vulgarweed: (didn't_casira)
vulgarweed ([personal profile] vulgarweed) wrote2007-03-23 10:29 pm

Contaminated pet food - a PSA

Short version of the story: right now in the US there is a horrible scandal involving dogs and cats dying of kidney failure due to contaminants in many popular brands of pet food.

The latest info I've heard is that it is being blamed on a drug that used to be used in chemotherapy but is now banned in the US - however it is still used in China as a rat poison, and it appeared in wheat gluten shipped to the US to manufacturing plants in New Jersey and Kansas (and WTF is with importing Chinese wheat products to KANSAS? Don't we make anything in this country anymore?). Menu Foods is the manufacturer. The problem foods have been canned and pouched wet foods of the gravy-and-chunks type.

This blog has the best and most up-to-date info that I've found: http://2blackcats.wordpress.com/

There are vets posting and answering questions, and there is also info on the Class Action suit that's starting up. If you or anyone you know has a pet that became sick or, gods forbid, died because of this, PLEASE consider joining this suit. Save all vet bills and receipts, document everything, do NOT return food to the stores or hand it over to anyone; it's evidence. It's not about the money. It's about accountability, safety standards, and consequences. Run these sons-of-bitches out of business and warn others that nickel-and-diming our pets to death will not be tolerated. If $$ is all they understand, then that's where to hit 'em.

[identity profile] quantum-witch.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
I have been shocked to the gills over this entire deal. People should already know better than to buy the cheapest store-brand crap for their pets, because you get what you pay for. But to have the expensive, supposedly nutritious foods also be tainted? That scares the beejeezus out of me. I am eternally grateful that I stick to dry food. But I am also worried and suspicious that it's coming next.

Another thing about wet foods... Why on earth does the stuff slop over with 'gravy'? It's entirely for the benefit of bogus human aesthetic sensibilities that it's made that way. Frankly, I think it looks like snot and wouldn't want my cats to touch it.

[identity profile] runcible.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
Thank God we just give Zooeybutt dry food. :(

[identity profile] autumnmist.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 07:38 am (UTC)(link)
I totally agree with your sentiments, but one thing though. They know the poison is in the foods. They suspected wheat gluten because of timing in shipments and providers, but they do *NOT* yet know for sure that the poison is in the gluten. Most of the articles out there are not clear enough about this.

See this:
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8NUCLFG0&show_article=1
Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Julie Zawisza said it is still too early to determine what could have affected the food. Zawisza added that even if wheat gluten is the source "it doesn't necessarily mean the wheat gluten per se. It could be another substance associated with the wheat gluten."

[identity profile] hopita.livejournal.com 2007-03-24 01:02 pm (UTC)(link)
My friend (and fellow Antiochian) [profile] la_nuque just lost her cat about a week ago. She didn't say if any of the foods were related (I do know that he was an older fellah), though I've certainly been wondering because of the timing. I sent her a link to your post.

And I've got to mirror what [personal profile] quantum_witch said above -- it freaks me out to know the fancy, expensive foods are involved in this recall. We sell Nutro Natural cat foods at The Co-op. Now, we don't sell any of the "cuts and gravy" styles involved in the recall (so thankfully we didn't personally sell any poison pet food), but still. I trusted our brands.

I switched to Hills Prescription Diet when Jacob had his surgery; now I'm wondering if I shouldn't go back to Wellness, just to be safe.