Kinship Circle | Letter Campaigns

TOXIC FOOD: Essential Recall Updates
1. To Make Report + Get New Information
2. New & Ongoing Recall Info, As Of 4/2/07
3. Good Advice...
4. Suspicious DRY Food Contamination?
5. Some Retailers Not Pulling Recalled Food
6. Pertinent Articles & Websites
7. What's In A Can Of Pet Food? Alternative Ways To Feed
Demand Action In Menu Foods Recall
8. Letter To Menu Foods
9. Letter To Canadian Authorities
10. Letter To Authorities Regarding Iams
11. Letter To Authorities Regarding Sinclair Research Center
12. Letter To The Food And Drug Administration

Photos from: Pet Food Recall Photo Gallery: http://www.flickr.com/groups/petfoodrecall/

http://www.Petconnection.com
Update 4/2/07: 2,907pets have been reported as deceased to our PetConnection database.
Of these, 1,592 are cats, and 1,314 dogs.

1. To Make Report + Get New Information
Adverse effects or deaths of pets conclusively linked to eating contaminated foods should be reported to the FDA: http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html

American Veterinary Medical Association website contains helpful information for pet parents and veterinarians: http://www.avma.org/aa/menufoodsrecall/default.asp

The FDA has also posted new information on the pet food recall and its regulation of pet foods: http://www.fda.gov/cvm/petfoods.htm#newsreleases

FDA Enforcement Report Index: http://www.fda.gov/opacom/ Enforce.html

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2. New & Ongoing Recall Info, As Of 4/2/07
SCIENCE DIET DRY FOOD:

Hill's Pet Nutrition Recalls Prescription Diet M/D Feline DRY Food
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/30/pet.food.recall.ap/ index.html
Hills Pet Nutrition, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Single Product, Prescription Diet™ m/d™ Feline DRY
Food, Only Product Containing Wheat Gluten
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/hills303_07.html
Hill's Pet Nutrition: http://www.hillspet.com/

DEL MONTE PET PRODUCTS:

Del Monte Pet Products Recalls Some Food
www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNell_070401/20070401?hub=TopStories
Del Monte Pet Products: http://www.delmonte.com • Consumer Hotline: 800-949-3799

NESTLE PURINA PETCARE PRODUCTS:

Pet food recall expands to new wet brand
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070331/ap_on_go_ot/pet_food_recall
Nestle Purina PetCare Co. said it was recalling all sizes and varieties of its Alpo Prime Cuts in Gravy wet dog food with specific date codes...
Nestle Purina PetCare: http://www.purina.com

MENU FOODS RECALLED DOG PRODUCT INFO:
1-866-895-2708 • http://www.menufoods.com/recall/ product_dog.html

MENU FOODS RECALLED CAT PRODUCT INFO:
1-866-895-2708 • http://www.menufoods.com/recall/ product_cat.html

PETSMART PRODUCTS THAT ARE PART OF RECALL
http://l.petsmart-mail.com/l/r/04LRGH8B0LfKq02HkX

PETSMART RECALLED BRANDS:
Authority: 1-866-738-7375
Award: 1-866-738-7375
Eukanuba: 1-800-882-1591, http://www.eukanuba.com
Grreat Choice: 1-866-738-7375
Hills/Science Diet: 1-800-445-5777, http://www.hillspet.com
Iams: 1-800-882-1591, http://www.iams.com
Mighty Dog: 1-800-778-7462, http://www.purina.com
Mixables: 1-303-768-8400, http://www.varietypetfoods.com
Nutro: 1-800-833-5330, http://www.nutroproducts.com
Sophisticat: 1-866-738-7375

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3. Good Advice...
From: Judy Reed, AnimalVoicesNews@earthlink.net

1. DO NOT FEED PET FOODS CONTAINING WHEAT GLUTEN.
(CNN, 4-1-07 - Unfortunately, Not an April Fool's Joke) I have purged my pantry of all pet foods containing wheat gluten whether or not the producer is on the recall list at this time. I have set these foods aside and have NOT thrown them away or returned them, yet.
Note From Kinship Circle: I know for a fact Wellness Brand uses NO WHEAT GLUTEN.

