Posted on 04/26/2007 10:08:18 AM PDT by Milwaukee_Guy
In Tuesdays four-hour session of live-blogging the food-safety hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives work from which her wrists have yet to recover Christie found herself typing something we at the PetConnection first heard weeks ago, but couldnt get confirmation on until it came up in the hearing:
Without Iams, there might not have been a recall at all.
In sworn testimony, Menu Foods CEO Paul Henderson admitted that his company called the recall because Iams told them theyd had enough, that their own quality internal systems had revealed a problem, and that they were pulling their own products even if Menu wouldnt pull them all.
It was that stand that triggered everything that has followed since. Menu launched the massive and unprecedented recall before Iams could, but only because Iams was ready to do it on their own. Heres the transcript:
(Excerpt) Read more at petconnection.com ...
I heard from a vet that most of the solid ground canned food that you have to spoon out of the can is probably OK, and the ones with chunks in gravy are more suspect.
It already has: it’s been fed to hogs here in the US and in South Africa.
Chinese contamination has been found in pork and chicken destined for the human food chain now.
Avoid any of the ingredients listed above and avoid any food stuffs imported from China.
The CDC is currently monitoring any cases of renal failures in -humans-.
That's criminal behavior.
More from, http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/04/26/pet-food-recall-timing-and-triggers/#comments
Iams has now confirmed that account with us: That they would have launched their own recall if Menu hadnt.
Why does this matter?
Because while we certainly do think the recalls should have been made sooner and should be being made now, based on what the FDA already now knows and will not reveal to us we shudder to think how much worse this situation could have been had Iams not muscled Menu into pulling all affected cuts and gravy product.
Would we have ever known there was a problem if they hadnt? Before the first recall, veterinarians across the country were comparing notes and scratching their heads over the mysterious increase in acute renal failure in their practices. We had veterinarians wondering if the problems were local such as in a pesticide incident, or serial pet poisoner and those who were suspecting that something must larger was going on. But what?
The Menu Foods recall was the AHA! moment when it all made sense.
But had Iams not threatened their own recall based on their own internal tracking systems, would the rise in acute renal cases just been just a blip on the radar screen, a misunderstood and tragic aberation? Without Iams own internal investigation and the power they could bring to bear on their contract manufacturer, would we now have a massive FDA investigation into Chinese imports and their possible contamination of the human food chain? Two Congressional hearings? And much, much more?
These are all good questions, and well never know all the answers. But its very possible that without the decision of one of the big pet food companies to take the hit entirely on their own, we wouldnt know anything at all now, and many thousands more of our pets might be sick or dead, without anyone ever really knowing why.
All Science Diet pet foods are free of wheat gluten. The corn gluten Science Diet uses in some of its products is from a local US supplier and is not part of the recall. Science Diet uses rice protein in four of its products. It is not from the supplier involved in the recall, has been tested by Science Diet, and found to be free of melamine.
I’m a Science Diet Demo Rep and have written confirmation of the above.
If so, your product is -highly- suspect.
What certification can you present that none of your product comes from China?
Thrill and amaze us sales guy. I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.
Lets see documentation on your corporate letterhead!
China Bans Melamine in Food Products:
I await your response to my private message.
bcsco
Why have these Science Diet products been recalled?
Jun/19/08
Sliced Beef/Gravy 3oz
Can
3oz
52742-44120
Jun/20/08
Jun/19/08
Sliced Chicken/Grvy 3oz
Can
3oz
52742-44110
Jun/20/08
Jun/19/08
Sliced Oceanfish/Sauce 3oz
Can
3oz
52742-44010
Jun/20/08
Jun/19/08
Sliced Senior Chicken/Gravy 3oz
Can
3oz
52742-46000
THESE SCIENCE DIET PRODUCTS HAD CHINESE CONTAMINATED WHEAT GLUTEN IN THEM FROM MENU FOODS.
I am hoping that you were simply misinformed.
What do you have to say now, sales guy? Premium priced pet food made from third world ingredients is what I see.
here’s the link, http://www.menufoods.com/recall/Press%20Release%2004052007%20US.htm
Years ago my husband drove a grain truck and delivered to places such as Quaker Oats, etc. He said that before you
dumped your load you were required to release insecticide in the grain by way of “bombs” (cans). Once the load was determined to be “fit” to dump, you dumped it all...insecticide, insecticide cans, and dead bugs.
Innova Evo...grain free.
Food processing plants take almost anything by charging elevators/farmers etc ‘dockage’.
Not so with pet food processors.
Ohhhhhh wowwww..... does anyone here still believe the CEO just happened to sell a big block of his stock before calling for the recall? they never would have done it if Iams had not applied the brakes.
We had two products we voluntarily recalled on March 27 and March 30, 2007: Savory Cuts Feline (can) and Prescription Diet MD Feline (Dry). These were the only two products that contained wheat gluten. All products currently marketed by Science Diet is wheat gluten free. I have this in writing under corporate logo. I also have store flyers stating the same.
What certification can you present that none of your product comes from China?
What I have been given is email notification and store announcements. I've already responded above to the wheat gluten issue. Regarding rice protein issue, the email I have states (under corporate logo): "While Hill's uses ride protein concentrate in 4 of its products, we do not use the supplier involved with the recall. Hill's has tested its ingredients and these tests show no melamine is present in the rice protein concentrate that it uses". Regarding the Corn gluten issue, I have a flyer with corporate logo that states: "No Hill's products are affected by this recall. Hill's uses US-sourced corn gluten and does not source corn gluten from China".
I hope this answers your concerns. I would not be making claims if I felt the company I represent was less than honest and upfront in their claims and commitment to our pets health and nutrition. In fact, I would not be working for them if that were the case.
Also, thehonestkitchen.com. Their foods are dehydrated raw and have to mixed with water before feeding. And since they are raw, you have to handle them accordingly. They do have a grain free formula tho. My girls are doing very well on it, but I also keep the Innova too.
That’s what I think.... Iams was stupid to oursource (as were the others), especially to a country that has more liberal standards for pet food manufacture, but the middle men were playing fast and loose with the ingredients they were/are importing.
LOL! That’s too cute.
I saw them mention a GOP on the committee who was excoriating one of the witnesses... just seems like our guys are being very quiet in this case, I hate to think why so for now I won’t.
Have they rid their products of BHA, BHT and Ethioxin yet? The grains yet? Dogs and especially cats do not need grains.
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