HorsesAss.Org

Now this is a good political ad.

Several troopers worked on high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lane enforcement for two hours and issued 52 citations for car-pool-lane cheaters using the westbound HOV lane.

Assholes.

(Of course, I’m referring to the cheaters.)

To the thousands of Americans whose dogs and cats have already been sickened or killed, and the many millions more who rightfully fear for the health of their beloved pets, the recent massive pet food recall already represents a disastrous failure of our food safety systems. But if it eventually turns out that toxic wheat gluten made its way into the human food supply, the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) tentative response and equivocating public statements might have set the stage for a collapse of confidence of post-Katrina proportions.

In finally identifying itself today, the U.S. importer of the melamine-tainted wheat gluten — the unappetizingly named ChemNutra — revealed new information that is sure to anger aggrieved pet owners: Menu Foods knew their product was causing problems as early as March 8, a full week before the first recall was made public. And while ChemNutra insists that none of its 792 metric tons of contaminated wheat gluten shipped to facilities that manufacture food for human consumption, one can forgive suspicious consumers for not accepting the suddenly talkative company at its word, especially considering that this assurance directly contradicts an FDA report from earlier today. For whatever the true risk to our food supply, the corporate and regulatory response is shaping up to be a textbook example of failed crisis management.

First it was only “cuts and gravy” varieties from a single manufacturer, then late last week products from three more facilities were suddenly added to the recall, including one variety of dry cat food. And now the FDA not only admits that the recall could widen further, it has also revealed that the melamine-tainted wheat gluten was indeed delivered to processing plants that make human food as well. Still…

“To date, we have nothing that indicates it’s gone into human food,” said Dorothy Miller, director of the FDA’s Office of Emergency Operations . “We have a bit more investigation to do.”

They certainly do. But the FDA should have acted as if the human food supply was at risk from the moment Menu Foods notified it that test animals were dying, presumably sometime before March 8. Tainted wheat gluten was always the prime suspect, and anyone given the facts and a little familiarity with our food processing and distribution system should have heard alarm bells. Yet the federal regulators charged with safeguarding our food supply seemed more concerned with protecting the interests of the corporations involved, then in giving consumers the facts they needed to make informed decisions on their own.

While the FDA focused on pet food, it was left to persistent bloggers and journalists to slowly tease out the full scope of this potential public health disaster. Wheat gluten is not an obscure feed stock, but rather a common ingredient widely used in a large number of processed foods and baked goods. And while federal regulations distinguish between “food grade” and “feed grade,” the overwhelming majority of wheat gluten distributed in this country is sold as the former. MGP Ingredients, the largest U.S. manufacturer of wheat gluten, only produced and distributed “food grade” product, shipping to Menu Foods the same high quality wheat gluten meant for human consumption until 18-months ago, when they lost the business to cheaper, Asian imports. And responding to an e-mail query, a spokesperson for Del Monte Foods quickly confirmed that it was “food grade” gluten that led to its own recall.

The FDA always knew the tainted wheat gluten was sold as “food grade,” but never offered this information to the public. And even now they continue to obfuscate the matter.

According to import records, the wheat gluten was shipped to the United States from Nov. 3, 2006 to Jan. 23 of this year and contained “minimal labeling” to indicate whether it was intended for humans or animals.

The FDA officials who provided this information either don’t understand our nation’s import regulations, or are intentionally misleading reporters with this “minimal labeling” canard. For as Steve Pickman, VP of Corporate Relations for MGP Ingredients explains, all “edible” imported wheat gluten is meant for both human and animal consumption:

Regarding imported wheat gluten, U.S. Customs allows for two different gluten classifications to come into the country, “Edible” and “Non-edible.” Non-edible product is not considered destined for the food/pet food markets. Product used in industrial, or non-ingestible, applications would be considered non-edible. Both food and pet food products are under the jurisdiction of the FDA. These products must adhere to the same standards. Non-edible gluten would be allowed into applications where no food/ pet food products are made.

Over 70-percent of the wheat gluten consumed in the U.S. is imported, mostly from Asia, and the remaining 30-percent produced domestically is almost entirely “food grade.” There is no separate channel for “food grade” vs “feed grade” wheat gluten, so the FDA should have understood that the Chinese imports involved were always graded for human consumption.

