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Archive through April 20, 2007

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Apr. 2007 ~ Jun. 2007: Hairball Haven (ARCHIVES): Pet Food Recall (ARCHIVES): Archive through April 20, 2007 users admin

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Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 8:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Bil-Jac is at Petsmarts..

Bonzacat
Member

07-08-2003

Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 10:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bonzacat a private message Print Post    
Regarding the Chicken Soup cat foods, I've been pouring over the ingredients in the dry foods - adult, light and senior. P&B aren't seniors but I was looking at it because it advertises hairball control. I emailed them regarding the ingredients in their light vs. senior and received a reply from a vet within 30 minutes. She let me know there is the same hairball control in both.

I know we are all looking for different types of foods for different needs but I can at least report that of the 3 Chicken Soup dry cat varieties I studied, there is no wheat gluten, rice gluten, corn gluten or rice protein concentrate.

P&B seem to like the CS light and I feel like a scientist by now.

I would have tried the excellent Innova that Happymom mentioned, but their reduced fat dry food is quite a bit higher in calories when compared to several others. I have an 18 lb. boy on my hands so I'm watching his calories at the moment.

Supergranny
Member

02-03-2005

Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 10:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Supergranny a private message Print Post    
Our biggest worry is the treats. They love the Jerky Treats Lamb & Rice. Says no wheat formula over 3 lbs but it does have corn gluten and rice.

Their very very favorite is Wild Alaska Salmon Yummy Chummies and now I see it has wheat flour. This is unbelievable...just because some company was running a scam to save money!

Bonzacat
Member

07-08-2003

Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 10:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bonzacat a private message Print Post    
Supergranny - you bring up an excellent point - treats. Most of the treats in our pantry right now have corn gluten in them. I think I am going shopping for organic treats tomorrow... with my reading glasses in hand. Such insanity.

Supergranny
Member

02-03-2005

Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 10:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Supergranny a private message Print Post    
Thank heavens! This is the Yummy Chummies web site. http://www.yummychummies.com/

We get ours at Sam's Club. It is a bit pricey but goes far and we bribe our little pugs for behaving.

Bonzacat
Member

07-08-2003

Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 10:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bonzacat a private message Print Post    
For anyone feeding Greenies Treats for cats or dogs, they say:

All of our wheat gluten is sourced from the United States and we have verified that the wheat gluten in our products is NOT SOURCED from any of the suppliers who are currently under investigation by FDA.

Neither Menu Foods nor Sunshine Mills manufacture any of S&M NuTec's snacks or treats and there is no melamine in any of our Greenies®, Feline Greenies®, SmartBiscuit® or Pill Pockets® brands.


Cdbga
Member

10-04-2004

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 3:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cdbga a private message Print Post    
The Morning Update:

1. Royal Canin Royal Canin Recalls Several Dry Foods due to contaminated rice protein concentrate.

You can find specifics on what was recalled here: Royal Canin recall additions

2. Researchers have identified three other contaminants in the urine and kidneys of animals sickened or killed after eating the recalled foods, including cyanuric acid

3. Chemical found in state hogs (If you don't have your own Sacramento Bee account, use: User Name/Password: TVCLUBHOUSE)

In this article, vets and nutritionists say that if the melamine was added to boost protein, other potential targets for tampering could include whey protein isolate, soy protein isolate, soy protein concentrate, soy grits and soy lecithin. No melamine has been found in any of those ingredients (as far as we know), they are just ingredients that are used for protein.

4. Seamonkey, during my reading yesterday, I came across a post from a woman who had talked to Blue Buffalo about the brown rice in their products. She was told that when "brown rice" is listed, it means the rice is not processed in any way. The melamine has been found in rice protein concentrate, which is a by-product of rice. So, brown rice should be fine, as nothing would have been added to it.

5. You know, I just wanted to say that while I think the FDA is doing their best, their best is disappointing. I shouldn't be getting recall info posted before they do, you know? Maybe they need to contract Pet Connection, Itchmo, or Howl 911 to update the information on the FDA site.

Cdbga
Member

10-04-2004

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 3:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cdbga a private message Print Post    
We aren't the only ones confused: The pet food recall list keeps growing so fast that Southwest Florida veterinarians are telling their clients to feed their cats and dogs human food.

