September 2nd, 2007. The pet food poisoning crisis is far from over. We
learned last month that Wal Mart again has brought poisoned treats back on
their shelves by cleverly placing new lot labels over the ones printed on
the recalled packages. This is the second time in the past six months Wal
Mart has done this and various stores throughout America, so we counsel to
avoid all Wal Mart pet foods, treats and toys. The company cannot be
trusted.
Wal Mart and Menu Foods are by no means the only untrustworthy sources of
pet supplies. Consider the report below. We suggest that ALL Nutro brand
foods be avoided...
FDA Blocks Nutro Pet Food Shipment from Entering U.S.
Products "appeared to contain poisonous substances and unsafe additives"
By Lisa Wade McCormick
ConsumerAffairs. Com
August 28, 2007 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July blocked more
than 100 Nutro Products -- various styles and flavors of its dog and cat
food -- from entering the United States.
ConsumerAffairs. com learned the FDA took that action at the Port of Los
Angeles -- and listed Nutros pet food on its Import Refusal Report --
because the products appeared to contain poisonous substances and unsafe
additives.
The FDA has authority to block and detain any regulated products from
entering the United States if they appear to be out of compliance with The
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Some of Nutros pet food on the Import Refusal List include its Adult Turkey
with Chicken Liver, Choice Adult Cat w Turkey & Duck, Choice Complete Care
Kitten Rich in Chicken with Liver, and Adult Large Breed Chicken & Rice.
News of the FDAs action alarmed Mike G. of Florida. He owns multiple cats
and feeds them Nutro products.
What isnt clear is which additive it is that is unsafe, and which substance
it is that is poisonous, he told us. The three Nutro canned cat products I
have in front of me all state Made in USA. But they don't say which state or
which US territory.
He added: I dont so much care where (the products came from). Its the
'which' (unsafe additives and substances) that concerns me.
Mike contacted Nutro about his concerns, but says the company ignored his
inquires.
He wasnt surprised.
From previous experience, most responses from Nutro have been
non-responsive, he said.
Mike shared with us the message he sent to Nutro, which echoes concerns weve
heard from other pet owners:
I want to know, specifically, before I feed any of these foods I have in the
house to my cats, exactly where Nutro cat foods are made, exactly where
those foods on the FDA Import Refusal Reports were made, and specifically
which additive it is which is unsafe, and which substance it is which is
deemed poisonous or 'deleterious.
If I do not receive a satisfactory response I will be taking these cans back
to where they were purchased, and will never again be purchasing other Nutro
products.
In the aftermath of several thousand pet deaths, he added, Nutro and other
companies need to demonstrate their commitment to pet safety by answering
pet owners' questions satisfactorily.
Non-responsive
ConsumerAffairs. com also contacted Nutro about the FDAs action. It took the
company more than a week to respond to our repeated calls.
Nutro, however, didnt answer our specific questions.
The companys Consumer Services Manager, Tamara Cerven, instead e-mailed us
Nutros official, canned response.
It has been brought to our attention that confusion has been caused by the
Food and Drug Administration s (FDA) Import Refusal Report, the companys
statement said. We wish to assure our customers that this report is in no
way a cause for concern about the quality and safety of Nutro pet foods
currently on store shelves.
Nutro said the products listed the FDAs Import Refusal Report are ones
affected by Menu Foods massive recall in March of melamine-tainted dog and
cat food.
This report lists recalled product(s) that have been returned to Nutro from
overseas, according to the companys statement. This product is not intended
for sale.
Nutro said it immediately discontinued all sales of its melamine-tainted
products and removed them from retail stores, warehouses, and distribution
centers after Menu recalled 60 million containers of contaminated pet food.
Nutro also ordered recalled product to be shipped back to the U.S. from
overseas for proper handling, the company said in its written statement.
Some of this product is the subject of the FDA report.
Nutro said customers with questions about the FDAs action can call its
customer service line at 1-800-833-5330 or visit its Web site at
www.nutroproducts. com.
Mike doubts pet owners will get any answers, though.
They failed to respond to my mail, responding only to you, he told us today.
My confidence was rattled with both Nutro and Iams in March when I learned
that they both used Menu Foods. I'm one who drove further to the
pet-superstores to purchase what I had believed to have been better, safer'
foods . . . only to learn they were made by the same company using some of
the same unsafe contaminated ingredients which they also put into the
cheaper, less-quality / less-safe foods in the supermarkets.
So their failure to respond to me now, personally, is the last straw for me.
If and when products begin to flow from their own plant and I get a thorough
read-through of the label, I might then reconsider purchasing their product.
But not before.

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