Bigger than you think: The story behind the pet food recall

SF Gate ^ | April 3, 2007 | Christie Keith

[Arizona Carolyn]

The March 16 recall of 91 pet food products manufactured by Menu Foods wasn't big news at first. Early coverage reported only 10-15 cats and dogs dying after eating canned and pouched foods manufactured by Menu. The foods were recalled -- among them some of the country's best-known and biggest-selling brands -- and while it was certainly a sad story, and maybe even a bit of a wake-up call about some aspects of pet food manufacturing, that was about it.

At first, that was it for me, too. But I'm a contributing editor for a nationally syndicated pet feature, Universal Press Syndicate's Pet Connection, and all of us there have close ties to the veterinary profession

[Arizona Carolyn]

I hope everyone takes the time to read the entire article. I know of this author and she knows what she is writing about, this is not a run-of-the-mill AP reporter-type.

[kinghorse]

My pet food just got a whole lot more spensive.

I think I’ll go back to school and become a pet personal injury lawyer.

[cripplecreek]

Personally I think this should be a wake up call to those who think it’s fine to import foodstuffs from nations like china.

[avg_freeper]

"not a run-of-the-mill AP reporter-type"

The gratuitous psycho Rosie O'Donnell/Bush killing soldiers bit thrown in at the end gets it the AP seal of approval.

[Obadiah]

In fact, Rosie [O'Donnell] didn't understand. She didn't understand that the same government she blames for sending America's sons and daughters to die in Iraq is the government that told her only 15 animals had died, and that the story was about a pet "poisoning accident" and not a systemic failure of FEMA-esque proportions.

Why does your friend feel it's her duty to get her political licks in in such an article?

[pointsal]

You know that "least cost" formulation seems to have backfired.

[pointsal]

What commodity was in the cargo hold of the freighter before the grain shipment?

Look the manifest of the ship?

[arbee4bush]

I agree. I've been to the Pet Connection website and those contributing editors and bloggers are blaming the US govt that this happened.

And you know darn well it will be BUSH's FAULT in the end. Just sayin..........

[ArtyFO]

I raised several of the same questions that the authoe raised, about the possibility of the gluten getting into the human food chain. I suspect that the stuff is used in certain dry gravy mixes.

[ArtyFO]

I raised several of the same questions that the authoe raised, about the possibility of the gluten getting into the human food chain. I suspect that the stuff is used in certain dry gravy mixes.

[S.O.L.]

Sorry, I don’t trust anyone from San Francisco. However, I do think the problem is much larger than we’ve been hearing.

Even though my Lab isn’t/wasn’t sick, I has him tested and thank God, the results were all good.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

For God’s sake...this is an excellant article.

Let’s just dismiss the informative and eye opening article because it MIGHT be “liberal”. Well, it is not only liberal to criticize our government when it is NOT WORKING! In this case, the author points out very well WHY it is not working. It is the first time I have seen this information and there is plenty we need to change re food safety—pet or human.

The point about rosie was well made, because she continued the distortion of the information we were given by regulatory agencies in a very public way! And her stupidity about the “kitty.kitty” comment shows how non pet owners missed the point about recalls and food safety.

[mtnwmn]

Yes, it is Bush’s fault is written all over the article. I remember hearing on Fox pretty much everything that is in the article....even the Chinese company involved.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

http://stockgroup.canada.com/sn_overview.asp?symbol=T.MEW.UN

5 year chart here:
http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/quickchart/quickchart.asp?symb=CA%3AMEW.UN&sid=&o_symb=CA%3AMEW.UN&freq=2&time=12

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Thanks for your thread. I appreciated it. the FDA ‘s handling of this is appalling!that we have no regulations re pet food and monitoring of ALL foodstuffs that come into this country is outrageous!

[Arizona Carolyn]

Since you all posted on other pet food recall lists I copied you to make certain you see this in depth article. It explains why they are giving such a low number of deaths when the actual number is in the thousands, among other things.

[Boundless]

> ... about the possibility of the gluten getting
> into the human food chain.

Not just via gluten.
Could be in all sorts of stuff, like soy protein.

It wasn’t found in pet food because they weren’t
screening for melamine.

Were human comestibles being screened for melamine?
Are they now?

[mtnwmn]

Shouldn’t have told us to read to the end. Shows your true colors.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

a realistic concern I had too.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

You missed the whole point.I hate Rosie, but in this case, the federal regulation part of the government IS to blame!
whether you are conservative or liberal, the FDA is a farce!