8/09/2024 Friday Focus on Finicky Pet Food Shopping - Be a Label Reader to Protect Your Pets
Pet food labels are complicated!
8/09/2024 Friday Focus on Finicky Pet Food Shopping - Be a Label Reader to Protect Your Pets
We have a cat and recently I was surprised at the variety of ingredients in cat food and a friend asked me to check on dog food ingredients. I know that I have designated Fridays for my post on shopping tips but decided to focus on pet food shopping. Also, I know that many persons prefer recordings and videos and I am just not good at making those! Every once in a while I see a short video on Facebook that is straight-forward and will share one that is public, of course.
I also did some checking and there are complaints about pet foods and also there are regulations with regards to pet food labeling that I was not aware of and and will share a few specifics today.
Here is an instruction on reading pet food labels that you may find helpful.
https://www.petfoodinstitute.org/how-to-read-pet-food-labels/
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/ChpQpqCfMHHNiAfQ/?mibextid=UalRPS
I hope you found that label reading share helpful, I certainly did!
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates pet food similar to that for other animal foods. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) requires that all animal foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.
Pet Food | FDA - U.S. Food and Drug …
www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-food …
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates pet food similar to that for other animal foods. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) requires that all animal foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled. In addition, canned pet foods must be processed in conformance with the low acid canned food regulations to ensure the pet food is free of viable microorganisms, see Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 113 (21 CFR 113). For more information about low-acid canned foods, see Acidified & Low-Acid Canned Foods Guidance Documents & Regulatory Information.
FDA Regulation of Pet Food
Ingredients
FDA ensures that the ingredients used in pet food are safe and have an appropriate function in the pet food. Many ingredients such as meat, poultry, and grains are considered safe and do not require pre-market approval. Other substances, such as sources of minerals, vitamins or other nutrients, flavorings, preservatives, or processing aids may be Generally Recognized As Safe for an intended use (21 CFR 582 and 584) or must have approval as food additives (21 CFR 570, 571 and 573). Colorings must have approvals for such use as specified in 21 CFR 70 and be listed in Parts 73, 74, or 81. For more information about pet foods and marketing a pet food, see FDA’s Regulation of Pet Food.
Labeling
Pet food labeling is regulated at two levels. The current FDA regulations require proper identification of the product, net quantity statement, name, and place of business of the manufacturer or distributor, and proper listing of all the ingredients in the product from most to least, based on weight. Some states also enforce their own labeling regulations. Many of these regulations are based on a model provided by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). For more information about AAFCO
FDA also reviews specific claims on pet food, such as “maintains urinary tract health,” “low magnesium,” and “hairball control.” Guidance for collecting data to make a urinary tract health claim is available in Guideline 55 and Guideline 284, depending on which claim is being made, on the CVM portion of the FDA internet site.
CVM DOES NOT recommend one product over another or offer guidance on individual pet health issues that are normally provided by the pet’s veterinarian. Questions regarding your pets' health and/or the specific use of any veterinary drug, pet food, or other product should always be referred to your veterinarian.
Inspections and Compliance
FDA and state regulatory partners perform risk-based inspections to ensure that animal food, including pet food, is manufactured, processed, packed, and held in a manner that prevents contamination or adulteration of the pet food. FDA follows a comprehensive inspection approach that implements a systems-based strategy to evaluate whether a facility is implementing practices necessary to meet all the animal food regulatory requirements that apply at their facility. FDA prioritizes inspections by risk using factors such as whether there is an ongoing compliance concern, the nature of the animal food, nature of the hazards associated with the animal food, and the time since last inspection to prioritize which animal food facilities to visit.
When a pet food facility is not in compliance with regulatory requirements, FDA uses a regulatory strategy that encourages voluntary corrective actions. Voluntary corrective actions are often the most effective and expedient means to protect public health and obtain compliance. However, when voluntary compliance cannot be achieved, FDA uses a progressive enforcement strategy, utilizing compliance enforcement tools such as: advisory actions (e.g., regulatory meetings, untitled letters, and warning letters); and administrative or judicial actions (e.g., FDA-requested recall, mandatory recall, administrative detention, suspension of food facility registration, withdrawal of qualified facility exemption, seizure, injunction, and criminal prosecution).
