Current status of Diamond Pet Foods.....

crewchf · Post by **crewchf** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:54 pm

FOX News,,, YourLawyer.com,,, here we go!!! You may want to get rid of any Diamond Stock you may have!!!!

Rich Piacentine

Red Briar Kennels · Post by **Red Briar Kennels** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 3:53 pm

I generally don't respond to alot of posts as I simply don't type real well, or should say I don't have the time (as I'm a hunt and peck kind of guy) to post alot of replies, etc. And the dumb as a stump comment was not taken as a attack or anything like that, believe me, I've heard alot worse. You're not going to offend me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. As far as me losing a kennel full of dogs, you're right, it would be very devastating. It's not that I blame folks for leaving Diamond for another brand, it's just that I think we could look at this and hopefully learn from it. There are alot of brands out there. Some of the brands that I see people stand behind or promote have other issues as well. Such as testing practices, supporting anti's, the list goes on. I'm not trying to debate, and won't get into a big dog food war or anything like that. You like what you like and that's about all there is to it. Personally, I've never had a problem or issues with Diamond. If the circumstances were different here as far as dog loss, then yes, I may have a different opinion. You're right, it's not fair, and there was absolutely without a doubt an act of negligence on their part for sure. No matter, it doesn't bring any of them back. And by not purchasing their products anymore, would surely send them a message. But I have felt that they have done (at least as far as I've heard), everything in their power to make things right. As far as monetary compensation for the losses,...I have not heard either way. It would be nice to hear that they would do that, but unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world. I didn't mean to stir up a hornets nest here, I was simply stating I would like to see this catastrophy put behind us and move on.

Chuck Terry · Post by **Chuck Terry** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:23 pm

It is a tragedy all around! I, too, was a loyal Diamond user for several years. My experience was similar to Southern Beagles. About the same time, I experienced a similar problem with my dog's coat, general appearance, and spunkiness (Some more pronounced than others). That combined with others Diamond users saying the same caused me to switch to another brand. It has saved me money and the dogs looked better right away. For the first time in a little over a year I ran out of my current brand this past Christmas and I bought 1 bag of Diamond and then heard about their "problem". I feed it a few more days but the reports just kept coming in. So, I dumped the Diamond and the other food I had mixed with it. That is the LAST bag of Diamond I will buy until I run out of suppliers who had not had a similar problem and then I MIGHT give them another shot! The problem, their response, and their future action have and will be driven by MONEY pure and simple! I know that is just business and all for profit companies are the same but Diamond has lost my trust! I am sure they will be extra careful about the alpha toxin for a while now but so will the other companies who had not had a know problem. My friend farms and said he had a load of wheat a few years that was turned down for exceeding the limit on alpha toxin at a grain exchange in Savannah. GA. All was not lost though, a bakery in the same industrial park bought it and made bread for HUMAN consumption (since it was unfit for livestock to eat). The profit motive will cause people to do some dispicable things and I trust NO BUSINESS 100%. No offense but Rich was not too far off base with his comments! I wish you all luck regardless of what you decide to feed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

warddog · Post by **warddog** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:04 pm

I agree with Southern Beagles as my problem with Diamond feed started long before this feasco. My cousin and I both had been feeding Diamond and the dogs in our kennels really started to look bad. He switched to whatever he could find at a feed dealer near him and his dogs started to look better right away. I switched to Hi- Standard and blended the Diamond that I had left in with the Hi- Standard. My dogs also immediatelt started to look better and put weight back on. I don't know for a fact but I am of the opinion that Diamond changed their formulation to be able to compete in the Rural King stores where we bought it. We had feed the cheep brand that they carry which is 26/12 and our dogs looked better on it than they ever did on the Diamond. I now feed "The Pride" and my dogs will NEVER have Diamond to their lips again. Burn me once is your fault burn me twice is my fault. This stump ain't gonna take a chance of being dumb.

Greg H · Post by **Greg H** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:07 pm

Everyone has a choice to make, and is entitled to their choice. But I would like to pose a question to those that choose to stay with Diamond. When, in a couple months from now, the prices of Diamond are as high if not higher than the other manufactures products will you still feel same?

