But, what was in the food?!!!

[gally22]

I understand that it was recalled, and deaths were involved, but what was the issue? What exactly was in the food?

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

Last I read, they weren't sure.

Just as we humans are susceptable to tainted food, so are our pets. Remember the spinach that killed a few and made many others sick? And the Lettuce? If it can happen to us, it can happen to them. And to be honest, I think that the relatively LOW amount of deaths due to tainted food is a sign that either our dogs have healthy immune systems or the dog food companies are complying with regulations---or should I say, regulations are working? But I'm only speculating here.

Oh, and there was some tainted ice cream, but that was due to negligence on part of the truck company that delivered it. Made several young people very sick.

Anyway, our pets are no different, and I don't think feeding them a certain food, raw food, dry food, wet food, or any kind of food can completely 100% protect them from eating bad food. There is always that chance, that tiny chance.

Diamond dog food had some recalls way back when due to tainted corn, I believe. I'm just thankful it didn't hit here in Utah because that is what I was feeding Spike at the time. Also, I've opened a bag of dog food (a sample bag) and it had 5 ear wigs (Sp?) in it---we called them "pincher bugs" when I was growing up in California. It grossed me out, lol.

Anyhoo, this is just my 3 cents.

Tammy in Utah

[furrybestjob]

I heard it had to do with wheat gluten, but that's all I've heard so far.

[k9stylist1968]

The report said they hadn't pinpointed the cause of the problem, but they were looking at issues with wheat gluten (a protein source) that had been obtained from a new distributor. And it's only the canned or pouched "meat in gravy" formulas that are at issue. NO problems with dry or pate-type canned.

Some people are making it out like this "proves" that commercial dog foods are all evil and bad and killing our pets all over the place. But these things can happen in good quality human foods, too.... Remember the E-Coli in spinach? or in peanut butter? Doesn't mean the food or the manufacturer are "bad"--just means there is an isolated incident of a problem with AN INGREDIENT.

I believe a similar instance happened a few years ago with one of the Super-Premium foods (Diamond or Solid Gold, I believe)..... So before bashing Nutro, Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet--whatever, think about that. It could even happen in the so-called "perfect" raw diets; chicken is often full of salmonella.

[k9stylist1968]

I heard it had to do with wheat gluten, but that's all I've heard so far.

The wheat gluten was the suspected ingredient, as it had come from a "new" distributor.

[wenndyr]

they recalled all the wet food. Its the gravy in the wet food. thats what the company told us at my job. It has nothing to do with the dry food.

[diamienono]

The ice cream was Schwans. The problem happened because they has a company that hauled their cream from one place to another and they used that truck to haul raw egg product. It was contracted to only haul Schwan's products and the company had an emergency and did not disenfect it. Since then, Schwan's bought their own trucking company to do the hauling. I know all of this because I was a Route Manager for them for 2 years.

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

The ice cream was Schwans. The problem happened because they has a company that hauled their cream from one place to another and they used that truck to haul raw egg product. It was contracted to only haul Schwan's products and the company had an emergency and did not disenfect it. Since then, Schwan's bought their own trucking company to do the hauling. I know all of this because I was a Route Manager for them for 2 years.

That's interesting! The story didn't say anything about the company (after all it wasn't schwans fault). By the way, Schwans has pretty good food my mom said, she orders it all the time, lol.

Tammy in Utah

[Helly]

If the problem is traced back to the wheat gluten, it's probably a mold. Of course, there are other sources of contamination, but that would be most likely. Mold is also what had contaminated the corn used by Diamond.

There's even some speculation that mold on rye grains was responsible for the begining of the witchcraft hysteria in Salem, Ma.

While the cooking process kills the mold, it doesn't destroy the toxic by-products produced by the mold.

Another possibility would be treated grain that was intended as seed was mistakenly processed for food.

[Arrooh]

I was just reading about pancake mix

That people get ill from expired dates on pancake mix or other flour mixes due to mold.

[Mary1980]

Does anyone know where I could see the list of brands? Or does anyone know if Puppy Chow was on it?

[edderland]

bad feed

It was only the cans/pouches of slices with gravy; no dry kibbles.
Many many brands.
Deidre

[rapuzzled]

That's interesting! The story didn't say anything about the company (after all it wasn't schwans fault). By the way, Schwans has pretty good food my mom said, she orders it all the time, lol.

Tammy in Utah

Before we moved, we got food from them all the time! They had awesome food!