Thank You Dr. Sharon Center – Truth about Pet Food

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For at least seven years, a group of veterinarians have been trying to get the FDA’s and AAFCO’s attention regarding a serious concern of pet food. These vets have been telling (and telling, and telling) the FDA and AAFCO that copper levels in pet food are too high. They have been documenting and providing that documentation to FDA of an increase of dogs with dietary-induced copper-associated hepatopathy (CAH).

The problem: the FDA and AAFCO have not established a maximum copper level in pet food. Complete and Balanced pet foods can contain ANY level of copper above the established minimum.

From the Cornell Veterinary School: “CAH occurs when the amount of dietary copper ingested exceeds a dog’s tolerance level and accumulates in the liver. Once in the liver, it can cause acute, severe liver inflammation with immediate, disastrous consequences, or it can cause chronic, insidious damage over time, resulting in widespread scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) and liver failure.”

Back in 2015, a veterinarian in Michigan experienced the death of his own dog to CAH. He tried to convince FDA there was a problem, but no luck. The FDA ignored his documented concerns.

In the seven years since, veterinarians have published papers documenting the copper problems. One in 2019, and another in 2021. The FDA continued to keep their head in the sand…ignoring the problem.

But Dr. Sharon Center wasn’t taking no for an answer. Dr. Center participated in the FDA’s pet food listening session, providing even more evidence that copper levels in pet foods were a concern (watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY_yEAWe01I – her presentation starts at 1:10 in the video). And we learned at the January 2022 AAFCO meeting, Dr. Center continued to pressure FDA to do something about the copper problem. FDA told meeting attendees Dr. Center requested a follow up meeting with FDA where she again provided FDA with evidence of diet-induced liver disease directly linked to copper levels in pet food. FDA stated (at the AAFCO meeting) this is an issue that is not going away, FDA told AAFCO a copper maximum will need to be established.

Thank you to Dr. Sharon Center and all veterinarians that continued to pressure FDA to listen. Your persistence is appreciated.

Pet owners can read more about dietary-induced copper-associated hepatopathy Here (from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine), the same page also provides recommendations on how to report any suspect issue to FDA. Please share the Cornell Veterinary School post with your veterinarian.

Wishing you and your pet the best –

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
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.

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