Important US/UK pet food recall

Associated Press (AP) is reporting today a recall by a major cat/dog food manufacturer of some 60 million containers of wet pet food. Some sort of food contamination has caused numerous cases of acute kidney failure and death.

 

Here is the story: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/17/petfood.recall.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories .

The company has published on its web site an information number (1-866-895-2708) about the recall. The company, Menu Foods, produces food sold under many brand names.

Here is - as of today - the cat and dog food brands affected by the recall. Only certain lots of each food from one of two factories are being recalled - as of now:

1. Check the brands you've bought for a match on the lists below.
2. If you bought a brand on these lists, click it and an Excel workbook will open listing the specific lots. The two key columns are the Buy Date and Description 1.
3. Check the individual containers of food for a small line of text printed on the package (see image). This will be either the Buy Date, the Lot number or both.
   
4. If you find a match, do not use that food! In the US Call 1-866-895-2708.
5. Watch for further information on this story. Recalls are often expanded in the days and weeks after the initial event.

Recalled Cat Product Information

    Recall Information 1-866-895-2708

1. Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
2. Authority
3. Best Choice
4. Companion
5. Compliments
6. Demoulas Market Basket
7. Fine Feline Cat, Shep Dog
8. Food Lion
9. Foodtown
10. Giant Companion
11. Good n Meaty
12. Hannaford
13. Hill Country Fare
14. Hy-Vee
15. Key Food
16. Laura Lynn
17. Li'l Red
18. Loving Meals
19. Main Choice
20. Nutriplan
21. Nutro Max Gourmet Classics
22. Nutro Natural Choice
23. Paws
24. Presidents Choice
25. Price Chopper
26. Priority
27. Save-A-Lot
28. Schnucks
29. Sophistacat
30. Special Kitty
31. Springfield Pride
32. Sprout
33. Total Pet, My True Friend
34. Wegmans
35. Western Family
36. White Rose
37. Winn Dixie

Recalled Dog Product Information

    Recall Information 1-866-895-2708

1. Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
2. Authority
3. Award
4. Best Choice
5. Big Bet
6. Big Red
7. Bloom
8. Bruiser
9. Cadillac
10. Companion
11. Demoulas Market Basket
12. Fine Feline Cat, Shep Dog
13. Food Lion
14. Giant Companion
15. Great Choice
16. Hannaford
17. Hill Country Fare
18. Hy-Vee
19. Key Food
20. Laura Lynn
21. Loving Meals
22. Main Choice
23. Mixables
24. Nutriplan
25. Nutro Max
26. Nutro Natural Choice
27. Nutro
28. Ol'Roy
29. Paws
30. Pet Essentials
31. Pet Pride
32. Presidents Choice
33. Price Chopper
34. Priority
35. Publix
36. Roche Bros
37. Save-A-Lot
38. Schnucks
39. Springsfield Pride
40. Sprout
41. Stater Bros
42. Total Pet, My True Friend
43. Western Family
44. White Rose
45. Winn Dixie
46. Your Pet

I very seldom talk here about "off topic" topics, but this is important and a minute or two of effort on your part could prevent a horrible tragedy.

I've verified this is a real story about a real recall and I implore you to take a moment for the sake of your companions to make sure you do not have food covered by this recall. Please check with any of your cat/dog owning friends who may have not heard about this recall.

Comments

[Alicia]

If you're looking for homemade diets, go to Balanceit.com. They have recipes developed by board certified veterinary nutritionists. You can get a FREE recipe by entering the promo-code "homemade" at the checkout.

[Shari Diggins]

Thank you for caring for your pet enough to help him through such a terrible and underserving ordeal. Keep up the good work and I'm sure Simon will be kissing you to show his thankfulness. We DO need better safety FDA approvals for our pets food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bob Walsh]

Donald - I'm really glad Simon pulled through! I don't know what federal oversight, regulation there is of pet foods, but clearly it's not enough.

Document everything. Sue the bastards.

[Donald in DC]

I just spent a roller coaster of a last 8 days with my cat Simon, after taking my cat to the vet after 3 days of not eating, lethargy, and vomiting. Find out that there has been a recall of the Iams food that I was feeding to Simon. He only ate one or two pouches and became super sick. I was told by regular vet that he had severe kidney failure and needed immediate attention by the emergency animal hospital. I then took him to Frendship Hospital for Animals.

His kidney's were enlarged with levels of Creatine and another chemical that were 5 times the normal amount. He was place on an aggressive treatment of IV fluids, received an ultrasound, and blood pressure medicine. On his last night in the hospital, he had somewhat of a seizure where he urinated, defecated, and went berserk. The vet believes it is a residual effect of what has happened to his kidneys.

Many times I was told that he was close to dying and could die overnight. Simon is only 8 years old, and sever renal failure is not common for such a young cat, nor are such high levels

Fortunately, I was able to bring him home today, but need to continue with 3 different medications and a daily IV drip. And will need continue such care for about 3 months.

His total medical bill is about $3,000 so far. I have been on hold for IAMS for over 30 minutes now.