Orphan Comment: Recall of Pounce Meaty Morsels Moist Chicken Flavor Cat Treats
Tuesday April 3, 2007
A reader posted (under the Cat Breed of the Week blog entry):
I am surprised that there still is no mention of the Del Monte recall on this site. The recall of March 31st includes one variety of Pounce! I know that you want to cover more than the recall on your site (and we love you for it!) but it's important to keep us up-to-date on the major recalls. I consider this a major recall considering elsewhere on your site (in the dry foods article), you indicate that Del Monte has not been affected by the recall. I hope you will include an update soon. Thank you.
Yes, you are correct. I did not see the DelMonte recall of Pounce until very recently.
For the record then: On March31st, Del Monte announced the recall of Pounce, along with other dog snacks. Their press release says in part: "As a precautionary measure, Del Monte Pet Products is voluntarily recalling select product codes of certain products sold under the Jerky Treats®, Gravy Train® Beef Sticks and Pounce Meaty Morsels® brands as well as select dog snack and wet dog food products sold under private label brands.
The Company took this voluntary recall action immediately after learning this morning from the FDA that wheat gluten supplied to Del Monte Pet Products 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." It goes on to say: "No other Del Monte Pet Products treats, biscuits or wet dog food products are impacted by this recall, and no Del Monte dry cat food, dry dog food, wet cat food or pouched pet foods are subject to this voluntary recall. The affected products comprise less than one-tenth of one percent of Del Monte Pet Products' annual pet food and pet treat production."
It is interesting that the announcement refers to "a specific manufacturing facility in China." This, of course, begs the question of whether the products recalled were also manufactured by Menu Foods - information that was not volunteered. It is noted that Pounce is not included on the Menu Foods list, which remains the same since March 16th.
I'd like to address this sentence: "I consider this a major recall considering elsewhere on your site (in the dry foods article), you indicate that Del Monte has not been affected by the recall." The comment in my list of dry foods not containing wheat gluten was exactly: "Del Monte's offers this disclaimer that it is not connected in any way with the Menu Foods recall." That comment was linked to Del Monte's disclaimer which said exactly that. Sometime during or after the Del Monte recall, that disclaimer page was apparently pulled from its site. I try to stay up to date as much as possible, but I can't possibly stay up to the minute. I'm working right now on adding a number of foods to the dry food list, and I'll correct the Del Monte information along the way.
Thanks to you and my other readers for staying on top of things for me.
I am surprised that there still is no mention of the Del Monte recall on this site. The recall of March 31st includes one variety of Pounce! I know that you want to cover more than the recall on your site (and we love you for it!) but it's important to keep us up-to-date on the major recalls. I consider this a major recall considering elsewhere on your site (in the dry foods article), you indicate that Del Monte has not been affected by the recall. I hope you will include an update soon. Thank you.
Yes, you are correct. I did not see the DelMonte recall of Pounce until very recently.
For the record then: On March31st, Del Monte announced the recall of Pounce, along with other dog snacks. Their press release says in part: "As a precautionary measure, Del Monte Pet Products is voluntarily recalling select product codes of certain products sold under the Jerky Treats®, Gravy Train® Beef Sticks and Pounce Meaty Morsels® brands as well as select dog snack and wet dog food products sold under private label brands.
The Company took this voluntary recall action immediately after learning this morning from the FDA that wheat gluten supplied to Del Monte Pet Products 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." It goes on to say: "No other Del Monte Pet Products treats, biscuits or wet dog food products are impacted by this recall, and no Del Monte dry cat food, dry dog food, wet cat food or pouched pet foods are subject to this voluntary recall. The affected products comprise less than one-tenth of one percent of Del Monte Pet Products' annual pet food and pet treat production."
It is interesting that the announcement refers to "a specific manufacturing facility in China." This, of course, begs the question of whether the products recalled were also manufactured by Menu Foods - information that was not volunteered. It is noted that Pounce is not included on the Menu Foods list, which remains the same since March 16th.
I'd like to address this sentence: "I consider this a major recall considering elsewhere on your site (in the dry foods article), you indicate that Del Monte has not been affected by the recall." The comment in my list of dry foods not containing wheat gluten was exactly: "Del Monte's offers this disclaimer that it is not connected in any way with the Menu Foods recall." That comment was linked to Del Monte's disclaimer which said exactly that. Sometime during or after the Del Monte recall, that disclaimer page was apparently pulled from its site. I try to stay up to date as much as possible, but I can't possibly stay up to the minute. I'm working right now on adding a number of foods to the dry food list, and I'll correct the Del Monte information along the way.
Thanks to you and my other readers for staying on top of things for me.
Comments
I am about to LOSE it! Here is a letter that I’m sending to several pet food manufacturers stating how incensed I am with this whole pet food recall. I have been nursing a sick cat, age 10, for months now, and have come to the realization that, in fact, what I have been feeding him is just the thing that is making him sick! I have 4 dogs and 9 cats (my own small animal shelter) so I spend hundreds of dollars per month on dry and moist cat food, and dry and moist dog food.
I don’t give a flip if none of these cans were part of the recall…I do not want any food with gravy, wheat gluten-melamine in my household ever! I am asking for a refund for each of these products…if you chose not to do so, that is on your conscience.
