Hello all,
I have not written about this much lately as I have had my mind on other things but I figured I would bring you all up to date on what is going on in the pet food/toy world that seems to be mirroring the human toy world.
I am not sure if this was mentioned yesterday but 600,000 toys are to be recalled, and guess what...they were all made in China. The recalls are mostly due to lead levels but that is not all that has been contaminating us. There is formaldehyde and other wonderful things that the wonderful US Companies that buy these toys seem to not mind us getting in out systems. This diary is not just about toys for humans though so on to the furkids and their issues.
First for the somewhat good news on this: HR 3580 has passed the House and the Senate
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to revise and extend the user-fee programs for prescription drugs and for medical devices, to enhance the postmarket authorities of the Food and Drug Administration with respect to the safety of drugs, and for other purposes.
This has some good new laws re: pet food and pet food recalls among other things. So far Bush has said he will sign it (not holding my breath on that but miracles can happen). From Itchmo
The 500 page bill, H.R. 3580, mostly detailed human drug and medical device changes, but there were also major provisions for ensuring the safety of pet food and establishing an early warning and surveillance system to identify adulteration of the pet food supply.
In the new law, the FDA is directed to establish ingredient standards and definitions in regards to pet food, processing standards for pet food, and update standards for the labeling of pet food that include nutritional and ingredient information. All this must be done within two years.
Within one year, an early warning and surveillance system to identify adulteration of the pet food supply and illness associated with pet food must be established.
The FDA must establish an Adulterated Food Registry within one year in which companies must report feed, food and pet food adulteration that could cause health risks in humans or animals.
The records in this registry will be maintained for two years and can be subject to FDA inspection.
So now to the not so good news, more problems with dog treats and dog food plants.
From Itchmo
In May of this year, Tembec was under fire for adding melamine as a binding agent in livestock, fish, and shrimp feed. The feed was used for both domestic use and was exported to 13 other countries. A recall on the animal feed was issued because of the use of melamine.
Melamine was found to improve binding of ingredients used to make food pellets, but it is not approved as a food additive.
In June, media outlets also reported that Tembec did not even have a license to produce animal feed components.
Now, the FDA is warning Tembec about violations at their Toledo, Ohio plant.
In a letter dated September 11, the FDA said the facility is making feed-binding agents that contains additives not approved as safe, including significant levels of melamine. The agency also mentions faulty cleaning of equipment used for both resins and animal feed products.
Tembec has told the FDA that they will stop making products regulated by the FDA.
So they stop making products regulated by the FDA but are still going to make crap products apparently.
The FDA has put out a warning re: Chicken Jerky dog treats in general. Now some people may be causing this by feeding their dogs too many of these and I am sure in some cases this is what is causing their dogs to get ill. However, Banfield Vets are reporting that there are a lot of illness being reported that have to do with Chicken Jerky treats so I think the numbers are once again higher then they want to claim.
From the AVMA
The AVMA staff has been in communication with veterinarians who believe certain brands of jerky treats from China could be causing illness in pets. Signs of illness have included vomiting, lethargy, and anorexia.
Dr. Richard Goldstein, an associate professor of small animal medicine at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, has been collecting data on cases of pets that became ill after ingesting jerky treats from China. He is the primary author of an informational document available on the Web site of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, www.acvim.org.
According to the document, ACVIM diplomates who work in nephrology and urology became aware of an unusual number of dogs with similar presenting complaints and clinicopathologic testing results in association with the ingestion of various brands of jerky treats, mostly chicken jerky. The dogs are typically small and have a history of vomiting, lethargy, and anorexia.
Blood chemistry in many cases has revealed hypokalemia and a mild increase in liver enzymes. Blood gas analysis indicates acidosis. Urinalysis has consistently shown glucosuria and granular casts. The findings suggest an acquired Fanconi syndrome, according to ACVIM diplomates, and Fanconi screens on urine have been positive.
Lead was found in pet toys from Wal-Mart (aka poison central) link.
Expertox, a Texas lab, has found elevated levels of lead, chromium, and cadmium in two Chinese-made pet toys sold at Wal-Mart. But two veterinarians said the levels found by the lab are not a health risk to cats and dogs.
A dog chew toy, a green monster, tested positive for what the lab categorizes as high levels of lead and chromium. The lab detected lead levels of 907.4 micrograms per kilogram (almost one part per million). Chromium was found at levels of 334.9 micrograms per kilogram. Levels of cadmium, arsenic and mercury were also found in the green monster toy.
The lab said with that kind of concentration, if a dog puts the toy in his mouth and chews or licks it, he is being exposed to a good amount of lead and runs the risk of metal toxicity that may shorten his life.
Expertox said a cloth catnip toy also tested positive for a "tremendous amount" of the toxic metal cadmium. The levels of cadmium found were 236 micrograms per kilogram.
Two other Wal-Mart pet toys were analyzed, a cloth hedgehog for dogs and a plastic dumbbell toy for cats. Expertox found cadmium in those two pet toys, but the lab toxicologist said the levels found were similar to the amount in one cigarette and not considered significant.
The director of Expertox’s lab, forensic toxicologist Dr. Ernest Lykissa, Ph.D., said the levels found in the green monster and catnip toys are potentially toxic. He said Wal-Mart should take these products off of the shelves or put a warning label on the toys saying that they are poisonous.
He added that lead goes to the brain and causes learning disorders in children, and chromium is a cancer producing agent.
Lykissa is worried about the high levels of metals and toxins the lab found in the pet toys.
"These (toxic) materials came off the toys freely, like with the lick of the tongue from a dog or cat," he said. "They were readily liberated from these toys. We didn’t take a sledge hammer and pound on them. I just did what a dog or cat would do by licking it. That’s why this is so serious."
I love it when vets say "It's not high enough to be toxic." Um, ALL LEAD IS BAD.
There are several class action lawsuits in the works regarding the Menu Foods debacle from a few months ago as well. At the moment it seem that the attorneys are still just gathering info and such but I will try to post periodic updates when there is progress.
Just wanted to update Kossack animal lovers on all the dangers out there.
REMEMBER: IF IT SAYS MADE IN CHINA DON'T BUY IT!
My cat Seraph says, "At this rate I should live in an isolation chamber!!!"
It's not that bad yet, but just be wise shoppers!!