After publishing ‘Which Pet Foods have BPA free cans?’, an article that provided the responses from numerous pet food companies to ‘do your canned pet foods contain BPA?’ question, Ken Wilks of Merrick Pet Food posted a comment clarifying Merrick’s previous response.  Merrick’s original response to the BPA question was “Thanks for taking the time to e-mail us,  none of our cans contain BPA (Bisphenol A).  They are tin coated steel (inside and outside) with an organic coating over the tin on the inside of the can.” Mr. Wilks posted the following clarification on the article…” Hi, I work for Merrick, and hope I can shed some light on this issue for you.  It is my understanding small cans do not use BPA because they do not have welds joining the can together, and that it is important to keep both pet and human food from contacting the weld area on larger cans.  The reason smaller cans do not have welds is that they are stamped out of a flat piece of metal, and the top is crimped into place.  “Big” (13 + oz) cans have a vertical weld joining the metal, and usually have another weld at the top or bottom.  While our customer service department was mostly correct in saying that the organic coating we use included the interior of the big cans too, in actual fact the weld area has been coated in a small strip first with a coating containing BPA.  It is my understanding that an organic coating that protects the food from the weld that is as effective as one containing BPA has not yet been found.  So we have made the best compromise we can by eliminating most of the BPA inside the can (except for the weld area), and using the organic coating for most of the remaining surface area.  Note this organic coating also covers up the first “BPA” coating on the weld, effectively making the inside coating touching the food 100% organic.  Our estimate at this time is that we have been able to eliminate a BPA lining on approximately 90% of the inside surface area of the big cans.  Not perfect, but the best we can do at this time until another coating emerges that works as effectively to keep food away from the welds.”

While I have to commend Merrick Pet Food Representative Ken Wilks for bothering to clarify what another Merrick Representative responded to the BPA question (at the very least, this company stepped forward and gave us a complete answer), I certainly hope that Merrick and all other pet food companies realize something…

Pet owners want the full complete honest answer, the first time it’s asked, even if you don’t like what you have to tell us.

If you want our trust…if you want our business…be honest.  The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Train your Customer Service Reps properly; provide them with complete and honest responses to every possible pet owner question.  Be as transparent as humanly possible with every ingredient in your pet foods.

And it’s not just pet owners that are getting sick of the pet food run around…

Greg Aldrich, PhD, president of Pet Food & Ingredient Technology Inc, frequently writes for PetFoodIndustry.com.  His work and his writings are almost always geared for the best interest of pet food industry, not pet owners.  However, a recent article from Dr. Aldrich shows even those in the industry are growing weary of pet food run around.

Dr. Aldrich proposed five steps to pet food industry “to identify a few small steps that would streamline information exchange about ingredients used to produce pet foods and offer more clarity to communicate with the pet owner/consumer.” http://www.petfoodindustry.com/ViewArticle.aspx?id=26852

Dr. Aldrich encourages ingredient suppliers to “provide a complete nutrient breakdown of your ingredients.” I’d like to suggest a full disclosure of all additives to each ingredient from suppliers.  Should a supplier add a denaturing agent or risk chemical preservative – pet food manufacturers SHOULD provide this information to pet owners.  Sure, we know current regulations don’t require you to provide this information on your label, but c’mon – you know you should tell us.

Dr. Aldrich has other suggestions too, however the point still remains…pet food’s evasive ways of avoiding the truth is getting real old.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com

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From The Pet Sentinel website…
The Pet Sentinel’s “Expert Fireside ChatsTM” Series, for each episode, invites an accomplished expert/specialist in the field of pet issues (pet health, pet treatment, pet nutrition, pet management, pet psychology, pet care, and so on), to have a focused 25-minute conversation with them on a topical subject (e.g. new cures for common pet ailments, new nutritional breakthroughs for pets, whole and natural pet foods, insights on pet behavior, natural ways to train and discipline pets (without use of force or any “strict” traditional means) and so on). The conversation is recorded, and the mp3 recording or podcast made available via The Pet Sentinel website to its community.

The purpose of this series is to empower pet owners and pet lovers with knowledge and insight into uncommon solutions to common (and not so common!) pet issues, usually highlighting a non-traditional angle to the issue, and providing tips and suggestions on how to address the issue.

Currently, The Pet Sentinel has three archived chats with various pet experts.  To listen in, visit http://www.thepetsentinel.com/?page_id=10

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com

Are you subscribed to Truth About Pet Food Newsletter?
Receive future pet food articles and alerts delivered to your email box. Click Here to subscribe. Your privacy is guaranteed – your email address will not be sold or shared.

