Pet food seized at PETCO warehouse

[RamboLiberal]

Source: MSNBC/AP

Federal marshals carrying a search warrant visited the Joliet distribution center of PETCO Animal Supplies Inc. on Thursday, seizing animal food products that were allegedly contaminated.

The seizure came one day after the government filed a lawsuit and obtained the warrant to seize products at the warehouse operated by the San Diego-based animal food and supply company.

There were no known public health risks posed by the pet food and no incidents of human or animal illness have been traced to the products, U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald and other officials said in a statement issued by his office.

Since the government’s last inspection, PETCO has “acted aggressively to address each and every concern that was raised,” said Kevin Whalen, PETCO vice president of corporate communications.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25273033/

[ben_meyers]

1. Well it's good to see Fitz on the job doing

something really important. This is what he has been reduced to, raiding a dogfood warehouse? Elliot Ness must be spinning in his grave.

[Carnea]

5. Well gee I guess they are damned if they do damned if they don't

I'm glad they are ensuring safe food for our furry friends.

Elliot Ness busted Canadian Whiskey shipments enforcing a law that treated adults like children. He was a fucking wanker... He should have lived so long as to fight big business careless with its products. Instead of being a giant wet nurse to the American worker. Fucking Nannies go back to Cleveland.

[AndyTiedye]

8. They Couldn't Fire Him Like the Others, He is Too Well-Known

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

10. Fitzgerald does plenty here in IL

and I'm thankful for all of it, including protecting the lives of animals and preventing heartbreak for the people who love them.

Last year Fitz got a fraud conviction for Conrad Black, who just went into the slammer for the next five years.

More recently he's been pursuing corruption in Chicago's housing development industry.

Plus, he just got married. So he's been busy.

[kimmerspixelated]

26. That's our Fitz!

[bullwinkle428]

2. Wonderful - that's obviously the warehouse that ships

the food to the Petco stores in my area. I buy both the dry and canned food for my own cat at Petco! I suppose there would be signs of contamination if the food bags were torn...not sure if I would know otherwise. She has IBS, and only seems to be able to tolerate certain kinds of foods, and unfortunately, they can only be found at Petco (bagged dry stuff, anyway).

[emilyg]

3. Have you tried Pet Smart?

[rebel with a cause]

9. we have an old dog who has become allergic to almost everything

and like your cat, can only be fed the expensive dry food from Petco. her symptoms have gotten worse again with this last bag of food, perhaps this could explain it.

[uppityperson]

19. My dog is like that, can't find food at Petco for him, feed him California Natural brand

that and Innova brands which a local small private pet store carries. He can't have rice, corn or soy, which limits it a lot, and those 2 brands have decent grade meat in their products too. One of our cats has allergy/skin issues so they also are on these 2 brands.

[rebel with a cause]

27. Sophie is allergic to

poultry, oats, corn, carrots, and other vegtables. The brand of food we have had her on is Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice and she has been doing better, but then she had a bladder infection and was put on anti-biotics and the skin problem came back. She is ten years old and only developed this problem in the last two years. When my health went down the tubes, so did the health of our two sister dogs. I guess the three of us are just getting old.

[1Hippiechick]

20. This site is an educational place to start. I was amazed at what I discovered here.

http://www.doberdogs.com/
I thought that I understood the difference between "meat" and "meal", but I was dead wrong. I highly recommend reading the section on understanding the label.

Also, I buy my dogfood locally (we have racetrack rescue greyhounds) and this little store has absolutely the most fantastic supply of every kind of dog food imaginable. Additionally, they list all the ingredients in the brands they carry. We have just recently switched from Canidae to "Dog Food for the Pet Lovers Soul" brand. Still love Canidae PAWS, and one of our greys still eats just that brand.

http://www.phydeauxpets.com/mm5/merchant.mvc

Good luck!

[Carnea]

4. Thats The exact reason I stopped feeding my cats store bought cat food

I feed them wild birds I catch in a net off my balcony along with shore birds we pick up from a local bird sanctuary.















