Well this will enhance their reputation even less:

For those of you who don't visit the Itchmo forum here is a link to a thread that has been posted on there by someone who has done some digging

http://itchmoforums.com/news-recall-related/in-the-public-interest-orijen-irradiation-t8862.0.html



The OP has invited cross-posting so here it is.

No surprises there really. Just makes me even more determined to see justice done one way or another.

I wrote a long letter to Champion having had no responses to email questions and another phone call about the "key role" they thought they had played in getting cat food irradiation banned and about what was happening for owners whose claims were over $2000. This info was brought to my attention from someone on Itchmo in time for me to incorporate it into my letter, which was mailed on Thursday.

Regarding the "key role" I had a response from AQIS as follows:

As per our discussion last week I can now confirm that neither AQIS nor Biosecurity Australia received any information/correspondence directly on this matter from Champion, the manufacturer of Orijen pet food products.


The phraseology made me wonder if they had had anything indirectly so I duly asked that question and here was the reply:

Hi

 

By directly I mean via any direct correspondence with Champion. When the issue gained traction at the beginning of the year we did become aware of information on the Champion website that related, but from what I understand this did not form part of BA’s decision to recommend removal of irradiation as a quarantine treatment option.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Cheers

 

D


So, no key role there. And for good measure I included copies of correspondence to me from Minister Burke and opposition Senator Colbeck who was supportive in asking questions of the Minister and AQIS in the Senate, which confirmed who did provide information and how that information was used in the decision to cease cat food irradiation, and told them about Dr Georgina Child's research paper about to be published and her visit to Canberra to meet with members of the Minister's Dept and others which really was the turning point to getting the ban.

 So true CM.  Untill these companies actually care about what goes into their foods, this is a situation that will continue to plague the industry and adversely affect our pets.

  I must say that there is some chatter from among those who specialize in pet nutrition that that homecooking or raw is the answer. But unfortunately in our busy world there are many who just cannot commit to this full time. Others recommend purchasing pet food brands that are not owned by large conglomerates, in hopes that family owned companies will be less likely to compromise quality for reaping larger profits.


  I am terribly saddened that really not much has changed here in the US since the recalls of 2007 and I do not know what more it is going to take for change to occur so that we may be ensured that the food we feed our dear pets is safe.

 

Thanks for your reply Bonkers. Yes I do my own homecooking and feed some raw also. I have even started baking some cat treats. Unfortunately, and I don't want to sound like a broken record here, I did buy a brand that was a family owned company brand and not owned by a large conglomerate and look where that got us. I now have a partially paralysed, incontinent cat.
It is time consuming preparing ones own food but I don't have a human family to look after as well and I cook from scratch mostly for myself. For me, being a committed vegetarian, handling the food is a bit of an issue (tongs, gloves etc! lol) and if they were human carnivores I would not be choosing them as housemates but cats are different 

  As I had stated on another thread, Nutro did a crappy job at getting the word out about the recalled cat food as there are still people who have not heard about the recall and are still feeding their cats the tainted food.  

  The latest complaint on Consumer Affairs is from a lady who fed the recalled food  to her cats, one of which ultimately passed away from a chronic liver condition. She goes on to say and I quote;

  "The New York State wildlife pathologist Dr. Ward Stone has tested my recalled food for me. Nutro says that the highest level of zinc in a recalled bag is 550mg. My food was tested in two samples and came out at over 1800mg and 1900mg! There is no doubt in my mind what happened to my cat that passed away. I am over 1100 in vet bills right now and we have lost our beloved blue-point siamese one year old cat".


     http://consumeraffairs.com/pets/nutro.html


  A local TV station in New York also did a report on her story.

     
    http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/cat-1265172-levels-zinc.html

Oh dear I do so feel for this woman. Blue point Siamese are particularly dear to my heart as well. Isn't this just what keeps happening though? No regulation of the industry, no mandated recalls, no forced publicity of recalls, people who don't know about it just keep buying and feeding their pets the same stuff... it's just what happened in Australia and I was one of those people and others even after me were feeding too, unawares.

This is an industry out of control and threatening to implode on itself unless regulation is brought in, in both our countries, if not worldwide. At least our government are meeting and talking about it. The lobbying must continue, it should be worldwide to protect all animals and give them the same status as humans since for so many pet owners their pets are substitute family/children and if not are still that important.

Sorry to digress off topic a little but it's part of the problem I think.

Thanks Jo and I echo your sentiments about all our supporters on here. It's good to know we have support from far and wide for our efforts to seek justice. I won't let up on this and I won't let anyone get away with anything, least of all Biosecurity Australia and I think the PFIAA have a lot to answer for too. They didn't believe it was irradiation and they talked one supporter out of giving us exposure via his website. Well don't they look stupid now. Hopefully the Ministerial Council meeting again in November will force regulation of this corrupted industry and put them all in their place. It's rotten to the core.

For those of you following the Champion involvement in this issue, particularly in relation to the Compassion Fund, this is just to let you know that some updated information was received today in relation to the Fund in response to some specific questions emailed to Champion.