Does your pet’s food contain Risk Ingredients?
Petsumer Report knows if Chinese Imports and other risk ingredients are used in over 1600 different cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. Subscribe to Petsumer Report – reporting imported or U.S. only, human quality or lesser grade, Shelf Life, red flag pet food ingredients and recall history. 40+ new reviews added monthly. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee.  www.PetsumerReport.com

DVM360.com reports that “AAHA leaders remain in the initial stages of forming a committee and gaining input for the creation of the guidelines…” Further, “It is our belief that ever pet needs and deserves a nutrition assessment” states President John Tait, DVM.  http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Veterinary+news/AAHA-to-cook-up-nutritional-guidelinesnbspfor-the-/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/652855?contextCategoryId=378&ref=25

The AAHA’s HealthyPet.com website, under the category Dog Care, provides information for dog ‘Nutrition and Weight”…sponsored by…(three guesses, first two don’t count)…Hill’s Science Diet.  http://www.healthypet.com/PetCare/DogCareCategory.aspx?sxc_key=01e33355-c51e-476a-8535-0b5f109253b5

The AAHA will even be the Official Veterinarian Sponsor of Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl VI this year; undoubtedly bringing more awareness to the AAHA and to their sponsors (Hill’s Science Diet, Heartgard, and Frontline).  http://www.aahanet.org/accreditation/aw_puppybowl.aspx

I’m all for veterinarians learning to make sound recommendations to pet owners regarding pet nutrition (some have bothered to already learn!); however it’ll sure be interesting to see who will be sitting on the AAHA committee that develops these recommendations.  If it’s representatives of Big Pet Food and/or Big Pet Food’s lobby organizations such as The Pet Food Institute, we’ll be hearing the same old song and dance.  What a shame.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com

Are you subscribed to Truth About Pet Food Newsletter?
Receive future pet food articles and alerts delivered to your email box. Click Here to subscribe. Your privacy is guaranteed – your email address will not be sold or shared.

Does your pet’s food contain Risk Ingredients?
Petsumer Report knows if Chinese Imports and other risk ingredients are used in over 1600 different cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. Subscribe to Petsumer Report – reporting imported or U.S. only, human quality or lesser grade, Shelf Life, red flag pet food ingredients and recall history. 40+ new reviews added monthly. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee.  www.PetsumerReport.com

Midas Touch, located in Berryville, VA, offers products for health conscious pets and their people.  The brief business description of Midas Touch states…“A unique health food store for people and their pets.  Our pet products include frozen raw and dehydrated foods, healthy treats, natural grooming supplies, premium supplements, homeopathic remedies and non-toxic USA-made toys.  Our knowledgeable staff can help you make informed choices for your pet’s optimal health.”

And now for the tough questions…I’ve sent all of the Independent Pet Food Store Owners a list of questions; each will be asked the same.  I’m sure you’ll see very quickly, by their answers, the benefits of purchasing your pet foods from these business owners.

How/why did you open a pet food store?  (Is there a personal story of a pet food harming one of your own pets?…Motivations of you starting this business?)

My golden retriever’s cancer in 1998 was the catalyst for my change to a natural, non-toxic lifestyle and improved nutrition for my pets.  While researching holistic alternatives for Missy’s cancer treatment I learned quite a bit about the value of real food and minimizing exposure to toxins.  Missy lived 10 months after her initial diagnosis, 6 months longer than the vet expected.   Midas Touch Naturally Healthy Pets, LLC began in 1999 in Missy’s memory. Initially this was a home-based business and my focus was on seminars and workshops to enable pet owners to make informed choices about the care of their cats and dogs.  I later expanded to a cash and carry store at my home that was open on weekends while I worked at a full time job.  In 2007 I moved into a storefront in Berryville, Virginia and quit my “day job.”  With the opening of the storefront the name was changed to Midas Touch and our inventory now includes health food for people in addition to pets.  Half of the store is devoted to pets and half is for people.

What do you see as the difference between your store and a Big Box Pet Store?

Personal knowledge I have gained through the care of my own pets that I am able to share with customers.  What advantages to you provide to Pet Owners?  I thoroughly research each product before putting it on my shelves.  I will not sell something just because it has a high profit margin – the quality of the product is more important to me.  In fact, I have sent your questionnaire to each of my pet food manufacturers and have posted the responses on my web site.  Customers can trust that I will continually research and review to be sure what they buy from me will be healthy for their pets.  For example, when I heard about the difficulties Evangers was having at their plant earlier this year I contacted them.  Because I was not satisfied with their response I pulled all Evangers products from my shelves.  I then contacted each of my suppliers to find out if any of their products were canned at the Evangers facility.  When I discovered the “made in USA” Weruva products were, I also pulled those products.  None of those will be sold at my store again.

What are some of the frustrations you have about the (mis)information your customers have been exposed to about pet food and nutrition?

Through marketing strategies most customers are dupped into believing the pictures of fresh food on the package and a happy dog in the picture are an indication of a good food.  A classic is the Beneful ad campaign.  Many people come into my store looking for a shampoo or topcial ointment to make their dog stop scratching.  Instead of selling them something to supress the symptoms I try to help them find the cause so my first question is always, “what does your dog eat?”  I was shocked at the number of people who answered “Beneful.”  None of them every looked at the ingredients – they were only looking at the claims on the front of the bag.  I wrote an article for my web site that compares the ingredients of Beneful to Evo with an explanation of why dogs shouldn’t eat corn – just look at their teeth.