2. SAVE ALL receipts for ANY and ALL pet foods and bills for veterinary visits, tests, medications, and your personal incidental expenses (including but not limited to mileage to and from stores for different pet food, to vets, to pharmacies, for physician visits and medication YOU require during this stressful time, etc) in connection with any illness in your pet you suspect or believe "may" be related to contaminated food — whether or not you intend to make a claim at this time. (This language is intended to ensure you leave nothing out!) Also, retain a portion of, or all of any pet foods you have fed to your pets prior to this contamination recall, particularly prior to an illness, including packaging, and receipts or proofs of purchase for the foods. Remember, if at such time you decide a claim is in order, too many documents and kinds of physical evidence are better than none or not enough.
Judy Reed, Former Legal Assistant (Not licensed to practice law in Colorado, California, anywhere else)
AnimalVoices / Speaking For Animals & Their Environment / BushWatcherNews

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4. Suspicious DRY Food Contamination?
IAMS DRY

Is Iams Dry Food Also Contaminated?
http://www.peta.org/feat-iams.asp
PETA has received queries from concerned dog/cat guardians who are worried animals might fall ill after eating dry food, and as a result, PETA is demanding that Iams and Menu Foods also recall dry food products until they are chemically tested and cleared for safety. We have also sent an urgent letter to the director of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine urging him to investigate Iams and other companies that sell food supplied by Menu Foods...
Several Reports Of Iams Dry Food Linked To Illness: http://tinyurl.com/37d8en
Discussion About Possible Dry Food Contamination:
http://www.gothamist.com/2007/03/17/ pet_food_recall.php#comment-1043832

NUTRO DRY

Is Nutro Dry Food Also Contaminated?
From: labailey428@charter.net
I called Nutro after the emails I got b/c my dogs are vomiting yellow bile too - they confirmed they are about to do an official recall on dry food. They said to quit feeding it to them immediately and go buy something not distributed by Nutro or Menu Foods. Nutro: 800-833-5330
CLARIFICATION REGARDING NUTRO DRY
From: Despina Andrelus, shilohbloo2002@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007
Although some people were told of this pending recall from Nutro, others were told that Nutro's soon- to-be recall is not true... but here is my take on it: The main thing I know is that my big dog, Zak, who was eating Nutro dry (the others are on prescription food, thankfully!), was throwing up, as well... with the yellow bile... blood in stool. So, I took a urine sample in and was told that it tested strong for probable kidney failure, they would have to take a blood test to be sure. After the blood test, I was — thankfully — told that the kidneys were okay, but he did have a bladder infection, and possible Cushing's Disease. Aside from that, I have had so many of my cats die in the past couple of years from kidney failure and unknown symptoms, and they were all on Nutro dry cat food...

I have heard so many people that have animals with similar symptoms with Nutro dry, with blood in Their urine, as well, testing strong for kidney failure, coming out of it with urinary infections, that I have to believe something is dreadfully wrong with Nutro's food. I have now switched to Blue holistic food for Zak (Royal Canin for my two remaining cats), and he no longer vomits...no longer seeks out grass to eat... His stool is near perfect and he's interested in food again. As a matter of interest, I will also be calling the number, and asking for someone higher up to explain the situation. But for me, talk is cheap... my dog is the proof of the matter, and Nutro has way past betrayed my trust...

Note From Kinship Circle: In light of last year's Nutro "poison scare," and now the current recall, we advise everyone to steer clear of all Nutro products.

WHAT ABOUT WHEAT GLUTEN?

Should I Get Rid Of Any Brand With Wheat Gluten In It?
From: Judy Reed, AnimalVoicesNews@earthlink.net
Question: Not all pet foods contain wheat gluten, but what about the companies not listed in the recall that DO!?

Answer: At this time, the ASPCA is uncertain ... other pet food manufacturers may also issue voluntary recalls, and advises pet parents to contact their pet food manufacturer directly. With the addition of this brand of dry pet food to the massive Menu Foods recall.
ASPCA Urges Caution as Dry Food is Voluntarily Added to Pet Food Recall
Advises Consumers Not to Panic—Not All Dry Foods Contain Wheat Gluten
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer? pagename=press_033107

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5. Some Retailers Not Pulling Recalled Food
From: Adrienne Dearmas, adrienne@chrisusher.com
Subject: Something YOU can do about the Menu Foods recall

PetSmart has an invested interest in taking the Menu Foods recalled food off their shelves but supermarkets do NOT.