Given the nature of the industry and the scope of the recall thus far — over 60 million units from four manufacturers at five separate facilities — and the three month period of time over which the suspect wheat gluten was imported, it was perfectly reasonable to assume that at least some of the tainted product would make its way to facilities that process human food, and then onto store shelves and into our kitchens and restaurants. It has been at least a month since the FDA was first made aware of a potentially widespread food supply contamination, and yet they continue to hold their information close to their vest as they do “a bit more investigation.” Meanwhile, it only took Nestle Purina four hours to discern that it had a contamination problem after the FDA announced on March 30 that the culprit was tainted wheat gluten from a Chinese supplier — information the FDA apparently had since at least March 8.

The American people have the right to know the facts in a timely manner — all the facts — including the identity of the unnamed distributor mentioned in ChemNutra’s press release, the facilities suspected of receiving contaminated wheat gluten, and a complete timeline detailing what was known, and when. When it comes to issues of public health and safety the best way to avoid undue speculation and give consumers the information they need to properly protect themselves is to be completely and openly honest. ChemNutra was notified that its wheat gluten was killing animals back on March 8. We need to know why contaminated product was still on the shelves as late as March 30.

But there is a larger issue here: the failure of the FDA to keep up with the challenges of safeguarding a food supply that has become so deeply integrated into the global economy. Perhaps us humans dodged a bullet, and the contamination was indeed limited to pet food. But if it had been the other way around, how would we know? Renal failure can be slow and progressive, the symptoms sometimes not manifesting themselves until months after the initial toxic exposure. Our dead and dying pets may very well have saved thousands of human lives, warning us of the poisoned gluten before it inevitably reached the dinner table.

The FDA failed to protect these dogs and cats, but it just as easily could have been people who paid the price. It is time to rethink the laws governing the FDA, and reevaluate the officers running it. As Mike Brown proved at FEMA, it is best to have government agencies run by people who actually believe in government.

The Seattle chapter of Drinking Liberally meets tonight (and every Tuesday), 8PM at the Montlake Ale House, 2307 24th Avenue E. (I’ll be leaving early, so come by early if you want to say hello.)

Tonight is “Dine for Darfur” night around town; the Montlake Ale House, along with dozens of other restaurants in Seattle, will donate 25% of their proceeds to Mercy Corps. So drink up. It’s for a good cause.

Also, if you’ve been to the Ale House recently, you may have noticed some politically tinged paintings on display from local artist Mary K. Johnson. She’ll be on hand to mingle and take questions about her work.

Not in Seattle? Liberals will also be drinking tonight in the Tri-Cities. A full listing of Washington’s eleven Drinking Liberally chapters is available here.

Apparently, the following help wanted ad has been circulating Congressional listservs and DC employment pages for weeks, so in my usual bipartisan spirit, I thought I’d just pass it along.

Press Secretary — Congressman Dave Reichert seeks experienced communications professional to manage, coordinate and implement all facets of the member’s daily and strategic communications operations. Works with and maintains contact with local and national press outlets, drafts press releases, talking points, op-eds, newsletters and supplemental materials. Will also oversee and update electronic, internet and other communications, including an aggressive Franked Mail program. Successful candidate will be a strong writer, team player, a self-starter, creative and strategic thinker as well as have campaign experience. Please send resume, cover letter and writing samples to kimberly.cadena@mail.house.gov . No phone calls, faxes, or drop-offs please.

“Aggressive Franked Mail program”… talk about an understatement. And don’t forget, “campaign experience” is required, because of course, congressional staffers are completely prohibited from, um, participating in campaign activities on the taxpayers’ dime. Or, whatever.

There’s a lot of beltway buzz these days about the presidential prospects of “Law & Order” star Fred Thompson, but writing in The Politico, Ken Vogel (late of the TNT) wonders if the former one-term Republican senator might be stung by his lobbying credits.

Over about two decades of lobbying (during which he also acted and practiced law), Thompson made nearly $1.3 million and represented clients including a British reinsurance company facing billions of dollars in asbestos claims, Canadian-owned cable companies, and deposed Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, according to government documents and media accounts from his first run for the Senate in 1994.

[…] Thompson’s commanding presence, background and conservatism bring to mind another actor-turned-pol, Wamp said. “The whole thing is very Reagan-esque. The whole story.”

