Posted on 03/21/2007 3:30:14 PM PDT by chessplayer
(AP) "The pet food linked to the deaths of 16 animals has shown no signs of contamination, the manufacturer says, and the company cannot explain why some of the cats and dog that ate it developed acute kidney failure and died."
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
If this is an "internet urban myth" can you explain to me why all those companies would RECALL all that cat food (can you imagine the expense?), and why the FDA would issue warnings?
Yeah, I bet if a couple of their employees died, they'd find it in a hurry. The problem is, none of their employees will volunteer. Employees are like that these days. They never do the 'little extras' that management requests. LOL!
From MSNBC:
"Lawsuits filed
The recall has led to at least three lawsuits against Menu Foods from pet owners who allege their animals got sick or died after eating recalled food.
Menu Foods CEO and President Paul Henderson said Wednesday that the company is still investigating the cause of the kidney failure because the food linked to the deaths has shown no signs of contamination. He apologized for the worry that the recall has caused.
Denise Tracy of Milford, Mass., said her first thought after hearing about the recall was, “Oh my gosh, I killed my cat.” Fluffy’s health deteriorated after Tracy fed her Special Kitty brand food, one of the recalled labels, and she had to euthanize the 11-year-old cat last week.
She said the family, including her five children, are heartbroken. Her husband contacted a lawyer, and she plans to contact her state’s attorney general.
“They’re killing animals because of somebody’s mistake,” Tracy said. “They should be held accountable for that.”
Wheat gluten suspected
The FDA has sent inspectors to Menu Food plants in New Jersey and Kansas. Most complaints stem from products made at the latter factory, though both received shipments of wheat gluten, identified as a possible source of contamination, from the same supplier, said Stephen F. Sundlof, the FDA’s chief veterinarian."
I read years ago that some of the high-end brands swamp veterinary students with their materials -- brochures, sales pitches, etc., to win their loyalty before they go out to practice.
Please--stop and think a minute. These companies have pulled their cat food off the shelves. That's costing them LOTS of money. The FDA has issued a warning. Does that sound like a fraud to you?
Thanks
I wouldn't be surprised at all if that it still true!
Just rescued a small dog (tiny in comparison) who only wants canned food - and, yes, I'm worried.
Also, remember that not ALL of the Science Diet foods came from that company. Actually, a very small percentage of them did.
We had that happen to our cat; had major operation - thousand dollars. All male cats should be fed the urninary food. That is all that we buy now, and it has eliminated the problem.
You are guessing wrong. I have two cats and I have had cats for many years (and lots of dogs). My experience is that cats barf up today's dinner for many reasons, swallowing a burr or cattail while cleaning themselves, catching insects, chewing on who-knows-what, a stuck hairball, you name it. Cats barf a lot.
Citing one pile of cat barf as a concern over poisoning I find to be more than a bit over the top.
Most Science Diet is made at Hills Pet Foods outside Kansas City. I've been there a few times. They may very well outsource the wet foods.
We make our dogs food. All the high end brands we tried for our Boston Terrier made her fart something awful. We use 40% pork shoulder boiled, 30% carbs from rice or pasta, 30% canned vegetables. We put liquid vitamins in it. The food is cheaper and the dog rarely farts anymore. Her fecal output is higher, but it is always firm.
My daughter has a cat, less than a year old. Normally the thing is so picky, it refuses to eat anything but "shredded" and the only "shredded" food we could find was Friskies. I found out after a $180 vet bill, a totally unexplained illness this past week (high fever 105, and appeared terribly sick) that mom had also bought some Best Choice and we had cans that were on the recall list. We threw them away but yes, we wonder after leukemia tests and then blood cell counts which only said there was some "unexplained bacterial infection" then shots of antibiotics and liquid antibiotics after that, that perhaps there is something behind this story.
He's less than a year old, totally indoor and thought it was just a fluke but after finding a can with a lot number on the list, something's not right. I think something's behind it.
I have two picky bassets. They wouldn't eat the Innova or Solid Gold, but they do like the Natural Balance canned liver.
If you have a Petco nearby, you might be able to find Organix. It's made in Oregon and everything in it is organic. Also no corn or wheat. My two ate it very well.
You might take a look at this: thehonestkitchen.com.
Thank you, I opened the Natural Balanc can and so far they haven't eaten it. I will look into the Organix brand. I't all so confusing trying to find what is good for them
We had to have our half-Korat put to sleep recently, over something like what you mention. He'd had a severe reaction to a product (not the food in question) and apparently had long term brain damage...he would go from being his loving self to a berserk ball of claws and rage with no provocation. Any other time he was amazingly gentle and lovey...he'd let us use him as a kitty pillow and just purr and purr.
After 3 of those in 2 weeks and he finally sent my mother to the ER for stitches, it was time for the final vet visit. He was only about 4 years old :-(
In the end a product meant to protect him caused all that.
My sympathies.
I don't consider being suspicious of kitty puke during a period of huge recalls because of contaminated food "over the top."
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