Pet Food News of 2020 – Truth about Pet Food

Six lawsuits, eight studies and seven recalls were all part of the news in pet food in 2020.

The video version:

2020 began with AAFCO publishing a letter falsely claiming a small group of consumers (myself included) were affiliated with a lawsuit against the organization and the organization banned those consumers from attending meetings. After consumer outrage and many email complaints sent, two days before the meeting began, AAFCO changed their minds and allowed us to attend their meeting.

The year ended with AAFCO doing a complete turn around (at least a promise of one) on their copyright protection of pet food ingredient definitions. After years of consumer and advocate complaints to AAFCO, FDA and state regulatory officials regarding privately owned legal definitions, AAFCO has made the promise that in 2021 they will release the definitions to the public.

Broken down into categories, below is an overview of what happened in pet food in 2020.

Lawsuits

In January 2020, a class action lawsuit was filed against Blue Buffalo pet food regarding the pet food’s marketing and challenging the high carbohydrate levels of kibble. The lawsuit claimed a small bowl of Blue Buffalo “contains more carbohydrate than a wild grey wolf is likely to consume in an entire lifetime.”

In March 2020, documentary film producer Kohl Harrington (Pet Fooled) filed a lawsuit against the FDA for refusing to provide Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requested documents.

In June 2020 a lawsuit was filed against Purina for deceptive marketing claims of ‘natural’ and ‘no preservatives’. The lawsuit provided test results finding Purina products containing the not so natural herbicide glyphosate and the chemical preservative ethoxyquin.

In August 2020, two lawsuits were filed against Champion pet food for deceptive marketing claims of ‘free-run poultry and wild caught fish’. The lawsuit stated Champion’s poultry are “raised entirely indoors in the typical crowded inhumane conditions of factory poultry farms.” And Champion’s freshwater trout are sourced from large industrial fish farms in Idaho.

In October, Mars Petcare filed a lawsuit against Simmons pet food for copying label colors and design. The lawsuit referred to it as “trade dress infringement”.

In October a class action lawsuit was filed against Earth Animal No Hide dog treats for “fraudulent misrepresentation” and “failing to fully disclose the presence of rawhide” in a ‘no (raw) hide’ treat.

Studies

In January 2020, Researchers at the University of Helsinki released a study regarding arsenic exposure to dogs consuming a food containing rice (high on the ingredient list). The study found through hair analysis that dogs consuming a rice based diet had higher levels of inorganic arsenic. And the study suggested pet owners vary the diet to prevent arsenic accumulation.

A study from North Carolina State University discovered a “high level of variation between different cat foods, including many of the flavors produced by the same manufacturers. This suggests that large scale pet food manufacturers vary the ingredients over time.” This study originated to determine how many cats consume wild prey in their diet. By mistake, they found that it wasn’t wild birds or mice that was varying the cats diet – it was commercial pet foods that did not consistently use the same ingredients.

In May of 2020 we learned of a study regarding CBD pet products. The study found only 10 of 27 pet products tested were close to label claims of levels of CBD, and several contained heavy metals.

Also in May 2020, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine published a study regarding dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs. This study had intentions of definitively linking grain-free dog foods with DCM in dogs. However, the study was published with several concerning errors. The study has since been issued a “Expression of Concern Letter” which can be read Here.

Another study regarding DCM in dogs was published in June 2020. The May 2020 study from UC Davis (above) appears to link DCM to pet foods, this study provided evidence to the contrary. This study found there is no link of grain-free dog foods to DCM.

In June of 2020, a study published in the Journal of Histotechnology found two of ten dog chews were mislabeled (two chews labeled as rawhide free contained rawhide).

Another study this year brought some surprising good news. The study found that worldwide, most pets are being provided some real food daily (instead of exclusively commercial food).