I was in a Giant supermarket today (March 26); in their "Reduced for Quick Sale" bins I saw multiple cans of "Companion" cat food, all of which were cuts, sliced and non-pate style canned food. I took the can to the general manager and asked him if he was aware of the Menu Foods recall. He informed me that the cans in the store were not on "the list," and that they had removed the tainted cans, based on the UPC code, last week. I asked if he was following the story and was he aware that Menu Foods had recalled ALL cans, regardless of date code. He said, "well, yes, I saw something about that this morning and I told my guy to look into it." He then went back to what he was doing.

Go to your local grocery store or Walmart and check to see what is on the shelves. If you find the poisoned food, remove it and take it to the general manager and ask him/her to make it a priority to remove the food from the shelves.

Assume that the average person a) doesn't know about the recall b) thinks the quality food they buy at their local grocery store is "not on the list" and help protect their pets for them! Also, the Washington Post did a story several years ago about canned cat and dog food being purchased by poor and homeless people as a cheap means of protein. You'd think the grocery stores would be mindful of that sad fact even if they don't care about cats and dogs! Thanks, Adrienne DeArmas, Chris Usher Photography & Associates, Inc. www.chrisusher.com

*Note From Kinship Circle: I experienced the same thing at a local Walgreens. The manager I spoke to seemed unaware of the changing nature of the recall.

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6. Pertinent Articles & Websites

Barking up wrong tree in pet food recall? Lawyer claims culprit is vitamin D
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/04/01/ pf-3888145.html
4/1/07, By ALAN CAIRNS, SUN MEDIA - As the poisoned pet food crisis widened yesterday with the recall of a dry food, a Toronto lawyer leading a $60-million class-action negligence suit against a Guelph company fears scientists might be barking up the wrong tree.

With suspicions in the Menu Foods poisoning shifting from animopterin rat poison to melamine used in Asian fertilizers, lawyer David Himelfarb said suspect food should be "immediately" tested for excessive vitamin D.

Himelfarb said the kidney failure seen in the Menu Foods case is "exactly" the same as symptoms that left a Whitby woman's dog seriously ill in 2005. The woman, Janet Grixti, alleges in a statement of claim filed in Superior Court of Ontario that her chocolate Labrador Mocha became ill after it was fed Royal Canin pet food with excessive amounts of vitamin D.

10 TIMES NORMAL: "We have taken hundreds of samples of (Royal Canin) food from across the GTA. I can't give you accurate numbers ... but there is an awful lot of (vitamin D) ... some tests have shown more than 10 times the normal amount ... might even be more," said Himelfarb, who is on the class-action case with lawyer Joe Rochon. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received 8,800 complaints of dog and cats deaths or illness... READ MORE: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/04/01/pf-3888145.html
List Of Recalled Pet Foods Grows Longer
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/31/pet.food.recall.ap/ index.html
Story Highlights
- One type of Alpo wet dog food recalled on Saturday
- Hill's Pet Nutrition recalls Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food
- FDA says chemical used in plastics found in recalled pet food, sick animals
- Scientists not sure melamine was cause of pets' deaths
Pet-Food Recall: What You Need To Know [And Do]
http://www.Petconnection.com
Update 4/2/07: 2,907pets have been reported as deceased to our PetConnection database.
Of these, 1,592 are cats, and 1,314 dogs.
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award- winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection: petconnection@gmail.com
Tainted Food Pet Deaths Put At Over 100
http:// www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/28/earlyshow/contributors/debbyeturner/main2618085.shtml
Cats May Be More Sensitive To Pet Food Contaminant / Greater Susceptibility To Melamine May Explain Why More Cats Than Dogs Died
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/31/ pet.food.recall.cats.ap/index.html
FDA: Plastics Chemical In Recalled Pet Food
http://www.wlky.com/tu/5nJcbXZhu.html
What Is Melamine?
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/03/ fda_plastics_ch.html
What is melamine? The safety sheet for this chemical says it is a white crystalline solid that has proved toxic in lab tests on rabbits and rats. AP says it is used as fertilizer in Asia...
OTHER INFORMATIVE RECALL SITES
http://www.howl911.com/petfoodrecall.htm
http://l.petsmart-mail.com/l/r/04LRGH8B0LfKq02HkX
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml? c=196265&p=factset16

