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Illinois

Food from Illinois PETCO Distribution Center Seized

June 20, 2008 : 8:44 AM
U.S Marshals confiscate pet food due to unsanitary conditions.

Yesterday, U.S. Marshals were called upon by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to seize pet food products stored at the PETCO Animal Supplies Distribution Center located in Joliet, Illinois. Despite an inspection in April, which reported both live and deceased rodents and birds as well as their excrement, a follow up inspection in May revealed the same infestation.

All food products that were not packaged in metal or glass were condemned and seized.

This Joliet distribution center supplies pet food products to PETCO stores in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

No illnesses or deaths of animals have been reported; however, consumers from the affected states who purchased food products from PETCO are being cautioned to properly wash their hands and any surfaces that come into contact with pet food packaging with soap and hot water. It is also recommended to wash the containers of any foods packaged in cans or glass.

If you feel that your pet has become ill from eating food originally supplied from the Joliet, Illinois distribution center, please contact your veterinarian and make a report to your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator

For more information:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Press Release
U.S. Department of Justice Press Release

Posted by Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends Staff
Photo credit: taken by Jennifer Hayes, not representing the affected food


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Comments
  
October 10, 2008 at 6:52 PM
posted by: bordercolliemom
i have a puppy mill dog with a senstive stomach and intestinal tract. But I did shop at Petco. Not anymore.
  
June 20, 2008 at 7:57 PM
posted by: felis_sapien
You may be on to something there, Marion. The Petco that we are talking about is a franchise whose privately held holding company is based in San Diego.

When i called the local store today, the person who answered put me directly to the store manager, who was polite and courteous and said they would take back any food if there was a concern about it in regard to the FDA inspections and subsequent court filing.

I'm not sure if I got it correctly but there might be charges in federal court. I sure hope so.

My vet was unaware of the FDA news release, nor were any other stores beside Petco, but I guess I'm not surprised by any of that. Buy my vet did repeat the advice from the FDA, Iif you are going to keep the products (there was no evidence of holes or tears), wash them off with hot water and soap.

The chances of anything adverse happening is unknown, probably slim. That's not what bothers me. What bothers me is that these people received FDA warnings TWICE and still did not take action. And IMO, the FDA doesn't get involved unless the situation is advanced, just my take on that.
  
June 20, 2008 at 6:16 PM
posted by: marion
I found the corporate address and phone number via a search:

Corporate Address:
PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc.
9125 Rehco Road
San Diego, CA 92121

Telephone Number:
(858) 453-7845

Founded:
1965, incorporated in the state of Delaware

I have to question accuracy of the Wiki entry, however. I believe the Petco involved in the Michigan contamination case is an unrelated corporation:

Petco Petroleum

Contact: Jay D. Bergman - President
Phone: +1-(630)-654-2282 Fax: +1-(630)-325.5170
Address: 108 E. Ogden Avenue, Hinsdale, Illinois 60521, USA

http://www.petcopetroleum.com/
  
June 20, 2008 at 1:08 PM
posted by: kittychump
I've been googling to try to get a contact/e-mail addy for Jim Myers, Petco CEO and/or related Petco corporate admin. No luck so far :( We need to do an e-petition to Petco on this issue!!!

However, below is a copy/paste from the Wiki Petco summary, showing a different but very interesting example of prior contamination issues re: Petco:

"In 2005, a settlement recovering costs of more than $2 million for the clean up of 1992 Michigan oil and gas wells once owned by ExxonMobil and Petco. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) sought recovery of the costs incurred to restore the sites after the wells were abandoned in 1997."
  
June 20, 2008 at 11:18 AM
posted by: felis_sapien
Thanks for the quick response on this Jennifer. I posted a real brief note in Cat World. What's really alarming is the complaint filed in federal court that details what FDA inspectors actually found ... TWICE.

If anyone wants to read it and weep: Court document
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