From January 1, 2024 to the present (June 24, 2024), the FDA has issued thirteen consumer alerts about potentially dangerous foods.
By the time each of these thirteen alerts was issued, the food product in question had not been recalled. These public alerts are warnings to consumers based on adverse event reports received by the agency (illness reports submitted by consumers to the FDA).
For example: May 24, 2024 FDA Issues Warning About Toxic Amygdalin Found in Apricot Seeds – 1 consumer complaint.
April 4, 2024 FDA Issues Warning About Certain Supplements Replaced with Toxic Yellow Oleander – “The FDA has received reports of adverse events, including a report of a serious adverse event…”
January 2024 FDA Advises Parents and Caregivers Not to Buy or Feed WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree Pouches – “four children with high blood lead levels“.
In the same time frame that the FDA issued 13 human food warnings, the FDA’s animal food division – the Center for Veterinary Medicine received thousands of adverse event reports related to pet food products.
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act requested documents provided by the FDA, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine received 971 adverse event reports from consumers (reporting illness or death of pet) only in January 2024.
But, unlike human food products, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has issued zero consumer alerts.
Using the exact same criteria used for FDA human food alerts – consumer adverse event reports received by the agency – the Center for Veterinary Medicine did not follow the same protocol as used for human food alerts . The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has received thousands of consumer adverse event reports since January 2024, including many reports of pet deaths – but this particular FDA division has done nothing (and continues to do nothing ).
This FDA Animal and Veterinary Outbreaks and Advisories webpage states: “The public health advisories listed below are written by the FDA to alert the public about pressing person and/or animal health concerns related to products regulated by the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM).“
What else”pressing animal health concerns” than in January 2024 alone, the Center for Veterinary Medicine received 886 consumer reports about Purina Pet Food products, reporting 1,184 sick pets and 97 pet deaths?
13 human food warnings – 0 pet food warnings.
Why does the human food division of the FDA issue warnings/alerts regarding products they have only received a few adverse event reports on – while the animal food division of the FDA (Center for Veterinary Medicine) issues zero alerts when thousands of adverse event reports received?
Pet owners deserve answers.
It certainly seems to indicate that the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine is not concerned about pet health. It seems to indicate that this division of the FDA is more concerned with protecting the reputation of pet food manufacturers, than protecting the lives of pets.
The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has – for decades – directly authorized products they regulate that violate federal food safety laws (they call this an ‘enforcement decision’). This division of the FDA has – for decades – directly allowed the labels of the products they regulate to mislead consumers, refusing to require disclosure of illegal ingredients. And as they are proving to us today, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine is more concerned about protecting the reputation of select pet food manufacturers than protecting the lives of our pets.
How many pets will have to get sick or die until the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine actually enforces the law like they are required to?
Personal note: If your pet becomes ill that you believe is related to a pet food or treatment, report it to the FDA. Yes, I get it – you’re probably thinking why bother, they’re not going to do anything about it. While the agency may not investigate (ok…probably not), your adverse event report becomes a public record that advocates can request from the agency in a Freedom of Information Act request. Your report to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine may not be considered significant, but it is important to those trying to hold the agency accountable.
Don’t hesitate, report a pet food adverse event. Your pet’s illness or death may not be important to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, but it is important to us.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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