FDA: Menu Foods Tests Killed 7 Pets Before Recall

As if the news about the massive pet food recall after pets have become ill and even died couldn't get any worse, it has. It turns out that Menu Foods actually fed 40-50 cats and dogs, resulting in seven animals dying - and still waited weeks to recall the food!

The FDA says that the Canadian manufacturer, who produces food for a number of brands from Iams, Science Dietand Eukanuba to store-labels for Wal-Mart and Winn-Dixie, had received complaints about their products and started testing their "cuts and gravy" style foods in February. The FDA's director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine says the problems coincide with Menu Foods using a wheat gluten protein from a new supplier, who has since been replaced, but Menu Foods continues to say they do not know what's causing the problems.

The situation has pet owners angry and upset. One Massachusetts who fed her cat Iams after a vet visit, only for her cat to become so ill that it needed to be euthanized, told the NY Times, “We are angry. We thought we were doing a better thing for our cat, improving her food. You trust these companies that have these reputations, and you expect them not to poison your animals with the food they sell.” And one Brooklyn pet owner told the Daily News, "Of course I plan to sue, and I'm sure everyone else in America is, too. This is just unacceptable."

Our worry: That this is the tip of the iceberg and other foods will be added to the already very long recall list. Pet Connection has been a good resource, as has Howl 911 for more information.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Arts & Entertainment on March 20, 2007 9:50 AM

Comments [rss]

L Sutter

My cat was also "allegedly" affected by tainted cat food. I am one of the lucky ones, and My cat is still with me though he may have long term kidney problems. My heart goes out to everyone who has lost a loved one.

One obvious thing no one is saying, with the exception of Menu Foods and Hill's Science Diet, is that the root of the problem is likely NOT WITH MENU FOODS! It's their supplier!!!

This alarms me because ANY manufacturer of pet food could have tainted products out there.

Hill's is a prime example! Even though thier recall is voluntary with no immediate evidence of contamination, Their m/d food is not made by Menu foods but rather made WITH ingredients from one of menu Food's SUPPLIERS.

I commend Hill's Science Diet for their efforts even though their product may have hurt my kitty. They are pulling no punches.

EVERYONE ELSE APPEARS TO ASSERT BLAME EXCLUSIVELY ON MENU FOODS.

Menu foods and Hill's Science Diet are the only 2 companies I know of who have stepped up and taken action based on the supplier.

Everyone else seems to be blaming Menu Foods EXCLUSIVELY. This is a MISTAKE. More pets will DIE.

All pet food makers need to check their suppliers and tell us if they use ingredients from the same supplier!

Or... is it all about profits, distancing from potential lawsuits, while the health and well being of your pet takes a back seat?

Melvin D. Fraki

You killed my wonderful minature schnauzer, Cuddles the Princses two weeks ago with your food, Iams, and Ol'Roys Gorment Foods. My beautiful minature schanuzer passed away in a few days, very ill. The Copper Country Veterian, said there was no hope for her ad the Kidneys and other Functions completely failed, she peed all over the house, enterance ways, glossy eyes, and after here exame had only one hope, put to death, and creamated, now sleeping under her Home on the back yard. She was beautiful, obeatent, knew all the commands, friendly, and my loving Cuddles. How could you do this to her!!!! She cost well over $700.00 and Veterian Expenses over $1,000. Shame on you!!! I surely think she is worth much more and please send my check for much more immediately!!!!!!!! Mel Fraki, Houghton, MI 49931-9250 SHE IS JUST NOT REPLACEABLE!!!!!

seangoog

Sadly animals died, but what people should be worried about is what this potential threat to animals could mean to us. What if the food contaminated was eaten by humans? There are no guarantees in this world! Know what you EAT!

seangoog

Sadly animals died, but what people should be worried about is what this potential threat to animals could mean to us. What if the food contaminated was eaten by humans? There are no guarantees in this world! Know what you EAT!

Doris

Kal Kan Petfood-Pedigree and Whiskas are all produced in their own factories are not affected by the recall. Their food has been cleared by the FDA.

