that they have identified a toxin in samples of the cat foods that were recalled by Menu Foods. Scientists at the New York State Food Laboratory identified Aminopterin in samples of the recalled products at a level of at least 40 parts per million. Aminopterin is used as a rodenticide (rat/mouse poison) outside of the United states. It is not licensed for use within the United States except as a pharmaceutical which is used in some cancer treatments such as leukemia.

Aminopterin, a derivative of folic acid, can cause cancer and birth defects in humans and can cause kidney damage in dogs and cats. Aminopterin is not permitted for use in the United States.


This quick finding was a collaboration of efforts between Cornell University and the New York Food Laboratory.

New York State is home to two laboratories that are part of federal emergency lab networks, created through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after 9-11 to keep the nation’s animals and food supply safe. The New York State Food Laboratory is part of the Federal Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) and as such, is capable of running a number of unique poison/toxin tests on food, including the test that identified Aminopterin. The New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University is a member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network and thus, is uniquely qualified to investigate the causes of animal health emergencies, like the sudden deaths of dogs and cats from the recently recalled pet food.


We have already received some telephone calls from clients who have heard that the recall has been expanded to dry pet foods. According to today's New York Agriculture report, this is not the case. The list of pet foods that have been recalled has not been expanded. It is also important to recognize that the poison has only been found, and confirmed, in some of the tested cat food and tissue samples.


**UPDATE** March 18, 2007

This is a recommendation for those who have been feeding the recalled products that I have listed below. If you have been feeding the affected foods to your pets it would be good to seek counsel with your veterinarian. Blood work can be run as well as an urinalysis to screen for any potential problems.

While the exact nature and cause of the problem is not known, renal failure has been confirmed. Laboratory tests can reveal any renal insufficiencies that may be present and a treatment plan can be implemented early if there is a chronic renal failure condition present. However, acute renal failure usually has a grave prognosis even with treatment. It is unknown at this time whether the pets associated with the pet food recall died from chronic or acute renal failure.

It is important for clients to remember that older pets should always have bloodwork run on their pets every six months to monitor organ function whether or not there is a concern about the recalled pet foods. Older pets can have renal insufficiency present that is NOT DUE to the feeding of possibly tainted pet foods. Pets can also be more susceptible to renal insufficiencies because of their age, inherited traits, or breed propensities.

Hill's Science Diet, Iams, and Eukanuba have implemented a voluntary recall of some of their products. Their foods are NOT part of the official recall. These recalls are precautionary which includes Menu Foods Income Fund's original recall.

I have listed the Hill's and Iam's products in an update below.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


We received a telephone call from a client asking us about recalled Iams pet food late today.

I hadn't heard anything about it.

But it seems that it is true.

Menu Foods Income Fund has instituted a recall of canned and pouch pet foods. The company manufactures food for several premium pet food brands. Also included is the company, P&G Pet Care, who produces pet foods for several pet food store brands such as Wal-Mart and Safeway. P&G is best known as Procter and Gamble. Iams and Eukanuba, owned by P&G, has some of their products produced by the contract manufacturer as well, and has posted an announcement with product code numbers on their website.

The reported complaints listed are pets getting ill after eating the product. A company spokeman states, "One dog and a 'small number' of cats in the U.S. are reported to have died from kidney failure after eating the food".

A source of the problem has yet to be found, and inspections haven't provided any answers either. A complete list of companies and brands that the manufacturer supplies has not been listed.

While there is still only limited information concerning this product recall, it appears to me that the reported illnesses are not related to a Diamond pet food recall late in 2005.



**UPDATE** Monday, March 19, 2007

Purina has implemented a precautionary recall of their Mighty Dog 5.3 ounce pouch products.

Product specifications:

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.


You can obtain a full refund from Purina by calling: 1-800-551-7392




**UPDATE** Sunday, March 18, 2007

Hill's Science Diet has joined with Iams and Eukanuba in the voluntary precautionary recall of some of their products.

All of Iams, Eukanuba, and Hill's products are guaranteed by the respective companies. Pet owners will be able to get a refund for the products that are affected by this recall.

It appears that several websites are experiencing intermittent difficulties due to the massive volume of hits by consumers. I have listed the information below concerning the Hill's Science Diet products.

Here is the list of products and their product codes that Science Diet is recalling:

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.

