Another casulty of tainted pet food/treats. Check out this article about the latest recall: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=animals_oddities&id=5565762

It doesn’t specify the other accounts of deaths? Just “some reports” online? So that doesn’t necessarily prove things, really. It’s still horrible. Walmart… as you can imagine… I’m sure has sold TONS of those things. But I’m a little skeptical seeing how there are no other reports from such a huge selling treat.

I agree. But better safe than sorry.

Totally! I only give my kiddos freeze dried beef liver. May not be the best in the world… but it’s the only treat they like. Haha. All those treats that were recalled in March/April have me scared of buying any treats off the shelves, tbh.

I’m so sick of this crap! I make my babies their treats at home and the food we feed our dogs isn’t sold at grocery stores so, this doesn’t affect us, but it’s still scary! It seems like something is always getting recalled! Thanks for the post!

Since our pets rely on us NOT TO poison them, this news is always terrfying. The good thing, is people are really reading labels and getting educated. I used to make my dogs all kind of baked goods (with corn meal, chicken livers and whole wheat)...at the time I thought it was healthy/good for them. And they did love them…...but, no more.

As Kay & I have been saying, if we only cared as much about our own intake!!! I blogged two pieces (both published in mags) on pet nutrition, on my page (view all, at the bottom). There are lots of resourceful pet owners here, so ask away.

I absolutely agree and am constantly preaching to pet owners about the affects of dodgy supermarket pet food. My dog almost died from eating this crap and then why I contacted the company about it, they told me it was my fault because my dog must have been overweight. However, my dog has NEVER been overweight I had solid evidence from the vet that it was indeed Pedigree that caused my dogs sickness. I have just found out from another topic about a lawsuit against these companies and I am all for it. I seriously hope that something valuable comes out of this and hopefully owners will begin to realise that this food is no good for any animal and put these lying and deceitful companies out of business.

Tina.. I agree! It’s wonderful that so many people are really starting to read labels and be more careful about what they feed their fur babies! We use to feed Brooklyn Beneful, that was before we had Destiny and Jayda, and then shortly after we got Destiny, we decided that we needed to start feeding them a better food, so we started to feed them Iams. I thought that Iams was a great good, that’s what the commercials make it look like anyway! lol! Then I came across some interesting info online about dog food being made with dogs, cats and zoo animals that died or were put to sleep! It said that they don’t bother to take the collars and tags or flea collars off of the animals first, and they don’t even take them out of the plastic bags that they were thrown in! Now, I’m not sure if I completely believe all of that, but that definitely made me start doing some serious research on what our babies were eating! Now we feed them Natural Balance duck and potato dry formula. I know that it’s not the absolute best thing out there for them, but that’s the food that they do the best on and it’s definitely a good quality food! We are doing some research right now on home made diets and raw diets for our dogs. I’m not sure if I want to switched them to a diet like that or not yet, but I’m looking into it. After doing all of the research we did, now any time someone asks about dog foods or anything like that we always tell them to do some serious research and don’t buy any food that they sell at the grocery store! Grocery stores are for people, not pets! lol! Oh, we also used this kibble rating chart that someone suggested we use. I thought it was really interesting! This is the kibble rating chart…

You will need your kibble’s list of ingredients, as found on the bag (or oftentimes their website).
Please note, however, this is for ingredients ONLY…. so before feeding a pup be sure to look at
the protein and fat and calcium and calories in the Guaranteed Analysis.

