Vernon, CT – Bravo! announces a voluntary recall of select tubes of three of its poultry products for cats and dogs. The pet food is being recalled because two of the products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes, while the other product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Both Salmonella and Listeria are organisms which can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and if there is cross contamination, in people, especially small children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people with Salmonella infection may only suffer short-term symptoms, such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Long term complications can include arthritis and other more serious ailments. Healthy people with Listeria infection may only suffer short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The company has received no reports of illness in either people or animals associated with any of the three products.
The recalled products are distributed nationwide to distributors, retail stores, internet sales and directly to consumers, and they can be identified by the batch ID code located on the hang tag attached to the bottom of the plastic film tubes. The recalled products should not be sold or fed to pets. Pet owners should return unopened frozen tubes of food to the store where purchased for a full refund. Pet owners should dispose of opened tubes of product in a safe manner (example, a securely covered trash receptacle) and return the washed plastic batch ID tag to the store where purchased for a full refund.
Recalled Pet Food:
Product: Bravo Original Formula Chicken Blend frozen raw food
Product Numbers: 21-102, 21-105, 21-110
Sizes: 2 pound, 5 pound and 10 pound tubes
Batch ID code (on hang tag): 236
Reason for Recall: Salmonella, Listeria
Product: Bravo Original Formula Turkey Blend frozen raw food
Product Numbers: 31-102, 31-105, 31-110
Sizes: 2 pound, 5 pound and 10 pound tubes
Batch ID code (on hang tag): 236
Reason for Recall: Listeria
Product: Bravo Basic Formula Finely Ground Chicken frozen raw food
Product Number: 21-212
Size: 2 pound tube
Batch ID Code (on hang tag): 226
Reason for Recall: Salmonella, Listeria
Other Batch IDs for these same products are not involved in the recall.
Bravo! is issuing this action out of an abundance of caution and sincerely regrets any inconvenience to pet owners as a result of this announcement. This voluntary recall has been issued because the FDA detected the bacteria in samples during a recent review.
In an effort to prevent the transmission of Salmonella from pets to family members and care givers, the FDA recommends that everyone follow appropriate pet food handling guidelines when feeding their pets. A list of safe pet food handling tips can be found at:
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/CVM_Updates/foodbornetips.htm.
People may risk Salmonella infection not only by handling these pet foods, but also by contact with pets or other surfaces exposed to these foods, so it is important that they thoroughly wash their hands with hot water and soap. Anyone who is experiencing the symptoms of Salmonella or Listeria infection after having handled the recalled product should seek medical attention. Consumers may report any complaints to FDA's local District Complaint Coordinator’s located on the FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html.
Healthy cats and dogs rarely become sick from Salmonella. Animals ill with Salmonella will display symptoms similar to the ones listed above for humans. People who have concerns about whether their pet has Salmonella or not should contact their veterinarian.
For more information on the Bravo recall, please visit www.bravorawdiet.com , or call toll free (866) 922-9222
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Showing posts with label recall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recall. Show all posts
Friday, September 21, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
Aquatic pet food recall......
Aquarium owners beware.....in June the Sergeant Company recalled their Atlantis Flake Food due to a find of melamin in that product. One lady purchased that product several weeks ago not knowing the food had been on recall since June and lost 11 of her fish in a matter of 4 hours after feeding them. Apparently the store owner wasn't made aware of the recall by the company and continued to sell it. She has since filed a complaint with Sergeant.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
On trail of elusive strain of salmonella
On trail of elusive strain of salmonella
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Tracking down the source of an outbreak of salmonella infection that has spanned the country is a detective story that took an interesting turn last month when a key clue was found hiding in a dog food plant in Fayette County.
As of last week there have been 66 cases across 18 states since early last year. Pennsylvania has had 25 cases including one reported last summer in Allegheny County. No deaths or cases involving pets have been reported, but the outbreak is considered to be continuing.
After the salmonella strain, Salmonella Schwarzengrund, was detected in two dogs in the homes of two of the ill persons, and in unopened bags of dog food produced by Mars Petcare in the Everson plant in Fayette County, the company voluntarily recalled two brands Aug. 21. The plant was closed last week for inspection and cleaning. Officials from the company could not be reached to update the plant's status.
Further investigation of the outbreak is a collaboration between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health officials in the affected states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The break in the case -- tracing human sickness to dog food -- was made by Pennsylvania investigators, led by Dr. Stephen Ostroff, director of the bureau of epidemiology at the state Health Department.
He said the state investigation began in mid-June.
"Cases had been occurring every now and then -- once a month or so, for quite a while. ... then, in spring of this year, we started noticing cases occurring of a salmonella strain we don't see very often ... now popping up every week or two," Dr. Ostroff said.
He said many of the sick had told investigators that they had dogs in the home. "Now that's a pretty common finding. But this was fairly consistent [and] prompted investigators to go out to their homes to get samples from the dogs," Dr. Ostroff said, adding that the salmonella strain was found in feces of two dogs.
How did the plant in Everson get targeted?
Dr. Ostroff said the FDA responded in early July to reports from investigators, who canvassed homes that had people with illness and those without illness. "One thing we found, there was a very strong association between illness and having a product made at this plant in Western Pennsylvania," he said. However, he pointed out, "None of the cases in Pennsylvania mentioned either of these brands [now under recall]."
The FDA then collected samples from the plant, but found nothing.
In turn, Dr. Ostroff said, the state health department went back to the plant. "We took swabs from the machinery, the floor all over the plant. We had them tested ... one was positive for this particular organism."
The FDA went back to the plant in late July. In total, according to an FDA report, the agency conducted tests on 10 samples, representing seven product brands from the company. Each sample (with same size and brand) included 15 subsamples, for a total of 150 subsamples. Two samples tested positive for the salmonella strain: one from the Krasdale Gravy dry food and one from Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry food.
Mars Petcare was notified, and issued its recall. The FDA has reported that none of the cases of illness has been directly linked to the recalled products.
The CDC reported that investigations are continuing to determine why humans got sick -- especially the 39 percent of victims who were under 1 year old -- from dry dog food.