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 5. . BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4603
2. . BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4416 6. . BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M25XXXXXX 4457
3. . BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4415 7. . BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4414
4. . BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4601
5. . BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4603
6. . BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M25XXXXXX 4457
7. . BESTBEFORE 08 2008
M28XXXXXX 4414



The Iams and Eukanuba websites are experiencing similar difficulties with this link. Please forgive the formatting as it doesn't copy and paste well. Because of this the product code may, or may not, be next to the product name. You may have to search by product number only. Here is the list and product codes of their voluntarily recalled products:



Iams Cat Select Bites Pouches Eukanuba 3 oz Cans
84942710
3 oz Iams Kitten with Chicken in Gravy 84956844
3 oz Eukanuba Kitten Cuts with Savory Chicken in Gravy
84942711
3 oz Iams Cat Adult with Beef in Gravy 84956846
3 oz Eukanuba Cat Adult Cuts with Chicken & Liver in Gravy
84942712
3 oz Iams Cat Adult with Chicken and Wild Rice in Gravy 84956847
3 oz Eukanuba Cat Adult Flaked with Select Tuna in Sauce
84942713
3 oz Iams Cat Adult with Chicken in Gravy 84956848
3 oz Eukanuba Cat Adult Flaked with Select Seafood in Sauce
84942714 3 oz Iams Cat Adult with Turkey in Gravy 84956850
3 oz Eukanuba Cat Mature Cuts with Savory Chicken in Gravy
84942715
3 oz Iams Cat Adult with Salmon in Sauce
84942717
3 oz Iams Cat Adult with Tuna in Sauce
84942720
3 oz Iams Cat Weight Control with Tuna in Sauce Eukanuba
5.5 oz Chunks in Gravy Cans
84942721
3 oz Iams Cat Active Maturity with Chicken in Gravy 84956830
5.5 oz Eukanuba Puppy with Savory Chicken
84942722
3 oz Iams Cat Variety Pack with Beef, Chicken, and Turkey 84956832
5.5 oz Eukanuba Dog Adult with Savory Chicken
84942724
3 oz Iams Cat Variety Pack with Salmon and Tuna 84956833
5.5 oz Eukanuba Dog Adult with Hearty Beef
84942726
3 oz Iams Cat Variety Pack with Chicken and Turkey 84956834
5.5 oz Eukanuba Dog Adult with Hearty Stew with Beef
84956838
5.5 oz Eukanuba Dog Senior with Hearty Beef

Iams Dog Select Bites Pouches
84942691 5.3 oz Iams Puppy with Chicken in Gravy Iams 3 oz Cans
84942693 5.3 oz Iams Dog Adult with Beef in Gravy 84959908 3 oz Iams Cat Slices with Turkey in Gravy
84942694 5.3 oz Iams Dog Adult with Beef, Potatoes and Carrots in Gravy 84959909 3 oz Iams Cat Slices with Beef in Gravy
84942695 5.3 oz Iams Dog Adult with Chicken in Gravy 84959910 3 oz Iams Cat Slices with Chicken in Gravy
84942696 5.3 oz Iams Dog Adult with Turkey in Gravy 84959912 3 oz Iams Kitten Slices with Turkey in Gravy
84942697 5.3 oz Iams Dog Adult with Lamb and Wild Rice in Gravy 84959913 3 oz Iams Cat Flakes with Tuna & Ocean White Fish in Sauce
84942698 5.3 oz Iams Dog Weight Control with Chicken in Gravy 84959914 3 oz Iams Cat Flakes with Salmon in Sauce
84942700 5.3 oz Iams Dog Active Maturity with Beef in Gravy 84961218 3 oz Iams Cat Variety Pack Slices with Chicken and Beef in Gravy
84942707 5.3 oz Iams Dog Variety Pack with Beef, Chicken, Lamb & Rice 84961229 3 oz Iams Cat Variety Pack Flakes with Tuna & Ocean White Fish and Salmon in Sauce
84942709 5.3 oz Iams Dog Variety Pack with Beef and Chicken


