Petag's Esbilac puppy milk contains heavy metal copper

The last few lots of KMR were overheated in the factory. They have a chemical odor or burn smell. If you feed it to kittens or other animals, they will die. The company will return bags of KMR if it smells bad. I don't know why they refuse to do it with the Esbilac.

NOTE: In 2007, bat rehabilitators across the US reported health issues with hand-reared orphans including chronic dehydration, kidney failure, vomiting, hardening of the skin on the back, pneumonia, diarrhea, anemia, metabolic bone disease, and bones fracturing under the weight of the animals own body. The common denominator seemed to be the commercial milk replacer Zoologic 33/40, widely used by wildlife rehabilitators for many species of mammals. Bat World Sanctuary commissioned independent laboratory analysis of milk replacement formulas used for raising insectivorous bat pups from Expertox (TX), the Environmental Testing Laboratories (NY), Animal Nutrition and Heath (AZ) and the Analytical Sciences Laboratory (ID). Results from these laboratories included the presence of heavy metal toxins and inaccuracies in nutrient levels (copies available on request). These surprising results, coupled with widely publicized contamination of domestic animal feeds, have raised serious questions about the safety of manufactured animal food in general. Bat World Sanctuary sought a safe alternative to commercial formulas and will be using the recipe below, developed at our request by nutritional scientist. Please share this information and the recipe below with other bat and mammal rehabilitators.

Esbilac® is a puppy milk replacer formulated to meet the nutritional needs of growing dogs. It may also be used as a supplement for adult dogs in certain nutritional situations. These directions are clearly stated in the feeding directions provided with the product.
The product when used as directed will supply the nutritional needs for puppies. These nutritional needs include not only protein, fat and fiber, but also both macro and trace minerals that are needed for proper growth and development. Guidelines for these values are provided by AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) for growing dogs with other values being taken from actual analysis of mother’s milk of dogs.

Certain micro minerals such as copper are a vital part of an animal’s health. This includes maintaining a healthy heart and liver, developing bone strength, brain development, supplying energy to the cells and maintaining a healthy immune system. Levels of copper supplied in the formula are for optimum utilization by growing dogs. It must be remembered that other sources of copper may be found in water which should not cause a problem unless the copper in the water is excessive.

Esbilac, milk replacer for puppies, is a milk product and thus does not contain fiber. Primary ingredients are non fat dried milk, casein and whey products. These are all milk products which are fiber free. Other ingredients are fats, vitamins and minerals which have been combined in a manner to meet the nutritional demands of growing dogs. It is important when performing laboratory analysis on a milk based product to use the appropriate methods for determining protein, fat and fiber. If the methods used are not appropriate for milk products the results obtained may be erroneous.

Feeding an orphan animal is always a challenge since most orphans arrive in a compromised state. Making sure that such animals are properly rehydrated before feeding a milk replacer is imperative. Making sure that the animal is disease and parasite free and has no congenital defects that may be life threatening is also of great importance to success. Making sure that the animal has adequate gut flora for the digestion and absorption of any product given to it is also essential since most infants are born with no flora in their GI tract.

Esbilac is made using products that are suitable for human consumption in a food grade facility and is in the approval process for EU export which assures that all products manufactured have passed the test for human consumption. PetAg, Inc. has strict guidelines for the testing of its products which includes not only nutritional guarantees, but also microbiological tests to provide assurance that the product is pathogen free and meets the standards for human consumption from the microbiological aspect.

Esbilac Results (from the 6 most recent tests, all conducted by independent registered national labs)
Protein—34.0%
Fat----40.37%
Fiber---0.25%
Copper---12.52 ppm maximum allowable limits on dry feed 250 ppm

Could you please post your independent results. Thank you.

False Statement: Independent lab tests of Petag's Esbilac puppy milk have revealed it contains twice the maximum allowed of heavy metal copper as per government standards. Results also revealed that the contents are 18% fiber while the label states it has "0% crude fiber."

