Purina Ingredients Issue

[Britster]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

I know the whereabouts of the rendering plant in Vernon, CA where they process the dead dogs & cats. I used to work in a city next to it & passed by there, it would stink to high heaven. There's also Farmer John company & I would see pigs in trucks going to die, it was so sad.

WARNING! This vid is very graphic, viewer discretion advised. Dead Dogs and Cats Use to Make Meat Meal

by Mike Sagman

For those who still insist euthanized dogs and cats are not used to make meat meals for animal feeds, this silent undercover video shot near Los Angeles1 in April 2007 offers indisputable proof.

In a white paper published by LA County in 2004, the government assures its readers the meat meals are destined for use in fertilizer and animal feeds only.
Although this document clearly denies any intent to produce food for companion animals, it should concern every pet owner because these meat meals are so accessible to the poultry feed industry.

In any case, this is why I always suggest consumers avoid products made with anonymous meat meals and animal fats — and stick with species-identified ingredients.

Ewww, that video is extremely disturbing! Any idea what food company this is/was?? I would think something like Ol' Roy or Dollar Store brands probably would use something like this. Ugh, how disgusting.

I know Purina does have some pretty bad food, but they have some decent formulas as well. I wonder what would happen if a company as large as Purina was actually caught using rendered dogs and cats what would happen. I'm just not sure I think they would do such a thing but who knows.

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by Britster

Ewww, that video is extremely disturbing! Any idea what food company this is/was?? I would think something like Ol' Roy or Dollar Store brands probably would use something like this. Ugh, how disgusting.

I know Purina does have some pretty bad food, but they have some decent formulas as well. I wonder what would happen if a company as large as Purina was actually caught using rendered dogs and cats what would happen. I'm just not sure I think they would do such a thing but who knows.

It's not a pet food processing plant, it's from a company that collects dead dogs & cats from the shelter & vet hospitals. They also collect dead live stock, zoo animals, lab animals, etc, to render into tallow/grease & protein solids. It's all in the white paper link.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Britster

Ewww, that video is extremely disturbing! Any idea what food company this is/was?? I would think something like Ol' Roy or Dollar Store brands probably would use something like this. Ugh, how disgusting.

I know Purina does have some pretty bad food, but they have some decent formulas as well. I wonder what would happen if a company as large as Purina was actually caught using rendered dogs and cats what would happen. I'm just not sure I think they would do such a thing but who knows.

After the waggin train chicken jerky nothing would surprise me about purina. In my opinion they just don't care about pets.

[DewiWihardja]

Originally Posted by Marhcarter

I don't have any Purina products in my house since changing to Blue Buffalo this past November, so I can't look at any labels. Can you get Blue Buffalo in Italy? Huey has done very well since switching (no more inexplicable vomiting) and really seems to like the flavor of the grain free much better than he ever did Purina One, which I fed him for over 3 years. I also used to give him Waggin Train jerky treats. This forum might have saved his life.

Hi Thanks for the info, I just woke up, I can't find Blue Buffalo in Italy unfortunately. They have royal canin, la trainer, purina, friskies, and pedigree, and some other brands that nobody ever heard or well-known enough.

I was considering Royal Canin but it has only one taste for all yorkie...

[DewiWihardja]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

I know the whereabouts of the rendering plant in Vernon, CA where they process the dead dogs & cats. I used to work in a city next to it & passed by there, it would stink to high heaven. There's also Farmer John company & I would see pigs in trucks going to die, it was so sad.

WARNING! This vid is very graphic, viewer discretion advised. Dead Dogs and Cats Use to Make Meat Meal

by Mike Sagman

For those who still insist euthanized dogs and cats are not used to make meat meals for animal feeds, this silent undercover video shot near Los Angeles1 in April 2007 offers indisputable proof.

In a white paper published by LA County in 2004, the government assures its readers the meat meals are destined for use in fertilizer and animal feeds only.
Although this document clearly denies any intent to produce food for companion animals, it should concern every pet owner because these meat meals are so accessible to the poultry feed industry.

In any case, this is why I always suggest consumers avoid products made with anonymous meat meals and animal fats — and stick with species-identified ingredients.

OMG... the video .... this is very sad and worrying. This is very disguting, what they did ... So there's high possibility that this is true...

[DewiWihardja]

Guys, really thanks for all, I know Purina still has some positive reviews from the users, but considering that it has also many bad reviews, compared to brand such as Royal Canin, which is very worldwide...

[DewiWihardja]

I actually don't want to be too easily judgemental but it got me thinking to ask more and research more about this thing as everything is possible to be done by some industries for the sake of profits, neglecting the ethical economy and corporate social responsibility.

Talking a little bit out of topic, Maybe because also not so long ago, we were surprised with the scandal of famous shop like IKEA who include horsey meat in the meatballs they claim to be beef... :-s it seems that some humans can just do whatever ...

