“The emotional toll from the tainted pet food drama of 2007 may linger, but a major legal chapter of the story appears to be closed.
A U.S. district court in October granted final approval of a $24 million settlement to pay economic damages to the owners of cats and dogs that ate pet food containing melamine-contaminated ingredients from China, according to published reports.
People who filed appropriate paperwork by the late November 2008 deadline were eligible to receive cash payments equal to up to 100 percent of reasonable expenses associated with their purchase or their pet’s consumption of the recalled pet food.
Under the settlement, valid expenses include food purchases, veterinary care, necropsy costs, cremation or burial, the purchase price or fair market value of a pet that died or of a new pet.”
[January 2009 PET AGE]
Solid Gold Voluntary Product Withdrawal - Turkey, Ocean Fish, Carrot, & Sweet Potatoes Formula
Turkey, Ocean Fish, Carrot, & Sweet Potatoes Formula Canned Dog Food
13.2 oz
Cans – POP-TOP CANS ONLY WITH A ‘USE BY DATE 01/02/2010′ located on the bottom of can
A limited production of this Turkey canned food was made with the POP-TOP, and none of the product was distributed in any of the following states:
Arizona, California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Hawaii, or Alaska.
Solid Gold has received several complaints regarding mold found in a batch of 13.2 oz canned Turkey, Ocean Fish, Carrot, & Sweet Potatoes Formula, with Pop-Tops. As a precautionary measure, they ask that you return any of this product with the ‘Use By Date 01/02/2010′; you will find these numbers on the bottom of the cans.
* 13.2 oz Turkey and Ocean Fish Canned Dog Food.
* Purple label with a POP –TOP (Pull top) only..
* Date on bottom of can 01/02/2010
* Turkey and Ocean Fish cans without a Pop-Top are not affected.
From an unknown writer:
“I rescued a human today.
Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering Apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.
I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think
poorly of them.
As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life.
She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her.
Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms.
I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor.
So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors.
So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.
I rescued a human today.”
Many Thanks Giving to all!
Solid Gold has informed us of a mold issue with Tiny Tots with a best Buy date of April 2009 Batch number 035812
MOLDY Tiny Tots- We have received several calls from distributors/customers who have found mold in a hand full of Tiny Tot bags. As a matter of precaution Solid Gold is taking them back. Check on the bottom or back of the bag with a best buy date of April 2009 (batch 035812). All other treats are okay.
We have NOT sold or received any of this batch in Sirius Cooks store, but please check your products (and your friends Tiny Tots). The store of purchase will take them back.
Mars Petcare US Issues Voluntary Recall of Everson, PA Plant Dry Pet Food Product due to Potential Salmonella Contamination
Mars Petcare US Announces Nationwide Voluntary Recall
Franklin, Tennessee (September 12, 2008)—Today, Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall of products manufactured at its Everson, Pennsylvania facility. The pet food is being voluntarily recalled because of potential contamination with Salmonella serotype Schwarzengrund. This voluntary recall only affects the United States.
Salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, if there is cross contamination caused by handling of the pet food, in people as well, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems. Healthy people potentially infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. On rare occasions, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Animals can be carriers with no visible symptoms and can potentially infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
The company stopped production at the Everson facility on July 29, 2008 when it was alerted of a possible link between dry pet food produced at the plant and two isolated cases of people infected with Salmonella Schwarzengrund.
Even though no direct link between product produced at Everson and human or pet illness has been made, Mars Petcare US is taking precautionary action to protect pets and their owners by announcing a voluntary recall of all products produced at the Everson facility beginning February 18, 2008 until July 29, 2008 when we stopped production.
The company is continuing to work collaboratively with the FDA to determine the nature and source of Salmonella Schwarzengrund at the Everson facility. Since it has not yet identified the source of the Salmonella Schwarzengrund at the Everson facility, Mars Petcare US does not plan to resume production out of a commitment to the safety of our pet owners and their pets, customers, and associates.
The top priority of Mars Petcare US has always been and continues to be the health and welfare of pets and their owners. Consumers can continue to have confidence in the quality and safety of the products produced at other Mars Petcare US facilities. Only those products which were produced at the Everson facility are impacted by the voluntary recall.
Many of the brands involved in the recall are national brands produced at multiple facilities. A chart for all products is below. For example, PEDIGREE® is manufactured in numerous facilities throughout the country, and Everson represents a very small portion of the manufacturing base – 2.7 percent of total PEDIGREE® production.
