Link Line-Up: Pet Food Recall Links
List of Important Useful Links Regarding the Pet Food Recall (so you don’t have to search all of the posts):
Menu Foods Recalled Pet Food List
Hill’s/Science Diet Recall Information
Iams and Eukanuba Recall Information
Pet Foods NOT on the Recall List
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)
If You Suspect Your Pet Has Been Affected–AVMA
PetConnection.com Database to Report an Ill or Deceased Pet
FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators, for Reporting Death or Illness to the FDA
Los Angeles Veterinary Public Health (L.A.’ers, report cases here, too)
Grief Counseling Centers and Phone Numbers
Menu Foods Class Action Yahoo Group
Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, for testing deceased pets and food samples for toxins
A Raw Food Diet is NOT the Answer!
An article being published in multiple newspapers on Sunday, 3/25/07 features a self-proclaimed dog nutrition specialist touting the “benefits” of a raw-food diet (sometimes known as BARF–Bones And Raw Food diet) for dogs. Apparently, she will be giving a public presentation, and was fielding phone calls all last week, as many people are considering a raw-food diet for their pets in response to the pet-food recall.
I am not linking to the article, as I stand by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s position on raw-food diets, and believe it would be professionally irresponsible to direct people reading my blog to “advice” that is against the interest of public health and safety.
The American Veterinary Medical Association’s scientifically-supported position on raw-food diets is that they are NOT recommended, “…because of the risk of foodborne illnesses in pets as well as the public health risks of zoonotic infections.” Feeding one’s pet a raw-food diet puts both pets and their owners at risk of salmonella and other pathogenic poisoning.
From Raw Meat Diets Spark Concern–American Veterinary Medical Association, January 15, 2005 (BlackCat Note: Emphasis Added):
In recent years, feeding dogs raw meat has become increasingly popular. The trend, however, has sparked health concerns, because of the risk of foodborne illnesses in pets as well as the public health risks of zoonotic infections. Now, a new study that identifies potentially harmful bacteria in 21 commercial raw meat diets bolsters these concerns.
“This has some potential public health concerns for both the animals being fed these diets and their human owners,” said Dr. Rachel Strohmeyer, a researcher at the Animal Population Health Institute, Colorado State University…
“There is a greater apparent risk to animals and humans from feeding a raw meat diet,” Dr. Strohmeyer commented. “I really do not think that there is any advice we, as veterinarians, can give to improve safety. You can give basic food safety guidelines like hand washing, cleaning surfaces, and bowls, etc., not letting the food sit out for extended periods of time. I just think that it would be a disservice for a veterinarian to give any recommendation for the safety of dogs and their owners (except to not feed raw meat to pets). Bacteria are not the only health concern, there are also parasites and protozoal organisms that can be transmitted in raw meat, even meat labeled fit for human consumption.“
Other veterinarians, including Dr. Jeffrey LeJeune, a food safety molecular epidemiologist and microbiologist at The Ohio State University, agree that pets should not be fed raw meat. *End of Excerpt*
The loudest voices speaking up in favor of a raw-food diet tend to be those of breeders, show-dog handlers, and groomers–NOT medical specialists, scientists, researchers, or clinicians. The highest scientific and/or medical credential of the woman featured in the article is “veterinary technician”, which, I can personally attest (as I am a technician myself), does NOT constitute scientific expertise. “(She) said she doesn’t have a veterinarian’s opinion to offer because she hasn’t needed one…” and her recommendations are “supported” by “newspaper articles from around the country”.
It’s crucial that one acknowledge the limits of their knowledge, the limits of their expertise. I personally prefer to follow–and offer–the recommendations of recognized professionals in the field, and facts stated and published by university scientists. I am a just a veterinary technician; those people know a lot more than I do. Newspaper articles are not professional journal articles, and phone calls to veterinarians are not equivalent to peer-reviewed published research studies.
The genuine experts agree: Raw-food diets are risky business, and are NOT advised.
“For Years to Come, We’ll be Taking Care of Pets Who Have Suffered…”
From the New York Post (BlackCat Note: Emphasis Added):
Dr. Louise Murray, director of medicine for the ASPCA at the Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital on East 92nd Street, said she suspected the contamination would have an effect beyond the staggering death toll.
