4/26/07

Dog Food Recall Extends to Dry Food & Biscuits




For more on Dog Food Discussion, FDA Recall List and the Barf Dog Food Diet, please click here. Dog Food & Nutrition Explained
For the most current list of brands updated daily:

The Pet Food Recall has been extended to Dry Foods and Dog Biscuits. While The Diva Dog doesn't offer any of these products we want to ensure your pup's health with the latest information.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Meta, MO -- April 26, 2007 -- Because of the canned pet food recall initiated today by American Nutrition Inc., Diamond Pet Foods has announced it is withdrawing a limited number of canned products manufactured by American Nutrition. This action is limited to three specific canned products: Diamond Lamb & Rice Formula for Dogs 13 oz. cans, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Kitten Formula 5.5 oz. cans, and Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Puppy Formula 13 oz. cans.

Diamond Pet Foods is taking this voluntary action after learning the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed rice protein concentrate used by American Nutrition contained melamine, a substance not approved for use in food.

No other Diamond brand or Chicken Soup brand canned or dry pet food formulas are affected by the American Nutrition recall.

Diamond Pet Foods has not received any indication of quality or safety issues, including pet illness, with the three withdrawn products. However, because American Nutrition informed the company that these three specific products may include rice protein concentrate, Diamond Pet Foods felt this action was necessary for the protection of its customers and their pets.

It should be noted that the products being withdrawn were not formulated or labeled to contain rice protein concentrate. While the FDA is investigating this, current information indicates this error is a result of a manufacturing deviation by American Nutrition.


Among the brands unaffected are all Purina dry dog and cat foods, Mars Petcare brand, Newman's Own organics, and Eagle Pack pet foods. But while these haven't been an issue, please watch for symptoms!


Canned and Dry Dog Food
Dog Biscuits/Treats

For the most current listing provided by the FDA, www.FDA.gov




Pet Food Recall Extended to Dry Food

Pet food processor Menu Foods has expanded its recall to include more varieties of food, while another manufacturer Sunshine Mills is recalling more than 20 dog biscuit brands sold by Wal-Mart.

As the recall expands, the Food and Drug Administration struggles to deal with a growing number of consumer complaints, along with a call to investigate pet food on a national scale.

The FDA has received 12,000 complaints about contaminated pet food in the last three weeks - double the number of complaints it received in a single year for all other products combined.

It is trying to quell concern by pointing out that the recalled pet food makes up only 1 percent of the total number of products in the pet food industry, but that hasn't stopped pet owners from flooding veterinarians' offices.


At Banfield, the largest chain of animal hospitals in the world, worried pet owners have kept offices packed for weeks.
"I was pretty concerned," said pet owner Julie Day, "and I really watched him closely. When he wasn't feeling well, I brought him in right away."


FDA: Safe Food Still Available
The FDA asserted that while this might represent one of the largest pet food recalls in history, there were still "plenty of pet food products available to consumers."
There's no centralized government reporting system that tracks pet illnesses like there is for humans - that's one reason it's hard to get a handle on the number of pet deaths. While some have speculated there may be thousands, the FDA is only confirming 15. The FDA relies on private veterinarians like Banfield's Anna Knochel to track sickened animals.


"Mostly we've been seeing pets that have some lethargy, maybe they've been drinking or urinating more," Knochel said. "We're getting a lot of questions, a lot of calls. Definitely the girls up front are taking a lot of calls from concerned pet owners."


The FDA says 99 percent of all pet food is still safe. Among the brands unaffected are all Purina dry dog and cat foods, Mars Petcare brand, Newman's Own organics, Diamond pet foods and Eagle Pack pet foods.

For the most current listing provided by the FDA, click here.


Canned and Dry Dog Food
Dog Biscuits/Treats


Sunshine Mills, Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Certain Branded and Private Label Branded Dog Biscuits

As a precautionary measure, Sunshine Mills, Inc. ("Sunshine"), a branded and private-label pet food manufacturer based in Red Bay, Alabama, is voluntarily recalling a portion of its branded dog biscuits made at its Red Bay, Alabama biscuit plant during part of March 2007. These brands include: Nurture Chicken & Rice, Nurture Lamb & Rice, Pet Life Large, Pet Life Extra Large, Pet Life Large Variety, Pet Life Large Peanut Butter, Lassie Lamb and Rice, and Pet Life People Pleasers Dog Treats. Private label biscuits for five of Sunshine's customers were also affected. A complete list of affected biscuit brands, sizes, and codes is available below or at our website, www.sunshinemills.com. Sunshine's other biscuit brands and products that include small and medium sized biscuits were not affected. It is also important to note that dry dog and cat food and soft and chewy treats for dogs or cats manufactured by Sunshine are not affected and not included in this recall.

The company is taking this voluntary action of recalling the dog biscuits listed below after learning from the FDA that wheat gluten supplied to Sunshine from a specific manufacturing facility in China contained melamine. Melamine is a substance not approved for use in food. The FDA made this finding as part of its ongoing investigation into the recent pet food recall.

The recalled dog biscuits are marketed nationwide by many pet food retailers including the mass channel, traditional grocery, and pet specialty stores. No dog illnesses or deaths have been reported to date in connection with these dog biscuits. The recalled dog biscuits contain one percent or less by weight of wheat gluten.

Consumers should immediately stop feeding their dog the dog biscuits with the specified date codes and consult with a veterinarian if they have any health concerns with their dog.

Sunshine's products are 100% guaranteed. Consumers may receive the full replacement value of the recalled dog biscuits by returning them to the place of purchase or consumers may contact Sunshine's customer service number at (800) 705-2111 for further information about the recall and for other instructions on obtaining a product refund.