and for those that may have forgotten or not know...this first was picked up (kind of like a rumor) at Twitter by someone who got an email ...she/he had messaged that they were not supposed to share it but had to..I wonder when it would have been made public if not for that Tweet?

Correct me if Im wrong but it says that Diamond issued a voluntary recall on Sept 23rd...but as far as I recall this was not an official recall.  It was a recall where they put something on their website and told retailers to take it off of shelves but didnt put out any sort of public press release.  FDA put out something in October but it was my understanding it was because they couldnt get the company to respond.  So finally, over 2 months later, they finally put out an official press release about it.  Just confirms why I will no longer use their food. There is no excuse for this.

AP has picked it up
http://bit.ly/7vRu7P
Cat food recalled over thiamine deficiency

By The Associated Press (AP) – 2 hours ago

WASHINGTON — Diamond Pet Foods recalled select bags of dry cat food Tuesday after 21 reports of health problems in cats.

Select bags of Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball could lead to gastrointestinal or neurological problems for cats, because they do not contain enough thiamine, an essential nutrient for cats.

If cats fed these foods have no other source of nutrition, they could develop thiamine deficiency. If untreated, this disorder could result in death.

Initial symptoms of thiamine deficiency include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss. Later, neurological problems could develop including, bending the neck toward the floor, wobbly walking, circling, falling and seizures.

The company has confirmed 21 cases of thiamine deficiency in New York and Pennsylvania.

The recalled bags of food were distributed in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

For a full refund, consumers can return the recalled cat food to the place it was purchased. For more information call 800-977-8797.

and it looks like 4 dates affected???

http://www.premiumedgepetfood.com/announcements/66/

This has two dates of manufacture---not one 12 minutes apart like they had said.....I think this is new info at their site today after AP picked it up maybe?

If you go to the Premium Edge site you will see something that WILL boil your blood: 

http://www.premiumedgepetfood.com/

The copy on their home page:

NO NEW OR EXPANDED RECALL
A PRESS RELEASE WAS ISSUED TODAY BUT IS CLARIFICATION OF THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED RECALL. Please read the company statement regarding the recall.
 

This contains the link to the "press release":

http://www.premiumedgepetfood.com/announcements/66/

NO NEW OR EXPANDED RECALL

"On September 23, 2009, Diamond Pet Foods issued a voluntary recall on the following date codes of Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball cat:  RAF0501A22X 18lb., RAF0501A2X 6 lb., RAF0802B12X 18lb (BB30FEB11), RAH0501A22X 18 lb., RAH0501A2X 6lb. The date of manufacture is May 28, 2009 and August 30, 2009.

"All retail outlets shipped the above lots were contacted, asking them to pull the product from the store shelves. The retailers were also asked to contact their customers via email or telephone requesting them to check the date code of the food. However, if you or anyone you know has these date codes of Premium Edge cat food, please return them to your retailer.

"Symptoms displayed by an affected cat will be neurological in nature.  Symptoms may include wobbly walking or muscle weakness, paralysis of the hindlimbs, seizures, ventroflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, and abnormal eye movement called nystagmus. Any cats fed these date codes that display these symptoms should be immediately taken to a veterinarian.

"Product testing proved no contaminants were discovered in the cat food; however the cat foods were deficient in thiamine.  Diamond tracked the vitamin premix lot number that was utilized in these particular cat foods and have performed testing on another lot of Premium Edge cat food that used the same vitamin premix, and it was not deficient in thiamine.  No other neurological signs have been reported on any other product manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods.

"To contact Premium Edge Pet Foods, please call 800.977.8797 between the hours of 8am and 5pm central time, Monday through Friday."

Now look at the differences between the "press release" and the FDA announcement:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm192404.htm

Diamond Pet Foods Announces Recall of Premium Edge Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball Cat Food
 
Company Contact:
800-977-8797

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 27, 2009 - On September 23, Diamond Pet Foods issued a voluntary recall for Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball cat because they have the potential to produce Thiamine Deficiency. Today’s announcement provides additional information from the company’s posted announcement of September 23 when the initial recall information was provided.

Thiamine is essential for cats. Symptoms of deficiency displayed by an affected cat can be gastrointestinal or neurological in nature. At the first stage the cat may show decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting, and weight loss. Later, neurologic signs can develop, which may include ventriflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, wobbly walking, circling, falling, and seizures. These ultimately may result in the death of the animal if left untreated. If your cat has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The affected products were distributed in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida.

The affected date codes were RAF0501A22X 18lb. (BB28NOV10), RAF0501A2X 6 lb. (BB28NOV10), RAF0802B12X 18lb (BB30FEB11), RAH0501A22X 18 lb. (BB28NOV10), RAH0501A2X 6lb. (BB28NOV10, BB30NOV10, BB08DEC10)

To date, 21 cases of thiamine deficiency in cats have been reported and confirmed by Diamond. The reports have been confined to the New York and Pennsylvania areas and none have been received since October 19.

Diamond has tested the product and found the cat foods were deficient in thiamine. Samples taken by the FDA indicated that there were additional lots with insufficient levels of thiamine. No other complaints have been reported on any other product manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods.

Consumers who have purchased the affected lots are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-977-8797, Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Central Time.

Diamond is not revealing how many sick cats and also where the product was distributed.  In keeping with their statement about having three plants nationwide (Lathrop CA, Meta, MO, and Gaston, SC), this says that these were shipped from the Gaston SC plant and the states listed are those who receive all Diamond dry products from the Gaston plant.

http://www.diamondpet.com/faq/

"Diamond Pet Foods owns its own manufacturing facilities. We have three plants, all located in the United States. Our original plant and home of Diamond Pet Foods headquarters is located in central Missouri. The other two plants are located in northern California and South Carolina. No matter where you live, you will be purchasing food made in one of these three plants."

So if you're in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, or Florida and purchase Diamond dry products--it would be made by the Gaston SC plant.

sorry Diamond but us petowners consider this an expanded recall....not a 12 minute issue like you told Susan Thixton...

I am calling and asking why the add'l date is on the site now...