Ol’ Roy Dog Food Withdrawn For Deadly Drug Contamination; Pentobarbital Found In Canned Dog Food
UPDATE (June 21, 2019) : Because of the tremendous amount of traffic this post has recieved and the overwhelming number of panicked replies and emails – I need to emphasize that this article was written on February 15, 2018. While the problem with Ol’ Roy Dog Food may be dated, the problem of pentobarbital surfacing in pet food continues today.
Today, we learn of yet another national brand of dog food was found to contain the lethal euthanizing drug sodium pentobarbital: Walmart’s brand Ol’ Roy canned dog food. Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, is now in the process of quietly removing it from all 4,700 stores across America.
At this point, we do not know which Ol’ Roy formulas are affected. There is no information on Walmart’s recall page about the Ol’ Roy pet food withdrawal, nor has Walmart made a public announcement.
This latest discovery was made during an investigation by ABC7 News into pentobarbital-laced pet food following the Evanger’s debacle. This news follows days after the revelation that several other Big Heart Brand dog foods also tested positive for the drug. After ABC7 releasing the results of lab tests that identified the drug, the FDA launched an investigation.
FOUR BRANDS + MULTIPLE VARIETIES NAMED
Yesterday, we learned that in addition to today’s news about Walmart’s Ol’ Roy canned dog food, that Big Heart Pet Brand’s Kibbles n’ Bits, Gravy Train and Skippy brand canned dog foods also tested positive for the deadly drug – a drug commonly used to euthanize pets. The news prompted a notice for a nationwide withdrawal of the tainted pet food in which retailers were instructed to pull the tainted dog food from their stores and destroy the product.
The number of brands of dogs found to contain the deadly drug, since the investigation began, has risen steadily to include today’s count of nine varieties of Gravy Train canned dog foods, seven varieties of Kibbles n’ Bits canned dog foods, and one variety of Skippy canned dog food.
GRAVY TRAIN’S DENIAL OF RESPONSIBILITY
On Gravy Train’s website, there is a notice in regards to the discovery of pentobarbital laced dog food, which they refer to as a “claim.” They claim that the products only contain what they describe as “extremely low levels of pentobarbital” and therefore “do not pose a threat to pet safety” admitting only that they are “disappointed that pentobarbital was introduced to our supply chain.”
Instead of taking responsibility for their failure to follow strict auditing practices, they point the blame on a “single supplier.” Curiously, they also claim that none of their foods contain “euthanized animals or pets” in their pet food, nor do their foods contain “3D or 4D meat such as dead, dying, disabled, or diseased animals.”
BIG HEART BRAND’S EMPIRE OF NATIONAL BRANDS
Big Heart Brands manufacturers an enormous amount of branded – and private label – dry and wet pet food, and pet snacks under the Meow Mix, Milk-Bone, Kibbles ‘n Bits, 9Lives, Natural Balance, Pup-Peroni, Gravy Train, Nature’s Recipe, Canine Carry Outs, Milo’s Kitchen, Reward, Pounce, Cycle, Morris, Jerky Treats, Amore, Meaty Bone, Alley Cat, Snausages, Tartar Check, Flavor Snacks, GravyBones, Super Supper, Ham & Cheesers, Steak & Cheesers, Surf n’ Turf, Farm Stand Selects, Growing Years, Snaw Somes!, Marosnacks, Wholesome Goodness, Plus Care, Bold Meaty Satisfaction!, Acatemy, Combo Bites, Let’s Play, Carribean Catch, Chew-lotta, Pawfections, Kitten Lil’ Nibbles, in addition to many, many other brand names.
Unfortunately, as Big Heart Pet Brands also produces and distributes a number of private label pet products, we cannot know which private label brands may also be contaminated with pentobarbital.
