Consumer Confidential: Food, feed and fraud

Here's your manic-Monday roundup of consumer news from around the Web:

-- In a glaring sign of the economic times,  Gourmet magazine is being closed  by parent Conde Nast Publications. The nation's oldest food magazine is the latest victim of a prolonged advertising slump in the media world. Also on the chopping block, according to reports, are Modern Bride, Elegant Bride and Cookie, a parenting magazine. Gourmet's ad pages were down 50% in the second quarter from a year earlier.

-- Diamond Pet Foods has pulled certain bags of its Premium Edge Finicky Adult and Premium Edge Hairball cat food from distribution. The company said it found deficient levels of the supplement thiamine. The recall follows a similar move by Nutro Products, which discovered that a worker's hard hat had left bits of plastic in some puppy food after falling into the company's machinery. Concerned pet owners should check both companies' websites for the latest info.

-- The Oregon attorney general's office is warning consumers not to get duped if they receive a call from someone claiming to represent a police, fire or public-safety organization. Chances are, the call is actually from scammers trying to score some easy money from people who think they're helping emergency responders. Anyone wanting to donate money to such causes should do so directly, not to some stranger on the phone.

-- David Lazarus

Deficiencies in the thiamine levels of certain bags of Premium Edge Finicky Adult and Premium Edge Hairball cat food have prompted Diamond Pet Foods to pull the products from distribution.

Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/10/diamond_pet_food.html#ixzz0T4zlo9Pg

Deficiencies in the thiamine levels of certain bags of Premium Edge Finicky Adult and Premium Edge Hairball cat food have prompted Diamond Pet Foods to pull the products from distribution.

Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/10/diamond_pet_food.html#ixzz0T4zlo9Pg

Deficiencies in the thiamine levels of certain bags of Premium Edge Finicky Adult and Premium Edge Hairball cat food have prompted Diamond Pet Foods to pull the products from distribution.

Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/10/diamond_pet_food.html#ixzz0T4zlo9Pg

Consumer Confidential: Pocketbooks, protection and pups

Here's your thrilled-it's-Thursday roundup of consumer news from around the Web:

--We're shopping again. Consumer spending posted a 1.3% increase in August -- the largest jump in nearly eight years -- thanks mostly to the government's cash-for-clunkers program, which lured car buyers back into showrooms. Economists say we probably won't see another spending spree like that any time soon, but we've still logged four straight months of growth.

--Fedmeister Ben Bernanke told lawmakers it's "vitally important" that consumers are protected from "unfair and deceptive practices in their financial dealings." But he stopped short of endorsing President Obama's plan for a a new regulatory agency that would focus solely on doing just that. The banking industry says the Fed can handle all that watchdogging on its own (with help from a bunch of other agencies). Yeah, that's worked really well for consumers so far.

--Careful with that puppy chow. Nutro Products is pulling some of its puppy food from store shelves because a worker's hard hat was apparently sucked into the machinery, raising the possibility of bits of plastic getting into Fido's feast.

-- David Lazarus

Pet industry expected to grow in 2009

While the rest of the economy goes to the dogs, pet-centered businesses are still riding high, according to new research.

The pet industry is expected to generate $51.6 billion this year -- 1.3% more than in 2008, according to Los Angeles-based research firm IBISWorld. Even the number of cats and dogs as pets is expected to increase this year, by 2.4% to 169 million.

The veterinary services sector is branching into a wider range of services, offering chiropractics, ophthalmology, dentistry and dermatology, among others. Researchers anticipate that the segment will grow at an average annual rate of 4.3% over the next five years and pull in $22.3 billion this year alone in revenue.

Pet food producers also will grow steadily, making $15.2 billion this year as they experiment with natural and organic products. Demand for premium pet foods, with more owners asking for breed-specific brands and diet ideas, is helping to bolster the section.

Revenue from food, supplies and medicine will help pet stores earn $11.45 billion, with a minor contribution from sales of live animals as controversy builds over puppy mills and an increasing number of homeless animals ending up in shelters.

Pet grooming and boarding businesses will attract $2.69 billion in business in 2009, IBISWorld said.

-- Tiffany Hsu

Dog website offers free resume posting for pet owners

Call this an economy-bites-dog-owner story:

Dog News Daily, a website for dog owners and pet industry companies, is donating $1 million worth of ad space on its site to help unemployed dog owners collar a job.

The Help Find a Dog Owner a Job program will allow people with pets to post one-page resumes for free on the site's blog. Companies in the pet industry can post job listings without charge.

To publish a resume, go to BlogDogNewsDaily.com and click "Resumes - Post & Review."

-- Tiffany Hsu

Photo credit: Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times

Santa's Little Helper: Gifts for the cat lover

 

Looking for the purr-fect gift for the feline in your life or a fellow cat fanatic? Here’s a few suggestions for Santa Claws:

Kittywalk closet sleeper: Tired of brushing off cat hair from your sweaters, dresses and shoes because  your favorite feline likes to snooze in the closet? This sleeper, which holds cats up to 15 pounds, hangs from the closet clothes rail so kitty has its own home in your closet. The faux fur pad inside the sleeper is removable and washable. $69.95.

