On March 16, 2007 – multiple pet food recalls were issued, all without a confirmed cause.
Menu Foods issued a recall that stated: “Menu Foods, Emporia, Kansas, is initiating a North American recall of dog and cat food manufactured in its ‘cuts and gravy’ format between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. There has been a small number of reported instances of cats and dogs in the United States (none in Canada) becoming sick from kidney failure after eating the affected products. There have been approximately ten deaths reported.”
As to the cause of this recall, the Menu Foods recall notice stated:
“Menu Foods voluntarily recalled the products after learning of complaints of vomiting and renal failure in dogs and cats following their consumption of product produced between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. Following feedings of the product, some cats and dogs refused further feedings, while others exhibited signs of renal failure (signs of renal failure include loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting) and others died from renal failure. Menu Foods has undertaken extensive testing of the products in question, employing both internal and external resources, but to date has been unable to confirm any causal relationship to our product. Specifically, tests of some affected products have not revealed the cause of sickness, and testing will continue until a better understanding of the facts has been achieved.”
A Purina recall dated the same day (March 16, 2007) stated: “While Purina has no indication of any product quality or safety issues specifically related to our Mighty Dog pouch products, Purina is taking this proactive action out of an abundance of caution in response to the Menu Foods recall.”
A P&G recall notice from the same day stated: “P&G Pet Care is taking this proactive step out of an abundance of caution, because the health and well-being of pets is paramount in the mission of Iams and Eukanuba. Tests of some affected product have not revealed the cause of sickness, and testing will continue until a better understanding of the facts has been achieved.”
Melamine was suspected to be a potential cause of the pet illnesses within a few weeks. In 2007, the FDA enlisted the help of the agency’s “Forensic Chemistry Center” to develop methods to test for melamine and other chemicals found in recalled pet foods.
So…back in 2007 pet food manufacturers issued recalls without confirmation of a known cause (or at least a cause known to the public). In 2007, multiple pet food manufacturers took “proactive action out of an abundance of caution” and recalled pet foods even though they performed “extensive testing” and were “unable to confirm any causal relationship” to the recalled pet foods. These recalls were issued based upon “a small number of reported instances of cats and dogs…becoming sick” and “ten deaths reported”.
My how things have changed.
Based on one month of adverse event reports submitted to FDA, in January 2024 the agency received more than 970 reports of sick pets involving more than 1,300 pets (multiple pets reported in some homes). These reports included more than 100 pet deaths.
Unlike in 2007, in 2024 we have seen no “proactive action out of an abundance of caution” from any pet food manufacturer to recall the pet foods involved in the 1,300 illness reports and 100 pet deaths (in one month).
And unlike in 2007, in 2024 we do not know if FDA has enlisted their Forensic Chemistry Center to investigate the cause of these 1,300 illness reports and 100 pet deaths (in one month). (But we will be sending questions to FDA regarding this…that we expect won’t be responded to.) In 2024, FDA has been completely silent – providing pet owners with no investigation updates.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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Deb
May 22, 2024 at 2:14 pm
So I think there is a pretty significant difference in the situation between 2007 and now.
Back in 2007, I’m going to say that likely there wasn’t a widely shared social media presence creating gang mentality.
Back in 2007, I’m going to guess that all of those reports came in individually without any external pressures. This will certainly raise an eyebrow.
Fast forward to 2024, with a social media page presence full of bad information and fear mongering.
While it is certainly sad that there are sick and dying pets out there, and maybe the food is involved, other reports are less than plausible. Suddenly every single death or illness, even if the pet was already ill from some other disease/old age/etc. in the first place, was reported as “due to the food”.
The gang mentality and peer pressure that people caved into, has created a witch hunt with questionable reporting. This is not the type of reporting that will raise eyebrows like several years ago. This is the type of reporting that causes eye rolls.
Susan Thixton
May 22, 2024 at 2:35 pm
Actually in 2007 there were many ‘forums’/message boards that were full of complaints of sick pets. Pet owners were communicating with each other back then – warning each other long before Menu Foods issued the first recall. I don’t look at it as “gang mentality” – I look at it as pet owners trying to warn others.
Deb
May 22, 2024 at 2:50 pm
The forums and message boards of 2007 don’t really compare to the toxic Facebook mentality of 2024
Even today a much better experience is typically gained from a forum or message board where like-minded people typically gather for information sharing.
The Facebook environment, and specifically that page, has become quite toxic.
It’s unfortunate that the impression that is left is one of questionable plausibility
Susan Thixton
May 22, 2024 at 3:07 pm
They absolutely compare. I am sure some considered the message boards in 2006/07 as “toxic” as well. I guess it depends on your perspective. IF your pet is sick and you are looking for help – you don’t consider that help as “toxic”. IF you are defending a brand, you might consider message boards and Facebook pages as “toxic”. My perspective is that the many people who have experienced sick pets, the death of their pet – deserve to have a voice and an opinion. You too are entitled to your opinion, but that doesn’t mean we all need to agree (be of the same opinion).
