Evanger's FDA Problems

[Perseus]

Does anyone have an update to the FDA problems at Evanger's that started in April?  Here's the FDA notice about the emergency operating permit they ordered on Evangers:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01825.html

I can't seem to find any updated info on this and whether the FDA ever lifted the ban.

[GreyGhost]

I checked and can't find any updated info either. May have to call FDA for update.

[Perseus]

I searched high and low to find any update on the Evanger's FDA problems and can find nothing.  I even searched the FDA website, nothing. Several pet forums have posters asking the same question, is the food safe now?  Evangers has taken the original press release off their website and nothing further has been added.  This seems really suspicious to me.  If the FDA cleared Evangers one would think they would issue a press release about it to assure pet parents their food is once again safe to feed.

Here's the Consumer Affairs website listing some of the original problems with the food, and the lack of an adequate response (i.e. rude response) from the owners of Evangers:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/evangers.html

[GreyGhost]

I don't like the fact that there are no updates, good or bad they should at least update consumers. Makes think twice.  I myself, unless I hear otherwise with updates won't trust their food.

[Khari]

http://efoodalert.blogspot.com/2008/12/evangers-update.html

This was the most recent I found on the Evangers FDA probe. How does everybody feelabout feeding Evangers now?

[lesliek]

I don't post here much,usually just read but this I think you all need to hear. You may not be aware I am the person who had the test results showing too much copper and the chi who got very sick from the Evangers dry,I am also the person they accused of extortion. I had reported this to the FDA and posted about it everywhere I could find them saying it was only a paperwork problem . Well today I got a call from the OCI [office of criminal investigation for the FDA] and Evangers failed both their reinspections after the special order.It was turned in for criminal investigation and the agent is anxious to speak with anyone who had trouble with Evangers or any pf they make for other companies. He didn't want his name & # posted publically,so if you had trouble or know anyone you can pm me here or at Itchmo & either give me your contact info or I can give you his. I don't want to say too much and hinder the investigation,but if you are using their foods you should seriously consider switching.

[Bonkers]

 lesliek, I cannot find any info pertaining to the problems you experienced on the PFL forum. Would you please supply details as to what occurred with your chi?  I do remember last year when there was the issue with the "hulls" being found in the ByNature canned cat food, which is one of a few pet foods manufactured by Evangers. I actually had some of those cans but ditched them after awhile. I do not recall ever getting any answers on that issue. I had purchased some of their new 95% meat varieties but the cats did not tolerate it well and have not purchased it since. Thank you for giving us the heads up!

[lesliek]

Bonkers- There are several threads about it at Itchmoforums ,http://itchmoforums.com/help-with-my-sick-pet/leslieks-little-remy-needs-prayers-t6452.0.html, http://itchmoforums.com/your-problems-with-pet-food/evangers-t367.0.html, http://itchmoforums.com/news-recall-related/april-24-08-evangers-fda-orders-food-maker-to-obtain-emerg-operating-permit-t4594.0.htmlhttp://itchmoforums.com/pet-food-testing/evangers-organic-can-cat-food-t1935.0.html] , [url]http://itchmoforums.com/pet-food-testing/evangers-organic-can-cat-food-t1935.0.html , http://itchmoforums.com/pet-food-testing/evangers-dry-dog-pheasant-brown-rice-t3709.0.html .The test results are also on www.pfpsa.org .

[Bonkers]

  Unfortunately lesliek, there are quite a few of us here who are not able to view anything that has been posted at Itchmo. That is why I asked if you could go into more detail here as to what occurred with your chi. 

