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DOGS AND CATS ARE DYING |
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Menu foods of Canada is contracted to prepare foods for many
different dog and cat food companies.
At the moment nearly 100 of the foods they prepare have been or are
being recalled – in excess of 60,000,000 items! At first the problem seemed to appear only
in canned and moist varieties but at the time of this writing dry dog foods
have found their way to the list. The problem, at least the problem at the moment, appears to be
caused by the presence of aminopterin, a rat poison
that has been found in the wheat glutin added to
these foods. The wheat glutin was imported – possibly from China. What in the world are people thinking when they buy foods that
contain wheat gluten for DOGS AND CATS!
Wheat, corn, soy, beet pulp, peanut shells, as well as various other
ingredients found in pet foods are there because they are cheap – not because
they are healthy. The truth is that
people usually buy these foods because they are available, they have really
come to believe all the advertising that says how wonderful the foods are
and, they even – consistently! – receive the recommendations from their vets
who sell the foods and make a nice profit.
Various recalls in the past have not affected such a huge list
of products nor so many . names
from the high end labels such as Eukanuba and Iams (the same company, incidentally!) These two, plus
Hills Science Diet constitute the so-called best available in Mexico. How very sad indeed. Products mentioned that are high end brands are on the “not
sure” list: Nature’s Variety,
Wellness, Newman’s Own Organics, Wysong and Innova. I do not
believe any of them are available in Mexico but some readers may have bought
them or other brands at risk on trips to the border. Beware! Once source of information about the recall, Lorraine Shelton,
quality assurance auditor for the pharmaceutical industry says the same
problem that exists right now could come from tainted meat meal, tapioca or
potatoes. The problem is not specific
to wheat glutin.
She said also, “It is impossible to test all food ingredients for
every imaginable contaminant.” Now –
doesn’t THAT build confidence in buying prepared foods for your dogs and
cats? When I checked the list of foods that have been given total
clearance I did not see a single brand available in Mexico. It is not rocket science to prepare food for your pets – you
buy the ingredients and you know quite well precisely what you are
feeding. There is a wealth of
information available on what to do and how to do it. Contact me for further information on home
prepared diets. Meanwhile, for updates and
more information about the foods that are killing dogs and cats you can check
with Hills, Purina, Menu Foods, and the American Veterinary Medical
Association. |