Our Healthy Pets

FDA News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 19, 2008  Media Inquiries: Kimberly Rawlings, 301-827-6242

Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA   

“FDA Requests Seizure of Animal Food Products at PETCO

 During an FDA inspection of a PETCO distribution center in April, widespread and active rodent and bird infestation was found. The FDA inspected the facility again in May and found continuing and widespread infestation. 

“We simply will not allow a company to store foods under filthy and unsanitary conditions that occur as a direct result of the company’s failure to adequately control and prevent pests in its facility,” said Margaret O’K. Glavin, associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. “Consumers expect that such safeguards will be in place not only for human food, but for pet food as well.”  

The distribution center in

 FDA has no reports of pet illness or death associated with consumption of animal food distributed by PETCO, and does not have evidence that the food is unsafe for animals. However, the seized products were in permeable packages and held under conditions that could affect the food’s integrity and quality.  

As a precaution, consumers who have handled products originating from the PETCO distribution center should thoroughly wash their hands with hot water and soap. Any surfaces that came in contact with the packages should be washed as well. Consumers are further advised as a precaution to thoroughly wash products sold in cans and glass containers from PETCO in the 16 affected states. 

If a pet has become ill after eating these food products, pet owners should contact their veterinarian and report illnesses to FDA state consumer complaint coordinators. ”

 http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01825.html

“FDA News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2008

Kimberly Rawlings, 301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

FDA Orders Pet Food Maker to Obtain Emergency Operating Permit

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an order requiring that Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co., Inc., in Wheeling, Ill., obtain an emergency permit from the FDA before its canned pet food products enter interstate commerce.

A recent inspection revealed significant deviations from prescribed documentation of processes, equipment, and recordkeeping in the production of the company’s thermally processed low acid canned food (LACF) products. These problems could result in under-processed pet foods, which can allow the survival and growth of Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), a bacterium that causes botulism in some animals as well as in humans.

“As outlined in the Food Protection Plan, the FDA uses a risk-based approach to locate the areas of greatest risk for foods, and targets preventive controls and inspections to those areas, ” said Dr. Stephen Sundlof, director, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “The FDA’s authority to issue an order requiring an emergency permit is an enforcement tool designed to prevent unsafe foods from reaching consumers.”

The FDA issues an “Order of Need for Emergency Permit” if the agency determines that a company fails to meet the regulatory requirements to process a product that does not present a health risk. For Evanger’s to resume business, the company must document that corrective actions and processing procedures have been implemented to ensure that the finished product will not present a health hazard.

Botulism is a powerful toxin that affects the nervous system and can be fatal. The disease has been documented in dogs and cats. Signs of botulism in animals are progressive muscle paralysis, disturbed vision, difficulty in chewing and swallowing, and progressive weakness to the body. Death is usually due to paralysis of the heart or the muscles used in breathing.

In light of human botulism illnesses and recalls that occurred due to under-processed hot dog chili sauce, and potentially under-processed canned green beans, FDA has urged all LACF processors to review their operations and the apply scientific principals and regulations that have been established to provide a safe product.

While FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has authority over animal feed and foods, CFSAN is responsible for regulating all human and animal LACF processing. The two centers are collaborating on this enforcement action.”

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/hartz03_08.html

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

The Hartz Mountain Corporation Recalls Vitamin Care for Cats Because of Possible Health Risk

Contact:
Mr. John Mullane
(914) 391-0943

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — March 7, 2008 — The Hartz Mountain Corporation is voluntarily recalling a second specific lot of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats due to concerns that bottles within the lot may have been potentially contaminated with Salmonella. Hartz is fully cooperating with the US Food and Drug Administration in this voluntary recall. Hartz recalled a specific lot code of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats last November due to similar concerns. Both lot codes were manufactured for Hartz by UFAC (USA) Inc. in 2007, and were removed from distribution last November. However, bottles from the second lot had been shipped to customers prior to their having been removed from distribution.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, all of whom are at particular risk from exposure and should avoid handling these products.