GRAVY TRAIN CONTAMINATED PRODUCT
| Item Name | UPC Item Code(s) |
|---|---|
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with T-Bone Flavor Chunks | 7910052541 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Beef Strips | 7910052542 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Lamb and Rice Chunks | 7910052543 |
| Gravy Train 22 oz. with Chicken Chunks | 7910051645 |
| Gravy Train 22 oz. with Beef Chunks | 7910051647 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Beef Chunks | 7910034417 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. with Chicken Chunks | 7910034418 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chunks in Gravy Stew | 7910051933 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chicken, Beef & Liver Medley | 7910051934 |
| Gravy Train 13.2 oz. Chunks in Gravy with Beef Chunks | 7910034417 |
KIBBLES ‘N BITS CONTAMINATED PRODUCT
| Item Name | UPC Item Code(s) |
|---|---|
| Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Burger Bacon Cheese and Turkey Bacon Vegetable Variety 12-Pack | 79100103777910010378 |
| Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Beef, Chicken, Vegetable, Meatball Pasta and Turkey Bacon Vegetable Var. Pack | 79100103827910048367 7910010378 |
| Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Beef, Chicken, Vegetable, Burger Bacon Cheese and Beef Vegetable Variety Pack | 79100103807910010377 7910010375 |
| Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Wet Variety Pack | 79100103757910048367 |
| Kibbles ‘N Bits 13.2 oz. Chef’s Choice Bistro Tender Cuts with Real Beef & Vegetable in Gravy | 79100103757910048367 |
| Kibbles ‘N Bits Chef’s Choice Homestyle Tender Slices with Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables in Gravy | 7910010380 |
| Kibbles ‘N Bits Chef’s Choice Bistro Tender Cuts with Real Turkey, Bacon & Vegetable in Gravy | 7910010378 |
THE COMPLETE LIST OF AFFECTED PET FOODS
WHICH BRANDS ARE NEXT?
As more Big Heart Brands pet foods are discovered to contain the deadly drug, it is possible – and based on emerging information and the lack of quality control – that other Big Heart brands may also contain material from the same supplier that supplied them with the pentobarbital-laced meat. Therefore, it would wise to avoid feeding your pet any Big Heart pet food brands until an investigation into the matter is complete.
UTTER + MISERABLE FAILURE
What consumers want to know is why did Smucker’s fail to have adequate safeguards in place to prevent this tragedy from occurring? How did one of the nations largest maker of pet food fail so utterly and miserably at auditing their suppliers and testing their ingredients that allowed a deadly drug (which can only come from euthanized animals) to slip into their pet foods?
WHO TO CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more information about all the affected pet foods, contact Big Heart Brand’s corporate website.
For additional information about the Kibbles ‘n Bits affected product go here. If you have questions, please call them at 800-828-9980 or email them here.
For more information, contact Gravy Train at 800-828-9980 or via email here.
To find out how to report a problem with a pet food contact the FDA.
RELATED NEWS ON POISONED PETS
Deadly Drug Found in Dog Food; Smucker’s Gravy Train Contaminated with Pentobarbital, February 9, 2018
Lawsuit Filed Against Maker of Deadly Drug-Laced Dog Food; Big Heart Brand Gravy Train Dog Food Named in Suit, February 13, 2018
Big Heart Brands Recalls Multiple Brands of Dog Food For Pentobarbital; Gravy Train, Kibbles n’ Bits, and Skippy Dog Food Withdrawn, February 18, 2018
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168 Comments
carla page
what about ol roy moistnmeaty dogfood?
Karla
Does the ol’Roy brand include dry dog food?
JoJO
Are you kidding me? You are seriously still going to poison your pet with this brand of food? wow
Cyndi
Who are you directing your question and comment to?
Jenn Hahn
stop buying big bags of cheap kibble people…..spend the money or cook your won foods, or buy the frozen raw diets-read the ingredients list and do some research into the company-
Jan Kazz
Can you please tell me who makes the Aldi store brand dry dog food? I feed my 2 dogs this brand and their not sick, but now I’m concerned. Thank You in advance
Christy
I do think it’s so sad that people share “Old News” but in another way, stop and look at the blessing. I learned SO MUCH from reading the article and then even into the comments. Mollie, I went to the websites that you posted to the lady that posted her recipe for the homemade dog food using the chicken , pure’d peas and yams etc and you had mentioned not to forget the most important thing… their supplements and nutrients, etc. My nerves are pretty racked after the day I have had.. Could you please help me find whatever is good for my elderly chihuahua in supplements to add to her food without getting confused with the entire page for cats and dogs lol. Thanks so much…. Have a Blessed Week.
Judy
Best and it’s all I use Victor *safe and good ..can order off chewy site..
Marsha Dingle
I wholeheartedly agree! Victor is GREAT for my dogs! We also add some raw as well. I am concerned that this sight asks for donations and I see nowhere that it’s a non-profit?? I do not give to organizations that are not a registered 501(C)3 non-profit entity.
