FDA releases report on Diamond Plant

[marymrumfelt]

Let's not turn this into yet another discussion of raw vs. commercial. This thread is not about that topic, which has been done to death in other threads and you are welcome to resurrect it there. Please keep this on topic.

Yeah, I was kinda surprised how a thread on quality control turned into me being bashed for expecting quality control in kibble but yet I feed my dogs a dofferent diet. I for one have no clue how they're tied.together....plus I have an animal that eats kibble in my house.so I have to stay up on this stuff.

Either way, I'm glad some people have appreciated the article.

 

[Megansmom]

Let's not turn this into yet another discussion of raw vs. commercial. This thread is not about that topic, which has been done to death in other threads and you are welcome to resurrect it there. Please keep this on topic.

Ann I typically don't get involved publicly when people posts the evils or commercial or raw feeding! What Dr. Mac said was not offensive or bashing at all. Some people on here continue to continue, to continue to have alarmist based criticism and don't get publicly chastised for it, but Dr. Mac steps up and "defends" and gets shut down .

Sorry, I am sure I am out of line, but I can't stand for our resident Vets to get scolded for there differing of opinions based on YEARS of college education..

 

[Ann]

No one is criticizing Dr. Mac's opinion, Susan. I don't know where you got that impression -- it certainly was not implied in my post. The intent is for ALL posters to keep this thread on track, which is about commercial dog food and recalls, not raw, for which there is another section of the Forum. As I said, posters are welcome to discuss the benefits and dangers of raw there.

 

[The Quahog]

Don't worry about it, that's not going to change.
The thing that bothers me is that we can't actually have a calm adult discussion about the FDA/Diamond report here.
In reading the link, be aware not to confuse the FDA report with the editorializing. The FDA did not, for example, say that 'the Diamond plant is a total mess.' Those who have dealt with OSHA type inspections may not be so quick to jump overboard.
There was a famous case some time ago where aninspector was inspecting a large california veterinary hospital. They were clearly going after the guy, and picking on eveything they could. They found a Coke can being cooled for somebody's lunch in a pharmacy refrigerator. The inspector ordered it removed. The veterinarian, getting tired of this, asked why. The inspector said 'Because you might mistakenly sell it as a medication.' (This is true.)
The report stated, ' Foodstuffs stored in contact with animal medications,' which sounds pretty bad.

Perhaps the place was a mess. i don't know any more than anyone else here does. But finding gouges in the conveyor belts capable of retaining food particles, and perhaps something temporarily repaired with duct tape and cardboard, (it happens), is hardly proof that 'all of the Diamond plants are a total mess'.
Sorry to be reasonable here, but I would imagine you would find similar sorts of violations, which are brought to the comapny's attention and corrected, in most factory inspections. -Dr. Mac

 

[Megansmom]

No one is criticizing Dr. Mac's opinion, Susan. I don't know where you got that impression -- it certainly was not implied in my post. The intent is for ALL posters to keep this thread on track, which is about commercial dog food and recalls, not raw, for which there is another section of the Forum. As I said, posters are welcome to discuss the benefits and dangers of raw there.

I apologize Ann, I will do better and try and stay on topic!! . However, it is not right for certain people to come across like feeding kibble is basically slowly killing our pets! Some of the things I read on here in this thread about kibble vs. raw aren't coming across as a "polite, respectful" discussion.

Okay, okay....sorry

 

[marymrumfelt]

The thing that bothers me is that we can't actually have a calm adult discussion about the FDA/Diamond report here.

I'm really not aware of how we aren't having a calm discussion?

I don't know if we should be breaking down the degree of sanitation and saying a little is okay, a lot isn't. When companies are producing products in the volume these companies are, it's vital they have the utmost best sanitation and the best testing. If not, things like melamine/aflatoxins/salmonella and who knows what else will slide by. I don't know either if we should be saying well.... the FDA report could have been worse. The point is the FDA had to step in because this company wasn't following quality control. This company was lying about testing their foods.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm getting the impression you're saying it's okay for a company to slack on sanitation and okay for them to lie about testing their foods. I'm not sure if that's what you mean, but it's coming across that way.

People pay good money for these products that are labeled with a motto about doing so many quality control tests and people don't deserve to be lied to. People paid good money for this food to avoid products they find unsuitable, animal fat/digest, but then find out they're using it in their facilities... most likely to make the "natural flavoring." It's deceiving and if they are able to lie about one thing, who says they're not lying about others? Companies have an obligation not to lie to their customers. That's the issue here. This company lied and now 17 people are in the hospital.... Try to imagine your loved one ending up in the hospital because a food you thought had been tested... it's wrong.

I'm not saying ALL kibble is evil. I feed my cat kibble every day. I feed my fosters kibble -- actually, he was eating TOTW when it got recalled. He had cancer, that could have did him in but luckily he had eaten raw for 5 months before and built up the gut florra. If he had started on contaminated kibble right off the streets, he could have died. His body couldn't handle anything else. Those are the people we have to fight for in this matter. Yes, most weren't hurt, but we shouldn't brush aside the ones who were solely because it was only 17 people or some low number.

