Cat deaths linked to Orijen

[Bonkers]

5Cat,

I cannot find that statement anywhere on their website either. Is there anyway you could find out exactly where your friend found that information?

[5CatMom]

Bonkers,

It's my understanding that the info is from Champion.

Would be good if others call Champion at 877/939-0006 and ask about the source of their meal.

Always helps to have confirmation from multiple sources, and we wish to be accurate, here.

[5CatMom]

Looks like Champion update their site.

Here's BEFORE

Q | FRESH CHICKEN - Where are our chickens from? Are they free-run?
 
A | Our chicken ingredients come from the ALBERTA CHICKEN PRODUCERS and are made fresh from grain-fed Alberta chickens. Our fresh chicken is table grade and arrives FRESH – never frozen and without any preservatives – and is processed into ORIJEN the day it is received. Our chicken meals and fats are produced from human-grade chicken ingredients in Alberta, Canada.

http://www.championpetfoods.com/faq/


And here's AFTER:

Q | FRESH CHICKEN - Where are our chickens from? Are they free-run?

A | Our chicken ingredients come from the ALBERTA CHICKEN PRODUCERS and are made fresh from grain-fed Alberta chickens. Our fresh chicken is table grade and arrives FRESH – never frozen and without any preservatives – and is processed into ORIJEN the day it is received.

Please visit our FRESH REGIONAL INGREDIENTS page to learn more.


No mention of the chicken meal from a US rendering company.

[Bonkers]

  Champion must think themselves to be pretty slick. 

  But their statement is still far from the truth as they still state that their "chicken ingredients come from the ALBERTA CHICKEN PRODUCERS and are made fresh from grain-fed Alberta chickens".

  Would not chicken meal be considered a chicken ingredient? Duh.....

[raggiesrule]

Interestingly enough whilst I can't find anything regarding the US chicken meal on their website. The site still professes the product is made from fresh regional ingredients. However the following link was posted on Itchmo

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B-LDrRDG112PZGYxNDgzYmItZDg1MC00OGQ5LTk4ODEtYjkzYjRhNjVmMTky&hl=en

What the FOI documents show is they were using US chicken meal in there products in Aug 2007 when their Australian import permit was granted and nothing changed in regard to ingredients till Nov 2008 when their last shipment came in or their would have been documents to that affect sent to the Australian govt and they would have been released with the reset of the documents under the FOI. So when exactly are they planning to add this information to their site so consumers are actually aware of where ingredients are sourced and given what we now know you do have to wonder what else is not a "fresh regional ingredient".

Jo

[Bonkers]

raggiesrule,

 The link you supplied from Itchmo contains the same info that 5CatMom had previously posted here, although it was not in it's original form. So thank you for providing the link.

 My question is still that of where did this info come from? Was it in an email that Champion sent to a supplier or what??

 I too question what else they have neglected to mentioned in their FAQ's on their website....

I believe TheCatsMother has contacted them. I wonder if she has recieved a reply?

[The Cats Mother]

Dr Georgina Child's paper about the effects of irradiated Orijen on the Australian cats has now been published in the Australian Veterinary Journal and can be accessed here:

http://www.box.net/shared/4295q799an

[Bonkers]

 Very interesting article.

 But what suprises me is that there is still not a definite answer as to what exactly caused the problems in the Australian cats. We know it was from the irradiated Orijen, but it seems the exact effect it had on the food that caused the paralysis is still in question.

 I also found the suggestion that by the food being irradiated, it caused the peroxide levels to increase "14 - 25 fold".

 Whatever the irradiation did to this food only reinforces my opinion the gamma irradiation is not a safe process and it's use should be discontinued world wide.

[The Cats Mother]

Yes.
And it just so happens "another forum" not too far away, so close it makes me itchy, wait a mo while I have a scratch...

has a thread just started and it goes something like this:



   
   
Canada gung-ho on food irradiation - fighting labeling
« on: August 11, 2009, 12:15:21 AM »
   Reply with quoteQuote
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS172117+12-

Mar-2009+BW20090312
"2. Canada III-25 A.Market Analysis III-25 Canada Welcomes Extensive Food Irradiation
 III-25 Food for Irradiation III-25 Gauging the Market Potential
III-26 Strategic Corporate Developments III-26 Focus on Key Player III-26 MDS
Nordion III-26 B.Market Analytics III-27 "

http://www.asiapacific.ca/files/Analysis/2009/ChinaFoodTrade.pdf
"imported raw poultry and meat, which are not consistent with the Codex guidelines. For example, China has a zero tolerance limit for Salmonella bacteria, E. coli and Listeria pathogens. However, these pathogens can only be reduced through the process of irradiation, which some consumers are reluctant to accept."