The myth that pets shouldn’t eat people food and should always consume the same processed food their entire life also frustrates me.  When I encourage people to pick three of our foods and rotate through them, and to add healthy food from their kitchen they are always surprised.  My theory is that allergies and digestive disorders are caused by feeding the same processed food all the time – which is the opposite of what consumers are being told by the pet food industry.

How much of your job is nutritional education and counseling? Do you offer seminars or other continuing education opportunities through your store?  I no longer have the space for seminars so I have not been able to continue that service.  But I spend most of my time talking to customers about the value of nutrition, limited vaccinations, and non-toxic household products.  I will make recommendations and often discourage them from purchasing products from me that I don’t think are appropriate.  Often just a change in food is all they need.  I also send out a weekly newsletter which includes topics on nutrition, humane training, non-toxic alternatives to pest control, and natural cleaning products.  Some of the newsletters are on my web site.

Do you have some success stories to share about how good nutrition has helped customers to eliminate health problems?

One customer had a cat with severe allergies.  She excessively groomed herself to the point of pulling out her hair.  Several areas were inflammed and infected.  She was being treated by a vet and had gone through several courses of steroids and antibiotics.  I suggested that she switch to a raw food diet with the addition of a probiotic/enzyme combination and a fish oil supplement.  Within a few weeks the cat stopped scratching and the hair was growing back.  Two years later she has not had any more steroids or antibiotics and she is a healthy cat.  I have recieved positive feedback from many customers whose pet’s health problems cleared up after switching to a better quality food.  Most of my customer base are a result of referrals from these success stories. I believe the first course of action in any health issue should be healthy, real food.

How did you choose your foods, or what defines foods that you will agree to carry, and what makes you decide against a certain food? Would you be willing to eliminate a certain popular food if something changed about it that you didn’t like? What sort of thing would that be that would make you do this? How would you handle it with your customers?

My main criteria is wheat and corn free, no byproducts, not made in China.  I value the annual pet food review published by The Whole Dog Journal and consider their opinion when making a choice.  I did eliminate Evangers after finding out about their difficulties.  That was my most popular canned food – the best seller by far.  When I pulled them from the shelf I sent a newsletter to my customers and detailed everything that led to my decision.  I told them about the contact I had with Evangers, USDA, and my distributors.  The email correspondence was published in the newsletter (which is still available on my web site).  The same information was printed onto a poster that I hung in the area where the Evangers cans had been.  Customers were disappointed.  I heard a lot of “But my dog loves that food”  “What am I going to do now?”  So we walked through the store for them to see their other options.  Although people were disappointed, they appreciated that fact that I was looking out for them.  Many customers told me they forwarded my newsletters to friends who had not heard about the problem.

Have any of your foods been affected by a recall? Of so, how did you handle it? None have been involved in a recall.

How do you go about choosing and training your employees? I have just two part time employees – my neighbor and my daughter.  Both share my philosophies and will take time with the customers to educate instead of just trying to sell products.

How do you stay educated about food and news in the industry, and what are some of the challenges to this?

Constantly reading – books, magazines, newsletters.  Consulting with a vet that I trust.  The biggest challenge is the contradictory information I come across.  For example, garlic and avocados are in many of the foods but they are listed on the ASPCA poison control web site as toxic.  It is also often difficult to get past the hype when talking to pet food reps.  I want just the facts to make a decision – I don’t like hyperbole.

Why should a pet owner purchase their products from your store?  (Anything other that above.)

They will not be encouraged to purchase anything that isn’t right for their pet.  They can come in and I will gladly talk to them for an hour about options for their pets.  And if they leave without buying anything, that is ok.  Our first priority is to help them make informed decisions.  In fact, I have suggested that some customers not purchase what they brought to the counter for checkout.  One that comes to mind is a young lady who was looking for an ointment for her dog.  When I looked at the affected area I didn’t think an oinment was the right choice so I suggested she take him to the vet.  She came back later and thanked me for the recommendation – her dog had a severe infection which would have gotten worse without medical intervention.

Did I miss anything?

Check out my web site: www.midastouchhealth.com

You’ll meet more Independent Pet Food Store Owners each week; please support these businesses!

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com

Are you subscribed to Truth About Pet Food Newsletter?
Receive future pet food articles and alerts delivered to your email box. Click Here to subscribe. Your privacy is guaranteed – your email address will not be sold or shared.

Does your pet’s food contain Risk Ingredients?
Petsumer Report knows if Chinese Imports and other risk ingredients are used in over 1600 different cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. Subscribe to Petsumer Report – reporting imported or U.S. only, human quality or lesser grade, Shelf Life, red flag pet food ingredients and recall history. 40+ new reviews added monthly. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee.  www.PetsumerReport.com

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use Merrick Beef Filet Squares for dogs distributed by Merrick Pet Care with a package date of “Best By 111911” because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The product was distributed nationwide through retail stores and Internet sales.

