It seems that too many pet food companies trusted untrustworthy food manufacturers to make their products. It looks like we’re in the middle of an American Nutrition recall similar to what we saw with Menu Pet. What does this say that two of the apparently most-used producers used sub-par foods? Sure makes me feel that we need extensive overhauls of the system AND pet parents need to demand that the brands they but actually be made in factories the companies personally oversee.

Thanks to Itchmo for publicizing this recall.

Here’s the announcement from the Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul site.

Diamond Pet Foods has announced it is withdrawing a limited number of canned products manufactured by American Nutrition. This action is limited to three specific canned products: Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Kitten Formula 5.5 oz. cans, and Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Puppy Formula 13 oz. cans, and Diamond Lamb & Rice Formula for Dogs 13 oz. cans.

Diamond Pet Foods has not received any indication of quality or safety issues, including pet illness, with the three withdrawn products. However, because American Nutrition informed the company that these three specific products may include rice protein concentrate, Diamond Pet Foods felt this action was necessary for the protection of its customers and their pets.

Customers with these products should stop feeding them immediately and return them to their retailer for a full refund.

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul dry pet food and dog treats ARE NOT part of any pet food or treat recall.

Here is the Diamond Recall Release:

Diamond Pet Food Withdraws Products in Response to American Nutrition Inc. Pet Food Recall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Meta, MO — April 26, 2007 — Because of the canned pet food recall initiated today by American Nutrition Inc., Diamond Pet Foods has announced it is withdrawing a limited number of canned products manufactured by American Nutrition. This action is limited to three specific canned products: Diamond Lamb & Rice Formula for Dogs 13 oz. cans, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Kitten Formula 5.5 oz. cans, and Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Puppy Formula 13 oz. cans.

Diamond Pet Foods is taking this voluntary action after learning the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed rice protein concentrate used by American Nutrition contained melamine, a substance not approved for use in food.

No other Diamond brand or Chicken Soup brand canned or dry pet food formulas are affected by the American Nutrition recall.

Diamond Pet Foods has not received any indication of quality or safety issues, including pet illness, with the three withdrawn products. However, because American Nutrition informed the company that these three specific products may include rice protein concentrate, Diamond Pet Foods felt this action was necessary for the protection of its customers and their pets.

It should be noted that the products being withdrawn were not formulated or labeled to contain rice protein concentrate. While the FDA is investigating this, current information indicates this error is a result of a manufacturing deviation by American Nutrition.

Diamond Also posted an extensive FAQ about the recall.

FAQ About the Pet Food Recall
Q: Whats the current situation?
A: Because of the canned pet food recall initiated by American Nutrition Inc., Diamond Pet Foods has announced it is withdrawing a limited number of canned products manufactured by American Nutrition.

Q: Which products are affected?
A: There are only 3 canned products affected, Diamond Lamb & Rice Formula for Dogs 13 oz cans, Chicken Soup for the Kitten Lovers Soul Kitten Formula 5.5 oz cans, and Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lovers Soul Puppy Formula 13 oz cans.

Q: What Best By” dates should I look for?
A: The products affected by the recall have best by” dates as follows:

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul Kitten Formula 5.5 oz. cans: Aug. 15, 2008 to April 15, 2009
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul Puppy Formula 13 oz. cans: Aug. 21, 2008 to April 15, 2009
Diamond Lamb & Rice Formula for Dogs 13 oz. cans: Aug. 21, 2009 to April 15, 2010

Q: What caused Diamond to take this action?
A: Diamond Pet Foods is taking this voluntary action after learning the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed rice protein concentrate used by American Nutrition contained melamine, a substance not approved for use in food.

Q: Are any Diamond brand dry pet foods being recalled?
A: None of our Diamond, Diamond Naturals, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul, Premium Edge, Professional, Nutra Nuggets dry pet foods are being recalled. None of the dry pet food products that we manufacture for Solid Gold or Kirkland Signature are being recalled. Natural Balance did recall 2 formulas that we manufactured for them Natural Balance Venison & Brown Rice dry dog food and Natural Balance Venison & Green Pea dry cat food.

