Has an outside lab found anything?
“
Ah, since you didn’t read the supplied articles, I’ll do the work for you.
We partnered with Ellipse Analytics, a lab that specializes in testing food for contaminants.
“I think you have a duty to understand what you’re selling to human beings and pets, and I think that the obligation is on you to understand what is, and is not, in your product,” said lab founder, Kevin Hicks.
We tested 62 samples of wet dog food, across more than two-dozen brands for the euthanasia drug pentobarbital.
After months of tests and re-tests, one brand repeatedly came back positive for pentobarbital.
In total, we tested 15 cans of Gravy Train. Nine cans — 60-percent of the sample — were positive for pentobarbital. And while the levels detected were not lethal, under federal law they are also not permitted at any concentration.
Back to you in Rio Linda. Btw, are you employed by Smuckers?
Ruh roh, Smuckers issues a voluntary withdrawl.
Smucker Withdraws Multiple Dog Food Brands
February 15, 2018 — J.M. Smucker Company has initiated a voluntary withdrawal of various wet dog food products due to the potential to contain low levels of pentobarbital, a euthanasia drug.
What Products Are Affected?
Affected products include canned wet dog food versions of the following brands:
Gravy Train Kibbles ‘N Bits Ol’ Roy Skippy The following table is reproduced from an email sent by Walmart to its affected customers.
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Message from the Company
The following text is taken from an email received from Smucker by The Dog Advisor on February 15, 2018:
Out of an abundance of caution we initiated a voluntary withdrawal (not a recall) on specific shipments of Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘N Bits, Ol’ Roy, and Skippy canned/wet dog food because they do not meet our quality specifications.
This means retailers will remove the impacted shipments from their warehouses.
Veterinarians and animal nutrition specialists, as well as the FDA, have confirmed that extremely low levels of pentobarbital, like the levels reported to be in select shipments, do not pose a threat to pet safety.
However, the presence of this substance at any level is not acceptable to us and not up to our quality standards. We sincerely apologize for the concern this has caused.
Although veterinarians and animal nutrition specialists, as well as the FDA, have confirmed that extremely low levels of pentobarbital do not pose a threat to pet safety, we understand pet owners may have concerns.
We encourage them to contact us at 800-828-9980 or via email here.
Please know our internal investigation into this situation is ongoing.
We take this very seriously and are extremely disappointed that pentobarbital was introduced to our supply chain.
We have narrowed the focus of our investigation to a single supplier and a single, minor ingredient, used at one manufacturing facility.
If you are interested in the FDA’s definition of a withdrawal and how it differs from a recall, you can find that information in the Definitions section of the FDA’s website.
What to Do?
U.S. citizens can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.
Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints. Canadians can report any health or safety incidents related to the use of this product by filling out the Consumer Product Incident Report Form.