ALL POSTS RE: PET FOOD RECALLS GO HERE IN THIS THREAD

[Auntie Debbie]

Melamine is now in the corn gluten in South Africa. Affected products are Vets Choice and Royal Canin

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Afri ... 93,00.html

[mamabear]

So is the the same recall or a separate one?

Corn gluten ? I thought it was only wheat gluten?

[Auntie Debbie]

It is now "corn" gluten...so far in South Africa. Maybe this will explain the illnesses from dry Iams...all corn???? Maybe not. I think anything coming from China needs to be thoroughly tested at this point.

and be very careful with Purina. I've caught them a couple of times being super evasive only to go belly up on something. Yesterday I called them and actually got through. I wanted to know, mainly...at that point....what they are producing in their new plant in China and if any of it will hit the markets here. They claimed there is no plant in China or any abroad at all. Google Pet Food Plant in China and you'll find numerous reports of their new plant., yet I'm being told it doesn't exist. Today they've revamped their website with everything you ever wanted to know about wheat gluten but were afraid to ask. Old news. We're now onto rice protein concentrate and now corn gluten. Just be cautious.

[Auntie Debbie]

Blue Buffalo just pulled Spa Select Kitten Dry Food. Seems they brought some rice protein concentrate from Wilbur-Ellis. I believe this is the first company out of the four that has come forward.


http://www.bluebuff.com/

[Tina B and crew]

Debbie...according to the Royal Canin website they are NOT involved in the recall

http://www.royalcanin.us/


However Natural Balance IS affected by the rice protein recall....

http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/

I'm feeding my cats Organix...and so far their website has assured us that the food ingredients have been tested and are safe, even though their foods are made at a Menu Foods plant. I'm rather reluctant these days though...

[Auntie Debbie]

Debbie...according to the Royal Canin website they are NOT involved in the recall [/quote

Royal Canin is involved in a recall...in South Africa, not here (yet anyway) due to corn gluten, not the rice protein concentrate with NB. And if you believe everything you read on the websites, then I'm afraid you may be that deer in the headlights. Be very cautious with Purina...I've caught them a couple of times already being evasive, and saying they're good, only to find out they're not. Scarier yet, is that there are three more companies out there that bought rpc from Wilbur-Ellis and they are not identifying themselves, neither is W-E or the FDA. And if you go to their sites, I'm sure they are saying they're good. I was even able to get someone on the phone yesterday at Purina. I wanted to know what was the deal with their plant in China, using "local ingredients". (Google Purina Plant in China) and there a numerous articles about their new plant. They denied having one.
Also, don't believe everything you read on the bag or can. NB didn't include the rpc or that they changed their formula.
For now anyway, the things to look out for is wheat gluten, corn gluten and rice protein concentrate. In fact any concentrate or gluten should be scrutinized.
And one more point to watch out for with website...good example...one day NB posted that they would pay all vet bills for animals affected by their products recalled. Next day you got "take the unfinished bag back to the store for a full refund."
Remember, there are 3 other companies out there that has used or purchased the rpc from W-E and no one is naming names, but their websites will all say they're good.

FDA Press Release on Wilbur-Ellis

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/wi ... 04_07.html

[Tina B and crew]

Sorry...I missed the South Africe reference in your first post...I was referring to the Royal Canin US website...my apologies.

And if you believe everything you read on the websites, then I'm afraid you may be that deer in the headlights.

Not quite sure how to take that comment...I think I'm pretty well informed and don't just believe everything I read websites. I don't just blindly trust any company or any source I get information from...I typically research things pretty thoroughly when I have the time. I think I made it pretty clear that I'm reluctant to trust any petfood manufacturer these days, but I have to feed my cats SOMETHING and short of making a homemade diet I will stick to the Organix I'm feeding them. It contains NO wheat gluten, NO corn gluten and NO rice protein concentrate

[Sue and Kids]

OMG, where is this going to stop?

I live in a sparsely populated rural area, and we don't have the large varieties of food available in areas with a larger population.