Speculating on how the salmonella was spread, Dr. Ostroff said, "It could be the way you handle the dog food bowl, the way the dog eats the food, maybe getting it on the floor ... that's what we think is probably happening. This type of scenario is similar to what we've seen in the past, with turtles in the home, reptiles in the homes that have spread salmonella among young children."
People infected with salmonella bacteria get diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. It usually lasts four to seven days and most people recover without treatment. Salmonella in pet food and treats can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, but also in people -- particularly children, older people and people with compromised immune systems.
It has yet to be determined how the dog food became contaminated. "The FDA and the company will have to try to find that out," Dr. Ostroff said.
Safe handling of food and pets is recommended. Although the state Health Department says the overall risk of salmonella from dry pet food is low, it reminds consumers that pet food is not sterile and is a potential source of harmful bacteria.
For more information about the recall, see www.marspetcare.com or call 866-298-8332. A Q&A about the recall on the FDA's Web site can be found at: www.fda.gov/cvm/MarsPetCareQnA.htm.
*******************************Metal fragments in dog food prompt recall**********************************
9:54AM Thursday September 06, 2007
A national food distributor is recalling chilled dog food that may be contaminated by metal fragments.
In newspaper advertisements today Auckland-based Mars New Zealand said it was recalling its Pedigree and Optimum brand "dog roll products" as a precaution to protect the health of dogs.
The voluntary recall relates to Pedigree brand beef and liver, lamb and vegetable, beef rice and vegetable, and chicken and rice dog rolls; and Optimum beef, lamb and vegetable, chicken and rice, and selected meats rolls.
All have "best before" dates between October 16 and 19.
The products were sold at grocery and pet food retail outlets through the county.
Consumers are urged not to feed the rolls to their dogs and to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Tracking down the source of an outbreak of salmonella infection that has spanned the country is a detective story that took an interesting turn last month when a key clue was found hiding in a dog food plant in Fayette County.
As of last week there have been 66 cases across 18 states since early last year. Pennsylvania has had 25 cases including one reported last summer in Allegheny County. No deaths or cases involving pets have been reported, but the outbreak is considered to be continuing.
After the salmonella strain, Salmonella Schwarzengrund, was detected in two dogs in the homes of two of the ill persons, and in unopened bags of dog food produced by Mars Petcare in the Everson plant in Fayette County, the company voluntarily recalled two brands Aug. 21. The plant was closed last week for inspection and cleaning. Officials from the company could not be reached to update the plant's status.
Further investigation of the outbreak is a collaboration between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health officials in the affected states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The break in the case -- tracing human sickness to dog food -- was made by Pennsylvania investigators, led by Dr. Stephen Ostroff, director of the bureau of epidemiology at the state Health Department.
He said the state investigation began in mid-June.
"Cases had been occurring every now and then -- once a month or so, for quite a while. ... then, in spring of this year, we started noticing cases occurring of a salmonella strain we don't see very often ... now popping up every week or two," Dr. Ostroff said.
He said many of the sick had told investigators that they had dogs in the home. "Now that's a pretty common finding. But this was fairly consistent [and] prompted investigators to go out to their homes to get samples from the dogs," Dr. Ostroff said, adding that the salmonella strain was found in feces of two dogs.
How did the plant in Everson get targeted?
Dr. Ostroff said the FDA responded in early July to reports from investigators, who canvassed homes that had people with illness and those without illness. "One thing we found, there was a very strong association between illness and having a product made at this plant in Western Pennsylvania," he said. However, he pointed out, "None of the cases in Pennsylvania mentioned either of these brands [now under recall]."
The FDA then collected samples from the plant, but found nothing.
In turn, Dr. Ostroff said, the state health department went back to the plant. "We took swabs from the machinery, the floor all over the plant. We had them tested ... one was positive for this particular organism."
The FDA went back to the plant in late July. In total, according to an FDA report, the agency conducted tests on 10 samples, representing seven product brands from the company. Each sample (with same size and brand) included 15 subsamples, for a total of 150 subsamples. Two samples tested positive for the salmonella strain: one from the Krasdale Gravy dry food and one from Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry food.
Mars Petcare was notified, and issued its recall. The FDA has reported that none of the cases of illness has been directly linked to the recalled products.
The CDC reported that investigations are continuing to determine why humans got sick -- especially the 39 percent of victims who were under 1 year old -- from dry dog food.
Speculating on how the salmonella was spread, Dr. Ostroff said, "It could be the way you handle the dog food bowl, the way the dog eats the food, maybe getting it on the floor ... that's what we think is probably happening. This type of scenario is similar to what we've seen in the past, with turtles in the home, reptiles in the homes that have spread salmonella among young children."
People infected with salmonella bacteria get diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. It usually lasts four to seven days and most people recover without treatment. Salmonella in pet food and treats can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, but also in people -- particularly children, older people and people with compromised immune systems.
It has yet to be determined how the dog food became contaminated. "The FDA and the company will have to try to find that out," Dr. Ostroff said.
Safe handling of food and pets is recommended. Although the state Health Department says the overall risk of salmonella from dry pet food is low, it reminds consumers that pet food is not sterile and is a potential source of harmful bacteria.
For more information about the recall, see www.marspetcare.com or call 866-298-8332. A Q&A about the recall on the FDA's Web site can be found at: www.fda.gov/cvm/MarsPetCareQnA.htm.
*******************************Metal fragments in dog food prompt recall**********************************
9:54AM Thursday September 06, 2007
A national food distributor is recalling chilled dog food that may be contaminated by metal fragments.
In newspaper advertisements today Auckland-based Mars New Zealand said it was recalling its Pedigree and Optimum brand "dog roll products" as a precaution to protect the health of dogs.
The voluntary recall relates to Pedigree brand beef and liver, lamb and vegetable, beef rice and vegetable, and chicken and rice dog rolls; and Optimum beef, lamb and vegetable, chicken and rice, and selected meats rolls.
All have "best before" dates between October 16 and 19.
The products were sold at grocery and pet food retail outlets through the county.
Consumers are urged not to feed the rolls to their dogs and to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
FDA delayed April recall till July
Information obtained by ConsumerAffairs.Com reveals that although a rendering plant in Texas recalled more than one million pounds of melamine-tainted meat and bone meal products in April, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not post information about the recall until July.
