How Dare They! – Truth about Pet Food

February 1, 2024 Kar-Bay-Inc

We have learned that at least two different State Department of Agriculture representatives – picking up a sample of pet food from a grieving pet owner whose pet just died – told these pet owners (almost identical quotes):

“You don’t have a chance to prove there is a problem with the pet food”

“You have no chance of proving this is Purina’s fault.”

Imagine…your beloved pet just died, you firmly believe their death is linked to the pet food. You do the right thing and report the death to FDA. A state feed official contacts you (on behalf of FDA), interviews you and makes arrangements to pick up a sample of the suspect pet food. Every word you speak about it, every word you type about it – breaks your heart that much more. You re-live the painful death your pet suffered over and over again explaining details to the regulatory authority. But you do it, because you want the illnesses and deaths to stop. You do it because you don’t want others to suffer the pain you and your pet suffered.

You allow someone you do not know enter your home to collect a precious sample of your pet’s food. You do not fully trust this person – but you have hope they are someone who will do the right thing for all of the pets (not just yours). You are anxious, grieving, sad and hopeful all in one moment. And then…the person you have put your trust in…crushes you with their words.

“You have no chance…”

It was almost as if their words were scripted, almost as if someone assured them these pet deaths and illnesses were “rumors”.

We have reported these individuals to FDA and to their respective State Department of Agriculture.

The states? Missouri and Pennsylvania. Both states just happen to be heavily involved in AAFCO – in other words they work side by side with Purina, Hill’s and Mars representatives.

Purina’s headquarters just happens to be located in Missouri, and Purina has a large manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania.

Both states receive significant funding from FDA – tax dollar funding. Per the government funding tracking website:

Missouri:

Pennsylvania:

To be perfectly clear…under NO CIRCUMSTANCE should a government animal feed investigator give an opinion to the guilt or innocence of a pet food during an investigation. Their official task was to collect pet food samples from documented adverse event reports. Their official task was NOT to voice an opinion, not to dismiss the pet owners belief the food is related to their pet’s death. Their official task was NOT to defend their friends in pet food (seemingly their friends at Purina).

To any pet owner that is providing a sample of a suspect pet food during any investigation, you are helping in the investigation – do not allow an unscrupulous regulatory authority discourage you from doing the right thing. Should a regulatory authority voice an opinion similar to what has happened with this investigation, report them immediately to FDA (AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov – Attention Dr. Timothy Schell CVM Director of Surveillance and Compliance). Report them immediately to their state employer (the State Department of Agriculture).

As difficult as it seems sometimes, there are some in pet food regulatory that abide by proper procedure and are not heavily influenced by industry. They are few and far between, but they are there hopefully investigating this current issue properly.

Again – do not allow corrupt individuals in regulatory to prevent you from reporting your pet’s illness or death. In this current issue and any issue in the future, your sick or dead pet is NOT a rumor – and their illness or death needs to be reported.

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

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