[Marhcarter]

I don't cook for myself, so certainly don't cook for my dog, but I guess the only way to be absolutely certain of what you feed your dog is to prepare it yourself, which is definitely an option for those who actually know how to use kitchen appliances other than the refrigerator and microwave and the time to use them (and I am not included in that group).

[DewiWihardja]

) Actually I'm also not a great chef myself. I definitely cook, but I can't say I'm expert in cooking. But of course I've seen so many great recipes in this forum that I might want to try for him when I am at home.

[Yorkiemom1]

Well.............I can only imagine what is in that video....I can not watch that.....but I am playing thru my mind, how, when I was a kid, I would get a milk bone for my dog and one for me, and I would lay in the grass with Skippy, and we would BOTH EAT OUR MILK BONE!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!! My only salvation is that I am now 63, and that was back when I was 5 years old.....I guess it didnt hurt me.............but OMG!!!!!

[DewiWihardja]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

Well.............I can only imagine what is in that video....I can not watch that.....but I am playing thru my mind, how, when I was a kid, I would get a milk bone for my dog and one for me, and I would lay in the grass with Skippy, and we would BOTH EAT OUR MILK BONE!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!! My only salvation is that I am now 63, and that was back when I was 5 years old.....I guess it didnt hurt me.............but OMG!!!!!

It's amazing how you hv dealed with dogs since you were a kid, meaning that u are an expert. Bei is honestly my very first dog and I hope to take care of him well.

Yes the video is really unacceptable. Not even only for dog food, I think using them for fertilizers... I never knew that they use it for fertilizers... What I knew are the animal s**ts (poo) that can be transformed into fertilizers

[Ellie May]

Dogs and cats may be used in pet food outside of the US. They may even be used inside the US; however, large companies have no reason to risk their reps or their profits to do so.

Dogs and cats are rendered and used as fertilizer. It would not be surprising if some company somewhere uses the rendered remains as animal feed. This would show up in FDA testing though.

The FDA did find small amounts of pentobarb in pet food in 2002. Further testing for dog and cat protein was negative. So it had to be from euthanized farm animals.

I think what you are referring to is "meat and bone meal". I suppose the use of dogs in cats as part of this ingredient can't be proven or disproven unless somebody sends the food to an independent, unbiased, outside lab. I'm quite certain zero dog and cat proteins would be found in the US version of this food, however, so I personally would not waste my money.

Purina probably does believe in vivosection. All major companies have test animals. It is an incredibly sad reality, but this is very necessary. You'll have some companies that do palatability trials with their own pets and some that really don't do any testing at all. The problem with this is that there is a lot of room for bias, the food is not truly being given a trial, it proves nothing about the medicinal properties of foods, etc. This may be barely adequate for a small company that was formed overnight just trying to sell food with a pretty label. It is but adequate for companies that are actually attempting to help very sick dogs. These foods sometimes replace drugs for pets. They are a very important part of veterinary medicine. The big three dog food companies are actually trying to do genetics work relating to metabolism and such. And one of them just got a patent for a BioFilm to take certain supplements to certain parts of the intestinal tract. What small company that is lollipops and sunshine does this? None that I know of...

It is a matter of whether or not you think it is appropriate for your pets to be the guinea pigs for food manufacturers. It is not okay with me. So yes, I buy from companies that choose to do some testing. As cruel as it is, my pets come first. This is how we get medications for ourselves too. They have to be tested on something.

I understand the "Purina hate" and the dislike of using animals to experiment. I'm no fan of animals being traumatized either. But robots cannot do this for us. In my opinion, it is very necessary. Until there is another way, I have to support it. Purina is, in fact, probably saving my dog's life right now. So I will continue to feed it. On the other hand, as a company I think their OTC foods could be better and I don't recommend them. There are better foods out there, again in my opinion.

I do know that Science Diet has a promise that they will not do studies that involve animals that are the same as or very close to those previously performed and that is something that I really respect. I'm not sure how Purina and RC feel about this issue.

You can read more about euthanized pets being used in pet food on Dr. Remillard's website at www.petdiets.com.

[DewiWihardja]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Dogs and cats may be used in pet food outside of the US. They may even be used inside the US; however, large companies have no reason to risk their reps or their profits to do so.

Dogs and cats are rendered and used as fertilizer. It would not be surprising if some company somewhere uses the rendered remains as animal feed. This would show up in FDA testing though.

The FDA did find small amounts of pentobarb in pet food in 2002. Further testing for dog and cat protein was negative. So it had to be from euthanized farm animals.

I think what you are referring to is "meat and bone meal". I suppose the use of dogs in cats as part of this ingredient can't be proven or disproven unless somebody sends the food to an independent, unbiased, outside lab. I'm quite certain zero dog and cat proteins would be found in the US version of this food, however, so I personally would not waste my money.

