I may be wrong on some of this and please correct me if I am, but I seem to remember that it was during the Reagan administration that the FDA lost all their authority and funding.  Reagan was able to cut taxes by cutting funding to a bunch or federal agencies and among those were the FDA.  With the lost funding went the power, authority, resources, jobs, etc..  Which explains why the FDA can only inspect 1% of all imported goods, they don't have the money or resources to be able to inspect any more.  Reagan believed that the free market should be responsible for policing itself and not the government.

This is the way I remember it and again, feel free to correct me as I am not an expert on any of this.

Innova & Innova lite canned
Innova adult dry

Switched to Innova products after the recalls, end of March 2007.  My cats eat mostly wet food and just a bit of dry.  The only problems experienced were sometimes one of my cats would vomit if she ate too much of the dry food.  Her liver levels are now slightly elevated, but couldn't say for sure that this is directly related to this food.

Chicago, IL

Yes, I'm going to see what happens in a few months also.  At the end of the day, they are still a company that is doing a bunch of ingredient and batch testing for melamine and CA and that's a lot more than most companies are doing.  I think they test for botulism as well.  Right now I don't feel good about using their food, but that might change if they can offer some more explanations or iron out the production troubles.

You know, I keep reading posts in here that seem to want to minimize the importance of taking your animals to the vet.  Whether that is the intention or not I would just like to point out once again that if you believe your animals have been exposed to something toxic in the food that in my opinion you should absolutely get them to the vet if it is at all possible.  Just because you switch the food and the symptoms disappear that doesn't mean that no damage has been done.  The vomiting may stop, but there could also be damage to the kidneys or liver that can be minimized or even reversed if you act quickly and get them the appropriate therapy or medication.  The longer you wait the worse the damage may become.  I'm not speaking about any kind of documentation or diagnosis for the pet food companies, I'm just speaking to the long term health of the animal.  I firmly believe that my cats would be either dead or in kidney failure if I hadn't acted quickly after the recall was announced.  This is not to say that every animal can be saved, but if you just get simple bloodwork done at least you will know if there is any damage and then the vet can make a recommendation.

I'm not a veterinarian, I just want to pass this along as my own opinion in case it helps someone out there.

~kittylyda

I started my cats on Innova & Cal Natural canned, Innova dry during the recall, but I'm just too scared to feed it now.  My cats got some of the tainted food during the recalls and I just can't take any chances.  I have switched them to Wellness grain free canned and Serengeti Dry.  I wasn't having any problems until yesterday, one of my cats has been vomiting, but she has some other issues right now so I don't think it is related to the food.  Other than that, they seem to like the new foods just fine.

California Natural Canned
(all flavors)

Switched to this product after the recalls so April 2007-July 2007.  Both cats liked it, no problems with illness.  I did find a hard black plastic piece of something in one can.

Chicago, IL

Yep, we did a full work up.  The rest of the bloodwork is A-OK.

I don't know if we will see them make that update.  I don't think they would want to advertise this.

Nutro Natural Choice packets
Nutro Max Cat Gourmet cans

Both cats ate these 2 Nutro products for about a year in the mornings.  In the middle of March 2007, both cats experienced vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy.  This lasted for a couple days and both cats refused to eat these foods anymore.  Recalls were announced a couple days later.  Took both cats to the vet and both had elevated kidney levels/renal insufficiency.

Chicago, IL

Thank you, Mr. Atkins for posting your test results.

I have to say I can't believe that they would fake results from 3 different labs.  I am impressed with the follow up.  Now, if I can only find an explaination for my cats elevated liver values.  I really want to be able to trust this company again.

Has anyone else whose dogs or cats ate Natura products had bloodwork done recently?  I'm wondering specifically if you have seen any elevated liver or kidney levels.

Thanks.

Laurie,
Did you have any problems with Spots Stew?  I bought a couple of cans of it, but now I am hesitant to give it a try. 

Just so eveyone is aware, Halo's Spots Stew canned food is also made at a USDA human grade plant.  I called them a few weeks ago to get some info.  They won't say which plant.

~kittylyda

Nabiya,
Yes, my vet did check the thyroid values and so far they are fine.  We are going to re-check everything again in a month after more twice weekly fluids and supplements.

Thanks for looking out for us.
~kittylyda

I don't know if this is related to my cats eating Natura or not, but I thought I would share their latest test results.

During the recalls my 2 cats ate some of the tainted food.  Since then they have been on fluid therapy and 3 months ago when I last got bloodwork done the younger cat had kidney levels back to normal and my old, ancient cat still had levels that were slightly elevated.  Yesterday I got the results back for the most current round of bloodwork and my old kitty was about same, which is what I expected.  However, younger kitty's kidney levels were still fine, but the test showed elevated liver levels.  I understand if cats ingest some form of tylenol (don't feel like trying to spell the generic version) then the liver would be affected.  I can't say for sure that this is do to the food (they were eating mostly canned Innova, Cal Nat & a bit of Innova dry), especially since old, frail kitty didn't have any liver troubles and they pretty much eat the same thing.  Obviously this is very distressing to me as I thought my younger cat was kind of out of the woods.  I don't think I would feed my cats a Natura product again, but I really would like to know if this latest development is due to the food that I fed them.  Come on, Natura.  I need some answers here.
~kittylyda