Controversial Pet Food Recall

                                              Controversial Pet Food Recall

              

               In 2007, many cats and dogs were getting sick or dying from contamination in their food, which was eventually traced back to the use of melamine in combination with cyanuric acid.  In the aftermath of this tragedy, many people wondered why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates pet food, would allow the use of melamine in cat or dog food.  I will explore why melamine was allowed to be used in pet food and what can be done to prevent another catastrophe like this one from happening again.

            In 2007, the source of the pet food contamination was determined to be melamine—a fatal chemical that was in the wheat gluten and rice protein used in pet food.  Melamine is known to be used in industrial and household products, but usually not in food.  According to Skinner, Thomas and Osterloh, “melamine is high in nitrogen and allegedly was added to animal feeds to increase the apparent protein content in assays that measure nitrogen as a surrogate for protein content” ( 51).  The problem is that the melamine can cause kidney damage if it is combined with cyanuric acid, even though melamine by itself has low toxicity.  The use of melamine in the pet food, along with the additive cyanuric acid, caused urinary crystals to form and led to the kidney damage in the pets. 

Unfortunately, melamine was allowed to be used in the pet food because its use in that food was not regulated.   The production of melamine involves cheap labor and costs the United States less money to have it manufactured overseas than here.  This chemical, melamine, was manufactured in China before it was imported to the United States. Then it was distributed to many other pet suppliers in the United States who wanted to buy from them.  Barboza and Barrionuevo pointed out that “by using melamine additive, the feed seller makes a heftier profit because scrap is much cheaper than soy, wheat or corn protein” (2). 

            Eventually, melamine was exposed as dangerous when thousands of pet owners over all the United States complained of their beloved pets falling ill.  Specifically, dogs and cats were diagnosed with acute kidney failure from the contaminated pet food that was recalled.  Pets that ate the contaminated food showed signs of vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and feeling really sluggish.    In the meantime, Menu Foods Inc. called up the FDA to allow them to further investigate how these cats and dogs were getting sick.   Eventually, melamine showed up in the wheat gluten after all the tests were conducted.   According to the DVM Newsmagazine, “The FDA announced that, in addition to melamine, cyanuric acid (also originating in China and containing a relatively high level of non-protein nitrogen) was added to pet foods” (“Unmasking”).  As Nestle pointed out, a group of three scientists—from the University of Guelph, Cornell University, and Michigan State University—discovered another chemical that was also found in wheat gluten called cyanuric acid.  Nestle noted, “When they mixed equal parts of melamine and cyanuric acid together, the chemicals immediately formed round, brownish crystals just like the ones seen in the urinary tracts of the dead cats” (84).  This test was conducted in the laboratory by the three scientists doing experiments on the two compounds: melamine and cyanuric acid.   Other scientists from the University of Georgia’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory made a discovery from the tissue samples they received from dogs that died in Thailand in 2004.  These scientists arrived at the same result as in 2007: these animals died from acute kidney failure in the pet food they ate that was contaminated. This was continued by an investigator in Georgia who found that there were “signs of acute kidney failure in all 16 of the animals, all of which had crystals in their kidneys” (Nestle 85).

            To prevent this tragedy from happening again, the FDA should inform consumers by being more concise about what the pet food label standard is and to be clearer about what is inside the ingredients. The FDA should be more careful about who and where they get the chemicals from.  In addition, pet owners themselves should be more diligent in doing research before they go out and buy food for their beloved animals.  As noted in the DVM Newsmagazine, “The new amendments also give the FDA two years to update pet-food labeling guidelines that include accurate nutritional and ingredient information, and to update food-processing standards” (“FDA to set”).  The regulations are done by checking imported products that come from China or other countries to make sure no illegal substance is added to the pet food and to make sure all labeling is done correctly—they don’t want to make the same mistake that occurred in 2007.  According to the FDA, “they mobilized more than 400 employees to collect pet food sample, monitor the effectiveness of the recall, and prepare consumer complaint report” and they “conducted numerous inspections of manufacturing facilities and warehouses to trace the entire contaminated product”.

            In my final analysis, I realize that pet food is not really as regulated as human food is.  The outbreak of illnesses and deaths of cats and dogs—caused by the addition of the chemicals melamine and cyanuric acid to pet food—was an eye opener, especially to the government.  As a result, the FDA is now taking charge in doing a better job regulating pet food.  If the government had done so before, perhaps this tragedy could have been prevented.

                                                                    Works Cited

Barboza, David, Alexei Barrionuevo.”Filler in Animal Feed Is Open Secret in China.” New York Times. New York Times, 30 April 2007. Web. 14 May 2011.

“FDA to set pet-food warning system, labeling guidelines.”DVM: The Newsmagazine of Veterinary Medicine 39.1(2008):41. Academic Search Complete. Web. 14 May 2011.

FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Pet Food Recall: FDA’s Ongoing Investigation. 16 April 2007. Web. 18 May 2011. <http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048192.htm>

Nestle, Marion.”Pet food politics: The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine”. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008. Print.

Skinner, Carl G., Jerry D. Thomas, and John D. Osterloh. “Melamine Toxicity.” Journal of Medical Toxicology 6.1 (2010): 50-55. Academic Search Complete. Web. 14 May 2011.

“Unmasking the toxic culprits(S) in pet-food recalls.”DVM: The Newsmagazine of Veterinary Medicine 39.9 (2008): 32-35. Academic Search Complete. Web. 14 May 2011.

Banning soda and sugary drinks with the use of Food Stamp

I disagree with this ban  because it stating that  poor people who are using the food stamp system does not know how to eat properly nor knows how to shop for healthy food. Food nowadays are very expensive and in order to buy the fruits and vegetables you have to shop around for bargain or look up in the circular papers  that is distribute around the neighborhood to see if it affordable. Especially if you have children no way you can deny them of their sweet tooth or their taste for sweet drinks. The only way is to control how much they can drink and eat in a day. Same goes with the adults who also need to learn how to do the same.
  However if this does goes into effect ( the law of banning soda and sugary drinks with food stamp) people will continue buying and drinking soda regardless. We should focus on  people around us and not only zeroing on the lower-income and make an example out of them. Obesity and diabetes come in difference size and age range-- it has no boundaries of races and for rich or  for poor. It attacks those who don't take proper care of themselves  or eat a healthy meal and snack.

My Personal Response to "Super Size Me" and "Fast Food Nation"

 I learn from watching "Super Size Me" that eating a considerable amount of fast food can lead to major health problems--from obesity, diabetes and heart attack.  I was surprised to hear how much calories a person can consume per day from McDonald.  Watching this documentary remind me when I was 14yrs old, so excited about going McDonald every Saturday for lunch with my parents and my four younger sisters.  My meals were always the same--Big Mac,medium french fries and medium coca-cola.  Then to top it off I would eat my two younger sisters' burger when they could not finish it.  I was a huge fan of the Big Mac. Although I was not overweight from eating and enjoying my meal  every week at McDonald...But  if I was to continue then I have to deal with the consequence of developing health concern later in life.
     Another mind-boggling about this film was the elementary school in Washington, about what the students choose to eat-pizza , candies and soda over their veggies. Unlike the school for at risk students in West Virginia is given much better choice of healthy food of veggies and fruits.
     Three weeks ago I had McDonald for lunch; I ate Big Mac, two medium french fries and a medium coke. I was full throughout the day, had to skip dinner because I did not feel hungry due to the size of my meal. Somehow eating the McDonald made me feel like I gain 5 pounds,even though I only ate it once. (meaning I haven't had McDonald as much as I use to). Now I am glad I had the opportunity to watch this documentary and learn something from it.

"Fast Food Nation"

It is sadden to read about how these fast food chains use advertisement to commercial-playground and playroom to entice young children to eat at their restaurant.  As I continue reading further into chapter 2, I was appalled that Disney decides to work side by side with McDonald to boost their image and revenue. Everywhere you go;bus,train or driving on the highway there are billboard post with advertisement from fast food joints trying to sell their products.

Self-Review

1. The introduction flow pretty well into the topic sentence and down to the conclusion. Yes, the first sentence catch the reader's attention and is relevant to the topic.

2. The thesis statement: The similarities of my great grandparents and I prepare pho bo to the differences of obtaining the ingredients for the pho bo.

3. This paper need to be more organized.. the conclusion talks about eating more natural like the old days.

4. Need more work on grammar, puntuations and word usage.

5.Yes, the source is written out clearly. The reference is done correctly.

6. The greatest strength is about the similarities and differences in the way of ingredients to eating at home and obtain ingredients for pho bo with great grandparents.

A list of 5 resources that is helpful

1. " Fast Food Nation" (book) by Eric Schlosser
    -  It discuss  the way animals are used and processed in the  marketing world. It gives me information that I didn't know much about  and learning more from it.

2.  Looking for how fish sauce was different in 1911
3.  What type of brands of fish sauce is made in this century?
4.  Chemical Database- it good to know what you are putting in your body and also there are some ingredients that are not recognizable.
5.  Family: my mom and my sister can tell me what my great grandmother used  and how she prepared her food back in the early 19 century.

Google books: Microbiology of fermented food, Volume 1
-http://books.google.com/books?id=mKfpPwm5ceEC&pg=PA417&lpg=PA417&dq=nuoc+mam+in+19+century&source=bl&ots=dUu27UgFzH&sig=7fAspxeDu8wmGayAofV74PbPtG4&hl=en&ei=PK

Paper 1

Over the years, the ways that food is grown and prepared has changed.  The way I eat today is different from the way my grandparent’s ate but there are still some similarities.   I will discuss two ways that show how our diets are similar and two ways how they are different.

