Mr Weaver, there are pet food companies currently testing for lots of things and one of them is Natural Balance. While I would like to see them go even further in what they are testing for, their company does seem open to suggestions and input from pet parents. So your company might want to look at Natural Balances website and public relations stance for further info, they have alot of info there for everyone to see. No, I dont work for them and I dont use their product.
I agree with Donna's statement. Your response to LeslieK leaves alot of room for inference to say the least. You know her name and you would well know if this is the person you are referring to in your claims of extortion so for you to not just say upfront whether you are referring to her is, to me, intimidation and doesnt go far in solving any issues. As for testing, I would like to see Evangers testing the same food of Leslie K's that the lab found high levels of copper in and post those results publicly. Test ideas suggested by Offly and others sound very good too. Other tests I would like to see are for melamine, cyanuric acid, aminopterin and acetaminophen. So perhaps you can run this by Mr Sher to see if he would be willing to do this? Here are the links to Natural Balance and the page that explains more of their testing protocol.
http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/ABOUT OUR TESTING
Who is Testing Our Pet Food?
Midwest Laboratories: Midwest Laboratories in Omaha, NE is an independent laboratory highly skilled at testing for contaminants. Starting as a testing facility for agricultural analysis of soil, plant tissue and feeds, Midwest has expanded into pesticide analysis, water analysis and microbiological analysis for food, pet food, fertilizer, nematodes, biosolids, petroleum, and hazardous waste.Their chemists, biologists and environmental scientists are able to address new analytical challenges with the latest instruments and methods of testing.
NB Laboratories: Natural Balance has hired Research Biochemist, Dr. Ali Haghighi (left) to create the protocols at NB Laboratories for Melamine and Cyanuric Acid Testing, as well as oversee all lab testing procedures.
Dr. Haghighi received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Cleveland State
University. He is also a professor of sciences in Surgical Technology, and teaches Medical Assistant Certification for the State of California. He also has certification as a criminalist from the California Justice Department. Dr. Haghighi has developed an ELISA-based diagnostic assay for Polygenetics, Co., using Cavilink polymers.
NB Laboratories has also hired Quality Control Chemist, Roummel (Rome) Ruvolo (right). Mr. Ruvolo has earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and has been working in the biotechnology field for over two years. His chief research is based on Bio-inspired Oxygen and Light-driven Homogenous Catalysts. It is his responsibility to implement the testing procedures developed by Dr. Haghighi.
Our standard testing protocol includes testing for Aflatoxin and DON (Vomitoxin). As of December, 2007, we have added screening for Ochratoxin, Zearalenone (ZEA), and Fumonisin. Stringent research, development and quality control practices have led to proven reliability and consistency of our tests. The accuracy and reproducibility of these testing protocols have inspired wide acceptance and use throughout the food industry. These tests have also earned official approvals and third party validations, including:
• AOAC International
• AOAC Research Institute
• IUPAC
• USDA/GIPSA (FGIS)
• USDA/FSIS
We have also added testing for Melamine and Cyanuric acid to our protocol. For months these tests were being done through an independent laboratory, and since October we have started testing for Melamine and Cyanuric Acid in our own Laboratory, using a Mass Spectrometer, which is used at many major Universities.
What kinds of Test Methods are being used? (Click HERE to learn about the Toxins we test for.)
Testing for Aflatoxin/DON (Vomitoxin):
ELISA Test
NB Laboratories and Midwest Labs, our independent laboratory, use ELISA tests for Aflatoxin, DON (Vomitoxin),Ochratoxin, Zearalone (ZEA), and Fumonisin. ELISA tests are quantitative tests that compare up to 19 samples at a time against test controls. Through the use of a microwell reader, the tests provide accurate sample results in parts per million (for Aflotoxin) or parts per billion (for Vomitoxin). Performing an ELISA involves at least one antibody with specificity for a particular antigen. The sample with an unknown amount of antigen is immobilized on a solid support (usually a polystyrene microtiter plate) either non-specifically (via adsorption to the surface) or specifically (via capture by another antibody specific to the same antigen, in a "sandwich" ELISA). After the antigen is immobilized the detection antibody is added, forming a complex with the antigen. The detection antibody can be covalently linked to an enzyme, or can itself be detected by a secondary antibody which is linked to an enzyme through bioconjugation. Between each step the plate is typically washed with a mild detergent solution to remove any proteins or antibodies that are not specifically bound. After the final wash step the plate is developed by adding an enzymatic substrate to produce a visible signal, which indicates the quantity of antigen in the sample. The Enzyme ImmunoAssay (EIA) is a synonym for the ELISA.
Testing for Melamine/Cyanuric Acid: Traditional crude protein and non-protein nitrogen tests are not melamine specific. The possibility of new kinds of protein tests which will be able to separate natural protein from added nitrogen is still being explored, but they have yet to be implemented in standard protein testing. Midwest Labs, our independent laboratory, uses two different methods to detect Melamine and Cyanuric Acid. One is Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS) and the second is Gas Chromatograph fitted with a Nitrogen-Phosphorus Detector (GC/NPD). NB Laboratories uses Spectrophotometric testing. Details on each method are below.
Liquid Chromatography (LC):
Chromatography studies the separation of molecules based on differences in their structure and/or composition. The most common technique is Liquid Chromatography, which is used to separate the target molecule from undesired contaminants, as well as to analyze the final product for the requisite purity established with governmental regulatory groups (such as the FDA).
Mass Spectrometry (MS):
Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical technique that is used to extract the structure and chemical properties of molecules to identify known and unknown compunds. Compounds can be identified at very low concentrations in chemically complex mixtures. LC/MS is a powerful combination for tests requiring the most thorough chemical analysis.
Gas Chromatograph fitted with a Nitrogen-Phosphorus Detector (GC/NPD):
This instrument and method is very accurate, with the ability to detect melamine at very low levels (10 part per million). The instrument is set up with dual NP detectors and the GC is fitted with two different GC columns. Both columns must detect melamine and deviate less than 5% from each other for a sample to be confirmed as containing melamine.
Spectrophotometric Testing:
Spectrophotometry involves the use of a spectrophotometer, which can measure intensity as a function of the color, or more specifically, the wavelength of light in a compound. This method of chemical analysis based on the absorption by matter of electromagnetic radiation of a specified wavelength or frequency.The radiation interacts with specific features of the molecular species being determined, such as the vibrational or rotational motions of the chemical bonds. Using UV-microscopy, absorbance spectra of melamine can be detected.
NOTE: We do not conduct laboratory testing on animals, whatsoever. All of our testing at NB Laboratories is on food analysis only.