Darling International took the action during the height of the largest pet food recall in U.S. history.
When it finally did post the notice, the FDA listed the move as a Class III enforcement action, which means “use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.”
The FDA’s Web site states Darling issued two separate recalls on April 20 of 682,600 pounds of dry rendered tankage -- or meat and bone meal products -- because the products contained melamine.
That's the chemical that triggered the massive recall in March of millions of containers of pet food, and is blamed for causing kidney disease and deaths in thousands of dogs and cats nationwide.
The FDA said Darling International processed the melamine-tainted bone meal products at its Wichita, Kansas, plant and distributed them in the Sunflower State and in Nebraska.
News of this latest melamine-related recall -- and its delayed posting -- alarmed pet owners nationwide. They fear the tainted products could have made their way back into their pets’ foods.
They also wondered why the FDA didn’t immediately post the recall.
“The FDA made no mention on its site of this recall until July 25th, and it's listed as a Class III recall,” cat owner, Don E. of Washington, told ConsumerAffairs.com. “So a meat and bone meal product, adulterated with melamine that could be used in pet food, is a Class III recall. But melamine in pet food is a Class I recall.”
Pet owner Mike G. of Florida raised similar concerns.
“Why would this firm which deals in rendered animal proteins, not in vegetable proteins, have to recall products containing melamine?” he asked. “This was in late April, about when it was learned that 'salvaged pet foods' had been fed to hogs, chickens, and farm-raised fish.
“Does something not seem right?”
A spokesman for Darling International says his company understands pet owners’ worries.
But Ross Hamilton, international director of governmental affairs and technology for Darling, said none of the melamine-tainted meat and bone meal products wound up in pet food.
“I empathize with pet owners and my message to them is none of this got into pet food,” he told ConsumerAffairs.com.
The contaminated material, however, did get into commercial feed for pigs and chicken.
“The loads that were recalled did go into to animal feed…commercial animal feed,” Hamilton said. “But after it left our facility, it was blended with other feeds, and at that point, the FDA said the melamine wasn’t detectable in the food. It was diluted down through normal procedures and by the time it got into commercial feed, it was so diluted that you couldn’t detect the melamine.”
The FDA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) tested animals that consumed the melamine-tainted feed. Those tests concluded that meat from these animals is safe for humans to eat.
“There is very low risk of human illness from eating such meat,” the FDA states on its Web site.
How did the melamine-tainted materials wind up at Darling’s Irving, Texas, plant?
“One of our facilities inadvertently received it from Menu Foods (Emporia, Kansas) plant and we didn’t find out it contained melamine until after the recall began,” Hamilton said. “When the FDA was doing a trace-out from Menu, they found some of this material -- it’s meat scraps -- that we routinely pick up from Menu.”
He added: “We have manufacturing hazardous plans in place for hazards that we are aware of. But this one (melamine) was one that we weren’t aware of. This was one that we had to add to our list; it was a surprise to us.”
Hamilton said the FDA didn’t “cover-up” this recall, as some pet owners have alleged. He said the agency simply didn’t make it public until it finished its investigation.
“We worked with them on this recall,” Hamilton said. “They’re pretty meticulous and delayed posting this until they had closed out their investigation.”
Darling International took the action during the height of the largest pet food recall in U.S. history.
When it finally did post the notice, the FDA listed the move as a Class III enforcement action, which means “use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.”
The FDA’s Web site states Darling issued two separate recalls on April 20 of 682,600 pounds of dry rendered tankage -- or meat and bone meal products -- because the products contained melamine.
That's the chemical that triggered the massive recall in March of millions of containers of pet food, and is blamed for causing kidney disease and deaths in thousands of dogs and cats nationwide.
The FDA said Darling International processed the melamine-tainted bone meal products at its Wichita, Kansas, plant and distributed them in the Sunflower State and in Nebraska.
News of this latest melamine-related recall -- and its delayed posting -- alarmed pet owners nationwide. They fear the tainted products could have made their way back into their pets’ foods.
They also wondered why the FDA didn’t immediately post the recall.
“The FDA made no mention on its site of this recall until July 25th, and it's listed as a Class III recall,” cat owner, Don E. of Washington, told ConsumerAffairs.com. “So a meat and bone meal product, adulterated with melamine that could be used in pet food, is a Class III recall. But melamine in pet food is a Class I recall.”
Pet owner Mike G. of Florida raised similar concerns.
“Why would this firm which deals in rendered animal proteins, not in vegetable proteins, have to recall products containing melamine?” he asked. “This was in late April, about when it was learned that 'salvaged pet foods' had been fed to hogs, chickens, and farm-raised fish.
“Does something not seem right?”
A spokesman for Darling International says his company understands pet owners’ worries.
But Ross Hamilton, international director of governmental affairs and technology for Darling, said none of the melamine-tainted meat and bone meal products wound up in pet food.
“I empathize with pet owners and my message to them is none of this got into pet food,” he told ConsumerAffairs.com.
The contaminated material, however, did get into commercial feed for pigs and chicken.
“The loads that were recalled did go into to animal feed…commercial animal feed,” Hamilton said. “But after it left our facility, it was blended with other feeds, and at that point, the FDA said the melamine wasn’t detectable in the food. It was diluted down through normal procedures and by the time it got into commercial feed, it was so diluted that you couldn’t detect the melamine.”
The FDA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) tested animals that consumed the melamine-tainted feed. Those tests concluded that meat from these animals is safe for humans to eat.
“There is very low risk of human illness from eating such meat,” the FDA states on its Web site.
How did the melamine-tainted materials wind up at Darling’s Irving, Texas, plant?
“One of our facilities inadvertently received it from Menu Foods (Emporia, Kansas) plant and we didn’t find out it contained melamine until after the recall began,” Hamilton said. “When the FDA was doing a trace-out from Menu, they found some of this material -- it’s meat scraps -- that we routinely pick up from Menu.”
He added: “We have manufacturing hazardous plans in place for hazards that we are aware of. But this one (melamine) was one that we weren’t aware of. This was one that we had to add to our list; it was a surprise to us.”
