UPDATE - June 12, 2008: The FDA has updated its release and there are now four lamb feeds being recalled due to lambs dying. Full updated release here.
As I have previously wondered when Purina recalled aflatoxin contaminated horse feed, is there any possibility of cross contamination to Purina pet foods from the recalled livestock feeds? Any sharing of ingredients, suppliers, storage facilities or processing equipment between the livestock feed manufacturing and pet food manufacturing? I sure would like to know. But Purina says that's "proprietary information" and won't answer those questions. All we can do is hope that the pet food is safe.
Original post:
"The Land O'Lakes Purina Feed plant in Fremont, Neb., has initiated a limited voluntary recall of two lamb feed products due to higher than acceptable levels of copper.
[...]
The recall was initiated after receiving a customer complaint regarding the products. In addition, Land O'Lakes Purina Feed stopped producing the lamb feeds at the Fremont, Neb. plant and immediately began product testing.
To date, the presence of copper above acceptable levels has been found, which can cause serious health issues, and at high levels, mortality in sheep."
Full release here.
Purina as a whole no longer exists. Around 2000-2001(?) the feed division was sold to Land O' Lakes and the pet food division was sold to Nestle. I would say that most likely nothing is shared between the two divisions anymore. If there was it would by chance only. Sheep are more sensitive to copper than most other animals (horses, cows, pigs, etc). I don't think pets have a high sensitivity to copper, but I'm not sure, so I would ask a professional.
ReplyDeleteIf Purina would simply answer the questions posed, no one would have to guess as to the answers. Also, Copper Toxicosis is well documented in dogs - particularly terriers but other breeds as well.
ReplyDelete