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]