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7. What's In A Can Of Pet Food? Alternative Ways To Feed

What's In A Can Of Dog Food? Don't Ask.
http://www.slate.com/id/2162164?GT1=9231
Eyewitness Account: Pet Food Recipe?
SOURCE: Cornwall's Voice For Animals, cvfa.uk@virgin.net
[From my friend on myspace] 3/22/07, Gayle writes: My brother has actually been to the [MENU FOODS] plant in Columbia/Lexington, South Carolina. (He automates machinery and they bought machinery from the company my brother works for). He said it was DEPPLORABLE! Upon entering the road to the plant, there are barrels lined up, starting at the street. People from nearby areas bring their dead pets, cattle, road kill and shelters (their euthanized animals) and dump them in the barrels. The barrels are then taken inside the plant where the carcasses are boiled. They pull out the larger bones to resell as pet bones. The meat, hide, small bones and fur are ground up and sold as pet food to the companies on the recall list. My brother said the smell at that place is unbearable. He could not stay there because of the smell and knowing how they made the pet food. He said he could not stop from gagging... He said they also use rotten fish from the grocery store, old dead chickens. After his trip to that plant, he began making his own dog food for his dog
KINSHIP CIRCLE RECOMMENDS...
Check out natural, preservative/additive-free, supreme quality lines: http:// www.petfooddirect.com
All-Natural Dog Food: http:// www.petfooddirect.com:80/store/brands4dept.asp?dept%5Fid=130
All-Natural Cat Food: http:// www.petfooddirect.com:80/store/brands4dept.asp?dept%5Fid=131

We [the five furry ones, Kinship Circle "staff"] love Wellness, PetGuard, Innova, Wysong, by Nature Organics, Avoderm, and Halo. Mandy, Cleveland, Rebekkah, Isaiah, and Baby Noah
Making The Transition To A VEGETARIAN Or VEGAN Diet For Your Animal Companions:
http://www.peta.org/factsheet/files/FactsheetDisplay.asp? ID=34

Companies That Sell Vegan Dog and Cat Food:
Evolution Diet — Dog and cat kibble and canned food, ferret kibble, fish food
651-228-0632

F & O Alternative Pet Products — Vegan dog and cat kibble and canned food
1-877-376-9056

Harbingers of a New Age — Vegecat™, Vegekit™, Vegedog™, Vegepup™, digestive enzymes
406-295-4944

Natural Life Pet Products — Canned and kibble dog food
1-800-367-2391

Nature's Recipe — Canned and kibble dog food
1-800-237-3856

PetGuard — Canned dog food and biscuits
petcare@petguard.com, customerservice@petguard.com, http:// www.petguard.com

Wow-Bow Distributors — Canned and kibble dog food and biscuits
1-800-326-0230

Wysong Corporation — Dog and cat kibble
989-631-0009

If you decide to prepare your own vegetarian dog or cat food, we recommend that you read Vegetarian Cats & Dogs to ensure that you understand the nutritional needs of dogs and cats. Do not rely on this fact sheet for complete information. The book has several recipes and helpful hints. If your library or bookstore doesn't have it, you can order it from Harbingers of a New Age. http://www.vegepet.com/

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8. SAMPLE LETTER #1: To Menu Foods
Menu Foods is majority owned by the Menu Foods Income Fund, based in Ontario, Canada.
http://www.menufoods.com

Paul K. Henderson, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Menu Foods GenPar Limited
Menu Foods Income Fund
8 Falconer Drive; Streetsville, ON
Canada L5N 1B1
ph: +1-905-826-3870; fax: +1-905-826-4995

Serge Darkazanli, President and Chief Executive Officer
Menu Foods Income Fund
8 Falconer Drive; Mississauga, ON
Canada L5M 2C1
ph: 905-826-3870; fax: 905-826-8102
email: sdarkazanli@menufoods.com, adoremus@menufoods.com

Mark Wiens, Executive Vice President
Menu Foods Income Fund
8 Falconer Drive; Mississauga, ON
Canada L5M 2C1
email: mwiens@menufoods.com

Dear Mr. Henderson, Mr. Darkazanli, Mr. Wiens, and Menu Foods:

Thank you for announcing plans to reimburse caretakers able to link their animals' illnesses with products named in the recall of 60 million Menu Foods cans and pouches.