Although no illnesses associated with these products have been reported, the FDA is advising consumers in possession of these products not to handle or feed them to their pets.

In December 2009, the FDA conducted routine testing of Merrick Beef Filet Squares and detected a positive finding for Salmonella. A follow-up inspection found deficiencies in the packaging and manufacturing processes.

Salmonella can affect both humans and animals. People handling dry pet treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the treats or any surfaces exposed to these products. Consumers should dispose of these products in a safe manner by securing them in a covered trash receptacle.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella may experience some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Although rare, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart), arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their health care provider immediately.

Pets with Salmonella infections may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets may experience only a decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed any of the affected product or is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.

The affected Merrick Beef Filet Squares were packaged in a 10-ounce green, red and tan re-sealable plastic bag. The “best by” date is imprinted on the top portion of the bag, which is torn off when the bag is opened. The FDA recommends that consumers who are unable to determine the “best by” date discontinue use of the product.

Consumers can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food and pet treat products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in their area. Please see http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ReportaProblem/ucm182403.htm for additional information.

On the home page of the American college of Veterinary Nutrition website, the following Mission Statement is provided:

“The primary objective of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition is to advance the specialty area of veterinary nutrition and increase the competence of those who practice in this field by establishing requirements for certification in veterinary nutrition, encouraging continuing professional education, promoting research, and enhancing the dissemination of new knowledge of veterinary nutrition through didactic teaching and postgraduate programs.”
http://www.acvn.org/site/view/58628_Home.pml

While the site is mostly geared for Veterinarians and students, there is some information on the site geared for pet owners; information that could influence pet owners.  The ‘Nutrition Related Links’ page (Links) provides any website visitor with a list of links to various animal nutrition websites.  There are many ‘expected’ links to Veterinary Universities; however there are also some un-expected links to pet food companies.
http://www.acvn.org/site/view/58669_Links.pml

The American College of Veterinary Nutrition offers the follow disclaimer (I would guess) of criteria used to their list of websites…
•    Ease of understanding.
•    Credibility of the source (University-based, individual expert, breed group, food company, zoo, vet hospital, individual (expert vs. enthusiast).
•    Identification of sources of information.
•    Depth.
•    Up-to-date information, evidence of regular revision.
•    Availability of contact information for further questions.
•    Presence and quality of links.

Under the category ‘Commercial’ – ‘Dog & Cat Nutrition’, the following websites are listed…
Cycle Dog food
Friskies
Iams/Eukanuba
Milkbone
Nutro
Pedigree
Nestle Purina
Royal Canin
Waltham

With further investigation…
Cycle Dog Food – there is no ‘Cycle Dog Food’.  The Cycle Dog website sells collar and leashes recycled from bicycle tires.
Friskies – among other ingredients, Friskies Cat Foods include by-products, meat and bone meal, and animal fat.  Meat and Bone Meal and Animal Fat are included on the FDA list of pet food ingredients likely to contain pentobarbital, thus likely to include euthanized animals.  Made by Purina
Iams/Eukanuba – Iams Pet Foods include by-products; Eukanuba Pet Foods include by-products.
Milkbone – Dog treats include BHA and dyes.
Nutro – Nutro Pet Foods include numerous vegetable proteins (versus meat proteins and synthetic Vitamin K (menadione sodium bisulfite).  Made by Mars Petcare.
Pedigree – Pedigree Dog Foods includes Meat and Bone Meal, Animal Fat (ingredients included on the FDA list of pet food ingredients likely to contain pentobarbital, thus includes euthanized animals), and BHA/BHT (chemical preservatives linked to serious illnesses).  Made by Mars Petcare.
Purina – Purina Pet Foods includes by-products, and Animal Fat (ingredient included on the FDA list of pet food ingredients likely to contain pentobarbital, thus includes euthanized animals).
Royal Canin – Numerous vegetable proteins (versus meat proteins).  Made by Mars Petcare.
Waltham – Waltham is part of Mars Petcare, makers of Pedigree, Nutro (listed above) and more.

So basically, the American College of Veterinary Nutrition approves of pet foods made by three companies…Purina, Iams/Eukanuba, and Mars Petcare.  All three of these companies manufacture dog foods and cat foods with one or more ingredients that many pet food experts (pet nutrition experts) believe to be less than optimal quality or grade.  Co-incidentally, all of these pet food companies are also large contributors to veterinary schools and veterinary organizations.

Surprisingly, one pet food company – known to be a large contributor to Veterinary Schools and sold in almost every veterinary clinic across the country was missing…Science Diet.

