Pet Owners: B&B Food Products Could Pose Contamination Risk, Recent Investigation Reveals

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-information courtesy of the N.C. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is cautioning pet owners not to feed B&B brand pet foods, made by B&B of New Jersey, after an investigation conducted by the department’s Food and Drug Protection Division determined these raw meat-based products were manufactured and distributed without the required regulatory oversight.

During a routine inspection at Proformance Pet Supply in Greensboro, seven different B&B products were identified as missing significant portions of the product label as required under the N.C. Commercial Feed Law as well as the Federal Fair Labeling and Protection Act.

“Significant information was missing from the product label and because the pet food products contain ingredients with a potential risk of pathogen contamination, they could put your pets at risk,” Troxler said. “If you have purchased this product and still have it, please do not feed it to your pets.” Among the important missing information were the guaranteed analysis, proper feeding guidelines, quantity statement (net weight), guarantor information and intended species. In addition, these products are not registered for sale as animal food in North Carolina and it was subsequently determined that they are not manufactured under inspection by the New Jersey state regulatory agency to ensure the safety of the products, Troxler said.

These products include the following:

  • B&B Hi-Pro
  • B&B Nutro
  • B&B Special Order
  • B&B Premium
  • B&B Super
  • B&B Super Treats
  • B&B X-Factor

The products are sold frozen in a silver foil stand-up pouch with resealable closure and a white with black ink printed label attached. None of the packages are further identified by a lot code

“With a potential risk of pathogen contamination, it is important to be able to verify the products were manufactured under inspection to determine compliance with good manufacturing practices or preventive controls,” said George Ferguson, NCDA&CS animal feed program administrator. Additionally, these products lack sufficient labeling to indicate their appropriateness as a pet food and directions to ensure proper feeding which could lead to nutritional deficiencies.

Additional investigation found these products may have been distributed throughout the state and could still be available for purchase despite actions by Food and Drug inspectors to remove them from sale. “We encourage consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers and discard any of these products,” Ferguson said. “If you have any of the B&B pet food products, stop feeding it to your pets and throw it away in a secure container where other animals, including wildlife, cannot access it.”

Consumers who have had this product in their homes should clean refrigerators/freezers where the product was stored and clean and disinfect all bowls, utensils, food prep surfaces, pet bedding, litter boxes, toys, floors, and any other surfaces that the food or pet may have had contact with. Clean up the pet’s feces in places where people or other animals may become exposed. Consumers should thoroughly wash their hands after handling the product or cleaning up potentially contaminated items and surfaces.

People who think their pets have become ill after consuming contaminated pet food should first contact their veterinarians.

The NCDA&CS Food and Drug Protection Division encourages consumers to report complaints about pet food products by calling the Animal Feed Program Office at 984-236-4820 or by emailing complaint details to the N.C. Animal Feed Program at NCFeed.Complaint@ncagr.gov.

The Local Skinny! Geranium Lane Bridge Wash Out

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When it rains, it pours. And in the case of last week’s local soaking thanks to Tropical Storm Debby, sometimes part of your road washes away.

That’s just what happened on Geranium Lane in Kittrell, but quick thinking and some creative problem-solving helped the eight or 10 households regain access to their road, which is the only way in or out of their neighborhood.

Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame told WIZS that the families would have been stranded, had it not been for first responders that included members of the Kittrell Volunteer Fire Department and Chief David Woodlief.

They, along with Fogg’s Towing and J & J Logging, helped place a temporary bridge over the portion of the road that was washed away Thursday as Tropical Storm Debby made her way north across the state, spawning tornadoes in nearby Franklin County and keeping many Vance County residents concerned as the rain continued to soak the area all day.

Logging companies place temporary bridges to help their heavy equipment on and off property that is being logged. Now one of those structures is in place to allow families along Geranium Lane to get to and from their homes.

 

The Local Skinny! Airs on WIZS Mon-Thurs at 11:30 a.m.

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TownTalk: Phil Lakernick On Ballet Arts

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Ballet Arts has provided dance classes in Henderson for more than three decades, but don’t let the name fool you – students have a wide assortment of dance genres to choose from, from classics like ballet and tap to hiphop and even acrobatics.

“Ballet is the foundation of all dancing,” said Phil Lakernick, whose daughter Alecia had the vision for a dance studio way back in 1991.

Dance in general, and ballet in particular, helps students learn discipline as they learn the finer points of the art. For many students, dance is a pastime, a way to stay active and have fun. But that self-discipline? That’s a valuable asset that serves young dancers long after they’ve left the studios at Ballet Arts.

Lakernick said more than 7,000 students have come to learn about and practice various forms of dance in the studio’s downtown Henderson location.

There are four studios located in the historic three-story building, which probably sees 1,000 or so students over the course of a week. Ballet Arts offers more than 100 classes each week, so parents and their children have choices that best accommodate their schedules.

Most classes meet once a week, which is manageable for busy families who face logistical challenges with work, sports, school and more.

The kids who come in for weekly classes are considered “recreational” students, he explained. The students who make “company” are the ones that may have more rehearsals during the week.

Last year’s company won a spot at an international dance competition in New York City, where they placed seventh in the category of production performances. Seventh. In the world.

After performing a production number at a Durham competition earlier in 2023, the dance group earned a “golden ticket” from among close to 300 acts to gain admission to the international competition in July 2023.

