This is absolutely appalling!  Not only that the zinc levels are enough to be toxic, but that someone found this bag of recalled Nutro cat food on the shelves after it had been recalled.  Yet Nutro downplayed the whole thing--inexcusable!

So, this must be Corporate Utopia

Zero Accountability for anything

Susan Thixton weighs in on excessive zinc in pet food.

http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/380/1/Are-Pets-being-Legally-Overdosed/Page1.html

Marion Nestle's article says to demand evidence of the testing performed. What world is she living in? We've all demanded this and what do we get? Oh, sorry, that's proprietary or not available or some such line. Maybe she can get this info for us.

I suggested members of AAFCO/FDA/CVM (and the pet food committee) call & ask    Bet they'd have to use their title or an act of Congress 

Uh, remember Nutro's response to the first pfpsa.org test results posted.

Going back in time, take a look at this one in response to test results done on products that Hill's purchased off the retailer shelves and did independent testing and identified an ingredient issue (fat).(Hill's in NAD challenge against Nutro Products (Case #4714)).

http://www.petage.com/news120703.asp

"Furthermore, Nutro noted that temporary manufacturing irregularities at its plants had allowed the unauthorized addition of fat to the “lite” pet food products, skewing the results of certain product tests performed by the challenger. The company presented evidence that the irregularities had been corrected."

a. AAFCO validity
b. plant error
c. supplier error

In Sept 2008, the press release said
 
http://www.zimbio.com/Latest+pet+food+recall+list/articles/46/Nutro+Press+Release+Regarding+Zinc+Copper

1.) "In order for a food to provide all the essential nutrition for a pet, it must exceed the minimum requirements for all essential nutrients."

2.) "NUTRO® products undergo rigorous quality assurance testing beginning with raw ingredients and ending with testing finished products. This includes testing to confirm that no melamine, mold toxins, or pathogenic bacteria are detected in any NUTRO® pet foods" (**also see http://www.nutroproducts.com/quality-assurance.shtml)

This recall 5/21/ 2009 shows that item #2 is in question due to products that were on store shelves for months without acknowledgment from Nutro that their tests on their PRODUCTS showed any problems.

Then, we realize that:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm154317.htm

"This issue was identified during an audit of our documentation from the supplier."

What about the documentation from their tests on their PRODUCTS or FINISHED PRODUCTS proving their press release was a "fact" or a "true fact"?

Exactly when does Nutro test the "Products"?  Obviously they didn't test these "finished products" as per their statement with a signature from an "authority" in #2 above which lead us (consumers) all down a rosy path wearing rose colored glasses and blinded to reality.  UNTIL May 21, 2009.

Would a test of UNrecalled Nutro product from the same time span as the recall (but not recalled) show to what degree/levels Nutro determined "it must exceed the minimum requirements for all essential nutrients."  

I'd also like to see substantiation and sources to confirm the statement in the press release (advertising?)  "In order for a food to provide all the essential nutrition for a pet, it must exceed the minimum requirements for all essential nutrients."

     Although I agree that the amount of Zinc found in the Nutro product was excessive, and it would be interesting to know why AAFCO has such a large range for the Zinc, I think that some of the information in Susan's article is misleading.  The AAFCO minimum and maximum amounts are PER KILOGRAM (2.2lbs.) of food, per AAFCO's Nutrient Profile, not the amount required for an individual cat.  Therefore, her comparison to the daily amount of Zinc the NRC recommends for cats can only be compared to what is in whatever amount of food the cat actually eats.  I don't think that there is any cat that eats 2.2 lbs. of food per day.  IMO, she is comparing apples to oranges.  Am I misunderstanding her comparison?            

Looks like Don added a little more on his site yesterday.. http://www.pfpsa.org/news.html

eta:
and I have read some members at other pet forums questioning the validity of pfpsa.org as well as the lab location...UI is University of Idaho (I think) and you will see UIASL Id# for the sample...and I found this on a search http://www.agls.uidaho.edu/asl/   ..I am pretty sure this is the place..but I will try to confirm this with Don since I was the one to start this thread...sorry I didn't notice it sooner...