RECALL: J.J. Fuds petfood recall expanded on potential Listeria, Salmonella concerns

Indiana-based J.J. Fuds is expanding their petfood recall to include all lots and products of J.J. Fuds Chicken Tender Chunks, Beef Tender Chunks and Duckling Tender Chunks petfood because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and/or Salmonella.

The recalled products were distributed regionally in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois to wholesale and retail customers. The product can be identified by the batch ID code (manufactured date) and UPC code printed on the back of the individual plastic bag or on the master case label. These products are a frozen raw poultry or beef product and have a shelf life of one year if kept frozen.
The recalled products are as follows:
J. J. Fuds Premium Natural Blends; Chicken Tender Chunks
5 lb. bags, Product UPC Number: 654592-345935 Manufacture/Lot Code Date: All
10 lb. bags, Product UPC Number: 654592-345805 Manufacture/Lot Code Date: All
J. J. Fuds Premium Natural Blends: Beef Tender Chunks
5 lb. bags, Product UPC Number: 654592-345942 Manufacture/Lot Code Date: All
10 lb. bags, Product UPC Number: 654592-345757 Manufacture/Lot Code Date: All
J. J. Fuds Premium Natural Blends: Duckling Tender Chunks,
5 lb. bags, Product UPC Number: 654592-345928 Manufacture/Lot Code Date: All
10 lb. bags, Product UPC Number: 654592-345737 Manufacture/Lot Code Date: All
The recall was a result of a routine sampling program by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development resulting in a positive test for Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella. The company has not received any reports to date of dogs experiencing nausea and diarrhea that may be associated with these specific products. The company has received no reports to date of human illness as a result of these products.
J.J. Fuds will immediately start working with distributors and retailers to properly dispose of any affected product left on freezer shelves. The company will also be working with distributors and retailers to recall this product from pet owners to ensure the proper disposal of any affected product that has been purchased.

FDA warns against feeding pets raw diets

Food poisoning isn’t only a human problem, according to the US Food and Drug Administration, which says that pets are also at risk if they eat foods that are contaminated with disease-causing bacteria. Two of these bacteria—Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes—are particularly dangerous to both pets and humans, says the FDA.

test
Raw petfood consists primarily of meat, bones and organs that haven’t been cooked, and therefore are more likely than cooked food to contain organisms that can make a dog or cat sick, says William J. Burkholder, DVM, PhD, veterinary medical officer in the FDA’s Division of Animal Feeds. Moreover, raw food can make humans sick as well if it isn't handled properly. The FDA says it does not believe feeding raw petfoods to animals is consistent with the goal of protecting the public from significant health risks.
 The agency recommends cooking raw meat and poultry to kill harmful bacteria like Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes before the food is given to pets. Burkholder says people who choose a raw diet for their pets often point out that feral dogs and cats catch prey and eat it raw. “That’s true,” he says, “but we don’t know how many of these animals get sick or die as a result of doing that. Since sick feral animals are rarely taken to a veterinarian when they’re ill, there’s no way to collect that information.”
Consumers also run the risk of getting sick if they handle contaminated petfoods and accidentally transfer the bacteria to their mouths. “If you’re going to handle raw foods, you need to pay particular attention to good hygienic practices,” says Burkholder. “Wash your hands and anything else that comes into contact with the product with hot, soapy water for at least 20 seconds.”
Feeding raw food to a pet also increases the risk of contaminating food contact surfaces and other places. “Even if the dog or cat doesn’t get sick, they can become carriers of Salmonella and transfer the bacteria to their surroundings, and then people can get the disease from contact with the infected environment,” says Burkholder. Once Salmonella gets established in the pet’s gastrointestinal tract, the animal can shed the bacteria when it has a bowel movement, and the contamination will continue to spread.
“Feeding raw foods to pets increases the risk that both the pet and the people around the pet will encounter bacteria that cause foodborne illness, particularly if the products are not carefully handled and fed,” says Burkholder. “This is certainly one factor that should be considered when selecting diets for your pet.” 

