A year has gone since the major players of the industry were exposed. One could ask a parent of a companion animal directly affected and get strong opinions, but few specific answers. Most were left with questions unanswered. Many that were affected did not even report their loss.
This post is to aid those in fear of the next recall–and they are increasing as time passes (see the PowerPoint slide in the first answer below). Questioning outside the box:
How were the major players exposed?
How is it 5,300 varieties and more than 100 brands of pet food affected,but only 1 U.S. company was indicted?
What is/was my companion’s intrinsic value, and what does this mean to the law?
4,000+ casualties; does that remind me of the current conflict involving our troops or the pet food recall or both? Many grieve for both. One was clearly unnecessary, and the total is highly underestimated.
If we are among those that do not consider our pets part of the family, (you probably aren’t reading this) then we are in the vast minority. American values in this area have actually improved from less than half to more than 80 percent. More than half of people surveyed stated, “I would rather spend time alone with my pet than with my spouse.”
In the early 80’s, I considered myself a pet lover, and I had to do a gut check on my definition of love when I felt resentments towards Veterinarians who were treating my pets like little humans. As the science improved I would say, “They don’t need that. Just let them be dogs and cats.” I paid a large price for that attitude. Then I grew up some and learned more about my values and the meaning of love.
ANSWERS: 
Pet Food Companies were exposed of What?
http://www.mflegal.com/petfoodlawsuit
Misleading Consumers Regarding the Contents of Pet Food. “Premium” Pet Food Marketed and Sold as “Complete and Balanced” Has Historically Contained Such Items as Euthanized Dogs and Cats, Restaurant Grease, Hair, Hooves, and Diseased Animals, and Other Inedible Garbage.
Download the lawsuit (Third Amended Class Action Suit) at the above link. They also have a link where you can register if you want to be considered for participation.
We recommend the power point slide at their site for more detail.
What is the Intrinsic Value of my pet(s):
Look at one case study: http://www.animallaw.info/cases/causia555nw2d689.htm
Each state has differing laws. Most laws are as old and ridiculous as…
- Women may not drive in a house coat.
- Animals are banned from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship.
- It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle.
- A recently passed anticrime law requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice, either orally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed.
- The penalty for jumping off a building is death.
These are actual laws on the books in different states–can you recognize the state? Seriously, anyone participating in this (or future) lawsuit(s) should be aware of the case cited above. Your expectations will be more realistic. Perhaps from here, we can move to change the laws. The human-animal bond goes beyond what the law will compensate (as one expert witness in the case said, “…this value could be as high as the national debt…”)
This bond is why I made the recall comparison to our beloved troops lost in battle. The love is human-like. The pain is often indistinguishable. There will be opinions on both ends (I’ve been at both ends and, today, I am grateful to those who continue to improve the science of nutrition).
Anthropomorphism; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphism …provides a window into the way in which humans perceive themselves. This bond represents loyalty, companionship, desire to please, and unconditional love. It is healing and eternal. The evidence that pets have a soul is clear.
How were 5,300 Varieties involved, and only a single Indictment:
The following list represents the Plaintiffs (all major players in industry) in the class action suit:
MARS INC., MARS PETCARE US, INC., PROCTER AND GAMBLE CO., THE IAMS CO.,
COLGATE PALMOLIVE COMPANY, HILL’S PET NUTRITION, DEL MONTE FOODS, CO.,
NESTLÉ USA INC., NESTLÉ PURINA PETCARE CO., NUTRO PRODUCTS INC.,
NATURA PET PRODUCTS, INC., MENU FOODS, INC., MENU FOODS INCOME FUND,
PUBLIX SUPER MARKETS, INC., NEW ALBERTSON’S INC., ALBERTSON’S LLC,
THE KROGER CO. OF OHIO, PETCO ANIMAL SUPPLIES STORES, INC., PET SUPERMARKET,
INC., PET SUPPLIES PLUS/USA INC., PETSMART INC., TARGET CORP. AND WAL-MART STORES, INC.
Here’s The Big Picture:
…ChemNutra Inc. (Las Vegas), a corporation that buys food and food components from China to sell to U.S. food companies, along with ChemNutra owners Sally Qing Miller and her husband, Stephen S. Miller, were charged in a separate but related 27-count indictment.
The indictments allege that more than 800 metric tons of wheat gluten were exported to the United States in at least 13 separate shipments between Nov. 6, 2006, and Feb. 21, 2007, with invoices totaling nearly $850,000; that the shipments were tainted with melamine, an unsafe food additive; and that the shipments were falsely labeled to avoid inspection in China. Furthermore, ChemNutra received the melamine-tainted product at a port of entry in Kansas City, Mo., and sold the product to their customers, who used it to manufacture various brands of pet food…
–April 2008 PetAge
So, we learned that all of the tainted food was made from a single supply of inferior wheat gluten which was disguised as 75% protein and falsely labeled to avoid inspection. 5,300 varities from the same source.
Yet how does each variety differentiate itself in the market? By Marketing Magic, and we have fallen for it for decades. Look at the new commercials. Different. Look at the labels (still disguised protein values). Same as before.
Solution: Knowledge. Lack of knowlege destroys. Watch The Truth About Pet Food today, and take notes, then watch it again. I realize there’s an endorsement here, but there are valid reasons behind it. Anyone can test the endorsement; there’s no risk with a satisfaction guarantee. Who else offers that? Take note of the certifications that come with the endorsement. Another note of value to consumers is, after 10 years, this company has an ”A” rating from the Better Business Bureau.
How do the Plaintiffs rate? I checked out a handful at random, and saw a ‘C’ or ‘Satisfactory’ Rating at best. Satisfactory is up to 6 levels below ‘A’, and ‘C’ is 2 levels above the worst rating possible. Ad tactics were mentioned as being suspicious. See BBB.org rating explanation at http://www.labbb.org/BBBWeb/Forms/Business/RatingExplanationPage.aspx?CompanyID=78000036&sm=
According to a separate PetAge poll, 70% of consumers are “confident” their pet food is safe, and they continue to buy from the major players. HMmm…
Recalls are the rule, not the exception. There have been several since last Spring. I lost count, but know of 13 in the last 12 years. That’s just the food. The toys from China are tainted with lead, but the FDA and Veterinarians say the levels are not hazardous. Treats have been recalled. Bottom line–there will be another recall. Will you be ready?
For Your FDA Pet Food Recall Update, here’s the link:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html#notices
(apologies to cat and kitten parents for using only dog graphics today)