Start with a grade of 100:

For every listing of “by-product”, subtract 15 points

For every non-specific animal source (“meat” or “poultry”, meat, meal or fat) reference, subtract
10 points

If there are no specific meats or meat meals, subtract 25 points

For every grain “mill run” or non-specific grain source, or grain “middlings”, subtract 10 points

If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 15 points

If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. “ground
brown rice”, “brewer’s rice”, “rice flour” are all the same grain), subtract 5 points for each
occurrence

If the protein sources are not (specific) meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3
ingredients, subtract 3 points

If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 5 points

If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points (subtract 5 if corn is listed in the
top 5 ingredients)

If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 3 points

If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources),
subtract 2 points

If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 5 points

If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn’t allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points

If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn’t allergic to beef), subtract 1 point

If it contains salt, subtract 3 points

If it contains corn syrup, molasses, or other added sweetener, subtract 10 points

Extra Credit:

For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one; count “chicken” and
“chicken meal” as only one protein source, but “chicken” and “turkey” as 2 different sources – do
not count egg, cheese, or other similar ingredients), add 1 point

If the food contains 3 or less different mentions of grains (or other high-carb plant-based foods
like potatoes), add 5 points

If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points (if the number 1 ingredient is organic meat,
add 10 points)

If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 3 points

If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points

If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points

If the food contains fruit or vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points

If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free, add 1 point

If the food contains barley or oats or oatmeal, add 1 point

If it contains sunflower, hemp, flaxseed, or other polyunsaturated vegetable oils, add 3 points
(add 5 if it is the #1 fat)

If the vitamin and mineral sources are chelated, add 5 points

94-100+ = A

86-93 = B

78-85 = C

70-77 = D

<70>

Food Grade Results
A’s Score
A+ Chicken Soup for the pet lovers soul 113
A+ Eagle Pack Holistic chicken 114
A+ Eagle Pack Holistic LG and Giant Breed Adlt 113
A+ Eagle Pack Natural 104
A+ Timberwolf Organics Lamb and Venison 136
A+ Solid Gold Bison 123
A+ Solid Gold Wolf King 109
A+ Solid Gold Hund N flocken 105
A+ Solid Gold Mmillennia 111
A+ Innova 117
A+ Natural Balance Duck and Potato 114 * this is what we are feeding our pups*
A+ Canidae 119
A+ Foundations Chicken and Vegetable 109
A+ Flint River Ranch Fish and Chips 109
A+ Wysong Synorgon 110
A+ Flint River Ranch Lamb, Millet and Rice 117
A+ Back to Basics 107

B’s
B Eukanuba Natural Lamb and Rice 87

C’s
C Nutro Lamb and Rice 85

D’s
D Iams Lamb and Rice 74

F’s
F Pedigree Adult Complete 14
F Ol’Roy 9
F Science Diet Chicken Adult Maintainance 45
F Purina Beniful original 23
All Purina and Pro Plan foods rate as a F
F Pro Plan Giant Breed Adult 41
F Pro Plan Performance 53
F Pro Plan Chicken and Rice
F Purina Dog chow
F Purina Large Breed 40
F Diamond Lamb and Rice 61
F Diamond Performance (formerly professional)
F Diamond Large Breed 55

I know that’s really long! Sorry! But I wanted to see if anyone has ever seen anything like this? Before this one I had never heard of a kibble rating chart.

Hey Kim ~ Good posting! I confess, we once fed Bnful, too. Those dang commercials were so good. I started to wonder about the coloring in it & saw all the artificial coloring and additives…..It’s all marketing! Our food is not listed above, it rates 99. A lot of people don’t know that anything they buy off a shelf is 6-18 months old. Think of the preservatives needed to preserve that shelf life…...and would YOU want to eat it?

Still another recall:
Again another recall today: (Wednesday) August 22, 2007

Recalled pet food
Product: Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry dog food
Size: 50 pound bag
UPC Code: 4286900062
Best Buy Date: July 12, 2008
Best Buy Date Location: Back of bag

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - FRANKLIN, Tenn. - August 21, 2007—Mars Petcare US, Inc. today announces a voluntary recall of select 50 lb bags of Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry dog food. Only three bags of product were actually sold, with only one bag still unaccounted for. The pet food is being recalled because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, which can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, if there is cross contamination, in people, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems.