"Labeling of Fumigated and Irradiated Food. For example, a mandatory labeling requirement for irradiated foods may reduce the sales of imported irradiated foods, since some consumers view food irradiation with uncertainty, or believe it to be unhealthy. Yet, chemical fumigation, which is a similar practice, is not facing the same requirement. The Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (CGFI) claims that “Given the unfair marketing position and additional expenses of mandatory labeling of irradiated foods when competitive chemical treatments do not require it, labeling of irradiated foods should be voluntary”




If you follow the links the report can be purchased for (wait for it...wait for it...) $3950

Here's what I replied (and if I could find enough people across both sites we might be able to manage it) :

Of course Canada is gung ho about it. Canada makes most of the Cobalt 60 rods used in gamma irradiation.

Looking at some of the content of that report makes me want to break into my piggy bank big time. There's some pretty contentious stuff there.

If enough of us were interested we could pool resources and then ....er...share it (ahem!)

Ten of us? $400 each
Fifteen of us? $257 each

Who wants to be banker?

[The Cats Mother]

For all those of you kind people with our interests at heart I can let you know that some of us over the cap on the Fund have been advised a further payment is to be made. We don't know if it's all or part or our total expenditures at this stage. At least one other person I am aware of is still waiting to hear something.

I think it's important to post the positives as well as the negatives.

I'm sure the knowledge that Champion were under public scrutiny has helped, and thank you all for being part of that. When I wrote to them and told them how much was known about their role in the irradiation and the total lack of any key role (as confirmed by AQIS) in the banning of cat food irradiation despite their claiming to have played a key role, I also told them what was expected of them and that a failure to step up to the plate would almost certainly result in further public scrutiny in their major market. Whether it helped or not we'll probably never know. The letter has not received a response nor any acknowledgement so far, however I do know it was received. Wouldn't be at all surprised to get a letter from their lawyers warning me off, as so many others have been warned either directly or indirectly.

We wait and watch...

[Bonkers]

   This is encouraging news! I am sure it had a lot to do with all that has been posted on various forums along with the persistence and hard work of those of you in Australia.

  I would not be suprised if along with the over the cap payment a letter is included requiring signature that all payments have been made and that Champion will no longer be responsible for the costs of any treatments pertaining to this in the future.

 Whatever the outcome concerning the over the cap payments, you should be proud of what you have acheived and that pet food companies will no longer be successful in trying to pull the wool over our eyes.........

 

[The Cats Mother]

I have received a further reimbursement of my expenses incurred for the first five and a half months of my cat's illness and recuperation/rehabilitation. I have now been reimbursed to 84% of my expenses over that period. A further three months, nearly three and a half, have elapsed since the closure of the fund application date and of course the expenses have continued. Funds wired directly, no paperwork, no conditional letter to sign.

I requested a breakdown of the reimbursement and alluded to continuing expenses and having had no reply, sent a second request today.

I am aware of one other owner (not of this forum) who has received a further reimbursement bringing total refunded up to 75%.

I can also confirm that I have not, as yet, received a formal response to the letter I sent but after some prompting, received confirmation that my parcel had been received. The letter was in it along with a thank you gift for a long-suffering service person who had assured me they would go in to bat for us. Unacknowledged until I asked though.

[raggiesrule]

Glad to hear a couple of people have received additional reimbursement from Champion. I have been communicating with other owners of the victims of Champion foods and like us they have received no correspondence, no answers to the emails they have sent and certainly no further reimbursement of their costs either prior to the end of the fund or ongoing costs which for some have also been considerable. One owner has yet to hear anything about the review of her initial compensation as she received far under the $2000/cat cap set by Champion.

I have to say one of the worst parts of this horrendous episode in our lives has been the way things have been handled by Champion. Lots of spin about how concerned and caring they are but very little action to support the spin.

Jo

[Bonkers]

Maybe it is only those who have been very outspoken and have been persistant in corresponding with Champion  to be properly compensated, are the ones receiving the additional reimbursement.

Just sayin..........

[Katdogs]

Maybe it is only those who have been very outspoken and have been persistant in corresponding with Champion  to be properly compensated, are the ones receiving the additional reimbursement.

Maybe, but I've been quite quiet, not outspoken, and had everything paid in the first round - even the exact same items that have been rejected for reimbursement for some of the other owners that were also under the $2,000 cap. They paid the exact amount I claimed, regardless of whether it was for vet consults, vet-presribed medicine, or 'just' nursing items such as wee pads and puppy-pen. I know one owner claimed for Nutripet gel and Actilax (human) laxative - I was reimbursed, she wasn't.

What sort of 'loss adjustment' assessment depends on personalities - who is applying, are they outspoken, are they too annoying or just being pests?