Texas lab finds pain medicine in pet food - Manufactuer Told - FDA Investigating
The highest level of acetaminophen was found in a dog food sample submitted by a manufacturer, she said. Coneley declined to identify the company but said its officials were given the results "well over a month ago."also see: Acetaminophen Update - in at least 6 foods
(post modified slightly 6-4 10:30pm)
Why am I saying allegedly and unconfirmed? Because I am posting links to what others have already posted online. Because I haven't seen the original lab results (though all 3 are now posted online). And because two of samples did not come from unopened food with the necessary 'chain of custody' forms. And, the companies haven't confirmed them.
I cannot stress this point enough: These are independent tests performed on small samples of each food. We do not know if this is an isolated case of contamination before or after manufacturing, or if it is widespread.
- First, they have been posted on other sites, so the information is already out there, I'm simply drawing your attention to it.
- Second, so you know that 3 different pet foods have tested positive for something that shouldn't be in them, in this case acetominophen. Acetominophen is poisonous to pets. 2 of the samples also tested positive for cyanuric acid.
- Third, because - IF this is true and widespread- this may be (part of) the answer to why pets continue to get sick from foods that have tested negative for melamine, as melamine was NOT found in any of these foods.
- Fourth, because if I received a positive result from a food I had privately tested, I'd want someone to post it so others would become aware of it.
- Fifth, so I can sleep at night.
- Sixth, and the most important reason - because it might save a pets life.
First, from Don, who has a new website www.petfoodrecallfacts.com, he will be posting additional lab results as they become available. (Note that Pet Pride has had some food recalled by Menu Foods, but these flavors/varieties have NOT been recalled.) The following report is at http://www.petfoodrecallfacts.com/lab.html
Added 6-4 11:45pm: Note that Don's samples were submitted as factory sealed cans, and received by the lab in untampered condition.LAB REPORT ON ACETAMIONPHEN AND CYANURIC ACID
Test results conducted by ExperTox, a fully accredited lab, confirmed the presence of acetamionphen and cyanuric acid in a mixture of Pet Pride "Turkey and Giblets Dinner" lot number APR 24 09, and Pet Pride "Mixed Grill" lot number SEP07 09.
Additional tests have been requested to determine which variety, or if both, are adulterated with the substances. It is significant that melamine was not detected in the samples, as melamine is the marker for the Chinese grain products.
...(see link for the rest)
Second, from Steve M:
http://www.itchmo.com/read/voluntary-dry-food-reports_20070328#comment-20770
Reposted in full with permission
- May 25th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Kim,
I spoke with ... today. I haved e-mailed him the Toxicology Report I received from Accutrace indicating Acetaminophen is present in the sample.
Feel free to post my story on your blog. I would not be posting this information if there was any doubt in my mind that this toxin came from anywhere other than the bag of food I purchased. I can think of no way this food could have been contaminated after I opened it. This leaves me with the conclusion that the acetaminophen was in the factory sealed bag when I purchased it on March 15, 2007. This being the case I feel it is important to get the information out to others.
I spoke with Hills today concerning the test results and needless to say they are at a loss to explain this situation. I encourage anyone who feeds or has fed their pet any Hills Science Diet dry pet food with an unexplained illness to have their food tested for not only the toxins that have been in the news (i.e. Melamine, Cyanuric Acid, etc.) but also for unknown chemicals and toxins.
Don has Steve's lab results posted
Don's added another positive lab result to his site
ACETAMINOPHEN AND CYANURIC ACID TEST POSITIVE IN REPORT SUBMITTED BY SHARON
This sample is believed to have come from a bag of Hill's Science Diet Light Adult. The test results show both acetaminophen and cyanuric acid was found in the food.
Note that this makes the second positive acetominophen result for Hill's Science Diet dry food, different varieties.
Again, I cannot stress this point enough: These are independent tests performed on small samples of each food. We do not know if this is an isolated case of contamination before or after manufacturing, or if it is widespread.
May 21st, 2007 at 11:00 pm
The first week of April both of my cats became ill. We had recently opened a new bag of Hills Science Diet Sensitive Stomach, the same brand the cats had been eating for sometime. After a couple days of watching our cats conditions (vomiting, lethargy, apparent weight loss, etc.) worsen we made the trip to the Vet. After observation and blood and urine tests it was determined that both cats were in Acute Renal Failure. My male cat was in such poor condition at that point that the Vet recommended euthanizing him, which we ultimately did. My female cat was fairing a little better even though her diagnosis also found she was anemic as well. We started on a long regimen of IV’s and medications that continue to this day. She has recently shown signs of improvement but it has been costly both in a monetary and emotional sense.
Already being familiar with the pet food recall in the news I asked my Vet to order a Histopathology on my deceased cats internal organs so as to try and determine if he was poisoned. I also immediately contacted the FDA, which after me leaving numerous messages finally contacted me 10 days after my initial call. I also spoke with Hill’s, and to be honest I felt like they were really not very interested in my story. Hill’s ended up sending an application for me to request reimbursement for my Vet bills, even though my cats food was not and still to this day is not on the recall list. My deceased cats histopathology results came back and they did indicate poisoning. There was a crystalline feature in the kidneys that was indicative of this. At this point I contacted the FDA and Hill’s again to report the results. I asked Hill’s if they would like me to send them some of the cat food to test. To my amazement they declined and reitterated that I could ask for reimbursement for my Vet expenses. At this point I decided if I was going to find out what killed my cat I would have to do it myself. This I could not believe, because by this point in time we were about 6 weeks into this pet food crisis. I guess the experts already had everything figured out!
I sent a sample of the Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach formula food, from the bag my cats had been eating from when they became ill, to Accutrace in Arlington, Texas. For $144 they agreed to test for the suspected pet food toxins (Melamine, Cyanuric Acid, Aminopterin, etc.) as well as other common toxins to pets. I received a call from the Lab today with the results of their analysis. To my surprise they did not find any of the suspected pet food toxins. But they did find something that is very toxic to cats in the food, Acetaminophen. If you are not familiar, acetaminophen is a pain reliever, marketed under the most common name as Tylenol. A little research will tell you that it doesn’t take much of this stuff to poison a cat.
This is not a case of my cats got into a tylenol capsule that was dropped on the floor or someone came into my house and spiked my open bag of cat food. This is a case of a known toxin to cats coming packaged in a bag of cat food from the store.
This is my story to date. I just wanted to share with others because I truly believe there is more to this story than is being told. Don’t trust the FDA or the pet food manufacturer’s, they are just looking for a quick and convenient way to put this story to rest IMO. I will post again after more of my personal story unfolds. Best to all!