Mars Petcare US will work with retail customers to ensure that the recalled products are not on store shelves. These products should not be sold or fed to pets. In the event that consumers believe they have purchased products affected by this voluntary recall, they should return the product to the store where they purchased it for a full refund. Specific product details and other information can be found at www.petcare.mars.com
Please find recalled pet food UPC information at www.petcare.mars.com. It includes Pedigree, Old Roy, Wegmans and others produced by the Mars corporation.
09/10/2008
High levels of zinc and copper found in Nutro products?
The Pet Food Product Safety Alliance had private testing done on samples of Nutro Natural Choice Chicken Meal, Rice and Oatmeal Formula, and Nutro Max Puppy, according to SunSentinel.com, in response to consumer complaints reported by Consumer Affairs. The Pet Food Product Safety Alliance was started by Don Earl of Port Townsend, Washington, USA who lost his cat during last year’s recalls.
The alliance says levels of copper - which can cause health problems in some dog breeds, according to research - were found in both foods that were above levels recommended by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). The alliance also questioned the food’s zinc content. While the amounts fell within AAFCO’s guidelines, those amounts are 10 times higher than what would be recommend for human adults, based on body weight. The symptoms of zinc toxicity “are consistent with the majority of those reported by consumers suspecting problems believed to be associated with feeding Nutro dry dog food,” according to the alliance.
Link to original story:
http://petfoodindustry.com/ViewContent.aspx?id=22724
Comments from the Pet Food Products Safety Alliance
http://www.pfpsa.org/news.html
Article on Canine Zinc Toxicosis
http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk/Hardy/
There is a toy, made by Four Paws that has hurt some dogs. Beware of giving this toy … or ANY toy that doesn’t have any hole in it. Without a hole, biting into it makes a vaccuum.
For the safety of your pet, and gift-giving for others:
Chai’s story and to read the updates on his, and others, stories.
So we made it to the big time. Our local paper, The Wednesday Journal, had a small bit on Sirius Cooks and a turtle.
You can read about it here.
If you have read Bark magazine’s August issue (the Nutrition area), the regular dog food manufacturers and AAFCO (the federal mediator within each state agricultural department that determines labeling for dog food) have decided that putting calories on dog and cat food and treat labels is unnecessary.
Sirius Cooks will always list the kcals on each of our home-made Sirius Suppers™. It helps a responsible “feeder” to know, not only WHAT is in the food, but how much to give. An overweight dog is not a healthy dog. It will affect the joints and hips in the future. Please don’t give too many treats. Your dog and cat will be healthier for it.
Fireflydog has a very good description and breakdown of amounts of calories for your dog.
and
Chris Zinc, DVM, PhD has also listed calories:
Dog’s Weight (in pounds) Inactive Moderately Active Highly Active
10 234 303 441
20 373 483 702
30 489 633 921
40 593 768 1117
50 689 892 1297
60 779 1008 1466
70 863 1117 1625
80 944 1222 1777
90 1022 1322 1923
100 1097 1419 2064
Figures represent the average number of calories required daily to maintain
the dog’s weight. The figures include calories from all sources during a
given day, including treats and snacks.
Court says petfood research not public
The Iams Company’s records from seven years of petfood research conducted at Mississippi State University are not public documents, the state Supreme Court has recently ruled. In 2006, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sued Mississippi State University, alleging that the school violated the Mississippi Public Records Act by denying the animal rights group access to records of dental experiments and other tests on animals conducted since 1999 by Iams.
Iams had argued that the experiments were the company’s intellectual property. The company also said it had made substantial investment at Mississippi State to develop and protect that property. PETA responded by saying it didn’t want trade secrets and that the organization only wanted to know what happened to the animals at Mississippi State. PETA also claimed that the university wanted an advance fee of US$40,497 for the documents it requested. When it reduced the number of pages asked for, PETA said MSU told them that only 19 of the requested pages would be sent and the cost would be US$1,000. According to court documents, the university claimed the remaining pages contained proprietary information.
In a 2006 ruling, it was determined that the type and number of animals used in an experiment, whether surgery will be performed and information related to animals’ pain and discomfort did not qualify as trade secrets. In a ruling in June 2008, however, the Supreme Court rejected PETA’s arguments.
“PETA failed to rebut the evidence presented by MSU and Iams that the data and information requested in the subject records constituted trade secrets and/or confidential commercial and financial information of a proprietary nature developed by MSU under contract with Iams,” Justice Michael Randolph wrote in his majority opinion. “Therefore, this court finds that the data and information requested by PETA is exempted from the provisions of the Mississippi Public Records Act.”