Colorado university vets: Do not feed pets raw diets

Adherents to the raw petfood diet trend claim that pets eating raw diets have shiner coats, healthier skin, cleaner teeth, improved immunity and easier weight management, but Colorado State University veterinarians say there is no evidence to support such claims. There are, however, real risks.

test
"We advise that pet owners analyze nutritional claims and look for the research to support those claims, especially if they seem too good to be true," say the vets. "Look for references to research that has been both published and peer-reviewed; this approach is built on scientific rigor and helps ensure valid data." Some of the risks associated with feeding raw petfood include:

• Raw food has an increased risk of being contaminated with harmful bacteria, including Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli. These pathogens can cause dangerous illnesses in pets—and the people who handle raw petfood. For these reasons, federal agencies including the US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend against raw food diets for pets.
• Raw food diets have been shown to have nutritional imbalances.
• The bones in raw diets can cause fractured teeth and intestinal trauma.
Veterinarians at the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital recommend the following when considering nutritional options for pets:

• Feed a diet that is balanced and appropriate for the age of your pet.
• Puppies and kittens should be fed a diet that is formulated to meet the specific needs of a young animal. Avoid diets stating they are for “all life stages.”
• Feed a diet from a company active in nutritional research and continuous improvement to formulations, with strict quality control, and that employs a boarded nutritionist.
• Home-cooked pet diets should be made with the help of a boarded nutritionist. Meat in homemade pet diets should be cooked until the internal temperature of 165 degrees F is reached.
• Any dietary change should be made slowly, over five to seven days, to avoid stomach upset.
• Consult your veterinarian with any questions or concerns regarding nutrition and your pet. 

South Dakota State University to study Salmonella testing in raw petfood

Through a five-year US Food and Drug Administration grant for nearly $500,000, South Dakota State University Senior Microbiologist Seema Das aims to determine whether a test that detects Salmonella in human food can do the same in raw petfood.

test
The first year the test will be validated, and then either adjustments or expansion of the testing will be done in subsequent years. The work will involve multi-lab validation with collaborators at Iowa State, Texas A & M, the University of Minnesota and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. "This is not only a pet health issue, it is a human health issue because everything is interlinked," said Das. "If the petfood is contaminated with Salmonella, it goes from the petfood to you."  
After reviewing recalls, Das and her research team suspect that mice or other rodents may be possible sources of contamination. Rodents and bugs can be problematic in factories where food is produced, said Das, and Salmonella is a common pathogen in mice. The SDSU team, consisting of veterinarian Russ Daly, bacteriologist Laura Ruesch, microbiologists Marciel Aguiar and Cindy Watt and two undergraduate students, began working on the project in September 2013.

Value of nutrients from raw meat cat diets analyzed in new study

In a new paper published in the Journal of Animal Science, researchers analyzed the value of nutrients from raw meat diets for cats and exotic felids.
The researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Omaha, Nebraska, USA’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium analyzed the value of nutrients from bison, cattle, horses and elk meats to test how the different diets affected cats. Researchers collected blood serum and fecal samples from domestic cats and captive African wildcats, jaguars and Malayan tigers, in addition to using cecetomized roosters to analyze amino acid digestibility in the different diets.
Findings indicated that although raw meat diets met many of the nutrient requirements for cats, none of the diets contained the recommended levels of linoleic acid, and horse meat did not provide recommended levels of arachidonic acid for kittens, as well as gestating and lactating females.
"With the closing of horse abattoirs in 2007, the availability of quality grade horsemeat in the United States has decreased, increasing the need for research on the digestibility and composition of possible alternatives," according to researchers.
Kelly Swanson, associate professor of animal science at the University of Illinois and co-author of the study, said the researchers are "a bit wary" of pet owners feeding homemade raw diets because of the risk of exposing cats to increased pathogens and nutrient imbalances. Additionally, a high-protein diet can chance the types of microbes in the cat’s gut. This, researchers say, can lead to more “odiferous” feces, depending on the digestibility of the protein source. 

RECALL: Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula

Pet food maker Nature's Variety is voluntarily recalling of one batch of Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties and medallions because the pet products may contain pieces of clear plastic that could potentially cause pets to choke.
Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula products marked with a "Best if Used By" date of October 4, 2013, are being recalled because clear plastic pieces were found in some bags. The company said the source of the plastic has been identified and the issue has been resolved.
Products affected by the recall include:

• Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula medallions in 3-lb. bags, marked with UPC# 769949601371
• Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula medallions in 27-lb. cases, marked with UPC# 769949701378
• Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties in 6-lb. bags, marked with UPC# 769949601272
• Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties in 36-lb. cases, marked with UPC# 769949701279
The affected product was distributed through retail stores and Internet sales in the United States and Canada. Nature's Variety said there have been no reports of harm to dogs or cats.
Consumers with questions may contact the Nature's Variety Consumer Relations team at +1.888.519.7387, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or email cservice@naturesvariety.com.