*The section below specifies how to report issues with pet foods. I do not wish to mention the name of any companies but I did find one company in particular that has some complaints and you can see those through the FDA site.
Recalls & Reporting Problems
Guidance Documents
Federal Register Notices
Irradiation in the Production, Processing, and Handling of Animal Feed and Pet Food; Irradiation - Docket No. 99F-2799, CVM 2000108. Pages 18539-18540 [FR Doc. 01-088719] April 10, 2001.
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-food-feeds/pet-food
*I know that I am too old to be surprised but I still was. Anyway, I just happened to see a video focused on showing pet food ingredient labels and directly explaining what to look for and what to check and why.
There have been several dog food recalls and alerts for 20241234. The recalls include various brands of dog food, such as Purina, Viva, Victor, Eagle Mountain, Wayne Feeds, and Member’s Mark123. The recalled products include both dog and cat foods and were sold nationwide in retail stores and online2. The recalled products have best-by-dates before 10/31/2024234.
https://www.bing.com/search?q=dog+food+recall+2024&FORM=QSRE1&PC=EMMX04
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/recalls-withdrawals
*The next section is regarding raw pet foods and some requirements for safety. I have also seen some freeze-dried foods that are pricey and I can’t say our cat would even eat that type. For our cat, we have chosen high protein dry food and high protein soft foods. We have chosen different food brands due to the labels. The previous brands did not list protein as the first ingredient and has many chemical names on the label.
WHAT TO KNOW
Pet food and treats can sometimes be contaminated with germs that make people and pets sick.
CDC does not recommend feeding raw pet food or treats to dogs and cats.
Talk to a veterinarian for advice on how to maintain a safe and healthy diet for your pet.
Overview
We all want our dogs and cats to have the best and healthiest food. However, just like our food, pet food and treats can sometimes be contaminated with germs. These germs can make pets and people sick.
The good news is that you can take steps to keep your pets and family healthy.
Safe food for dogs and cats
There are many safe food options for your dog or cat. Safe pet foods rarely cause food poisoning in pets. These foods have been cooked or heated to a high enough temperature to kill germs.
Choose pet foods that provide the right amount of nutrients your pet needs. Look for the words "complete and balanced" on product labels, when buying food for your dog's or cat's main diet.
Main types of safe pet food
Kibble is a type of safe pet food that is already cooked.
Kibbles
Kibbles are cooked and shaped before being dried. They are then coated with flavors.
Note that some kibbles are coated or mixed with raw pet food. These products would be considered raw pet food and would likely have the word "raw" on the packaging.
Canned pet foods
Canned pet foods are sealed before being sterilized (heated to a high temperature).
Fresh pet foods
Fresh pet foods are cooked food with fewer or no preservatives. These products are often delivered to your home as part of online pet food subscription services. They may also be available at pet stores and grocery stores. Because fewer or no preservatives are used, fresh pet foods need to be refrigerated. This also means they do not keep as long as kibbles or canned pet foods.
*I tried to mix snacks for our cat using a recipe and she looked at me like I was crazy and never ate any of the snacks that I made at all!
Homemade pet foods
Some people make food for their pets using ingredients from the grocery store. Talk to your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist If homemade pet foods are your pet's main diet. They will help ensure you are providing a complete and balanced diet for your pet.
Follow pet food safety steps
Keep your pets safe
Don't feed your pet recalled or contaminated food.
Clean pet food and water bowls, food scoops, treat toys, feeding mats, and placemats frequently.
Follow storage instructions on pet food labels.
Report pet illnesses to FDA
If your pet got sick after eating a specific food, report a complaint to FDA.
Stay up to date on food recalls and outbreaks.
