RECALL: Pet Center Inc. recalls Lamb Crunchy's dog treats

Pet Center Inc. of California, USA, has issued a recall for Lamb Crunchy’s dog treats due to possible Salmonella contamination.

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The recalled products are sold in 3-ounce bags of Lamb Crunchy’s dog treats (LAM-003) with UPC number 727348200038 and date code 122015. The products were made in the USA and distributed to California, Wisconsin, Colorado and Washington states to Gelson’s Market, General Pet, Nor-Sky Pet Supply and Independent Pet.
The bacteria was found by the State of Colorado Department of Agriculture in a random sample. If you purchased this product, do not give it to your pet. Return it to the place of purchase for a refund.

Backer's Total Pet Expo adds new features for 2014

H.H. Backer Associates is adding more features to its annual Backer’s Total Pet Expo, including a smartphone app, a Secret Shopper contest and other attractions. The changes to the 2014 pet products trade show, which will be held September 19 to 21 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in suburban Chicago, follow a revamped 2013 exhibition.

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The app, available from iTunes and Google Play, is designed for smartphones and tablet computers. It locates exhibitors, displays schedules, speaker bios and maps, and offers a QR scanner, photo gallery and social media links. The Secret Shopper contest will reward exhibitors through the use of mystery shoppers who will visit booths to assess vendors’ knowledge and service.
Also planned are the Top Ten All-Natural Product Lounge within the All-Natural Area on Level 1, which will showcase products voted on by retailers before the show; and US$10,000 in prizes for exhibitors who pitch "an interesting and innovative pet product." In addition, a preshow seminar, "The Nuts and Bolts of Bigger Retail Profits,” will be hosted by business professional Chris Beykirch on September 18.

Kenya petfood market set for growth

Kenya's petfood market is poised for growth as the country's wealthy catch up with the global trends of increased pet ownership and pet humanization, according to reports.

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According to the US Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, Kenya’s petfood market grew 27% in 2006–2010, and Kenya’s petfood imports totaled about US$960,000 in 2010. “People are now busier and wealthier," said Riaz Gilani, director of Kenyan petfood manufacturer Gilani Gourmet. "They have children whom they cannot spend time with [compared] to previous generations. So there are a lot of instances where a parent would be arm twisted into buying a puppy for their child. You have situations where people would rather have dogs for security, especially if they have a big compound. You also have the growing class of people who buy dogs for status [and] this is a growing trend in Kenya.”
Barriers such as high taxation, prohibitive permit requirements, fears of terrorism and high electricity costs make it difficult to do business in Kenya, said Gilani.

Canine osteosarcoma study presented at American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine forum

Advaxis Inc., a biotechnology company developing cancer immunotherapies, has announced that principal investigator Nicola Mason, BVet.Med, PhD, DACVIM, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, will present updated data from the ongoing ADXS-cHER2 study in canine osteosarcoma at the 2014 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum on June 5, 2014, in Nashville, Tennessee. ADXS-cHER2 is an immunotherapy that targets the HER2 oncogene, which is overexpressed in certain solid-tumor cancers, including pediatric bone cancer and breast cancer.

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In her presentation, "Clinical Evaluation of a HER2/neu-Targeting Vaccine to Prevent Metastatic Osteosarcoma," Mason will provide updated data from the ongoing study in pet dogs with osteosarcoma. "We are excited that Dr. Mason will be presenting these encouraging data from our canine trial at the ACVIM Forum, which focuses on the latest developments in animal health," said Daniel J. O'Connor, CEO of Advaxis. "Without question, her research has not only been groundbreaking in the treatment of canine osteosarcoma, but the results have also affirmed the potential of ADXS-cHER2 as a treatment for a host of human cancers, including bone cancer and breast cancer, where the HER2 oncogene is overexpressed. In particular, these data, along with the strong parallel between canine and pediatric bone cancer, were instrumental in our recent decision to pursue a clinical development program with ADXS-cHER2 in pediatric osteosarcoma."

New York City launches domestic violence victims with pets campaign

The Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV) has unveiled a campaign in support of Urban Resource Institute’s (URI) People and Animals Living Safely (PALS) initiative to shelter domestic violence victims with pets.

