3/17/07 10:30 AM…CNN has the story up now HERE, and Procter and Gamble has a press release with lot numbers and lots of links on their Iams site HERE.
UPDATING THE UPDATE: Nutro now has a press release up with all of the varieties they are recalling including the Nutro Max Cat and Kitten in cans and pouches and Dog foods in cans and pouches. The full list is HERE. Eukanuba and Iams both say “Consumers should stop using the affected products immediately, and consult with a veterinarian if any symptoms are present in their pet.” Hmmmm…can you say “class action?”
UPDATE: Two more links. Purina’s Mighty Dog in pouches is also being recalled: Purina/Mighty Dog, and the FDA has issued a press release HERE.
UPDATE: This isn’t really an update just something I noted. As of this afternoon about 3:30, Eukanuba, Iams, and Purina brands were NOT listed on the Menu Foods website list, but WERE listed on those companies own websites. Now it’s 6:00PM and I just noticed that Eukanuba was now on the list, but Purina is still not. Unfortunately, the link all the media is giving out is only the Menu Foods site.
UPDATE: 03/18/07 AM Some quotes from Florida’s Sun Sentinel (the whole story is HERE).
The company (Menu Foods) has yet to determine what is causing the illnesses and deaths, said Sara Tuite, who was handling media relations for Menu Foods on Saturday. “We used a new supplier for an ingredient that is commonly used in pet products,” she said. “The introduction of the new supplier coincides with the sicknesses and deaths.” Tuite, of Menu Foods, said if pet owners suspect that the food they’re feeding their cats and dogs falls within the affected dates, they should switch to dry food immediately. If a pet falls ill or dies, Tuite advised pet owners to send a letter to Menu Foods documenting what happened, along with the package label.
There are reports of what seem to be authentic new cases of cats being hospitalized showing up on message boards and forums. We all know how the internet can send stories like this totally out of the world of reality, but these sound sincere. The experiences of people calling the different companies telephone hotlines (if you can even get through to a real person) have been mixed. If you have any concern about your animals be sure to call your veterinarian immediately. They may have more information directly from the manufacturers or the FDA that isn’t released to the general public. Just a suggestion, you may want to hold on to those tainted cans and pouches for awhile.
As kidney failure has been stated as the reason for the deaths in the initial report, it’s a good time to mention the Feline Chronic Renal Failure Support Group on Yahoo and the Feline Chronic Renal Failure Information Center website. These are amazing groups of cat people who have “been there” and “done that” at every level of the condition. They are the first places to go when you get the news that your cat has kidney trouble. Feline CRF Support Group is HERE, and the Feline CRF Information Center is HERE.
UPDATE 3/18/07 3:30PM: Menu Foods stock shares took a 27.5% dive on the Canadian Stock Exchange after Friday’s recall announcement. The story is HERE
.
UPDATE 3/19/07 AM: The HOWL911 website has all the information and links available at this time in one place. There are two sites where you can report incidents of illness or death related to the recalled foods and how to notify the FDA. The HOWL911 Recall site is HERE.
“Death count 3/28/07″ photo by CharleyLhasa on flickr
UPDATE 3/30/07 AM: These links will take you to websites with the latest information and analysis of the Meno Foods Recall:
Sunday, March 18, 2007 at 2:35 am |
[...] barks…and meows! Overheard at the BARC Animal shelter « Down but Not Out! Menu Pet Food Recall Updates! [...]
Wednesday, March 21, 2007 at 1:41 am |
I can’t find out what all the products are that are contaminated.Could someone send that list to me I would greatly appreciate it. I shop all the time at Wal-Mart and Sam’s club.
Thanks Again,
Salenna
Friday, March 23, 2007 at 3:05 am |
SALENNA–HI–I AM BESIDE MYSELF–I AM A “FELINE FOSTER MOTHER” W/7 FOSTER CATS, 3 OF MY OWN CATS, AND A VOLUNTEER FOR ALLEY CATS HOMELESS FELINE VOLUNTEERS. AS SUCH, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HEALTH,WELFARE, AND FEEDING OF NEARLY 50 CATS, ALL AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I AM HORRIFIED THAT I MAY BE KILLING THEM. I,TOO, HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET A COMLETE LIST OF EVERY SINGLE RECALLED PETFOOD, EVERY BRIAND, FLAVOR, DISTRIBUTOR, WHATEVER. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DO SO. DID YOU FIND A WEBSITE THAT LISTS THEM ALL? PLEASE PLEASE RSVP ASAP, AS MY VOLUNTEER NIGHT FOR THE “HOMELSS” CAT COLONIES IS FRIDAYS (IE TOMORROW), AND NONE OF THE STORES I GET ALL THE CATFOOD FROM EACH WEEK HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE REMOVED SOME STUFF IN THEIR OWN STORES. EVEN THEN, THEY WERENT SURE THEY WERE REMOVING THE RIGHT STUFF. PLEASE RSVP IF YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN GET THAT LIST. THANX SO MUCH. THIS IS JUST HORRIBLE.
