FDA Mulls Motive In Pet Food Case

Theory Probed On Imports As Melamine Turns Up At Calif. Hog Farm

(AP)  Blue Buffalo, of Wilton, Conn., followed Thursday by recalling 5,044 bags of its Spa Select Kitten dry food. The company intercepted most of the kitten food before it reached distribution centers, company co-founder Billy Bishop said.

FDA officials would not release the names of the other two manufacturers that Wilbur-Ellis supplied, citing its ongoing investigation.

The FDA could not provide updated numbers of pet deaths or injuries due to the contaminated pet food. The agency has received more than 15,000 calls since the first recall was announced more than a month ago.

The FDA and Agriculture Department also were investigating whether some pet food made by one of the five companies supplied by Wilbur-Ellis was diverted for use as hog feed after it was found unsuitable for pet consumption.

"We understand it did make it into some hog feed and we are following up on that as well," Sundlof said.

Later Thursday, California officials said they believe the melamine at the quarantined hog farm came from rice protein concentrate imported from China by Diamond Pet Food's Lathrop facility, which produces products under the Natural Balance brand and sold salvage pet food to the farm for pig feed.

"Although all animals appear healthy, we are taking this action out of an abundance of caution," State Veterinarian Richard Breitmeyer said in a statement. "It is unknown if the chemical will be detected in meat."

Officials are investigating American Hog Farm's sales records to determine who may be affected by the quarantine, said Steve Lyle, a spokesman for the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The 1,500-animal farm operates as a "custom slaughterhouse," which means it generally does not supply meat to commercial outlets.

"Mostly it is not so-called mainstream pork. This is an operation that sells to folks who come in and want a whole pig," said Lyle said.

Officials urged those who purchased pigs from American Hog Farm since April 3 to not consume the product until further notice.

Dr. Mark Horton, state public health officer, said so far "evidence suggests a minimal health risk to persons who may have consumed pork" from the farm.

A man who answered the phone for American Hog Farm late Thursday declined to comment and referred calls to state officials. Phone calls to Diamond Pet Food's Lathrop facility and Meta, Mo., headquarters were not immediately returned.

[erasmus6]

johnshen

It is truly amazing how many ignorant people are in this world.

[johnshenweixiang]

yes,we china can shot down the satellite now,but The USA had this ability 20 years ago!
U think we danger USA,we also think USA threaten China(u have forces in JP/s-korea)!
How do u think of invading Iraq?
How do u think of the USA force other country to do what u want?
USA is the world's plice?
Really Think about your police and remember every country has their own culture and interests not only you.
Don't make other country and people into corner!!

[johnshenweixiang]

yes,we china can shot down the satellite now,but The USA had this ability 20 years ago!
U think we danger USA,we also think USA threaten China(u have forces in JP/s-korea)!
How do u think of invading Iraq?
How do u think of the USA force other country to do what u want?
USA is the world's plice?
Really Think about your police and remember every country has their own culture and interests not only you.
Don't make other country and people into corner!!

[erasmus6]

lastdance2

If what your saying is true that would mean you have one f**cked up country. If what your saying isn't true, that means you are one f**cked up person.:)

[lastdance2]

Remember :

In 1967, When the CIA dumped a flu virus.
Into the New York subway system.

How many people, did they kill that year ??

At the same time, it was rumored :

The CIA dumped a flu virus in the :

San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sea-Tac Airports.

Those of us, who were at age at the time.
Remember, the newscasts and the newspaper headlines.

Go up on the net now !!
Try and find the information.

What you will find is :

The US Army, has been credited.
With dumping that flu virus.
_______________________________________

"Contaminated Pet Food"

May be in retaliation :

For a dumped : "Bird Ful Virus"


( a history lesson - worth thinking about)


lastdance

[erasmus6]

didntinhale

The contaminated wheat gluten that went into the food came from your country. It was your country that got it from China. And that bit of information came from this website which is in your country.

[incog-nito]

Looks like globalization is going real well. Manufacturing is overated anyway. We'll all just be salespeople and sell stuff to each other. I'm glad the Chinese are really looking out for our well-being.

[cgene1]

George did it.

[cgene1]

Knew *** well someone would drag G Bush into anything that happens, hope your wife dosent get pregnent

[tbweb]

Looks like Weapons of Mass Destruction have migrated to the food supply! Ever since the Caveman, humans have excelled at finding creative ways to kill.

[walt1944-2009]

I expect that more and more chemicals are going to be discovered in food as the investigation really picks up steam. God knows what is ending up in not just pet food, but ALL food. I wouldn't be surprised if it came out that we all have been eating junk from overseas that is unfit for human consumption. You can't trust what a big food company lists on the label of anything you buy because the big food companies know the FDA can not and won't police every one of them. It all boils down to that bottom line and the insatiable corporate greed at the top level. Who cares if animals and people get sick and die from being poisoned by the cheap food that's bought from China, just so long as the corporate big shots can get their expensive perks and bonuses! It's the George Bush way!!!!

[booyaw_77]

What are we importing food for anyway? We're the food capital of the world. Oil? Yah. Flags? Yah. But food? C'mon.

[barbaraf4]

Not too long ago, the Chinese government was ordering their citizens to kill their pets. This sounds like something was done to the food to accomplish just that.

[bythepeople]

This country is totaly capable of feeding everyone here, people and animals. we need to stop importing cheap stuff from cheap sources just so the CEO'S can have more yachts.

[susha4]

The additives that are being put in all food these days, and coming from God knows what third world county with unsanitary conditions, it's a wonder we haven't all been poisoned by now.

I think that the SOURCE of these additives should be on the label. From now on, if I can't pronounce the names of what is in a food, I'm not buying it!

Remember the movie "Soilent Green"? Well that time may be here!

[fatherteresa]

Remember the bird flu epidemic? Thousands of chickens, contaminated and not contaminated, were slaughtered. Could they have been disposed of via the pet food? Or our food via the pig feed?

[sevenveils]

"FDA investigators are awaiting visas that will allow them to visit the Chinese plants where the vegetable protein ingredients were produced. " Apparent Chinese stall tactics until the plants get a thorough cleaning.

"Chinese authorities have told the FDA that the wheat gluten was an industrial product not meant for pet food..." Recall earlier the FDA stated the wheat gluten was human grade.

With the sense of distrust of current Chinese evasion of the truth, and its obvious disregard for international public safety, the US should ban all Chinese vegetable products until that government gets its act together on this matter.

Those with a great degree of paranoia could suggest this is a Chinese plot to destabilize the western economy through its food industry.

[gkc99]

And as all our science and manufacturing goes to Asia, thanks to the globalizers, what kinds and qualities of products do you think we will continue to get from there, in increasingly greater numbers?

[cantshutup]

Is there one good reason why these products can not be produced by our own American farmers? Why on earth does AMerica need to import ANY foreign wheat or corn or whatever??? Our national anthem praises our AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN!!!! we don't need any cheap, polluted, cruddy chinese c r a p!!!

[erasmus6]

galaxiana

Do you not think that someone should be going over there? Yes they may have cleaned up, but if you are stupid enough to put c-r-a-p in food, maybe they aren't smart enough to clean up properly.
Regardless they need to be held accountable and know that we mean business. Someone needs to meet them face to face. Sometimes it just doesn't come down to MONEY.