 |
 |
| Select Desired Section: |
|
Saturday, May 19th: Friday, May 4th: PetStyle.com posts this info:
Thursday, May 3rd: FDA posts Press Release - Including info about Menu Foods Recall expansion due to cross-contamination.
Saturday, April 7th: CNN Pet Food Update with Dr. Diane Levitan.
Click
Here to Watch the Video Now Friday, March 16th: Menu Foods announces recall of “cuts and gravy type” of diets due to reports of kidney failure and deaths in a small number of cats and one dog. More than 60 million cans representing more than 90 brands of food are affected by the recall. Premium diets like Iams and Hill’s as well as brands as diverse as Ol’ Roy and other mass market brands were all included. According to Menu Foods, affected products were manufactured between the dates of December 3rd, 2006 and March 6th, 2007. Initial reports pinpointed wheat gluten from a new supplier as the potential cause of the recall. A complete list of the affected foods can be found at www.menufoods.com/recall. Also check www.fda.gov. Friday, March 23rd: A New York state laboratory announces that the toxin, aminopterin, was found in the suspect wheat gluten. Aminopterin is illegal in the United States and is used as a rat poison in other parts of the world, particularly Asia. Aminopterin appears to cause crystal formation in the urine as well as kidney toxicity at toxic levels. It was unknown how the aminopterin got into the wheat supply. Rumors continue to circulate concerning an expansion of the recall by Menu Foods. This extension did not occur, although Menu Foods did ask retailers to pull all “cuts and gravy” type of diets regardless of the lot number or production date in an effort to stop any sales of products inadvertently left on retailers’ shelves. Friday, March 30th: FDA researchers announce that the chemical, melamine, has been found in the wheat gluten used in the affected foods. Melamine is a chemical used in the formation of plastic kitchenware and countertops. Elsewhere in the world, melamine is used as a fertilizer. Researchers at Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine validated the FDA findings by reporting that melamine was found in the urine of sick cats and the kidneys of a cat who is believed to have died due to the affected food. Friday, March 30th: The FDA releases information that the affected wheat gluten may have been shipped to a manufacturer of dry pet food. No more information is released other than to report that FDA inspectors were in the process of inspecting the manufacturer in question. Friday, March 30th evening: Hill’s Pet Foods announces a voluntary recall of their Prescription Diet m/d for Cats. This is the only dry food recalled to date. More information on this particular and unique product can be found at www.hillspet.com. This is a very unique case and the only dry food we know of that contained wheat gluten. It has been completely recalled and is being re-formulated. Saturday, March 31st: Purina voluntarily recalls cans of Alpo Prime Cuts after determining that the wheat gluten contaminated with melamine may have been used at one of their 17 production plants. Information about lot numbers and product affected can be found at www.purina.com Saturday, March 31st: DelMonte Pet Products voluntarily recalls several lines of treats for dogs and cats after learning it too may have used the affected wheat gluten. Information on the recalled treats can be found at www.delmonte.com.