It could be that the American College of Veterinary Nutrition is aware of the ingredients used the pet foods listed on their website.  It could be donations were made to the association – needed donations to run their organization and educate veterinarians – in return for a listing on their website.  Regardless to ‘why’, it seems extremely conflicting that an association of Veterinarians dedicated to animal nutrition would be associated in any fashion with pet foods and treat that contain by-products, rendered euthanized animals and the lethal drugs used to kill them, as well as chemical preservatives scientifically linked to serious illnesses.

It doesn’t make good sense.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com

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I subscribe to the FDA recall RSS feed and recall email alerts.  Many of you do as well; when the update on the Premium Edge Cat Food recall was sent out on 12/1/09, many pet owners forwarded me notice of the update (thank you all – this is a team effort!); it seems we all received notice of the update around the same time.  There is a long list of problems that this updated recall announcement pointed out to me.

The first problem is the date of the updated FDA recall announcement; November 27, 2009.  This recall update, with an updated list of recalled cat food date codes, wasn’t sent out to FDA recall subscribers until four days later on December 1, 2009.  Why?  Four days of eating a toxic cat food could kill someone’s beloved pet!   What in the world could have caused the FDA to delay publishing and emailing an updated recall notice to subscribers of their information?  Pet owners subscribe to these alerts because WE WANT TO KNOW IMMEDIATELY about a recall; not four days late.  http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm192404.htm

The next issue is Premium Edge Pet Food’s statement on the November 27, 2009 release; “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.”  September 23?  If this is accurate, where is the September 23 FDA recall announcement?  If September 23 is accurate, why didn’t the Premium Edge Pet Food spokesman I spoke with on October 2, 2009 tell me the food was already recalled?

This September 23, 2009 statement could mean that is the day that Diamond Pet Foods told retailers to pull the product from store shelves.  From the October 20 FDA release:  “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.”  http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm187218.htm

If this is the case, then this system of protecting pets from tainted food didn’t work very well.  The November 27, 2009 update tells us “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.”  So, if indeed September 23 was the date that Diamond/Premium Edge told retailers to remove the suspect food from stores, the ‘recall’ wasn’t effective; reports of sick pets continued until October 19 – almost a full month after their ‘recall’.  On October 2 when I spoke with a Diamond Pet Food Representative, the number of sick cats was 13.  This means six more beloved pets became ill or died AFTER their recall.  http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm192404.htm

Another problem…I spoke with the New York (original State reporting sick and dying cats) FDA complaint coordinator in mid October.  This FDA agent did NOT tell me the food was recalled.  Her statement to me was ‘we are aware of the problem and it is being investigated’.  September 23 to mid October is…almost a month.  Problem.

The original FDA Premium Edge Cat Food recall announcement dated October 20, 2009 states the following:  “The company tested the product and found no contaminants 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.”  Yet…(brace yourself for another problem)…the updated recall announcement of November 27, 2009 states “Samples taken by the FDA indicated that there were additional lots with insufficient levels of thiamine.”  Thus, although Diamond testing didn’t find other lots of cat food that was deficient in thiamine, the FDA testing did find them.  Who’s in charge here?  Why wasn’t all other lots of Premium Edge Cat Food tested back in September?  And even more frightening, are the same vitamins pre-mix used in any other product manufactured at Diamond?  Has anyone bothered to test that?  Maybe the FDA?

Just to double check what I already knew of this recall, I did a search on the FDA pet food recall page; the brand new system of the FDA’s that was built to better inform pet owners of a pet food recall.  Here is the page link:  http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/newpetfoodrecalls/ If you notice in the web address – it says “newpetfoodrecalls” – new pet food recalls.  As of 12/2/09, the top of this page states:  “Information current as of noon November 23, 2009” and the first sentence states “This compiled list represents all pet food recalled since January 1, 2006.”  But guess what?  The Premium Edge Cat Food recall of September 23, 2009 is NOT LISTED!  ‘New pet food recalls’ current as of November 23, 2009 and this recall is not listed.  Someone should get fired over this.

The Premium Edge Pet Food website does have a notice on the home page about the recall, I have to give them credit for that.  http://www.premiumedgepetfood.com/ However, it states “No New or Expanded Recall”.  Well…let’s look at this…the October 20, 2009 FDA recall statements lists only four date codes “RAF0501A22X 18 lb., RAF0501A2X 6 lb., RAH0501A22X 18 lb., RAH0501A2X 6 lb”.  However, the November 27, 2009 FDA recall update lists five date codes adding RAF0802B12X 18 lb product code.  So…isn’t one more date code of food ‘expanded’ and or ‘new’?  http://www.premiumedgepetfood.com/announcements/66/

What a mess.  The worst part is that because the recall notification system is such a mess, more pets die.  We all deserve to be informed in a prompt manner of a dog food, cat food, or people food recall.  Sadly, what we deserve isn’t happening.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com

Are you subscribed to Truth About Pet Food Newsletter?
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Does your pet’s food contain Risk Ingredients?
Petsumer Report knows if Chinese Imports and other risk ingredients are used in over 1600 different cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. Subscribe to Petsumer Report – reporting imported or U.S. only, human quality or lesser grade, Shelf Life, red flag pet food ingredients and recall history. 40+ new reviews added monthly. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee.  www.PetsumerReport.com

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On Tuesday, December 8, 2009 from 3:00 to 3:30 ET Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Principal Deputy Commissioner of the FDA, and Dr. Bernadette Dunham, Director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine “will focus on the importance of animal health and safety for both animals and pet owners”.  There is also “an opportunity to ask questions or offer feedback”.