The cost of Diamond is going to go up! There is no way that it can't. No company is going to add employees and add new safety proceedures without passing that cost on to the consumer. And if Diamond does make restitution to those unfortunate people who have suffered losses, YOU might as well reach into your pocket and send them the money directly. Because by the time the Lawyers get paid and the checks get mailed YOU, the people that buy Diamond, are going to be paying for their mistake for a very long time.

Hatfield · Post by **Hatfield** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 6:15 pm

You guys talk as if Diamond is going to be around. I would be willing to bet my best hound that they file bankruptcy. No way they will back upand pay for these dogs. Some of the lucky ones will get pennies on the dollar, and then they will raise the white flag. Sell off the assets to another company owned by the same people to be ran by the same people that make the same product,BUT IT WILL NOT BE CALLED DIAMOND!
I started to switch to Diamond about the same time everyone started having weight and coat problems. Luckily I didn't (thanks everyone )get caught in this mess. To everyone with a loss from this misfortune, I feel your pain and I'm as sorry for you as I can be.

JHough · Post by **JHough** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 6:18 pm

I agree with Red Briar Kennels. Diamond made a huge mistake, but they have done all they can to fix it. At least they owned up to it and didn't try to hide it. This mistake did not affect any of our dogs, as we do not live a state that was supplied by this particular plant. I also agree with Red Briar Kennels in that every product that is made that has to be improved at somepoint to improve that product for a reason, whether it is for recall, or whatever the reasons. Ford recalled Explorers several years ago because of the tires that were on it (I can't remember the name of the tire) but how many people are still driving that model (same year or not) and still using that brand tire. Did everyone quit the Ford Company or that tire company? No. Not only Ford has had a problem but so has Gerber baby food. This was actually within the last year and a half or so. People were feeding the food to their babies and then were finding notes at the bottom of the jar saying that the food was laced with some poison. None of the food had that stuff in it but it showed that Gerber was not doing all it could to make their food tamper proof. This was discovered to be happening at one of their own plants by one of their own employees. How many of you that have babies are still feeding that non-tamper proof baby food. They have now gone in and added plastic seal to their jars but that doesn't mean the food cannot be tampered with before the lid and wrapper are put on.

That is just my thoughts on all of this. Everyone makes mistakes. I am sure that many of you have had wrecks that were deemed to be your fault. Did the state remove your driver's lic because you were a careless driver?

rinkydink · Post by **rinkydink** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 8:39 pm

It is for sure that I have made my share of mistakes, but I try not to make the same one twice.

I have switched from Diamond and will stay away from it no matter how many "new" steps they put in making it.

It is not worth the risk.

Tom aka rinkydink

S.R.Patch · Post by **S.R.Patch** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:51 am

I just heard Japan & China were looking to get into more of the dogfood business, maybe Diamond has a buyer when the dust settles...
Gm is going into Japan and Japan is comming here. I remember when GM started allowing in the Japanese auto market on their lots. Now the Japanese have ordered their autos must have their own seperate lot from GM's autos, my how things change...

Don't know why you want to destroy a Co. because of the sins of a few. The quality control failed throughout the plant in the south only, those should be exposed and fired. There's no getting around Diamond will have to regain the trust of their consumers.
Now that I think about it, I think it was Purnia that had trouble when the Japanese bought into it...

Does anyone know where the profits from a foreign owned, American based Co. go?
Hillbilly, I liked your "dumb like a fox" comment...
Disclaimer; I haven't fed Diamond in years due to cost & own no stock in the Co.
This is just my opinion and should have no effect on what others choose to do...

harvhounds · Post by **harvhounds** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:12 am

I was hearing about the troubles with diamond long before this last mess.I wouldn't trust them period.I put a lot of time and money into my hounds and if I lost my whole kennel!I have been using purina one lamb and rice for many years and with the pro club it ends up costing around $15.00 for 40 lbs.My hounds do well on it coats nice tons of energy the only thing is I have to watch how much they eat or they will get fat on it!Bottom line is if a company wants to stay in bussiness they need to put out a good product at a competitive price.

channellkat · Post by **channellkat** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:47 am

Why buy Diamond? For one they will be putting out the safest dog food on the market knowing kennel owners and pet owners are going to be gun shy. I have never had any problems with their product and will continue to use it, as long as they continue to make a top quality chow for my pot lickers.