Other food recalls and outbreaks: CDC foodborne outbreak website
Keep yourself and your family safe
To identify raw pet foods, look for "raw" on the label.
Raw pet foods contain uncooked animal protein that has not been heated to a high enough temperature to kill germs. This protein typically comes from animals like chicken and beef.
Plant-based foods, like fruits and vegetables, are less likely to be contaminated with germs. They are not considered raw pet food.
Some pet food companies use high-energy beams (irradiation) and very high pressure (high pressure processing)
to kill germs without heat. However, we currently don't have enough information about how well pet food processing facilities are using these processes. Therefore, these products are still considered to be raw pet food.
Raw ingredients in pet food
Common ingredients in raw pet food include:
Uncooked muscle meat (like thigh and breast)
Uncooked organ meat (like liver and kidney)
Uncooked bones
Uncooked eggs
Unpasteurized milk
FFood toppers are foods that are added to or mixed in with your pet's regular food. Examples of raw treats and food toppers are rawhide chews and freeze-dried treats.
Identifying raw pet food
The easiest way to identify a raw pet food product is to look for the word "raw" on the packaging. You can also check with the pet store or the pet food company.
Raw pet food can cause food poisoning
Raw pet food can make your dog or cat sick. This is because raw meat and other raw protein from animals can have germs like Salmonella and Listeria. These germs have been found in several raw pet foods.
Raw pet food can also make you and your family sick when these germs spread around your kitchen and home.
Freeze-drying, dehydrating, or freezing raw protein from animals only reduces the amount of germs. These processes do not kill all germs that might be on the food.
Raw pet food is not necessarily healthier
Raw is not necessarily healthier. Both raw and cooked pet food can be made with high-quality or low-quality ingredients. Both can be nutritionally balanced or inadequate.
Both raw and cooked preparations can be digestible. Some nutrients can be more easily digested after the food is cooked while others may be more digestible in raw food. For example, cooking breaks down thiaminase, a harmful enzyme, in seafood and prevents thiamine deficiency in cats.
Talk to your veterinarian first if you're thinking about feeding raw pet food to your dog or cat. They can help you decide what is best for your pet and family.
Pets at risk for serious illness
Do you have a pet that is more likely to get sick from foodborne germs? This includes young pets (like puppies) and pets who have a weakened immune system or other health conditions.
Does your company test all your final products for common foodborne germs like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria?
What does your company do to kill germs in your raw pet food products?
How often does your company clean and disinfect the manufacturing facility?
Does your company have veterinary nutritionists?
Consult your veterinarian
Talk to your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist if raw food is your pet's main diet. They can help you make sure your pet's raw food diet has all the nutrition your pet needs.
Clean often
Wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling raw pet food. Clean items and surfaces that touched raw pet food.
Store food properly
Properly chill and store raw pet food that needs to be kept cold. Freeze it until you are ready to thaw and use it. Thaw frozen raw pet food in the refrigerator. Keep it in a sealed container in the freezer and refrigerator, separate from other foods.
Throw away leftovers that have been out at room temperature.
Feeder rodents
Do you use feeder rodents for your pet snake, lizard, turtle, or frog? These rodents can spread harmful germs. Learn how to stay safe while handling feeder rodents.
Resources
Use this poster to learn how to feed pets safely.
APR. 9, 2024Raw Pet Food Safety
Use this poster to learn how to stay healthy around raw pet foods.
APR. 11, 2024
https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-pets/about/pet-food-safety.html
Cat treats video
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/mHWRrdmFHNmTL6ZL/?mibextid=UalRPS
I hope that you found this information helpful as we all love our pets and want to keep them safe and healthy. We did have a cat die from cancer of the jaw about 5 years ago and by the time we saw she had an issue-it was too late. She did not lose weight or stop eating until right before she died and her condition was not detected at a routine vet visit. I have decided that pet foods without additives may be best for our family. Of course, we all are free to make choices based on the available information and that is my purpose of sharing this information today.
Thank you,
Sandra