The bad news is that the webinar is only open to the first 100 attendees who sign in to the meeting URL.  However there is the option to listening to the webinar over the phone; no word on how many phone lines have been reserved.  The FDA notice of this webinar states pet owners can follow or join the conversation on Twitter “by using the hashtag #FDApet.”  I attempted to follow FDApet on Twitter and could not find them listed.

I sent the following questions to the FDA for the webinar…
1.  Although the CVM has found no adverse effects from diseased or euthanized animals being processed into pet foods, the issue still remains that these ingredients in pet food violate Federal Law.  I have to say, I have an issue with a governmental policy that allows Federal Law to be violated.  After all, the law is the law.  Could someone address this issue?

2.  Is pentobarbital testing on pet food planned again by the FDA?  It’s been almost ten years since your previous testing and I’m sure pet owners would appreciate an FDA update on pet food that might contain pentobarbital.

3.  Has there been a resolve to the Evangers Pet Food issue?  I have searched the FDA website, emailed and left a voicemail request to learn what the resolve was with Evangers.  Please advise us.

4.  With the recent Premium Edge Cat Food recall, the pet food company states they recalled the pet food on September 23, 2009 – yet the first release from the FDA (which we all depend on) was dated 10/20/09.  Why the almost one month difference in recall dates?

5.  Currently, it is my understanding that during an FDA investigation of a pet food, no comment can be made to concerned pet owners.  As example, the Nutro Cat Food issue a few months ago.  Word all over the Internet seemed to show a clear problem with Nutro Cat Food, yet the FDA would not comment and in fact an FDA representative stated Nutro was NOT being investigated.  However, a few weeks following this statement, Nutro did indeed recall some pet foods.  Please consider developing some type of ‘during the investigation’ alert to pet owners.  This just-in- case information could save countless pets lives.  A response to this would be appreciated.

6.  Can you address a step by step procedure for pet owners to follow should they suspect their pet becomes ill or dies from a pet food?

7.  Pet owners that support my website (TruthaboutPetFood.com) have initiated a back up Recall Alert program (Pet Food Recall First Alert); we have asked our pet food companies to initiate an email notification system where the company itself can notify registered subscribers of a product withdrawal or recall.  Please understand we are not attempting to replace existing FDA protocol for pet food recalls; we wanted a back-up system to be notified of a problem with our pet food.  What does the FDA think about this grass roots effort by pet owners?  Do we have your support?

I hope these questions get answered.  We’ll see.

To read the FDA information on the webinar, visit http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/ucm192665.htm

If I am one of the first 100 attendees, I will certainly report on the Webinar to you.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com

Are you subscribed to Truth About Pet Food Newsletter?
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Does your pet’s food contain Risk Ingredients?
Petsumer Report knows if Chinese Imports and other risk ingredients are used in over 1600 different cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. Subscribe to Petsumer Report – reporting imported or U.S. only, human quality or lesser grade, Shelf Life, red flag pet food ingredients and recall history. 40+ new reviews added monthly. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee.  www.PetsumerReport.com

Follow Truth about Pet Food on Twitter.  To follow TAPF on Twitter…Under People Search, look for Susan Thixton or TAPF (Truth about Pet Food was too long for Twitter).  Instant pet food updates should an emergency occur.  www.Twitter.com/TAPF

Become Active in sharing the ‘Truth’.  Join and help other pet owners in the TAPF Forum.  http://truthaboutpetfood.ning.com

Independent Pet Food Store Listings are here!  To find quality dog food and cat food in your area…Click Here.

Razzle Dazzle Doggie Bow-tique is located in Kankakee, IL.  The brief description of their business states: “Pamper your pet naturally at Razzle Dazzle Doggie Bow-tique! Razzle Dazzle carries all natural pet foods including raw frozen, freeze dried, dehydrated, canned, and dry kibble diets. We offer a full service grooming salon that uses natural shampoos. We feature eco friendly and non toxic toys, collars, and leashes. We offer a wide array of natural treats and supplements.With a name like Razzle Dazzle, of course, we also carry a bit of bling so you best friend can step out in style. Chiropractic care is available by appointment.”

And now for the tough questions…I’ve sent all of the Independent Pet Food Store Owners a list of questions; each will be asked the same.  I’m sure you’ll see very quickly, by their answers, the benefits of purchasing your pet foods from these business owners.  Seriously, do you think the college students at the big pet store chains or the big retail chains know this much about pet food?

