Warning..................please Read!!!!!
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2008
Media Inquiries:
Kimberly Rawlings, 301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries:
888-INFO-FDA



FDA Requests Seizure of Animal Food Products at PETCO Distribution Center
Today, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Marshals seized various animal food products stored under unsanitary conditions at the PETCO Animal Supplies Distribution Center located in Joliet, Ill., pursuant to a warrant issued by the United States District Court in Chicago.

U.S. Marshals seized all FDA-regulated animal food susceptible to rodent and pest contamination. The seized products violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because it was alleged in a case filed by the United States Attorney that they were being held under unsanitary conditions. (The Act uses the term "insanitary" to describe such conditions).

During an FDA inspection of a PETCO distribution center in April, widespread and active rodent and bird infestation was found. The FDA inspected the facility again in May and found continuing and widespread infestation.

"We simply will not allow a company to store foods under filthy and unsanitary conditions that occur as a direct result of the company's failure to adequately control and prevent pests in its facility," said Margaret O'K. Glavin, associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "Consumers expect that such safeguards will be in place not only for human food, but for pet food as well."

The distribution center in Joliet, Ill., provides pet food products and supplies to PETCO retail stores in 16 states including Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

FDA has no reports of pet illness or death associated with consumption of animal food distributed by PETCO, and does not have evidence that the food is unsafe for animals. However, the seized products were in permeable packages and held under conditions that could affect the food's integrity and quality.

As a precaution, consumers who have handled products originating from the PETCO distribution center should thoroughly wash their hands with hot water and soap. Any surfaces that came in contact with the packages should be washed as well. Consumers are further advised as a precaution to thoroughly wash products sold in cans and glass containers from PETCO in the 16 affected states.

If a pet has become ill after eating these food products, pet owners should contact their veterinarian and report illnesses to FDA state consumer complaint coordinators.


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it absolutely breaks my heart that companies and stores that CLAIM to love animals puts animals in harms way. Thanks for the notice Donna.

Marci, since I am the one who got you to start home cooking for Layla, haven't you felt so blessed that you missed the major recall and now this? I wish I could convince "everyone" to home cook and stop buying dog food. Hugs to you and Layla and please have a safe and happy trip to KC and back. We will need LOTS of pictures. ;)

That's exactly why I make my babies their food !!!! I know just what goes in it !!!! Although anything can be contaminated these days ! Who what have thought tomatoes ???!!! (not fed to my kidos)...:animal-pa:animal-pa:animal-pa

Donna we aren't going :( I wish we were! we are very jealous but I went to the Domnican in April with my teacher's college and that cost a pretty penny.

i am so glad i home cook. I feel like i stress enough over Layla and now that i don't have to worry about her food it is one less thing to make me anxious. Have i thanked you lately :p

I remember that...........lucky you! Maybe next year we can both go and even share a room? I'd love that. :)

Donna, thank you so very much for this timely warning. How very scary!!!

I am almost brave enough to start home cooking..... Not quite there but almost :) Thank you for all of your encouragement.

*giving you that ~push~ you need* DO IT :D lol... when you are ready i'm here if you have questions :D

How old should puppies be to "home cook"?? Lily is 14 weeks old?? What kind of vitamins would she need if you home cook?? I am thinking about the Life Abundance now because it isn't in stores but everything is scary huh?? Oh my!! Worse than feeding 2 legged ones!!LOL

You can do it Cindy.:)
If you get a nutritionist you don't have to worry about it being balanced.

Honestly, I think whoever is feeding dog food right now is way braver than homecookers. Now it is even recommended that you wash your hands after feeding your dog kibble because of salmonella concernes. I just don't understand how these companies get away with it.

How do you find a nutritionist?

Ellie's vet recommended one for me.
We use Dr. Rebecca Remillard out of Angell in Boston but the supplement she uses isn't my favorite, so I usually don't recommend her BUT she is one of the most knowledgeable and best nutritionists in the world.

If you are feeding a dog with special needs you can call and request a phone appt. with her (for about $150 including a recipe). If your dogs don't have special needs you can go to petdiets.com and buy a recipe. I think she owns this site. However, we get into the supplement issue again (she recommends BalanceIT and the regular version has menadione in it which I think is bad).

Or you can go to the BalanceIT website and buy a recipe for $20.
If you buy the right one they will tell you how much BalanceIT to put in it AND they will give you a version telling you how much human vitamins to put in it, so you wouldn't have to use BalanceIT at all. I've never done this so I don't know if it is any good but I might try soon.

Or there are other ones out there.
You can contact Cornell and maybe use Dr. Wakshlag.
He is a good one as far as I know.
Ann (Wylie's Mom) has one that is more holistic that you could use.
University of Tennessee has Dr. Susan Lauten. They could probably help you.
All the veterinary schools should have nutritionists on staff and they may or may not formulate recipes.

I just now saw this thread, so I posted this again in the news section earlier this morning. Sorry for the double post, but it's in a different section, so maybe more people will see the article. This just makes me mad.