Shana Snow
Interested to know if youve done any coverage of the growing evidence of the link between grain free boutique foods and the deadly heart issue DCM?
Christine
Shana, The issue with grain free food is the lack of Taurine. supplementing with low sodium water packed sardines twice a week is the solution. No need to shame Boutique pet food suppliers. They are not like designer jeans, they are there because they refuse to sell their souls to corporate scum like Mars, Ol Roy and Nestle. Be grateful for the boutique pet suppliers!
Carol Post
Curious why you include Mars under your corporate scum umbrella? Mars is the only company to have NEVER had an issue with the pet food that it produces.
Jenn Hahn
mars has a ton of recalls based on pentobarbital in the foods-they use rendered filthy meats that are taken from tortured, rendered animals….
Jennifer
Jennifer Thorn.
Seriously people I know it saves money and sometimes all you can afford but you’re killing your dogs ? why it’s even necessary to put this is this food makes no sense.
It’s cheaper to make your dogs food and healthier by boiling a whole chicken in a stock pot until the meat falls off the bone. Pull all the meat off of the chicken shred it. Boil 4 cups white rice, pure, frozen or can peas carrots & yams in a blender. Stir everything together add chicken stock from the boiled chick to the mixture until real moist and sticky. Add any additional supplements or vitamins you feel your dog needs to the mixture. Fish oil is really good. They love it and is gentle on your pocket book. Keep in mind if depending on the # of dogs you have because of the chicken you it turns bad after 4 days if refrigerated and they can get sick. Freeze what you think won’t be used and pull out to thaw as needed! I did this for years with my dogs. They loved it and made their coats great! My busy schedule I would let the chicken cook in the crock pot all day while I was at work it fell right off the bones by the time I got home and the broth was much more rich in flavor. I made the mixture when I got home. Huge time saver!
Sandra
I do this as well, but mix it in with their kibble. I make it with whole chicken and also with chicken livers. I have several dogs. But with all this horrible news, I may need to start doing this with no kibble.
Jan Lingle
THEY don’t put it in with intent. Its in the euthanasia cocktail to kill pets/animals, etc. Its the cheap ass shit animal carcasses that are ground into the dog FOOD….even horses and dead dogs etc. that have been euthanized. You get what you pay for. Although this also happened with a high end food a couple years back, EVANGERS, which I was using at the time.
Christy
Thank You for this… I just changed my elderly Chihuahua that we adopted a little over 7 years ago from dry kibble that she hated, to soft food. Most recalls though are soft food but after reading all of this, I now want to make my own food and will use your guide and also get more input from Mollie about the supplements and such as I did not quite understand what my Angel needs. Thank You for taking that time to post a recipe. Have a Blessed week ahead…… Christy & Angel.
dolores plamondon
WOW! I just saw this post for dog food – can I add that I do this for CATS ? I take a whole chicken, or better yet, you can find “bags of chicken” at most gro. stores . I like the Thighs best. If a whole chicken, I cook in crock pot ALL DAY AND OVER NIGHT . I do add about a tea. of salt ( LOW. cook by night time ) drain chicken- save ALL broth. I hand pick it, and when it comes to the bones ( calcium !! ) I hand “roll “them and all but the small part in the middle will smash apart- throw out the center, or hard part of each bone. Smash rib bones too. After all that time in crock pot THEY WILL SMASH SO EASY !—CALCIUM-CALCIUM !!! Divide pieces of chicken with broth and freeze in about 1 pint containers-I get about 4-5 pints. OR I put sm. amounts in blender at a time, then mix ALL together and divide into freezer containers. Sounds like a lot of work- but not bad when you end up with 4-5 very health broth, and chicken. FOR DOGS OR CATS !! Have had as many as 27 cats , dumped on me by a sorry ” shelter” 18 yrs ago- down to 9 cats now !! That broth helped feed a lot of kittens and kept them healthy !!
Jenn Hahn
leave out the white rice people….dogs need no starches in food…and it makes them sick due to the obesity factor.
