We're sad

Today is a sad day.  We've just learned that the Diamond recall that has been so much a topic of conversation recently has been expanded.

Not only that, but it has been reported that two cats have died after eating the contaminated food.  

Here is a brief synopsis: 

Diamond Pet Foods of Meta, Mo., added another brand to its expansive salmonella-related pet food recall, and a pair of cats in a Canadian shelter reportedly died after eating Diamond products.

The latest recall involves Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula samples, 6-pound and 18-pound bag sizes manufactured on Aug. 26, 2011. The product was distributed in Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

The recalled bags include the following production codes and best before dates:

• DSL0801, 26-Aug-2012;
• DSL0801, 26-Aug-2012;
• DSL0801, 27-Sept-2012;
• DSL0801, 18-Oct-2012;
• DSL0801, (Samples).

Meanwhile, two cats at the Humanochat cat shelter in Montreal died and another is sick after eating Diamond products, according to a report by the Calgary Herald. One person also became ill from handling the food, according to the report.

The full story (and the source for the information reported in this post) can be found HERE!

This is a sad, and scary, lesson about how important it is to know not just the ingredient list and guaranteed analysis of whatever food you're feeding, and the reputation of the company whose name is on the bag, but also that of whoever is actually producing the food (if different from the company whose name is on the bag or can).  Diamond has multiple plants, and initially the recalls were limited to the South Carolina plant.  That is no longer true, and now not only have humans become ill and been hospitalized after handling the contaminated food, two cats have died and another is ill.  

Our pets don't get to choose the food that they're fed, so it's up to us to make sure that whatever we are feeding them is nutritious, species-appropriate, and SAFE!