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Diamond Pet Food Withdraws Products in Response to American Nutrition Inc. Pet Food Recall

Contact:
Diamond Pet Food Media Hotline
(888) 207-6208

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Diamond Pet Foods has not received any indication of quality or safety issues, including pet illness, with the three withdrawn products.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It should be noted that the products being withdrawn were not formulated or labeled to contain rice protein concentrate.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.

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FDA's Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts Page: http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html

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Chenango Valley Pet Foods Issues Voluntarily Nationwide Recall of Certain Pet Foods

Contact:
Dennis J. Bobita
(610) 821-0608

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- April 26, 2007 -- Chenango Valley Pet Foods is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and voluntarily recalling pet foods manufactured with a certain shipment of rice protein concentrate. The company was informed by Wilbur-Ellis that the rice protein concentrate shipped to Chenango Valley Pet Foods may be contaminated with melamine, and instructed Chenango Valley Pet Foods to recall any pet foods manufactured with the rice protein concentrate. Melamine is an industrial chemical used to make plastics and fertilizers that may lead to illness or fatalities in animals if consumed.

The pet foods were sold to customers in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, who further sold the products to their customers through catalog mail-orders or retail outlets.

Only the following dry pet foods are involved in the recall:

DOCTORS FOSTER & SMITH CHICKEN & BROWN RICE FORMULA ADULT LITE DOG FOOD, NET WT. 5 LBS., 12.5 LBS, and 25 LBS; Code dates: Best Used By Jan 24, 09; Best Used By Feb 8, 09; Best Used By Feb 26, 09; Best Used By April 10, 09; Best Used By April 17, 09;

DOCTORS FOSTER & SMITH CHICKEN & BROWN RICE FORMULA ADULT LITE CAT FOOD, NET WT. 3 LBS. and 7 LBS.; Code date: Best Used By March 13, 09;

LICK YOUR CHOPS LAMB MEAL, RICE & EGG CAT FOOD, 4 LBS. packages,
Code date: Best Used By April 29, 08;

Bulk CHICKEN & BROWN RICE FORMULA ADULT LITE DOG FOOD sold to one consignee (SmartPak) in a 2000 lbs. tote, Ship date: Feb 9, 2007.

No illnesses or injuries have been reported to date.

Pet owners who purchased the pet foods should immediately discontinue using the products and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Pet owners should consult with a veterinarian if they have any health concerns with their pet. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-610-821-0608.

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FDA's Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts Page: http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html

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This whole issue really makes me and .

Just for the record.

When the whole thing first came out, I never thought it would go on and on like this! I was thinking more along the lines of the (human) spinach deal, revealed, then over. Hopefully, they will eventually reveal all and then this can be over too...I cannot help but wonder how this recall came about, kidney failure in dogs...MoJo did eat Chicken Soup...how long did this go unrecognized prior to people finally really speaking out!!! Whatever, it is what it is and I just really feel for people out there who are clueless and don't even stay up to date on what is happening with this recall information. I feel so sad and bad for the dogs/cats, eating day after day, junk of poison junk!!!

Wow... this is why I don't EVER feed commercial dog foods to my own dogs.

Frankly I don't care how great and "natural" and "human-grade" a kibble is claimed to be. In the end you have to take the company's word for it and none of it is regulated (clearly in this case these foods included rice protein concentrate but the makers didn't bother listing that on the label...)

How hard is it to make your own pet's food?
Anyone who feeds commercial dog foods (whatever the brand) is relying solely on the integrity and honesty of the company - there's no control there and you're kidding yourself if you think you know for sure what's going into those foods.

It's foolish and risky and I would never do that to my own dogs. They're too important to me.

Oh man...I fed True dry and CANNED Chicken Soup for puppies.

Damn it! Should I get his blood tested? He's completely healthy so far as I can see but now I am feeling afraid. And I just reccommended this food and Innova to someone who asked about "safe" manufacturers.

It is VERY maddening!!!

