Posted on 03/31/2007 4:51:03 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
Topeka, KS (March 30, 2007) - In accordance with its over-riding commitment to pet health and well-being, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is voluntarily recalling Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food from the market.
Hill's is taking this precautionary action because during a two-month period in early 2007, WHEAT GLUTEN for this product was provided by a company that also supplied wheat gluten to MENU FOODS.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration tests of wheat gluten samples from this period show the presence of a small amount of MELAMINE. Prescription Diet m/d Feline Dry represents less than one half of one percent of all Hill's products.
This is the only product Hill's currently sells in the United States and Canada that contains wheat gluten from any supplier.
No other Hill's Prescription Diet® or Science Diet® products are affected by this voluntary recall. Hill's Science Diet Savory Cuts Feline canned cat foods, manufactured by Menu Foods, were previously withdrawn from the market as a precaution. Together with this earlier withdrawal, less than 1% of all Hill's products have been affected.
The voluntary recall of Hill's Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food involves discontinuation of all retail sales and product retrieval from sellers. This recall does not include Prescription Diet m/d Feline canned food which contains no wheat gluten.
Consumers should stop using this product and return it for a refund. All Hill's products carry a 100 percent guarantee, and consumers can receive a refund for recalled product.
Hill's expects to resume shipment shortly of a reformulated version of this highly beneficial product that will not contain wheat gluten. Please check with your veterinarian for an alternative Prescription Diet until m/d Feline dry is reformulated and made available again.
(Excerpt) Read more at hillspet.com ...
Thanks, Kimmers, that is a great help.
What I do not understand is why are we importing wheat? Doesnt this country prodce most of the wheat in the world?
Excuse me. Haven’t read through this thread so I don’t know if this info has already be posted. Regardless, here’s the link to the American Veterinary Medical Association web site. I’ve been following their posts.
http://www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall
Best of luck to all pet-loving FReepers and to your special furry pals!
To help with your question....I’ve read other posts saying the main reason is it’s cheaper to import the wheat than to use American wheat.
So, money is the driving force-—global economy and all. At least that’s what most of the posts have been saying about it.
This can stop easily by being educated consumers and exercising caution as to where produce and products are made.
Too kind ... but I feel like one after getting a pill down her throat! She’s a big, strong cat!
EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT: PET FOOD RECIPE? SOURCE: Cornwall's Voice For Animals, cvfa.uk@virgin.net [From my friend on myspace] 3/22/07, Gayle writes: My brother has actually been to the [MENU FOODS] plant in Columbia/Lexington, South Carolina. (He automates machinery and they bought machinery from the company my brother works for.) He said it was DEPPLORABLE! Upon entering the road to the plant, there are barrels lined up, starting at the street. People from nearby areas bring their dead pets, cattle, road kill and shelters (their euthanized animals) and dump them in the barrels. The barrels are then taken inside the plant where the carcasses are boiled. They pull out the larger bones to resell as pet bones. The meat, hide, small bones and fur are ground up and sold as pet food to the companies on the recall list. My brother said the smell at that place is unbearable. He could not stay there because of the smell and knowing how they made the pet food. He said he could not stop from gagging... He said they also use rotten fish from the grocery store, old dead chickens. After his trip to that plant, he began making his own dog food for his dog
How can this be LEGAL?
My cat is also big and strong with CLAWS. I have not had to put a pill down his throat, and I wouldn’t want to try...:)
They have meaningless hearings at the drop of the hat, and something like this doesn't even generate a statement? This was news before they left on vacation. Anyone heard a peep from any Critter's or Senator's office? Gee, just think of the photo-ops this would generate.
But maybe it's the Chinese wheat aspect of this mess. After all, these are many of the same folks who have hissies about the UAE, but the prospect of the PRC running our ports gives them no problem.
Wednesday has her claws, too.
One of my cat’s nicknames is Scimitar Claws. I’m looking for a suit of full body armour in the event I ever have to medicate him.
I know what you mean. The people at the Vet's office are afraid of my cat Spenser....They suit up when they have to handle him...:)
Beats me. Who regulates pet food? It seems every year these companies use cheaper and cheaper ways to get crap to mix in the pet food. I saw HAIR in one can of cat food I bought....I swear to God. I thought it was a mistake until I heard what they are allowed to put in the food. Take a close look one day....you’ll see bones, hair....etc in some cat food cans.
Melamine is not a pesticide - it’s used in asia as a soil amendment/fertilizer.
Ya know....I heard that this was Bush’s fault because he recently loosend the import laws regarding foods.....I hope this doesn’t lead back to him....
Well, I think both parties kowtow to China anymore. And since Congressional oversight is an oxymoron, I’d say it would behoove American companies to engage in some better oversight of their own.
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