Melinda Middleton
We gave our Maggie the ol roy and we couldnt afford to give her people food every meal. We hated to give her dog food eventually we were able to give her more people food and she would eat less of the dog food. We had to put her to sleep because she was diagnosed with stomach, oral and brain cancer do to the Ol Roy thankfully we switch her to a diffrent type and feed her mainly people but only gave her the dog food when needed
Aaron W Posey
From your comments you are not a fan of any commercial dog food. I will bite though and ask. Thoughts on Canidae Salmon & Sweet Potato?
Ed Riggle
Now do cat food!
dolores plamondon
High ED ! I just posted one above. I have raised dogs and cats, in the past-puppies in the HOUSE ( Shih-Tzu,but stopped when I came back to Texas and saw all the killing of dogs ! I have tried all kinds of food and ” mixtures ” on my pets food- and had some of the healthiest pups ever ! But back then, I worked Labor/ Delivery at Baylor Hospital, and had the Nursery save me ALL left over baby bottles !! Mixed all with baby rice cereal. for pups and kittens !! When older they got the “chicken” ! also use “DocRoys” Potassium citrate,cranbery powder DON’T CONFUSE WITH -OLD ROY !-and their Daily Care Feline vit. for cats. along with –American Journey wild Alaskan salmon oil. ( small amt ) get it on “Amazon) Have 2 cats that are 18, and 2 that are 19 yrs old !! Good luck !
Evie
So Wat if it’s dated, if a person had a dog and it died couldn’t know the cost of a autopsy now they know why maybe the dog died if it was healthy but they were fed it that kind of dog food. Or I want to be a new dog owner so I’m doing some research and I come across this site and I read up on it then I’m informed.. I once saw a video and a Christian channel of some people who went Undercover into a dog food factory and they saw dead dogs and cats with their collars on and tags .food that they got from grocery stores Meat and Fish so the packaging is styrofoam, plastic wrap that zorbing s*** that they put on the bottom of the meat underneath the meat fish .fish bones all being processed into dog food and I believe there was some freaking Roadkill I wish I can find that video. .. so yeah between dogs being killed and getting cancer and stuff… don’t you ever wonder… stop complaining ,be informed , share the info. your testimonies. save a life
Mary Meier
I watched a video! They do use euthanized animals for dog food! They use the same laws that are used for cattle and horses! There is no one looking over their shoulders to make sure they do the right thing! Be very careful with your furbabies, these people don’t care about anything but profits!
Patty Cooke
Why is the world would these drugs get in the hands of these pet food manufacturers in the first place. It’s almost like they want to cut the pet population then report the recall. They need to shut down these companies for having these drugs in the first place!
Larry Ragsdale
because these companies use 3-D And 4-D meats to make the dog food and that could explain why the drug is in the food but i haven’t used commercial dog food in almost a year, i fix my dogs food at home on the stove every week, beef , chicken, turkey, fish, veggies, fruits and oats. here is the definition of 3-d and 4-d meat.
3D and 4D Defined. The term comes from the first letter of the description of meat from animals which are dead, diseased, dying (or downed)—that’s 3D—but the animals are still alive. The 4th “D” is destroyed (all 4 or 4D), which means that the animal is dead
Rosie L Ca
Seems like the food is made from euthanized pets.
Jenn Hahn
meat meal is dead dogs and cats
wanda
Well, I read an article a while back that claimed certain companies who pick up the euthanized animals actually sell their bodies to companies who make the cat food. That’s what the “Meat by Products are, which are listed on the can. :(
Michele Quinn
Once again another post about dog food killing are pets.This post shows it was 2/18. We the owners need to do more to prevent this from ever happening again.This is so wrong is so many ways.
Michele Quinn
Remember this food labeld 2/18
Gwenette Sinclair
WHY IS THERE NO DATE ON THIS POST??? I see recent comments but I also see “FEBRUARY 15, 2018 COMMENTS 161
Filed under: Dog Food”
So is this current or not?
Michael Garrett
This must be an old post or this is the 2ND time it happened with Ol’Roy dog food. Damn junk should be banned completely
Chris
Would the ol Roy mini treats be okay to use? They are the version of mini Milk bones brand.
Darleen
Can you please tell me how old this article is? I shared it on FB and am now being bashed because they think I am crying wolf. Cant believe some people.
David Benjamin
I have been cautioning anybody with a dog not to use Ol Roy after my dog went into convulsions after I fed him only a small amount.He survived luckly but is wary of any canned food now.