Instinct raw dog food sponsors roast of Betty White

White and Uggie, her dog, attended the roast, sponsored by Instinct petfood brand.

Nature's Variety pet food brand, Instinct, sponsored a recent roast of comedic actress Betty White on May 16, hosted by The Friars Club, in New York City, USA.  
Uggie, White's dog, eats Instinct Raw diet everyday, according to Omar Von Muller, his trainer. “It’s great that Instinct provided us food while we were attending the Betty White Friars Club Roast in New York City because that’s what he eats when he’s at home,” said von Muller. 
“Instinct is a proud sponsor of the Betty White Friars Club Roast,” said Robert Bennett, chief marketing officer at Nature's Variety. “Betty White is an icon across the world and is well-known for her animal advocacy. When we found out from Uggie’s trainer, Omar von Muller, that Uggie eats Instinct Raw and would be alongside Betty White at her roast, we knew it was a natural fit for us to be part of.” 

Veterinarian blogs about switching dogs to raw pet food diet

Selecting the right pet food is important for maintaining a pet's health and with so many choices, it can be difficult to determine what type of pet food may be best, which is why one veterinarian is blogging about her experience switching her dogs to a raw pet food diet. Dr. Amy Nesselrodt is chronicling her experience in switching her dogs to Answers Pet Food raw diet for one year, monitoring the dogs' health and weight before, during and after the switch.
Nesselrodt says she will be brutally honest in her findings, so that other pet owners may become more educated on feeding their pet a raw food or kibble diet. She says that much controversy exists in the debate over what is really good for dogs and cats to consume, raising questions about the nutritional balance of raw petfood, whether pets are really meant to eat commercially processed cooked foods, whether ingredients like grains and potatoes are actually meant for pets to eat and if raw diets put pets at a greater risk for bacteria consumption.
Nesslerodt's experience and results from her raw pet food challenge can be viewed on her online blog.

'Prey model' pet diet sparks illegal online wild game business

The "prey diet," which involves feeding animals raw game similar to what they would hunt in the wild, has jump-started an illegal wild game-selling business on the Internet, according to Florida officials quoted in a USA Today article.
According to wildlife investigators, people caught selling raw meat without a permit face up to five years in jail and a US$5,000 fine. Those buying the illegally obtained game face up to six months in jail and a US$500 fine. "It's happening nationwide," said Lt. George Wilson, head of the Florida Fish and Wildlife's Internet Crimes Unit. "The philosophy behind it is feeding your pet a hormone-free, naturally grazed diet. We're seeing solicitations for wild ducks, anything wild." So far, the crime unit has logged 177 arrests and 92 warnings for cases involving illegally buying or selling raw wildlife, and some of those involved have been purchasing for their pets.
For now, raw wild game for pets is difficult to come by legally because the market is so small. Officials say that people attempting to buy from illegal sources online have been given warnings, but that leniency won't last forever. "Our interest here is to protect our natural resources," said Wilson. "If this is allowed to go unchecked, it could create a black market that would impact the populations of wildlife in Florida."

Walmart, Landfill Diversions Program turn unwanted meat into petfood

The Landfill Diversions Program partnered with three Portland, Oregon, USA, Walmart stores in an effort to use unwanted grocery store food as petfood for rescued animals, according to an article from Fox News Oregon.
The program collects expired turkey, chicken, beef and pork from stores that would otherwise throw the meats out. The food is distributed from the northeast Portland home of Virginia Dunn, director of the group Northwest Working Dogs. According to Dunn, any pet owner who wants to feed animals raw food is eligible for the program.
"The US Department of Agriculture says literally billions of pounds of meat go in the landfill every year and it could be diverted and used for animal feed, which is obviously much healthier for dogs," Dunn said.

RECALL: Feline's Pride recall expanded due to Salmonella concerns

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the recall of Feline's Pride cat food due to concerns about Salmonella contamination.
The previous recall, issued on July 1, included only the 2.5 pound bags of Feline's Pride Natural Chicken Formula raw food produced on June 10, 2010. It was expanded to include the 2.5 pound packages of Feline's Pride Natural Chicken Formula raw food produced on June 2, 2010 and June 21, 2010, because of concerns about the products being contaminated with Salmonella. The food is sold frozen to consumers across the US, in uncoded plastic containers.
Consumers who have purchased the affected products should contact Feline's Pride at +1.716.580.3096 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT.

Nature’s Variety expands raw petfood recall

Nature’s Variety expanded its voluntary recall to include all Chicken Formula and Organic Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diets for dogs and cats with any “Best If Used By” date on or before 2/5/11.

