Just when I thought we were going to have a day with no recalls… Sigh…

I know we’ve been lambasting Menu and the dog food companies caught with their pants down in this fiasco but lets lay some blame on Wal-Mart too. Yes, Wal-Mart.

Why do you think the dog food manufacturers who deal with the big box stores are buying cheaper and cheaper ingredients? They are being leaned on constantly by those stores to sell them the products for less and less. You know those ads where Wal-Mart promises you the lowest prices? Do you know HOW they GET those low prices? They squeeze their suppliers until the suppliers have no room to breathe. They literally tell their suppliers how much they will pay them for their products. That’s right, Wal-Mart tells the people making the products how much they can bill Wal-Mart for the products, including pet food. Now don’t think that Wal-Mart gives a patootie about the supplier staying in business, making enough money to pay their employees, making enough to make a quality product, any of that. Nope! Wal-Mart just wants to make more and more for itself and doesn’t care about the consequences.

What does this have to do with tainted pet food? We got tainted pet food becasue the suppliers are greedy, yes, but also because if that supplier (Menu and their parent company Procter & Gamble) want to do business with the single largest retailer in the world, they have to play by their rules. And their rules are to provide the cheapest product legally possible. And if you’re a super large company (like P & G) and you have to keep hitting those quarterly profits you MUST deal with Wal-Mart. Smaller pet food companies like some of the good ones we’ve heard named in the comments and on the blog don’t even want to speak to Wal-Mart because they know trying to feed Wal-Mart’s appetites for profits will mean they don’t feed pets well. They will have to cut corners.

So now we’re facing the consequences of greed, Wal-Mart’s, Menu Food’s and whoever at Proctor & Gamble approved the importation and using of food stuffs from a country known for inadequate controls on their safety and quality.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for capitalism that works. But this pet food recall is the direct result of a really big game of Monopoly with Wal-Mart holding all the best property and the bank. They set the tone for all other major retailers and grocers. Whatever Wal-Mart does, the others must do as well or fall by the wayside.

Our furbabies have been sacrificed to feed this evil and dangerous game of follow-the-leader. Remember that the next time you hear Wal-Mart’s constant ads say, “Always low prices.” The prices may be low but what are the real costs?

Thanks to CBS News for this recall update.

Dog Biscuits Added To Pet Food Recall
Dog Biscuits Made By Sunshine Mills Under The Ol’Roy Brand Recalled

(AP) The recall of pet foods and treats contaminated with an industrial chemical expanded Thursday to include dog biscuits made by an Alabama company and sold by Wal-Mart under the Ol’Roy brand.

The Food and Drug Administration said the manufacturer, Sunshine Mills Inc., is recalling dog biscuits made with imported Chinese wheat gluten. Testing has revealed the wheat gluten, a protein source, was contaminated with melamine, used to make plastics and other industrial products.

Also Thursday, Menu Foods, a major manufacturer of brand- and private-label wet pet foods expanded its original recall to include a broader range of dates and varieties. Menu Foods was the first of at least six companies to recall the now more than 100 brands of pet foods and treats made with the contaminated ingredient.

The recall now covers “cuts and gravy”-style products made between Nov. 8 and March 6, Menu Foods said. Previously, it only applied to products made beginning Dec. 3. In addition, Menu Foods said it was expanding the recall to include more varieties, but no new brands.

The FDA knows of no other pet product companies planning recalls, agency officials told reporters.

“Other than that, I think, you know, the public should feel secure in purchasing pet foods that are not subject to the recall,” Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, told reporters.

Sunshine, of Red Bay, Ala., sells pet foods and treats under its own brands as well as private labels sold by grocery, mass merchant and dollar stores, according to its Web site. The recall included some of the products made for sale under five private labels, including Ol’Roy biscuits, sold by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and Stater Bros. large biscuits, sold by Stater Bros. Markets. It also covered a portion of Sunshine’s own Nurture, Lassie and Pet Life dog biscuit brands.

Previously, Menu Foods had recalled some wet-style dog foods it made for sale under the Stater Bros. and Ol’Roy brands as well.

Sunshine said there have been no reports of dog illnesses or deaths in connection with the recalled dog biscuits, which contain one percent or less wheat gluten by weight.

The FDA continues to focus on melamine as the suspected contaminant of the pet products, though Sundlof said it could be a marker for the presence of another, yet-unknown substance. Melamine previously was not believed to be toxic.

The recall is one of the largest pet food recalls in history, Sundlof said. The FDA has received more than 12,000 complaints but has confirmed only about 15 pet deaths. Anecdotal reports suggest the tally is in the hundreds or low thousands.

Sunshine Mills said it would post a complete list of the recalled dog biscuits on its Web site, http://www.sunshinemills.com.

Follow this link to read the rest of the article.