The dance groups also compete at several of the events hosted at McGregor Hall throughout the year, Lakernick said. Having such top-notch venue so close by is a huge plus, he added.

“McGregor Hall is fantastic,” he said, adding that he was on the original design committee when the performing arts venue was just an idea on paper.

“Having McGregor Hall here is phenomenal,” he continued, because it gives young people a wonderful opportunity to perform in environs that professionals enjoy.

These days, Lakernick is the studio’s general manager, which includes everything from promoter to janitor and security guard.

But one of his favorite tasks has to be walking down the hallway lined with pictures of former students over the years. There’s not room for 7,000, but every now and then, LaKernick has occasion to recall some of those young people.

Ten or 15 years ago, he said, one student had said it was her goal to become a doctor. She was a hard worker in dance class, he recalled, and a few years ago, she came back to Ballet Arts to say thank you.

She’s an OB-GYN now, he said. But his daughter Alecia was puzzled about the reason for the thank you, so many years later.

“I want to give you some credit,” Lakernick said she told his daughter. It was the discipline she had learned through dance that kept her in the library instead of going out with friends, and the hours spent practicing her art that helped her achieve her goal.

Register for fall classes at Ballet Arts by visiting https://www.balletartsnc.com/ or phone 252.432.9308.

 

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Vance County Logo

Vance County Board of Equalization and Review Meeting Dates

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The Vance County Commissioners, and Clerk to the Board Kelly Grissom, informed WIZS News that the Vance County Board of Equalization and Review has approved the following dates.

The purpose is to “continue to hear appeals from taxpayers who have appealed their new tax values with the Vance County Tax Office,” according to the notice sent by Grissom.

Remember, the appeals deadline has passed and so these meetings are for those properties already on appeal by the deadline.

All meetings will be held in the Commissioners’ Conference Room, Vance County Administration Building, 122 Young Street, Henderson, NC at 4:00 p.m.

  • Monday, August 19
  • Monday, September 16
  • Monday, October 21
  • Monday, November 18

Joint Vance County Public Safety Committee/Fire Commission Meeting Thursday, Aug. 15

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Please be informed of a joint public safety committee/fire commission meeting to continue discussions of the fire study report.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 15 at 4:00 p.m. and will be held in the commissioners’ conference room.

— From Kelly Grissom, Clerk to Board/Executive Assistant, Vance County Board of Commissioners

Henderson City Council Regular August Meeting Monday, Aug. 19

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Public Notice

The Henderson City Council changed the Regular Meeting schedule at a Special Called meeting on July 15, 2024. The August 12, 2024 City Council Regular Meeting is canceled and rescheduled for Monday, August 19, 2024.

Tracey Kimbrell

City Clerk

City of Henderson

Kerr-Tar COG Hosts Cultivate 2024 Sept. 12 At Louisburg College

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The Kerr-Tar Council of Governments is hosting this year’s Cultivate 2024 regional economic development summit at Louisburg College on Thursday, Sept. 12.

The summit will be held at the Jones Performing Arts Center on the college’s campus and begins at 8:30 a.m., according to information from local Chamber president Sandra Wilkerson.

Business leaders, elected officials and others interested in economic development across the Kerr-Tar region can register HERE; although there is no fee associated with the event, registration is required.

Keynote speaker is Jennifer Pharr Davis, an author and small business owner. Other speakers include Ryan Combs, executive director of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership and Scott Peacock, director of Tourism, Marketing & Communication for Visit NC.

In addition to the speakers, participants will have the chance to visit a trade show and hear panel discussions. The summit will discuss how rural communities can foster innovation to create thriving futures.

Jones Performing Arts Center is located at 501 N. Main St., Louisburg.

Visit  https://www.kerrtarcog.org/ to learn more about KTCOG and the programs it offers in its service area that includes Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin counties.

Duke Energy

TownTalk: Duke Energy Progress

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As the wind and rain from Tropical Storm Debby continued to pelt the entire WIZS listening area Thursday morning, Duke Energy officials said power outages were limited at that time around Henderson and Vance County.

Duke Spokesman Garrett Poorman reminded customers to think Safety First. There are several ways to report a power outage in your area, but thanks to advances in grid technology, phone calls and text messages aren’t the only ways that the energy company is alerted to outages.

Report outages at www.duke-energy.com, text “OUT” to 57801 or download the Duke Energy app on a mobile device, he said on Thursday’s TownTalk. Of course, customers can dial 800-POWERON (800.769.3766) too, he said.

“The first priority is safety when it comes to storm damage,” Poorman said. That’s for crews and for customers.

Whenever winds are greater than 30 mph, crews are grounded from performing work in bucket trucks, he said.

And a couple of words of advice that bear repeating: if you see a downed power line, just stay away from it.

Even as forecasters were predicting the storm’s path, Duke was assembling 7,500 workers in strategic positions across the Carolinas, poised to fan out to areas affected by the storm’s damaging wind and rain.

Power restoration is a complex process, Poorman said, and Duke is continually upgrading the grid system to be able to automatically detect outages so crews can pinpoint the area that needs repair.

And then there are advances like a “self-healing network,” Poorman said, which works much like a GPS in your car. If there’s a traffic jam ahead, your GPS will likely reroute you to an alternate route. The self-healing network applies the same concept – it reroutes the energy to avoid the damaged lines.

“We’re able to reroute power around the outage,” Poorman said, “that will help us minimize the impact of a storm like this.”

Get updates at www.duke-energy.com.

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