So I'm going to copy/paste a members post from another forum:
The cow in question was a cow that was rendered. According to the article you linked, "Champion used the rendered material in a dry dog food product it manufacturers for a U.S. distributor, Pet Pantry International, of Carson City, Nev. Champion also used the material in four of its own dog kibble products sold mainly in western Canada under the brand names Yukon Gold 30/20 Mushers Mix, Champs Choice Deluxe, Masterfeeds Sportsman and Brown Bag Dog Food."
Also according to the article, "Very few of Champion's premium brands, which are sold in Canada under the name Acana, would even contain rendered beef as an ingredient, said Peter Muhlenfeld, the company's spokesman. Since the BSE scare in Alberta, Champion has moved to eliminate rendered beef from all of its products, including the lower-priced product sold through grocery stores, he said."
This was one cow that got in. And contrary to what many people believe, I'm very willing to bet that a "mad" cow has gotten into the human food supply chain on more than one occasion with the general public none the wiser. From what I understand, it can take many many years to become symptomatic for MCD. So how would you know?
I'm not making excuses for this. I think my point is that the cow that was mad was not even used in Orijen or Acana, which are really the only Champion foods recommended here.
Eh. Not a big deal, in my opinion. In fact, I kinda like that there is proof of real fishes being used.
http://dogfoodchat.com/forum/images/...ated/becky.gif
The bone shards were perfectly fine to feed. Mainly because they are from a fish and fish bones are the softest of all the bones. But also because DOGS WERE MEANT TO EAT BONES. I voluntarily feed Ania bones *gasp* 3 - 4 times per week!
http://dogfoodchat.com/forum/images/...s/rolleyes.gif
3rd recall 2008 - Irradiating pet food which killed over 30 cat & affected over 100 & blamed gov despite signing the documents to irradiate. We did go over this, even though it was put to bed too easily. Blaming the Government, when Champion signed off on irradiating the foods.
I believe that irradiating stuff that is being imported is a common practice. I truly don't think that Champion did so with the idea that animals could become sick or die as a result. I mean, if you really think about it from a business perspective, why would Champion want to kill some of it's customers and alienate others?
The important thing here is that Champion acted quickly once they learned of the sick/dying pets and pulled their product from Australia shelves. And they no longer export food to Australia because the only way they can do so is by irradiating. So they loose the market because they won't compromise.
4th recall 2011- SALMONELLA- affecting Acana Grasslands; Dog Food with Free-range; Lamb; Wild caught Fish - Walleye; Free run Duck and Whole Eggs.
www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_217dot html Import Refusal Report
Again, this isn't something that worries me in the least. Healthy dogs are perfectly able to eat food containing salmonella without catching salmonella.
I still think that Champion is the best dog food company around. The issues listed above are minor, in my opinion. And Champion quickly resolved each one of them, which should count for something.