Recall: Feline's Pride Natural Chicken Formula Cat Food

[Therese]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 1, 2010 - Buffalo, NY – Feline’s Pride is announcing a voluntary recall of Feline’s Pride Raw food with ground bone for cats and kittens, Natural Chicken Formula, Net Wt. 2.5 lbs. (1.13 kg., 40 oz.) produced on 6/10/10,  because it may be contaminated with Salmonella. People handling raw pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the raw pet food or any surfaces exposed to the product.

When consumed by humans, Salmonella can cause an infection, salmonellosis. The symptoms of salmonellosis include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, minimal diarrhea, fever, and headache. Certain vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems, are particularly susceptible to acquiring salmonellosis from such pet food products and may experience more severe symptoms.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The product is packaged in uncoded plastic containers and sold frozen to private consumers nationwide. Once thawed, the pet food has a shelf life of about 1 week. The firm manufactures the pet food by an as-ordered basis. This recall affects only those orders placed and shipped from June 10 through June 17, 2010.

The firm and FDA are investigating this matter to determine the source of this problem, and will take any additional steps necessary to protect the public health.

To date, both the firm and the FDA have received no reports of Salmonella infection relating to this product.

This product should not be fed to pets but should instead be disposed of in a safe manner (e.g., in a securely covered trash receptacle). People who are experiencing the symptoms of Salmonella infection after having handled the pet food product should seek medical attention, and report their use of the product and illness to the nearest FDA office.

People should thoroughly wash their hands after handling the pet food – especially those made from raw animal protein such as meat or fish -- to help prevent infection. People may risk bacterial infection not only by handling pet foods, but by contact with pets or surfaces exposed to these foods, so it is important that they thoroughly wash their hands with hot water and soap.

Since certain vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems, are particularly at risk from exposure they should avoid handling this product.

Consumers with questions should contact the company at (716) 580-3096, Monday –Friday from 10 am - 4 pm EDT.

*****************
From the FDA: Feline’s Pride Issues Nationwide Recall of its Natural Chicken Formula Cat Food Due to Salmonella Contamination

[Perseus]

I have been feeding my kitties Feline’s Pride for 3 years now, without a single incident.  In fact, my kitties absolutely thrive on this food and I have had nothing but amazing results.  Even though I didn’t have one of the chicken tubs in question, I went ahead and emailed them and asked for a phone call to explain what exactly happened.  Within less than an hour, the owner of Feline’s Pride, Shelby Gomas, called me personally.  Here’s what he had to say.

Feline’s Pride has been sending samples of their batches to the FDA testing laboratory in Virginia for 5 years now, without any negative results whatsoever.  They recently applied to become a federally registered processing facility; and as part of the certification had FDA representatives come to the facility for an inspection.  Their facility is all stainless steel equipment, floors, utensils, etc., and sanitized in between all batches.  Written procedures are all in place, and there was no problem with this portion of the inspection.  The FDA representatives took a batch of the frozen chicken food for testing.  The food sample was red and frozen when they took it.  They sent it first to Jamaica, NY; and then to the laboratory in Virginia.  By the time the food arrived in Virginia, it was brown (unfrozen).  They went ahead and tested it, and of course salmonella had been detected.  The samples were obviously compromised, but they still performed the testing.

The FDA immediately issued a class 1 recall notice (when in fact it should have been a class 3 recall because there were no reports of sick cats or people).  

Feline’s Pride has now had to engage their legal counsel and has started litigation against the FDA.  Dr. Lisa Pierson of www.catinfo.org and a large contributor to Feline’s Pride’s formulas will also be issuing a statement about the above shortly.  

Shelby stated  “I work from my heart and not my cash register” and that his 16 cats all eat the same food, which he “loves to death” and would never do anything to hurt them in any way.  All his ingredients are from the US only, including the vitamin pre-mix and he “wouldn’t touch an ingredient from China ever.”

I believe Shelby and also know that the FDA isn’t some stellar organization either.   I’ll continue to feed Feline’s Pride without any hesitation until any of this is proven otherwise.  Please feel free to re-post on other cat sites as I’m seeing a lot of speculation and untruths already circulating around with accusations of poor testing procedures and quality control (and these same people feed crap like Nutro and Fancy Feast and think it's great food).

My conversation was approved by Shelby to post on pet food forums and blogs.

[anabelle_katie]

I agree w/ Perseus  100%. I too have been feeding my two kitties Feline's Pride for 3 years and no problems.
I too in fact have met the owner of Feline's Pride, Shelby, 2 years ago we stopped in NY while on a trip to pick up cat food directly from them. I saw the facilities where the food was made, met the people and have complete confidence in Feline's Pride. And I am  super neurotic when it comes to the kitties and what they eat, so that is saying a lot.

[Bonkers]

"I believe Shelby and also know that the FDA isn’t some stellar organization either.   I’ll continue to feed Feline’s Pride without any hesitation until any of this is proven otherwise.  Please feel free to re-post on other cat sites as I’m seeing a lot of speculation and untruths already circulating around with accusations of poor testing procedures and quality control (and these same people feed crap like Nutro and Fancy Feast and think it's great food)."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LoL Perseus. I too would be more concerned about the efficiency of the FDA regarding the proper handling and transportation of the raw food they tested.

I see on some other forums that posters are already tearing Feline's Pride apart and yet no mention of the recent Iam's recall of canned cat food regarding the low thiamine levels. I'll bet many of "these same people" also think Iam's is "great food."