Hamilton said the FDA didn’t “cover-up” this recall, as some pet owners have alleged. He said the agency simply didn’t make it public until it finished its investigation.
“We worked with them on this recall,” Hamilton said. “They’re pretty meticulous and delayed posting this until they had closed out their investigation.”
FDA blocked more than 100 Nutro Products
August 28, 2007
• More about Pet Food Recalls ...
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July blocked more than 100 Nutro Products -- various styles and flavors of its dog and cat food -- from entering the United States.
ConsumerAffairs.com learned the FDA took that action at the Port of Los Angeles -- and listed Nutro’s pet food on its Import Refusal Report -- because the products appeared to contain poisonous substances and unsafe additives.
The FDA has authority to block and detain any regulated products from entering the United States if they “appear to be out of compliance with The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.”
Some of Nutro’s pet food on the Import Refusal List include its Adult Turkey with Chicken Liver, Choice Adult Cat w Turkey & Duck, Choice Complete Care Kitten Rich in Chicken with Liver, and Adult Large Breed Chicken & Rice.
News of the FDA’s action alarmed Mike G. of Florida. He owns multiple cats and feeds them Nutro products.
“What isn’t clear is which ‘additive’ it is that is ‘unsafe,’ and which ‘substance’ it is that is poisonous,” he told us. “The three Nutro canned cat products I have in front of me all state ‘Made in USA.’ But they don't say which state or which US territory.”
He added: “I don’t so much care where (the products came from). It’s the 'which' (unsafe additives and substances) that concerns me.”
Mike contacted Nutro about his concerns, but says the company ignored his inquires.
He wasn’t surprised.
“From previous experience, most responses from Nutro have been non-responsive,” he said.
Mike shared with us the message he sent to Nutro, which echoes concerns we’ve heard from other pet owners:
“I want to know, specifically, before I feed any of these foods I have in the house to my cats, exactly where Nutro cat foods are made, exactly where those foods on the FDA Import Refusal Reports were made, and specifically which ‘additive’ it is which is ‘unsafe,’ and which ‘substance’ it is which is deemed ‘poisonous’ or 'deleterious.’ ” “If I do not receive a satisfactory response I will be taking these cans back to where they were purchased, and will never again be purchasing other Nutro products.
“In the aftermath of several thousand pet deaths,” he added, “Nutro and other companies need to demonstrate their commitment to pet safety by answering pet owners' questions satisfactorily.”
Non-responsive
ConsumerAffairs.com also contacted Nutro about the FDA’s action. It took the company more than a week to respond to our repeated calls.
Nutro, however, didn’t answer our specific questions.
The company’s Consumer Services Manager, Tamara Cerven, instead e-mailed us Nutro’s official, canned response.
“It has been brought to our attention that confusion has been caused by the Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) Import Refusal Report,” the company’s statement said. “We wish to assure our customers that this report is in no way a cause for concern about the quality and safety of Nutro pet foods currently on store shelves.”
Nutro said the products listed the FDA’s Import Refusal Report are ones affected by Menu Food’s massive recall in March of melamine-tainted dog and cat food.
“This report lists recalled product(s) that have been returned to Nutro from overseas,” according to the company’s statement. “This product is not intended for sale.”
Nutro said it immediately discontinued all sales of its melamine-tainted products and removed them from retail stores, warehouses, and distribution centers after Menu recalled 60 million containers of contaminated pet food.
“Nutro also ordered recalled product to be shipped back to the U.S. from overseas for proper handling,” the company said in its written statement. “Some of this product is the subject of the FDA report.”
Nutro said customers with questions about the FDA’s action can call its customer service line at 1-800-833-5330 or visit its Web site at www.nutroproducts.com.
Mike doubts pet owners will get any answers, though.
“They failed to respond to my mail, responding only to you,” he told us today.
“My confidence was rattled with both Nutro and Iams in March when I learned that they both used Menu Foods. I'm one who drove further to the ‘pet-superstores’ to purchase what I had believed to have been better, safer' foods . . . only to learn they were made by the same company using some of the same unsafe contaminated ingredients which they also put into the ‘cheaper,’ ‘less-quality’/ ‘less-safe’ foods in the supermarkets.
“So their failure to respond to me now, personally, is the last straw for me. If and when products begin to flow from their own plant and I get a thorough read-through of the label, I might then reconsider purchasing their product. But not before.”
• More about Pet Food Recalls ...
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July blocked more than 100 Nutro Products -- various styles and flavors of its dog and cat food -- from entering the United States.
ConsumerAffairs.com learned the FDA took that action at the Port of Los Angeles -- and listed Nutro’s pet food on its Import Refusal Report -- because the products appeared to contain poisonous substances and unsafe additives.
The FDA has authority to block and detain any regulated products from entering the United States if they “appear to be out of compliance with The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.”
Some of Nutro’s pet food on the Import Refusal List include its Adult Turkey with Chicken Liver, Choice Adult Cat w Turkey & Duck, Choice Complete Care Kitten Rich in Chicken with Liver, and Adult Large Breed Chicken & Rice.
News of the FDA’s action alarmed Mike G. of Florida. He owns multiple cats and feeds them Nutro products.
“What isn’t clear is which ‘additive’ it is that is ‘unsafe,’ and which ‘substance’ it is that is poisonous,” he told us. “The three Nutro canned cat products I have in front of me all state ‘Made in USA.’ But they don't say which state or which US territory.”
He added: “I don’t so much care where (the products came from). It’s the 'which' (unsafe additives and substances) that concerns me.”
Mike contacted Nutro about his concerns, but says the company ignored his inquires.
He wasn’t surprised.
“From previous experience, most responses from Nutro have been non-responsive,” he said.
Mike shared with us the message he sent to Nutro, which echoes concerns we’ve heard from other pet owners:
“I want to know, specifically, before I feed any of these foods I have in the house to my cats, exactly where Nutro cat foods are made, exactly where those foods on the FDA Import Refusal Reports were made, and specifically which ‘additive’ it is which is ‘unsafe,’ and which ‘substance’ it is which is deemed ‘poisonous’ or 'deleterious.’ ” “If I do not receive a satisfactory response I will be taking these cans back to where they were purchased, and will never again be purchasing other Nutro products.