Joe Jackson
Can you explain how a high school diploma and 36 years of experience as an art director, graphics designer, commercial illustrator and ad exec qualifies you to be an animal food safety expert?
debfelts@me.com
What is the date of this article? Need to date your posts!
Paula Weber
says above FEBRUARY 15, 2018
Funda Ercan Koçkal
Unbeliviable :( How it is possible at US? Use hermospet.com it is more healthier because it is simple and GMO free…
Sheri Fleming
I use a prescription by my vet. It is science diet but for digestive system and can only get this one from the vet’s office. Is science diet though .would this one be ok
Susan Downs
I have heard that a Science Diet special recipe food purchased from a vet’s office killed someone’s dog. I would not use what you bought until you can verify that the lot number is not tainted. I have ten dogs. I am going to have to start making my own food for them. This is terrifying.
Nancy Mohrmamm
Science Diet is garbage. It’s got “name “ recognition, advertising $$$$ and sold by vets along with yearly “ booster” shots.
Look at the label : BY -PRODUCTS
Heather O'Hare
There was a recall last week on Hills Science Prescription Diet that u get from your vet. Toxic amounts of vitamin D
Kay
some of the science diet has been recalled. almost lost my house dog because of mars brand foods
Judy Houha
You can get Science Diet I/D from PetSmart or chewy.com with an RX from your vet for a lot cheaper than your vet. I pay $8 less a case at PetSmart. You just need to show RX to Banfield & they issue you a card to show at checkout.
Trish
Science diet recently had a recall on the canned food for high levels of vit D. Was making dogs very sick and some died.
Not Your Business
DATE YOUR ARTICLES. Judging by the dates of the comments this story is over a year old, but readers have no way of knowing because you have failed to provide the minimum information needed.
Cha Reeves
this news is saddening and sickeningly vile! absolutely imperative to those pet owners to know these criminals are using corpses filled with euthanasia chemicals!!!
This warning effects so many fur babies. so many low income pet-owners are out there who have no choice to buy the cheapest feed because they barely have for themselves. some people buy it to use, like community pet feeders on a budget or low income.
Sounds like the meat in this cheap dog food come from the dead corpses of recently euthanized dogs and cats from county shelters and vets. refridgerated, collected and sold in bulk.. they pay them to cremate but look what happens!!! SHAME!
disgusting! they dont care about DOGS OR LIFE! you cant when youre feeding them death!! fouler than involuntary canibalism. glad i dont use this but i have occassionally used them! never again!
JoAnne Stefanac
Really wish this article was DATED, so we know if it’s a recent event or one from a year ago.
Barbara
It is from match our 2018, went to the website and found the original article.
Jamie
I assure you it is recent, my in-laws dog just had to be put down because of the effects.
Gisela
Seems this all happened early 2018 or was this recently?
Betsy Hortenberry
Right now I’m feeding my dogs pure balance.is this a good dog food
Sandra Sessions
I’ve been very pleased with how my little JRT has been relieved of her ear infections due to corn allergies since I’ve been feeding her the grain free Pure Balance!
Laura Conrad
Which Jerky treats were recalled? My dog is so picky she has rejected many brands. Especially those that are vitimin fortified. She loves blanched veggies, meat and rice. No pork.
jerry
I’m worried now, I have 3 english bullies and feed them blue buffalo, is it ok to feed??
Betsy Hortenberry
They’ve been having recalls in the past,I don’t trust blue Buffalo,I’d try nature’s balance. I get mine at Petco, salmon,sweet potato,small bites as I have small dogs,I’ve not seen any recalls on this brand.
Judith a Norwood
Yes that’s a good brand. 4 Health from tractor store is very good. Strain free
Alletha
I have a 12 year old whippet who is a picky eater (all five of the whippets I’ve had have been picky eaters, some more than others). I was feeding him the Kirkland (Costco) brand Chicken and Rice dog food but on a Whippet Facebook group discussing feeding raw vs grain free vs home cooked vs commercial kibble, the advice I got was to feed ProPlan 30/20. What do you think of the Purina brand dog foods?
Reagan Stokes
Purina is garbage too
Get a good brand food from the dog food or pet store
It’s so worth it
The other garbage causes way too many health problems ?
Karma
My family has fed our hunting dogs Purina for generations,,, All my dogs have been raised on Purina,, No problems, it’s ur opinion,, Everyone has an opinion.