True Answer: In the last few months, PetAg has commissioned 6 independent laboratory trials on Esbilac Powder which have demonstrated that the copper level is equal to the NRC standard for growing dogs. In the last 75 years, PetAg and, formerly Borden have confirmed that the quantity of copper in Esbilac Powder is the proper level to grow healthy and thrifty puppies into wonderful adult dogs.

In the last few months, PetAg has commissioned 6 independent laboratory trials which have demonstrated that the protein, fat and fiber are all within the guarantee stated on the label of Esbilac Powder. In the last 75 years, PetAg and, formerly Borden have confirmed that the quantity of protein, fat and fiber in Esbilac powder is the proper level to grow healthy and thrifty puppies into wonderful adult dogs.

False Statement: A report was filed against Petag with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration on 9/11/2009.

True Answer: PetAg conferred with the FDA’s Mr. Lee on 15 Sep 2009. The report filed with FDA was not attested to the involvement of any rescued wildlife.

False Statement: Over the last few months wildlife rehabilitators across the nation have been complaining about problems with "new" Esbilac. Raccoon, skunk, opossum, squirrel and bunny babies were getting severe diarrhea and dying. Various organizations contacted Petag headquarters and complained about the problems. They were told by Judy that Petag merely changed their manufacturing process to "spray drying." The product was now supposedly more "digestible."

True Answer: extensive communication with rehabilitators across the country has resulted in new recommendations. Additional information is available through:
PJ. Garner
A Squirrel's Tale Wildlife Rehabilitation
Oakland County, Michigan
http://squirreltale.com
President: Michigan Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
http://miwra.org
Member: NWRA, IWRC, NYSWYC, OWRA, EARS (certified disaster response)

False Statement: Petag refused to refund unopened bags of Esbilac stating there is nothing wrong with the product.

True Answer: Mary [at] animaladvocates.us called to the Technical Service Department of PetAg on 11 Sep 2009 and requested a refund of an unopened bag of Esbilac Powder. The unopened bag of Esbilac Powder was sent as a redemption reward to Mary from PetAg’s Breeder’s Club to underwrite the efforts of Animal Advocates to rehabilitate wildlife. PetAg requested that a sample of the Esbilac Powder be sent to our offices, but no cooperation was noted.

False Statement: 9/10/2009 Animal Advocates sent a sterile sample of Esbilac straight from the Petag factory to an independent lab in California. September 24 they received the results which showed the contaminant heavy metal copper and large amounts of fiber. These results were forwarded to the FDA.

True Answer: The FDA has not substantiated that results were sent and has not substantiated that there were any results submitted from independent laboratories.

False Statement: The significant lab results are as follows:
Protein 24.8%
Fat 31.5%
Fiber 17.6%
Heavy metal copper 2x Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL).

True Answer: The only reference found for this terminology (MCL) was on the USEPA government web site (Http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html#inorganic) and refers to drinking water standards which are not applicable to a puppy milk replacer. The Nutritional Research Council (NRC) demonstrates copper requirements for growing dogs.

False Statement: The FDA regulates pet foods and treats. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires that pet foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.

True Answer: Esbilac is one of, if not the oldest, name in the Pet Industry. All of the PetAg manufacturing facilities are inspected and warranted as safe by the FDA / USDA / APHIS on a regular basis through both announced and unannounced inspections. PetAg has long been a supporter of the pet industry and makes its primary focus:

“SAVINGTHE LIVES OF ANIMALS, WORLDWIDE.”

Lewis M. Sutton
Executive Vice President
PetAg, Inc.

I was just forwarded the below email. Why didn't you send this to me instead? You have my email address. I will reply to your false and libelous statements. My comments are after ***.

>False Statement: Independent lab tests of Petag's Esbilac puppy milk have revealed it contains twice the maximum allowed of heavy metal copper as per government standards. Results also revealed that the contents are 18% fiber while the label states it has "0% crude fiber."

***I have the lab results right in front of me. The FDA has these same lab results. It was an independent certified lab with these certifications: FDA audited, A2LA registered, CA Department of Health Services, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, US EPA.