“In the aftermath of several thousand pet deaths,” he added, “Nutro and other companies need to demonstrate their commitment to pet safety by answering pet owners' questions satisfactorily.”
Non-responsive
ConsumerAffairs.com also contacted Nutro about the FDA’s action. It took the company more than a week to respond to our repeated calls.
Nutro, however, didn’t answer our specific questions.
The company’s Consumer Services Manager, Tamara Cerven, instead e-mailed us Nutro’s official, canned response.
“It has been brought to our attention that confusion has been caused by the Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) Import Refusal Report,” the company’s statement said. “We wish to assure our customers that this report is in no way a cause for concern about the quality and safety of Nutro pet foods currently on store shelves.”
Nutro said the products listed the FDA’s Import Refusal Report are ones affected by Menu Food’s massive recall in March of melamine-tainted dog and cat food.
“This report lists recalled product(s) that have been returned to Nutro from overseas,” according to the company’s statement. “This product is not intended for sale.”
Nutro said it immediately discontinued all sales of its melamine-tainted products and removed them from retail stores, warehouses, and distribution centers after Menu recalled 60 million containers of contaminated pet food.
“Nutro also ordered recalled product to be shipped back to the U.S. from overseas for proper handling,” the company said in its written statement. “Some of this product is the subject of the FDA report.”
Nutro said customers with questions about the FDA’s action can call its customer service line at 1-800-833-5330 or visit its Web site at www.nutroproducts.com.
Mike doubts pet owners will get any answers, though.
“They failed to respond to my mail, responding only to you,” he told us today.
“My confidence was rattled with both Nutro and Iams in March when I learned that they both used Menu Foods. I'm one who drove further to the ‘pet-superstores’ to purchase what I had believed to have been better, safer' foods . . . only to learn they were made by the same company using some of the same unsafe contaminated ingredients which they also put into the ‘cheaper,’ ‘less-quality’/ ‘less-safe’ foods in the supermarkets.
“So their failure to respond to me now, personally, is the last straw for me. If and when products begin to flow from their own plant and I get a thorough read-through of the label, I might then reconsider purchasing their product. But not before.”
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Woman wages campaign against Purina
August 13, 2007
For the past year, professional dog breeder Julie N. has waged a one-woman campaign against pet food giant Nestlé Purina.
Stryker: black Lab
Beeble: Bichon
Kayla: Bichon
She’s convinced the company’s food contributed to the recent and mysterious deaths of three of her healthy dogs -- two Bichon Frise and a Labrador Retriever.
And this spunky Harlan, Kentucky woman has evidence that suggests Purina’s products might be the culprit in the death of at least one of her dogs.
“I’m not going away,” says Julie, who fed her dogs Purina One, Purina ProPlan and Purina Dog Chow. “I want justice for my dogs and peace of mind for myself.”
Julie’s nightmare started last July when her 12-year-old Labrador Retriever, Stryker, suddenly died of liver complications.
“He was a healthy dog,” she says, “but then his liver just shut down.”
One month later, Julie’s puppy, Beeble, unexpectedly died.
“She was a healthy 12-month-old Bichon Frise. But then she suddenly started drinking excessive amounts of water, was vomiting, and became very lethargic.”
Julie immediately took Beeble to the veterinarian.
“He put her on antibiotics, but that night she had a seizure. She also had a difficult time breathing. She was so weak that she couldn’t hold up her head.”
Julie rushed Beeble back to the vet.
“And he admitted her and put her on IV’s. Beeble also had some nasal discharge and our vet checked her for canine flu. But she passed those tests.”
Beeble died on August 17 — four days after she started IV treatments.
“There’s no reason that puppy should have died,” Julie says. “Her parents had genetic clearance. She was a perfectly healthy dog.”
Deaths Come In Threes
There’s an old saying that deaths come in threes. And that’s what happened with Julie’s dogs.
On October 26 -- two months after Beeble’s death -- another one of her dog’s died. In this case, it was Julie’s eight-year-old Bichon Frise, Kayla.
“Kayla was a healthy female who did pet therapy. But then she started drinking enormous amounts of water. At first, I thought she might have diabetes. But the tests were negative on that.”
What caused Kayla’s death?
What about Beeble and Stryker?
And what role did Purina’s foods play in their deaths?
Julie says she may never know why Stryker died. “At the time, we didn’t do an autopsy because we just thought it was old age.” But she vowed to found out why Beeble and Kayla died.
“I don’t want anybody else to go through the same pain that I’ve gone through,” she says. “These are my children. They were here after my dad passed away and when my brother was ill. They were my babies … all my dogs are my babies.”
Julie, however, didn’t test Purina’s food for possible toxins.
Her dogs died months before Menu Food recalled 60 million containers of melamine-tainted food. That action -- the largest pet food recall in U.S. history -- occurred in March 2007.
Thousands of dogs and cats that ate the contaminated food suffered kidney disease or died.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered melamine in the imported wheat gluten and rice protein used to make the pet food. FDA officials traced the source of that chemical contamination to two now-defunct companies in China.
“It didn’t dawn on me to save the food so I could have it tested,” Julie says, unable to hide the regret in her voice. “And Purina told me to throw the food away.”
She did, however, have autopsies performed on Beeble and Kayla at the University of Tennessee’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Knoxville.
“I wish we would have done the same with Stryker,” she says of the Lab that was titled in obedience. “But like I said, we just thought he died from old age. I don’t think that anymore ... I think there’s something wrong with the dog food.”
According to Beeble’s autopsy report, that’s possible.
Pathologists at the University of Tennessee discovered problems with the puppy’s liver that were “consistent with exposure to a hepatotoxin such as aflatoxin.”
Aflatoxins are poisons produced by fungus or mold. These toxins are often found in corn and other agriculture crops and commonly cause liver disease.
But how could Beeble become exposed to -- and ingest -- aflatoxins?
Simple.
“The aflatoxins could have come from the (dog) food,” Beeble’s veterinarian, Douglas Mickey, told ConsumerAffairs.com. He reviewed Beeble’s and Kayla’s autopsy reports and -- with Julie’s permission -- agreed to discuss them with us.