As I've posted previously, I've been cooking for Whitney. My big concern has been whether she's getting what she needs nutritionally. So, I yesterday, I decided to pick up some pet vitamins. Of course, as I'm looking through them, I start wondering if they are even safe! The best looking (ingredient-wise) of the multi-vitamins was made by Eight-in-one, who have had their own recall issues with Salmonella (which probably wouldn't effect the vitamins, but STILL). So, I had the dilemma of whether to let her keep going with food that might be missing some nutrients or take the risk of adding these vitamins to it. *SIGH* At least I know her glucosamine is okay, and her Omega 3 supplement has no additives.

Cdbga
Member

10-04-2004

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 4:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cdbga a private message Print Post    
The International Labour Organization's Fact Sheet on Cyanuric Acid

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 5:18 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
I called my vet yesterday and they discouraged cooking human food for cats, especially if it's the primary source of their food. (Mine isn't.)

I'd been doing some more researching, and I'm gonna try Newman's Own organic cat food (not available in my area but is available at several pet food distributors on the web).

The kids get mostly seafood-type food. I don't want to switch them to chicken food -- they do really well on seafood. So I'm not even gonna consider the Chicken Soup for the Cat food (I'm also not impressed when they don't have taste options).

Wellness is one of the foods that Costa really loved! I think I'll stick to that for now.

Also, I know Purina foods are still safe (including Fancy Feast). And I do have a cupboard full of those cans.

I've decided, I'll stick to the brands I know that are safe right now. Neither cat is sick, both are fat ans sassy, and I could turn totally gray worrying about this. They each get only a tablespoon of food each night; their main source of food is their prescription Hills Science Diets.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 5:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
P.S. Sea, none of those places are near me. (Alpine is a good 35 miles away, too! <grin>)

Cdbga
Member

10-04-2004

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 6:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cdbga a private message Print Post    
Don't you love it when the experts can't agree? I've read things from several vets recommending home cooked food, some from vets who have always been anti-commercial foods, then things from vets who completely discourage cooking for pets. I wonder which is right or wrong. I don't know, I'm not recommending anything either way. I think we all have to do what we feel best about and I personally feel more comfortable cooking for Whitney right now. But, my cat won't eat home-cooked, so she's still on the Brandon Farms dry food (and Whitney gets a little of their dry dog food added to her dinner, plus I'm actually using that for treats now. She seems as pleased with it as she does with her other treats. I think she just likes to eat!). They both seem happy and healthy and I'm watching them closely. I keep reading all this stuff about raw diets, but it just kind of grosses me out. And, again, I'll read in one place that raw diets are THE best thing for your pets, then read elsewhere that they are actually bad for them.

Costa, you could always use one of the mail order places (like Pet Food Direct, Drs. Foster Smith, or Waggintails). I'm sure there are others out there, too. I haven't used any, myself...not for food, anyway, but they are out there.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 8:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
My kitties love Friskies, and I haven't found anything about them on any of the recall lists. I have found that a can of wet food that normally sells for .59 cents (when not on sale) is now running .63!

Calamity
Member

10-18-2001

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 9:06 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Calamity a private message Print Post    
My mom told me last week or so that she learned that Wellness is made by Menu Foods which made me leery. Of course, my cats didn't like it so they're not eating it anyway. They're still eating their pre-recall diet of Diamond dry (both the name brand and the Chicken Soup brand which is made by Diamond), Purina dry, and Friskies & Fancy Feast canned. Linus is still picking at his food but at least he's eating more than he was. And all three were checked by the vet last week, who said they're okay.

ETA: I have an organic brand at home, my cats didn't care for it, that has no wheat, no corn, and none of some other ingrediant. I can't remember the name of the brand though. It was Nature Organic or something like that.

Bonzacat
Member

07-08-2003

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 9:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bonzacat a private message Print Post    
I could write a term paper on the raw diet for pets. When we were looking for kitties I encountered several Tonkinese breeders who included "raw only" feeding in their purchase contracts. They have recipes and supplements... but we did not go that route.

The company Nature's Variety makes a frozen and freeze-dried raw diet for cats & dogs. It comes with all the supplements included so you just thaw and serve or add a bit of liquid to the freeze-dried and serve.

