In Memoriam:  For all cats and dogs who died or continue to suffer due to the adulteration of their pet food and greed and to their families who have endured this endless nightmare.     {{{hugs}}} and        

This week will mark the Fourth Year since the March, 2007, pet food recalls were announced in North America due to the adulteration of our pets' food with melamine.  Though personal joys and victories, obligations, trials and tragedies, and worldwide events justly may divert our attention briefly away, let us not forget the needless suffering and deaths of thousands and thousands of our dogs and cats and the reasons Itchmo Forums came into existence. Recalls as recent as this month show that our pets are still in danger, even 4 years later.  

Please feel free to post your thougts on this solemn anniversary.

The original Itchmo Blog

http://www.itchmo.com/pet-food-recall-150

New Itchmo Blog with link to this thread: http://itchmo.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/4-years-is-pet-food-any-safer-than-it-was-in-2007/

http://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/safetyhealth/recallswithdrawals/ucm129575.htm

Melamine Pet Food Recall of 2007
On March 15, 2007, FDA learned that certain pet foods were sickening and killing cats and dogs. FDA found contaminants in vegetable proteins imported into the United States from China and used as ingredients in pet food.
A portion of the tainted pet food was used to produce farm animal feed and fish feed. FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture discovered that some animals that ate the tainted feed had been processed into human food. Government scientists have determined that there is very low risk to human health from consuming food from animals that ate tainted feed. All tainted pet food, animal and fish feed, and vegetable proteins continue to be recalled and destroyed.
As a result of FDA and USDA's comprehensive investigation, on February 6, 2008, FDA 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 for their roles in a scheme to import products purported to be wheat gluten into the United States that were contaminated with melamine.

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Press Releases
Charges Filed in Contaminated Pet Food Scheme1
FDA Investigation Leads to Several Indictments for Importing Contaminated Ingredients Used in Pet Food2
Contaminant Found in Second Pet Food Ingredient3
Pet Food Recall: FDA's Ongoing Investigation4
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Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences
May 30, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (PDF - 101KB)5
May 17, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (PDF - 102KB)6
May 17, 2007 Audio for Transcript of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (MP3 - 5869KB)7
May 15, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (PDF - 106KB)8
May 15, 2007 Audio for Transcript of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (MP3 - 5855KB)9
May 10, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (PDF - 121KB)10
May 8, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (PDF - 99KB)11
May 8, 2007 Audio for Transcript of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (MP3 - 6730KB)12
May 3, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (PDF - 158KB)13
May 3, 2007 Audio for Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (MP3 - 7672KB)14
May 1, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (PDF - 105KB)15
May 1, 2007 Audio of Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (MP3 - 5889KB)16
April 26, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (PDF - 97KB)17
April 26, 2007 Audio for Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (MP3 - 5389KB)18
April 24, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (PDF - 105KB)19
April 24, 2007 Audio for Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (MP3 - 6760KB)20
April 19, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (PDF - 91KB)21
April 19, 2007 Audio for Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (MP3 - 8623KB)22
April 5, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (PDF - 73KB)23
March 30, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (PDF - 81KB)24
March 20, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (PDF - 65KB)25
March 19, 2007 Transcripts of FDA Press Conferences on the Pet Food Recall (PDF - 60KB)26

It's hard to believe it's been 4 years since the melamine poisoning of our pets.

My Bennie had also been eating "a high end" food at the time of the recalls. Her particular food was not recalled but was manufactured by a company that had MANY recalls. She became ill a few months before the recalls were announced. She suffered with increasing renal failure for over 2 years. We finally lost her in 2009.

It's also hard to believe that we still can't trust the food that is manufactured for our pets. After all this time, we still hold our breath when opening a bag or can of pet food hoping "there's nothing wrong with this one."

 

We will never forget or forgive. We will continue to be vigilant and hold manufacturer's feet to the fire. We will continue to lobby for safety in pet food. One day, either PFCs will have complied with our wishes or they'll be out of business because we will all be making our own food. Condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones and I hope I never see something of this magnitude ever again.

It breaks my heart again every time I think of the pets lost to poisoned food. My heart goes out to their surviving families.

I was so naive before, thinking that no company would take risks with their pet food's quality, if only because there would be repercussions from doing so. But repercussions of any consequence proved hard to come by...

My former belief in the safety mechanisms is shattered.

Both values and misdeeds are timeless. Although in the past some people took pride in their work, there were also terrible violations of worker safety and product quality in the old days.

About the only thing we can do is keep fighting for better safety systems, and continue to foster the notion that what a person does, his or her work ethics, those things do matter.

Carol, most certainly never forgotten...ugh, I cant believe its been 4 years....I still get sad..and then my emotions click to anger.

My heart and prayers go out to everyone, the people and the precious doggies and kitties that were affected.  I think of my girl most every day and she is only one of the thousands killed or sickened. 

Missing Bonnie, Sabbath, Sierra, Whiskey & Shelby!
Clyde is still holding his own (with meds).
Still no justice! Unbelievable for this to be so in America!

Thanks Mikken for the link!