Thompson cruised to a full Senate term in 1996 but decided not to run again in 2002. A year after stepping down, he registered to lobby for British reinsurance company Equitas Ltd.

The company paid him $760,000 to guard its interests against several bills seeking to protect businesses from asbestos lawsuits, according to records Thompson filed with the Senate.

Of course, in the wake of the Abramoff scandal, I’m guessing that if Thompson does throw his hat in the ring, his media people will attempt to focus more on his record as a popular Manhattan District Attorney, than his resume as a high-priced lobbyist for foreign corporations.

“Reagan-esque” indeed.

I’m just coming off of a week long break from blogging, and what a great time to be back. A few thoughts:

Mayor Greg Nickels is going after slum lords. I’m estatic. I went to high school across the street from a guy who is infamous for his criminal behavior.

Crosscut: It didn’t take 24 hours for Knute Berger to come out slamming growth in the Puget Sound area. I remember when my Pops was looking to buy a house in Seattle. It was the mid 90’s, before prices exploded during the “Go-Go Clinton Economic Boom.” No-Growth folks like Charlie Chong were trying their best to slam the door shut to new Seattle residents like me and my Pops. Today, it’s hard to find a townhouse in Seattle that is much cheaper than the average house price.

I have a new favorite beer.

What’s up with the enviros? They totally bailed on new parks in downtown Seattle. Yes, Nickels shares the blame, but enviros should have had his back on this.

A note to folks who visit Drinking Liberally at the Montlake Ale House: don’t ask the bar staff to turn down the music. It’s a bar, and we’re not the only customers. We have guests all the time; authors, bloggers, pols, but it’s still a bar. One other thing while I’m on the subject: if you’re VIP at DL, don’t demand our attention for more than five minutes, tops. Drink a beer and mix with the crowd.

Barack Obama blows it.

That ridiculous racetrack near Brememton is dead. You’re welcome.

This is heartbreaking.

Apparently, state Sen. Pam Roach really doesn’t like people moving things from her desk.
[audio:http://horsesass.org/wp-content/uploads/roses.mp3]

Here’s the info:

Slog // P-I // Times // Crosscut

If I were Mayor/County Exec/Governor, I’d give one of these to anyone who requests one of these.

If you haven’t already, check out Crosscut, David Brewster’s new online news thingy. Read their excellent piece on the Seattle Times attempts to fuck over the P-I. Brewster has also enlisted Knute Berger for another go-around of his famous column, Mossback (Density, bad! People who don’t own cars, lazy!). Berger has a great piece about the Seattle School District’s racial insensitivity- against white people!

All in all, it reads just like the Seattle Weekly did circa the 1990s, before the whole thing started going to shit.

Oh man what an action packed schedule tonight on “The David Goldstein Show”, 7PM to 10PM on Newsradio 710-KIRO:

7PM: Who killed the Home Buyer’s Bill of Rights? (And why?)
Or is it really dead? Attorney Sandy Levy, who represents both builders and aggrieved homebuyers joins me by phone to explain what a new home warranty is good for consumers, and the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Brian Weinstein will also join me with an update on an emotional political fight that left state Rep. Brendan Williams threatening to quite the House.

8PM: Is Rep. Dennis Kucinich unelectable?
Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich will be in-studio, sitting across the desk from me for the hour… so why not call in and ask him yourself? Or you could ask him about some important issues, like the war in Iraq, universal health care, his proposal for a Department of Peace, and more.

9PM: Are sick and dying cats the canary in the coal mine?
A Del Monte Foods spokesperson confirmed to me today that the melamine-tainted wheat gluten used in their recalled pet food was indeed sold to them as a “food grade” additive, raising the likelihood that the human food supply may have been contaminated as well. Join me for an update on the latest news in the massive pet food recall, and what this may mean for food safety nationwide.

Tune in tonight (or listen to the live stream) and give me a call: 1-877-710-KIRO (5476).

Del Monte Foods has confirmed that the melamine-tainted wheat gluten used in several of its recalled pet food products was supplied as a “food grade” additive, raising the likelihood that contaminated wheat gluten might have entered the human food supply.