>True Answer: In the last few months, PetAg has commissioned 6 independent laboratory trials on Esbilac Powder which have demonstrated that the copper level is equal to the NRC standard for growing dogs. In the last 75 years, PetAg and, formerly Borden have confirmed that the quantity of copper in Esbilac Powder is the proper level to grow healthy and thrifty puppies into wonderful adult dogs.

***Please, send me the six independent laboratory tests. The independent lab tests I ran showed heavy metal copper, not the trace mineral. The lab stated it was over twice maximum

>False Statement: A report was filed against Petag with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration on 9/11/2009.

***I know when the report was made.

>True Answer: PetAg conferred with the FDA’s Mr. Lee on 15 Sep 2009. The report filed with FDA was not attested to the involvement of any rescued wildlife.

***The report was ONLY about wildlife deaths.

>False Statement: Over the last few months wildlife rehabilitators across the nation have been complaining about problems with "new" Esbilac. Raccoon, skunk, opossum, squirrel and bunny babies were getting severe diarrhea and dying. Various organizations contacted Petag headquarters and complained about the problems. They were told by Judy that Petag merely changed their manufacturing process to "spray drying." The product was now supposedly more "digestible."

>True Answer: extensive communication with rehabilitators across the country has resulted in new recommendations. Additional information is available through:
PJ. Garner
A Squirrel's Tale Wildlife Rehabilitation
Oakland County, Michigan
http://squirreltale.com
President: Michigan Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
http://miwra.org
Member: NWRA, IWRC, NYSWYC, OWRA, EARS (certified disaster response)

***Are you telling me that PJ Garner speaks for Petag? Is she an employee of Petag? Has she been compensated by Petag? Is she a veterinarian, biologist, chemist? Does she have a PhD? Have you seen the information presented by eWildAgain, Bat World, KittenRescue...? I went to those sites and there is nothing there about Petag or Esbilac.

>False Statement: Petag refused to refund unopened bags of Esbilac stating there is nothing wrong with the product.

>True Answer: Mary [at] animaladvocates.us called to the Technical Service Department of PetAg on 11 Sep 2009 and requested a refund of an unopened bag of Esbilac Powder. The unopened bag of Esbilac Powder was sent as a redemption reward to Mary from PetAg’s Breeder’s Club to underwrite the efforts of Animal Advocates to rehabilitate wildlife. PetAg requested that a sample of the Esbilac Powder be sent to our offices, but no cooperation was noted.

***I am Mary Cummins. I wrote down every word said in that conversation. I should know what Judy said. She never asked me to send her a sample. She refused to take this bag back. Because I couldn't use the bag I sent it to the lab.

>False Statement: 9/10/2009 Animal Advocates sent a sterile sample of Esbilac straight from the Petag factory to an independent lab in California . September 24 they received t he results which showed the contaminant heavy metal copper and large amounts of fiber. These results were forwarded to the FDA.

True Answer: The FDA has not substantiated that results were sent and has not substantiated that there we re any results submitted from independent laboratories.

***They were indeed sent and receipt was confirmed.

>False Statement: The significant lab results are as follows:
Protein 24.8%
Fat 31.5%
Fiber 17.6%
Heavy metal copper 2x Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL).

>True Answer: The only reference found for this terminology (MCL) was on the USEPA government web site (Http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html#inorganic) and refers todrinking water standards which are not applicable to a puppy milk replacer. The Nutritional Research Council (NRC) demonstrates copper requirements for growing dogs.

***The lab stated the sample had twice the maximum allowed heavy metal copper. I am merely repeating what the lab said. They test pet food.

>False Statement: The FDA regulates pet foods and treats. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires that pet foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.

>True Answer: Esbilac is one of, if not the oldest, name in the Pet Industry. All of the PetAg manufacturing facilities are inspected and warranted as safe by the FDA / USDA / APHIS on a regular basis through both announced and unannounced inspections. PetAg has long been a supporter of the pet industry and makes its primary focus:

***Lewis, why don't you talk to me instead of replying to other people and posting it on the web. I know what I said and did. I know what Judy said and did. I'm looking right at the independent lab results. Please, cease and desist from libeling and defaming me and my group. More samples were sent out for testings by more groups. Results will be in soon. I even left a phone message for Judy last week which she did not return.