Eukanuba Cat Morsels in Gravy Pouches Iams 6 oz Cans
84956839 3 oz Eukanuba Kitten with Savory Chicken 84959903 6 oz Iams Cat Slices with Turkey in Gravy
84956840 3 oz Eukanuba Cat Adult with Savory Chicken 84959904 6 oz Iams Cat Slices with Beef in Gravy
84956841 3 oz Eukanuba Cat Adult with Savory Turkey 84959905 6 oz Iams Cat Slices with Chicken in Gravy
84956842 3 oz Eukanuba Cat Adult with Select Tuna 84959915 6 oz Iams Cat Flakes with Tuna & Ocean White Fish in Sauce
84956843 3 oz Eukanuba Cat Adult with Select White Fish 84959916 6 oz Iams Cat Flakes with Salmon in Sauce
84956856 3 oz Eukanuba Cat Mature with Savory Chicken 84959936 6 oz Iams Puppy Small Bites with Beef & Chicken in Gravy
84961121 3 oz Eukanuba Cat Adult with Shrimp and Cod 84959940 6 oz Iams Dog Small Bites for Small Dogs with Chicken in Gravy
84959941
6 oz Iams Dog Small Bites for Small Dogs with Beef & Vegetables in Gravy
84969819
6 oz Iams Dog Variety Pack Small Bites for Small Dogs with Beef & Vegetables and Chicken in Gravy Eukanuba Dog Bites in Gravy Pouches
84956817
5.3 oz Eukanuba Puppy with Savory Chicken
84956818
5.3 oz Eukanuba Puppy with Hearty Beef Iams
13.2 oz Dog Cans
84956819
5.3 oz Eukanuba Dog Adult with Savory Chicken 84959930
13.2 oz Iams Dog Chunks with Beef and Vegetables in Gravy
84956820
5.3 oz Eukanuba Dog Adult with Hearty Beef 84959931
13.2 oz Iams Dog Chunks with Chicken in Gravy
84956821
5.3 oz Eukanuba Dog Adult with Lamb and Rice 84959932
13.2 oz Iams Dog Active Maturity Chunks with Beef in Gravy
84956822
5.3 oz Eukanuba Dog Adult with Beef, Pasta and Vegetables 84959933
13.2 oz Iams Dog Weight Control Chunks with Beef in Gravy
84956823
5.3 oz Eukanuba Dog Reduced Fat with Savory Chicken 84959934
13.2 oz Iams Puppy Chunks with Beef & Chicken in Gravy
84956824
5.3 oz Eukanuba Dog Senior with Savory Chicken 84961233 13.2 oz

Iams Dog Variety Pack Chunks with Beef & Vegetables and Chicken in Gravy
84961235 13.2 oz Iams Dog Multipack Chunks with Beef & Vegetables in Gravy
84961237 13.2 oz Iams Puppy Multipack with Beef & Chicken in Gravy
84966751 13.2 oz Iams Dog Multipack Chunks with Chicken in Gravy




**UPDATE**

Menu Foods is a contract manufacturer and this recall affects a large number of companies and their products. According to the company, "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." It appears that the Iams and Eukanuba brands of dog and cat foods are not part of the official recall and that these products are part of a voluntary recall on the part of Procter & Gamble.

Menu Foods Income Fund's Telephone Number Hotline: 866-463-6738

Here are the brands of cat food that are affected by the recall:

Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority
Best Choice
Companion
Compliments
Demoulas Market Basket
Fine Feline Cat, Shep Dog
Food Lion
Foodtown
Giant Companion
Good n Meaty
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy-Vee
Key Food
Laura Lynn
Li'l Red
Loving Meals
Main Choice
Nutriplan
Nutro Max Gourmet Classics
Nutro Natural Choice
Paws
Presidents Choice
Price Chopper
Priority
Save-A-Lot
Schnucks
Sophistacat
Special Kitty
Springfield Pride
Sprout
Total Pet, My True Friend
Wegmans
Western Family
White Rose
Winn Dixie


Here are the brands of dog food that are affected by the recall:

Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority
Award
Best Choice
Big Bet
Big Red
Bloom
Bruiser
Cadillac
Companion
Demoulas Market Basket
Fine Feline Cat, Shep Dog
Food Lion
Giant Companion
Great Choice
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy-Vee
Key Food
Laura Lynn
Loving Meals
Main Choice
Mixables
Nutriplan
Nutro Max
Nutro Natural Choice
Nutro
Ol'Roy
Paws
Pet Essentials
Pet Pride
Presidents Choice
Price Chopper
Priority
Publix
Roche Bros
Save-A-Lot
Schnucks
Springsfield Pride
Sprout
Stater Bros
Total Pet, My True Friend
Western Family
White Rose
Winn Dixie
Your Pet



Below is the press release from Menu Foods Income Fund:

March 16, 2007
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. 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.

Labels:

7 Comments:

Blogger Rick Rockhill said...

I work for PETCO, we took this very seriously as soon as we heard and removed any related product from the shelves as a precaution as a safety measure for animals. I posted PETCO's information on my own blog as well:
www.rickrockhill.blogspot.com

March 17, 2007 6:42 AM  
Blogger It's me, T.J. said...

I am wondering how you heard about this? There wasn't anything on the news that I know of in our area.

March 17, 2007 9:14 AM  
Blogger Dreaming again said...

it was all over the morning news shows this morning.

It took me a while to figure out if the special kitty canned food we had for Sugarfoot and Twitch was part of the recall. But thankfully, the Special Kitty ... is mostly pouch ...not canned .. *whew*

March 17, 2007 1:34 PM  
Blogger It's me, T.J. said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

March 17, 2007 2:07 PM  
Blogger It's me, T.J. said...

Hey Peggikaye...

I'm glad too!

Have a great week-end.

later...

March 17, 2007 2:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

March 18, 2007 2:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

March 20, 2007 12:13 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home