Christmas tree scratcher: When your feline has cat scratch fever during the holidays, he or she might enjoy this unique scratcher shaped like a Christmas tree. The scratcher comes with a bag of certified organic catnip. $64.

Hello Kitty quartz watch necklace: The Hello Kitty line is a matter of taste even for the most ardent feline fanciers. But if you love Hello Kitty, you might like this necklace watch. $19.95.

The gift of 'Are you serious?'

Wondering what to get the animal-lover who has everything? How about a wig made especially for cats, or a treadmill designed specifically for dogs?

We trolled the Web looking for some of the craziest pet products on the market and came up with all kinds of interesting discoveries.

Click here to read more.

--Deborah Netburn

Photo credit: Jill Johnson

Santa's Little Helper: Gifts for your dog

These gifts come highly recommended by Heidi, above, a 6-year-old German shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix who was born to shop and has her eye on a career in Hollywood. (You can follow her story in “The Heidi Chronicles” on The Times’ pets and animal blog, L.A. Unleashed.)

1. Nylabone Flexible Rainbow Flying Disc, Bone on Top

Dogs love Frisbees –- but have you ever watched a dog try to pick up a Frisbee off a flat surface? Look up frustration in the dictionary. These soft Frisbees feature a bone on top that makes them easier to pick up in case your dog misses the catch. They come in small, medium and large. Available from various dog product websites; prices usually under $10.

2. “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” by Garth Stein. (Harper 2008)

We really enjoyed this novel, written in the voice of a very thoughtful dog named Enzo. Read it to your dog. Prices vary, but we found the hardcover book at Amazon.com for $16.95.

3. Light-up dog collars

When it’s really dark, we prefer a collar that actually lights up, rather than the reflective variety. This site offers a wide selection, price range $15 to $30. But let us know if you find a better bargain.

Nothing is too good -- or too expensive -- for Fido

Now we've seen everything.

According to this story by the Associated Press, shoppers plan to pinch their pennies as they purchase gifts this holiday season ... except, of course, when shopping for their beloved pets.

The article sites a survey by Consumer Reports in which 59% of shoppers said they plan to cut back on gift giving -- but only 23% said they planned to spend less on pet gifts. (By comparison, 40% said they're scaling back on buying for friends and friends' families, 30% plan to spend less on service providers such as delivery people, hairdressers and gym instructors, and 29% aren't giving as much to co-workers.)

The story suggests pets aren’t being affected by their owners' budget-crunching because pet gifts aren’t as costly. "Most average folks aren't spending an arm and a leg on their pet," said Tod Marks, senior projects editor at Consumer Reports.

When people treat themselves, on the other hand, it's usually with something like a plasma TV or other big-ticket item for the family, he said.

Just remember: Don't let your pet open all its gifts at once on Christmas Day; like children, you want to spread out the fun.

-- Yvonne Villareal

We'll let the press release serve as the photo caption: Why not give your pet the same luxury and comfort....people enjoy from their Sleep Number beds? Bed retails for $189.99. Photo credit: www.sleepnumber.com

Tiny turtles: Take 'em off your Christmas list!

Tiny turtles: So cute, so cheap, so ...  dangerous and illegal?

Vigilant readers of To Live and Buy in L.A. have brought to our attention that selling the tiny turtles we mentioned in our Chinatown post is illegal. Given the ubiquity of the cute creatures in Chinatown, we checked in with L.A. Animal Services for the details. Here's the lowdown:

Federal law forbids the sale of turtles with shells (or carapaces) less than 4 inches long. The main concern is that turtles can carry salmonella bacteria, which can make humans very ill. Health officials are particularly concerned about children putting their hands in their mouths after handling the turtles and contracting salmonellosis, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, fever and, in rare cases, death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have more details here.

L.A. Animal Services advises anyone who sees small turtles for sale to call Animal Control at (888) 452-7381, or the SPCA at (323) 730-5300. And if you have a tortoise you no longer want, phone American Tortoise Rescue at (800) 938-3553.

If you bought a turtle and don't want to give it up, L.A. Animal Services offers these tips to stay healthy: minimize handling of the animal, and wear latex gloves when touching it. Don't clean the turtle's habitat in your kitchen or bathroom sink where the bacteria may be transmitted to your food, toothbrush or dishes. Wash your hands immediately after touching any reptile or amphibian.

-- Julie Makinen

Photo: Turtles on sale in Chinatown.

Could Fido wear this to the inauguration?

Obamamania has clearly gone to the dogs. (Hey, if newspapers can get in on the action, so can your favorite canine.)

But now pups can dress for the occasion -- in a form-fitting "Los Angeles [loves] Obama" doggie T-shirt by, interestingly enough, People for Obama.  Made of 100% cotton and featuring a black ringer accent on the sleeves and collar, the shirt will make all the four-legged McCain supporters out there tuck their tails between their legs.

Is your dog a little on the husky side? Not a problem. The $20.99 shirt is available in five sizes, from small to XX large.

--Yvonne Villarreal

Photo credit: People for Obama