Mary Cummins
President
Animal Advocates
http://www.AnimalAdvocates.us
IWRC, CCWR, EARS, DART, EMT
CA Dept of Fish & Game licensed wildlife rehabilitator
Rio Hondo Police Academy, San Diego Humane Academy
University of Southern California
"Saving the world one animal at a time"

Maximum copper for infant formula is 10 ppm. You are using a copper value for dry adult food. Copper in infant liquid is very different than copper in dry adult food. Formula is the only source of food and water for infants. Your formula tested at 13 at your own lab. That is over 10 ppm. Some dog breeds may be able to handle more copper than others. I believe these wildlife babies are smaller than your average dog. I've noticed the ones that died were very young squirrels and opossums. Raccoons which are larger merely got very sick. You need to reformulate.

The National Research Council (NRC) recommends 1.5 mg copper per day for a 33 pound dog. Per Petag's recs for puppy milk, you would feed 8 tablespoons per pound of puppy weight, or .12 liters for a one pound puppy. At 12.52 ppm per Petag's test results, that comes to a 1.5 mg dose per day, or 33 times the NRC standard on a body weight basis. Some dog breeds are especially sensitive to copper, so you should NEVER over supplement copper in dog food.

Petag appears to be attempting to defend the indefensible. There is WAY too much copper in the product.

As far as comments about AAFCO recs are concerned, AAFCO is nothing more, and nothing less, than a lobbyist organization for feed manufacturers. AAFCO does no original research. It is completely possible to formulate animal feed that will be lethal within days or weeks, and still have food that is in total compliance with AAFCO standards (or lack of standards). In fact, AAFCO lobbied for legislation to allow nonprotein nitrogen in pet food. Those who remember the 2007 pet food recall should be familiar with the effects of nonprotein nitrogen on cats and dogs.

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the FDA to respond, but it wouldn't hurt to make some calls to law firms able to handle class actions.

If you do the caloric math, the product should have 492 calories per 100 gm. It actually has only 379 calories. Lack of calories, fat, protein, addition of copper, fiber equals starving animals with diarrhea.

In 2007, bat rehabilitators across the US reported health issues with hand-reared orphans including chronic dehydration, kidney failure, vomiting, hardening of the skin on the back, pneumonia, diarrhea, anemia, metabolic bone disease, and bones fracturing under the weight of the animals own body. The common denominator seemed to be the commercial milk replacer Zoologic 33/40, widely used by wildlife rehabilitators for many species of mammals. Bat World Sanctuary commissioned independent laboratory analysis of milk replacement formulas used for raising insectivorous bat pups from Expertox (TX), the Environmental Testing Laboratories (NY), Animal Nutrition and Heath (AZ) and the Analytical Sciences Laboratory (ID). Results from these laboratories included the presence of heavy metal toxins and inaccuracies in nutrient levels (copies available on request). These surprising results, coupled with widely publicized contamination of domestic animal feeds, have raised serious questions about the safety of manufactured animal food in general. Bat World Sanctuary sought a safe alternative to commercial formulas and will be using a safe recipe developed at our request by nutritional scientist. Please share this information and the recipe below with other bat and mammal rehabilitators.

This person from Petag posted their resume 2000. They brag about increasing margins, reducing costs. This is probably why the protein, fat, calories were lower while contaminants increased.

