Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Acetaminophen Update - in at least 6 foods

It sounds like the manufacturer who sent food in to be tested and was told it was positive for acetominophen weeks ago is NOT one of the companies that currently has food recalled - it is a new/different company. This from a transcript from Call4Action out of Pittsburgh:
The following is a transcript of a report by reporter Aaron Saykin that first aired June 5, 2007, on WTAE Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m.

A Texas laboratory has confirmed that traces of a human painkiller have been found in some pet food. ...

Traces of acetaminophen were detected in dog food that was tested by a Texas lab called Exper-Tox.

The lab would not name the type of food contaminated or the company that distributes it but said the company is not among the 150 others involved in the pet food recalls over the past three months.
Not a surprise, in fact I assumed this to be the case - but it's good to have confirmation. This means there is a company out there who KNOWS their food tested positive for acetominophen, and they did not recall it. Can't wait to find out who it is - so I know who to boycott forever.

And from ABC in Houston (Thanks Therese!)

(6/05/07 - KTRK/DEER PARK, TX) - ...A Houston doctor says he's uncovered pet food contaminated with pain medication.

The doctor who runs the lab believes the problems with pet food are far from over. His finding has sparked a new federal investigation.

Just one little acetaminophen pill is enough to kill a cat. But according to the lab, this drug was found in at least a half dozen pet food samples.

Technicians at EperTox in Deer Park test all kinds of samples. For the past few months more than a thousand of those samples have been different types of pet food. The results are troubling.

"We don't really how big and how involved this problem is right now. We are only uncovering the beginning of it," said Dr. Ernest Lykissa.

What Dr. Lykissa says he uncovered in his lab is more contaminated pet food. In more than two dozen samples Dr. Lykissa says either cyanuric acid or acetaminophen were found.

...

ExperTox lab manager Donna Coneley was so troubled by the results that she verified the tests.

"We were questioning that," she admitted. "We took that same sample and did an extraction."

Due to a confidentiality agreement, the lab can not reveal which pet food samples tested positive for the drugs. At least one sample was Pet Pride cat food. All test results were reported to the pet food makers, which should have been reported to the FDA.

It may be up to owners to police pet food because, according to the lab manager, no one from the FDA has investigated their positive findings. In fact, to date not a single government inspector has asked to look at one of the tainted pet food samples tested in this laboratory.

Late this afternoon, an FDA spokesperson says the agency is trying to get those samples. For now Dr. Lykissa considers the quality of pet food questionable.

He said, "The FDA has to become a lot more vigilant, because if we're finding those things who knows what we're not finding."

The tests were conducted over the past month. An FDA spokesperson says the agency wants to test the samples independently to determine the levels of contaminants.

The makers of Pet Pride food said court order prevents them from commenting on our story.

Note that Pet Pride is made by Menu Foods, and is a Kroger brand. Fortunately, Kroger stepped up early on and pulled ALL products made by Menu Foods on March 23rd. Thank you Kroger. http://kroger.com/recall_menufoods.htm

On Friday, March 23, our concern for pets and their well-being prompted Kroger to expand the recall to include all wet pet food manufactured by Menu Foods in cans and pouches, including Pet Pride and IAMS brands in pouches and cans, and Mighty Dog pouches.

Kroger's decision to recall all wet pet food produced by Menu Foods goes beyond the initial recall announced by Menu Foods. Kroger has taken this additional step as an extra precaution until we are satisfied that Menu Foods can assure our customers that these specific products are safe for consumption by your pets. Again, this elective recall does not include dry dog food products.

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Woven Plastic Bag from China

I have seen many bags that hold dry dog food getting switch from the traditional paper bag to a woven plastic bag. I have confirmed that the vast majority of these bags are being imported from China. I have also been informed (and seen pictures) on the lack of cleanliness/standards where these bags are being manufactured. Long story short – it is nasty and I believe if you have seen what I have you would not want your pets eating food that has come out of this imported bag. Am I making a mountain out a mole hill? Or are my concerns valid?

Plastic…melamine…China…pet food…plastic bags…coincidence?

June 6, 2007 at 5:52 AM

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Volunteers Needed! Get food off shelves...

howl911.com, itchmo.com, thepetfoodlist.com, petconnection.com, petfoodtracker.com and spockosbrain.com have joined together to ask for your help.
Update 6-10: Recalled food was purchased from a California store on 5-29th – this stuff is still out there!
We need Volunteers to help get recalled food off store shelves. Read this post at Spocko’s Brain for instructions. Print a list (or two) on this site. Visit stores, then report safe stores here at Itchmo.com.

Printing Information:
1. Print the main FDA Pet Food Recall page http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html – this will be handy to show retailers who haven’t heard anything about the recall. (3 pages)

2. Print the list of 14 Major National Brands - it includes flavors and date information where applicable so you can tell if specific products for these brands have been recalled. The brands are: Alpo Prime Cuts, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul, Doctors Foster and Smith, Eukanuba, Gravy Train, Hill’s Science Diet, Iams, Jerky Treats, Lick Your Chops, Mighty Dog Pouches, Natural Balance, Nutro, Pounce, Royal Canin. (It’s 7 pages and includes FDA contact information.)

3. Print the List of All Brands – it will remind you what products have been recalled - but it does not give you date and flavor information, there is just too much to put in one document. (7 pages, but the 7th page is links to more detailed information so you don’t need to print it)

If you want, and are going to a store that you know has store brands that have been recalled (such as Walmart), go to that recall information at the links on the summary or at the FDA site and print it out. Some of the information is formatted in ways that make it difficult to read (one of the main reasons for this site), but it’s better than nothing.

Note: The FDA is the official source for all recall information and recalled products. This is an unofficial volunteer effort to help get the word out and get recalled foods off of shelves. We’re doing the best we can but can’t guarantee these lists are completely accurate. Again, here is the official recall site: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html