Mice Recall Phone Call

[guidofatherof5]

Received a response to my email to Mice Direct.
I'm satisfied with their handling of the situation.


Hello Steve,

Quick Note: Hey, sorry that you were contacted by ny times. Please read
following statement. Thanks, #####

We apologize for the time is has taken to respond to all of our customers
individually. We are a small company and have been working day and night to
resolve this issue and are trying to keep our doors open for business. Your
support is greatly needed. The outpouring of support that we are receiving
is very much appreciated as we are 100% committed to our customers.

It is important to understand that this type of Salmonella does not transfer
to reptiles. The only harm in having handled this product is to humans and
not reptiles. Good Hygiene effectively mitigates chances of transfering
Salmonella to humans.

In this recall, it is asked that you either return the product in its
original container or destroy the product. We cannot force you to return or
destroy the product. The decision is yours.

As of 7/24/10, we have started irradiating our product which eliminates
bacteria and disease. This process does not change anything about the
rodent, except killing contaminates. We are not aware of anyone else using
this method. Please advise us as to your decision and we will accommodate
you. We are attaching the statement that we have on our website for you.

Please forgive this form type email, as we are receiving many emails and are
trying to accommodate all the requests we have. We very much want to
continue to earn your business and trust by provided you healthy food for
your animals. Your support during this very difficult time is most
appreciated.

Best Regards,

############

MiceDirect

[guidofatherof5]

Well, the article is out in the Times. The snake pictured is one on my T.s.parietalis(Red Sided Garter snake)
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/bu...e.html?_r=1&hp

[MasSalvaje]

Interesting Steve. There seem to be some contridictions between the email you recieved from MiceDirect and the article. I am curious to see how this affects MiceDirect directly and the reptile industry as a whole.

Very good pics by the way.

-Thomas

[Jeff B]

I wouldn't say this is exactly "good press" nor good attention for the hobby. Most of the public is going to look very negatively at this and towards snake and reptile keepers and think that we are filthy, with disease infested freezers and homes, and that we are the cause of the spread of salmonella, as if they didn't already, this is just fuel to the fire.
I received the same email from Mice Direct after I emailed them yesterday seeing the release. I'm not to worried about it, in fact I would be even more likely to buy, in fact I may start buying exclusively from Mice Direct now that they will be irradiating everything, doesn't get any safer than that, in fact that is probably overkill, but I'm sure they are forced at this point to take a "better safe than sorry" stance.

[drache]

oops
couldn't find this thread for some reason, and started a new one with the Times article

[Selkielass]

Handling recalls is a tricky business. I used to work for a major retailer, in the quality assurance department, and the line between sufficiently warning people of possible dangers and inciting fear and inviting a lawsuit is a fine one indeed.

I'm *very* impressed that they are going to be irradiating future shipments- If I were going thru enough mice to make a bulk order worthwhile I'd choose their product over non-irradiated rodents.

[MasSalvaje]

I wouldn't say this is exactly "good press" nor good attention for the hobby. Most of the public is going to look very negatively at this and towards snake and reptile keepers and think that we are filthy, with disease infested freezers and homes, and that we are the cause of the spread of salmonella, as if they didn't already, this is just fuel to the fire.
I received the same email from Mice Direct after I emailed them yesterday seeing the release. I'm not to worried about it, in fact I would be even more likely to buy, in fact I may start buying exclusively from Mice Direct now that they will be irradiating everything, doesn't get any safer than that, in fact that is probably overkill, but I'm sure they are forced at this point to take a "better safe than sorry" stance.

Well said.

-Thomas

[Kevinh583]

Does anybody else have any reservations about feeding their pets irradiated food? I would be especially hesitant if irradiated pinkies would make up most of the snake's diet. From what I understand the irradiation process affects the food much like the cooking process would breaking down certain vitamins, amino acids and destroying enzymes. Of course it would be hard to know to what extent this would affect the snake without some kind of a study being done and of course there are some obvious benefits to irradiated food.

Also, in addition to the possible nutritional issues haven't irradiated foods caused problems in certain animals, for example cats. It sounds to me like Mice Direct would be the first company to sell irradiated mice, it would be horrible if a few years from now we would have a bunch of unhealthy snakes. I realize pet diets can be a controversial subject and don't want to start a big debate, just wondering if anybody else shares these concerns.

I should add as a disclaimer that I am the type of person who pays twice as much for organic food and avoids any GM or processed food as much as possible. So it is only natural that this philosophy would carry over to the diet of any animals under my care. I admit some of my concerns may be a little irrational or overblown at times.

[Hollis_Steed]

Kevin,
I feel the same way. In fact I would be more comfortable feeding wild caught mice than irradiated. But of course to each his own.

[ConcinusMan]

Well Kevin it has been proven that snakes get more energy from, and digest easier, food that has been cooked. However, the level and type of radiation, and duration of irradiation, does not affect the food at all. It simply damages the DNA of microorganisms, affectively killing it or at least preventing it from reproducing. And Hollis, one would be very foolish, or least misguided to believe that wild mice would be better than irradiated mice from this company. Wild mice are almost always infested with internal parasites.

I wouldn't even send the recalled mice back, or destroy them. I just wouldn't handle them and I'd bleach surfaces, tongs, etc. after contact. That is all that is needed. Wearing neoprene gloves when feeding isn't a bad idea either.