Joell
Let me guess…your hunting dogs are kept in rabbit hutches or chained up to dog houses but you feed them ‘the best’ purina dog chow? Let’s hope there is karma.
jillbutler9185
I have been feeding my Whippets the Proplan Focus Lamb and rice small bites for 4 years now. The dogs have been doing fabulous on it. And no recalls.
Bette Scott
I have been a Purina fan for over 50 years, never a problem with it, check for recalls and you will find you may not find any. I adopt senior and hospice dogs and they do very good with Purina one smart blend.
Karen Bakeeff
I use Purina Beyond, salmon plus. My dogs are doing fine that I know of.
My question is what is wrong with Milk Bone treats?
Jeanette micca
My 2 dogs DIED from Purina BENEFUL within 4months of each other
Helen Corelw
When did you originally write this? Putting a date on it is important for all . Thank you
Suhan
Im so glad that my buddies are on a complete raw diet. Agrree that even raw diet is not that healthy. But atkeast they are way much better from this processed foodmcans which contains all sorta chemicals and preservatives. Best is to make home made food for the lil buddies. There safety is our no 1 priority.
Jackie
From what I read milk-bone is ok. I hope no pet dies from this. I have recently lost a loved 14 year old pet and would have went crazy if it was because of drugged pet food. I now have a new puppy that i treat like a queen. She loves milk bone treats but will have nothing to do with ol Roy. Maybe she is smarter than we are?
Sherle
Milk bone treats have been known to have mold in them!
Sharon Kinsey
Here’s the issue. When money was not an issue, my four large dogs all got either home made food or the best of the raw diet foods. But as a retired person where money is an issue, I have to use the best possible food that I can afford. I subscribed to all the helpful newsletters and made a choice. I still have four large dogs. If someone can provide information on how to economically make my own dog food I would appreciate it. I live in a rural area with no butcher shops.
RD
A Look Inside a Rendering Plant
1996;
Rendering has been called “the silent industry.” Each year in the US, 286 rendering plants quietly dispose of more than 12.5 million tons of dead animals, fat and meat wastes. As the public relations watchdog newsletter PR Watch observes, renderers “are thankful that most people remain blissfully unaware of their existence.”
When City Paper reporter Van Smith visited Baltimore’s Valley Proteins rendering plant last summer, he found that the “hoggers” (the large vats used to grind and filter animal tissues prior to deep-fat frying) held an eclectic mix of body parts ranging from “dead dogs, cats, raccoons, possums, deer, foxes [and] snakes” to a “baby circus elephant” and the remains of Bozeman, a Police Department quarterhorse that “died in the line of duty.”
In an average month, Baltimore’s pound hands over 1,824 dead animals to Valley Proteins. Last year, the plant transformed 150 millions pounds of decaying flesh and kitchen grease into 80 million pounds of commercial meat and bone meal, tallow and yellow grease. Thirty years ago, most of the renderer’s wastes came from small markets and slaughterhouses. Today, thanks to the proliferation of fast-food restaurants, nearly half the “raw material” is kitchen grease and frying oil.
Recycling dead pets and wildlife into animal food is “a very small part of the business that we don’t like to advertise,” Valley Proteins’ president J. J. Smith told City Paper. The plant processes these animals as a “public service, not for profit,” Smith said, since ”there is not a lot of protein and fat [on pets]…, just a lot of hair you have to deal with somehow.”
According to the City Paper, Valley Proteins “sells inedible animal parts and rendered material to Alpo, Heinz and Ralston-Purina.” Valley Proteins insists that it does not sell “dead-pet byproducts” to pet food firms since “they are all very sensitive to the recycled pet potential.” Valley Proteins maintains two production lines — one for clean meat and bones and a second line for dead pets and wildlife. However, Smith reported, “the protein material is a mix from both production lines. Thus the meat and bone meal made at the plant includes materials from pets and wildlife, and about five percent of that product goes to dry-pet-food manufacturers….”
A 1991 USDA report states that, “approximately 7.9 billion pounds of meat and bone meal, blood meal and feather meal [were] produced in 1983.” Of that amount, 34 percent was used in pet food, 34 percent in poultry feed, 20 percent in pig food and ten percent in beef and dairy cattle feed.
