FDA Suspends Temporary Emergency Permit of Pet Food Maker

[DooiesMom]

June 12, 2009
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today it was suspending the temporary Emergency Permit issued to Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Co., Inc.

Evanger's, operating in Wheeling, Illinois, deviated from the prescribed process, equipment, product shipment, and recordkeeping requirements in the production of the company's thermally processed low acid canned food (LACF) products. The deviations in their processes and documentation could result in under-processed pet foods, which can allow the survival and growth of Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), a bacterium that causes botulism in some animals as well as in humans.

In April 2008, Evanger’s was issued an “Order of Need for Emergency Permit” after the agency determined that the company had failed to meet the regulatory requirements to process a product that does not present a health risk. In June, 2008, FDA issued Evanger’s a temporary Emergency Permit. During inspections conducted between March 2009 and April 2009, FDA determined Evanger’s was not operating in compliance with the mandatory requirements and conditions of the Temporary Emergency Permit.

“The FDA is stopping Evanger's ability to ship pet food in interstate commerce,” said Dr. Bernadette Dunham. “Today’s enforcement action sends a strong message to manufacturers of pet food that we will take whatever action necessary to keep unsafe products from reaching consumers.”

In order for Evanger's to resume shipping in interstate commerce, the company must document that corrective actions and processing procedures have been implemented to ensure that the finished product will not present a health hazard.

Botulism is a powerful toxin that affects the nervous system and can be fatal. The disease has been documented in dogs and cats. Signs of botulism in animals are progressive muscle paralysis, disturbed vision, difficulty in chewing and swallowing, and progressive weakness to the body. Death is usually due to paralysis of the heart or the muscles used in breathing.

While FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition is responsible for regulating all human and animal LACF processing, FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine has authority over animal feed and foods. The two centers are collaborating on this enforcement action.

[chachi]

I used to feed mine evangers. I liked it that they did their own canning and their ingredients were good. I am so disappointed in this company. Its hard to know what dog food is safe

[PANAMA69]

Oh wow, thank you for posting this info, and let us know about it

[bdb5853]

I emailed Evangers from the contact info. on their website.... This is what was written back to me. I can't BELIEVE how rude this Stuart Bieber person was to a general inquiry about Evangers products and how they are dealing with this!! (read from bottom up).


Stuart, I believe you need to put THAT ON YOUR WEBSITE and address the issue then. People all over the internet are talking about Evangers and rumors are flying. You need to be up front about the documentation issue and deal with YOUR CUSTOMERS. Who keep you in business, by the way.

--- On Fri, 7/31/09, Stuart Bieber <sbieber@evangersdogfood.com> wrote:

From: Stuart Bieber <sbieber@evangersdogfood.com>
Subject: RE: product concern
To: (info removed)
Date: Friday, July 31, 2009, 5:04 AM

I don’t mean to come across somewhat sarcastic to you but read the article again. Please. This was a ( DOCUMENTATION ISSUE ) NEVER, EVER, was there anything wrong with my food products, nor has there ever been since this Company was founded in 1935!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you.

From: (email removed)
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 3:19 PM
To: Stuart Bieber
Subject: product concern

I just read that your canned products may have some contamination issues? Can you please expound on that problem? Thanks.

[DooiesMom]

Yeah, that's good enough for me!....... To NEVER use that product EVER!!!!

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by bdb5853

I emailed Evangers from the contact info. on their website.... This is what was written back to me. I can't BELIEVE how rude this Stuart Bieber person was to a general inquiry about Evangers products and how they are dealing with this!! (read from bottom up).


Stuart, I believe you need to put THAT ON YOUR WEBSITE and address the issue then. People all over the internet are talking about Evangers and rumors are flying. You need to be up front about the documentation issue and deal with YOUR CUSTOMERS. Who keep you in business, by the way.

--- On Fri, 7/31/09, Stuart Bieber <sbieber@evangersdogfood.com> wrote:

From: Stuart Bieber <sbieber@evangersdogfood.com>
Subject: RE: product concern
To: (info removed)
Date: Friday, July 31, 2009, 5:04 AM

I don’t mean to come across somewhat sarcastic to you but read the article again. Please. This was a ( DOCUMENTATION ISSUE ) NEVER, EVER, was there anything wrong with my food products, nor has there ever been since this Company was founded in 1935!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you.

From: (email removed)
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 3:19 PM
To: Stuart Bieber
Subject: product concern

I just read that your canned products may have some contamination issues? Can you please expound on that problem? Thanks.

Wow, Stuart Bieber....nice public relations skills there . My jaw would've fallen on the floor had he responded to my inquiry that way...that is so rude.

[Ellie May]

I used to like Evangers, but there is concern that there is more to this than the documentation issue. Then there are reports that they don't test for melamine. Now with the answer that a YT'er got, forget it...