As you know, results from the New York State Food Laboratory originally identified the rat poison aminopterin as the contaminant behind the deaths of 15 cats and two dogs (as of 3/24/07). Since then, FDA and Cornell University scientists uncovered melamine, a component in plastics and fertilizer, in wheat gluten used in affected Menu Foods products. However, experts are uncertain if melamine is the primary culprit.

While FDA and Menu Foods recognize a handful of deaths, a veterinarian at Cornell University's prestigious New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center predicts fatalities may skyrocket into the thousands. At PetConnection.com, a veterinarian's self-reporting website, at least 2,907 deaths (1,592 cats and 1,314 dogs as of 4/2/07) are linked to poisoned foods. The mortality rate is certain to climb.

In addition to compensating guardians for veterinary tests, therapy, and loss arrangements — minus any bureaucratic delays — I urge Menu Foods to:

Overhaul its system of oversight at all manufacturer sites.

Discontinue testing toxic food on lab-confined cats and dogs.

Replace all animal experiments with laboratory analysis and other non-animal methods.

I am shocked to learn Menu Foods induces kidney failure in cats and dogs for lab tests engineered to counter consumer grievances. Histological analyses and necropsies of already deceased animals who ate noxious food ought to present sufficient data to isolate and even treat the effects of the contaminant. Other cruelty-free models include a functional gastro-intestinal dog (FIDO) or TIM-1 and TIM-2 (small and large gastro-intestinal models).

I cannot purchase your goods until a no-animal testing policy is instated. Quite simply, polluted human foods are never tested in humans. The forced ingestion of "suspect raw materials" in animals is equally repugnant.

Though manufacturers are not legally required to experiment on animals to earn market approval, Menu Foods has authorized animal studies long before the March 2007 recall. Tests to gauge "metabolic energy" of dog and cat food restrain animals in barren stainless- steel cages, sometimes for years. Exercise and other forms of stimulation (such as toys) are virtually nonexistent.

In 2002 and 2003, investigations inside Sinclair Research Center, a laboratory under contract with Iams and Menu Foods, exposed dogs with muscle chunks severed from their thighs huddling on a cold floor. Two dogs died post-surgery and at least 27 were killed over the course of this experiment alone. Sinclair recently settled with the USDA for alleged violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

The recall initiated a chain of fear and pain for animals and people. I encourage Menu Foods to implement stricter security measures and prevent future tragedies. In addition, please replace old-fashioned animal experiments with progressive, non-animal research modes.

Thank you,

Allison V. Smith for The New York Times: Elizabeth Krottinger's dog Poochi has been hospitalized
at a Texas veterinary clinic since Friday because of pet food that has been recalled.

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9. SAMPLE LETTER #2: To Canadian Authorities
The Honorable Mark Saltmarsh
Crown Attorney's Office
Grenville & William Davis Courthouse, 5th Fl., Ste. 100
7755 Hurontario St.
Brampton, ON L6W 4T6, Canada
ph: 905-456-4777; fax: 905-456-4780

Dear Mr. Saltmarsh:

In light of the recent recall of 60 million pet food cans and pouches, I respectfully ask you to open an investigation to determine if the manufacturer, Menu Foods, has disobeyed Canadian law.

Furthermore, Menu Foods is inducing kidney failure in cats and dogs for lab tests engineered to counter consumer grievances. Histological analyses and necropsies of already deceased animals who ate noxious food ought to present sufficient data to isolate and even treat the effects of the contaminant. Other cruelty-free models include a functional gastro-intestinal dog (FIDO) or TIM-1 and TIM-2 (small and large gastro-intestinal models).

Please consider a statute in Canada's criminal code that seems relevant to these circumstances:

R.S.C., ch. C-34, S 446.(1)(a) "Every one commits an offence who willfully [causes]... unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal..."

R.S.C., ch. C-34, S 446.(1)(e) "Every one commits an offence who willfully, without reasonable excuse, administers a poisonous or an injurious drug or substance to a domestic animal..."

If your investigation shows Menu Foods in violation of Canadian law, I urge you to prosecute implicated parties to the maximum degree allowed by law.