“Aflatoxins are known to be found in moldy grains, like corn that would be in dog food,” he said, adding: “If you’re asking me if there’s a possible connection between the pet food and Beeble’s death, the answer is: you can’t rule that out.”
Aflatoxins in pet food have contributed to the deaths of more than 100 dogs in recent year, including:
• The deaths of 25 dogs in 1999. In that case, Doane Pet Care recalled more than one million bags of corn-based dry dog food tainted with aflatoxins. Fifty-four brands of dog food, including Ol’Roy, were part of that recall;
• The deaths of 100 dogs in 2005. In that instance, Diamond Food recalled some of its pet food because the moldy corn in the products contained aflatoxins.
Kayla’s Death Remains A Mystery
Aflatoxins, however, did not play a role in Kayla’s death, Dr. Mickey said. “That dog didn’t die from anything in her food.”
Her death remains a medical mystery.
Kayla’s autopsy report revealed she had “multiple organ mineralization,” which Dr. Mickey said was likely caused by an adrenal problem.
“But (the pathologists) couldn’t pinpoint on the autopsy what caused the mineralization of all those organs,” Dr. Mickey said. “It would be consistent with adrenal or kidney problems, but her adrenal glands and kidneys were fine.
“Kayla’s death has puzzled everyone who has looked at it.”
Everyone, that is, except Julie.
Despite the autopsy report, she’s convinced Purina’s dog food contributed to Kayla’s death.
And she says a recent ConsumerAffairs.com investigation -- about the mysterious reproductive problems several Newfoundlands across the country have encountered -- confirmed her belief.
Our investigation revealed that healthy Newfoundlands -- in Idaho, Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania -- had suddenly stopped getting pregnant or -- if they conceived -- delivered deformed and dead puppies.
All these gentle giants had previously delivered healthy litters, their breeders said. They were all two to five-years old, which veterinarians say is the best age for dogs to deliver healthy litters.
None of the dogs were related — a factor that could have caused genetic problems. And nothing in the breeders’ protocols had changed.
The only factor the Newfoundlands had in common was their food: They all ate Purina dog food.
“After I read your story, I was convinced that there was a link between the deaths of my dogs and what happened to those Newfoundlands,” Julie says. “What got me with your stories was how those breeders talked about the mummified fetuses (deceased puppies) their dogs had delivered. In Kayla’s autopsy report, it talks about the mineralization of all her internal organs.
“That made me think that there’s a connection with those stone puppies and my dog’s internal organs turning to stone.”
Dr. Mickey, however, said there’s no correlation.
“It’s not the same thing,” he said. “Kayla apparently had adrenal problems ... that’s a metabolic disease.”
“I think they now realize something is wrong with their food.”
If that’s the case, Julie wonders why Purina is finally taking her concerns seriously.
In just the past two weeks, the pet food maker’s insurance company has requested copies of her dogs’ medical records and autopsy reports.
“But when they called, they wanted me to know that my dogs’ deaths had nothing to do with the recall because they died before that action was announced,” she says. “I told them that stuff from China (melamine) could have been in the food long before anyone knew.”
Purina, she says, downplayed her concerns when she first contacted the company last fall — right after Kayla became sick.
“One lady kept saying she’d never heard of any adverse effects from the company’s food. Purina also kept sending me letters (of condolences) and samples of their stinking food. That made me ever madder. I don’t want their food. I’ll never feed Purina again to my dogs. I cook for my dogs now and they’re much healthier.”
Julie no longer recommends Purina to her customers, either.
“I’ve gone as far as to state in my puppy contract that if you feed Purina products, I have a right to void the health guarantee on the dogs,” she says, adding her pups cost $1,000 to $1,500.
Of Purina’s latest interest in her dogs’ deaths, Julie says: “I think they now realize something is wrong with their food.”
Purina Defends Its Products and Actions
A spokesman for Purina denied that assertion, saying there’s nothing usual about his company’s recent actions in Julie’s case.
He says it demonstrates Purina’s commitment to its customers.
“We’ve been in contact with this consumer since last September and since we’ve worked with her that long, we like to follow up on the process,” said spokesman Keith Schopp. “We would want to gather the appropriate documents and any other records that we could look at and then take the appropriate action.
“As part of our standard operating procedure,” he added, “we would initiate a claim and investigate a matter further if a consumer requested compensation above product replacement.”
Schopp said he hadn’t seen Beeble’s autopsy report, which stated the puppy’s liver problems were consistent with exposure to aflatoxins.
“But there are no aflatoxins in our products in the United States,” he said. “Our veterinarians, however, would like to look at that autopsy report and talk her vet.”
What about a possible connection between Julie’s concerns and those raised by the Newfoundland breeders?
Schopp said there’s no link. “This consumer is not reporting any reproductive issues.”
He also defended his company’s response to Julie’s concerns.
“We’ve expressed our sympathy for the loss of her dogs and told her that we want to find out more about her situation,” he said.
What does Julie want from Purina?
“The main reason I contacted them was because I didn’t want any other dogs to die,” she says. “I wanted them to test the food and to apologize.”
Julie says she didn’t wage this battle against the St. Louis-based company for financial gain — even though her vet bills total more than $2,750.
“I’m not out for money. I just don’t want anyone else to go through a dog’s mysterious death.”
lil Country Paws
For the past year, professional dog breeder Julie N. has waged a one-woman campaign against pet food giant Nestlé Purina.
Stryker: black Lab
Beeble: Bichon
Kayla: Bichon
She’s convinced the company’s food contributed to the recent and mysterious deaths of three of her healthy dogs -- two Bichon Frise and a Labrador Retriever.
And this spunky Harlan, Kentucky woman has evidence that suggests Purina’s products might be the culprit in the death of at least one of her dogs.
“I’m not going away,” says Julie, who fed her dogs Purina One, Purina ProPlan and Purina Dog Chow. “I want justice for my dogs and peace of mind for myself.”
Julie’s nightmare started last July when her 12-year-old Labrador Retriever, Stryker, suddenly died of liver complications.
“He was a healthy dog,” she says, “but then his liver just shut down.”