The application close date for the fund has been extended so that any  new cases diagnosed can be included in the reimbursement programme. The new close date was not announced.

The case by case consideration of existing claims that exceed the $2000 cap on the fund are about to start being considered. The time frame for that was not announced.

Regarding continued financial support for those owners whose cats have not yet fully rehabilitated and require ongoing care, the response was that the Fund allows for more than one claim to be made and the majority of owners are below the $2000 cap in their first claim so the programme, in that way, allows for further support. What will happen regarding owners whose initial claim exceeded the $2000 cap and who also have ongoing expenses in caring for their cats was not announced.

Regarding the results of the research Champion were doing into irradiation effects on cat foods, they have said that the primary and secondary research they carried out "played a key role" in Australia banning the irradiation of cat foods. Now that Australia has banned this process, Champion are no longer conducting research into this matter since their research was centred on proving that irradiation of cat foods was not safe. The terms "primary and secondary research" were not described and details of the results were not announced.

This is quoted pretty much verbatim from personal correspondence received. Clarification of some of the response is being sought. For the sake of public scrutiny and interest any clarification obtained will be shared.

As an affected owner seeking compensation over and above the cap on the fund as well as for ongoing expenditure I am refraining from posting personal opinion and removing all emotion from the equation per independent advice received. As well, I am not about to perhaps jeopardise others' positions while we still apparently have Champion's goodwill.

[Irradiated dog food to be labelled - to be formally announced on AQIS website]

Irradiated dog food to be labelled - to be formally announced on AQIS website

To read formal letter from AQIS re cat food irradiation ban and move to label irradiated dog food as unsuitable for cats please follow link below:

http://www.box.net/shared/s1q3dafghc



R.I.P. Hali ... and all who have gone before you. Too late for you, but you have helped future cats.

ABCRadio National Breakfast Programme interviewed Dr Georgina Child on 2nd June:

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/breakfast/stories/2009/2586686.htm

The RSPCA has placed a statement on their website with a link to Minister Burke for those that wish to add their support:

http://www.rspca.org.au/news/cat-food-made-safer.html

Thank you Perseus. The response to the call for support I made in January was good, many hands make light work as they say. We had a cohesive approach when we needed it most.

It didn't feel like light work though and there is much still to be done. I'm continuing to do what I can in line with my original strategy, working independently. You know what they say, plan your work and work your plan. I didn't expect an early outcome such as this, this moves things on to a different level. I've had good feedback from Food Irradiation Watch Australia, AQIS, and other industry/interest groups about this outcome so far.  The push will continue for a full review of safety and labelling of pet food, animal feed (which eventually makes its way into the human food chain) and human foods. I believed the cats were just the canary in the coal mine and the more I read and learn, the more I believe this.

Please take care everyone, and hug your pets close. The only person that really cares about their wellbeing is you.

Someone has just posted this link on Itchmo

http://www.smh.com.au/national/catfood-irradiation-banned-as-pet-theory-proved-20090529-bq8h.html


It's great news. What's interesting is that the report says that he made the move on the news of International studies received only late last week when people at home here in Australia who were directly affected on a practical level have been urging for this since at least January.

The push for proper labelling and a review of the safety of this process on all foods must continue.

[Pet FoodCouncil agreed to the establishment of a working group of officials to examine the need for additional mechanisms to manage the safety of imported and domestically produced pet food.]

I have received a Primary Industries Ministerial Council meeting communique issued 21 May stating the following:QUOTE
Pet Food
Council agreed to the establishment of a working group of officials to examine the need for additional mechanisms to manage the safety of imported and domestically produced pet food.UNQUOTE

So the wheels are starting to turn here following submissions by the RSPCA and other associations to government.

Thank you, yes. You have no idea how much 

Colette is doing really well thanks Bonkers. I'm now confident she will make a complete recovery. Her front legs are really strong and her back legs are coming back. Just waiting for her to regain full feeling in her paws and be able to straighten them out and stand up. She has been able to wash properly since Friday night, face and ears and down her body. She can now twist round to do that with confidence without overbalancing. Also pooping on her own again but it is unpredictable at times when that will happen Still urinating without control but not all the time any more. I'm hopeful full continence will return. She is bright and happy, she even played with the kittens' toybox yesterday, poking in the holes to get mice and little balls out, She is one of the lucky ones. Thanks again for your interest and asking after my girl. 

TCM, Have you any new developments to report? Any more responses to your letters??

TCM, Have you any new developments to report? Any more responses to your letters??

The letter I received as formal reply to my letter to the Minister alluded to advice being given to pet food importers regarding the issue. They posted an update to their Notice to Industry, the challenging of which formed the basis of my letter to the Minister, the same day that they replied to me. It warns about the effects of irradiated diets on cats - here it is in its entirety:

Notice to Industry 7/2009—Safety of Irradiated Pet (Cat) Foods—Update to Notice 33/2008-09

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) posted a Notice to Industry on 23 December 2008 about the Safety of Imported Pet Foods. This purpose of this notice is to update and advise Industry of additional information related to Notice 33/2008-09:

    * Pet food must comply with Australia’s import conditions before an import permit is issued by AQIS to an importer.

