[Caramelgal]

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

As the “mommy” of three kitties, I too think it was a very informative article. But the article made it sound like the FDA was entirely to blame and not Menu Foods, while the FDA sounded a bit like they are trying to pass the buck by saying they don’t have the jurisdiction or manpower to ensure the safety of pet foods - I’m not sure who’s wrong or right or if the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

If the FDA is responsible for ensuring the safety of foods - human and animal and promptly notifying the public of problems, then something really failed here – either they have oversight or they don’t - and if this failure doesn’t concern some of you because you don’t have a pet, then consider that the same rules and oversight goes into the animal feeds that ultimately effects the human food chain – what your steak or chicken breast ate ultimately goes into you.

I don’t want to sound Chino-phobic but I’m very concerned about food products from overseas, especially China and I’m very concerned about the FDA’s ability to oversee what goes into the food we eat.

And for those of you who are so sensitive to read any criticism of our government as a personal attack on GW, then all I can say is we have tradition going back well over two hundred years of criticizing the government starting with King George. Sometimes the government and its agencies need and deserve our criticisms.

While GW is the Chief Executive, I don’t hold him personally responsible for everything – I do however hold the career bureaucrats in charge of these agencies accountable to deliver what they promise and what my tax dollars supposedly pays for.

[Arizona Carolyn]

I think the author was showing the frustration she is getting on Pet Connection from pet owners who are not able to get any help reporting their pets deaths to the FDA.

I'm disappointed that some wanted to take it as a left/right thing. Most people at FDA (State, Defense, etc.) are career employees and cross over both sides of the aisle. If we cannot get beyond political boundaries for the sake of looking at the real issue -- safety of our food supply, this country is in great peril.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Wow! An excellant, articulate post. You covered so many issues better than I could.

You are right in pointing out all the buck passing! I am also Chino-phobic...if that means I don’t trust other countries that do not have the same attitudes we have towards individuals or animals.

[Fawn]

I mentioned before. My vet told me never to let pets eat off of ceramic dishes made from China. They use lead in them. SHe had a cat with severe lead poisoning from eating off the cheap dishes. China just doesn’t have the standards we do.