Pet Food Recall

China bans melamine in food but rejects it as cause of pet food deaths
Last Updated: Thursday, April 26, 2007 | 6:57 AM ET (CBC Website)
The Associated Press

China said Thursday it has banned melamine from food products after the chemical was found in exports of vegetable protein shipped to the United States, but rejected it as the cause of dozens of pet deaths in North America.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials say they suspect the substance, which is a chemical found in plastics and pesticides, is to blame.

China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement there was no evidence to support the FDA's claim but that it would co-operate with the United States to find out what actually killed the animals.

The comments in a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry were the first detailed response from Beijing to concerns that emerged a month ago about the country's wheat and rice gluten exports.

China has said it was investigating the issue but had not acknowledged until Thursday that Chinese companies had shipped gluten tainted with melamine to the United States.

The ministry said the contaminated vegetable protein managed to get past customs without inspection because it had not been declared for use in pet food.

"At present, there is no clear evidence showing that melamine is the direct cause of the poisoning or death of the pets," the statement said. "China is willing to strengthen co-operation with the U.S. side … to find out the real cause leading to the pet deaths in order to protect the health of the pets of the two countries."

U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials have said they suspect Chinese wheat and rice gluten laced with melamine and added to pet food may have killed at least 15 cats and dogs. The chemical appears to have caused acute kidney failure in animals that have died or been sickened after eating foods contaminated with the chemical.

China said an investigation triggered by FDA complaints found melamine in wheat and rice gluten exported to the United States by two Chinese companies: Xuzhou Anying Bio-technology Development Company and Binzhou Futian Bio-technology Company.

The case has prompted China to step up inspections of plant-based proteins and to list melamine as a banned substance for food exports and domestic sales, it said.

China also invited FDA officials to visit China to help with further investigations into the case and to consult on improving inspection techniques, it said.

Drs. Fosters & Smith Products Recalled Due to Rice Protein

April 25th, 2007



Another pet food maker ? Drs. Fosters & Smith ? is issuing a recall due to the use of Wilbur-Ellis rice protein (scroll down the page). Oddly, the manufacturer says they received the recall advice today, not last week.



Rice protein concentrate has been indicated as a possible source of melamine recently found in pet food products. As a precautionary measure Wilbur-Ellis company, the supplier of rice protein concentrate, is voluntarily recalling all lots of rice protein concentrate. We received notification from the manufacturer today, April 25, 2007, suggesting we issue a precautionary recall.


http://www.itchmo.com/read/drs-fosters-smith-products-recalled_20070425

Little Kopit wrote:
[
There is a legal side to this all. An organization, such as the FDA needs to watch out for lawsuits. & that means making absolutely sure about information before making it public.

:)

I know.... it's just that I saw how long it took the FDA to react to the PBB poisoning in Michigan. They finally reacted a YEAR after the accidental mixing of PBB into cattle feed. Tens of thousands of animals died (and reportedly, more than a few humans). We Michigan folk probably STILL have it in our bodies....

Deb

Here's another one, livesmart weight management chicken & brown rice.

smartpak

Deb and Ed M wrote:

Br- wrote:

They say that the FDA is aware of the second importer, but is not identifying the company. The information was provided to the senators from industry insiders, not the FDA. Despite a senate hearing, the FDA continues to withhold information about the companies involved.

.

This is simply criminal - the FDA knows companies that are producing tainted products - but won't name them? Are they pet food manufacturers, or human food manufacturers? What the heck???????????

But how do you call the Authorities on the authorities???? How do you penalize the FDA?? Apparently, if you are a large enough company with enough $$$$, the FDA will protect you from angry, poisoned citizens???

I thought the FDA was supposed to protect US?

Deb

There is a legal side to this all. An organization, such as the FDA needs to watch out for lawsuits. & that means making absolutely sure about information before making it public.

:)

Br- wrote:

They say that the FDA is aware of the second importer, but is not identifying the company. The information was provided to the senators from industry insiders, not the FDA. Despite a senate hearing, the FDA continues to withhold information about the companies involved.

.

This is simply criminal - the FDA knows companies that are producing tainted products - but won't name them? Are they pet food manufacturers, or human food manufacturers? What the heck???????????

But how do you call the Authorities on the authorities???? How do you penalize the FDA?? Apparently, if you are a large enough company with enough $$$$, the FDA will protect you from angry, poisoned citizens???

I thought the FDA was supposed to protect US?

Deb

Full details:
http://www.itchmo.com/read/second-company-likely-imported-tainted-rice-protein-from-china_20070423

Two US Senators say that a company in addition to Wilbur-Ellis has imported rice protein concentrate that is “also likely to be contaminated with melamine.”

They say that the FDA is aware of the second importer, but is not identifying the company. The information was provided to the senators from industry insiders, not the FDA. Despite a senate hearing, the FDA continues to withhold information about the companies involved.

Please stay tuned over the next few days for more possible recalls.

Thanks Kathie, again...
Me, I think it was all the Chinese company. Then the pet food companies just really did not know what they were getting from where, lack of tracking.
So, at that point it's all up to us to do the best we can to protect our pets, and now ourselves since it is now in our food chain.
But, some heads should roll for taking recalled food and feeding it to anythin else.

John, I'm with you here..There is just no excuse and it seems to be getting worse. Heck the Pig farm is less than 30 min. from here. I threw out ALL my Doggie treats and found some at Trader Joes that seem to be ok. Again, we are so sorry for the unnecessary loss of Luna. She was a great kitty.