THE WHOLE DOG JOURNAL - February Edition
Due to miscommunication, our products were not reviewed in THE WHOLE DOG JOURNAL's annual dry food recommendation article. Contrary to what may have been written, all of our paperwork, including full disclosure of our milling operations, had been submitted on a timely basis, however, it appears as though our product samples were never received to complete the review. We have been in contact with the folks at THE WHOLE DOG JOURNAL and they have promised to include a review of our products in their upcoming March issue. We sincerely apologize for this oversight.
canned food-- good news!!! (1-21-2008)
We are pleased to announce that the canned foods are back in production and we anticipate that they will be available on retail shelves begining early to mid February depending on when they are ordered from distributors by your local retail store.
Dry Food Formula Change
January 20, 2008
We regret to inform our customers that we have had to make the difficult decision to replace the salmon in our Barking at the Moon, WolfKing, WolfCub, and Just a Wee Bit dry dog food formulas with menhaden herring, labeled as “ocean fish”.
In our endeavor to continue to include the highest quality ingredients in our pet food products, we are sometimes confronted by market changes and/or events that make our pursuit next to impossible. In the case of salmon meal, we have reached a point in which it is no longer feasible, from both an economic and sourcing standpoint, to continue its use in our dry food formulas.
The fishmeal market in general has been extremely volatile over the past several years given worldwide demand. In particular, the cost of salmon has increased in cost by more than 20% in each of the past three years. We have not, nor could we justifiably pass on this financial burden to our consumer.
Secondly, and perhaps a more compelling reason to abandon salmon meal at this juncture is the unanswered question as to, “where is the salmon meal sourced”. We know that the availability of “wild caught” salmon has significantly dwindled due to huge demand and government protective intervention, to the point that vendors cannot provide 100% assurance that the salmon meal is not sourced from fish farms. This is not an encouraging trend, as farmed salmon is simply not an option for us. Farmed salmon is often fed antibiotics and it has been reported the waters they are raised in are polluted with carcinogenic PCBs.
Rather than cheapen the food by reducing the amount of this key ingredient, we have chosen to replace it with the equally beneficial Menhaden Herring. Menhaden Herring is a very clean ocean dwelling fish that we have used in the remainder of our dry foods for decades. Menhaden Herring is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, which are vital for good overall health and are essential for heart healthy and a strong, healthy immune system.
Given our standards for product freshness, our product ingredients are procured on a weekly basis. Therefore, given the present tightness of the fishmeal market, or in the case of a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, there may be times that Menhaden Herring might be unavailable. In those very rare occasions we may have to secure an alternative ocean fishmeal with a dietary equivalent on the spot market to fill gaps in fish meal inventory. We consider Cod as a healthy alternative. Another cold water fish, cod is also very high in beneficial omega 3 fatty acids, as well as certain B vitamins, such as B12 and B6. While the use of Cod as a backup would be the very rare exception, and not the rule, our labels will reflect the generic ingredient “ocean fishmeal”. This will ensure that if we are ever unable to source a supply of Menhaden Herring, we can continue to produce the food with an alternate source of ocean fish, such as cod.
The formulas will be changed as new bags with the correct labeling are printed. A simple change in the type of fish used should not cause dietary upset in the majority of dogs.
Fraudulent Solid Gold Products in Japan
We are sorry to say our former distributor in Japan has been manufacturing an unauthorized version of our product(s) and we have been working through legal channels in Japan to stop their activity. We greatly apologize for any confusion this has caused our Japanese customers. Unfortunately, given the circumstances, and until this situation is resolved, we do not currently have any distributors of Solid Gold products in Japan.
To Our Valued Customers
As of November 1st, the prices of all our dry foods will be increasing. It is never a pleasure to announce any price increase, however, the costs of the key ingredients that make up our unique pet food formulations continue to rise at unprecedented levels. In addition, costs associated with the use of petroleum related products, such as packaging material, energy and freight continue to increase. Until November 1st, you are still able to stock up on your pet's favorite food at current prices either at your local retail store or on our website.
Solid Gold Canned Foods Negative for Melamine
We have tested all our canned dog and cat foods for the presence of melamine and all samples were completely negative.
Pet Food Recalls
We at Solid Gold Health Products for Pets, Inc. ("Solid Gold') realize that consumers are very concerned with the recent product food recalls. We would like to assure our customers that there are no safety concerns with Solid Gold products. The product recalls and removals have centered around ingredients sourced in China, in particular wheat gluten and now rice protein concentrate. These products are thought to be contaminated with melamine. Neither of these ingredients are used in any Solid Gold food products. We do not use gluten meal of any kind in any of our foods.
