People are reporting that recalled pet food is still on shelves at Wal-Mart. Menu Foods, says that it’s simply a packaging issue. From WSFA in Montgomery, Alabama…(emphasis is mine)
We introduced you to Sheri McComber Wednesday. She says four of her cats got sick after eating Special Kitty brand cat food. She checked the labels on the food and found they were listed on the product recall. She said, “This was done on purpose.”
We found dozens of the pouches just like the one’s McComber had at the Clanton Wal-Mart. At first glance, the product code checks out as safe. If you peel it off, you’ll find another product code. I compared those numbers to the ones on the recall list on the FDA’S Web site. Sure enough, it’s on the list. With the stickers over the product code, the items went through. However, I left one on the stickers off. When the cashier scanned the label on the package, it said do not sell and she would not let me purchase it.
We put in several calls to Menu Foods and Wal-Mart pressing the issue: Why would they cover the old labels with new ones? Wal-Mart issued statement. It reads: “We have worked with our supplier to investigate the concerns raised by WSFA 12 News. Menu Foods, the manufacturer of Special Kitty products, assures us that the products currently available in Wal-Mart stores are, indeed, safe.”
During our phone conversation, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart says the problem is with the packaging, not the prouduct. As to the problem with the packaging, Wal-Mart said we would have to ask Menu Foods about that.
WSFA 12 news got in touch with Menu Foods, the company that makes Special Kitty cat food.
Company officials say all of the contaminated food was returned to the company after the recall in March.
In order to get a safe product back on the market, Menu Foods and Wal-Mart decided to place a laminated sticker with a new product code over the original product code on the new pouches.
Translation: We needed to quickly make back some of the money we lost because of the tainted pet food we sold so we came up with the lame sticker idea.
Menu Foods acknowledges that the original product code is on the recall list, but company officials say recalls are also tied to production dates and that all Special Kitty cat food with the new laminated product codes are safe.
Now, all of the Special Kitty cat food made after the recall has “Q OK” placed on the pouch.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but slapping new stickers on packages to cover up codes that are on a recall list just doesn’t seem right to me. And, it certainly does not seem like it’s in line with a statement by Paul Henderson in his speech at the Menu Foods Annual General Meeting on June 29…
“We are working with the FDA, Pet Food Institute, veterinarians, food safety experts and our customers to resume our business of providing healthy and safe pet food. We take pride in our products, and we take responsibility for them. We have implemented new procedures and processes that will help reinforce the confidence in Menu Foods shown by our customers over the years.”
Generally speaking, it seems to me if a company is trying to instill confidence in their products, they would go out of their way, even at the company’s expense, to ensure there’s no shadow of a doubt in customers’ minds as to the safety of their products. In Menu Foods’ case, it may very well be that none of the Special Kitty pouches were anywhere near tainted pet food. However, if they truly do want to “reinforce the confidence” it seems to me they’re going about it all wrong.
Come on Menu Foods, do you really think we’re all that stupid? What other labels have you slapped new stickers on? I’m guessing this sticker stunt is going to back fire – people are going to be extra vigilant now because of it. Get with it…it’s time to treat your customers with the respect they deserve!
This certainly brings a new meaning to sticker shock!
Technorati Tags: pet food recall, Menu Foods, Wal-Mart
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I am not surprised that this is just the tip of the iceberg, and more foods will be pulled off the shelves, just where is the government in all of this?
It seems the pet food industry namely those you mentioned are determined to keep unsafe products on the shelves, however, it seems greed still prevails, and an out and out boycott of these companies is what is needed. Also to petition the government to ban all unsafe products from the shelves immediately.
The manufacturers of these products must not have pets. If they did, they would realize that even though they are just animals (in their eyes), the owners of these pets think of them as members of their family. In some cases, they ARE their family. I buy my kittens food at Wal-Mart because it is less expensive, but I don’t use that brand. I buy only Purina One Healthy Kitten food for my little ones. I believe Wal-Mart should pull this food off the shelf. I think they make enough money on the other products, as well as all the merchandise in their store. Let them do this now – though it’s a little late. At least we pet owners would see that they are concerned about our pets.
All dog and cat food manufactured after the recall dates is completely safe. Menu Foods has fully tested these products as well as the FDA and AAFCO. Everything is safe. Yes, failure to test was their biggest mistake but please remember that we have recalls in our food as well. I’m sorry to all of you that lost a loved pet due to this. As far as the restickered pouches, please check the printed code on them. If they don’t have QA OK on it, don’t purchase it. It is easy to find, located on the left back panel or at the bottom. The contaminated product has been destroyed. I feel that the lady that has a sick cat and claims to have purchased tainted food is only looking to make some quick cash. Also, keep this in mind, Menu wasn’t the only company that had recalls. The tainted wheat and rice gluten affected the whole pet food industry. Not just Menu. Please don’t be afraid to call Menu’s hotline. Right now, I would purchase the product because of it being heavily tested. In fact, my dogs started eating their favorite food for the past 2 weeks (Wal-Mart Ol’Roy Pouch) and I haven’t have any problems.