One month later, Julie’s puppy, Beeble, unexpectedly died.
“She was a healthy 12-month-old Bichon Frise. But then she suddenly started drinking excessive amounts of water, was vomiting, and became very lethargic.”
Julie immediately took Beeble to the veterinarian.
“He put her on antibiotics, but that night she had a seizure. She also had a difficult time breathing. She was so weak that she couldn’t hold up her head.”
Julie rushed Beeble back to the vet.
“And he admitted her and put her on IV’s. Beeble also had some nasal discharge and our vet checked her for canine flu. But she passed those tests.”
Beeble died on August 17 — four days after she started IV treatments.
“There’s no reason that puppy should have died,” Julie says. “Her parents had genetic clearance. She was a perfectly healthy dog.”
Deaths Come In Threes
There’s an old saying that deaths come in threes. And that’s what happened with Julie’s dogs.
On October 26 -- two months after Beeble’s death -- another one of her dog’s died. In this case, it was Julie’s eight-year-old Bichon Frise, Kayla.
“Kayla was a healthy female who did pet therapy. But then she started drinking enormous amounts of water. At first, I thought she might have diabetes. But the tests were negative on that.”
What caused Kayla’s death?
What about Beeble and Stryker?
And what role did Purina’s foods play in their deaths?
Julie says she may never know why Stryker died. “At the time, we didn’t do an autopsy because we just thought it was old age.” But she vowed to found out why Beeble and Kayla died.
“I don’t want anybody else to go through the same pain that I’ve gone through,” she says. “These are my children. They were here after my dad passed away and when my brother was ill. They were my babies … all my dogs are my babies.”
Julie, however, didn’t test Purina’s food for possible toxins.
Her dogs died months before Menu Food recalled 60 million containers of melamine-tainted food. That action -- the largest pet food recall in U.S. history -- occurred in March 2007.
Thousands of dogs and cats that ate the contaminated food suffered kidney disease or died.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered melamine in the imported wheat gluten and rice protein used to make the pet food. FDA officials traced the source of that chemical contamination to two now-defunct companies in China.
“It didn’t dawn on me to save the food so I could have it tested,” Julie says, unable to hide the regret in her voice. “And Purina told me to throw the food away.”
She did, however, have autopsies performed on Beeble and Kayla at the University of Tennessee’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Knoxville.
“I wish we would have done the same with Stryker,” she says of the Lab that was titled in obedience. “But like I said, we just thought he died from old age. I don’t think that anymore ... I think there’s something wrong with the dog food.”
According to Beeble’s autopsy report, that’s possible.
Pathologists at the University of Tennessee discovered problems with the puppy’s liver that were “consistent with exposure to a hepatotoxin such as aflatoxin.”
Aflatoxins are poisons produced by fungus or mold. These toxins are often found in corn and other agriculture crops and commonly cause liver disease.
But how could Beeble become exposed to -- and ingest -- aflatoxins?
Simple.
“The aflatoxins could have come from the (dog) food,” Beeble’s veterinarian, Douglas Mickey, told ConsumerAffairs.com. He reviewed Beeble’s and Kayla’s autopsy reports and -- with Julie’s permission -- agreed to discuss them with us.
“Aflatoxins are known to be found in moldy grains, like corn that would be in dog food,” he said, adding: “If you’re asking me if there’s a possible connection between the pet food and Beeble’s death, the answer is: you can’t rule that out.”
Aflatoxins in pet food have contributed to the deaths of more than 100 dogs in recent year, including:
• The deaths of 25 dogs in 1999. In that case, Doane Pet Care recalled more than one million bags of corn-based dry dog food tainted with aflatoxins. Fifty-four brands of dog food, including Ol’Roy, were part of that recall;
• The deaths of 100 dogs in 2005. In that instance, Diamond Food recalled some of its pet food because the moldy corn in the products contained aflatoxins.
Kayla’s Death Remains A Mystery
Aflatoxins, however, did not play a role in Kayla’s death, Dr. Mickey said. “That dog didn’t die from anything in her food.”
Her death remains a medical mystery.
Kayla’s autopsy report revealed she had “multiple organ mineralization,” which Dr. Mickey said was likely caused by an adrenal problem.
“But (the pathologists) couldn’t pinpoint on the autopsy what caused the mineralization of all those organs,” Dr. Mickey said. “It would be consistent with adrenal or kidney problems, but her adrenal glands and kidneys were fine.
“Kayla’s death has puzzled everyone who has looked at it.”
Everyone, that is, except Julie.
Despite the autopsy report, she’s convinced Purina’s dog food contributed to Kayla’s death.
And she says a recent ConsumerAffairs.com investigation -- about the mysterious reproductive problems several Newfoundlands across the country have encountered -- confirmed her belief.
Our investigation revealed that healthy Newfoundlands -- in Idaho, Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania -- had suddenly stopped getting pregnant or -- if they conceived -- delivered deformed and dead puppies.
All these gentle giants had previously delivered healthy litters, their breeders said. They were all two to five-years old, which veterinarians say is the best age for dogs to deliver healthy litters.
None of the dogs were related — a factor that could have caused genetic problems. And nothing in the breeders’ protocols had changed.
The only factor the Newfoundlands had in common was their food: They all ate Purina dog food.
“After I read your story, I was convinced that there was a link between the deaths of my dogs and what happened to those Newfoundlands,” Julie says. “What got me with your stories was how those breeders talked about the mummified fetuses (deceased puppies) their dogs had delivered. In Kayla’s autopsy report, it talks about the mineralization of all her internal organs.
“That made me think that there’s a connection with those stone puppies and my dog’s internal organs turning to stone.”
Dr. Mickey, however, said there’s no correlation.
“It’s not the same thing,” he said. “Kayla apparently had adrenal problems ... that’s a metabolic disease.”
“I think they now realize something is wrong with their food.”
If that’s the case, Julie wonders why Purina is finally taking her concerns seriously.
In just the past two weeks, the pet food maker’s insurance company has requested copies of her dogs’ medical records and autopsy reports.