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Throughout May, in recognition of Pet Safety Awareness Month, the campaign will canvass New York City via retail outlets and grassroots distribution, with the goal of raising awareness about the services now available to victims of abuse with pets. To support this campaign, Petland Discounts will place posters on the doors of its 70 stores in the New York area and C-Town and Bravo Supermarkets will include information in its weekly store circular across all five boroughs.
“This creative private-public partnership with the Urban Resource Institute, Petland Discounts and C-Town and Bravo Supermarkets will help connect survivors with critical domestic violence services,” said Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence Commissioner Rosemonde Pierre-Louis. “Survivors who flee an abusive home no longer need to leave their beloved pets behind. Now, the entire family can find safety and security together in a supportive domestic violence shelter.”
Studies show that as many as 48% of domestic violence victims stay in abusive situations out of fear of what would happen if they left their pets behind, and more than 70% of pet owners who enter shelter report that the abuser has threatened, injured or killed family pets. URI is the only one of NYC’s 50 domestic violence shelters that accommodates pets, filling a critical gap by addressing the unique challenges families with pets face.
“Pets are part of people’s families, and no one should have to face the impossible decision to leave a pet behind in order to flee a violent relationship,” said Nathaniel Fields, president and CEO of URI. “With this campaign, OCDV is taking a bold step in spreading the word about URIPALS so that we can help more New Yorkers escape abuse and rebuild their lives as a family unit.” 
OCDV staff and community partners will also hand out materials and information to hundreds of commuters in neighborhoods with a high incidence of domestic violence. These outreach efforts will promote the safety of families with pets, provide information about where to get help if someone is being abused including OCDV’s New York City Family Justice Centers, and encourage people to participate on social media with the hashtag #NYCendDV. 
To learn more about URIPALS and for tips on keeping the entire family safe in domestic violence situations, please visit www.urinyc.org. For help from one of OCDV’s New York City Family Justice Centers, visit www.nyc.gov/domesticviolence or call the City’s Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-621-4673 or 311. 

Global GMO Free Coalition launched

The Global GMO Free Coalition launched on May 20, 2014, bringing together GMO Free groups across six continents with a partner membership of more than 4.5 million people.

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The Global GMO Free Coalition, with more than 60 partner organizations, is the first globally coordinated network to address the genetically modified (GM) food and crop industry in both the media and in public and government advocacy areas. The aim of the coalition is "to cut through biotech industry propaganda and to provide independent information that leads to responsible actions from food regulatory bodies in countries worldwide," according to organizers.
The coalition will provide journalists and governments worldwide with a source of independent information. Journalists will be welcomed to contact the coalition 24 hours a day for quotes and reactions from the top global experts in the field of GMOs. The Coalition will also coordinate expert speakers to attend public and private events wherever they are held around the globe. These speakers will present sustainable alternatives to GMOs.
The Global GMO Free Coalition partners are from countries around the world, including the US, UK, Russia, Iran, Chile, Taiwan, the Netherlands, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, South Africa, New Caledonia, Ghana, Georgia and Ireland.

Big Heart Pet Brands among Nielsen 2014 US Breakthrough Innovation winners

Big Heart Pet Brands is among 14 companies to receive Nielsen's 2014 US Breakthrough Innovation Award.

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This is the third year that Nielsen has presented the award in the US. 2014’s product winners were all launched in 2012 and met the standards for distinctiveness, relevance and endurance in order to qualify. Nielsen analyzed over 3,400 new consumer product introductions which launched in the US in 2012 to determine which products demonstrated breakthrough results.
 The full list of winners:

• Angry Orchard Hard Cider, The Boston Beer Co.
• Barcel Takis, Barcel USA
• Bud Light Lime Ritas, Anheuser-Busch
• Depend Silhouette Briefs for Women and Depend Real Fit Briefs for Men, Kimberly-Clark
• Febreze Car Vent Clip, Procter & Gamble
• Gevalia Kaffe Retail Coffee, Kraft Foods
• International Delight Iced Coffee, The WhiteWave Foods Co.
• Meow Mix Tender Centers, Big Heart Pet Brands
• Mucinex Fast-Max, Reckitt Benckiser
• Nabisco belVita Breakfast Biscuits, Mondelez Global LLC
• Nature Valley Protein Bars, General Mills
• Sargento Ultra Thin Slices, Sargento Foods
• Tide Pods, Procter & Gamble
• ZzzQuil, Procter & Gamble
"Given the very competitive marketplace and high new product failure rate, we celebrate the Nielsen Breakthrough Innovation winners’ extraordinary achievement,” said Rob Wengel, senior vice president, Innovation, Nielsen. “These diverse new products carry the common thread of finding and filling unmet consumer needs while demonstrating that with significant effort, game-changing innovation is possible in any category and by all types of companies.”