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Kalmbach Feeds Civil Suit?

Horse Care
#1

Not me…was posted on FB with a link. Just wondering thoughts. I can’t believe Kalmbach/Tribute would be guilty, but…

“https://cpdocket.cp.cuyahogacounty.us/Search.aspx, click “civil search by name” and put Kalmbach in the company name box. Click case number CV-16-867174, then “Docket.” Down at the bottom to the right of when it says the summary was filed is a little icon that looks like a piece of paper. If you click that it will open the 20-something page summary. Apparently the claim that was made was that the Essential K was made in a closed equine feed mill, and was “ionophore free,” but that it was actually made in a facility that also made “medicated feeds” (ie agricultural feeds for cattle, swine and poultry that do contain ionophores, which are deathly toxic and poisonous to horses). The plaintiffs had/have a Percheron farm and contend that they had several animals die or get sick from consumption of the tainted/contaminated feed.”

#2

I’m curious to see where this goes, as Kalmbach/Tribute’s website says they have separate production lines for non-medicated and medicated feeds, but I don’t know if this means they are in separate buildings or stored separately as well. Most of the ionophore-free mills I’m familiar with don’t allow production or storage of ANY medicated feeds in the facility.

#3

I have dealings with Kalmbach in the past where I have not found them to be 100% honest. I would not trust ANYTHING they say.

#4

Good afternoon Jackie and Starlette.
My name is Bonnie Brannigan. I work for Kalmbach Feeds and Tribute Equine Nutrtition. Just so you know, our horse feed products have been used by tens of thousands of satisfied customers for more than a decade without any complaints of contamination. We have investigated the allegations in this case and they are without merit. Our flagship Tribute products including Essential K are not and have never been produced in any other manufacturing facilities other than ours in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. In this case, a professor and expert in veterinary toxicology has determined that the horses did not become ill from ionophores. We care deeply for our customers and their animals, and continue to have complete confidence in the quality and safety of our products.

#5

Good afternoon. My name is Bonnie Brannigan. I work for Kalmbach Feeds. I just want you to know that our equine products are made in our completely ionophore-free facility.
We have investigated the allegations in this case and the case is without merit. We have fed thousands of horses over more than ten years and have never had a complaint of contamination. We are confident in the safety and quality of our products.

#6

A friend posted this on a FB group, asking if any of us had heard anything, and when I did some digging and couldn’t find anything (other than a lawsuit by Kalambach against Purina, so obviously that type of info is out there), she did a little more digging. Allegedly, the person bringing the suit is looking for a scapegoat to blame for her horses’ deaths, and picked Kalambach, and has apparently done things like this before.

#7

I think these things are very difficult to prove. Horse owner must be able to show that nothing else in the horses environment could be the cause. That’s a lot of stuff to have sent to labs at owner’s expense to rule out. The feed co. only has to research that one batch of feed and no matter if feed co. is honest the horse owner will never quite believe the feed co.'s findings of “clean” feed. All in all no one will be happy. Went through this same thing with my neighbor’s two horses. Both badly coliced after being fed from brand new bag of senior feed. Both sent to Ohio State. One died and the other recovered. Cause of colics was never determined (by feed lab) but friend to this day is sure it was tainted feed.

#8

Thanks Bonnie…I think you are who I received a response from on Facebook and I did post your reply, and they were happy to hear about this. Of course there is always one conspiracy theorist…

#9

[QUOTE=cutter99;8800601]
I have dealings with Kalmbach in the past where I have no found them to be 100% honest. I would not trust ANYTHING they say.[/QUOTE]

Do you care to elaborate?
I have had exact opposite experiences, as have most of my horse owner
friends.

#10

Ive been feeding Tribute for years and am concerned as well. Here is the recent link on RateMyHorsePro …

http://www.ratemyhorsepro.com/horse-owners-sue-kalmbach-contaminated-equine-feed/

So … what to do, what to do … this kind of stuff is coming up WAY too often with various companies and I never thought it would come up with Tribute. Bad enough that it happens at all - this should be such a basic thing to prevent - medicated and non medicated feed should NEVER be processed at the same facility to prevent cross contamination

I swear I am going to look into a basic oat diet with flax and vitamins and some corn oil, save a whack of money in the process and not worry anymore about what was or wasn’t processed on that line prior to my bag of horse feed travelling down the same path … :frowning:

#11

[QUOTE=TrueColours;8801695]

I swear I am going to look into a basic oat diet with flax and vitamins and some corn oil, save a whack of money in the process and not worry anymore about what was or wasn’t processed on that line prior to my bag of horse feed travelling down the same path … :([/QUOTE]

FWIW, I pretty much feed the diet you describe (minus the corn oil) and do not feel I am immune to potential issues. Oats still run through processing equipment. I find weird stuff in my bags of oats all the time no matter how high the quality-- corn kernels, pellets, bits of unidentifiable debris, etc. Who knows what the mill was handling prior to the oats. I often fear that since oats aren’t strictly for horses, they may not get the same precautions as a true horse feed.