What is NOT being addressed is what the pet food companies are doing about it, besides recalling the food. What are their plans for future food? Again, what the heck are they doing about it. Will they continue to import crap from China? Will they eliminate any of the "glutens", etc from future batches? Are the CEOs and staff in China checking their facilities? (I think not.) And if they're not checking the facilities that exported or produced this junk, how will they guarantee that it won't happen again, and again no one will know until other sudden deaths and illnesses are reported. Which we found out was much after the fact, as were the recalls of hundreds of foods.

Recalling is one thing, and only one thing. What are their plans. Inquiring, and SUSPICIOUS, minds want to know. Why is THIS most important detail being left out of all reports???

I hope these dog food companies lose all profits for the next several years. Since their primary goal was greed by importing unchecked, unmonitored junk, let the loss of profit be their punishment.

Sarah, I would get the BUN level checked, if nothing than for your peace of mind.

 Quote: Yuko Blum

It's foolish and risky and I would never do that to my own dogs. They're too important to me.

Poor old 80-something-year-old Mrs. Jones down the street thinks her dog is the most important thing to her too, so she feeds it what she feels is the best. And where does she find out what is the best? From her vet or from advertising. I’m sure she would consider raw or semi-raw or THK if she were exposed to it as much as to kibble, but, the bottom line is, many, many, many people do not have the tools by which we gather all of our information, so the blame does not rest entirely on them for continuing to feed what is comfortable, economical and, for the most part, recommended by veterinarians and dog breeders. Also, she trusts the dog food companies to do right by her dog.

Instead of criticizing people who still feed kibble, I think our energies should focus on making these companies accountable for what they have or have not done, and push for legislation that governs each and every aspect of the finished dog food product – from ingredients to supplements to processing to marketing.

I am a raw feeder, and I do everything I can to convert my friends and family, but sometimes, you know that it just ain’t gonna happen. But, then again, my family is important to me and it’s too foolish and risky to continue to belittle them for feeding kibble…

I think I will, Sandy. My gut tells me he's fine but I really want to cry right now thinking I could have done something to harm him...

As to your point above I agree 100%. I've been asking myself the same question for some time now.

 Quote: sarah_morris

And I just reccommended this food and Innova to someone who asked about "safe" manufacturers.

 Quote: Sandy Moore

What is NOT being addressed is what the pet food companies are doing about it, besides recalling the food. What are their plans for future food?

Let's face it...the only way to be confident in your food source is to raise your own food for your dogs. Barring that, feeding raw human grade ingredients is the next safest option.

However, the majority of clients (and friends and family) that I have do not feel confident to do raw. SO...the next best option, if they must feed kibble, is to feed a quality kibble like THK, or Innova.

I didn't have as much luck with THK though and the various reasons given to me by people: the expense, unavailablity or shipping costs or the need for rehydration (yes, people are really lazy).

Innova was the kibble my dogs were eating before I went fully raw...and I HAVE been able to switch people off of Science Diet and Yuk-anuba to Innova. I think this better than what they were feeding, no doubt.

I do have confidence in Innova, more so than the other bizarre mass-market brands. Here is Natura Pet's (the makers of Innova, California Natural, Mother Nature and Karma brands) video response from the co-owner of the company regarding the recall and the steps they are taking to ensure quality control, now and in the future. For the record, Innova is not involved in the pet food recall.

http://www.naturapetcare.com/

Again, raw is the best answer...but for those people who won't do it...it is important that we keep an eye out for something to suggest to people that is at least better than the mass produced, China-affiliated crap that has glutted the market forever.

Just my two shiny pennies.
http://www.

Jan, you're absolutely right.

It wasn't my intention to belittle the poor dog owners who are simply uninformed about the food choices.

I have been working my butt off lately to help out as many dog owners as I can around here. Many have been switching from kibble to kibble lately. They're just completely lost and confused about what to feed and I really feel for them.

I spend hours of my time with anyone who wants to learn more about raw, I explain everything I can about the benefits, I give them pages of excellent reading, all my meat sources, I even share all the free sources I have (not in my personal best interest, since I'd be losing out for every person who decides to take part in the local limited supply of freebies).
I even give out menus and free samples of my own RMB's and muscle meats to people who are still undecided.

