Copyright 2007 by Mary L. Conley, N.D.
All Rights Reserved

May cross-post to other lists but not to change or delete information.

RECENT PET FOOD RECALLS IN THE U.S.  (Part 2)

SALMONELLA,  PEOPLE AND PETS
The most frightening pet recall came through Eight in One, a Division
of United Pet Group, and a ferret treat provider. The press release
came out on March 30, 2007 and has caused havoc ever since. It cited
the possibility of Salmonella. It warned us not to use Dingo (R)
CHICK'N JERKY treats. Salmonella can cause sickness in dogs and cats
but can cause cross-contamination in handlers also. Target and PetSmart
were listed. Later they said the lab samples did contain salmonella.
(6) Pets that come down with this can have diarrhea (sometimes with
blood), fever and vomiting, plus a decreased appetite, fever, and
abdominal pain. Salmonellosis pretty common in America. People can
exhibit symptoms of headache, vomiting and diarrhea within 6-48 hours
of ingesting the bacteria. However, salmonella is part of the natural
intestinal flora of some animals. They thrive in livestock given
antibiotics.(7) In preparing your pets food you should practice clean
kitchen standards: wipe your counters with a simple clorox solution or
clorox wipes; and wash your hands. Be sure to clean your pet food bowls
daily. If your pet seems sick go to your vet as soon as you can get in.
The EightinOne phone number is 1-888-232-9889.

WHEAT GLUTEN AND PETS
ChemNutra, In., on April 3, 2007 said that Menu Foods released their
own caution against products with "adulterated wheat gluten." The site
releasing copious amounts of this company's recall is below. (8). This
was picked up by a USDA release the same day. This is the company
that apparently contracts out to Xuzhou Anything Biologic Technology
Development Co., in Wangdien, China. Right now (April 10), there are 3
pages of items. (see footnote 8). Gluten is a product in most wheat,
oat products, rye, and barley. It produces a dangerous allergy in
millions of Americans, among them Autism Spectrum Disorders, Celiac
Sprue Disease, and Gluten Intolerance/Wheat Allergies.(9) Those who are
unsuspecting usually have this allergy if they have extended belly fat.
This was found in the same Chinese company. Also found there was a link
to the use of melamine, a chemical, which has been responsible for
the death of cats and dogs. MSNBC says "even more pet food could be
recalled in the next couple of days...this company has been suspected
since the outbreak of pet deaths in mid-March." (10) Later on Neal
Bataller, Dir. of the Division of Compliance with FDA's Vet. Medicine
Office tells us "the wheat gluten that is positive for melamine has
come from this manufacturer." (10) There is a long string of people
passing on responsibility but the main point is it was sourced out of
the U.S. You can reach them at <http://www.menufoods.com/> .

Hills Pet Nutrition also voluntarily recalled it's Prescription Diet
m/d Feline Dry Food, which contains wheat gluten. It was supplied by
the same company that supplies Menu Foods. Again linked to this the
FDA tells us "are small amounts of melamine. " Hills Prescription and
Science Diet are mentioned together and have the "R" trademark. (11)
While we are cautioned to return this product for a "refund" how can we
refund the life of our pets? So again, we become label readers, or more
discriminating. Hills says it will "reformulate." My recommendation is
to call them and ask the questions in paragraph 1.  Their number is
1-800-445-5777, or <http://www.hillspet.com/> .
 
MELAMINE AND PETS
This is the saddest story. Melamine is a chemical substance. It is a
metabolite of cyromazine, a pesticide. It is formed in the body of
mammals that consume this pesticide, and can be converted into melamine
in plants. It can be synthesized by using urea by either of two
methods: catalyzed gas-phase production, or high-pressure liquid-phase
production. Commercially it is combined with formaldehyde to make a
melamine resin, a thermosetting plastic; and a melamine foam used in
polymeric cleaning products. It is included in countertops, fabrics,
glues and flame retardants. Why it has found it's way into our food
chain is suspect. Interestingly, one of the references in this footnote
is the Merck Index. All websites listed in this footnote are very
interesting. (12)
 
Del Monte Pet Products found melamine in several products (4 pages as
of tonight). It also found the tainted wheat gluten from it's products
from the same plant in China. Melamine, in the U.S. is not approved for
use in food. Their consumer hotline number is 1-800-949-3799. You have
to go through hoops to use their website.

I wish I had a solution for this. My pets eat a homemade "slurry" in
case they need a liquid for medicine delivery, but we use a good grade
mixed dry food I have used for years. Each bag is checked for the above
offending substances, but if we aren't told all of the ingredients, or
where they outsource their work how can we trust the multi-million
dollar companies?
 
FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES
 
1. http://www.fda.gov/oc/firmrecalls/energyclub04_07.html
   [Moderator's note: That doesn't work, but I do see it at
   http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/energyclub04_07.html  BIG]

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/melamine
   http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/eightinone03_07.html

3. Ibid. #1.

4. Hess, Fred C.  *Chemistry Made Simple.*   NY:  Doubleday, 1984,
   pp. 118-19.
5. http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/energyclub04_07.html

6. Ibid #2 "Eight-in-One."

7. Balach, Phyllis. *Prescription for Nutritional Healing.*  NY:
   Avery, 1997, pp. 278-79, use "Salmonella."

8. http://www.menufoods.com/recall/index.html

9. http://www.glutensolutions.com

10. http://www.msnbc.com/id.17915607/

11. http://fda/gov/co/po/firmrecalls/hills303_07.html

12. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/melamine
    http://www,wisegeek.com/what-is-melamine.htm
    [Try http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-melamine.htm  BIG]
    <http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/story/aspx?guid=%7B99479E16-BE39-4314-99c>
    [Sorry, I can't munge that link into anything that works.  BIG]

13. http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/delmonte03_07.html

Warmly ~
Mary L. Conley, M.S. Natural Health, Herbalist, N.D.
Conley  Mountain Herbs
Teas, tinctures, flower essences
http://www.herbgrow30.com/

[Posted in FML 5574]