Purina probably does believe in vivosection. All major companies have test animals. It is an incredibly sad reality, but this is very necessary. You'll have some companies that do palatability trials with their own pets and some that really don't do any testing at all. The problem with this is that there is a lot of room for bias, the food is not truly being given a trial, it proves nothing about the medicinal properties of foods, etc. This may be barely adequate for a small company that was formed overnight just trying to sell food with a pretty label. It is but adequate for companies that are actually attempting to help very sick dogs. These foods sometimes replace drugs for pets. They are a very important part of veterinary medicine. The big three dog food companies are actually trying to do genetics work relating to metabolism and such. And one of them just got a patent for a BioFilm to take certain supplements to certain parts of the intestinal tract. What small company that is lollipops and sunshine does this? None that I know of...

It is a matter of whether or not you think it is appropriate for your pets to be the guinea pigs for food manufacturers. It is not okay with me. So yes, I buy from companies that choose to do some testing. As cruel as it is, my pets come first. This is how we get medications for ourselves too. They have to be tested on something.

I understand the "Purina hate" and the dislike of using animals to experiment. I'm no fan of animals being traumatized either. But robots cannot do this for us. In my opinion, it is very necessary. Until there is another way, I have to support it. Purina is, in fact, probably saving my dog's life right now. So I will continue to feed it. On the other hand, as a company I think their OTC foods could be better and I don't recommend them. There are better foods out there, again in my opinion.

I do know that Science Diet has a promise that they will not do studies that involve animals that are the same as or very close to those previously performed and that is something that I really respect. I'm not sure how Purina and RC feel about this issue.

You can read more about euthanized pets being used in pet food on Dr. Remillard's website at www.petdiets.com.

I really thank you for your time to write this long explanation for me. Yes I know there are still some good reviews on Purina, no matter many say bad things about it, I know that many dogs are just fine with that.

My friend told me to change to Royal Canin instead, but I've tried with some of her dog food and he doesn't seem to really like it. He did eat some but not much. I also consider Science Plan, it looks more expensive than royal canin but It does of course experiment with the animals too.

Like the others said, maybe the safest way is only if you know how to be a great chef and cook with the necessary vitamins for the dog, that unfortunately I can't guarantee if I'm able to do that perfectly ...

[Ellie May]

You can with a product called Balance It.

I used to homecook and love the udea.
The honest truth though...my dog does much better on Purina.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Dogs and cats may be used in pet food outside of the US. They may even be used inside the US; however, large companies have no reason to risk their reps or their profits to do so.

Dogs and cats are rendered and used as fertilizer. It would not be surprising if some company somewhere uses the rendered remains as animal feed. This would show up in FDA testing though.

The FDA did find small amounts of pentobarb in pet food in 2002. Further testing for dog and cat protein was negative. So it had to be from euthanized farm animals.

I think what you are referring to is "meat and bone meal". I suppose the use of dogs in cats as part of this ingredient can't be proven or disproven unless somebody sends the food to an independent, unbiased, outside lab. I'm quite certain zero dog and cat proteins would be found in the US version of this food, however, so I personally would not waste my money.

Purina probably does believe in vivosection. All major companies have test animals. It is an incredibly sad reality, but this is very necessary. You'll have some companies that do palatability trials with their own pets and some that really don't do any testing at all. The problem with this is that there is a lot of room for bias, the food is not truly being given a trial, it proves nothing about the medicinal properties of foods, etc. This may be barely adequate for a small company that was formed overnight just trying to sell food with a pretty label. It is but adequate for companies that are actually attempting to help very sick dogs. These foods sometimes replace drugs for pets. They are a very important part of veterinary medicine. The big three dog food companies are actually trying to do genetics work relating to metabolism and such. And one of them just got a patent for a BioFilm to take certain supplements to certain parts of the intestinal tract. What small company that is lollipops and sunshine does this? None that I know of...

It is a matter of whether or not you think it is appropriate for your pets to be the guinea pigs for food manufacturers. It is not okay with me. So yes, I buy from companies that choose to do some testing. As cruel as it is, my pets come first. This is how we get medications for ourselves too. They have to be tested on something.

I understand the "Purina hate" and the dislike of using animals to experiment. I'm no fan of animals being traumatized either. But robots cannot do this for us. In my opinion, it is very necessary. Until there is another way, I have to support it. Purina is, in fact, probably saving my dog's life right now. So I will continue to feed it. On the other hand, as a company I think their OTC foods could be better and I don't recommend them. There are better foods out there, again in my opinion.

I do know that Science Diet has a promise that they will not do studies that involve animals that are the same as or very close to those previously performed and that is something that I really respect. I'm not sure how Purina and RC feel about this issue.

You can read more about euthanized pets being used in pet food on Dr. Remillard's website at PetDiets - VNC putting pets' health first!.

Does are human food get tested on humans?