These people no longer have the excuse of being uninformed. They have the resources and reading material to switch to raw, they have excellent quality and very cheap meat suppliers within a few minutes drive, I teach them how to balance meals, and yet some of them still decide that "kibble is best because it's more balanced".

There's a lady that lives two streets away from me with 2 cats and a young dog. She used to feed two of the recalled brands of kibble to her cats and dog (Purina and Hills). She didn't even know about the recall until I told her. I helped her find the recalled lists and she was genuinely worried and interested in preparing her own pet food (her pets are her life, she really loves them).
I spent hours of my time and effort teaching her about raw feeding (or at least home-cooked feeding until she was comfortable going with raw).
She even started calling me just about every day to get help on preparing the raw meals and accepted several RMB samples from me.
She even started seeing very positive results from the switch to raw in her young shepherd mix who suddenly wasn't itching as much and whose ears were starting to clear up for the first time in his life.

I hadn't heard from her in a few weeks and was happy to think that I'd switched another pet owner to raw feeding and improved one more dog's life.

Well, I got a call from her last night. Turns out she decided that feeding raw (whole prey model) wasn't vitamin and mineral balanced ("like it says is so important on the Hill's kibble label") so she decided to switch her pets back to their original food ("because they didn't get sick from eating it so it must be fine").

One of her cats died of kidney failure two days ago and the other one is sick and stopped eating (he's now hospitalized).
The dog seems fine for now, but apparently some tests at the vet revealed initial signs of minor kidney damage. The vet immediately recommended that the dog be switched to a special medical formula of Science Diet (that she happens to sell in her practice) to help his kidneys.

I insisted during that phone call to the lady that she get the bag of Science Diet's special kidney formula (or whatever it's called) and that she read to me the ingredients on the label right then and there.
It's disgusting crap (and HUGELY expensive - it's costing her 20 times what raw feeding would cost). Corn, rice protein extracts and brewer's rice (I believe) were the top 3 ingredients; the only meat ingredient was chicken meal and chicken by-product meal on the 4th and 6th position on the ingredient list...
There were at least 2 types of gluten within the top 10 ingredients and the ""food"" (using the term loosely here) was packed with fillers, preservatives and artificial flavor/color chemicals.

She said "I know you explained to me why a fresh meat-based diet is good for dogs (and cats), but this special formula will be healthier for my dog now that he's sick - the protein and minerals are specially designed and balanced to keep his kidneys healthy. I can't do that with home-prepared meals"...

I don't know if I should cry or scream at this point. The dog is a young shepherd mix (only a year old). He's already developed an ear infection since being switched to this Science diet crap and was put on antibiotics. His itching has also gotten a lot worse since she stopped the raw diet and the vet is recommending steroids for that in addition to the antibiotics and the kidney medications. I just want to cry for that poor dog; if this isn't abuse, I don't know what is!!

I agree with all of you that the pet-feeding industry NEEDS to be regulated. This self-policing is pathetic and ridiculous.

However, animal feed is never going to be regulated as stringently as the human food supply. This is only normal.

I realize that some people are profoundly stupid and brainwashed and need more help than others, but I get so frustrated with these pet owners who just have their heads stuck in the sand on the topic DESPITE RECEIVING THE INFORMATION THEY NEED.
They don't have the "I didn't know better" excuse anymore - now they're just being neglectful idiots.

I apologize for coming off so angry in my previous post. I didn't mean to offend anyone, I know that many people care for their dogs and want the best for them.

Some people however are far too stupid and/or lazy to deserve owning a dog. There's just no excuse. Words (such as "I care for my pets") are cheap and don't mean a thing if these people aren't willing to feed their pets properly at very little extra cost or time.

Fortunately, I have managed to convince many pet owners to switch to raw for good and they are all seeing wonderful benefits in their dogs. I guess that should be worth some of the inevitable frustrations that pop up when you try to educate people and undo years of brainwashing...