How/why did you open a pet food store?  (Is there a personal story of a pet food harming one of your own pets?…Motivations of you starting this business?)
I opened the store in 2005 due to a medical condition that my 8 year old shih tzu had been diagnosed with.  A regular vet had prescribed a prescription diet for him that he needed to be on “for the rest of his life” or he would need surgery for bladder stones. I hated the ingredients in the food and Ripper refused to eat it after about a week. Smart dog! We sought the help of a holistic vet and started him on the raw diet. I had to make my own food or travel about 45 minutes to buy his food. It made sense to me to open a store to help other pet owners in my area who were concerned about their pet’s health. BTW Ripper is now 13 and has had no further problems with his bladder. He loves his raw food!

What do you see as the difference between your store and a Big Box Pet Store?  What advantages to you provide to Pet Owners?
The difference between “us” and “them” is that here you will get personal attention. We get to know the pets and their owners. We care if a food is working or is not for your pet. I research all the foods that I carry and keep up on the latest news about pet foods. We carry foods made by companies that stand behind their ingredients and their products.

What are some of the frustrations you have about the (mis)information your customers have been exposed to about pet food and nutrition?
Most pet owners are like I used to be. They really don’t know what they are actually feeding their pet until they run into some kind of health issue. They don’t have time to read labels or even realize that you should care about what’s in the bag. The glossy ads and fancy commercials on TV convince the general public that dog food that comes in a bag  can do wonderful things for their pets (as seen on TV). Then they wonder why their pet smells awful, has dry skin, bad teeth,  or an underlying serious health issue. A lot of veterinarians in our area are not proactive enough to see that better nutrition means better health. People value the opinion of their vet. If the vets don’t see over-processed rendered food as a potential roadblock to good health, then how will the average pet owner know that their dogs are what they eat?

How much of your job is nutritional education and counseling? Do you offer seminars or other continuing education opportunities through your store?
We offer nutritional education to all our customers on an as needed basis. I am always willing to talk food with the customers.  We have helped organize a pet wellness fair for our community that we hope to continue each year. We work closely with a holistic vet, Dr. Karen Becker DVM NMD to help educate our community in the area of pet health.

Do you have some success stories to share about how good nutrition has helped customers to eliminate health problems?
I have many customers who have had great experiences by putting their pet on better foods. One customer with a 14 year old dalmation in renal failure was able to give her dog two more good years by researching better foods to support kidney function. We have one dog who is on raw food that is a three year cancer survivor. I just adopted a puppy mill survivor who had major hair loss-bacterial and yeast infections of the skin and ears. He’s now on raw and has a beautiful soft coat and clean ears. There are so many good stories! Lots of allergy dogs…you name it.

How did you choose your foods, or what defines foods that you will agree to carry, and what makes you decide against a certain food? Would you be willing to eliminate a certain popular food if something changed about it that you didn’t like? What sort of thing would that be that would make you do this? How would you handle it with your customers?
I value opinions of the Whole Dog Journal and newsletters such as this one that take the time to get in depth with the producers of pet foods. Ideally, I would like to see all dogs on a raw diet, but I know there are lots of reasons why pet owners can not provide this for their pet. I like to have the next best thing available if you can’t go that route.

Have any of your foods been affected by a recall? Of so, how did you handle it?
There was a limited production recall on a Nature’s Variety product that we were notified of by the company and gave customers full refunds. The distributor notified us and exchanged possibly affected bags for some that were unaffected.  A couple of years ago Timberwolf had a recall that in my opinion was handled poorly by the company. Our customers who had the product received refunds but a few had pets that had vomiting and diarrhea. The distributor gave refunds to us after we had made several complaints. Timberwolf was not easy to deal with and I will only special order their products for customers that request it. I can not recommend it if the company will not stand behind the product.

How do you go about choosing and training your employees?
We are a small business. I am the owner and main person here at the store. A local dog trainer and pet sitter fill in for me when I am unable to be here. Both ladies feed their pets foods we carry and have spent the time to learn all they can about pet nutrition. The trainer educates her training classes in the area of nutrition by teaching the clients how to read the pet food labels.  We have two groomers that also feed their pets products that we carry. They recommend foods and supplements to the grooming customers to help with skin and coat.

How do you stay educated about food and news in the industry, and what are some of the challenges to this?
I stay updated by doing research on the internet, keeping up on the reading about pet products, and attending seminars about pet health and nutrition. The biggest challenge to me is having the time to do everything I want to.

Why should a pet owner purchase their products from your store?  (Anything other that above.)
Not only will you get personal attention from us and find the best food for your pet, you will also get to see our adorably cute store mascots, Razzle Dazzle, Ripper, and Riot. Three shih tzus that make sure that you enjoy your shopping experience.

Did I miss anything?
Visit our website at www.razzledazzledog.net to learn more about us.