Monday, April 2nd: In
a unrelated story, Eight in One, Inc voluntarily recalled its Dingo
Chick’n Jerky Treats due to potential salmonella contamination. | ||
|
Q: Why is this pet food recall so large? It appears that every company has been affected in some way? Menu Food produced a “cuts and gravy” type of pet food that was reasonably unique in its production. Due to this fact, Menu Foods was contracted by many pet food manufacturers to produce this type of diet due to their expertise. This does not mean that every pet food manufactured by Menu Foods was identical. Each manufacturer has their own recipes and specific ingredients and Menu Foods worked with the manufacturers to create individual brands. Q: I have heard that Menu Foods knew about the tainted food as much as a month ahead of time. Why wasn’t a recall performed when they knew there was a problem? The most consistent story to date is that Menu Foods was testing a new flavor of cat food for an undisclosed company when it discovered that 7 cats developed kidney failure and died. This event reportedly happened at the end of February. Due to the fact that the product in question was not released on the market, there was no indication for a broad recall. It was only after the affected food products with the contaminated wheat gluten hit the general population that first reports of illnesses and deaths began to filter to the FDA. Fortunately, it appears that the recalls were done as quickly as they could have been. Q: What are the symptoms associated with the food toxicity? Pets who ate the affected food generally had episodes of vomiting within 1 to 12 hours of eating the food. Pets may appear weak and depressed and may also have blood in the urine. Interestingly, dogs often refused to eat the affected food after 1 contact while cats generally stopped eating the food by the second day. Affected animals who were seen by a veterinarian showed blood abnormalities that were consistent with kidney disease. Q: What can be done for pets who have eaten the affected foods? As of the writing of these FAQs, it is hoped that all of the affected foods have been removed from the marketplace. For those pets who were unlucky enough to have eaten the foods, veterinarians were treating them with standard kidney failure treatments. The good news is that many animals have responded to these treatments. Q: So…is it the aminopterin or the melamine that caused the sickness? To be honest, we are not sure even at this date. The aminopterin could not be verified by testing done at the FDA and Cornell and any information about the known toxicity of melamine was not readily available. Scientists are still unsure of why or even if the melamine is causing the problem. However, the melamine is useful as a marker for pets who have eaten the affected foods. According to scientists, the melamine is detected easily in the urine of these pets. Q: Do you think melamine is the real culprit? Most experts in internal medicine who study kidney disease, do not believe that melamine is truly the culprit. Little work is done in our small animals, particularly cats, on the toxicity of this substance. The good news is that we have all along been treating these dogs and cats appropriately, they are responding well, most pets that have eating recalled food are healthy and fine, and we are still looking hard. Q: I am really concerned about feeding a dry food. Now you are telling me that dry foods have been affected by this poison. So far, we have only found 1 dry food that has needed to be recalled. This food, Hill’s Prescription Diet m/d for Cats is a very complicated diet that is used not only for cats who are diabetic, but also for cats who need weight loss. The production of this diet is very complex and the use of wheat gluten meal in the food helped to insure a proper protein/carbohydrate ratio in this very unique food. Q: Hill’s is known to be a very high end and expensive brand, if THEY are affected by this, who can we trust? Hill’s Pet Foods has been producing high quality wellness diets and prescription diets for more than 50 years. They have really led high quality nutrition and even the nutritional treatment of disease. Millions of pets rely on these special diets for control of arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease and even diabetes. This was a very unique case and it was handled quickly and properly. Veterinarians trust these companies because of their proven track record of consistent quality and nutrition. Veterinarians admire that Hill’s did this as a precautionary measure because frankly they care about the safety and well being of our pets. In fact, this is a perfect example. Q: PETA says that all pet foods should be recalled…are they correct? We don’t believe so. Most dry pet foods don’t routinely utilize the wheat gluten meal in their formulations. Furthermore, the recall of m/d was strictly voluntary and precautionary. We don’t have any reports to date of pets getting sick from dry diets. And, as you already know, there are many good diets available for you and your pet to choose from. Q: So, what can I feed my pet? I don’t think anything is safe… If the diet you are currently feeding your pet is not on any recall list, then continue to feed that diet. The odds are with you that your pet will be just fine. If your pet’s regular diet has been recalled, contact your family veterinarian. He or she has THE best resources available to help you make an informed decision about a new food. Q: I am really not sure if my pet ate any of the affected foods…what should I do? He seems to be acting fine. If you are not sure, contact your family veterinarian. He or she can perform a simple blood test on your pet to determine whether or not kidney failure is apparent. And, even if your pet does show signs of