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!
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