RECALL: Royal Canin Sensible Choice & Kasco 5/11/07

[Therese]

    Eight Sensible Choice Dry Dog Food Products, Seven Kasco Dry Dog and Cat Food     
    Products Recalled Nationwide by Royal Canin USA Effective Today

    Trace amounts of a melamine derivative identified in limited number of
    recalled products

    ST. CHARLES, Mo., May 11 /PRNewswire/ — Royal Canin USA is announcing
    today the voluntary nationwide recall of eight Sensible Choice dry dog food
    products and seven Kasco dry dog and cat food products.

    This announcement is based on the company’s ongoing extensive review of
    its manufacturing and quality assurance testing procedures, which
    identified trace amounts of a melamine derivative from tainted Chinese rice
    protein concentrate provided to the company by domestic ingredient supplier
    Cereal Byproducts, headquartered in Illinois.

    “We deeply regret the concern and anxiety this announcement today will
    cause our loyal customers and the entire pet community,” Olivier Amice,
    President and CEO of Royal Canin USA, said. “While a very limited number of
    Sensible Choice and Kasco products in this recall tested positive for trace
    levels of a melamine derivative, Royal Canin USA is voluntarily withdrawing
    these products out of an abundance of caution and because we are fully
    committed to the welfare of our customers’ pets.”

    Royal Canin USA has no confirmed cases of melamine related illness in
    pets eating Sensible Choice and Kasco products affected by this recall.
    Last month, Royal Canin USA announced it will no longer use any Chinese
    vegetable protein suppliers.

    The following eight Sensible Choice dry dog food products and seven
    Kasco dry dog and cat food products with date codes between July 28, 2006
    to April 30, 2007 are being voluntarily recalled:

    SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) (available in pet specialty stores nationwide)
    – SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) Chicken and Rice Adult (Dry Dog Food)
    – SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) Chicken and Rice Reduced (Dry Dog Food)
    – SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) Lamb and Rice Reduced (Dry Dog Food)
    – SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) Chicken and Rice Puppy (Dry Dog Food)
    – SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) Chicken and Rice Large Breed Puppy (Dry Dog Food)
    – SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) NATURAL BLEND Adult (Dry Dog Food)
    – SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) NATURAL BLEND Senior (Dry Dog Food)
    – SENSIBLE CHOICE(R) NATURAL BLEND Puppy (Dry Dog Food)

    KASCO(R) (available in pet specialty stores nationwide)
    – KASCO(R) Chunks (Dry Dog Food)
    – KASCO(R) Hi Energy (Dry Dog Food)
    – KASCO(R) Maintenance (Dry Dog Food)
    – KASCO(R) Mealettes (Dry Dog Food)
    – KASCO(R) Mini Chunks (Dry Dog Food)
    – KASCO(R) Puppy (Dry Dog Food)
    – KASCO(R) Cat (Dry Cat Food)

    Based on today’s announcement, pet owners should stop feeding their
    pets the eight Sensible Choice dry dog food products, seven Kasco dry dog
    and dry cat food products listed. Pet owners should consult with a
    veterinarian if they are concerned about the health of their pet.

    The safety and nutritional quality of Royal Canin USA pet food is our
    company’s top priority because we understand that the health of pets comes
    first. Pet owners who have questions about the voluntary recall of Sensible
    Choice and Kasco dry pet food products and other Royal Canin USA products
    should call 1-800-513-0041 or visit our web site at
    http://www.royalcanin.us.

    All Sensible Choice and Kasco products have a satisfaction guarantee
    and the company will refund or replace the diets that are part of this
    recall announcement.

See the Royal Canin website for more information.

[mgt818]

I was looking through some of the ingredients in the recall and I didn't find any that had rice protein or glutens, maybe I didn't look close enough...