kidney failure, it may not be due to poisoned food. Kidney disease is one of the most common illnesses in our pets, especially cats. Luckily, your veterinarian is very well equipped and knowledgeable about the best methods to help treat your pet. Q: What about homemade diets? That would be a lot safer, right? Feeding a homemade diet to your pet can be a great bonding experience, but many of these diets are not complete and balanced and may end up causing problems that you were trying to avoid. Nutrient deficiencies are extremely common among home-cooked meals. Discussing this type of diet and its potential benefits and drawbacks with your veterinarian is a fantastic plan to help your pet. Q: I want to get reimbursed for the expenses of my veterinary visit and my time spent trying to help my pet. Who do I call? Menu foods has stated that they will reimburse for medical expenses if it is shown that their food was involved with the pet’s sickness. In order to clarify the situation, the FDA has announced that a pet must have eaten a suspect food within 7 days of presenting ill to a licensed veterinarian. Only after the veterinarian has made the diagnosis of acute renal failure will the FDA consider the pet to be affected by the diet. Concerned pet owners should report their complaints about the food to the FDA website at www.fda.gov. Q: Is the FDA really doing anything? I mean, why isn’t this resolved yet? This question has multiple answers. First, the FDA has scientists and researchers working around the clock to try and determine why this crisis has happened. The pet food manufacturers and veterinary leadership are also bringing needed resources to this calamity. Despite all of the concerns and recalls, even the FDA director has been quoted as saying that “pet foods are generally safe”. Next, despite all of these concerned individuals working towards an answer, we may not have any results quickly. Veterinary scientists are still puzzled as to why grapes and raisins caused kidney failure in several dogs a few years ago. Some people may remember how human food scientists were surprised by the E.coli contamination of spinach and how the bacteria were found inside the leaves of the plant. Again, even if an answer is not forthcoming quickly, the good news is that your veterinarian and his or her staff are well prepared to handle your pet’s illnesses, whatever the cause. Q: I am still concerned. Some of the sites on the Internet are saying that thousands or maybe tens of thousands of pets are going to die. Your veterinarian and veterinary staff share your concerns about your pet’s safety. Although they are many sites that are reporting numerous illnesses and deaths, most of these reports have gone un-verified by veterinary professionals. Keep in mind that kidney failure in pets has many possible explanations and this food recall is just one small possibility. To date, the only verified deaths from the tainted foods have been the originally reported 15 cats and 1 dog. It is very tempting to allow our emotions free rein when we see pets potentially suffering, but we should always keep in mind that anyone can post almost anything on the Internet without providing any sort of verification or proof. Ask your veterinary team about websites that will provide you with accurate information. Your veterinarian understands your very special needs and your special bond with your pet. He or she will be happy to help you find the information you need. Q: What about the number of cases? 16 seems to get reported now for several weeks. That seems to be low and some websites are reporting hundreds of thousands. The FDA is the place to report a pet food recall related illness, for pet owners and for veterinarians. There is a huge difference between a suspected case and a confirmed case. Cases have to be confirmed with laboratory testing not only to be counted but also for any legal action. We cannot speak to numbers reported on websites… as there are no reporting standards and therefore all those numbers would be pure speculation. The blog-o-sphere is interesting, but not necessarily accurate. In informal surveys of veterinary practices, we are not seeing massive numbers of deaths or illness. Reports of illnesses have dropped off significantly since owners were informed of the recall. Owners have taken our advice, stopped feeding the recalled foods, and consulted with their veterinarian. Very few pets have become seriously ill and most have responded to conventional treatment for renal failure. Q: We’ve seen some outrageous things on the Internet. Yet other sites seem to have good information. How do pet owners know who to trust? Every veterinarian should have a list of trusted web sites. It is true that in a world of instant communications and bloggers who can write anything – true or false – and it appears legitimate, one has to be very careful. On a blog, you have no idea who is writing, what their background is, or their hidden agenda. They may be interesting entertainment, but they are NOT a source of reliable information. Perhaps the old fashioned way is best - call your family veterinarian who is keeping up with this issue. They would be a good source of trustworthy sites and good solid professional advice. Q: What do you recommend for pet owners to do? First, if a pet has eaten the recalled food, even if they appear healthy, plan for a general check up with the family veterinarian and have general blood work and a urinalysis done. Besides screening for any kidney disease, we will also be able to make sure there are no other subtle diseases going on such as anemia and diabetes. Major national veterinary diagnostic labs are seeing thousands of blood samples and most are completely normal. Also good news is… most all of the affected pets are responding well to treatment.