            One way my current diet is similar to my grandparents’ is that we both eat at home with our families at the dinner table.  In my house, I sit down at the table with my mother, my father and with my two sisters.  My parents believe sitting at the table for dinner as a family is important because it helps to have better understanding and respect toward each other.  For example, at dinnertime my parents and my sisters and I shared laughter and exchanged stories about our events of the day.  According to my mother, at my grandparent’s house the family joined each other at the dinner table.  My grandparents keep up with the family tradition by having dinner with four of their daughters that still comes over from time to time.

            The second way my current diet is similar to my grandparents’ is that we used the same condiment sauce to put flavor on our food.  It is called “nuoc mam” (fish sauce).  I used the fish sauce to add flavor to the food to make it tasteless.  For example, I can use it in chicken, beef, pork and fish, etc.  Beside for cooking, it can also be used as a dipping sauce in a small bowl place on the table next to any of your meal throughout the day.  One day I decided to watched how my mother prep her steak, she used 1/2  teaspoon of nuoc mam (fish sauce) and a dash of black pepper and 6 slices of onion into the frying pan-it smell really good and taste great.  According to my older sister named Kim who was raised by my grandparents in Vietnam used the fish sauce in their food for flavoring and dipping also. 

            There is a dish called “Pho bo” (beef noodle soup).  My bowl of Pho is prepared differently from my grandparents.  Nowadays, I can go to the Asian Supermarket in my neighborhood to buy an instant Pho bo.  It comes in difference flavor ranging from chicken, seafood and veggies.  The instant Pho is pre-made in a plastic bowl that contains two small packages, one has mixed spices and the other is mince beef with bits of vegetables.  However, the fresh Pho does taste much better, but I don’t have the time and effect so the quick fix of instant Pho comes in handy.  The preparation is short: boil water, add hot water into the bowl of soup and covered for three to five minutes then add hoisin and hot sauce for more flavors.  My grandparents Pho on the other hand are made from scratched, the food product they used are all natural unlike mine.  For instance, their cows grazed on grass in the countryside, the vegetable are grown in their farm or the neighbors.  My grandparents Pho is done with a lot of patience and ingredients.

Here is the recipe of the home-made Pho:

Boil 10 cups water

1 yellow rock sugar

1 full tablespoon fish sauce

2 onions

½ Gingers

1 bunch of fresh chopped basil

1 Ladle of fish sauce

1 teaspoon of Star Anise  

8 bone marrows

Prep for the bowls:

1 pound fresh banh pho noodle

1 pound of beef (thinly sliced)

3 scallions cut into small rings

1 cups of cilantro

¼ ground peppercorn

Prepare the Pho broth:

Use the big pot of cold water to clean the bone marrows first to get rid of the filth, when it is done then the cooking begins. Add the large onions, ginger, star anise, the ladle of fish sauce in the pot.  Let the stove remained on high flame until it boiled then lower the flame to medium.  Let it cook for four hours and then serve to your guests or your family.

Optional of garnishes to put in your Pho:

2 handfuls of Bean sprouts

Sprigs of spearmint

1 bunch of cilantro

Sliced thinly red hot chilies

All of this is time consuming and love they put in their pot to make this wonderful delicious soup dish.

            I think the way of my grandparents eating habit has an impact in my life, however I can learn a lot from them by eating more natural food.

"Food Inc"

In my respond to the “Food Inc.” documentary film I saw in class was gut-wrenching and painful to watch. Although I did find it with interested to have the knowledge of what the food industry was up to.  In the opening scene of the film, Michael Pollan talks about how the food industries had change over the years and the modern average supermarket has 47,000 products: ripped tomatoes which you can get all seasons and there is no bone anymore in meats.  Also he mentions that the industry does not want anyone to know what is in the food we are eating, if they did then no one want to buy anything.

               Further into the film there is more gruesome and heartbreaking image I wish I could closed my eyes but then I will missed the important points of this documentary.  For instance, I learned that high-fructose corn syrup is mass-produced in almost everything we used now a day: soft drinks, sweet & low sugars, diapers and batteries, etc. The way cows, chickens and pigs are mistreated in this film is outrageous but they don’t care, it’s all about MONEY. Especially the cows that holed up in this dungeon called temporary housing until they get slaughter for their meat are mistreated badly. I see the cows have no room to roamed around and stand in their dropping up to their knees. This is how E-coli are produce from mishandling of the cows. I learned that chickens are cooped-up in windowless, crowded chicken house to get fattened to the point they “flop down” and die.  The heartbreaking part in the movie about a mother named Barbara Kowalch who lost her son Kevin to the contaminated  meat eaten from the hamburgers.  She wanted to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else the way it did for her. This prompted Barbara Kowalch to travel all the way to Washington D.C. to speak and campaign for a law that teach people to practice the safety and sanitation standards of handling meat in precaution.

This movie teaches you a lesson in life, read before you eat and handle with care.  I recommend everyone should  go see it.