Cooks Hilltop Kennel · Thu Jan 19, 2006 7:42 am

Guys I have been a staunch supporter of Diamond Premium Adult for close to twenty years. However in the last 5 years I have noticed a big difference in my dogs. In fact in the last 5 years I have experienced 3 bad batchs(I bought several bags at a time). The dogs hair became dull, dry and brittle and they experienced a dramatic weight loss. The last occurence happened about 3 weeks prior to this recall. I immediately stopped feeding it as I recognized the symptoms from prior experiences. Like many of you I had to find something to feed so I went to a local store and picked the best ingredient food which wasn't all that great but the dogs started snapping back almost immediately. I thought I was going to lose one female as it affected her more dramatically than the others. I have to admit Diamond rweimbursed me for the first two occurences even though the sample I sent in was quote"met their testing specifications but were at the lower end of the range". This time they said it met their specs and have not offered to reimburse me. It did not come from the GASTON PLANT NOR WAS IT THE PRODUCTION CODE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. I asked if they tested for aflatoxin and they did not as it was not associated with the plant that had experienced that issue. Don't you think they would have done that just to be sure? May have who knows! I have several bags that will have to be dumped. The problem is not just a recent issue. I grilled them hard prior to my first bad experience as I noticed a dramatic change in color,texture and "greasiness". They kept swearing that nothing had been chnged. The dogs did not do as well and I had these three bad occurences. I feel that I went the extra mile to stay with them but no more.
Just my experiences to share.

crewchf · Post by **crewchf** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 9:48 am

Like one of our posters said,, STILL UNFOLDING!!!!! Just saw a breeder on the news who has lost 50 miniature dalmation in South Ga (Mitchel Co.) in the last year!!! Only feeds Diamond,, this ain't good!!!

Crew Chief

jksoper1 · Post by **jksoper1** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:09 pm

Don't think you will have to get rid of any "stock" that Crewchf stated. Being a private owned company, they're not public as of yet. I don't see them selling off the company either. Will they take a hit and loss for this problem, yes! Will it cause them to go under, I don't think so. I work for a family owned company that had a problem with a product that the motor would get to hot and start on fire, and it ended up burning down a house and causing other problems to others as well. We paid for those houses and repairs/damages, plus had a recall to fix all the products. None of these recalls or paid outs went back to the final customers on any product, this is called business. Sometimes you take a hit, sometimes you don't. But be assured, Diamond has insurance for this purpose and it sounds like they're going to take of the problems. I've been feeding Diamond for 4 years, I feel like the product will be better now than before. Do I think Steve is right about moving on, yes! Things happen, people make mistakes, we move on. I think it's great that we can get on a board like this one each day and express our opinions. Life is good!

Beagled1 · Post by **Beagled1** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 2:41 pm

Purina, IAMS and Eukanuba need to buy these complete IDIOTS OUT!!!

I always used Eukanuba Performance 30/20 or Maintenance 25/16 and a fe wof my hounds are on Purina One. I got chewed out for feeding such an expensive food but I always mentioned those two magic words ... quality control. I knew Euk had it, but they were just words to me before this ordeal. I know people that lost dogs - good hounds - on Diamond. I'm in NY, and we were greatly affected by the recall over here. darn near everyone fed Diamond

Most pulled their dogs off it, but others didn't have a chance. This has been going on since early October but the food was recalled TWO MONTHS LATER! Diamond had no knowledge what was wrong with their product until a major Veterinary University on teh East Coast brought it to the companie's attention ...
I stayed away from Diamond before because my vet is into breeding/showing German Shepherds and he's heard horror stories about Diamond. From litter numbers dropping to early onset kidney disease from poor quality protein.
The thing that really gets em about this recall is that if it happened in Purina or Euk's rendering plants, production would have been STOPPED DEAD before the product reached the market. Quality control.