[lesliek]

Its a long story so I will try to summarize. I ordered the dry dog pheasant & br rice in May 2007,while searching for a new safe food.  We started mixing a little into their old food,adding more each day & my 3 & my neighbors 1 all started to vomit bile,have diarrhea [sometimes bloody], have urinary accidents,stomach bloating,dehydration & severe lethargy. Another friend also tried it,but luckily had only used about 5-10 pieces of kibble & only had the urinary accidents & diarrhea. At first we thought it was just the switching,but the more of it they ate the worse they got. We stopped it abruptly & my 2 larger dogs & the neighbors large dog started improving rapidly. Remy didn't get worse,but wasn't getting much better either. His bloodwork showed elevated liver enzymes & blood in his urine. He started to develop food intolerances also. The vet was not able to pinpoint the cause. I contacted the co multiple times & they stopped calling me back. After a year a rep posted on Itchmo about the special order & encouraged me to contact them again. Many excuses were given,their answering system went down,etc. I did call them & it was a very unpleasant experience ! It ended with me donating the refund they sent me to pfpsa & another pet charity & them saying online that I was an extortionist because I asked for a refund & said I felt they needed to cover the vet bills & costs of the new supplements & meds. Last May I came home from a birthday party to find 2 pkgs from them on my deck. I opened them to see if there was a letter of explanation,but they only contained 3 bags of food,the same sizes as the original order. I shipped it back with a letter telling them not to contact me or send me anything unless it was test results on the food. Haven't heard from them since that. I have to say my dealings with them & the last phone calls were extremely rude and unpleasant. Apparently they feel that threatening any customer who has a problem is the way to deal with a complaint. So I am out the cost of the food[since I refused to keep the refund after they made those allegations],the cost of shipping back the 2nd order,the cost of the phone calls,the vet bills[testing at 1 vet for all 3,& at 2 vets & U of Pa veterinary hospital for Remy] special supplements and testing supplies & a dog who has continued health problems & will require biopsies of his liver & continued cardio exams with a specialist. He is still on a very limited diet and although much better,not back to his old self yet & probably never will be. We did have the food tested,it was negative for Atafloxcin & solanine and positive for too much copper. There are more tests I would like to have done,but can't afford yet with the ongoing vet expenses.

[Bonkers]

   You stated that "Evangers failed both their reinspections after the special order." When did these inspections take place? It was my understanding that all the problems Evangers had in the past was in regards to their canning process only.  I would be curious to know who actually manufactures their dog kibble as I was under the impression that they only products Evangers actually produced was canned pet food.

[lesliek]

I don't have any specifics on the reinspections,only what the agent told me.Apparently there is a 10 month delay between inspections and the OCI can't get involved until after the regular inspections are done.They do only can,however claim the kibble is mixed there before sending out for extrusion and cooking. The co told me Ohio Pet,but they also use someone in Wisconsin. So I don't know which place the kibble I had trouble with was made.There are test results on one of their canned cat foods showing too much copper and zinc,and that fiber and magnesium are also too high. I have been trying to contact that person with no luck so far. If any of you found strange things in the food,or experienced bad cans or almost empty ones you really should contact the agent. They are trying to document all the problems that have been going on there.He asked me not to post his name & # publically,but I can give it to you in a pm or email. Again he stated that this is not just about paperwork,but ingredients and processing. He said people aren't getting what they think they paid for. I will not gain anything from thing except satisfaction that they finally got caught. This was never about money for me,only about finding out what made Remy so ill. Even if I wanted to sue them,the time would be up in 3 weeks. I won't endanger Remy by having a biopsy done too early just to prove the food made him sick.

[Bonkers]

  It has been very interesting to go back and reread this thread. Especially since the Nutro premix issue has come to light. I believe a long time ago people were questioning whether the vit/mineral mixes that are added to pet foods contributed to some of the various problems that have become prevelent in our pets. Seems like we may have been correct.......

[Khari]

"UPDATE" as of June 12, 2009

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today it was suspending the temporary Emergency Permit issued to Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Co., Inc.

http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm166265.htm

[Bonkers]

 Thank You Khari!  It seems that Evangers may be another company that just cannot get it right. The FDA is doing a decent job monitoring this company. Too bad it is not doing the same with some others.
Other canned pet foods manufactured by Evangers are as follows:

Felidae & Canidae (per The Pet Food List they use Evangers and Simmons)
By Nature Organics
Artemis
Blackwood cat & dog food

If I have omitted any other brands of canned foods made by Evangers, please feel free to post them.