Stella & Chewy’s offers extra security against petfood contamination

Raw petfood company Stella & Chewy's has developed a patent-pending SecureByNature system to guard against food contamination throughout the manufacturing plant.
A key component of this system is the hydrostatic high pressure process – a technology that eliminates harmful pathogens without cooking out vital nutrients or changing the natural taste, according to Stella & Chewy's.
To verify the efficacy of the company's food safety techniques, each batch is tested by an independent laboratory for Salmonella and E. coli before packaging.

Nature's Variety issues raw diet recall

Nature's Variety has initiated a voluntary recall of its Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet for dogs and cats with a "Best If Used By" date of 11/10/10 because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The products affected are limited to chicken medallions, patties and chubs.
The affected product was distributed through retail stores and internet sales in the US and in limited distribution in Canada.
No pet or human illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this lot code.

Bravo! publishes raw food how-to booklet

Bravo! published "Bravo! Beginnings: Raw Diets for Cats," an 18-page informational booklet on feeding raw written specifically for cat owners.
The company published the feline-specific follow-up to its "Bravo! Beginnings" series to address the nutritional needs of cats and the process for transitioning cats to a raw diet.
“Since education is a key part of our process, we felt we needed a booklet that would address more specifically the nutritional needs of cats and the significance a raw diet can have on their health and well-being,” said David Bogner, Bravo! owner and co-founder.

Honest Kitchen switches to free-range chicken

The Honest Kitchen is transitioning all its chicken-based, dehydrated raw petfoods to sustainably farmed, free-range chicken this fall.
The chicken will be sourced exclusively from Petaluma Poultry, a division of Coleman Natural Foods, and is US Department of Agriculture-certified free range, humanely raised, vegetarian fed without the use of animal fat or by-products and free from antibiotics, according to the company.
“Humane farming and respect for the origins of our food are very important to me on a personal level, and it’s been a long-term ambition of our entire staff to be able to offer this level of quality to our consumers,” said Lucy Postins, founder and president of The Honest Kitchen.
Petaluma Poultry’s free-range birds are raised in roomy, naturally lit barns and have open access to outdoor pens, according to the company. The company’s farms have an ISO 14001 certification from the Environmental Resources Management Group of Companies.

Veterinarians warn of raw food hazards

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and Public Health Agency of Canada have issued a statement warning pet owners of the potential health risks raw food could pose to their pets, according to a news report.
“Careful handling while cleaning and storing the food is most important. People in households with seniors or very young children need to be particularly careful,” said veterinarian Wanda Vockeroth.

Bravo! and Nature’s Variety add new seminars

After the success of “Bottom Line Raw” educational summit for retailers on raw diet product lines, Bravo! and Nature’s Variety have added two sessions to their 2009 calendar. The first will be a part of the Super Zoo University curriculum in Las Vegas on Sept. 15-17 and the second will be held during the H.H. Backer 43rd Annual Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show and Educational Conference, Oct. 2-4 in Chicago.
The program features segments led by representatives from Bravo! and Nature’s Variety and information on profitably selling raw diet products.
Companies can register for the seminars at seminar@bravorawdiet.com, but seating is limited.

‘BARF’ diet plan meets criticism

Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst, who introduced his raw petfood diet known as BARF several years ago, is facing new criticism from veterinarians and petfood manufacturers, according to an article by the San Francisco Chronicle. BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.
Billinghurst wants dog owners to reproduce the elements of a prey animal when they feed their pets. He recommends a diet of muscle meat, organs and bones along with pulverized raw vegetables, probiotics, cultured foods like yogurt and a few supplements.
The article said that people perceive locally grown fresh foods cleaner, more humane and better for their animals and the environment, despite health warnings from veterinarians and petfood manufacturers stating that homemade raw diets cannot possibly provide all the necessary ingredients for pets’ health that commercial petfoods do.

Commercial food, treats ensure proper diet for pets fed raw foods

Raw food or home-cooked diets are appropriate for some pets, but not all, according to a recent article on www.examiner.com.
The article recommends commercially available foods and treats in order to ensure a healthy, well-balanced diet for pets.
When it comes to treats, the pet-specific real raw bones at holistic petfood stores are fresher than what someone would get from a butcher, according to the article, and are healthier, too, because the bones are meant to be fed raw or lightly cooked. Meat and bones for human consumption are intended to be cooked before eaten by people, and so hygiene considerations in the rendering plants may reflect that, according to the article.