Will The ‘F’ In FDA Be Moved To A New Agency? – Truth about Pet Food

A new bill has been introduced into the U.S. Senate, S.4520 – Food Safety Administration Act of 2022. The bill proposes to remove the regulation of food – including pet food – from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) into a new government agency titled the Food Safety Administration.

This proposed new agency will be led by an appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate individual “who shall have food safety expertise”.

Is there hope for safer (law abiding) pet food with this bill?

Because this agency will be led by a ‘food safety expert’, we hope this individual will have an understanding that diseased animals and animals that have died other than by slaughter – allowed by existing FDA – are a certain risk to pets and people.

Another hope with the proposed agency is the establishment of “Advisory Committees”. The bill states “The Administrator shall establish advisory committees that consist of representative of scientific expert bodies, academics, industry specialists, and consumers.” Including consumers/consumer representatives is something the existing Center for Veterinary Medicine refuses to do.

And the new bill would require high risk food facilities (including pet food facilities) to be inspected at least once a year, low risk facilities at least every three years. As well, the proposed bill would require “a follow-up compliance check” within 30 days at any manufacturing facility after a failed inspection (or recall).

In nothing to do with the proposed bill, yesterday – July 20, 2022 – the FDA was asked to appear before the Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies. Committee members questioned the agency on food safety.

While most of the 2+ hour meeting was about human food, Senator Moran of Kansas did ask FDA about passing new feed ingredients. He asked what steps has FDA taken to speed up the process to approve new feed ingredients. FDA Commissioner Califf stated Dr. Solomon (director of Center for Veterinary Medicine) who was not present would have to respond. Of concern, Senator Moran stated to FDA that ‘the livestock industry is looking to offer solutions to meet the challenges as related to climate – ingredients that could reduce green house gas omissions.’  Senator Moran stated these products that animals would consume to reportedly reduce green house gases are currently regulated as animal drugs. Senator Moran asked if these ‘climate solutions’ could be approved as a feed ingredient instead of a drug. FDA Commissioner agreed to look into this. Based on his questions to FDA, it was clear Senator Moran was/is heavily influenced by the feed industry.

[Personal Opinion: an ingredient added to the diet of factory farmed animals that reportedly reduces green house gases is not something I have researched, but it seems on the surface to be VERY concerning. And for the animal feed industry to push – through Senator Moran – to make these substances a feed ingredient (instead of a drug) is an added concern. Being a feed ingredient would mean industry doesn’t have to prove much on safety before the product would pass and be used in feed. One concern – after consumption, do these substances collect into internal organs of livestock, that would ultimately be fed to pets. Will anyone look into this potential pet food safety concern before they become feed ingredients?]

Instead of defending industry interests, Senator Tester of Montana asked FDA some pertinent questions directly relating to human (and in turn pet) health regarding the nutritional value of food – how it has changed. Senator Tester reminded FDA of the Hippoccrates quote ‘Let food be thy medicine’. He asked why isn’t FDA doing research on what industry has done to food such as GMOs. “Is anybody doing any research to see that if the food they are eating is actually making them healthier?” FDA skirted the question ultimately saying that USDA is the agency in charge of this research not FDA. Senator Tester pushed FDA further on this issue, and the FDA finally responded stating they do not have the financial resources.

For those that would like to view a recording of this meeting, Click Here.

We encourage pet owners to let their representatives in Congress know how you feel about a potential new Food Safety Administration as proposed in S.4520 – Food Safety Administration Act of 2022. As well, we encourage pet owners to let their representatives know how you feel about the existing FDA’s regulation of pet food. To find your representatives in Congress, visit: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member.

Wishing you and your pet the best –

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food

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