Q: What is being recalled? The following companies have initiated voluntary recalls of their pet food products: · On March 16, Menu Foods, Inc. recalled dog and cat foods produced at its facilities in Emporia, Kansas and Pennsauken, N.J. between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. The products are sold by many different distributors under a number of different brand names. A full listing of all the recalled products can be found at http://www.menufoods.com/recall/. The affected products are moist (packaged in pouches) and canned diets. The products have been described as “cuts and gravy” style pet foods. · On March 16, 2007 -- Nestlé Purina PetCare Company announced that as a precautionary measure, it was voluntarily withdrawing its 5.3 ounce Mighty Dog® brand pouch products that were produced by Menu Foods, Inc. from December 3, 2006 through March 14, 2007. On March 30, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company voluntarily recalled all sizes and varieties of its ALPO® Prime Cuts in Gravy wet dog food with specific date codes http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/purina203_07.html . Consumers can call 1-800-218-5898, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CDT or visit http://www.purina.com/ to receive more information. · On March 30, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., voluntarily recalled Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01599.html . The cat food is sold exclusively through veterinarians. Consumers can contact Hills at 1-800-445-5777 or visit http://www.hillspet.com/ for more information. · On March 31, Del Monte Pet Products voluntarily recalled select product codes of its pet treat products sold under the Jerky Treats ®, Gravy Train ® Beef Sticks and Pounce Meaty Morsels ® brands as well as select dog snack and wet dog food products sold under private label brands http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/delmonte03_07.html. A complete list of affected brands and products can be found at http://www.delmonte.com/petfoodrecall.html. Consumers can contact Del Monte at 1-800- 949-3799 for further information about the recall. Please see http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html for additional information. Q: What is wrong with the pet foods? FDA laboratories have found a substance called melamine in samples of pet food and in the wheat gluten used as an ingredient in the pet food. Additionally, Cornell University scientists have found melamine in the urine and kidneys of deceased cats that were part of a taste testing study conducted for Menu Foods. Q: What is melamine? Melamine is a small, nitrogen-containing molecule that has a number of industrial uses, including as an industrial binding agent, flame retardant and as part of a polymer in the manufacture of cooking utensils and plates. Melamine has additionally been used as a fertilizer in some parts of the world. It is not registered for use as a fertilizer in the United States. Q: What is wheat gluten and how is it used in pet foods? Wheat gluten is a mixture of two proteins obtained when flour of wheat is washed to remove the starch. One use of wheat gluten is as a filler and binder in wet-style, cuts-and-gravy-type pet food. It provides a gelatinous consistency and is used to thicken pet food "gravy." It also has uses in human food products as a stabilizer or thickener. It is not generally associated with food contamination. Q: Has melamine been identified as the causative agent in the reported illnesses? The association between melamine in the kidneys and urine of cats that died and melamine in the food they consumed is undeniable. Additionally, melamine is an ingredient that should not be in pet food at any level. However, we are not yet fully certain that melamine is the causative agent. As in any investigation, we follow leads, use advanced forensics and try to narrow down the cause. Q: What research exists regarding melamine and cats and dogs? There is a scarcity of research in the published literature on melamine exposure in dogs and cats. We know of a 1945 published article in which dogs were administered 125 mg of melamine/kg body weight. The study reported melamine as having a diuretic effect, but no toxic effects were noted. We are not aware of any studies in the published literature involving the administration of melamine to cats. Q: How did melamine get into the wheat gluten? At this time, we do not know how the melamine got into the wheat gluten. Q. Where did the contaminated wheat gluten come from? We have traced the source to a single