And it’s my understanding that the vit/min companies have even less regulation than the feed mills. I don’t believe they have any oversight in how their ingredients are handled.

Contamination is a unfortunate risk that comes along with mass manufacturing products. I would like to see ionophores 100% separated from anywhere horse feed is made. But even if we get to that point, there are still plenty of other ways feed can be contaminated by pathogens at the plant. Just look at all the listeria recalls we’ve had in human food.

#12

I find weird stuff in my bags of oats all the time no matter how high the quality-- corn kernels, pellets, bits of unidentifiable debris, etc. Who knows what the mill was handling prior to the oats. I often fear that since oats aren’t strictly for horses, they may not get the same precautions as a true horse feed.

We live in a very high grain producing area (oats, wheat, barley, rye, corn)and the local seed cleaning facility has those oats for sale that have gone through their facility. So - I think - in a worst case scenario, I might get some corn, rye, wheat or barley bits in there, but that’s about it.

I don’t know what the answer is and I agree 100% on the listeria, salmonella - you name it - recalls. Short of growing and processing everything on your own property and not using any 2nd and 3rd party processing facilities for what you produce, you are at the mercy of their manufacturing husbandry and attention to detail and sanitary issues and that’s it … :frowning:

#13

Is Your Horsefeed Safe on FB posted the link to RateMyPro. I did not see the FDA report originally, and now this leans towards they are running medicated feed and horse feed in the same plant. This is the complaint. How they got the letters, etc. I wonder about, too - unless they are falsified? Scroll down to page 23/24

http://www.ratemyhorsepro.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Kalmbach_TributeHorseFeedLawsuit_RMHP.pdf

#14

Bonnie - I use Essential K GC and love it, want to keep using it, but I am concerned. You say it is a completely ionophore-free facility, but according to the FDA report, medicated feed is being produced. At this point, I don’t care if the feed was contaminated or not, I want to know if they are a ionophore-free facility and by that report you are not. So how do you explain the FDA report of medicated feed being produced, when you say it is not even on the property?

#15

I did speak with our Tribute rep 2 days ago and I specifically brought up the FDA report. IMO - the lawsuit either is or isn’t valid and until the case is heard in court and information and evidence is heard from both sides, we wont know what the truth is in this specific case that caused this thread to be started in the first case.

BUT … Bonnie - the rep was unwilling and unable to comment on or verify the FDA report. I cant blame the rep - they are simply doing and saying what they have been instructed by you or someone else, to do and say.

IMO - someone from Kalmbach needs to address the FDA report issue. Not saying anything makes it worse. Not confirming or denying it makes it even worse … We all know about it, by remaining quiet it makes it look like the manufacturer is hiding something and hoping we all forget about it. Its not going to happen. :no:

How has cross contamination occurred and been discovered to have occured (according to the FDA report) in a facility that has been stated to not run any medicated feeds down its line?

That’s the “Elephant in the Room” Bonnie. That question has to be answered please …

I have been such a huge and vocal supporter of the Tribute line of feeds for my horses for many years. Literally since the day you came into Canada with your product line. Give me some valid and believable reasons why I should remain a customer rather than making a decision to look elsewhere because I haven’t been provided with the information and assurances I require to stay with the brand …

Thank you

#16

I did speak with our Tribute rep 2 days ago and I specifically brought up the FDA report. IMO - the lawsuit either is or isn’t valid and until the case is heard in court and information and evidence is heard from both sides, we wont know what the truth is in this specific case that caused this thread to be started in the first case.

BUT … Bonnie - the rep was unwilling and unable to comment on or verify the FDA report. I cant blame the rep - they are simply doing and saying what they have been instructed by you or someone else, to do and say.

IMO - someone from Kalmbach needs to address the FDA report issue. Not saying anything makes it worse. Not confirming or denying it makes it even worse … We all know about it, by remaining quiet it makes it look like the manufacturer is hiding something and hoping we all forget about it. Its not going to happen. :no:

How has cross contamination occurred and been discovered to have occured (according to the FDA report) in a facility that has been stated to not run any medicated feeds down its line?