SHELIA FINDLEY

I HAD TO PUT ONE OF MY DOGS TO SLEEP BEFORE THE RECALL. SHE HAD ALL THE THINGS GOING ON WITH HER BECAUSE OF THE DOG FOOD I WAS FEEDING HER. I HAD TO TAKE MY BOSTON TERRIER TO THE VET SHE WAS GETTING SICK TOO. I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS FILING A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST MENU FOODS TO EMAIL ME AND TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO. EMAIL ADDRESS BRUCESHELIANICK@YAHOO.COM MY HEART IS BROKEN BECAUSE OF LOSING MY DOG AND I AM SURE THERE IS ALOT MORE HEARTS OUT THERE THAT ARE BROKEN TOO

S

Another fine example of global corporate greed. Top execs and stockholders make a few extra bucks to outsource their manufacturing and supplies to a 3rd World Country with no labor and safety regulations and this is what you get.

I hope some of the folks who lost their pets are flag-waving Bush supporters because maybe it will wake up these ignorant Archie Bunkers to what's really going on in this country.

Bill Orange County

Well, now we see that death-star foods incorporated (oops, I mean Menu Foods) actually sold food for pets containing rat poison...the story is on the wire this morning.

Menu Foods ( and its' "Income Fund") = Rat Poison and Death for your Pet.

kaitlyn

Not only that, but you all should know that only pouches and canned food made by iams and eukenuba are effected, the dry food, which i feed my pets, is not manufactured by menu foods at all.

kaitlyn

I think its really really disgusting that they show that picture of that small little kitten sleeping as though they have captured a dead cat who was poisoned by the food. Thats REALLY sick and disgusting. Thats not what a dead cat who dies from kidney failure looks like, and in fact that kitten looks a lot like my cat, who is thank GOD healthy.

UGH im so disgusted.

Dan

Thats sick that those idiots have to kill 7 innocent cats just to see if their product is contaminated when all they had to do was a run a chemical dignastics test on the food, plus after they killed the cats those A-holes did not even pull the product off the shelves until it was made public about a week ago. They killed the cats on febuary 15th. Thats more than enough time to pull the product off the shelves. I hope those scientists become test subjects in hell for enternity.

ripley51

Once I came down off the ceiling over the recall and lack of coverage in my area (our local CTV affiliate started reporting the recall on Monday), I checked the actual Menu Foods website and was stunned at the wide range of products they supply. So what magic ingredients do they add to make Science Diet so much more expensive than Special Kitty? At a huge production facility I just can't see the transport trucks of free range chickens, or frozen lambs from New Zealand rolling and and being processed for Iams while still processing dead leghorn parts left over from the 99 cents a pound/thigh with leg attached sale at Sobey's. It would appear we are getting burned at the cash register. Call me naive, but I would never have thought that Iams would risk outsourcing.

tellsie

i received this email from Wellness last night:

"We are aware that Menu Foods has initiated a recall. No products made by Wellness & Old Mother Hubbard are affected in any way.

Again, no Wellness, Old Mother Hubbard, or Neura products are part of this recall.

There are two very important factors in determining the quality of a food. The first is the manufacturer. In this case, Menu Foods is a top notch manufacturer that receives excellent scores for food safety and quality systems. They make a consistent product which is exactly what the company asks for. Frankly, they make product for so many companies because they are one of the best.

The second factor is formula. Ingredient selection can make or break product quality. Certain ingredients can be allergens to certain pets. Other ingredients can be sourced for either their quality or their price. Chicken ingredients, for example, can be sourced at various prices. Low ash chicken, which is better for a cat, can be sourced at a higher price. Those are the types of ingredients we use, because they are of higher quality. So I would not assume all companies are created equal. If you'd like to learn more, please call us. We have much more information where that came from!

Menu is a canning only facility. They do not handle any dry foods.

