Pet Food Recall: Why The FDA Both Sucks And Blows…Again

I’ve tried to stay pretty even tempered about this nightmare of a recall so I can navigate the snarl of information out there and post what you need to know, but the FDA’s latest press conference has just about pushed me over the edge. I am so incredibly angry, it’s beyond words.

Please read what the very informative people at PetConnection have written about this joke of a press conference. It’s important. The FDA is supposed to be working for us. Protecting us. But they so clearly are not. They are working for those companies that import cheap, deadly crap from China. And they work for those pet food companies that used it. And they are protecting all of them and themselves.

The FDA regulates our food, drugs, medical devices, biologics (vaccines), animal feed & drugs, cosmetics, radiation-emitting devices (like cell phones), and “combination products“. Feel safer? Me either.

So today is Friday. Any bets as to how many late night press releases there are tonight just in time weekend? I’m guessing we’ll hear from the last two companies Wilbur-Ellis sold tainted rice protein concentrate to. I’ll be really glad when there aren’t anymore late night press releases and there aren’t several things to cover about the recall every day.

You can find out much more on the recall on my Pet Food Recall Archive Page.

Pet Food Recall: Royal Canin (US & Canada) Added…Again

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Royal Canin US is recalling products made with contaminated rice protein gluten this time. They are recalling:

Royal Canin Sensible Choice

  • Chicken Meal & Rice Formula Senior
  • Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Puppy
  • Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Adult
  • Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Senior
  • Rice & Catfish Meal Formula Adult

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet

  • Canine Early Cardiac EC 22
  • Canine Skin Support SS21
  • Feline Hypoallergenic HP23

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Royal Canin Canada is recalling pet food. The list includes Royal Canin Sensible Choice Diet (I’m assuming all varieties) and these Royal Canin Veterinary Diet varieties:

  • Canine Early Cardiac
  • Canine Sensitivity RC
  • Canine Skin Support
  • Feline Hypoallergenic HP
  • Feline Sensitivity RD

You can find out much more on the recall on my Pet Food Recall Archive Page.

Pet Food Recall: Liveblogging of FDA Teleconference

Christie Keith at PetConnection.com participated in the FDA press conference and liveblogged the results. (There will be a cleaned up transcript soon.) I don’t find the FDA’s answers very reassuring. They’re waiting to report which three companies also received questionable rice protein concentrate until those companies themselves confirm the rice protein was actually used in their products. I understand caution, but at this point waiting seems like an incredibly arrogant choice on the FDA’s part.

Christie Keith has her own blog at DoggedBlog.com. I’ve covered some of her posts previously.

You can find out much more on the recall on my Pet Food Recall Archive Page.

Pet Food Recall: Blue Buffalo

I’m sorry to say that another higher grade pet food is now included in the recall due to melamine contaminated rice protein concentrate. This time it’s Blue Buffalo recalling one production run of Spa Select Kitten Dry Food (Best Used By Mar. 07 08 B.) This rice protein concentrate also came from Wilbur-Ellis, who has still not publicly disclosed which companies also received possibly tainted rice protein. The FDA isn’t telling either. Wilbur-Ellis shipped to five pet food companies. This is two down, three to go.

You can find out much more on the recall on my Pet Food Recall Archive Page.