Enforcing pet food law “would not be in the public interest” – Truth about Pet Food

FDA’s own words. Hard to imagine the Agency would so publicly admit law means nothing.

On behalf of pet owners who want to know their pet’s food is safe and nutritious, in October 2016 Association for Truth in Pet Food filed a formal request with FDA asking the Agency to eliminate “diseased animal material” and “animals that have died otherwise than by slaughter” from being processed into pet food (with no warning or disclosure to the consumer). We also asked FDA to properly label pet foods as ‘food’ or ‘feed’; dog food and cat food if the products meets all legal requirements of food, dog feed and cat feed if the products do not meet all the legal requirements of food.

To have to ask the FDA to enforce law in pet food seems absurd. The FDA is charged with the responsibility to enforce the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), and the FD&C Act clearly states that a diseased animal or animal that has died other than by slaughter is adulterated (illegal). But…the FDA openly ignores these adulteration laws in pet food/animal food allowing this:

and this:

and this:

into pet food with NO warning or disclosure to the pet food consumer.

So…we had to ask them to stop allowing pet food to violate law. Our official request was sent in October 2016. Click Here to read the Citizen Petition sent to FDA. Click Here to read the addendum we submitted six months later. Two and a half years later (April 2019) the FDA responded to our request for legal ingredient pet foods with “No“. Dr. Steven Solomon – director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine – stated in the Agency’s response (Click Here to read): “we do not believe that the use of diseased animals or animals that died otherwise than by slaughter to make animal food poses a safety concern and we intend to continue to exercise enforcement discretion.” In other words, Dr. Steven Solomon of FDA stated the Agency ‘intends’ to continue to allow pet food to contain illegal ingredients with no warning or disclosure to pet owners; the FDA plans to continue to ignore federal food safety laws for pet food.

It is interesting to note, that in FDA’s response to our request (and in FDA’s final statement discussed below) – the Agency NEVER denied pet food violates federal law. The ONLY thing FDA did was defend their position to allow pet food to contain illegal ingredients.

After FDA’s shocking response, we tried one more attempt. We filed with the Agency an official reconsideration request (Click Here to read) in July 2019. Received February 5, 2020 the FDA told us “No” once again.

“we further conclude that granting the Petition for Reconsideration would not be in the public interest and in the interest of justice.”

Think about FDA’s words.

We asked the Agency to enforce law in pet food and they stated enforcing law would not be in the public interest or in the interest of justice. We asked the Agency to stop allowing illegal ingredients sourced from diseased animals and animals that have died other than by slaughter in pet food – and they stated that would not be in the public interest or in the interest of justice. And we asked FDA to properly label pet foods so that consumers can easily know if they are buying lesser quality feed or higher quality food – and again, FDA stated this would not be in the public interest or in the interest of justice.

Click Here to read FDA’s ‘not in the public interest’ statement (that particular statement is in the second to last paragraph – last sentence).

FDA’s absurd statement could easily be interpreted as enforcing law in pet food would not be in the pet feed industry’s interest. Allowing pet feeds to sell waste to unknowing consumers helps feed make high profits.

Should you want to help battle FDA – send your representatives in Congress an email quoting FDA. Example email:

Pet food consumers asked FDA through Citizen Petition (Docket ID FDA-2016-P-3578) to stop allowing pet food to violate the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, stop allowing pet food to include illegal ingredients sourced from diseased animals or animals that have died other than by slaughter. The FDA’s final response to consumers was enforcing federal law is “not in the public interest and in the interest of justice.”

Illegal pet food sold in interstate commerce is definitely NOT in the interest of justice. FDA allowing pet foods to be sold to unknowing consumers that contain diseased animals or animals that have died other than by slaughter is definitely NOT in the public interest. Please thoroughly investigate Docket ID FDA-2016-P-3578 and FDA’s responses to consumers. I ask you to demand FDA enforce law in pet food.

True justice is enforcement of law…the true interest of the pet owning public is safe pet foods free of diseased animals and animals that have died other than by slaughter. We will continue to fight for our pets…this isn’t over.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

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

Become a member of our pet food consumer Association. Association for Truth in Pet Food is a a stakeholder organization representing the voice of pet food consumers at AAFCO and with FDA. Your membership helps representatives attend meetings and voice consumer concerns with regulatory authorities. Click Here to learn more.

What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients?  Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 5,000 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. www.PetsumerReport.com

Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here

The 2020 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here to learn more.

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