All the ingredients in Solid Gold products are sourced domestically with three exceptions. The lamb meal used in our dry foods is sourced from New Zealand, which produces some of the cleanest meat in the world. The potato protein used in Barking at the Moon is sourced in Europe. Our Blended Tuna canned cat food (grain free) is produced offshore due to the lack of tuna processing plants in the United States.
Sincerely,
Steven J. Wirick
Chief Operating Officer
Solid Gold Health Products for Pets, Inc.
Tel. # 800-364-4863
Fax # 619-258-3907 Delete
SOLID GOLD DRY FOODS TESTED FREE OF MELAMINE
May 1, 2007
Although we have had no indication that our foods were in any way contaminated with melamine, which is the cause of all the recent pet food recalls, we felt it was our responsibility to test our products to ensure they are completely safe. We are happy to inform our customers that all Solid Gold dry foods have been tested by an independent laboratory and are completely clear of melamine contamination.
INGREDIENT SOURCING
We would like to assure our customers that all the ingredients in Solid Gold products are sourced domestically with three exceptions. The lamb meal used in our dry foods is sourced from New Zealand, which produces some of the cleanest meat in the world. The potato protein used in Barking at the Moon is sourced in Europe. Our Blended Tuna canned cat food is produced in an American owned plant in Thailand, due to the lack of tuna processing plants in the United States.
MENU FOODS DOES NOT PRODUCE ANY SOLID GOLD PRODUCT
We at Solid Gold realize that customers are very concerned with the recent recall of canned products made by Menu foods. We would like to assure our customers that there are no safety concerns with Solid Gold products. Menu Foods does not make Solid Gold foods in any of their manufacturing facilities. Solid Gold is not subject to the current recall. Furthermore, Solid Gold does not use wheat gluten in any of our dry foods, canned foods, treats, or supplements. Wheat gluten is the suspected cause of the problems involving the recalled food. Gluten is the protein found in grain. Gluten meals such as wheat gluten and corn gluten are included in pet food as a protein source in lieu of meat, which is a more expensive form of protein. Solid Gold believes dogs and cats should receive most of their protein in the form of meat, not grain.
Dry Food Changes
We have recently implemented changes in our dry foods based upon new exciting research, supply issues, and regulatory changes.
All our dry foods now contain tomato pomace, taurine, and salmon oil.
Tomato pomace is an excellent source of the super-antioxidant Lycopene. Research shows that people with diets rich in tomato products, which contain lycopene, appear to have a lower risk of certain types of cancer. Tomato pomace is also a superb source of soluble fiber.
Taurine is an amino acid essential for heart health. Historically, taurine supplementation in diet was not thought necessary for dogs, however, research is now showing certain breeds of dogs can have problems with heart disease caused by taurine deficiency. The FDA has now approved Taurine as a feed additive for dogs foods, so we are happy to include it in all our dry dog food formulas.
Salmon oil is an excellent source of DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), an Omega 3 fatty acid important for brain and central nervous system development in growing puppies. DHA is also thought to be important for retinal health, so we have added it to all our adult foods as well. The addition of salmon oil may cause the food to smell a bit fishier, which should be a bonus for most dogs and cats!
We have made some other formula changes due to supply issues. For instance, we have substituted “ocean fish meal” for “menhaden fish meal”. The hurricanes in the gulf last summer have practically devastated the menhaden herring supply, which caused the cost of this fish to skyrocket. Ocean fish meal can contain fish such as herring, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, etc. It is much more available at this time than is menhaden herring. It has become difficult to keep a fresh supply of the secondary ingredients we use, such as the herbs, fruits, and vegetables due to only using each ingredient for one or two foods. In order to maintain a constant, fresh supply of ingredients, we have also streamlined the formulas a bit.
None of these changes are major. The core ingredients and formula of all the dry foods remain the same. Most dogs and cats should have absolutely no reaction when switching from the old formula to the new. There may be sensitive dogs and cats though who may have some slight digestive upset. This should diminish as they adjust to the new food.
Please visit the dry foods page to see the new formulas for each food.
Canned Food Shortages
We understand that there have been supply issues with our canned foods and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers and their beloved pets.
The Blended Tuna is now instock, after shipping and customs delays, and we anticipate no further issues with this. Stores can and should be ordering from their distributors to refill the shelves.
The other canned foods are still not available and we are diligently working on a permanent solution to this situation.
Last October our canned food vendor closed one of their canneries with the intention of producing all orders through the remaining factory. After several months, it was apparent that they were falling behind and we began to find a second cannery. In April, the pet food recall increased the demand for safe food. Our canned food vendor had no excess production capacity to make more of their own products, so they stopped producing our canned food. We are at the final stage of the research and development phase with our new canned food vendor and expect to have our canned food line back in circulation by middle to late December if there are no unforeseen obstacles or delays.
We apologize for the inconvenience the out of stock situation has caused to our customers and their pets.