:popcorn:

[mrs_p]

6. ok - you earned

laughs from me (as a bird and cat lover)

[Lone_Star_Dem]

15. After having watched a Mockingbird beat the living crap out of my neighbor's cat

I pity your cats and find you cruel for subjecting them to such abuse.

:rofl:

[mikeytherat]

17. We watched a mockingbird divebomb the holy Hell out of our neighbor's cat.

It was amazing. The poor cat, Pokey, eventually sought refuge under one of our cars, and the mockingbird sat on the top of the mailbox just waiting for him. When Pokey finally came out, the bird chased him across the road and under his back deck!

mikey_the_rat

[Lone_Star_Dem]

18. They are mean when they're protecting their territory.

I bet Pokey learned to stay away from their zone. Poor fellow, I feel for him but it's still funny.

Their meanness is nothing compared to a Blue-Jay's though. I've seen Blue-Jays attack dogs, horses and even people for being too close to their nesting site. They also attack as a team. Not to mention Blue-Jays have a taste for other bird's babies. Ick! I hit one with a rock one time for attacking a Mourning Doves nest, but he still flew away with one of the babies. :(

[1Hippiechick]

21. I don't understand how protecting their territory or their young is construed as being mean?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

22. Agressive... Is that better?

It's more accurate to my meaning anyway.

Sorry to have worded it in a way that confused/offended you. :)

[1Hippiechick]

23. Yes, it is!

[undergroundpanther]

24. I had that problem with a bird divebombing my cat

I let him out, I stood on my porch with my bow and an arrow ready to go,The bird flew down and I shot the bastard. I let the cat eat him,I saved the feathers for art projects,boiled his skull and cleaned it made a necklace for my kitty out of it.So there!

I stand up for my cats dammit.Even if it's a bird with a territory issue.I got sick of him being terrorized and coming in with nips taken out of his ears/head.

[AndyTiedye]

7. Just In Case You Needed Any More Reasons Not to Shop at Petco

more from the article:

Rodent and bird droppings were found throughout the warehouse, the lawsuit said. Inspectors found holes in the walls of the warehouse that allowed birds and rodents to enter.

An inspection in May produced a similar finding, the government said.

[crikkett]

11. but... birds take up residence in warehouses, and IMO if the rats arent dying from the dog food

then I assume the dogs won't fare much worse...it's not a restaurant, it's a warehouse.

[AndyTiedye]

14. I Don't Want Rat Sh*t in My Cat's Food, Thank You

[undergroundpanther]

25. however rats must

eat thier own shit lest they die. I am not kidding.
http://ratguide.com/care/behavior/coprophagy.php

[douglas9]

12. FDA Press Release

Today, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Marshals seized various animal food products stored under unsanitary conditions at the PETCO Animal Supplies Distribution Center located in Joliet, Ill., pursuant to a warrant issued by the United States District Court in Chicago.

U.S. Marshals seized all FDA-regulated animal food susceptible to rodent and pest contamination. The seized products violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because it was alleged in a case filed by the United States Attorney that they were being held under unsanitary conditions. (The Act uses the term "insanitary" to describe such conditions).

During an FDA inspection of a PETCO distribution center in April, widespread and active rodent and bird infestation was found. The FDA inspected the facility again in May and found continuing and widespread infestation.

"We simply will not allow a company to store foods under filthy and unsanitary conditions that occur as a direct result of the company's failure to adequately control and prevent pests in its facility," said Margaret O'K. Glavin, associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "Consumers expect that such safeguards will be in place not only for human food, but for pet food as well."

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01854.html

[quiet.american]

13. My friends think I'm a little crazy for feeding my cats baby food, but this is exactly why I do.

My cats get Gerber baby food (lamb and lamb broth, veal and veal broth, turkey and turkey broth, etc.). Every other day I add in a capsule of taurine just to make sure they're getting enough of it. It's also great that there's also a "mom-and-pop" pet store near me with more of a holistic focus where I can get their dry food.

Everything seems to have gone to pot in this country.

[riverdeep]

16. Yeah, since the Chinese scare, that's pretty much the only way to insure quality.

Make it yourself or from a small, preferably local shop you know. Corporations exist to make money, quality is just what they can get away with.