Why are there so many Pet Food Recalls?

taomom · Mar 29, 2016

With human food recalls, the human food manufacturers get highly penalized.

Pet food recalls? pet food manufacturers get a slap on the wrist.

I stopped purchasing from pet brands that had pet food recalls, can't support these type of businesses.

http://truthaboutpetfood.com/the-difference-between-a-human-food-recall-and-a-pet-food-recall/

dorimon · Mar 29, 2016

I think I am more concerned about how companies/brands handle the recalls, and not so much whether or not they've had any recalls in the past.

taomom · Mar 29, 2016

^^let's say the company that had the recall put out a food that killed over 200 pets, I'm curious, what do you think will be the best way for a company to handle this that will still keep you as their customer?

dorimon · Mar 29, 2016

TaoMom said:
^^let's say the company that had the recall put out a food that killed over 200 pets, I'm curious, what do you think will be the best way for a company to handle this that will still keep you as their customer?

I think to voluntary recall the products, and to take steps to make sure that this won't happen again. That said, if a company has a long history of recalls, then that is a different story...

captain dave · Mar 29, 2016

Sadly, it all boils down to money.

If a recall is issued, that sends up a red flag with a lot of people. Many people will stop buying their product, which means lost revenue. The cost of recalling everything is exorbitant. Then there is the PR and advertising to try to regain the public trust...

So, often the way a recall is done is to first compare it to out-of-court cost settlements from X number of people who have filed a lawsuit stemming from the loss of their pet. The value of "X" is a floating figure that may not come to light, or may be significantly more than what was initially allotted for. This is taken into consideration with a range for the figures in question.

This is then compared to the cost of the recall, the marketing, the PR, the advertising, and so forth mentioned above.

If the cost of the high-end of "X" is greater than the cost of the remainder, then a recall is done. If not, then it isn't...unless there is a public outcry, in which case a voluntary recall is done in order to save face and help to immediately re-establish public trust.

That's just the way these corporations often think. It's not about your pet's health, it's about their bottom line.

Sickening, isn't it?

For this reason, many people move away from the big brands and go toward the small companies, the mom & pops, and so on...but the downside is, they cost more. Often, a LOT more.

So even we, the caregivers, the parents, the partners of these, our furry children, are caught in the web of money over health.

Hey...why else would we willingly eat at Burger King? We do it to ourselves as well!

Why?

Because that's how the world has programmed us. We can't afford to buy free-range organics because we're told they're expensive, so they are, and thus, they become. Instead, we buy pre-packaged whatsits from XYZ International, Inc. - a GMO collective.

Because it's 1/2 the price of Mom & Pop Organic Farms.

And when XYZ International, Inc. issues a "voluntary recall", we say, "Oh, thank you for catching that!"

Because that's what they want us to say.

I think it's more than past time we took our health, and the health of our family, whether they're furless ape descendants walking upright or are covered in fur and walk on four legs, back from the XYZ's out there.

dorimon · Mar 30, 2016

Captain Dave said:
Sadly, it all boils down to money.

If a recall is issued, that sends up a red flag with a lot of people. Many people will stop buying their product, which means lost revenue. The cost of recalling everything is exorbitant. Then there is the PR and advertising to try to regain the public trust...

So, often the way a recall is done is to first compare it to out-of-court cost settlements from X number of people who have filed a lawsuit stemming from the loss of their pet. The value of "X" is a floating figure that may not come to light, or may be significantly more than what was initially allotted for. This is taken into consideration with a range for the figures in question.

This is then compared to the cost of the recall, the marketing, the PR, the advertising, and so forth mentioned above.

If the cost of the high-end of "X" is greater than the cost of the remainder, then a recall is done. If not, then it isn't...unless there is a public outcry, in which case a voluntary recall is done in order to save face and help to immediately re-establish public trust.

That's just the way these corporations often think. It's not about your pet's health, it's about their bottom line.

Sickening, isn't it?

For this reason, many people move away from the big brands and go toward the small companies, the mom & pops, and so on...but the downside is, they cost more. Often, a LOT more.

So even we, the caregivers, the parents, the partners of these, our furry children, are caught in the web of money over health.

Hey...why else would we willingly eat at Burger King? We do it to ourselves as well!

Why?

Because that's how the world has programmed us. We can't afford to buy free-range organics because we're told they're expensive, so they are, and thus, they become. Instead, we buy pre-packaged whatsits from XYZ International, Inc. - a GMO collective.

Because it's 1/2 the price of Mom & Pop Organic Farms.

And when XYZ International, Inc. issues a "voluntary recall", we say, "Oh, thank you for catching that!"

Because that's what they want us to say.

I think it's more than past time we took our health, and the health of our family, whether they're furless ape descendants walking upright or are covered in fur and walk on four legs, back from the XYZ's out there.

This was very enlightening, and definitely gave me some food for thought...

taomom · Mar 31, 2016

Yes it is sickening, these are lives of animals we are talking about, but then again they are just animals right? If a person dies from eating Peter Pan Peanut Butter, there will be lawsuits and public outcry. 200 beloved pets die, no action is taken.

Also, I think a lot of the people who feed their pets inferior quality brand, it’s because of their lack of knowledge of the ingredients that are actually in the food. Some owners, it takes the loss or deterioration of a pet to finally make that switch to higher quality food, but hey it’s better late than never. What sucks though is when an owner’s pet gets sick, goes through surgery and the pet is well again, the owner goes back to feeding their pets the same ol’ crap that made their pets sick first of all. I myself, knowing what I know now about feline nutrition, I will feel bad if I continue to feed my cat food that has corn meal, wheat gluten, meal-by-products, carrageenan, all ingredients that may cause liver, kidney, or stomach issues. I rather not get a pet, if I know I can't provide all the quality food that the animal needs. It would be too painful for me to watch them eat food that will kill them in the long run.

As far as fast food like McDonald’s or Burger King, or pre-packaged food goes, I stay away from it all. Maybe I have a junk food here and there once or twice a month. But mostly I do the cooking, which I think children should be taught to do so they are not forced to buy crap food. I think I save more money buying my own fresh chicken or steak to cook than buying fast food everyday.

Willowy · Mar 31, 2016

People used to die from eating bad food all the time. It was just accepted as a part of life. That's one reason why royalty had official tasters---to see if the food was spoiled. You know in Oregon Trail when everyone died of "dysentery"? Yup, bad food. So we're actually doing a lot better now with all the awareness and food safety laws. Of course no stats were kept on how many domestic animals died from bad food but I bet it was more than now. But it's never going to be 100% safe. It's not possible.

kittens mom · Mar 31, 2016

TaoMom said:
^^let's say the company that had the recall put out a food that killed over 200 pets, I'm curious, what do you think will be the best way for a company to handle this that will still keep you as their customer?

If you want pet food manufacturers to feel the bite when they screw up the laws defining our companion animals a chattel with the only available recourse a civil suit and recovery of veterinarian bills or if the pet died outright recovering the cost of a replacement pet.

micknsnicks2mom · Mar 31, 2016

pet food recalls, the pet food industry in general, and the 'only a slap on the wrist' for the pet food companies -- this is just part of why i'm transitioning my cats over to a raw diet. i no longer have any trust of the pet food industry, and i've simply 'had it'.

Why are there so many Pet Food Recalls?

taomom

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dorimon

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taomom

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dorimon

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captain dave

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dorimon

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taomom

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Willowy

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kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.

micknsnicks2mom

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