That’s the “Elephant in the Room” Bonnie. That question has to be answered please …

I have been such a huge and vocal supporter of the Tribute line of feeds for my horses for many years. Literally since the day you came into Canada with your product line. Give me some valid and believable reasons why I should remain a customer rather than making a decision to look elsewhere because I haven’t been provided with the information and assurances I require to stay with the brand …

Thank you

edited to add … I am thoroughly confused right now. Initially it has been stated that no medicated feeds are run through this line at all. Period. And now the response to the FDA report from Kalmbach is:

In April of 2015 we found out that the auto-flushing at the end of medicated feeds was not being recorded in our electronic batching records. We immediately investigated the issue and worked with the supplier of the automation system to make changes to ensure that the auto-flush was working properly and being recorded jn the electronic batch records. The final portion of the changes were completed during the week of May 18, 2015 when the technician from the automation company was onsite to implement and validate the changes.

In this response, you are admitting to running medicated feeds through a line that isn’t supposed to have any medicated feed running through it at all and implanting the necessary procedures to ensure no cross contamination occurs.

I am truly concerned and very confused at this point in time … :frowning:

#17

I did speak with our Tribute rep 2 days ago and I specifically brought up the FDA report. IMO - the lawsuit either is or isn’t valid and until the case is heard in court and information and evidence is heard from both sides, we wont know what the truth is in this specific case that caused this thread to be started in the first case.

edited to add …

I have since spoken to a large feed store owner who has been carrying the Tribute product line for many years. He has no intention of not carrying the Tribute products unless this court case proves otherwise. He also did take a great deal of time to explain to me the difference between ionophore free and medication free and as they also ran (and I believe still run) their own feed mills and their family has done so for decades, he is very well versed in what he is talking about.

I don’t want to say anything more that could perhaps inadvertently jeopardize the Tribute position in this court case but suffice to say after I spoke with him, and remembering that he has absolutely no dog in this fight at all, I am 100% confident in my decision to remain with the Tribute brand with my horses

In closing, in this litigious environment we live in today, remember that anyone can sue anyone for anything and the burden is then on the defendant to spend time and money fighting those claims. It truly doesn’t matter if the plaintiffs claim is 100% correct, 50% correct, 1% correct or 0% correct - the same time, money and effort needs to be spent by the defendant in what is being claimed by the plaintiff and in most cases they are extremely limited in what they can state publicly without jeopardizing their position

Bear that in mind before anyone jumps ship right now …especially if you have been, like many of us are, extremely happy with the feed, the customer service and the follow up from Tribute up til now … :slight_smile:

#18

I am following this thread closely. I have fed Tribute feeds for 10+ years, namely the Essential K GC, Maturity and Kalm Performer. This case is in my area. I was less than concerned prior to reading the complaint and the FDA report. However, I am questioning why there are certain things redacted from the FDA report - seemingly, the names of the different feeds. I would like to see the FDA report, unredacted.

I don’t know what to do. I would think if it were in fact feed poisoning, wouldn’t we have heard of other horses who had been poisoned, sickened or killed? Why is it just this farm? Inquiring minds want to know. As with you all, my horses health, safety and well-being is paramount.

#19

I am with you all…I love Tribute feeds, and would hate to think that there is some hidden issues going on. From the FB messages I got from them (I assume Bonnie)…

9:36pm
Jackie Smith Flanders
Hi again…is it true that the FDA found that Kalmbach is not a closed facility, that indeed Kalmbach runs medicated feeds in the same facility as the horse/non-medicated feeds? Here is the link that shows at the end Kalbach being sited for non-compliance…

Tribute Equine Nutrition
Jackie, your question is related to a specific in the case that I’m not at liberty to address right now. As soon as we can, we will be responding to this issue in court.

8:08am
Jackie Smith Flanders:
I understand. But can I be assured that the current Tribute feeds have no chance of being exposed to medications or contamination from other livestock feeds? I hope I worded my question in a way you can respond. Thank you

8:12am
Tribute Equine Nutrition
Jackie, you can be assured that our horse feeds are manufactured in a facility that is completely ionophore-free.

So…there you go. Also I still want to know how the plaintiff got their hands on those documents…I would think the FDA would not allow someone to just walk in and rifle through their files.

Jackie

#20

This is coming up too often anywhere. I’m following this closely…and thinking of switching to alfalfa pellets, flax, and a supplement. Just to void out any processed feeds.

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