K Smith
May 22, 2024 at 5:04 pm
Do you work for one of the big pet food companies, or the FDA, because you sure sound like it. Maybe you live under a rock. How do you explain all of the dogs with the same symptoms, or the dead dogs bleeding out? Try to convince me it’s a coincidence. Why are there photos of trailers full of dog food being dumped on the sly, and dead wildlife near them? How do you explain that?
Elizabeth Davis
May 28, 2024 at 4:01 pm
I reported 2 la4ge bags of dog food that were purchased and stored tightly inside my home. The 2nd time I opened the container moths by the dozens flew out of the bag. I through it out and bought another bag, same thing.Eggs of insects were fed to my digs. AT the time I didn’t know I could report or that there was a place to report. I don’t believe anyone is making a big deal of nothing! This is our family!
Susan Porter
May 22, 2024 at 3:47 pm
In the 2006-2007 melamine incident in the pet food, the FDA got involved quickly because they had knowledge that the wheat gluten was the problem and those same suppliers were supplying to the human food industry. That is my understanding for why the FDA got involved heavily and very early in the game. So, it is my guess is that the FDA is confident that this issue is not linked to the human food industry in any way– Either the pet food companies have been transparent with the FDA concerning what it was/is and/or the FDA has already run tests on any sources that they suspected that are also used in human foods. Does anyone think the FDA cares about pets? Or people for that matter? If they cared about people, then why did they allow the Fentanyl addition thing go on for so long? Why are they allowing wide spread use of Ozempic off-label? Seriously, the FDA does not care about pets.
Holly
May 22, 2024 at 4:26 pm
In 2007, the only reason there were recalls was because major news programs started to do reports on all the sick and dying animals and it made the companies look bad. Hundreds, if not thousands of dogs and cats got sick and many died before anyone pulled their products.
I guess not enough pets have died for a recall to be issued by purina.
Debi
May 22, 2024 at 6:16 pm
Whatever the reason, I do agree with Susan Porter, NO ONE CARES ABOUT US OR OUR POOR PETS anymore, it is disgraseful
Hope Williams
May 22, 2024 at 6:34 pm
As a holistic pet nutrition store in 2007 I witnessed the tragedy of certain pet foods being poisoned by melamine from both a distance and close up. From my POV it was a targeted roll of the dice to enhance protein levels with melamine after research by the profit mongers learning that pet feed manufacturers did not test feed source ingredients for melamine. And that is a big IF they tested at all. It was a gold mine to some before it hit hard with deaths and suffering by pets and their humans. One result for us was the seemingly almost immediate increase of our customer base by 400-500 people seeking information and better foods for their dogs and cats. Of great interest, we lost 90% of those folks within 90 days after learning that there was a societal assumption, as quoted by one, that “the odds of the melamine contamination happening again was extremely low” and “returning to ‘cheap products’ made by the same companies was not unsafe for them”. After all these years I still find that astounding. I truly like the FB page that has been subtly referred to above. Sure, some of it is difficult to read, some of the page admin folks can be snippy with impatience, some inquirers are trying to use it inappropriately as a vet. But most are truly caring folks, who like our short term customer I quoted right above, acquired more dogs and cats than they could every feed/care for on a limited budget, if any, and sought out cheap “food” with HOPES that the marketing on the outside of bags was true. They are now feeling guilty and financially drained and the FB page gives them options and education and a place to talk about how to truly care for their dogs and cats. It gives hope. And, while I’m at it, let’s remember that our good old FDA took the action to permit those millions of recalled cans of melamine laced pet “foods” to be bought by pig and fish farmers for a few cents on the dollar after the recall rationalizing that the quantity of melamine was small compared to the amount of factory farmed pork and fish that much larger humans would be absorbing into their bodies. The 2007 melamine tragedy lives on in me as the foundation for understanding why the cancer rates for dogs continue to climb and the few conglomerates continue to work hard at monopolizing the pet feed/food/vet clinic/pet pharmaceutical market place with absolute cooperation by the FDA. I feel so badly for our pets and their humans who have been co-opted into this large scheme. Thanks for letting me go on about this Susan. You are one of the major reasons why I still have faith ❤️
CB
May 22, 2024 at 7:48 pm
Thank you for continuing to contact the FDA about this issue. They really need to make a public statement.
Dianne & pets
May 23, 2024 at 4:24 am
I despise corruption. Every thing about this reeks of corruption.
Sondra Shore
May 23, 2024 at 3:57 pm
Yes… 2007/2008 Purina and others ONLY ISSUED recalls after pet deaths were in the THOUSANDS!! Until then the CEOs continued to LIE as the Melamanine was KILLING our pets.
If the big commercial companies CEOs lips are moving they are LYING
Dianne & pets
May 25, 2024 at 12:12 am
Mars and Lindt still use cocoa harvested by 5 year olds and Nestle adds extra sugar to infant and toddler food items in third world countries. Can we even hope that they really care about our pets?