Management/Operations
Director of Purchasing and Inventory               April 1998 to Present                                                      
Pet AG Nutritional Products                        Hampshire, Illinois                                                                        
        *     Increased Margins 9% on Domestic Purchasing.
        *     Increased Margins 17% on Foreign Purchasing.
        *     Reduced Inventory $1,500,000 (40%) FY 99
Manager of Purchasing and Inventory                                               1997 to April 1998
Pet AG Nutritional Products                                                             Hampshire, Illinois
 *     Outsource finished goods in Asia and South America.
        *     Reduced Costs by $150,000 in four months.
 *     Reduced inventory by $900,000 (20%) in six months.
        *     Set program seasonal purchasing system in place.
        *     Implementing MRP/ Forecasting system.
Materials Manager                                                                                              1993 to 1997
Assistant to VP Operations
Functions as Plant Manager in Absence of VP Operations

Cc: latrappers@yahoogro ups.com
Sent: Saturday, October 3, 2009 6:18:33 AM

Subject: Re: [latrappers] KMR

SMELL YOUR KMR!!! It should always smell really really sweet. Not oily or
slightly rancid. In the last 3 months I have purchased more than 12 containers
of powdered KMR that were rancid. And one 5lb bag that was bad. I went to
PETCO to replace one and opened every container on the shelf and they were ALL
rancid. I had the manager smell them all before leaving the store. PetAg said
the trucks sometimes sit in the heat in the desert during transport and the
warmth turns the formula. Duh, refrigerated trucks maybe??? This is
unacceptable and I have switched to Just Born. I asked them just how many
babies had to get sick or die from rancid formula before they did something
about it. John Q Public that finds a kittens and decides to save it won't know
that it is not supposed to smell this way. Even my friends who are bottlers
didn't notice it. I am absolutely paranoid about
this now.

SMELL YOUR KMR before you use it.

Suzanne
Catmandoo Rescue

http://petag.com/news_detail.asp?RegID=14.
GENERAL NEWS

KMR® Powder Update
Recently, a limited number of KMR powder users have experienced product producing an off odor. Normally, the product exhibits a faint "milky" smell.

It has been determined that some packaged KMR powder may have been exposed to excessive heat outside the manufacturing process.

Do not use the product if it has an off odor. Please contact PetAg Technical Services at 800-323-0877 and provide all of the information printed on the bottom of the can. For any bagged product, you can find the information on the sticker near the UPC on the back of the bag. This will provide production and tracking information for further analysis.

Replacement KMR product will be sent, following contact with Technical Services.

Liquid KMR products have exhibited no impact from heat stress.

Rest assured, PetAg uses standards of the highest quality when producing KMR. We are currently exploring different manufacturing processes for KMR powder to eliminate this sensitivity to heat.

- Specialists in lifelong nutrition

"Yes, we have experienced the stink but mostly use the premixed cans.
Additionally,
Let's not fail to mention how they have changed the premixed KMR from cans with labels at at 12.5 oz to fliptop cans that have NO labels to tear off and send in for redemtion and they are at the same price but only 10 oz! OH! Like I wouldn't notice!!?
I have been on the phone with them as well finally after numerous calls I got the answer that this is their "new packaging" and that they are still doing the redemtion program with the verification of purchase and barcode info off the can. WHAT? So, are we all supposed to get can cutters now? AND what about the loss of the oz for the same price?
It just seems to go on. argh"


--- On Mon, 10/5/09,

From:
Subject: Re: [latrappers] Fwd: Pet Ag/KMR
To: "
Cc: latrappers [at] yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, October 5, 2009, 3:18 AM


I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that I have spoken to them about a million times over the last few months. I have gotten more bad then good I swear!!

Hooray that they acknowledge the problem.

Re: Pet Ag/KMR

Amazingly, I figured I would buy a 5lb bag directly and avoid the problem. Well, it's rancid. So now I have a ton of product to return and the last stuff I returned was powder and they sent me a case of cans. Unfortunately, even when working within the same product you should not switch from one to the other or it causes the runs. Even says so on their web site. AND once on the powder, now my guys won't eat the canned. They hate it. So I am slowly ever so slowly mixing in a tiny bit of Just Born, adding more every day and will eventually switch over. I'm done and tired of being frustrated or opening a brand new can of KMR in the middle of the night only to find it rancid.

Sucks

Suzanne

eWildAgain have posted results of their analysis and study of the problems. Something is very wrong with Esbilac

http://www.ewildagain.com/Nutrition/esbilac_problems_Oct15.htm

January 29, 2010 FDA found the company guilty. They are responsible for the contaminated which sickened and killed thousands of babies. The product is still on the shelves. It is still killing babies.

