http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/06/nutro-cat-food-recall-zinc.html

LA Times June 19, 2009

Nutro Respons to Assertions of Dangerous Zinc Levels in Recalled Cat Food

"Nutro responded to the concerns raised by the sky-high levels of zinc in an email today. 

""The lot of recalled product analyzed by pfpsa.org, as well as some of the other recalled product lots is higher than the maximum zinc levels as outlined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)," Nutro manager Monica Barrett wrote. 

"But, Barrett said, there's a general lack of scientific knowledge about the levels of zinc and other nutrients that are safe for cats.  "Much of the data is extrapolated from other species, and values used in calculating nutritional profiles are based on very limited and old data. As quoted in the National Research Council (NRC) 2006 publication, ‘There are no reports on adverse effects of excess zinc consumption by cats.’

""There are a few studies feeding high levels of zinc to cats that have shown high zinc serum levels in the blood, but no clinical problems resulted," Barrett continued. "High zinc levels can cause a secondary deficiency in copper and other microminerals.  Because of the lack of data on zinc levels for cats, and the potential for causing other mineral deficiencies, we decided to take the measures we did" in issuing the recall.

ConsumerAffairs and Don Earl's pfpsa.org are quoted prominently; comments also invited here! 

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http://consumerist.com/5297536/is-nutro-ignoring-owners-of-cats-made-sick-by-recalled-food

Consumerist.com June 19, 2009

Is Nutro Ignoring Owners of Cats Made Sick by Recalled Food?

More from ConsumerAffairs here and again, comments welcome! 

IMO, what they're not saying is that if there is no "specific" data on toxicity in cats for dietary Zinc at that level, then there is also NO "specific" data on SAFETY/NUTRITIONAL value in cats of dietary Zinc at that level either.

I think that they are doing the same thing the FDA/CVM/PFCs did on melamine - no data to prove toxic.

Have they basically, courtesy of Ms. Barrett ["But, Barrett said, there's a general lack of scientific knowledge about the levels of zinc and other nutrients that are safe for cats.], proved their own advertising to be false-  such as their  "In order for a food to provide all the essential nutrition for a pet, it must exceed the minimum requirements for all essential nutrients."   statement in press releases of Sept 2008 ??!!

http://www.zimbio.com/Latest+pet+food+recall+list/articles/46/Nutro+Press+Release+Regarding+Zinc+Copper?

Then, they run hide behind the AAFCO guidelines.

OK AAFCO people, Nutro and others. There is a definite level to supplement a cat food so that a deficiency doesn't not result. That has been established in the literature. What on earth is wrong with erring on the side of caution in situations like this and supplementing moderately over the minimum as they do in the EU? Take a look at what cats eat in the wild. Mice, birds, insects. How much zinc do they provide in the quantities eaten to sustain life? If the NRC study shows that there are no adverse effects at 600 ppm and likewise, there was no deficiency noted at this level, then why not make this the upper limit just to be on the safe side? Most things in life don't work on the more (or less) is always better. A happy medium is usually what works best.

Everyone see this?

June 20, 2009: A concerned pet owner provided pfpsa.org with funds and a variety of unrecalled dry cat food samples, which we received in ziplock bags, to have tested through the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab. Toxicology testing is done through WADDL by the Analytical Sciences Laboratory University of Idaho. We tested 5 samples believed to be three each of Nutro, one Wellness and one Purina. The tests show two of the three Nutro samples contained zinc at levels that would be illegal for sale in the European Union, at 270 ppm and 380 ppm. The third Nutro sample came in at 230 ppm. Purina and Wellness both came in at 190 ppm, which is still 40 ppm higher than the European Union’s recommended maximum of 150 ppm. The huge variation in Nutro results suggests very poor consistency and quality control. From one bag to the next, it’s about like playing Russian Roulette. It’s important to keep in mind pet food is typically the only thing our pets eat, day in and day out, month after month, year after year. Chronic exposure to over supplemented food, especially metals, hasn’t been studied enough to justify over supplementation as an industry standard.

http://www.pfpsa.org/news.html

Appears to me he's trying to get everyone to understand his own urgent needs while demanding that the rest of us abandon our own.

Yep, welcome to the free market where anything and anyone goes. Good, bad or deadly. I don't necessarily think that the government will do any better a job than the companies themselves, but I would like to see an independent body of some sort overseeing this mess. One that includes vets, the public, PFI and government.