You’ll meet more Independent Pet Food Store Owners each week; please support these businesses.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com

Are you subscribed to Truth About Pet Food Newsletter?
Receive future pet food articles and alerts delivered to your email box. Click Here to subscribe. Your privacy is guaranteed – your email address will not be sold or shared.

Does your pet’s food contain Risk Ingredients?
Petsumer Report knows if Chinese Imports and other risk ingredients are used in over 1600 different cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. Subscribe to Petsumer Report – reporting imported or U.S. only, human quality or lesser grade, Shelf Life, red flag pet food ingredients and recall history. 40+ new reviews added monthly. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee.  www.PetsumerReport.com

Follow Truth about Pet Food on Twitter.  To follow TAPF on Twitter…Under People Search, look for Susan Thixton or TAPF (Truth about Pet Food was too long for Twitter).  Instant pet food updates should an emergency occur.  www.Twitter.com/TAPF

Become Active in sharing the ‘Truth’.  Join and help other pet owners in the TAPF Forum.  http://truthaboutpetfood.ning.com

Independent Pet Food Store Listings are here!  To find quality dog food and cat food in your area…Click Here.

What were they thinking?  Sent to me by a caring Pet Rescue – Oliver’s House in West Palm Beach Florida – here is your first No, No Pet Christmas gift…

Orbee-Tuff Bulb with Treat Spot.

Just what you want your dog to learn to chew on…Christmas lights.  This toy looks exactly like a bulb in Christmas lights; the manufacturer as added a spot for adding treats to encourage your dog to chew on it.  This toy makes no sense what-so-ever – that is unless you want to encourage your dog to chew on things that could be fatal.  This toy certainly won’t be on my pets Christmas list.

Crunch Cards.

I found this one at Walgreens; an edible greeting card for dogs made from rawhide and a cat card with catnip toy attached with non-toxic glue.  The ‘Crunch Cards’ are a VERY thin piece of rawhide (it appeared to be to have very sharp edges) full of ‘edible’ dyes.  Their website brags that since some dogs will eat anything why not give a pet a card they can eat (?).  I couldn’t believe it when I saw it.  They even have Holiday versions including the Christmas Card pictured below.  Nope, this won’t be on my Christmas list.  (Avoid giving your dog rawhide; give them porkhide chews instead.  Pork hide is much more digestible than rawhide.)

And perhaps not dangerous but it still doesn’t make sense…

The Snackshotz Dog Treat Launcher.

This device allows you to ‘fire’ treats into the air to your dog (what, you can’t just toss them?).  The ad for the Snackshotz even brags that you can sit on the couch and not feel guilty that your dog doesn’t get exercise…because now your dog can walk a few steps to eat the treat the Snackshotz launched across the room.  No word if your dog needs to wear protective eye wear to prevent accidental treats firing into their eyes.  This product won’t be on my Christmas list either.

I’m sure there are more pet toys out there that won’t be on your Christmas list that I haven’t seen.  If you run across any, post them below in comments.  Everyone can benefit from the warning.

But…if you want a great suggestion for the perfect Christmas gift for pets and pet lovers…what about a gift subscription to Petsumer Report Online?  The gift that keeps on giving (for a full year) and can provide the pet owner with vital information the label doesn’t tell to base their pet food and treat purchase decisions on.  Plus (and this is a big plus) sales of Petsumer Report Online help keep this website in operation – keeping you and countless pet owners around the world informed about pet food recalls, regulations, and ingredients.

Please consider giving all your pet owning friends a subscription to Petsumer Report Online this Christmas.  Email me (Susan@TruthaboutPetFood.com) after your purchases with the names and email addresses of your recipients and I will personally write a special note to each pet owner explaining your gift and instructions to login for the first time.

Help your friends and family’s pets and help TruthaboutPetFood.com continue to provide pet food education – bypass the edible Christmas Tree Light Bulbs or edible Christmas Cards and give them something that can extend the life of their pet…give them Petsumer Report Online!  Click here to order.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com

Are you subscribed to Truth About Pet Food Newsletter?
Receive future pet food articles and alerts delivered to your email box. Click Here to subscribe. Your privacy is guaranteed – your email address will not be sold or shared.

Does your pet’s food contain Risk Ingredients?
Petsumer Report knows if Chinese Imports and other risk ingredients are used in over 1600 different cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. Subscribe to Petsumer Report – reporting imported or U.S. only, human quality or lesser grade, Shelf Life, red flag pet food ingredients and recall history. 40+ new reviews added monthly. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee.  www.PetsumerReport.com

Follow Truth about Pet Food on Twitter. To follow TAPF on Twitter…Under People Search, look for Susan Thixton or TAPF (Truth about Pet Food was too long for Twitter).  Instant pet food updates should an emergency occur.  www.Twitter.com/TAPF

Become Active in sharing the ‘Truth’. Join and help other pet owners in the TAPF Forum.  http://truthaboutpetfood.ning.com

Independent Pet Food Store Listings are here! To find quality dog food and cat food in your area…Click Here.