Author: Susan Thixton
AAFCO notified us, the organization did something for consumers. AAFCO has dramatically lowered the cost of attending meetings for consumers. Cost to attend an AAFCO Meeting for Industry: $575.00Cost to attend an AAFCO Meeting for Consumers: $250.00 This is something we at AAFCO have been asking for – for years. And finally, they listened. But… is it too late? AAFCO – Association of American Feed Control Officials – is an organization of State Feed Control Officials, employees of state governments. AAFCO Official Feed members have more than 100 years of written (state) laws governing pet food and animal feed, including…
According to the press release, “General Mills said Thursday it will buy Whitebridge Pet Brands’ North American premium cat feeding and pet treating business in a transaction valued at $1.45 billion to expand its portfolio and strengthen its pet food business.” “General Mills said the deal will help it focus on its core brands such as Cocoa Puffs and Cheerios along with its pet food business to drive steady sales growth..” The most familiar brand from Whitebridge Pet Brands – included in this purchase of General Mills – is Tiki Pets. Other pet food/treat brands owned by General Mills are…
A recently updated lawsuit against the Bravecto flea and tick treatment provides a perfect example of how consumers are being misinformed about dangerous pet products. The updated lawsuit states (bold added): “received by the FDA three times as many reports for neurological adverse events after animals ingest Bravecto than any flea and tick product containing isoxazoline.” But, the pet-owning public was not properly warned. “On September 20, 2018—more than four years after Defendant began marketing and selling Bravecto and after thousands of consumer complaints about the product—the FDA issued an alert (the “FDA Press Release”) to potential neurological adverse events…
Among the most common pet food names (regardless of brand) is the word “with”, such as ‘with chicken’ or ‘with cow’. For example: The Purina One dog food above is named: “Lean Muscle Support with Real beef”. The package includes an image of a large chunk of beef on the label. Guess…in a 15 pound bag of ‘with Real Beef dog food’, with that picture of a hunk of beef on the label, how much beef is needed in that pet food? According to pet food regulations, ‘with’ included in the pet food name requires the product to include at…
Background: Pet owners in Florida recently went through two hurricanes in two weeks (Helene and Milton). Here in Florida we are taught to be prepared for hurricanes, including preparing for our pets. I found that some pet owners, while trying to prepare for our two hurricanes, went back to pet food for their pets (from feeding fresh food) before the hurricanes. They believe that their pet should have a balanced diet for every meal, and that a highly processed complete and balanced diet (kibble) is better than their pet eating an unbalanced diet. I did not agree with these beliefs,…
Through October 1, 2024, FDA has partnered with AAFCO to provide scientific review of new proposed pet/animal food ingredients. Now, they both plan to approve new substances separately – each with their own separate system. Giving the appearance these two organizations are working against each other / competing with each other. The FDA’s system is called the Animal Food Ingredient Consultation (AFIC) process. The FDA process will be similar to the previous AAFCO ingredient approval process, without any AAFCO involvement. Substance manufacturers will submit a proposed substance name, definition, and submit scientific evidence that the substance is safe. With animal…
The purpose of the following information is NOT to defend against pathogenic bacteria in any pet food. The intention is to exemplify how the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine intentionally misleads (lies) the public into believing that one style of pet food poses a greater risk of pathogenic bacteria than others. As the minimally processed pet food segment continues to grow, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) continues to do everything they can to curb that growth. In recent days, the FDA CVM has done their best (worst) to instill fear in consumers of a particular style of pet…
From the FDA statement: Lystn, LLC dba/ANSWERS Pet Food of Fleetwood, PA, has voluntarily withdrawn certain lots of ANSWERS Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs, SAGOT Straight Beef Formula for Dogs, and SAGOT Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs Dog out of an abundance of caution after samples collected by the US Food and Drug Administration reportedly tested positive for the presence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses associated with these lots have been confirmed. Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can affect animals that eat the products and there is a risk to people from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they…
The Purina Pet Food plant in Denver, CO has received multiple fines over the years for “beyond foul air pollution laws”. The Purina plant recently received another “$7,000 penalty from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment”. KDVR.com said in 2023: “The Nestlé Purina plant has been deemed one of the smelliest places in the Mile High City based on odor complaints reported to the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment.” Purina signed an agreement with the city of Denver “to comply with regulations regarding odor emissions”however the plant appears to still emit foul air (and has for…
Over the past five years – September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2024 – we’ve seen 44 pet food recalls, involving nearly 70 million pounds of pet food. Based on FDA Enforcement Report records, the breakdown of pounds of pet food recalled in the past five years is: 2019 (four months) – 387,062 lbs.2020 – 59,764,699 lbs.2021 – 8,656,987 lbs.2022 – 136,175 lbs.2023 – 756,848 lbs.2024 (eight months) – 33,250 lbs. In the first eight months of 2024, only 33,250 pounds of pet food were recalled. This number is very low, considering that the FDA received reports of more than…