Thank you for your valuable time and deliberation,

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10. SAMPLE LETTER #3: To Authorities Regarding Iams
The Honorable Joseph D. Deters, Prosecuting Attorney
Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office
230 E. Ninth St., Ste. 4000; Cincinnati, OH 45202
ph: 513-946-3006; fax: 513-946-3017; email: Joe.Deters@hcpros.org
website: http://www.hcpros.org/directory.html

Dear Mr. Deters,

In light of the recent recall of 60 million pet food cans and pouches, I respectfully ask you to open an investigation to determine if Iams Company has disobeyed Ohio anti-cruelty law (Ohio Rev. Code Ann. S 959.131). Iams and Eukanuba are among the 95 recalled brands manufactured at Menu Foods and distributed across North America.

Iams' manufacturer, Menu Foods, allegedly learned about contamination concerns by February 20, 2007, yet waited until March 16 to issue a mass recall. During this delay, caretakers continued to feed their animals tainted food, thus prolonging the potential for illness and death. Iams presumably became aware of contaminated foods well before the publicized recall. I urge you to hold Iams liable for each related fatality, to the extent permissible under Ohio law.

Thank you for your valuable time and deliberation,

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11. SAMPLE LETTER #4: To Authorities Re: Sinclair Research
Molly Aust, Animal Control
616 Big Bear Blvd.; Columbia, MO 65202
ph: 573-449-1888; fax: 573-442-5416
web email: http:// www.gocolumbiamo.com/Feedback/feedback.php?email=grw@GoColumbiaMo.com

Dear Ms. Aust,

In light of the recent recall of 60 million pet food cans and pouches, I respectfully ask you to open an investigation to determine if Sinclair Research Center and Menu Foods have disobeyed state law.

Furthermore, Menu Foods is inducing kidney failure in cats and dogs for lab tests engineered to counter consumer grievances. Please question Sinclair Research Center's possible participation in the forcible ingestion of toxicants. News sources indicate this experiment occurred on or near February 27.

As you may be aware, 2002/2003 investigations inside Sinclair, a Columbia, MO laboratory under contract with Menu Foods and [formerly] Iams, exposed significant violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Investigators documented dogs with muscle chunks severed from their thighs huddling on a cold floor. Two dogs died post-surgery and at least 27 were killed over the course of this experiment alone. Sinclair recently settled with the USDA.

The deliberate poisoning of healthy animals is particularly repugnant. Histological analyses and necropsies of already deceased animals who ate noxious food ought to present sufficient data to isolate and even treat the effects of the contaminant. Other cruelty-free models include a functional gastro-intestinal dog (FIDO) or TIM-1 and TIM-2 (small and large gastro-intestinal models).

I urge you to consider a statute in Missouri criminal code, Mo. Ann. Stat. SS578.005-578.012 that seems relevant to these circumstances. Please thoroughly investigate Menu Foods and Sinclair (a Menu Foods' contract Laboratory). If deemed in violation of Missouri law, prosecute all implicated parties to the maximum extent allowed by law.

Thank you for your valuable time and deliberation,

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12. SAMPLE LETTER #5: To Food And Drug Administration (FDA)
Daniel G. McChesney, Ph.D., Director
Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine
Office of Surveillance and Compliance
7500 Standish Pl., HFV-230; Rockville, MD 20855
ph: 240-453-6830; fax: 240-453-6880
email: daniel.mcchesney@fda.hhs.gov
website: http://www.aafco.org/NameSearch/tabid/76/ Default.aspx#M

Dear Dr. McChesney,

In light of the recent recall of 60 million pet food cans and pouches, I am relieved to know the FDA has opened an investigation into contaminated Menu Foods products and escalating animal deaths.

Menu Foods allegedly learned about contamination concerns by February 20, 2007, yet waited until March 16 to recall foods marketed across North America under 95 brands. During this delay, caretakers continued to feed their animals tainted food, thus prolonging the potential for illness and death. Iams Company and other private labels under Menu Foods presumably became aware of contaminated foods well before the publicized recall. Please hold Menu Foods, Iams and all companies informed about pre-recall contamination issues liable for related fatalities or illnesses.

I hope the FDA intends to thoroughly examine the actions of Menu Foods, associated companies, and their agents. I respectfully ask you to implement any penalties judged suitable at the end of your inquiry. I would greatly appreciate feedback about the FDA's investigation.

Thank you for your valuable time and deliberation,