Either way, I'm glad people are reading the article, and realizing it's not okay to not be able to trust your animal food company, and switching to a brand they feel more comfortable with. If you feel comfortable feeding Diamond brands after this, that's your right. But this is a forum where people can come to get educated and make their decision. No one is pushing on brand down anyone's throat or saying raw only. We're simply discussing our dissatisfaction with the way this company is carrying on.

 

[Silaria]

What worries me about the Diamond report is the basic (routine?) maintenance items that were flagged in the FDA Report.

The use of things like cardboard and duct tape to affect repairs to surfaces the food travels along. Gouges and cuts in other pieces of equipment and, perhaps even more important, yet related to the previous two, is the lack of precaution to reduce/prevent cross contamination.

This, after the prior problems resulting in Diamond's "claims" to test, just make me very nervous about using their products again. I lost one dog to contaminated food back in 2005. The repeated mishaps by Diamond really drive me to take my business elsewhere.

 

[Megansmom]

I'm really not aware of how we aren't having a calm discussion?

I don't know if we should be breaking down the degree of sanitation and saying a little is okay, a lot isn't. When companies are producing products in the volume these companies are, it's vital they have the utmost best sanitation and the best testing. If not, things like melamine/aflatoxins/salmonella and who knows what else will slide by. I don't know either if we should be saying well.... the FDA report could have been worse. The point is the FDA had to step in because this company wasn't following quality control. This company was lying about testing their foods.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm getting the impression you're saying it's okay for a company to slack on sanitation and okay for them to lie about testing their foods. I'm not sure if that's what you mean, but it's coming across that way.

People pay good money for these products that are labeled with a motto about doing so many quality control tests and people don't deserve to be lied to. People paid good money for this food to avoid products they find unsuitable, animal fat/digest, but then find out they're using it in their facilities... most likely to make the "natural flavoring." It's deceiving and if they are able to lie about one thing, who says they're not lying about others? Companies have an obligation not to lie to their customers. That's the issue here. This company lied and now 17 people are in the hospital.... Try to imagine your loved one ending up in the hospital because a food you thought had been tested... it's wrong.

I'm not saying ALL kibble is evil. I feed my cat kibble every day. I feed my fosters kibble -- actually, he was eating TOTW when it got recalled. He had cancer, that could have did him in but luckily he had eaten raw for 5 months before and built up the gut florra. If he had started on contaminated kibble right off the streets, he could have died. His body couldn't handle anything else. Those are the people we have to fight for in this matter. Yes, most weren't hurt, but we shouldn't brush aside the ones who were solely because it was only 17 people or some low number.

Either way, I'm glad people are reading the article, and realizing it's not okay to not be able to trust your animal food company, and switching to a brand they feel more comfortable with. If you feel comfortable feeding Diamond brands after this, that's your right. But this is a forum where people can come to get educated and make their decision. No one is pushing on brand down anyone's throat or saying raw only. We're simply discussing our dissatisfaction with the way this company is carrying on.

This is what I mean Maggie, irrational and alarming! If you feel comfortable feeding your pets rotting carcass or raw food, that's your right! Please quit telling kibble feeding pet owners we're slowly killing them! You will receive no support by telling kibble feeding parents ALL the carcinogens we're feeding them..

 

[marymrumfelt]

This is what I mean Maggie, irrational and alarming! If you feel comfortable feeding your pets rotting carcass or raw food, that's your right! Please quit telling kibble feeding pet owners we're slowly killing them! You will receive no support by telling kibble feeding parents ALL the carcinogens we're feeding them..

Susan, what are you talking about? I clearly said I feed my cat and fosters kibble. I simply said chose a company you feel confident in and make sure you research that company. I feed my cat a food I feel comfortable with. While I'm not personally confident any processed food is great, there are many that are better than others. I never said kibble feeders are killing their animals, as again, my cat and fosters wouldn't eat anything I considered to be killing them. Some products are better than others, some companies have killed thousands of animals, and I am allowed to say it's best to stay away from them.

You should listen to the moderators and please, stop bringing up raw. This topic again is about diamond and their FDA report. It's not about RAW. I'm pretty sure people in this section don't care to feed raw, therefor I see no point in bringing it up. Also what I feed has nothing to do with Diamond breaking their rules and lying -- so why is it bring brought up again?

Please, Susan, read more carefully.

 

[Megansmom]

Susan, what are you talking about? I clearly said I feed my cat and fosters kibble. I simply said chose a company you feel confident in and make sure you research that company. I feed my cat a food I feel comfortable with. While I'm not personally confident any processed food is great, there are many that are better than others. I never said kibble feeders are killing their animals, as again, my cat and fosters wouldn't eat anything I considered to be killing them. Some products are better than others, some companies have killed thousands of animals, and I am allowed to say it's best to stay away from them.

Please, Susan, read more carefully.

Please Maggie, I did read carefully, and yes you have stated all the evils and carcinogens that are in many kibble foods. Perhaps not in this specific thread, but in other threads you have. You might not specifically state, "people are killing their pets feeding some brands of kibble", but when you state, all the history behind kibble ingredients, how they're manufactured, it comes across very derogatory. I am allowed to say I feed kibble without you attacking the ingredients and trying to convince me I am doing wrong!

Okay, okay, I'm moving on!