Here is the press release from Sunshine Mills:

Sunshine Mills, Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Certain Branded and Private Label Branded Dog Biscuits

Consumer Inquiries
Mitzi Wammack
(800) 705-2111, ext. 117

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Red Bay, Alabama, April 5, 2007

As a precautionary measure, Sunshine Mills, Inc. (Sunshine”), a branded and private-label pet food manufacturer based in Red Bay, Alabama, is voluntarily recalling a portion of its branded dog biscuits made at its Red Bay, Alabama biscuit plant during part of March 2007. These brands include: Nurture Chicken & Rice, Nurture Lamb & Rice, Pet Life Large, Pet Life Extra Large, Pet Life Large Variety, Pet Life Large Peanut Butter, Lassie Lamb and Rice, and Pet Life People Pleasers Dog Treats. Private label biscuits for five of Sunshines customers were also affected. A complete list of affected biscuit brands, sizes, and codes is available below or at our website, www.sunshinemills.com. Sunshines other biscuit brands and products that include small and medium sized biscuits were not affected. It is also important to note that dry dog and cat food and soft and chewy treats for dogs or cats manufactured by Sunshine are not affected and not included in this recall.

The company is taking this voluntary action of recalling the dog biscuits listed below after learning from the FDA that wheat gluten supplied to Sunshine from a specific manufacturing facility in China contained melamine. Melamine is a substance not approved for use in food. The FDA made this finding as part of its ongoing investigation into the recent pet food recall.

The recalled dog biscuits are marketed nationwide by many pet food retailers including the mass channel, traditional grocery, and pet specialty stores. No dog illnesses or deaths have been reported to date in connection with these dog biscuits. The recalled dog biscuits contain one percent or less by weight of wheat gluten.

Consumers should immediately stop feeding their dog the dog biscuits with the specified date codes and consult with a veterinarian if they have any health concerns with their dog.

Sunshines products are 100% guaranteed. Consumers may receive the full replacement value of the recalled dog biscuits by returning them to the place of purchase or consumers may contact Sunshines customer service number at (800) 705-2111 for further information about the recall and for other instructions on obtaining a product refund.

The safety and well-being of pets are Sunshines utmost concern. We deeply regret this unforeseen situation.

The following products are being recalled:

Branded Product and Variety
Product Size:
UPC Codes
Plant Code / Best By Date

Nurture Chicken & Rice Biscuit
26 oz.
70155-13606
Plant code: RB
Best by: 31208

Nurture Lamb & Rice Biscuit
26 oz.
70155-13607
Plant code: RB
Best by: 31308

Pet Life Large Peanut Butter Biscuit
4 lb.
41746-00950
Plant code: RB RB
Best by: 30608 31308

Pet Life Large Biscuit
4 lb.
41746-02545
Plant code:
RB
RB
Best by: 30308 31908

Lassie Lamb and Rice Biscuit
26 oz.
45352-07005
Plant code:
RB
RB
Best by: 30708 31908

Pet Life Large Biscuit
25 lb.
41746-00008
Best By Date last 5 digits
Best by: 30308 31408

Pet Life Extra Large Biscuit
25 lb.
41746-00010
Best by:
30408
30808
31408
31508

Pet Life Large Variety Biscuit
25 lb.
70155-00073
Best by: 30408

Pet Life Peanut Butter Large Biscuit
25 lb.
41746-00078
Best by: 30308 30808

Pet Life People Pleasers Dog Treat
25 lb.
41746-00266
Best by:
31408
31608
32308

Pet Life People Pleasers Dog Treat
50 oz.
70155-11006
Best By Date 5 digits
Best by:
30208
30508
30808
31308
31408

Pet Life People Pleasers Dog Treat
40 oz.
70155-11007
Best by:
30908
31208
31808

Private Label Product and Variety
Product Size:
UPC Codes
Plant Code / Best By Date

Companion’s Best Multi Flavor Biscuit
4 lb.
50700-49270
Plant code:
RB
RB
RB
RB
RB

Best by:
30308
30808
31108
31408
31608

Plant code:
RB
RB
Best by:
32308
32708

Stater Brothers Large Biscuit
4 lb.
74175-18801
Plant code:
RB
RB
Best by:
30908
31308

Ol’Roy Peanut Butter Biscuit
5 lb.
78742-34501
Plant code:
RB
RB
RB
RB
RB
Best by:
30508
31008
31208
31508
31608

Plant code:
RB
RB
Best by:
32108
32308

Ol’Roy 4 Flavor Large Biscuit
10 lb.
81131-46959
Plant code:
RB
RB
RB
RB
RB

Best by:
30308
30408
30508
30608
30708

Plant code:
RB
RB
RB
RB
RB
Best by:
30808
30908
31208
31308
31408

Plant code:
RB
RB
RB
RB
RB
Best by:
31508
31608
31708
31908
32008

Plant code:
RB
RB
Best by:
32108
32408

Ol’Roy Puppy Biscuit
28.8 oz.
81131-92197
Plant code:
RB
RB
RB
RB
RB
Best by:
30208
30308
30408
30608
30708

Plant code:
RB
RB
RB
RB
RB
Best by:
30908
31008
31408
31508
31608

Plant code:
RB
RB
RB
RB
RB
Best by:
31708
31808
32108
32208
32308

Champion Breed Peanut Butter Biscuit
4 lb.
72000-26063
Plant code: RB RB
Best by:
32108
32308

Champion Breed Large Biscuit
4 lb.
72000-26065
Plant code: RB RB
Best by:
32208
32308

Perfect Pals Large Biscuit
4 lb.
12333-00260
Plant code: RB
Best by: 31808

Stater Brothers Large Biscuit
26 oz.
74175-18802
Best By Date 5 digits
Best by:
30308
31008