supplier, Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology, of China. Q. What is FDA doing to prevent further importation of contaminated wheat gluten? FDA is requiring 100% sampling and review of import testing of all shipments of wheat gluten from China. Please see our import alert at http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia9926.html Q. Did the contaminated wheat gluten from China get into the human food supply? Import records, and records obtained during follow-up investigations reveal that all shipments of wheat gluten from the suspect Chinese supplier were purchased by a U.S. firm that supplies ingredients to pet food companies. At this time, we have no evidence to suggest that any of the imported Wheat Gluten from the suspect firm has entered the human food supply. Q. Have you traced all of the contaminated wheat gluten? We are still tracing the contaminated wheat gluten. If we learn that it has been used in the production of other pet foods, we will notify the public and take all appropriate steps to prevent further injury. Q: What is FDA doing in response to complaints of illnesses related to dry pet food? FDA is collecting and analyzing samples of dry dog and cat food in response to calls from veterinarians and pet owners. Q: Are only dog and cat foods involved in the recall? Yes. The recall is only confined to pet food intended for dogs and cats. Q: What should I do if I have cat or dog food at home? Please check FDA’s website at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html to see if your pet food is involved in the recall. If your pet food is not listed, the pet food is not affected by the recall and you can continue to feed it to your pets; however, if your pet exhibits a sudden on-set of symptoms including loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, stop feeding the pet food and contact your veterinarian. If the pet food is one of those being recalled, do NOT feed it to your animals. Feed your pets another pet food that is not included in the recall. Q: What should I do if I have cat and/or dog food included in the recall? Do NOT feed the pet food to your animals. Return the pet food to the store where you purchased it and ask for a refund. Stores generally have a return and refund policy when a company has announced a recall of its products. If you cannot return the pet food immediately, store the food in a secure place where pets and children cannot get to it. Q: What if my pet ate one of the dog and cat foods being recalled? If your pet shows signs of illness (such as loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting), you should consult with your veterinarian immediately. “The American College of Internal Medicine (ACVIM) has recommended that pets (dogs and cats) that ingested pet food that was on the recall list, whether showing signs of illness (lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, etc.) or not (asymptomatic) should be seen by their veterinarian for baseline blood chemistries and urinalysis in order to ascertain the status of their renal (kidney) function. (The ACVIM is the Official Organization of the Veterinary Specialties of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Large Animal Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Neurology, and Oncology. http://www.acvim.org/).” If your pet is diagnosed with renal failure, we suggest you hold onto the food if the brand and lot numbers match the recall. Q: If my dog or cat ate some of the recalled food, how soon after would I see any symptoms? It’s difficult to say for sure, but usually within a couple of days. The important thing is to monitor your pet closely for signs of lethargy, loss of appetite and vomiting. If your pet shows any of these signs, please consult your veterinarian. Q. In light of the recall, what should I feed my pets? FDA encourages pet owners to consult with their veterinarian about their pet’s health and nutrition requirements. Please refer to the FDA website http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html for a list of recalled products that should not be fed to cats or dogs. Using products from companies that are not on the recall list will enable you to continue to provide safe, wholesome nutrition for your pets. Q: What if I took my dog or cat to the vet as a result of the recall and I want to be reimbursed for my vet bills? The FDA recognizes that there may be financial costs associated with any veterinarian visit; however, reimbursement for veterinary care does not fall under FDA’s regulatory authority. Q: What is FDA doing about the recall?