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) carried in pig and chicken-laden foods eventually may eclipse the threat of “Mad Cow Disease.” The risk of household pet-exposure to TSE from contaminated pet food is more than three times greater than the risk for hamburger-eating humans.
Marnie
Informative and dissapointing! If anyone is looking for a homemade alternative but unsure what the appropriate nutrition needs to be I used ‘Canine Life’ which is a base that you mix with your protein and veg from a recommended list and then bake. Very successful with my 13 year old girl.
Bonnie Jackson
Are dry dog foods of these brands ok at the moment?
Jennifer seewald
These dog foods are NEVER okay. Read the ingredient panel, do your research. They’re disgusting. Have been for years!
RD Wolff
I’ve been feeding the multi generation family owned Fromm dry food after reading and a lot of research, including the dogfoodadvisor site reviews. It is the ONLY pet food compay that NEVER had a recall until last year with one variety of canned food that had more vitamin D in it than it should have.
Never any recalls for ecoli, listeria, slamonella, plastic contamination, toxic mold, or anything else.
The alternative is cook it all yourself, but in my case with four St Bernards and working full time that ISNT going to happen! I have had dogs who lived to be 13 years old, VERY few issues of any kind, in fact one I have is now 12 years and 1 month old, the only health issue she’s had is some front teeth needed to be removed.
Of all the feeds out there I trust Fromm, I have fed IAMS, Show results and many other premium brands over the years, but this one is I feel at the top.
Sue
Would you please read the article. It’s not phenobarbital, it’s pentobarbital! There is a difference! One is a euthanasia drug another a sedative.
M Dailey
Either one should not be in pet food ! Why do they have to add drugs to pet food ? This is why I make a lot of my pet food and when I buy pet food it is from a reliable pet food store. Too much preservatives in most pet food !
Nancy Mohrmann
Thank you. You are correct
Brenda Mayer
How does this even happen??
Thank goddess my dogs are on Royal Canine
Dorinda bigham
This article states that the drug can only come from euthanasized animals. This is wrong. If that is the case how does my dog take phenobarbital daily to control his epilepsy
Jennife
The med your dog takes is for seizures. Phenobarbital . The drug used to euthanize animals is pentobarbital
Kristy
Because its pentobaribital not phenobarbital.
Mel
Phenobarbital is a sedative…only in extremely large dosages is it used in euthanasia. I am not saying that ANY amount is acceptable in pet food, I’m just saying that the article is misleading when it says that phenobarbital is a death drug.
Victoria
They’re not saying phenobarbital, it’s pentobarbital. Two different drugs.
Donna Blaszczyk, RN
NO AMOUNT OF PHENOBARBITAL IS ACCEPTABLE IN PRODUCTS FOR CONSUMPTION.
Karen Mitchell
I don’t see a date at the top of the page as to when this was published..You start off by saying “Today……”.. When was “today” ? I just came here from a post in FB thinking it was recent. Any chance you can put dates at the top Mollie?
You’re doing an awesome job… still <3
Christina
I feed the Old Roy Kibble dog food to my dog’s is that contaminated as well I also feed Milk Bones to my dogs so if you could please tell me which ones are recalled that would be great to know thank you
mildred
why are they using euthanized animals in the dog food processes any way what i would like to know are they using animals from shelters or where they are getting them
Melissa Llewellyn
I have a half of a case of the kibbles n bits that’s been recalled. My dogs already ate the other half. Who do I get in touch with?
Betty Roe
I just lost my small Chihuahua I was feeding him some of the Ol Roy canned dog food mixed with Beneful could this possibly have been the cause of his death he started bleeding from the rectum and they could not save him
Melisa
Im pissed thers 2 that i feed my dogs& if something happens2 them.i will sue.
Debbie
Bad part is.. Legally they are only required to reimburse you for the cost of your dogs(you have to show a receipt), the cost of the food (must show receipt), & the cost of your vet bill (& you have to show a receipt for that). Oh & they can deduct for the age of the dog(s) if they are senior dogs. They don’t have to pay a damn thing that will even put a dent in their pocketbooks. I have looked this up because I had 6 cats & a dog die from tainted food.
leona MADDUX
i don’t think we should be feeding our pets their own brothers & sisters ( killed cats & dogs) anyway! that’s like saying all the homeless people be rendered into whatever you get my point! that maybe why peoples pets are sick all the time. not saying everyone should do it but i feed raw , there is a disease from eating people called prion or ( Kuru ) disease . maybe there is something similar for pets too! anyway i don’t feed the brains of any animal to my pets or me.
