Contaminated Pet Food Proves Fatal -
                               Diamond Pet Food Recalled

   May 10, 2006

    One of the nation's largest dog food producers has recalled some of its products in
   22 states after receiving reports that they caused death and illness, a company executive
   said Thursday.

   In a letter to thousands of its suppliers, Diamond Pet Food announced it found aflatoxin in products
   made at its Gaston, South Carolina, plant, said Chief Operating Officer Mark Brinkmann.

   Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring substance produced by fungi that grow on grains, including corn.
   Humidity, high temperatures, or drought are some of the conditions that contribute to aflatoxin
   growth on crops. Aflatoxin is toxic and can cause severe liver damage in animals.

   Brinkmann said he wasn't sure how many animals fell ill from the toxin, but the 22 states'
   veterinarian's offices reported a total of 17 deaths and 24 illnesses believed linked to the tainted
   pet food.

   Products made at the Gaston facility are shipped to Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,
   Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
   North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Vermont
   and Virginia.

   Five cat food products and 14 dog food products were recalled. Products manufactured at the
   Gaston S.C. facility included in the recall:

   Diamond Premium Adult Dog Food
   Diamond Hi-Energy Dog Food
   Diamond Maintenance Dog Food
   Diamond Professional for Adult Dogs
   Diamond Performance Dog Food
   Diamond Puppy Food
   Diamond Low Fat Dog Food
   Diamond Maintenance Cat Food
   Diamond Professional Cat Food
   Country Value Puppy
   Country Value Adult Dog Food
   Country Value High Energy Dog Food
   Country Value Adult Cat Food
   Professional Chicken & Rice Adult Dog Food
   Professional Puppy Food
   Professional Large-Breed Puppy Food
   Professional Reduced Fat Cat Food
   Professional Adult Cat Food

   Pet guardians whose animal may have consumed a Diamond brand pet food product are urged to
   contact their veterinarian if their pet exhibits any of the following symptoms, which may indicate
   aflatoxin consumption:

• Sluggishness;
• Loss of appetite;
• Jaundice (yellow whites of the eyes, gums, belly or areas where hair is very thin);
• Severe, persistent vomiting combined with bloody diarrhea;
• Discolored urine;
• Fever

   Since other illnesses can cause the same symptoms, it is important for a veterinarian to check
   any suspected cases, experts said.

   Brinkmann said the company was alerted to the problem last Friday by a veterinarian in New York
   state, who said he had seen three dogs that were exhibiting symptoms associated with liver disease.

   "They were all three on one of our foods," Brinkmann said.

   The company issued the recall Wednesday for foods containing corn produced at the South Carolina
   plant between September 1 and December 10.

   The suspect items are marked with "best by" date codes of between March 1 and June 10, 2007.
   They contain an 11th or 12th digit, "G," signifying the Gaston facility.

   The plant routinely takes samples of each half hour of production and is sending those samples to
   laboratories as part of an investigation into how the contamination occurred, Brinkmann said. He
   urged consumers to check any product they may have before feeding it to their pets.

   Diamond Pet Food, a family-owned company, is based in Meta, Missouri, outside Jefferson City.
   Customers can receive more information about the recall by calling the Diamond Pet Foods
   Customer Information Center toll free at 1-866-214-6945. The Information center is open seven
   days a week from 8 a.m. to midnight EST.

   According to Cornell University scientists, at least 100 dogs died because of the tainted food
   in the last few weeks and many pet owners were not aware of the recall.

What's Really In Pet Food? An API Report

Whole chickens, choice cuts of beef, fresh grains and all the
wholesome nutrition your dog or cat will ever need.

These are the images pet food manufacturers promulgate through the media
and advertising. This is what the $10 billion per year U.S. pet food industry
wants consumers to believe they are buying when they purchase their
                                  products.

   This report explores the differences between what consumers think they are buying compared
   to what they are actually getting. This document focuses in very general terms on the most
   visible name brands -- the pet food labels that are mass distributed to supermarkets and
   grocery stores -- but there are many smaller, more highly respected brands that may be
   guilty of the same offenses. Read entire article >>

   DID YOU KNOW...  The maximum life span of our dogs & cats is estimated to be about
   25 to 30 years & yet the average pet lives only approximately 13 to 14 years? ...
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