A study from Purdue University found that 8% of pet owners have consumed pet food. Knowing that the FDA allows pet food to violate federal law and include ingredients sourced from diseased animals and animals that have died other than by slaughter, we asked FDA about this study. We asked FDA – with evidence that almost 1 in 10 pet owners have eaten a pet food, would the agency prohibit the use of illegal ingredients or at least require a warning on the pet food label? The FDA responded with ‘No’ – they wouldn’t prohibit illegal ingredients in pet food and they also would not warn pet owners; “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 do not intend to require labeling specifically related to ingredients derived from animals that died other than by slaughter.”

Regulatory

In February 2020, the FDA made an incredible (in a bad way) statement. In response to our Petition for Reconsideration (asking FDA to reconsider the agency’s allowing illegal ingredients in pet food with no warning or disclosure), the FDA stated “we further conclude that granting the Petition for Reconsideration would not be in the public interest and in the interest of justice.” In other words, the FDA stated enforcing pet food law would not be in the public interest. (Incredible.)

In April 2020, we provided information to pet owners regarding the dramatic differences between what FDA allows into pet food (diseased and non-slaughtered animal meat) and what USDA allows into pet food or human food (only USDA inspected and passed meat).

In October 2020, we found Freedom of Information Act emails that appeared to show AAFCO provided assistance to a pet food company that was being sued by a consumer.

Recalls

In March 2020 IcelandicPlus LLC of Ft. Washington, PA, is recalled its Capelin Pet Treats because some of the fish have exceeded the FDA compliance guideline for fish larger than 5 inches.

In July 2020 Smuckers recalled Natural Balance canned cat food due to excess choline chloride.

Linked to the above Natural Balance recall, this year we investigated that manufacturer Smuckers and FDA took 29 weeks to investigate another excess choline chloride recall (which finally led to the Natural Balance recall). This was a devastating delay by Smuckers and FDA which probably resulted in numerous pet deaths. And this year we also received via Freedom of Information Act request the FDA inspection report of the Smuckers manufacturing facility. Click Here to read.

In September 2020, Sunshine Mills recalled dog foods for high levels of aflatoxin.

Also in September 2020, Real Pet Food Company recalled Billy+Margot Wild Kangaroo and Superfoods Recipe for potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

In October, Sunshine Mills expanded their September aflatoxin recall. The FDA issued a consumer alert on these recalls at the same time.

In November, Albright’s Raw Dog Food recalled 67 cases of Chicken Recipe for Dogs because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

And just before the year ended on 12/30/20, the FDA issued a Warning Recall of Sportmix Dog Food for deadly levels of aflatoxin. The warning stated the agency was aware of “at least 28 dog deaths” linked to this dog food.

This year we also provided pet owners with the names of the top 5 manufacturers of recalled pet food based on Enforcement Report data from FDA. Those manufacturers are: #5 Mars Petcare, #4 Purina, #3 Hill’s, #2 Diamond, #1 Smuckers.

In 2020 we learned that FDA allows pet food manufacturers to “recondition” recalled pet foods and re-sell the products with no warning or disclosure to pet owners.

Warning Letters

In March 2020 FDA issued a Warning Letter to Bravo Packing (not affiliated with Bravo Pet Food) for lack of proper cleaning of equipment and facility.

In July 2020 the FDA issued a Warning Letter to Blue Ridge Beef pet food disclosing some concerning information about this brand including carcass “stomach contents and fecal matter” spilling onto raw materials.

Ingredients

In April 2020 we shared a story about a commonly used cat and dog food supplement (Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex) that is not approved for use in pet food, it is only approved for poultry feed (but commonly used in pet food).

Country of Origin of pet food ingredients was discovered in import records this year. China remaining a leading supplier. As example, more than 7 million pounds of pet chews were imported from China is just six weeks.

In July 2020 we shared a story about powdered meat ingredient pet foods being marketed to pet owners as fresh meat ingredient pet foods.

This year we learned that in the not so distant future we will see pet foods ingredients sourced from lab cultured meats.

And this year we shared information about meat analogues (fabricated meat) in pet foods with no warning or disclosure to pet owners.

Wishing a Happy New Year to all Pet Owners and their pets!

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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What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
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The 2021 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here to learn more.