FDA finds another poison in the recalled Pet Food -Presser @ 10:00 am EDT

Pet Connection.com and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | Friday March 30, 2007 | Milwaukee_Guy

[Milwaukee_Guy]

"Testing by the FDA and at least one lab independent of the agency found melamine, a chemical used in plastics and household textiles, in samples of the recalled pet food and in one of its ingredients -- wheat gluten -- said an FDA official and another source close to the investigation. Neither wanted to be identified prior to the FDA's formal announcement this morning."

"The FDA has not determined how melamine got into the pet food. Melamine is used as a fertilizer in Asia and has several commercial and industrial uses."

[Cannoneer No. 4]

ping

[Milwaukee_Guy]

If Anna Nicole Smith had eaten the bad pet food you would finally get some coverage! :-)

[Old_Mil]

Paul Henderson, chief executive of Menu Foods, confirmed Friday that the wheat gluten was purchased from China.

...just poisoning the consumers that Americans won't.

[Chances Are]

Government and MSM spokesmen agreed saying, "We know nothing."

You know, they could say that about most any issue, and for the first time ever they'd be totally correct!

But realistically, we won't see any such thing in our lifetimes.

Damn...

CA....

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Source?

This would be the first "hard" confirmation of the China Connection.

ABC News quoted only a "source" last Friday. Apparently they were correct.

[thulldud]

At one point, I was sure that ANS had been eating rather too much of whatever she was getting. As for coverage, in her case there was never enough of the right kind, and entirely too much of the other.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

FIRESTORM!

Pet food recall: Breaking - dry food may be involved.

I’m on the conference call with the FDA, where Dr. Sundlof just stated in response to a question about dry food, “We are trying to trace out all the wehat gluten that came from the contaminated source,” and said that there is one company that may have received the gluten that does make dry food.

More coming.

http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/30/pet-food-recall-breaking-dry-food-may-be-involved/

[Old_Mil]

...the source.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Thanks!

Early stages of the Blame Game now begin.......

[DBrow]

Melamine has loads of nitrogen (six N, 3 C, and 6H) and is used as a fertilizer in places that don't wish their people to have access to ammonium nitrate (the USA prefers AN and produces a billion or so pounds per year).

It's easy to see how it could get into food since it probably is stored with food or transported in the same trains.

We in the USA think of melamine as a plastic monomer (melamine and formaldehyde polymer makes nice plates, bowls, and countertops).

[ridesthemiles]

Testing the dog food is just a band-aid. If the real problem is imported wheat, then they need to TEST THE IMPORTED WHEAT..."

Ironic, isn't it? The per food plant in question is in the middle of Kansas- great WHEAT producing state, and the company was inporting WHEAT from China.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

And we pay Kansas farmers -not- to grow wheat!

[Old_Mil]

By the way, it gets better...this from October 2006:

Earlier this year, a 4-year-old Minneapolis boy died of lead poisoning after swallowing a metal charm that came as a gift with a pair of Reebok sneakers. The charm, which was made in China, was 99% lead.
...source.

Many times, I've heard the sentiment expressed here as to how companies are moving to China and Mexico because there are too many government regulations in the United States. While this may be true, the flip side of the coin is that there are virtually none in places like China and companies are free to behave in such a way that maximizes the bottom line regardless of its effect on the health and safety of the consumers of its product.

[palmer]

While food imports have soared about 50%, the number of FDA food-import inspectors has dropped about 20%, the agency says.

Is your position that more government is the answer?

[palmer]

Ironic, isn't it? The per food plant in question is in the middle of Kansas- great WHEAT producing state, and the company was inporting WHEAT from China.

No, it is typical. We have an enormous trade deficit for many reasons, many of them our own (each of us) fault.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Agreed, how does one sue a Communist Dictatorship?

If China gets caught, the local plant manager is taken out and shot, his organs donated to a Taiwanese businessman and a new lackey takes over the wheat gluten plant.

Try to sue this bunch and they'll laugh in your face.

[sweetiepiezer]

You are so right, it's called CYA.

[Netizen]

Paul Henderson, chief executive of Menu Foods, confirmed Friday that the wheat gluten was purchased from China.

Suppose they'll be held responsible? nah!

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Here comes some -serious- Federal CYA!

---

Pet food recall: FDA press conference report
In an FDA press conference this morning, a reporter asked the FDA’s Dr. Stephen Sundlof if people could be feeding unsafe food to their pets right now, because the FDA won’t reveal the name of a company that received wheat gluten from the same source from which Menu did?

The response? “It is possible, but I think we’ve been following every lead that we can. My sense is that we have gotten most of it under control.”

As soon as we have any information, he assured reporters at a press conference this morning, we’ll notify the public. Except for the name of the company, it seems.

How about the numbers? asked another attendee. You’re still saying only 15 confirmed deaths, but some reports are in the thousands. How do you explain the discrepancy?

Dr. Sundlof said FDA can’t confirm any cases beyond those first few in Menu’s test labs, even though they have received over 8800 additional reports, because “We have not had the luxury of confirming these reports.” They’ll work on that, he said, after they “make sure all the product is off the shelves.”

He pointed out that in human medicine, the job of defining what constitutes a confirmed case would fall to the Centers for Disease Control, not the FDA… and there is no CDC for animals.

More to come.
http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/03/30/pet-food-recall-fda-press-conference-report/

[EnquiringMind]

I think I am going to make my own cat food. Going to check the internet for recipes to make in bulk.