They also have an excellent line of organic "normal" canned & dry foods as well as a grain-free line of canned & dry.

http://www.naturesvariety.com

Of course, all the research in the world doesn't mean our pets will like anything we bring home, right?

Cdbga
Member

10-04-2004

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 9:27 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cdbga a private message Print Post    
That is the truth Bonza, and my Naiya appears to be a finicky one. The funny thing is that while she won't touch my home-cooked food when I put it down for her, she heads straight for Whitney's bowl as soon as her dinner goes down and it is the same food (of course, Whitney puts a stop to that right away)! The one home-cooked food she will eat? Sweet potatoes. So, she gets a little of that as a treat now and then.

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 9:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
I just got a call from my vet. My dog's food -- Royal Canin Skin Support for dogs -- has been recalled today.

Since he's eaten half the bag and had no signs of any illness, I think it's OK, but the vet is asking us to bring in all our leftover food today and they'll give us new, non-recalled food free of charge.

Yipes.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 10:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Dammit! I just called Wellness, and their canned cat food is made in the Menu Foods factory (although they do not wheat, corn, or rice protein in any of their cat foods, instead using whole brown rice).

Holly
Member

06-19-2005

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 10:18 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Holly a private message Print Post    
I've found Wysong to be a very good brand of food and so far, no recall.

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 10:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
OK, so I just went over there and exchanged my food. They gave me Royal Canin Hypoallergenic HP for Canines. I just got back with two new bags of it, and checked the Royal Canin site. The Canine version of this food is NOT recalled, but the FELINE version HAS been. Should I just go back and give them the Canine stuff back? Or am I being overly sensitive?

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 11:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
This whole thing is immensely frustrating and terribly sad.

One thing that amazes me is how so much of the ingredients or food comes from the same source, regardless of the brand. It makes me wonder about what the difference is between the brands and how much of it is all marketing.

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 11:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
I swear if I have just exchanged his food that seemed to be OK with food that makes him sick, I'll punch somebody.

Native_texan
Member

08-24-2004

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 11:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Native_texan a private message Print Post    
Jimmer, when this recall first started, I heard someone on TV say that most of it is pretty much the same, regardless of brand and/or price.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 11:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Menu Foods makes the food for a large variety of different products. There are other companies (Purina, for example) who have their own factories. But may purchase some ingredients from the same companies. I think only one thing (Alpo?) has been recalled from all of the Purina products.

Hypermom
Member

08-13-2001

Friday, April 20, 2007 - 11:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hypermom a private message Print Post    
April 18 - Update: Hill's products not affected by rice protein concentrate recall.
On April 17 the FDA announced a further pet food recall associated with melamine contaminant, reportedly from a supplier of rice protein concentrate. No Hill's products are affected by this recall.

While Hill's uses rice protein concentrate in 4 of its products, we do not use the supplier involved with the recall.

Hill's has tested its ingredients and these tests show no melamine is present in the rice protein concentrate that it uses.

Q. Do any Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. products contain rice protein concentrate?
A. Yes. Four Hill's products contain rice protein concentrate; however, none contain rice protein concentrate from the supplier associated with this recent recall.

The four Hill's products that contain rice protein concentrate AND ARE NOT affected by recent recall announcements:

Prescription Diet ® z/d® Feline Dry
Prescription Diet ® k/d® Canine canned
Science Diet® Lamb Meal and Rice Recipe Puppy Large Breed
Prescription Diet® h/d® Canine Dry
Hill's has tested its ingredients and these tests show no melamine is present in the rice protein concentrate used in our products.


Q. How do you know Hill's rice protein concentrate is safe?
A. Upon immediately learning about the presence of melamine in another supplier's rice protein concentrate, we tested our ingredients and have confirmed that the rice protein concentrate ingredient from Hill's suppliers do not contain melamine.


Q. Where does Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. get its rice protein concentrate?
A. Hill's uses two suppliers, neither of which are involved in this rice protein concentrate recall.


Q. What is rice protein concentrate, and why is it used in pet food?
A. Rice protein concentrate is the product remaining after starch has been washed away from rice. It is a commonly used protein ingredient in various pet food products.

http://tinyurl.com/2n5rkv