“But when they called, they wanted me to know that my dogs’ deaths had nothing to do with the recall because they died before that action was announced,” she says. “I told them that stuff from China (melamine) could have been in the food long before anyone knew.”
Purina, she says, downplayed her concerns when she first contacted the company last fall — right after Kayla became sick.
“One lady kept saying she’d never heard of any adverse effects from the company’s food. Purina also kept sending me letters (of condolences) and samples of their stinking food. That made me ever madder. I don’t want their food. I’ll never feed Purina again to my dogs. I cook for my dogs now and they’re much healthier.”
Julie no longer recommends Purina to her customers, either.
“I’ve gone as far as to state in my puppy contract that if you feed Purina products, I have a right to void the health guarantee on the dogs,” she says, adding her pups cost $1,000 to $1,500.
Of Purina’s latest interest in her dogs’ deaths, Julie says: “I think they now realize something is wrong with their food.”
Purina Defends Its Products and Actions
A spokesman for Purina denied that assertion, saying there’s nothing usual about his company’s recent actions in Julie’s case.
He says it demonstrates Purina’s commitment to its customers.
“We’ve been in contact with this consumer since last September and since we’ve worked with her that long, we like to follow up on the process,” said spokesman Keith Schopp. “We would want to gather the appropriate documents and any other records that we could look at and then take the appropriate action.
“As part of our standard operating procedure,” he added, “we would initiate a claim and investigate a matter further if a consumer requested compensation above product replacement.”
Schopp said he hadn’t seen Beeble’s autopsy report, which stated the puppy’s liver problems were consistent with exposure to aflatoxins.
“But there are no aflatoxins in our products in the United States,” he said. “Our veterinarians, however, would like to look at that autopsy report and talk her vet.”
What about a possible connection between Julie’s concerns and those raised by the Newfoundland breeders?
Schopp said there’s no link. “This consumer is not reporting any reproductive issues.”
He also defended his company’s response to Julie’s concerns.
“We’ve expressed our sympathy for the loss of her dogs and told her that we want to find out more about her situation,” he said.
What does Julie want from Purina?
“The main reason I contacted them was because I didn’t want any other dogs to die,” she says. “I wanted them to test the food and to apologize.”
Julie says she didn’t wage this battle against the St. Louis-based company for financial gain — even though her vet bills total more than $2,750.
“I’m not out for money. I just don’t want anyone else to go through a dog’s mysterious death.”
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Castleberry recall includes Natural Balance Dog Food
Augusta, GA---The Castleberry Food Company is now expanding their recall of possibly contaminated foods to include certain Natural Balance brand pet food products which the company co-packs for the dog food company.
It includes certain types of the 15 ounce cans. The flavors are:
* Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Irish Stew with Beef
* Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Chinese Take Out with Sauce With Vegetables and Chicken
* Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs HOBO Chili with Chicken and Pasta
* Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Southern Style Dumplings with Chicken and Vegetables
Dr. Thomas Walker with the Highland Animal Hospital says, "The trouble is it's a toxin that's in there not just a bacterial infection, it can cause problems with the nervous system and brain."
While there haven't been any reported outbreaks in the area much like humans, the results could be fatal. "If you have small dogs it'll effect them more severely, like people botulism effects more children than adults because theres more toxin per pound," he said.
According to the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, symptoms could appear after 12 to 24 hours or as even long as two weeks. Common symptoms to look for include: muscle paralysis
difficulty breathing, chewing and swallowing, visual disturbances and generalized weakness.
If you notice any of these abnormalities in your pet you should contact your veterinarian immediately. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the disease has only only been seen occasionally in dogs and has not been reported in cats, but ferrets are highly susceptible to the botulinum toxin.
If you have any questions you can visit Castleberry's Web site at www.castleberrys.com or call toll-free at 1-800-203-4412 or 1-888-203-8446.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
FDA says food recall URGENT Health Threat
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A recall of canned meat products and dog food made at a Georgia plant due to botulism fears could involve tens of millions of cans that pose an urgent public health threat, U.S. officials said on Monday.
U.S. food regulators appealed to consumers and retailers to find and dispose of the cans.
Two people in Texas and two others in Indiana remain seriously ill and hospitalized with botulism poisoning associated with eating Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce, officials said.
"This is a very big recall," David Elder of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's office of regulatory affairs told reporters, deeming it an "urgent public health matter."
"These products can hurt people. And they have to be off the store shelves. And consumers have to discard any that they have at home," Elder added.
U.S. officials said an outbreak of botulism due to a commercially canned food is extremely rare and has not occurred in the United States in more than three decades.
Castleberry's Food Co. said on Saturday it had voluntarily expanded a recall of hot dog chili sauce and canned meat products originally announced on July 18 due to a risk of botulinum toxin, a bacterium that can cause botulism.
Castleberry's is a unit of Connors Bros. Income Fund's Bumble Bee Foods division.
The recall by Castleberry's originally affected 10 products. The expanded move involves more than 80 types of stew, chili, hash and other products as well as pet food sold under a variety of brand names.
"You're talking about tens of millions of cans that may have been involved. That doesn't mean that's how many are still out on shelves. But that's sort of the scale," added Robert Bracket, director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
TRACING SHIPMENTS
U.S. regulators are trying to track down distribution records from the company, Bracket said, adding that officials view this as a nationwide recall.
Botulism is a potentially fatal illness. Symptoms include dizziness, double vision, difficulty in breathing and abdominal problems.
The cans that sickened the four people were produced at the plant on May 7 and May 8, officials said.
Connors Bros. said it will keep the plant in Augusta, Georgia, closed until given the all-clear by health officials.
"Production will not resume until FDA is satisfied that all conditions that resulted in this recall and these dangerous products have been corrected," Elder said, adding that the FDA last inspected the plant in February.
Officials said 16 out of 17 cans that have been tested have turned up positive for the bacterium that causes botulism.
"The decision was made to add an additional layer of protection and to assure the highest margin of safety by recalling all products produced on this line, regardless of the best-by date on the can," said Dave Melbourne, Castleberry's senior vice president.
Consumers with any questions are urged to view Castleberry's Web site www.castleberrys.com. A toll-free hotline is also available at 1-800-203-4412 or 1-888-203-8446.
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