Recalls Expand Almost Daily
By this time, the recalls, which originally consisted only of "wet packet" and canned foods, had expanded to dry foods, including certain varieties of Natural Balance Pet Foods and Blue Buffalo, both considered respected premium foods. In addition to contaminated pet foods, pork intended for human consumption became suspect, because of melamine-laden grain for pigs.
Meanwhile, melamine-tainted corn gluten appeared on the scene in South Africa, where certain Royal Canin brands of dry dog and cat food were found to be contaminated.
Somewhere along the line, it was discovered that a combination of melamine and cyanuric acid was the culprit, at least for cats. A pilot study done at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Toxicology Laboratory, University of California, West Health Science Drive, Davis, CA disclosed that "No effect on renal function was observed in cats fed with melamine or cyanuric acid alone. Cats dosed with a combination were euthanized at 48 hours after dosing because of acute renal failure."
Concerns Arise for Human Food
After some political hardball, Chinese authorities finally allowed USDA investigators entry to locate the factories responsible for the melamine productions. They found that Mao Lijun's plant in Xuzhou, China had been razed by bulldozers at the owner's direction, just days before their arrival. Around the same time, melamine was found in feed for hogs, chickens, and fish raised for human consumption. Citizens who may have been apathetic about the pet food recalls suddenly became worried when their own food sources appeared threatened, although the FDA steadfastly denied that melamine posed any harm to humans.Where Do We Stand a Year Later?
In September of 2007, the FDA Amendments Act of 2007 was passed. In addition to a number of pharmaceutical measures, the law beefs up certain areas of pet food control:
- Food companies are subject to penalties for the failure to report food contamination within 24 hours.
- The FDA is required to make more detailed reports to Congress regarding food inspections.
- The FDA is to maintain a searchable, more user-friendly recall list on its web site.
The new amendments are a start, but much more needs to be done to regain consumer confidence in commercial pet food. Additional funding for the FDA to implement these programs is critical.
Federal Indictments Issued Against ChemNutra Inc.
In February, 2008, a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. issued several indictments for the purposeful contamination of pet food ingredients with melamine. In the United States, ChemNutra, Inc., its owners Sally Qing Miller and her husband, Stephen S. Miller, were charged in 27-count indictment.
A separate indictment charged 26 counts against Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co., LTD. (XAC), a Chinese firm that exported the melamine-tainted wheat gluten; Mao Linzhun, the Chinese national owner and manager of XAC; Suzhou Textiles, Silk, Light Industrial Products, Arts and Crafts I/E Co. LTD. (SSC), a Chinese export broker that exports products from China to the United States; and Chen Zhen Hao, president of SSC and a Chinese national.
Have We Regained Trust in the Pet Food Industry?
From comments I've read in my forum, my blog, and elsewhere on the Internet, I'd say the response is a qualified "no." Certainly, we will never regain the complacency we felt prior to March 16, 2007. Pet owners are turning more and more to feeding raw, a concept that has been increasingly recognized over the years as the optimum diet for obligate carnivores.On the other side of the coin, melamine contamination aside, pet owners are gradually becoming more savvy to reading pet food labels, and eschewing ingredients such as " meat by-products," excess corn fillers, and chemical preservatives, such as BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, and propyl gallate.
While we may still reserve trust for the pet food industry as a whole, some of the more responsible "premium" pet food companies have taken positive steps to regain our confidence and trust. The following is just a very small sampling:
- Natural Balance "Buy With Confidence" Program
The concept is a simple one: consumers select a dog or cat formula from a drop-down menu, enter the "best by" date, and the results shows exactly what results came up from a series of tests made in Natural Balance's new chemical testing laboratory. The laboratory, built at the personal direction and expense of NB President Joey Herrick, is headed by Dr. Hadiki, a noted biochemist. - Natura Pet Food Safety and Quality Control
Natura is certified by four organizations. Also, according to its web site, "In addition to our accreditations, Natura employs our own standards of quality. Before any of our pet food is shipped, it must pass 121 quality-control checks." - Timberwolf Organics
"Before any product enters our facility, before any truck is unloaded, inspection is made and random samples are taken. These samples are then taken to the facilities laboratory for screening, testing and analysis. The range of tests will also include proximate, aflatoxins, vomitoxins, peroxide values, microbial, temperature amongst others."
In my opinion, the fact that we have lost our complacency where it comes to the food we give our cats is a good thing. Many of us will never again buy a can or bag of cat food without thoroughly examining its label, and even checking with trusted sources. If you check out the About.com Cats Forum in the " Care and Feeding Folder," you'll find dozens of threads discussing the merits of various cat foods. It will only be by continual vigilance, education, and caution, that we'll ever feel safe about cat food again.
