Cat deaths linked to Orijen

[Perseus]

Its getting cold - feels like Christmas!
Robert

Robert, I know what you mean.....it's so cold in California we'll be lucky to see 55 degrees today 

[Perseus]

Here's the latest article from Susan Thixton, December 7, 2008:

"Chemical by-products called "unique radiolytic products" (URPs) are created in foods by irradiation. Some scientific studies carried out on URPs link serious health risks with the consumption of irradiated foods."

"Now, Imagine a pet food, with 80 to 100 different ingredients, millions of different chemical bonds involved, all being slightly altered through irradiation; the possibilities of problems are overwhelming.

Full article here:

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/84140

[Perseus]

Bumping this up so it's not forgotten.  Cats are still dying in Australia and more are being diagnosed with complications from the poisonous food every day.  There is no clear answer yet from Champion Petfoods as to the exact cause of the contamination; there are no clear treatment methods suggested by their "specialists"; there is no assistance from Champion to the pet parents going through this nightmare.  Champion has all but ditched the Australian market and consumers and is focused on saving their US market instead.

If you are an Orijen feeder and irregardless of whether their products are safe in the US or not, do you want to contribute to a company that caused the deaths of these kitties and have not delivered on any of the "promises" they threw out there to calm the troops?

CatWorld forums in Australia is covering this really well with their own researchers and suffering pet parents contributing so the real story is known out there.  There are 50 pages already but worth reading so the truth be known.  Recent posts can be found at http://www.cat-world.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=87540&st=735.

These are the opinions of the author only and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the forum.

[Perseus]

Found this today, it's the first time I found something in print as to how to treat the affected kitties besides what Champion put out in their press release:

On the Champion website at www.championpetfoods.com, under the "Store Locator" button, a page comes up that shows Australia with a link to www.bowhouse.com.au. Once you're at that store's homepage, scroll to the bottom to see "Featured Products", and there's a "Treatment Kit for Cats Exposed to Orijen Cat Food" listed for $31.07! The treatment kit is available from ANVC:

"If your cat has consumed Orijen, it is a wise precautionary measure to give it Chinese herbs and Anti-oxidants to reduce risk of any neurological damage, and All Natural Vet Care, specialists in the treatment of cats affected by Orijen, have provided us with treatment kits comprising:

    * 25g of Chinese Herbs - Ginseng Nutritive Combination (Ren SHenYang Ting Tang)
    * 10g of Anti-oxidant - Cystine / Glutathione"

ANVC has also posted a link on the Bowhouse website that is a "Fact Sheet' for pet parents that fed Orijen to their cats:

http://www.bowhouse.com.au/UserFiles/2415-Files/File/OrijenFactSheet.pdf

[Perseus]

Clark Stride from Champion Petfoods posted on CatWorld yesterday about another press release by them coming up on Monday:

"Champion Petfoods LTD. is actively working on the Australian file.

We are finalizing details of the compassion fund which we will announce before Christmas 2008.

We also have information updates in the areas of research and testing, and provide will provide clarification on what Champion knew of irradiation prior to commencing shipments to Australia.

These updates will be on our website no later than on Monday, December 22nd, at 10am SMT ."


I don't understand why they can't release the "updates in the areas of research and testing" NOW. Why do they have to wait? What purpose does that serve?

[Bonkers]

  My guess would be that they have to have their PR people and legal team Ok the press release before it is posted. It is the weekend ya know........... I am really interested in what the "Compassion Fund" entails. It would be nice to finally see a PFC finally take responsiblility for their actions/food.

[GreyGhost]

They must wait so people can wonder over the weekend and they have to make sure they don't slip up and say something wrong. I too am curious about the fund and what it entails.

[Bonkers]

  Seems Champion is a little behind schedule with their announcement aren't they??

[Perseus]

  Seems Champion is a little behind schedule with their announcement aren't they??

Yes, they are.  I called Peter Stride at Champion about an hour ago and he said they were in the process of putting it up right then (but it's still not there).

He said there's nothing new to report, they still "claim" it's the irradiation and depletion of Vit A.  I say "claim" because they haven't posted any test results or any dockets from their "specialists" that were hired to research the contamination.  The depletion of Vit A theory doesn't hold up because many cats were fed Orijen along with other foods, or very little of it, and have still become sicked and died.

[Bonkers]

  Doesn't look like there is going to be any press release today. Maybe they will get it right by tomorrow...........

[Perseus]

Ah, they hid it, those buggers.  It's only on the Champion site, not the Orijen site:

http://www.championpetfoods.com/Australia_Consumer_Release_Dec20.pdf

I guess they think we're stupid?

[Bonkers]

  Interesting. Lots of signatures on this release too. Once again I see that they still do not name the veteriniarian that they are working with. Wonder why they are being so secretive about it? I really hope it will not be too difficult for the owners of these cats who have been sickened, or that have died, to prove that it was the Orijen so they can at least recieve this compensation.

[Rosie]

istn't irradiation of food products at customs done with gamma irradiation (which is not allowed for certified organic pet foods in the US and probably other countries)

[Bonkers]

  Seeing how the US does not import any dry pet foods from any other country other than a couple from Canada, there should not be much concern over irradiation here.  This Wikipedia article explains the various methods of irradiation and also references the problems that Champion Pet Foods have ecountered from their food being irradiated. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_irradiation

[TAZ]

...This Wikipedia article...also references the problems that Champion Pet Foods have ecountered from their food being irradiated. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_irradiation

Nice find, Bonkers!