Can A Pet Food Manufacturer Be A Consumer Advocate? – Truth about Pet Food

From a press release: “The Petfood Consumer Rights Council, a first-of-its-kind consumer protection and animal welfare organization, has launched and announced its first key initiative, a 90-day founding member drive. The PCRC is the first 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization in history devoted exclusively to advancing the rights and interests of American pet owners.“

The Petfood Consumer Rights Council is founded by “Daniel Schulof” – the founder and CEO of Keto Natural pet food brand. However…the ‘consumer protection’ website and the press release did not disclose it’s founder is a pet food manufacturer.

The press release states this consumer advocacy organization will be different. “The PCRC is designed to be different. We recognize that hundreds of millions of household pets already have smart, caring human guardians that are deeply invested in their health and well-being. We believe that the best way to help those animals live long and happy lives is to ensure that their guardians have all the tools and information they need to make good decisions on behalf of their pets.“

Another quote from pet food manufacturer Schulof: “Since its inception, the pet food industry has been essentially the only significant source of funding for veterinary nutrition research in the United States. That’s a problem, because it means that vital, ground-breaking studies can’t get funding if their findings potentially aren’t good for industry. Tobacco and lung cancer makes for an instructive comparison: if the only source of funding for lung cancer research was cigarette companies, we’d never have learned that smoking causes cancer.“

But again…the press release never discloses that Schulof is a pet food manufacturer.

Personal statement: Daniel Schulof has emailed me numerous times over the years. When I read the press release, I emailed Mr. Schulof regarding my concern that a pet food manufacturer is founding a pet food consumer protection organization without disclosure to pet owners. Mr. Schulof stated (in part): “Despite your skepticism I swear with my hand to God that I genuinely believe that an authentically independent and thriving version of this organization (not a pretend one that I’m actually controlling behind the scenes) will not just be good for pets and pet owners but will also be good for my company.”

Mr. Schulof offered to discuss this with me in detail, I declined. Mr. Schulof also stated he would add a disclosure to the Petfood Counsumer Rights Council website regarding his direct involvement in the pet food industry.

So…what do you think? Can a pet food manufacturer be an impartial consumer advocate? Should any pet food manufacturer be allowed to organize a pet food consumer advocacy group?

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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