Friday, March 23, 2007 at 3:38 am |
Everyone! The latest complete list is available here as a pdf file that can be printed out: http://www.itchmo.com/read/printable-menu-foods-recall-list-in-full_20070322
For the latest updates bookmark these websites:
http://www.howl911.com
http://www.petconnection.com
http://www.itchmo.com/go/tagged/safety/
http://poopcity.typepad.com/poop_city/
Friday, March 23, 2007 at 6:15 pm |
Someone, please check this out, before more pets die.
For good reasons, I am worried that this might involve other food, including dry food. If I am correct, it might be that whatever is in the food causing these deaths, is in other food but at lower amounts, so not noticed yet.
First, the company still says they are not sure what is causing the deaths but are assuming it is the wheat gluten in ’some’ products, because they had a new supplier for this gluten. But their lab searc has so far shown nothing that is causing this problem.
Second, I have 7 cats that have all been healthy. I have not fed any of the foods on the recall. I feed only dry food.
I have recently noticed that they have been URINATING ‘MUCH’ MORE THAN USUAL. In fact I keep 2 cats in each room, with one litter box per room. The litter I use has been very good in the past, and though I change each box daily, it can last a few days this way.
Still, recently, this seems to not be enough, which made me wonder why, thinking that for some reason they proberly were drinking much more.
In all the information about this recalled food, symptoms include loss of appetite, loss of energy, diarrhea, vomiting, and EXCESSIVE THRIST OR URINATION.
Since the company that is producing the food that has caused the kidney failure, is not sure what is causing the deaths, I feel that it could be something that is also in some of their other foods, but maybe in lessor amounts that have NOT YET SHOWN ANY DEATHS.
I am very worried that I might be correct about this but that no one will see it till many more deaths have happened. I would like someone to check this out. In the meantime, I will have to now have to change 4 litter boxes (for 7 cats) twice daily and try to find some other food to feed them for the time being, that maybe isn’t from pet food companies at all.
Someone, please pass this on and have someone with veterinary knowledge check into this.
LiannaRosa
Friday, March 23, 2007 at 10:13 pm |
NEWEST NEWS UPDATE Friday morning March 23, 2007
The TV is saying that they just found out that this IS RAT POISON !, but I still don’t know if it is only in the cans with gravey or with others. Since it is NOT the GLUTEN PROTEIN used in the gravey, I still think it might be in other varieties.
Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 7:19 am |
Because of this pet food recall, I will be giving a teleseminar Wednesday,
3/28 at 8 pm Eastern. I am the author of “Real Dogs Don’t Eat Kibble!” and have
researched the natural diet for dogs for 20 years.
This has been a tragic event, but there are things that you can do to protect your
dog in the future. You can take control of your dog’s food and his health.
Join me and other interested dog guardians Wednesday, 3/28, and I will be happy to
answer your questions.
Sign up for the teleseminar at: http://www.TheNaturallyHealthyDog.com/?id=28
I look forward to you learning how you can take control of your dog’s diet.
Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 7:38 pm |
It is interesting to me to see how many different brands are supplied by this one company. A lot of the “top end” brands sell by convincing their customers that their brand is superior to all the otheres. A few names come to mind. Science Diet, Eukanuba, Iams, etc. Funny how they are right there on the list with Ol’ Roy (Found at Walmart) and Western Family (found at bargain type independent groceries). What else about their products have the fancy brands lied to us about? Hey, here’s an idea for the high end pet food companies. Spend the money on producing your own product, maybe even a good one, instead of stinking advertising. What a concept!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 4:47 am |
I wrote a letter to Eukanuba in August of LAST YEAR claiming their gravy quality was poor in some cans and making my dog sick. I specifically referenced the cans of puppy chunks with gravy that had thicker/darker gravy than normal. My dog had all of the symptoms of kidney failure – although my vet treated her with anti-biotics — since we outruled the chance of poisoning because she had never left my house yet!!
I GUARANTEE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE A LOT LONGER THAN DECEMBER TO MARCH. I have the response letter from Eukanuba as proof of my complaint.
I just took my dog in for tests, she has liver damage…but her kidneys have recovered. Thank goodness I have rinsed off the gravy since last September.
Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 10:00 am |
I have 4 purebred labs.My beautiful 104 pound mail has gotten very sick. He vomitted, and drank, but couldn’t eat. The others don’t seem sick yet.
and lost 30 lbs.in 5 days.The Doctor did exporitory surgery. His kidneys has closed down. I have him home with a iv. I don’t think he’ll make it.
His food is dry. I mix pedigree and science diet. If he makes it till tomarrow, it will have been one week only.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 8:56 pm |
For anyone who is interested, I did find a list of brand names on the CNN website. (www.CNN.com). However they did not list individual products sold under those brands.