Melisse Fowler
Not condoning in any way but offering insight into how some of these things can happen. Smucker’s may have a decent audit program. They may have pentobarbital specifically spelled out on the raw material specifications. The raw material providers may provide COAs that say the material is tested and met the specification. Or, at any time, any one of the links in the chain can become weak. Industry likes to constantly become more efficient in order to continue to offer product at low prices while still making a profit. This results in things like less training. The supplier auditing program may have inexperienced people performing the routine visits. Or maybe the visits aren’t so routine anymore, and are just desk audits in which the reviewer/approver is really at the mercy of what is being told to them by the documentation. Efficiency efforts can lead to skip lot testing (raw material provider OR the purchasing company may decide to skip lot test). They RM provider may still provide a COA stating that the material meets specification for pentobarbital, but with a caveat that it’s based on statistical analysis of some portion of testing over the previous X number of lots or years, etc. Plus, how far in the chain does the expectation for supplier controls reach? The manufacturer certainly is expected to audit the raw material suppliers. But the RM supplier, the renderer’s…are they expected to audit the shelters? Are there any controls on the renderer’s at all – do they have rules that they cannot use, for instance, road kill? My point is, the purchaser is not always privy to all of the efficiency short cuts that are being taken at the RM provider’s facility. Likewise, the manufacturer of the pet food may be taking efficiency shortcuts. The fact that this was identified 29 years ago and is still happening says that there is a lack of commitment, follow through, and monitoring. Further, lack of oversight by the FDA may be a very large contributing factor. Whether or not that is due to political reasons and lack of funding is a different conversation.
CrazyCatLady
This is why we don’t feed commercial pet food anymore. I don’t trust the manufactures one iota. We were feeding a refrigerated high quality commercial food to our lab pups and after many months of feeding it, one began to throw up after each meal. It got to the point where he would even turn his nose away from his bowl and not eat. Who knows why one became sick and one didn’t. The smell of it had changed and it wasn’t appealing. And manufacturers can change the ingredients at any time without telling you. We now homemake the same food with quality human-grade ingredients and add the BalanceIT vitamins and minerals. The pups who are now almost two years old are thriving and are all solid muscle. Also, they are at a perfect weight. We also have our cats on BalanceIT. They no longer have health issues. They were allergic to many of the ingredients in commercial pet food. BalanceIT was designed by Board Certified Veterinarian nutritionists and you can get recipes on their website based on the weight of your pet(s). Cornell University said it’s the most hypoallergenic supplement on the market. And they’re right. With the cats, I was at my wits end. I could not find any canned commercial pet food that didn’t cause skin issues. Or, one that wouldn’t worsen my female’s asthma. Also, my female couldn’t handle a raw diet either. Nor human vitamins added to a home cooked diet. I tried everything. With trial and error and elimination diets, and patience like you wouldn’t believe, I know what works for them and what doesn’t. Thank God for BalanceIT —we will NEVER feed commercial food again. Also, we had extensive blood work done all the fur kids and their numbers came back with flying colors. No deficiencies whatsoever as some manufacturers would lead you to believe. “Oh don’t feed a homemade diet—it’s dangerous”. BLAH BLAH BLAH! Homemade diets work as long as they are done right. And after living with pets for almost 50 years, I can certainly see the difference it makes.
And Mollie, thank God for you and all the hard work and sacrifice you do. And for exposing these manufacturers when they do wrong. It takes courage to do what you do. Please continue to be a voice for our beloved pets.
Dorothy Parks' Tellez
I make all my Dogs and Cats food, I boil down a entire chicken, debone it, process it with unflavored gelatin. Then add canned Macarel fish, and barley. Some cooked veggies, some blueberries, or Apples. Both my 3 cats and my dogs eat this. They are extremely healthy. My diabetic cats blood sugar is way down. They no longer have bad breath. Or Shed so terrible.I cook the chicken till the bones are almost broken down.
Angie
CrazyCatLady.. .
What homemade ingredients do you use?
We have home raised pork and beef, but even store bought chicken can be debatable on how it was fed and raised.
Really would love a better option then trusting our pets food won’t have problems.
Please share details on your homemade recipe or site link that gives that info. Thanks!