Nicole Bibeau

Specialist

Consumer Affairs"

Elderta

Concerned Consumer,

You are correct, there are many foods on the list, and some manufacturers use Menu Foods for some of their processes. I have said this several times today. I have not jumped to conclusions, but have posted only information that I can source. I have been reading information from the Yahoo FelineAsthma and WholeCatHealth lists, including emails members have received from some companies not on the list. I've read all the information from the one good source of much of this information, Howl911, and the information they have gathered. The email I posted earlier by Pet Food Express is a list of foods noted by a highly reputable store in San Francisco.

If you read the posting from Pet Food Express, you will see that the information Aylana posted is the same as what is on Pet Food Express (see the Breeder's Choice entry) site, but the lists have been melded together. Hence the reason why I posted what I did. I have not been panicked by the media, because frankly, they haven't really been reporting on this. I'm sorry if I offended.

Have a great night.

Guest

I think everyone has valid points here. Let me just tell you I am a veterinary nurse, and while everyone may have one part of the story, there are only A FEW reliable sources that have the whole story.

These are the FDA and the USDA. I'm not saying they are saints, but the internet has gazillions of websites so it's impossible to find the truth in all those areas.

Bottom line: let's not fight, let's go to the FDA and get the real story. ALSO please read the article "WHAT'S REALLY IN PET FOOD" - by API. They cite good sources and it's excellent info for pet owners. :)

Concerned Cosumer

This is what Elderta said "

Alyana, you've gotten the lists mixed up :(

They DO produce these foods or aspects of them:

* IAMS/Eukanuba

* Science Diet

* Nutro/Nutro Ultra

* Newman's Own Organics.

They DO NOT produce these foods, though they do produce one portion of one product:

* Canidae/Felidae

* Natural Balance

* Breeder's Choice/Pinnacle (except for Chicken and Oats formula which is made by Menu).

* Triumph/Evolve

* Merrick"

Eldarta, please get your facts straight before you engage in discussion like this. Since you have absolutely no clue what Menu makes, it would be wise to find out before you continue to spread misinformation.

When you finally manage to obtain the huuuuuge list of products that Menu manufactures, you will realize that 3/4 of the brands that are on the shelves are made by this company.

As well, before you contribute to the mass hysteria, understand that many products made for human consumption have been recalled by the FDA many many years after being on the shelf.

1) If you recall there have been many recalls by Pharmaceutical companies of drugs which have been used for years and are later found to be linked to human deaths or illness.

Finding a direct correlation between a death and a specific product is a complicated task. There is much more involved than simply jumping to conclusions. Animal and human health can be impacted by not only the food we eat, but also by the people or animals we come into contact with. IF someone died from lung cancer is the sole cause cigarettes or can it also be related to other environmental causes.

All I am saying is that we have a responsibility here to think and to act on information, by spreading details we are unsure of and by disseminating "untruths" we are contributing to mass hysteria.

For all, please exercise some sanity before jumping to irrational conclusions.

Elderta

And by the way, Natural Balance doesn't produce cuts and gravys foods. I have tried all of their products, and none are this type.

Elderta

OK, Aylana, but I feed my cat Natural Balance, and they are not produced by Menu Foods. That, I know for a fact, too. What is your source? Please?

SAndy and Tammy, I really do not think people are overreacting. The company has known since Feb. 27th that animals were dying. They did not recall products until Marcy 16, on a Friday. Overreacting? I really don't think so. But of course, I could be wrong.

Tammy

People!! Take it easy! It's only cuts in gravy, not pate. There is a reason there is a recall - because they have identified a heath and safety issue. Be thankful!! Do you think this company meant to do this? Honestly, some people get totally absorbed by the press.

Sandy

Apparently Menu Foods actually manufactures more products than you think and have obviously done so for many many years without incident. I work in the pet treats market and have been told that they manufacture most canned foods in grocery and pet food stores, even the organic and healthy brands. This appears to be a supplier related incident and this is the first issue we have heard of. I am just glad they did the recall, precautionary or not. Did they have any other choice? They have a good reputation as far as I know. Everyone seems to be over-reacting and the media is hurting this more than anything.