Due to miscommunication, our products were not reviewed in THE WHOLE DOG JOURNAL's annual dry food recommendation article. Contrary to what may have been written, all of our paperwork, including full disclosure of our milling operations, had been submitted on a timely basis, however, it appears as though our product samples were never received to complete the review. We have been in contact with the folks at THE WHOLE DOG JOURNAL and they have promised to include a review of our products in their upcoming March issue. We sincerely apologize for this oversight.
canned food-- good news!!! (1-21-2008)
We are pleased to announce that the canned foods are back in production and we anticipate that they will be available on retail shelves begining early to mid February depending on when they are ordered from distributors by your local retail store.
Dry Food Formula Change
January 20, 2008
We regret to inform our customers that we have had to make the difficult decision to replace the salmon in our Barking at the Moon, WolfKing, WolfCub, and Just a Wee Bit dry dog food formulas with menhaden herring, labeled as “ocean fish”.
In our endeavor to continue to include the highest quality ingredients in our pet food products, we are sometimes confronted by market changes and/or events that make our pursuit next to impossible. In the case of salmon meal, we have reached a point in which it is no longer feasible, from both an economic and sourcing standpoint, to continue its use in our dry food formulas.
The fishmeal market in general has been extremely volatile over the past several years given worldwide demand. In particular, the cost of salmon has increased in cost by more than 20% in each of the past three years. We have not, nor could we justifiably pass on this financial burden to our consumer.
Secondly, and perhaps a more compelling reason to abandon salmon meal at this juncture is the unanswered question as to, “where is the salmon meal sourced”. We know that the availability of “wild caught” salmon has significantly dwindled due to huge demand and government protective intervention, to the point that vendors cannot provide 100% assurance that the salmon meal is not sourced from fish farms. This is not an encouraging trend, as farmed salmon is simply not an option for us. Farmed salmon is often fed antibiotics and it has been reported the waters they are raised in are polluted with carcinogenic PCBs.
Rather than cheapen the food by reducing the amount of this key ingredient, we have chosen to replace it with the equally beneficial Menhaden Herring. Menhaden Herring is a very clean ocean dwelling fish that we have used in the remainder of our dry foods for decades. Menhaden Herring is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, which are vital for good overall health and are essential for heart healthy and a strong, healthy immune system.
Given our standards for product freshness, our product ingredients are procured on a weekly basis. Therefore, given the present tightness of the fishmeal market, or in the case of a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, there may be times that Menhaden Herring might be unavailable. In those very rare occasions we may have to secure an alternative ocean fishmeal with a dietary equivalent on the spot market to fill gaps in fish meal inventory. We consider Cod as a healthy alternative. Another cold water fish, cod is also very high in beneficial omega 3 fatty acids, as well as certain B vitamins, such as B12 and B6. While the use of Cod as a backup would be the very rare exception, and not the rule, our labels will reflect the generic ingredient “ocean fishmeal”. This will ensure that if we are ever unable to source a supply of Menhaden Herring, we can continue to produce the food with an alternate source of ocean fish, such as cod.
The formulas will be changed as new bags with the correct labeling are printed. A simple change in the type of fish used should not cause dietary upset in the majority of dogs.
Fraudulent Solid Gold Products in Japan
We are sorry to say our former distributor in Japan has been manufacturing an unauthorized version of our product(s) and we have been working through legal channels in Japan to stop their activity. We greatly apologize for any confusion this has caused our Japanese customers. Unfortunately, given the circumstances, and until this situation is resolved, we do not currently have any distributors of Solid Gold products in Japan.
To Our Valued Customers
As of November 1st, the prices of all our dry foods will be increasing. It is never a pleasure to announce any price increase, however, the costs of the key ingredients that make up our unique pet food formulations continue to rise at unprecedented levels. In addition, costs associated with the use of petroleum related products, such as packaging material, energy and freight continue to increase. Until November 1st, you are still able to stock up on your pet's favorite food at current prices either at your local retail store or on our website.
Solid Gold Canned Foods Negative for Melamine
We have tested all our canned dog and cat foods for the presence of melamine and all samples were completely negative.
Pet Food Recalls
We at Solid Gold Health Products for Pets, Inc. ("Solid Gold') realize that consumers are very concerned with the recent product food recalls. We would like to assure our customers that there are no safety concerns with Solid Gold products. The product recalls and removals have centered around ingredients sourced in China, in particular wheat gluten and now rice protein concentrate. These products are thought to be contaminated with melamine. Neither of these ingredients are used in any Solid Gold food products. We do not use gluten meal of any kind in any of our foods.
All the ingredients in Solid Gold products are sourced domestically with three exceptions. The lamb meal used in our dry foods is sourced from New Zealand, which produces some of the cleanest meat in the world. The potato protein used in Barking at the Moon is sourced in Europe. Our Blended Tuna canned cat food (grain free) is produced offshore due to the lack of tuna processing plants in the United States.