[Perseus]

I saw the facilities where the food was made, met the people and have complete confidence in Feline's Pride. And I am  super neurotic when it comes to the kitties and what they eat, so that is saying a lot.

anabelle_katie, thanks for mentioning this about the facility.  It means a lot to know someone has actually toured there and approve with what they saw.  I'm neurotic too about what they eat.  I would hate to see this impact a small quality company like they are and please feel free to repost this info on other sites!

[anabelle_katie]

 please feel free to repost this info on other sites!

Perseus,
I don't really frequent any cat boards anymore, but I used to hang out at Itchmo and I did try to repost your post regarding your conversation w/ Shelby at Itchmo, but they removed it.
I don't know why, perhaps it's against their TOS about reposting. I couldn't find anything stating it was against their rules, so I don't know. But they are questioning their quality control and testing procedures there. If you would like to go post yourself, I can give you the link, just PM me.
I hate to see people tearing the company down like that. They are such a good little company and after all the pet food recalls in 2007,  I never thought I would be able to find a company I trusted, and I do trust Feline's Pride.

[Perseus]

I’m posting some additional information I received from the owner of Feline’s Pride today.  I can’t believe how this has spiraled out of control against them, from people making fun of the Flash opening on the FP website, to FP wrote the FDA press release and assigned the class number, to the integrity of the lab that has done their testing for 5 years and finally to pure censorship of any other side or explanation of the recall.  From Shelby Gomas:

“We didn’t write the press release.  Without any advice from counsel, or any of our questions being answered.  We were literally forced to issue that statement without even supplying us with their labs reports which are questionable.  The way samples were gathered on premises and containers used to hold product is something we would never use.  Our ten pound shipments have a minimum of 6 lbs. of refrigerant used.  Over 50 lbs. they gathered had less than 3 lbs. that I could observe.  The gov’t agencies are not advocates for business, they are the hindrance of business and many mistakes are made at each companies expense.

The recall, should have been a class 3 recall.  Neither person or pet had incurred any illness.  We applied for federal registration and requested that the FDA come and visit our facility.  The Buffalo FDA office are extremely nice to deal with and we were trying to establish a compliant relationship with them as we wanted to make them aware of everything we do and invite them to perform inspections.  Our plant is nothing but stainless steel equipment and tile everywhere which approximates USDA qualifications.  We do have FDA registration now and a facility number.  They requested samples and they sent them off to FDA labs in Jamaica, New York.  According to the lab reports they received the food and the color was brown.  Our food is never brown unless it has been exposed to heat. 

We have requested hearings with the FDA as our samples are normally sent to a State lab in New Jersey, called New Jersey Feed Labs.  All of our tests have come back negative for salmonella.  Why do they (FDA) find salmonella and our labs don’t?  It’s indicative of the food being compromised somewhere along the line somewhere.  There are many issues surrounding this recall as we were forced to expedite this without any access to counsel or the FDA’s ombudsman who still haven’t returned calls or e mails.  During this whole fiasco we have been totally compliant and cooperative with their requests and at the expense of our company’s reputation of quality over the last 5 years.”

[coontuffy]

Perseus, thank you for sharing this very informative conversation you had with Mr. Gomas.

Allow me to add, that as a native New Yorker, it is a mighty long trip from Buffalo to Jamaica, NY.  On a good day the trip can take 8 hours.  I can certainly see how the Feline's Pride food could be compromised by the FDA people.

[coontuffy]

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm219200.htm

Recall -- Firm Press Release
 

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

 

Feline’s Pride Expands Nationwide Recall of its Natural Chicken Formula Cat Food Due to Salmonella Contamination
 

Contact:
Shelby Gomas,
Tel: 1-716-580-3096

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 15, 2010 - Buffalo, NY – Feline’s Pride is expanding its July 1, 2010 voluntary recall of Feline’s Pride Raw food with ground bone for cats and kittens, Natural Chicken Formula, Net Wt. 2.5 lbs. (1.13 kg., 40 oz.) produced on 6/10/10 to include the product produced on 6/21/10, because it may be contaminated with Salmonella. People handling raw pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the raw pet food or any surfaces exposed to the product.

When consumed by humans, Salmonella can cause an infection, salmonellosis. The symptoms of salmonellosis include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, minimal diarrhea, fever, and headache. Certain vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems, are particularly susceptible to acquiring salmonellosis from such pet food products and may experience more severe symptoms.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The product is packaged in uncoded plastic containers and sold frozen to private consumers nationwide. Once thawed, the pet food has a shelf life of about 1 week. The firm manufactures the pet food by an as-ordered basis. This expansion of the recall affects those orders placed and shipped from June 21 through June 26, 2010 (produced on 6/21/10).

The firm and FDA are investigating this matter to determine the source of this problem, and will take any additional steps necessary to protect the public health.

To date, both the firm and the FDA have received no reports of Salmonella infection relating to this product.

People who are experiencing the symptoms of Salmonella infection after having handled the pet food product should seek medical attention, and report their use of the product and illness to the nearest FDA office.

People should thoroughly wash their hands after handling the pet food – especially those made from raw animal protein such as meat or fish -- to help prevent infection. People may risk bacterial infection not only by handling pet foods, but by contact with pets or surfaces exposed to these foods, so it is important that they thoroughly wash their hands with hot water and soap.

Since certain vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems, are particularly at risk from exposure they should avoid handling this product.

Consumers with questions should contact the company at (716) 580-3096, Monday -Friday from 10 am - 4 pm EDT.

 

###