[News]Products Seized From PETCO Distribution Center That Supplies Texas Stores
 

Products Seized From PETCO Distribution Center That Supplies Texas (and other states) Stores

Story posted 2008.06.19 at 06:23 PM CDT

KWTX To Go News

(June 19, 2008)?U.S. marshals seized pet food products Thursday from a PETCO distribution center in Joliet, Ill. that supplies retail stores in 16 states including Texas because of what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said was widespread rodent and bird infestation that was discovered during inspections in April and May.

The FDA said in a press release issued Thursday evening that it has received no reports of pet illnesses or deaths associated with the food distributed by PETCO and that it doesn't have evidence the food is unsafe for animals.

"However,? the FDA said, "the seized products were in permeable packages and held under conditions that could affect the food's integrity and quality.

Consumers who have handled products originating from the center should wash hands thoroughly with hot water and soap and should wash all surfaces with which food packages came into contact, as well, the FDA said.

Consumers are also advised to thoroughly wash products sold in cans and glass containers from PETCO stores in Texas and the other 15 affected states.

The marshals raided the center after A U.S. federal judge issued a warrant for the seizure of all FDA-regulated animal food susceptible to rodent and pest contamination, the FDA said. "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, the FDA's 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 center also supplies retail stores in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Story posted 2008.06.19 at 06:23 PM CDT

How horrible is this!!! Yet another reason to always wash EVERYTHING you buy!
Was it Petco or PetsMart that was recently "cited" for selling expired (like 3 years old) dog food?!
Things are getting scary...you can't even trust the stores (whether it is human items or pet items) to carry items that will NOT harm your health! :mad:

Thanks for posting!

i think it was petco.. im so mad at myself cuz like a year ago princess loves these meat sticks.. i bought it and when i opened it it was like really black.. i gave her a piece then later looked on the back and it was like expired 3 years ago.. i should have went back and yelled at them but by then i had already thrown away my receipt... now when i buy them i definitely always check the expiration date!!

eek! i bought some dingo sticks from petsmart and they had mold on them. this stuff needs to be regulated better.

Oh yuck! How awful. :(