Salmonella symptoms may include fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea in both cats and humans. Anyone experiencing the symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek immediate medical attention. Owners of cats exhibiting these symptoms should also seek veterinary assistance.

The product involved is 739 bottles of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats, lot code SZ 22771, UPC number 32700-97701. While normal testing conducted by Hartz and UFAC has not revealed the presence of Salmonella in any Hartz products, recent sampling conducted by the FDA did detect the presence of Salmonella.

Although the company has not received any reports of animals or humans becoming ill as a result of coming into contact with this product, Hartz is taking immediate steps to recover this product from consumers. Cat owners should check the lot code on their bottles, and, if the code is not visible, or if the bottle has lot code SZ 22771 or lot code SZ-16371 imprinted thereon, they should immediately discontinue use of the product and discard it in a proper manner.

Consumers can contact Hartz at 1-800-275-1414 with any questions they may have and to obtain reimbursement for purchased product.

Click here for healthy cat supplements

From the HealthyPetNet Newsletter, February 2008 

Indoor pets cannot adjust to the harsh cold just because they are animals. Remember, if it is too cold for you outside then it is too cold for your pet. If your pet is accustomed to being outside during the day, make sure he or she is properly protected. For dogs, a dry dog house with a raised floor and some thick bedding made of straw or blankets will help keep them as comfortable and safe as possible. Check the water bowl to make sure it’s not frozen. Animals should not stay outside for an unlimited amount of time if it is very cold. Young, old and sick animals are particularly vulnerable to the cold and should not be exposed to freezing temperatures for any length of time. Please make sure you consult your veterinarian if you have any questions about this. In the meantime, here are some simple guidelines.

Indoor Tips Fireplaces and space heaters are great to warm up a room, but they also can spell trouble for companion animals. Most pets will try to get close to a heat source and may accidentally get burned or even tip a space heater over. So keep an eye on your dog or cat so everyone stays safe and cozy. 

FDA Investigation Leads to Several Indictments for Importing Contaminated Ingredients Used in Pet Food

Contaminated pet food caused pet illnesses and deaths last year

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations announced that two Chinese nationals and the businesses they operate, along with a U.S. company and its president and chief executive officer, were indicted by a federal grand jury today in separate but related cases. The indictments are for their roles in a scheme to import products purported to be wheat gluten into the United States that were contaminated with melamine. These products were used to make pet food.

Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co., LTD. (XAC), a Chinese firm that processes and exports plant proteins to the United States; Mao Linzhun, a Chinese national who is the 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 were charged in a 26-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury today in Kansas City, Mo.

Also indicted were ChemNutra, Inc., a Las Vegas, Nevada corporation that buys food and food components from China to sell to U.S. companies in the food industry, along with ChemNutra owners Sally Qing Miller and her husband, Stephen S. Miller, who were charged in a separate, but related, 27-count indictment. Sally Qing Miller, a Chinese national, is the controlling owner and president of ChemNutra; Stephen Miller is an owner and CEO of ChemNutra. The indictments charge all seven defendants with delivering adulterated food that contained melamine, a substance which may render the food injurious to health, into interstate commerce; introduction of a misbranded food into interstate commerce; and other charges.

The indictments allege that more than 800 tons of purported wheat gluten, totaling nearly $850,000, was imported into the United States between Nov. 6, 2006, and Feb. 21, 2007. According to the indictments, SSC falsely declared to the Chinese government that those shipments were not subject to mandatory inspection by the Chinese government prior to export.

Melamine can be used to create products such as plastics, cleaning products, glues, inks, and fertilizers. Under certain conditions, melamine mixed with wheat gluten can make the product appear to have a higher protein level than is actually present. Melamine has no approved use as an ingredient in human or animal food in the United States. Wheat gluten is a natural protein derived from wheat or wheat flour, which is extracted to yield a powder with high protein content. Pet food manufacturers often use wheat gluten as a thickener or binding agent in the manufacture of certain types of pet food.