Q: What if I want to report an adverse action about a pet food? Consumers and veterinarians who wish to report adverse reactions or other problems can go to the FDA internet page at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html to obtain contact information for the FDA complaint coordinator in their state. When reporting an adverse event or complaint, please try to have the following information:
Q: What advice do you have for veterinarians concerned about this pet food recall? Veterinarians who have case files and post mortem results relative to cases where renal failure is involved and the clients were feeding food involved in the recall are encouraged to contact FDA through the complaint coordinator in their state http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html. FDA is gathering as much information as possible to identify the nature and the extent of the problem. Q: How does FDA regulate pet food? The FDA's regulation of pet food is similar to that for other animal feeds. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires that pet foods, like human foods, be pure and wholesome, safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled. In addition, canned pet foods must be processed in conformance with the low acid canned food regulations to ensure the pet food is free of viable microorganisms (see Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 113). There is no requirement that pet food products have premarket approval by FDA. However, FDA ensures that the ingredients used in pet food are safe and have an appropriate function in the pet food. Many ingredients such as meat, poultry, grains, and their byproducts are considered safe “foods” and do not require premarket approval. Other substances such as mineral and vitamin sources, colorings, flavorings, and preservatives may be generally recognized as safe (GRAS) or must have approval as food additives. (See Title 21 CFR, Parts 73, 74, 81, 573 and 582). For more information about pet foods and marketing a pet food, see FDA’s Regulation of Pet Food and Information on Marketing A Pet Food Product. Q: What are the labeling requirements for pet foods? The FDA regulations require proper identification of the product, net quantity statement, name and place of business of the manufacturer or distributor, and a proper listing of all the ingredients in order from most to least, based on weight. Some states also enforce their own labeling regulations. Many of these regulations are based on a model provided by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). For more information about AAFCO, please visit its website. There are two documents on CVM’s web site that provide more details about labeling requirements: Interpreting Pet Food Labels and Interpreting Pet Food Labels -- Special Use Foods. Q: Have there been other recalls involving pet foods? Yes. The following are recent pet food recalls: In February 2007, FDA advised consumers not to feed Wild Kitty raw cat food to their pets http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01562.htm after Salmonella was detected during routine testing performed by FDA. Wild Kitty eventually recalled the product http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/wildkitty02_07.html. In December 2005, Diamond Pet Foods initiated a voluntary recall after aflatoxin was discovered in its product http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/diamond12_05.html. For information on other pet food related recalls, please see http://www.fda.gov/cvm/petfoods.htm. Q: Is this the largest recall ever of pet foods? It is hard to quantify the size of this recall or compare it to some of the other recalls in the past; however, it is a significant recall. Q: How many sick or dead cats and dogs have been reported to FDA? To date, the agency has received over 10,000 complaints. Confirmation that these may be related to the pet food recall takes time and requires follow up by our field staff. Veterinary reports and other evidence need to be collected for each case before any of these reports can be confirmed. In many instances there is insufficient information available to draw a conclusion about a possible association with pet food consumed and pet illness or death. The FDA’s primary concern is in identifying the source of the contaminant, assuring that the recall is effective and providing information to the public. Q: Why can’t FDA confirm the number of animals affected? Unlike human food there is no surveillance network for FDA to rely on to confirm cases. FDA must investigate each complaint and confirm whether or not the pet food was involved. Q: Is there any evidence of human illness that may be linked to exposure to contaminated gluten and the recalled pet food? No. As a precaution, FDA asked the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to utilize its surveillance network to monitor for signs of human illness related to the recalled pet food. CDC surveillance has not shown an increase in renal failure, which is the most likely health outcome that would be expected from this exposure . Q: What about the aminopterin? Is this latest finding in addition to aminopterin? FDA has not been able to confirm aminoptrein in samples it has tested. Q: How do you account for why NY State found aminopterin but FDA didn’t? Our labs were not able to verify aminopterin. At this time, we cannot comment of the methodology or findings of NY State. Q: Are you working with any other organizations? As we said previously we are working with Cornell University. Additionally, Banfield the Pet Hospital, has reached out to FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine and volunteered to provide us with any reports/data. The FDA is very appreciative of the Banfield information as it helps us in assessing the extent of the outbreak; however, it is only one piece of the puzzle and we must consider it in light of all of the other information we are gathering. We have been exchanging information with the American Veterinary Medical Association in order to ensure that it is providing accurate information to its members on how to report adverse events to the agency. Companies that sell pet food have also been very helpful and one company in particular has shared its independent testing results. Q: Are you seeing this more in cats than dogs? We are getting reports of illness in both dogs and cats. However, the evidence we’ve seen from the initial consumer complaints and from the Menu Foods taste tests indicate that cats appear to be more affected than dogs. Q: How do you dispose of the wheat gluten and contaminated pet food? With recalls, the firm will propose what to do with the product. Disposal options may include landfill, incineration or industrial uses.
Some final
points to keep in mind:
|
|
|
|
|