Pet Food Institute

The Pet Food Institute has formed the National Pet Food Commission, an industry-government partnership composed of government officials, veterinarians, toxicologists and food scientists who are committed to maintaining and enhancing the high standards we have set in this country that protect our pets.

The purpose of the new commission is two-fold: 1)To investigate the cause of the current pet food recall, and 2) To recommend steps the industry and government should take to further build on safety and quality standards already in place.[read more on PFI´s consumer site, PetFoodReport.com...]

Per www.petfoodreport.com:

From: http://www.petfoodreport.com/whatweknow.htm

The pet food industry remains a partner in the investigation with the FDA and has
cooperated with state and federal regulators since evidence leading to the recall
first surfaced. The industry will continue cooperate fully with any other official
investigations relating to this incident.

Really? Because I thought there was a delay of over three weeks from when the industry first knew there was a problem until the FDA was even notified there was a problem.

The FDA’s investigation is ongoing and has not reached any conclusions about how
any foreign substances entered the process. I think it’s presumptuous to additional
regulatory measures at this time. Only when we have this information can we make
an accurate and informed decision.

Presumptuous? Certainly seems to me like the system is flawed with all the dogs and cats that are sick or dead.

From: http://www.petfoodreport.com/regulationandtesting.htm

How Pet Foods Are Regulated

Pet foods are one of the most highly regulated food products. They are required
by law to provide on their labels more information than most human foods. State
departments of agriculture provide standards and enforcement policies for regulation
of manufacture of pet foods resulting in safe foods. Ingredients in pet food must
be acceptable to state authorities. In the March 23 press conference Sundlof also
stated that regulation of pet foods is the same as human foods.

Not true! For example, there is no label information on carbohydrate content. Carbohydrate information is key for management/treatment of feline diabetes and feline obesity. I WISH there were "nutrition facts" on pet food labels, like there are on human foods, instead of the minimums and maximums listed.

Pet food manufacturers are responsible for producing safe products. The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration and state governments provide the rules, guidance and oversight
under which safe pet food is produced. FDA requires pet food to be wholesome, contain
no harmful or deleterious substances, and to be truthfully labeled.

Except that they currently seem to claim anything they want - such as weight loss or urinary tract health without any support for those statements - and there´s apparently no repercussions for doing so.

How Ingredients and Finished Pet Foods Are Tested

Pet food ingredients undergo significant testing for safety and quality assurance
including screening for mycotoxins (including aflatoxin), bacteria (including Salmonella
and E.Coli) and nutrient content. Furthermore the finished product is analyzed to
ensure appropriate nutrient levels, evaluating protein (including 11 amino acids),
fat, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Then why have we had THREE deadly recalls since 2005? One for aflatoxin, one for a vitamin imbalance, and one for another toxin (possibly melamine).

From: http://www.petfoodreport.com/aboutpetfood.htm#propernutrition

Veterinarians agree that pets are living longer, healthier lives since the use of
commercially prepared pet foods became widespread. Decades of research have gone
into the development of pet food to make sure the special nutrition needs of pet
dogs and cats are met.

Not ALL veterinarians - some say pets are living longer DESPITE poor nutrition - just like humans are living longer DESPITE all the processed foods available now - because of medical advances.

Question
What does "complete and balanced" mean?
Answer
Unlike most foods for people, many pet food products are designed to be the sole
source of nutrition for a pet dog or cat. Products that are labeled "complete
and balanced," as defined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials
(AAFCO), have been tested to make sure they meet the complex nutritional requirements
of a healthy dog or cat.

In an AAFCO feeding trial, SIX ANIMALS (OUT OF EIGHT) must survive on the food for SIX MONTHS

Question
What does it mean on a pet food label that a product has been tested using animal
feeding trials?
Answer
There are two ways a pet food company can test the nutrition of its products. One
method is the use of standardized animal feeding trials, designed by the Association
of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), to make sure their products meet the
complex nutritional requirements of dogs and cats. The animals in these tests are
fed the food for six months and are closely monitored to make sure they stay healthy.
A product using this test will have language similar to the following on the label
- "Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Nancy´s
Food for Dogs provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages."

As long as they don´t lose a significant amount of weight - and SIX of the EIGHT complete the trial, it´s good! If ONE food passes the test, all foods in the line are presumed to pass! That´s closely monitored?

Question
Are fillers used in pet food?
Answer
Every ingredient used in pet food is there for a reason. Decades of research have
gone into making pet foods that meet the nutritional needs of dogs and cats. The
makers of pet food do not put in anything that´s not needed.

Then CELLULOSE - which is SAWDUST - is needed for nutrition??? It´s an ingredient in Hills´ prescription m/d dry cat food, among other foods.

Question
What is ingredient "splitting?"
Answer
Some people incorrectly believe pet food makers split up ingredients to give the
illusion that some ingredients are at higher concentrations than others. Pet food
makers are required to carefully label their products according to stringent government
regulations. Just as the case with food for people, pet foods must clearly state
what ingredients are included in the product. Each ingredient in pet food is there
for a reason and to serve a nutritional purpose.

I guess they put corn starch & corn gluten separately, use rice and corn, etc.... for other reasons, not so there´s not a grain as the first ingredient? The "every ingredient" is there for a reason is an insult to our intelligence!

What can we, as consumers and pet lovers, do about this? I mean, the pet food industry is financially associated to anything in the veterinary world! The sponsor or place ads in anything that has to do with pets. Where can we find independent information that´s trustworthy? Most vets recommend pet food brands like Hills!

Here is something that can help,

Hello Canadians,

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!
I ask that each and every person send at least one e-mail out on this subject.

AND, let everyone you know to do the same, please.


Current events lead us to the inescapable conclusion that the individuals charged with
recommending changes to pet food regulations as demanded by the law passed in Sept. will try very
hard to maintain the status quo. One of these think-tank groups being called upon to make
recommendations to the FDA, is AAFCO.

We need to let them know that we feel the existing regulations and statutes are grossly
inadequate to protect our pets, and that a totally new examination should take place. The existing
regulations need to be strengthened as regards to ingredients being defined and percentages
made clear, labeling made consumer-oriented so that we can make better decisions not limited to,
but including, some form of "Country of Origin Labeling", and the manufacturers need to be
subject to regulations that are less vague, and more enforceable.

One of the Canadian representative in AAFCO is:

Judy Thompson
Feed Evaluation Coordinator
Feed Section
Animal Health Production Division
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
59 Camelot Drive
Nepean, Ontario K1A OY9
Canada
Telephone: 613-221-4370
Fax: 613-228-6614
E-mail: jthompson@inspection.gc.ca

Let them know we demand change and improvement.

If we don´t follow through on this, it´s just a matter of time until last year´s tragedy happens again.

Mike Floyd
Executive Director
mike@defendourpets.org

I wanted to post this article I found in the Wikipedia entry for Hills Pet Nutrition about why vets love to recommend special food.
http://www.simplyschnauzer.net/hills.html