[Geff]

When the recall first started, my Sylvester had been eating Royal Canin Sensible Choice Dry Cat Indoor for years. I asked them a series of specific ?'s & instead of answering me, they gave me a bunch of corporate double-talk from George Orwell's textbook on the subject (1984). I had a new unopened bag, our last bag had coincidentally run out the first day of the recall. I had a big fight with my FORMER pet store of 6 years regarding returning it. Today I've learned I likely saved his life. While R.C.S.C.C.D.I. has never been on a recall, there is a page on their site that lists all RC foods that the lying B@@$%rds say are safe to eat. OUR BRAND/FLAVOR IS NOT ONE OF THEM. Not that I needed another reason to hate corporations, but thanks to RC I have one.
http://www.royalcanin.us/safelist.html

If their profiteering had taken my beloved cat, I would likely be in prison.

DO NOT BY ROYAL CANIN - THEY TRULY DON'T CARE

[Geff]

I was looking through some of the ingredients in the recall and I didn't find any that had rice protein or glutens, maybe I didn't look close enough...

S.C. Cat Dry uses Wheat Gluten way up high in the ingredients.

[mgt818]

Geff,
Thank God your little Sylvester is safe!!! 
I didn't look through all of the ingredients, I just glanced at several dog food formulas.  I didn't see any of the suspecdted ingredients on their (of the ones that I looked at of course)  I may have missed some though as I am very sleepy.. 
I am glad that you returned that bag of food!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[SunHawk]

I agree with Geff re not buying Royal Canin, but for different reasons.

My 10 y/o neutered kitty was dx'd with UTI, bladder stones & kidney stones in mid-Feb before the recalls started.  In an effort to avoid surgery, he was put on RC Urinary SO 30, both dry & canned.  With both products he would projectile vomit within 10 minutes of eating *any* of it (was mixing small amts with his normal food in order to do a gradual transition).  I stopped feeding him any of the RC and tossed the bag of dry.  But I do still have a couple of the cans ... "just in case".     The Urinary SO has not been recalled yet, but I will not be surprised if/when it does get recalled.

FWIW, below are the ingreds for both the dry & canned versions.  The dry contains rice & corn gluten; the canned is preserved with BHA/BHT. 

Ingredients:
ROYAL CANIN Veterinary Diet™ feline URINARY SO 30™ Dry
Chicken meal, rice, corn gluten meal, ground corn, chicken fat, natural flavors, cellulose powder, sodium chloride, dried brewers yeast, dried egg powder, potassium chloride, calcium sulfate, monosodium phosphate, choline chloride, calcium carbonate, taurine, DL-methionine, vitamins [DL-alpha-tocopherol (source of vitamin E), niacin, biotin, riboflavin (vitamin B2), D-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid], trace minerals [zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, calcium iodate], preserved with natural mixed tocopherols, rosemary extract, and citric acid.

ROYAL CANIN Veterinary Diet™ feline URINARY SO™IN GEL Can
Water, meat by-products, chicken by-products, animal fat (preserved with BHA/BHT), natural flavors, trace minerals (sodium tripolyphosphate, calcium sulfate, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, magnesium sulfate, manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate) guar gum, carrageenan, carob gum, taurine, vitamins (choline chloride, DL-alpha tocopherol acetate [source of vitamin E], vitamin D3 supplement, thiamine mononitrate [vitamin B1], pyridoxine hydrochloride [vitamin B6], folic acid), DL-methionine.

[athena_weim]

I was looking through some of the ingredients in the recall and I didn't find any that had rice protein or glutens, maybe I didn't look close enough...

I emailed Royal Canin about this exact question.  I asked them to please clarify what ingredient triggered this latest recall.
Their response: (Most of the response was just a form-letter reply stating what their website already said).  Then, this statement (looked pasted in - in a different font):

The reason for the extension of the recall is that those diets may have come into contact with the holding bins that the recalled diets had been in.  It is just a precaution.

I find that a bit confusing / misleading, because they did say in the recall announcement that trace amounts of melamine WERE found in the food they recalled -- this statement implies a less serious situation. 

They didn't really answer my question about suspect ingredients.  It looks like the majority of the new foods on the list do have some form of rice.  Maybe that's it?  Just speculating -- who knows what it is.