The recalled product should not be sold or fed to pets. Pet owners should dispose of product in a safe manner (example, a securely covered trash receptacle) and return the empty bag to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Salmonella can potentially be transferred to people handling this pet food, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the product or any surfaces exposed to the product. Healthy people potentially infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Well animals can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

“Wal-Mart: Tests find melamine in dog treats” (an update about my post earlier this week). For the entire article about this, see http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20390237/

Thanks for the info, I am going to go home and check the new dog food I just started the girls on. It’s Nutro brand, but it’s the baked organic with flax seed – there’s some other words in the name. When I was reading the ingredients there wasn’t a lot of preservatives or bad things in it. I will look at it very closely now!
Thanks a lot for this information.

Nutro hits the DANGER list ~ shipment blocked. www.vetlocator.com/newsarticles/nutro_fda.php

I so don’t know what to do now!

My Mommy works for the FDA, and she got this article off the Center for Vet Medicine Website. This is the lastest recall release from the Center for Veterinary Medicine followed by a post of questions and answers… for anyone who is interested.
Sierra

FDA News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2007 Media Inquiries:
Michael Herndon, 301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries:
888-INFO-FDA

Mars Petcare US, Inc. Recalls Dry Dog Food
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting consumers that Mars Petcare US, Inc. has recalled two dry dog food products because of the potential contamination with Salmonella Schwarzengrund.

The Mars Petcare US, based in Franklin, Tenn. is voluntarily recalling five-pound bags of Krasdale Gravy dry dog food sold in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and 50-pound bags of Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry food sold in Pennsylvania.

The FDA conducted tests on 10 samples, representing seven product brands from the company. Each sample (same size and brand of product) consisted of 15 subsamples, for a total of 150 subsamples. Tests of the 150 subsamples revealed two positive samples; one from the Krasdale Gravy dry food and another from Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry food.

Salmonella can potentially be transferred to people handling pet food, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the product or any surfaces exposed to the product. To date, there have been 64 cases of illness in humans related to Salmonella Schwarzengrund reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); however, none of the reported cases have been directly linked to the recalled product that was tested. The FDA is working with local and state officials, and with officials at the CDC in the investigation.

Here is identification information on the recalled products:

Product: Krasdale Gravy dry dog food
Size: Five-pound bag
UPC Code: 7513062596
Best By Date: July 16, 2008 & July 17, 2008
Best By Date Location: Back of bag
Distribution: Stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania

Product: Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry dog food
Size: 50-pound bag
UPC Code: 4286900062
Best By Date: July 12, 2008
Best By Date Location: Back of bag
Distribution: Stores in Reedsland and Richlandtown, Pa.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Well animals can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Consumers with questions about the recalled product should call Mars Petcare US, Inc. at 866-298-8332.

For more information:
Safe Handling Tips for Pet Foods and Treats

Mars Petcare Pet Food Recall Questions and Answers

Firm Release on Select Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula Dry Dog Food (Aug. 21)

Firm Release on Select Krasdale Gravy Dry Dog Food (Aug. 21)

Pennsylvania Department of Health Press Release (Aug. 10)

Mars Petcare Pet Food Recall
Questions and Answers

Q: What is FDA doing today?
A: The FDA is alerting consumers that Mars Petcare US, Inc. has recalled two dry dog food products because of the potential contamination with Salmonella Schwarzengrund.

Q: What products are being recalled?
A: Krasdale Gravy dry dog food (5 pound bags) sold in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry dog food (50 pound bags) sold in Pennsylvania.

Q: What is Salmonella Schwarzengrund?
A: Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. The Salmonella germ is actually a group of related bacteria. Although there are over 2500 serovars of Salmonella, most human infections are caused by a limited number of serovars. Salmonella Schwarzengrund is just one member (serovar) of the Salmonella family.

Q: What are the symptoms in animals?
A: Animals infected with Salmonella may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will only have decreased appetite, fever or abdominal pain.

Q: Can an animal be infected but not show signs of infection?
A: Yes, animals can be carriers and infected without showing clinical signs.