ChemNutra contracted with SSC, a Chinese registered export broker, to purchase food grade wheat gluten, according to the indictment. SSC then entered into a separate contract with XAC to supply the wheat gluten it needed to fulfill its contract with ChemNutra.

The indictments allege that the products purported to be wheat gluten were misbranded because the labels incorrectly represented that the purported wheat gluten had a minimum protein level of 75%.

On March 15, 2007, a pet food manufacturer alerted FDA to the deaths of 14 cats and dogs, several reported by consumers and several that died during routine taste trials conducted by the company. The animals were reported to have developed kidney failure after eating pet food that had been manufactured with the purported wheat gluten.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01792.html

Enjoy this little tid bit of information from The HealthyPetNet June/July 2005 Newsletter.

Food and treat selection is a serious matter. We can’t stress this enough. It all starts now. Once you cultivate certain eating habits, its almost impossible to break them, especially with cats. It is not uncommon for a cat to get hooked on one food only. If that food is a good food then you lucked out. If it is not a good food, conversion may be extremely difficult for you and your cat. When your dog doesn’t want to eat his breakfast or dinner, don’t let him persuade you to add something to the food or find something more desirable to eat. If he seems as healthy and happy as usual, chances are that he just isn’t hungry, his body doesn’t need the food. He will eat it later or the next day. Once you add something to the food, you will create a picky eater and possibly jeopardize his nutrition. In other words, once you’ve done your home work and selected the best food and treats for your pet, dog or cat, be prepared to stand up to any challenge they may give you. Remember that the food and treats you select will help determine your pet’s fate.

It appears what a feline sees and what a feline does affects his or her memory in different ways.  Researchers from the University of Alberta in Edmonton studied how feline memory works.  They conducted two obstacle tests.  In the first set of tests, researchers placed obstacles in front of cats.  When the cats’ front legs cleared the obstacles, they were distracted with food.  Then the obstacles were placed in front of the cats again.  In the second set of tests, the cats were stopped just before their front legs cleared the obstacles.  Interestingly, the cats that stepped over the obstacles with their forelegs, remembered to clear their hind legs even when distracted for up to 10 minutes.  However, when the forelegs did not step over the obstacles, memory of the obstacles was quickly lost.  Although it is not clear how these tests relate to humans, they may play a role in how we navigate objects in the dark.  You may have noticed that when you move through a cluttered lighted room that when you turn the light off, you still have the ability to avoid objects even though you cannot see them. 

McVea and Pearson (2007) “Stepping of the forelegs over obstacles establishes long-lasting memories in walking cats.” Current Biology, 21 August, R621-623.

From The August HealthyPetNet Newsletter

If we can understand the genetics of a cat, then we will understand more about how to keep cats healthy and why they get sick. An Abyssinian cat at the University of Missouri (MU), Veterinary School has been chosen to be the genetic model for all cats in the feline genome project.
The cat’s blood will be used to map the feline genetic structure. This will allow for each gene’s function to be studied. The process is expected to take a minimum of nine months for the first steps in the mapping to take place.  Scientists will be able to determine which gene causes diseases in cats, including blindness and cancer, authorities say. A better understanding of virus-mediated diseases will help to develop more effective vaccinations.
The goal is to create treatments for such genetic abnormalities.

Thought to have originated 1,000 years ago in Russia, the Siberian is Russia’s national cat. Because they are so common in Russia, the history of their origin is often taken for granted. Strangely enough, the Siberian is rare in the U.S. They were first imported here in 1990!

So what do Siberians and St. Bernards have in common? You haven’t guessed? They’re large, muscular, affectionate and eager to please. If Siberians were dogs, they would be great at rescuing because of their intrinsic love for the human race.