We have relatively few brands of canned or dry cat and dog foods. For cats, it's mostly Purina, Iams, Whiskas and 9 lives. For dogs, it's mostly Pedigree, Iams, Alpo and Ole Roy. And it's scarier yet to think that everything - dry food, wet food, food pouches, treats - seems to be tainted by something. I had hoped it was just going to be wheat gluten that was the problem, but now it's corn gluten, rice protein concentrate, etc. The brand I've used and trusted for years, Purina, is now giving me the creeps. Why are they trying to hide the fact that they have and are using a so-called "non-existent" plant in China? It's pretty "fishy" that they have employees denying the plant when Debbie found entries regarding it on "Google". Debbie, did you ever confront the real person you finally got hold of with the fact that info on their China plant is on "Google" and available for anyone to see?

It's getting so I don't know what to buy my babies anymore. I think it sounds like Hills Science Diet is safe, but it is beyond my means to feed my 3 kitties and 1 doggy nothing but that brand.

I had been reading labels and was getting good at spotting "wheat gluten" on food I purchased before the first recall. But who can stand in the grocery store and read the whole label, especially when you get into the preservatives?

What are some of you doing? My kitties were lucky to test negative for the M/D, but what other hazards are out there waiting?

Sue and Kids
Nikki, Buster, and Shadow the kitties and Sparky the dog

[Auntie Debbie]

Tina, I didn't really mean it to be offensive. When you wrote that you went to their website, I thought you were being naive about believing what they are saying. I've seen a few of them say stuff or not say stuff that came back and bit them or said one thing one day and something quite different the next. I didn't realize you didn't see the SA part and thought you were just going on the US website's statement as the truth. If they have a SA website, it may say something entirely different. I'm home now on dial up and to access some of these sites in other countries will take me forever..otherwise I would have tried to see what that gets us. But please forgive my phrasing, just thought you were believing what they said, or didn't say about the corn gluten in SA.
I just don't really trust any of them anymore. There are still 3 companines who won't come forward with the rpc and now the corn gluten...may be a question of time before we find out that it's in our stuff here too. In addition to the W-E thing, there are a group of vets that claim they've noticed a pattern involving 5 different (I believe) foods but they're not disclosing any info either. I wish they would all just speak up already with what know. That way we can avoid those foods until properly tested. If they test neg, we can feed it again, if not.....
I really doubt if these companies are really so concerned about the animals...oh sure you get the ads with grandpa and the puppy and all those informative things on their sites, but it's a business. They are protecting their *sses and assets now.
I just really feel so bad for those that have lost their pets and/or are dealing with sick ones from all of this. The rest of us are just trying to the right food. Even the pricey, "good quality" foods are taking a hit. But that's what you get when you start outsourcing ingredients and go for the cheapest priced ingredients.
Organix...is it pricey...never heard of it. I'm feeding five inside and a bunch outside, plus whatever scavengers eat what the cats don't eat. I need stuff that's affordable, but I'll look into your Organix. I just wish I could work up some trust for Purina.
Again, sorry for how I phrased my comment, no offense...just didn't like the idea of you buying what is on their website.

[Tina B and crew]

Yes, Royal Canin has seperate websites...the one I posted was www.royalcanin.us and their statement says:

Royal Canin USA wishes to assure pet owners that our dry and wet pet food products are not involved in the ongoing FDA investigation related to the recent nationwide pet food recall initiated by Menu Foods and other companies.

We want to inform you that the recent recall announcement
by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on April 10
does not affect any Royal Canin products sold in US retail stores or available in vet clinics.

Nah...I'm not too naive....I don't have full faith in any of these companies either, no matter what they say. Interestingly enough the Royal Canin SA website says nothing about a recall and the Vets Choice SA website doesn't come up when I click on the URL.

I'll be honest, I'm feeding hte Organix cautiously, since I do know they use Menu Foods. I don't think there is a company you can find that doesn't outsource, it's just not feasible for these large companies. But in doing my research I found the Organix at least better than some since it doesn't contain either of the three ingredeints and they do use organic foods. It is costly...about $11 for a 4 lb bag (I think it's 4 lbs). I'm just feeding two cats right now so it's not too bad and because it has less fillers in it they don't eat nearly as much as they would if I was feeding them a cheaper brand. It's made by Castor and Pollux... http://www.castorpolluxpet.com/ I get it at the local co-op store. I was going to switch to the Blue Buffalo since I could get it at Petsmart, but I guess not now...we are running out of choices aren't we?!

I'm keeping my eye on these recalls closely...it's just getting ridiculous...and I'm with you, I don't trust Purina at all...no hard feelings...we are all pretty emotional over this