Q: What should pet owners do if they suspect their animal has been infected?
A: The FDA recommends contacting your veterinarian if your pet has consumed the recalled product and has any of the symptoms described above.

Q: What are the symptoms in humans?
A: Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Q: What should pet owners do if they have purchased any of the recalled product?
A: Do not feed it to your pet. Pet owners should dispose of product in a safe manner (example, a securely covered trash receptacle). Mars Petcare US, Inc. has instructed pet owners to return the empty bag to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Q: Who should consumers contact if they have questions about the recalled product?
A: Consumers with questions about the recalled product should call Mars Petcare US, Inc. at 866-298-8332.

Q: Who should consumers contact if they wish to report a complaint or adverse reaction to the pet food product?
A: Consumers can contact FDA’s Consumer Complaint Coordinators. For more information, please see: http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html.

Q: How did the pet food become contaminated?
A: The two lots of pet food are being recalled because tests completed by the FDA were positive for Salmonella Schwarzengrund. We do not know the source of the contamination. In the home, Salmonella can potentially be transferred to people handling pet food, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the product or any surfaces exposed to the product. People may also become infected through routes other than pet food.

Q: What evidence does FDA have?
A: The FDA conducted tests on 10 samples, representing seven product brands from the company. Each sample (same size and brand of product) consisted of 15 subsamples, for a total of 150 subsamples. Tests of the 150 subsamples revealed two positive samples; one from the Krasdale Gravy dry food and another from Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry food.

Q: Has any of the recalled product resulted in human illness?
A: To date, there have been 64 cases of illness in humans related to Salmonella Schwarzengrund reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); however, none of the reported cases have been directly linked to the recalled product that was tested.

Q: Is the FDA working with any other government agencies?
A: The FDA is working with local and state officials and with officials at the CDC in the investigation.

Q: What can consumers and pet owners do to prevent Salmonella contamination in pet food and pet treats?
A: For more information on preventing Salmonella in pet food and pet treats, please see: http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html.

Q: What guidance does FDA provide to pet food manufacturers to prevent Salmonella Schwarzengrund contamination?
A: The recommendations for companies producing pet food are similar to companies producing human food. FDA states it expects pet food manufacturers to use sufficient manufacturing process controls and procedures to ensure finished products are free of all Salmonella species and other pathogenic microbes. This could include having a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point plan in place, sampling finished product prior to releasing products into commerce, sampling incoming ingredients for the presence of Salmonella, and ensuring that the manufacturing process contains a killing step sufficient to render the product free of pathogenic microbes. In addition, companies need to know their supplier and have assurance regarding the quality of the product and be able to trace the product in case of a recall.
The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine issued a letter on May 16, 2007 to feed ingredient and feed manufacturers regarding the need to ensure the safety of its products. Please see: http://www.fda.gov/cvm/FOI/Feedmanufacturers.htm.

August 24, 2007

Lethal Dog Treats
from an email, permission granted to cross post
“Costco sells chicken jerky dog treats, in a large yellow bag and say 100% chicken, no preservatives, Los Angeles California. Made in China ~ it states in very small print on the back of the bag. KINGDOM PETS is the name of the company in big red letters on the bag. When you call the number on the bag there is a prerecorded message saying that they are not affiliated with the WALMART recall. It appears that they were affiliated with it and then changed their name to sell under a different name. These treats are NOT on the recall list – however, our dog has been in the animal hospital for 5 days with acute renal failure. Extensive testing revealed nothing, the vets are convinced it is due to the treats. We have found many many people online who have fed their dogs these same treats and have either very sick dogs or their dogs died of renal failure.”

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/sfl-0915jerky,0,2470796.story

http://www.itchmo.com/fda-investigating-bestro-chicken-jerky-strips-in-dogs-deaths-2350 http://www.topix.net/forum/source/newsday/TPSS8QRGJM6D4MVVA/p31

Illnesses by feeding Nutro ~ update http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/04/pet_food_recalls93.html