“There’s going to be a wide spectrum of kidney damage seen, ranging from mild to moderate and severe and up to death,” she said. “For years to come, we’ll be taking care of pets who have suffered to some degree and will require their owners to get nursing care.” Entire article at link.
Official Number (16 Animals Dead) NOT Accurate
From the Houston Chronicle (BlackCat Note: Emphasis Added):
The FDA is focusing on finding the source of the contamination and getting information to consumers, rather than tracking the cases of sick pets, agency spokesman Mike Herndon said in an e-mailed statement on Saturday.
“We do not have enough information on the number of sick or dead pets to provide a number,” he said. Entire article at link.
MENU FOODS ISSUES STATEMENT CONFIRMING EXPANSION OF PET FOOD RECALL
From Howl911:
MENU FOODS ISSUES STATEMENT CONFIRMING EXPANSION OF PET FOOD RECALL 03/24/07
A rumor began popping up on blogs today stating that Menu Foods denied the numerous news reports from yesterday that their CEO expanded the recall.
Breitbart.com seems to have dispelled this rumor in a news release late today (3/24/07). The report quotes a statement from Menu Foods, issued today (Saturday), and offers, in part, the following:
The Canadian company that sold tainted pet food blamed for at least 14 pet deaths expanded its product recall Saturday, saying it worried consumers could still find the products on store shelves.
Toronto-based Menu Foods said some of its pet foods, possibly tainted with a toxin used as rat poison, were still being sold.
The company said store owners should remove all of its products, regardless of the production date.
“As a result of reports from the FDA (US Federal Drug Administration) and various media outlets that some recalled lots of ‘cuts and gravy’ style wet pet food remain on store shelves, Menu Foods has asked all retail outlets to immediately remove all impacted varieties of wet pet food posted at www.menufoods.com, regardless of the date code,” the company said in a statement.
“Menu Foods remains concerned that consumers are able to purchase recalled items,” it said.
Hill’s Science Diet: Keep the Faith
As a veterinary technician who has worked with many different veterinarians at different times over the past 23 years, I can say with certainty that Science Diet is an excellent brand of pet food (canine/feline). As stated on their website, the recall “…involves less than one half of one percent of Hill’s total product line.”
Recall information concerning Hill’s/Science Diet products
All prescription diets (c/d, i/d, r/d, w/d, etc) are safe; NONE have been affected by the recall.
All Science Diet dry foods are safe; Menu Foods does not manufacture dry food
Science Diet foods are formulated and high-quality, and provide balanced nutrition for pets. It is important at this difficult time to keep things in perspective, hard as it may be. Cooking food for one’s pet, or spending astronomical amounts of time and/or money on unfamiliar brands of pet food is not necessary. As far as I can remember, every veterinarian I have worked for has fed his or her pets Science Diet, and their pets have thrived. My two black cats have been raised on Science Diet and Iams, and have thrived for 13 years; it is only because one of my cats had some Iams wet food in recent months that he is scheduled to go to the vet on Monday.
I have absolutely no vested interests in the pet food industry, nor any reseller of Hill’s products. I have written this exclusively in the interest of pet health and nutrition and to help ease the minds of distressed owners. Some brands are indeed worth standing by, and Science Diet is one of them.
Wishing everyone wellness and good mews…please continue to spread the word!
2BlackCats
MENU FOODS EXPANDS LIST OF RECALLED FOODS
Menu Foods expanded its recall to include all 95 brands of the “cuts and gravy” style food, [b]regardless of when they were produced.[/b]
Go here for the story at Yahoo.
CHECK THE LIST AGAIN to ascertain your pet’s health and safety! Check it regularly!
Menu Foods Recalled Pet Food List
Also please check out the Menu Foods Q-&-A Page about the recall.
List of Recalled Iams and Eukanuba Pet Foods
This list includes ONLY the Iams and Eukanuba brand pet foods that have been recalled.
Please go to Menu Foods to view the complete list.
If Your Pet is Sick or Has Died from Eating Tainted Food…
…please be sure to REPORT IT!
Save your veterinary bills and SAVE ANY LEFTOVER CANS YOU MAY HAVE. It seems that 86 cases in Los Angeles will not make it into the official statistics because the pet owners returned the unused food to the grocer.
Document EVERYTHING. Write down everything…don’t count on being able to remember it later. Save veterinary records. And REPORT! See previous posts for links to where you can report your case.
On edit: If possible, save receipts of purchased food.