Please do not put these items back in circulation to possibly sicken any other unfortunate animals.
Anyway, I just wanted to share that letter with you. I’m in tears right now because my cat has lost almost 5 pounds and throws up everything he eats. I am so tired of seeing him suffer. He has been to the vet several times in the last month and I will take him again this week to try to get this under control. In the meantime, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO TRY TO FEED HIM ANYMORE!
>>>I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO TRY TO FEED HIM ANYMORE!<<<
Renee, I am so sorry about your troubles with your cat. Since so many other posters are asking what they can feed their cats, I've completely updated my lists of top picks for cat foods. They are: Dry Foods for Adult Cats, Dry Foods for Kittens, Canned Foods for Adult Cats, , and Canned Foods for Kittens. NONE of these products contain wheat gluten, the tainted ingredient named in the recalled foods. In addition, I’ve posted a larger list of dry cat foods that do not contain wheat gluten (including grocery store foods that are not among my own choices).
I hope this will help somewhat with your quandry.
Franny Syufy
Pets are a big part of our population as our family members and as major marketed consumers. I believe that it is time for our governement to allow pet owners tax deductions on their yearly taxes. Claiming pets as deductions is the same as claiming children to a certain extent of course. There is much more information I can provide as I have done my research on this subject and intend to forward it to my congressman. I would appreciate your feedback.
Thank you
concerned pet owner
First i’d like to sympathize w/ Renee. I have nothing but love for those that take care of, or rescue strays, or have/provide shelter (no matter how small) to animals. You are trying to help & care for these animals, which is enough in it self, without having to now worry about & manage health problems which should have never happened in the first place.
My boyfriend & i take care of several strays- we feed them dry & wet food several times a day, along with special “treats” once in a while of chicken or other meat from our dinner (we cook extra & put it aside). My boyfriend built them a huge insulated shelter, & we take them to the vet if we notice something wrong, or a sniffle or cough. It’s very expnsive (as we have our own 2 cats as well), so we can only afford to feed them the store brand food (unless the other stuff is on sale).
As we all know, Menu Foods is the big supplier for these store brand foods. When i first heard of the recall my legs went numb & my heart fell to the floor. when i saw that although our indoor cats’ food hadn’t been affected, but our poor strays were, i was overcome with fear, panic, anger, & most of all, guilt.
Thankfully, because a “better” (i.e- more $), non-recall-affected food was on sale, and we therefore bought alot of it, the last time we bought the store brand food was dated before the affected date of recalled food. Although i must say, i’m still so scared that it may have still had something harmful in it.
Like all of us i am unbelievably paranoid to feed my cats anything- especially after this additional pounds recall. What in the hell are the conditions surrounding the manufacturing of our pet foods that something like this could happen?
There’s no way to describe the relationship(s) people have with their pet(s)- only we fortunate enough to experience the deep bonds, and unconditional love that animals provide (among many other wonderful gifts), can truley comprehend the magnitude of this tragedy.
We trust these company’s to produce, at the very LEAST, safe food for our beloved pets. And most importantly, our pets trust us to do the same! I mean, come on- if they can’t put the money into making well balanced food with real meats in sufficient amounts (i read the article on the about.cats site), then they can at least manufacture foods that don’t cause kidney failure! i am disgusted, to say the least. my deepest sympathies to all of those- animals & humans- that have been affected. =^..^=
I have seafood medley pounce with a best before date of Nov. 1, 2007 and January 17, 2008. It says on the label it has wheat flour. Is that the same as wheat gluten? Thank you. Sandi McGowan
Hi, I have just learned that I have been “treating” my kitty once in a while with foods on this recall list. I am very upset with this. A treat eh? I am happy i was informed by a family member that this was on the recall. This is absurd.
If This were a human problem there would be no delay and no B.S. about anything. The effects would have had such a devestating consequense for ANY food producer that they would more than likely be out of business and customers immediately.
I actually worked in a pet food store for a number of years, and felt pretty secure in my choices for food and treats when I adopted my own cat. I just realized tonight that there was one type of treat that was recalled that was buried in the Del Monte website, and I did not see that the Pounce treats were recalled. Luckily, I’ve been reading ingredient lists, so I only fed her those treats a couple of days before I panicked at feeding her anything with wheat gluten on the ingredient label. I threw them away to be safe two weeks ago. Now that I see that they are on the recall list, my heart is in my throat. I will be making a vet appointment immediately to be on the safe side.
i would like to know i feed my 3 cats and 2 aussies nutro dry kibble foods only and the web sites say that they have not been affected by this recall i am so afraid my beloved pets are in danger that i am constantly checking …here i thought i was doing one up by providing a higher quality food and low and behold ? i may not be … suggestions are wanted and any ideas on holistic organic type of feeds in cny area thank you all
My kitty has been at the vet for two days now, very sick. Upper respitory infection that seemed to come on him overnight!
(come to find out, he’s been diagnosed with F.I.V. because of a neighbors infected cat that attacked him once when he slipped outside!) He won’t eat or drink anything, and when all else fails the Pounce heart shaped treats could always raise his interest. Does anyone know if Pounce dry cat treats have been recalled? I’ve looked all over the internet and haven’t seen them listed anywhere but with all of the extra recalls here and there, I’m worried about whether they’re safe for him. I just want my sick baby to feel better!