Q: How can I contact a veterinarian at Diamond Pet Foods about the recall?
A: We have a call center that is taking calls at 1-866-214-6945. The hours are 7 am to 7 pm Central Standard Time, Monday through Friday and 7 am to 5 pm Central Standard Time, Saturday and Sunday.

Q: Rice protein concentrate is not on the label. Why is it in the food?
A: Were working with the FDA to determine this. Diamond Pet Foods did not formulate or label these 3 formulas to contain rice protein concentrate. While the FDA is investigating this, current information indicates this error is a result of a manufacturing deviation by American Nutrition.

Q: What are the symptoms of illness associated with eating this product?
A: We would like to emphasize that none of the samples of these products have tested positive for melamine or any other contaminants. We have not received any reports of illness associated with these products. It has been widely reported that pets that ingest the foods tainted with melamine may develop kidney problems. These pets usually will drink a lot of water, will act very sleepy, and will vomit. These symptoms develop very rapidly after consuming the tainted food.

Q: My pet ate one of the withdrawn foods. Should I take him to the vet?
A: At this time, we have no reason to believe that the withdrawn foods contain melamine. If your pet is ill, no matter what the cause, you should contact your veterinarian.

Q: Will Diamond Pet Foods pay my vet bill?
A: We will make a decision on a case by case basis regarding reimbursement for veterinary expenses.

Q: What should I do if I am feeding one of these products?
A: You should quit feeding the product and return any unused cans to your retailer for a full refund.

Q: Is the rice in your products safe?
A: Yes – our white rice, brown rice, rice bran, rice flour, and brewers rice that we use in various formulas are all safe and free from melamine contamination.

Q: How do you know that the rice protein concentrate did not contaminate other dry or canned foods?
A: We have procedures for cleaning out our equipment between batches, to avoid cross contamination. We were recently audited by Silliker Labs, a company that evaluates human grade manufacturing facilities. We scored 100% for prevention of cross contamination, something we are very proud of. The FDA tested our other canned products that were manufactured by American Nutrition and no other products contain rice protein concentrate.

Q: What is rice protein concentrate?
A: Rice protein concentrate is a by-product of the rice syrup industry. Unlike other rice ingredients, it is very high in protein. It is not the same ingredient as white rice, brown rice, brewers rice, rice bran or rice flour.

Q: Do you use wheat gluten or rice protein concentrate in your foods?
A: These ingredients are used in canned products as thickening agents for gravy or as low-ash protein sources. They are also used as protein sources in dry foods. We do not use any wheat gluten and we used rice protein concentrate only in the 2 Natural Balance formulas that were recalled Natural Balance Venison & Brown Rice dry dog food and Venison & Green Pea dry cat food.

Q: Why does American Nutrition manufacture your canned food?
A: Manufacturing canned pet food is very different from the manufacturing of dry pet food, requiring different equipment. Diamond Pet Foods does not have a canning facility.

Q: How can you be certain that more canned foods wont be recalled?
A: We are working closely with the FDA to ensure that no additional manufacturing deviation occurs with our canned products. The FDA did investigate our other canned formulas in both the Diamond brand and the Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul brand and found that rice protein concentrate was not included in any other formulas.

Q: Please explain the situation with the pet food that was sold to the hog farmers.
A: It is common regulated practice for animal food facilities to provide salvage product to farms with non-ruminant animals. This regulated practice is mindful of the environment as it does not waste energy (food) and saves valuable landfill space. All of the salvage food was sold prior to Diamond Pet Foods being notified of the contamination in rice protein concentrate.

Q: What is salvage pet food?
A: Salvage pet food is product that comes off the equipment at the very beginning of a run of food. It is high in moisture and thus cant be bagged.

Q: If your dry foods are not being recalled, how did the salvage food get contaminated?
A: We did manufacture two formulas for Natural Balance that were recalled Natural Balance Venison & Brown Rice dry dog food and Natural Balance Venison & Green Pea dry cat food and it was the beginning portions of these runs of food that ended up in the salvage food that was sold.