If you buy pet food at Petco – read this just released FDA warning…

Warehousing and storage of pet foods is out of the manufacturer’s control once it leaves their facilities. Pet owners must rely on conscientious distributors to warehouse the food properly. Unfortunately, not every distributor is conscientious. This was just released by the FDA…

FDA Requests Seizure of Animal Food Products at PETCO Distribution Center

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."

The distribution center in Joliet, Ill., provides pet food products and supplies to PETCO retail stores in 16 states including Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

FDA has no reports of pet illness or death associated with consumption of animal food distributed by PETCO, and does not have evidence that the food is unsafe for animals. However, the seized products were in permeable packages and held under conditions that could affect the food's integrity and quality.

As a precaution, consumers who have handled products originating from the PETCO distribution center should thoroughly wash their hands with hot water and soap. Any surfaces that came in contact with the packages should be washed as well. Consumers are further advised as a precaution to thoroughly wash products sold in cans and glass containers from PETCO in the 16 affected states.

If a pet has become ill after eating these food products, pet owners should contact their veterinarian and report illnesses to FDA state consumer complaint coordinators.

The direct link for the FDA release - http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01854.html

I will provide you more information on this in the next newsletter. If you have any concerns regarding food purchased at Petco – please do not hesitate to seek advice from your veterinarian.

Wishing you and your pet the best,

Susan Thixton

Truth About Pet Food

Petsumer Report

www.TruthAboutPetFood.com

More articles on pet foods and pet treats can be found here: http://www.TruthAboutPetFood.com/PawsClub.html

All rights reserved PPC Publications.

Help Big Cat Rescue

And

Learn which dog foods, cat foods, and pet treats

Contain risky and inferior ingredients

And which pet foods contain the highest quality ingredients.

A full one year subscription of Petsumer Report™ Online costs less than $1.50 per month. That's cheaper than the cost of one cup of coffee a month! About $.03 cents per review for just the existing pet food and treat reviews (as of August 2008 there are over 700 pet foods and treats reviewed). Forty plus reviews are added each month. By the time your year subscription expires there will be well over 1000 reviews of dog foods, cat foods, dog and cat treats, and soon pet toys and other pet supplies.

$17.95 for a one year online subscription.

$5.00 of every sale goes directly to Big Cat Rescue.

Help Big Cat Rescue and learn the Truth about Pet Food! Nutrition is one of the most neglected areas of pet care. Modern veterinary science tells us that the average size dog (30 pounds) should have a life span of 25 years and the average size cat should have a life span of 30 years. Sadly, we lose them far earlier. Genetics, environment, and nutrition – or lack of nutrition – all plays a role in the life expectancy of your pet. Improve your pet's diet - improve their health and extend their life span.

Pet Food meat ingredients come from two VERY different categories or classifications...Pet grade/quality ingredients (which can be diseased or sick animals or animal parts rejected for use in human food) or Human grade/quality ingredients.

Do you know which your pet is eating?

Pet foods and Treats can legally contain chemical preservatives linked to cancer and tumors.

Do you know if they are in your

pet's food or treats?

Many pet food manufacturers import pet food ingredients outside the US – from countries with little to no government regulations or quality control.

Do you know if any ingredient in your pet's food

comes from outside the US?

Petsumer Report Does!

Let Petsumer Report help you find which pet foods DON’T use risky or inferior ingredients AND help Big Cat Rescue at the same time. Purchase a one year subscription to Petsumer Report Online today.

It’s simple to login after purchase. Go to www.TruthAboutPetFood.com. Click on the link at the top right of the page that says “Just Purchased Petsumer Report? Click Here to Register your subscription”. On the following page – enter the User Name and Password of your choice and your order number provided in your receipt email – and you’re set. Within minutes you can be scanning and comparing hundreds of different dog foods, cat foods, and treats. Return anytime to check out new reviews – 24/7. For all follow up logins go to www.TruthAboutPetFood.com. Click on the link at the top left of the page that says ‘Login to Petsumer Report’. Enter your User Name and Password. It’s that simple!

One more bonus available ONLY to supporters of Big Cat Rescue…

Instead of just one year, I’ll add an additional three months to your Petsumer Report Online subscription. Now…15 months for the one year subscription price of $17.95 – and $5.00 of every sale goes to benefit Big Cat Rescue.

This is a limited time offer. Don’t put it off another day!

Click Here to Order and Take Advantage of this Special Offer

https://00e07d5.netsolstores.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=45

Please note: This special offer to benefit Big Cat Rescue is ONLY available on the special page link above. You can read more about Petsumer Report at www.PetsumerReport.com or learn more about pet food at www.TruthAboutPetFood.com - but to help Big Cat Rescue and receive the bonus three months on your subscription – you MUST make your purchase on the Special Big Cat Rescue page linked above.

Link to Shopping Cart Page for Big Cat Rescue Special Offer:

https://00e07d5.netsolstores.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=45