    * Where imported pet food has not undergone moist heat treatment to achieve a minimum core temperature of 100°C for at least 30 minutes or equivalent during the manufacturing process, AQIS offers importers the options of subjecting the pet food to moist heat treatment or irradiation, as a condition of import.

    * Importers are advised by AQIS to consult with the irradiation provider and inform themselves about the possible effects of irradiation treatment on their particular product prior to electing to undertake such treatment.

    * AQIS has become aware of scientific literature (see below) regarding the irradiation of pet (cat) food. This is not an exhaustive list of literature available on the subject.

    * Importers should continue to monitor scientific literature on this issue to consider whether it has any relevance to their imported products and to ensure they remain informed and up-to-date.

    * Ultimately it is the responsibility of the pet food manufacturers and importers to determine if irradiation treatment could be a risk to pet health.


References:

   1. Cassidy JP, Caulfield, Jones BR, Worrall S, Conlon L, Palmer AC, Kelly J. Leukoencephalomyelopathy in Specific Pathogen-free Cats. Vet Pathol 2007; 44:912-916)
   2. Caulfield CD, Cassidy JP, Kelly JP. Effects of gamma irradiation and pasteurization on the nutritive composition of commercially available animal diets J Am Assoc Lab Animal Sci 2008; 47(6) 61-66



I then wrote to AQIS asking if this was the sole means of communicating with pet food importers, as I was concerned that just to bury this notice in an obscure spot on their website would not help new importers as after all, Champion/Renasence had clearly not examined the AQIS website to discover what our regulations were. The manager with whom I do most of my communicating responded immediately to advise that each individual pet food importer was sent a copy of the Notice when it was issued and that all new import licence applicants for import of pet food are also sent one with their application form. This is a positive result to my representation to the Minister, a start at least.

The veterinary neurologist that has been logging all the affected cats, seeing as many as possible and conducting post mortems on the deceased, has finished writing her report and it is now in peer review. When published it will be submitted to AQIS/Biosecurity Australia and she feels that this will create the pressure that is required to have gamma irradiation as an importer's option for quarantine treatment repealed. The latest study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, links below, will hopefully be the final nail in the coffin. This has also been communicated to AQIS, Biosecurity Australia, the Minister and to the veterinary neurologist.

http://www.naturalnews.com/025971.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090330200722.htm

Further work is still needed to address the other requests in my letter to the Minister, regarding a full review of all food irradiation and associated labelling laws. I am working closely with other interested parties to keep this in the forefront of minds in the department of the Minister. I have received letters/emails from government depts regarding studies carried out that prove the safety of the process (ha!). It will be much harder to challenge this unless we suddenly start seeing human beings affected with unequivocal links to irradiated food. Evidently all the published studies and reports to date of the dangers of this process have been to no avail. World Free Trade Agreements and the International Atomic Energy Agency have seen to that. 

Well there are now several videos of my cat on Facebook and here is the link- be aware my language gets a bit juicy at times any of you that have followed my post on the ORIJEN thread will not be surprised.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1041797089954&saved#/video/?id=1376390883

   TCM, I commend you on your determination to seek change in your country and I pray you are successful. I was a little suprised to read in Tim Chapman's letter that where he stated "AQIS does not compel the irradiation of imported pet food". OK then who does? I thought that any imported pet food that had not been heat treated to meet certain requirements had to be irradiated. 

Thank you.

AQIS does not compel the irradiation of anything.

They exist to protect Australia from the entry of external pathogens.

To this end, they examine all goods upon entry (hand carried by visitors or declared) and they examine all import permit applications to determine if there is a likely risk  in importing the goods without some kind of treatment.

If a risk is identified, the importer is informed that in order for an import permit to be approved, they must agree in writing to a form of treatment if they want to bring the goods in. Three options are offered:
1) Heat treatment
2) Gamma irradiation
3) Don't go ahead with the import

In the case of Orijen pet food, the importer chose gamma irradiation, signed off on this, and the import permit was granted on that basis. Heat treatment was apparently deemed to be inappropriate for the product.

At no time does AQIS insist upon gamma irradiation. The choices are heat treatment, gamma irradiation or don't import/return to origin.

That little sh!t Lobo, the importer, who has just dropped below the radar (for the moment) must have sought some input into the decision to choose gamma irradiation. Where that input came from is yet to be determined.

AQIS forms that require signing clearly state the ball in in the importers court and it is their responsibility to determine which form of treatment is most appropriate for the product to be imported. The forms clearly spell out that independent investigation by the importer is the importer's responsibility and that AQIS bear no responsibility in the product's fit for purpose state after treatment.

The liability rests with the importer.

The forms are all quite clear and self-explanatory and in addition I have had extensive discussions by email and by telephone at the highest level within AQIS. 

I hope that clarifies everything.