“Yes, it is food grade,” Del Monte spokesperson Melissa Murphy-Brown wrote in reply to an e-mail query. Del Monte issued a voluntary recall Saturday for several products under the Gravy Train, Jerky Treats, Pounce, Ol’ Roy, Dollar General and Happy Trails brands.

Wheat gluten is sold in both “food grade” and “feed grade” varieties. Either may be used in pet food, but only “food grade” gluten may be used in the manufacture of products meant for human consumption. Published reports have thus far focused on tainted pet food, but if the gluten in question entered the human food supply through a major food products supplier and processor, it could potentially contaminate thousands of products and hundreds of millions of units nationwide.

Stephen F. Sundlof, director of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine said the FDA is not aware of any contaminated gluten that went into human food but said he could not confirm this “with 100 percent certainty.” Wheat gluten is a common food additive used as a thickener, dough conditioner, and meat substitute. It is widely used as an additive in commercial bakery items and special purpose flours.

The FDA announced today that it has traced the contaminated wheat gluten to a single processor, Xuzhou Anying Biological Technology of Peixian, China, but has not released the name of the U.S. distributor who supplied the product to Del Monte, Menu Foods, Nestle Purina, and Hills Nutritional. In all, more than 70 brands and over 60 million cans and pouches of dog and cat food are now part of this massive recall, as well as at least one brand of dry cat food.

Public statements have indicated that the contaminated gluten was distributed by a single U.S. company, but since the FDA refuses to name the supplier, it is not yet known if this company also supplies human food manufacturers. It is also not yet known if Xuzhou Anying sells direct to food manufacturers in the U.S. or abroad.

While cats seem particularly susceptible to the effects of melamine poisoning, there is little research on the substance’s human toxicity. Unless and until the FDA determines otherwise, one cannot help but wonder if our sick and dying cats are merely the canary in the coal mine alerting us to a broader contamination of the human food supply.

In a surprise announcement on Saturday evening, Congressman Dave Reichert declared that he has switched political parties. “The time is right for me to switch to the Democrat Par…I mean, the Democratic Party,” said Riechert who represents Washington’s 8th congressional district. “This is a move I’ve considered seriously since early last November, when I suddenly realized my independent-minded values were more in line with those of the Democrats. As my critics have pointed out, I’ve increasingly become indecisive, and that is a reflection of the inner conflict.”

When asked why he waited nearly six months to make the change, Reichert responded, “I was waiting for the right time. Today is Joel Connelly’s birthday, and I guess I saved it as a birthday surprise for him.” Also, my investigations of global warming are now complete. I’m convinced that Al Gore is right—we really do need to be manufacturing and dropping giant ice cubes into the ocean.”

Reichert’s former spokesperson Kimberly Cadena resigned last week fueling speculation that the Congressman might be considering a jump to the Democratic party. Reichert announced that Cadena will be replaced by Sandeep Kaushik, currently the part-time Deputy Communications Director for King County Executive Ron Sims.

When asked about the reaction of his former Republican colleagues Reichert replied, “Let me make one thing perfectly clear. I’ve stared down the barrel of a loaded pistol and saw my name inscribed on the tip of the bullet…you can believe I can stare into the eyes of any disgruntled Republican colleague without flinching.”

Reichert told reporters that his first priority as a new Democrat will be to “figure out how they want me to vote.” Reichert also expected he might be called upon to personally provide security for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-08). “I moonlighted a bit as a Republican in protecting her footwear. Now, if she wants me to, I’ll be acting more as a personal sheriff for the Speaker. And let me be clear, here, that school bus drivers are on notice—you respect the Speaker because this sheriff is watching.”

Rep. Pelosi was not available for comment.

Coming up tonight on “The David Goldstein Show”, 7PM to 10PM on Newsradio 710-KIRO:

7PM: Is our food supply safe?
The FDA now blames melamine, a chemical found in plastic, as the poison that has tainted wheat gluten in dozens of brands of dog and cat food. But could this poisoned gluten also have entered the human food supply?

8PM: TBA

9PM: TBA

Tune in tonight (or listen to the live stream) and give me a call: 1-877-710-KIRO (5476).

Wow… Rep. Richard DeBolt is really campaigning for that Jefferson Award. First he nominates himself, and now he’s running this flattering campaign commercial:

Looks like DeBolt is a shoe in.