U.S. Marshalls Raid PETCO Warehouse

June 20, 2008

U.S. Marshalls Raid PETCO Warehouse

Rat droppings

Feds seized undisclosed pet food products at an Illinois PETCO warehouse at the request of the FDA because they were stored in unsanitary conditions. In April, the FDA found “widespread and active rodent and bird infestation”. Apparently PETCO didn’t take these findings too seriously since a second inspection in May found “continuing and widespread infestation”—including “live and dead rodents and birds on or around the food containers, some of which had been gnawed and defiled by excrement”.

This one warehouse supplies 16 states:

Alabama
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Ohio
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Texas
Wisconsin

Although no illnesses have been reported yet, the FDA warns that people who have handled PETCO products in these states should thoroughly wash their hands in hot, soapy water. Surfaces and food bowl that came in contact with PETCO products should also be washed. Products packaged in can and glass containers should also be thoroughly washed.

If your pet has become sick from eating PETCO food, you need to file a complaint with your local FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator. I would assume that this also applies if people have become sick as a result of handling these products.

At this time, PETCO has nothing on its website about the raid.

April 3, 2008

Menu Foods Reaches Settlement In Pet Food Class Action

Menu Foods has reached a tentative settlement in the class action suit brought by owners of pets killed or sickened due to contaminants in Menu Foods products. Del Monte Foods Inc., Nestle, Procter & Gamble, Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. Ltd. in Pixian, China, and Suzhou Textile Import & Export Co. in Jiangsu, China were also named in the suit.

In 2007 cats and dogs began falling ill and dying from kidney problems. The FDA eventually found melamine and cyanuric acid in many different pet foods. New recalls were being announced daily and over 60 million containers of food were recalled.

You can find out much more on previous recalls on my Pet Food Recall Archive Page.

February 7, 2008

Three Companies Indicted In Pet Food Contamination

ChemNutra a food, feed, and pharmaceutical ingredients importer in Las Vegas and two companies in China have been indicted in the melamine contamination of numerous pet foods that possibly killed thousands of pets in 2007. Executives and owners from the three companies are also facing charges.

Xuzhou Anying Biologic is charged with 13 felony counts of introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce and 13 felony counts of introduction of misbranded food into interstate commerce, Suzhou Textiles is charged with mislabeling 800 metric tons of melamine contaminated wheat gluten manufactured by Xuzhou to avoid inspection in China and not declaring the wheat gluten as food material, and ChemNutra is charged with taking possession of the tainted wheat gluten in Kansas City and distributing it to numerous pet food manufacturers. ChemNutra is charged with 13 misdemeanor counts of introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce, 13 misdemeanor counts of introduction of misbranded food into interstate commerce and one felony count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Check out video on the indictments.

Read more about the massive pet food recall on the pet food recall archive page.

January 5, 2008

Settlement Reached For 2006 Pet Food Recall

Diamond Pet Foods must pay $3.1 million to pet owners affected by a 2006 recall due to aflatoxin contamination. Pet owners whose dog died, incurred veterinary bills, or have unreturned contaminated food from 2005 are can submit a claim which can be downloaded. The claim must be postmarked by April 25th, 2008. You can find out more by checking out the FAQ.

This 2006 recall should not be confused with the huge pet food recall in 2007.

September 20, 2007

PetSmart Pulls Jerky Treats From Shelves

PetSmart has removed all flavors of jerky type treats made by Pet ‘n Shape and Smokehouse Pet Products. The AVMA is reporting that there appears to be a link between cases of transient Fanconi syndrome and jerky treats made in China. They also have a FAQ on jerky treats.

At this time, Pet ‘n Shape has no information on the recall, but check their site to check their product list. Smokehouse reports that they test their products for melamine, cyanuric acid, e-coli, salmonella, tpc, and pesticides, and have found nothing.

Fanconi syndrome is more commonly seen as a genetic disease found in Basenjis affecting the kidneys. The cases of Fanconi syndrome linked to jerky treats are acquired not inherited.