THERE ARE NO FDA RESULTS.

I spent extensive time researching this last night and came up with a couple of pieces of information that might interest everyone:

1) PetAg's website has a news release, dated yesterday, which mentions that the complaint that FDA received was "spurious." Read the news release here: http://petag.com/news_detail.asp?RegID=16

2) FDA.gov's website is full of extensive information about any/all food illnesses, tainted food information, and recalls. A search of "petag" on FDA.gov's website yeilded NO results. If the FDA had been involved in the investigation, IT WOULD BE ON THEIR WEBSITE: http://google2.fda.gov/search?q=petag&x=0&y=0&client=FDAgov&site=FDAgov&lr=&prox\ystylesheet=FDAgov&output=xml_no_dtd&getfields=*

3) A Google news search of "petag fda" yielded only ONE result (http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=petag+fda),
linking to a news article from Indybay.org, which is an animal rights "news" source (http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/02/02/18636816.php). Several
things to consider about this:
a) Indybat.org is NOT an unbiased news source - it is an animal rights website.
b) If an unbiased news site (like CNN, MSNBC, or any others) didn't pick up on the story of Petag killing hundreds of puppies and kittens (which is what the food is originally for), then that's pretty weird. The unbiased news sources always pick up on puppy and kitten stories, especially if they're being killed.

4) There WAS an issue with Esbilac because they changed the formula's ratios, and the problem with KMR is that one of the trucks was left out in the sun too long and spoiled the milk. Since this was out of KMR's control, no recall was done. Here's an explanation of the problem, copied and pasted from a squirrel forum:

Here is the truth of the matter concerning the Pet AG debacle last summer. This was copied from a message sent by PJ Garner, on the squirrel list, a very dependable source, and backed up by research and independent lab testing.

We went 'round and 'round about this last last summer. There are two parts to the overall story and I'll give it my best shot here since I haven't thought about it for a while. First is that an update of the manufacturing process for Esbilac changed its bioavailability. This increase in bioavailability is actually a good thing unless you were reconstituting the powder according to the label directions of 1:2 (which was designed for puppies only and only marginally acceptable for baby squirrels). This puppy-specific
mixture caused the overall composition of the "new" Esbilac to become far too skewed for proper baby squirrel digestion. Because some rehabbers reconstituted Esbilac properly at a 1:1.5 ratio or added heavy whipping cream, reports of the effects of this change in bioavailability took time to sort through. It didn't stop many rehabbers from going off half-cocked when their babies began to develop diarrhea and they promptly blamed the product and/or the company (even though the use of Esbilac for squirrels is considered "off label"); one in particular accused Esbilac of all kinds of heinous things, none of which were true. After proper research into nutritional composition, in which I and a few others took part with NO ill effects on the squirrels in care, a new compilation of PetAg products (using Esbilac and Multi-Milk) was found to create spot-on replication of mother squirrel milk and life was good again. Well, except for the inevitable stupid people who do things like open a container of product that is obviously too old or not right
and therefore spoiled but feed it to their animals anyway.

But that kind of stupidity actually leads to the second part of the story. In one of those "perfect storms" that Murphy likes to throw our way, there was another situation where AFTER a load of product left PetAg, the truck was left too long in the sun and apparently some of the KMR spoiled. Obviously, spoiled formula is not good for babies and there were problems, but these were problems NOT under the control of PetAg and therefore they were NEVER to blame. That reality, however, didn't stop those "personal issues" from clouding that particular someone's judgment and more false accusations were made. I am very, very glad to read that PetAg has been properly vindicated.



In conclusion, please, PLEASE don't believe everything you read on the internet and do your own fact-checking and research. This was sensational "news" only was meant to inaccurately discredit PetAg.

The FDA report is here http://www.animaladvocates.us It clearly states the manufacturer is responsible. Read the report. There is a report. FDA stated the initial report should be investigated. The report does not say it is "spurious." Darlene Frudakis is the biggest liar I've ever seen.