Post by Aussienot on Mar 18, 2004 21:28:02 GMT -5
AVA to test dog food linked to pet deaths
Pedigree Dry samples, among pet food products linked to kidney failure that were recalled last week, were taken after dog owners complained
By Sharmilpal Kaur
THE Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has taken samples of a dog food for testing after three dog owners complained that their pets had died after eating it. AVA spokesman Goh Shih Yong said the portions of Pedigree Dry will be analysed at its laboratories.
HOW TO GET REFUNDS
EFFEM Foods advises customers to avoid feeding their pets these recalled products:
• Pedigree Dry dog food
• Whiskas Dry cat food
• Pedigree Dog's Delight Ringo
• Pedigree Dog's Delight Tasty Bone
• Pedigree Puppy Biscuit dog treats
Customers can get a full refund for unused products. Visit www.pedigreeinfo.com or call 6877-7007 between 9am and 6pm to find out how to get a refund.
Effem said it has received many calls from consumers asking for refunds, but declined to say how many. A spokesman said Effem has also spoken to its retailers carrying its products about its refund programme for buyers of the foods listed.
The biscuits are one of five types of cat and dog food under the Pedigree and Whiskas brands that were recalled in eight Asian countries last Thursday. This was after mould was found in the raw ingredients at the plant in Thailand which makes the food.
Its United States-based manufacturer, Effem Foods, said the voluntary recall of the other products is a precaution as they are made at the same factory.
About 50 pet owners have e-mailed or phoned The Straits Times on the matter. Forty-six had pets which died or fell ill after eating either Pedigree or Whiskas cat food. Said Mr Richard Chan, 43, an engineer: 'My shih-tzu was healthy all along until he ate from a new packet of Pedigree Dry two weeks ago.
'He fell ill after a few days and was hospitalised. He died a few days later.'
Others wrote of how their pets became lethargic, began to vomit, developed acute kidney failure within days and died.
In Taiwan, the situation is believed to be much worse. Effem is investigating reports that about 1000 dogs fell ill there after being fed Pedigree Dry and 60 had died.
What exactly is causing the deaths is not known.
On Sunday, Effem's South-east Asia general manager, Mr Calvin Schmidt, said: 'We haven't yet been able to determine the reason for the apparent link between raw materials at the Thailand plant and an increase in kidney disease among dogs.'
Effem earlier claimed numerous tests had shown no link between kidney failure and the dog food. It maintained that the foods' salt and protein content, which can trigger kidney failure if they are too high, were within safe limits.
This is why scientists and food experts worldwide are carrying out further tests.
However, not every pet fed on a Pedigree biscuit fell ill.
Research coordinator Janet Wu, 33, whose black poodle ate Pedigree Dry all its life, had no problems with it. It died last week of old age at 16. She said: 'He was very healthy and had only a minor skin irritation that he picked up during his walks.
'But Effem took a responsible stand to recall its products. It's better to be safe than sorry. 'This will have an adverse effect on its reputation, but at least it didn't wait until the investigations were over.'
From The Singapore Straights Times 17 March 2004
Pedigree Dry samples, among pet food products linked to kidney failure that were recalled last week, were taken after dog owners complained
By Sharmilpal Kaur
THE Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has taken samples of a dog food for testing after three dog owners complained that their pets had died after eating it. AVA spokesman Goh Shih Yong said the portions of Pedigree Dry will be analysed at its laboratories.
HOW TO GET REFUNDS
EFFEM Foods advises customers to avoid feeding their pets these recalled products:
• Pedigree Dry dog food
• Whiskas Dry cat food
• Pedigree Dog's Delight Ringo
• Pedigree Dog's Delight Tasty Bone
• Pedigree Puppy Biscuit dog treats
Customers can get a full refund for unused products. Visit www.pedigreeinfo.com or call 6877-7007 between 9am and 6pm to find out how to get a refund.
Effem said it has received many calls from consumers asking for refunds, but declined to say how many. A spokesman said Effem has also spoken to its retailers carrying its products about its refund programme for buyers of the foods listed.
The biscuits are one of five types of cat and dog food under the Pedigree and Whiskas brands that were recalled in eight Asian countries last Thursday. This was after mould was found in the raw ingredients at the plant in Thailand which makes the food.
Its United States-based manufacturer, Effem Foods, said the voluntary recall of the other products is a precaution as they are made at the same factory.
About 50 pet owners have e-mailed or phoned The Straits Times on the matter. Forty-six had pets which died or fell ill after eating either Pedigree or Whiskas cat food. Said Mr Richard Chan, 43, an engineer: 'My shih-tzu was healthy all along until he ate from a new packet of Pedigree Dry two weeks ago.
'He fell ill after a few days and was hospitalised. He died a few days later.'
Others wrote of how their pets became lethargic, began to vomit, developed acute kidney failure within days and died.
In Taiwan, the situation is believed to be much worse. Effem is investigating reports that about 1000 dogs fell ill there after being fed Pedigree Dry and 60 had died.
What exactly is causing the deaths is not known.
On Sunday, Effem's South-east Asia general manager, Mr Calvin Schmidt, said: 'We haven't yet been able to determine the reason for the apparent link between raw materials at the Thailand plant and an increase in kidney disease among dogs.'
Effem earlier claimed numerous tests had shown no link between kidney failure and the dog food. It maintained that the foods' salt and protein content, which can trigger kidney failure if they are too high, were within safe limits.
This is why scientists and food experts worldwide are carrying out further tests.
However, not every pet fed on a Pedigree biscuit fell ill.
Research coordinator Janet Wu, 33, whose black poodle ate Pedigree Dry all its life, had no problems with it. It died last week of old age at 16. She said: 'He was very healthy and had only a minor skin irritation that he picked up during his walks.
'But Effem took a responsible stand to recall its products. It's better to be safe than sorry. 'This will have an adverse effect on its reputation, but at least it didn't wait until the investigations were over.'
From The Singapore Straights Times 17 March 2004