Sincerely,
Steven J. Wirick
Chief Operating Officer
Solid Gold Health Products for Pets, Inc.
Tel. # 800-364-4863
Fax # 619-258-3907 Delete
SOLID GOLD DRY FOODS TESTED FREE OF MELAMINE
May 1, 2007
Although we have had no indication that our foods were in any way contaminated with melamine, which is the cause of all the recent pet food recalls, we felt it was our responsibility to test our products to ensure they are completely safe. We are happy to inform our customers that all Solid Gold dry foods have been tested by an independent laboratory and are completely clear of melamine contamination.
INGREDIENT SOURCING
We would like to assure our customers that all the ingredients in Solid Gold products are sourced domestically with three exceptions. The lamb meal used in our dry foods is sourced from New Zealand, which produces some of the cleanest meat in the world. The potato protein used in Barking at the Moon is sourced in Europe. Our Blended Tuna canned cat food is produced in an American owned plant in Thailand, due to the lack of tuna processing plants in the United States.
MENU FOODS DOES NOT PRODUCE ANY SOLID GOLD PRODUCT
We at Solid Gold realize that customers are very concerned with the recent recall of canned products made by Menu foods. We would like to assure our customers that there are no safety concerns with Solid Gold products. Menu Foods does not make Solid Gold foods in any of their manufacturing facilities. Solid Gold is not subject to the current recall. Furthermore, Solid Gold does not use wheat gluten in any of our dry foods, canned foods, treats, or supplements. Wheat gluten is the suspected cause of the problems involving the recalled food. Gluten is the protein found in grain. Gluten meals such as wheat gluten and corn gluten are included in pet food as a protein source in lieu of meat, which is a more expensive form of protein. Solid Gold believes dogs and cats should receive most of their protein in the form of meat, not grain.
Dry Food Changes
We have recently implemented changes in our dry foods based upon new exciting research, supply issues, and regulatory changes.
All our dry foods now contain tomato pomace, taurine, and salmon oil.
Tomato pomace is an excellent source of the super-antioxidant Lycopene. Research shows that people with diets rich in tomato products, which contain lycopene, appear to have a lower risk of certain types of cancer. Tomato pomace is also a superb source of soluble fiber.
Taurine is an amino acid essential for heart health. Historically, taurine supplementation in diet was not thought necessary for dogs, however, research is now showing certain breeds of dogs can have problems with heart disease caused by taurine deficiency. The FDA has now approved Taurine as a feed additive for dogs foods, so we are happy to include it in all our dry dog food formulas.
Salmon oil is an excellent source of DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), an Omega 3 fatty acid important for brain and central nervous system development in growing puppies. DHA is also thought to be important for retinal health, so we have added it to all our adult foods as well. The addition of salmon oil may cause the food to smell a bit fishier, which should be a bonus for most dogs and cats!
We have made some other formula changes due to supply issues. For instance, we have substituted “ocean fish meal” for “menhaden fish meal”. The hurricanes in the gulf last summer have practically devastated the menhaden herring supply, which caused the cost of this fish to skyrocket. Ocean fish meal can contain fish such as herring, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, etc. It is much more available at this time than is menhaden herring. It has become difficult to keep a fresh supply of the secondary ingredients we use, such as the herbs, fruits, and vegetables due to only using each ingredient for one or two foods. In order to maintain a constant, fresh supply of ingredients, we have also streamlined the formulas a bit.
None of these changes are major. The core ingredients and formula of all the dry foods remain the same. Most dogs and cats should have absolutely no reaction when switching from the old formula to the new. There may be sensitive dogs and cats though who may have some slight digestive upset. This should diminish as they adjust to the new food.
Please visit the dry foods page to see the new formulas for each food.
Canned Food Shortages
We understand that there have been supply issues with our canned foods and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers and their beloved pets.
The Blended Tuna is now instock, after shipping and customs delays, and we anticipate no further issues with this. Stores can and should be ordering from their distributors to refill the shelves.
The other canned foods are still not available and we are diligently working on a permanent solution to this situation.
Last October our canned food vendor closed one of their canneries with the intention of producing all orders through the remaining factory. After several months, it was apparent that they were falling behind and we began to find a second cannery. In April, the pet food recall increased the demand for safe food. Our canned food vendor had no excess production capacity to make more of their own products, so they stopped producing our canned food. We are at the final stage of the research and development phase with our new canned food vendor and expect to have our canned food line back in circulation by middle to late December if there are no unforeseen obstacles or delays.
We apologize for the inconvenience the out of stock situation has caused to our customers and their pets.
Copyright © 2007 Solid Gold Health Products for Pets, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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