Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Pet Food News

Double Standard

A nationwide Salmonella outbreak is linked to several poultry processing plants in California, but the chicken has never been recalled. 278 people in 18 states have been sickened, and several strains of the pathogen have been identified as antibiotic-resistant. But there was no recall. That’s not what happens with pet food.

A nationwide Salmonella outbreak is linked to several poultry processing plants in California, but the chicken has never been recalled.  278 people in 18 states have been sickened, and several strains of the pathogen have been identified as antibiotic-resistant.  But there was no recall.  That’s not what happens with pet food.

Why is pet food forced to recall when one swab of Salmonella is found by authorities, but human food confirmed to contain Salmonella – linked to hundreds of illnesses is not recalled?  Why the double standard?

Raw meat in human food is under the regulatory guidance of USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).  Pet food – raw or cooked – is under the regulatory guidance of FDA.  And it seems the two food regulatory authorities each have their own set of rules when it comes to Salmonella contaminated food.

Historically, when a pet food has tested positive for Salmonella, the FDA swarms in (the pet food plant) and demands a recall.  I’ve spoken personally with numerous pet food manufacturers that have experienced an FDA Salmonella recall;  I’ve heard the stories of FDA swarming their manufacturing plant swabbing everything including the walls and the floor drains for Salmonella.  Those that dare challenge FDA authority by not recalling every product within a wide radius to the contamination have even been ‘outed’ by FDA in the past – with FDA issuing a press release warning consumers not to purchase said product.

Salmonella contamination is not taken lightly with pet foods (by the FDA).

But on the other side of the Salmonella contaminated coin is the Food Safety and Inspection Service.  And they do things differently.

From Food Safety News “The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) stated Thursday evening that it will not close the Foster Farms processing plants in California linked to a nationwide Salmonella outbreak.

FSIS had threatened to “withhold the marks of inspection” at the three California plants in Livingston and Fresno – effectively shutting them down – if the company had not presented corrective action plans by Thursday addressing its Salmonella control.

“Foster Farms has submitted and implemented immediate substantive changes to their slaughter and processing to allow for continued operations,” said USDA spokesman Aaron Lavallee on Thursday evening. “FSIS inspectors will verify that these changes are being implemented in a continuous and ongoing basis. Additionally, the agency will continue intensified sampling for at least the next 90 days.”

The threat was a response to the ongoing Salmonella outbreak linked to raw chicken from Foster Farms that has sickened at least 278 people in 18 states. Several strains of the pathogen have been identified as antibiotic-resistant, resulting in a hospitalization rate of 42 percent.

“FSIS has identified multiple noncompliances including but not limited to findings of poor sanitary dressing practices, insanitary food contact surfaces, insanitary non food contact surfaces and direct product contamination,” read the letter FSIS sent to Foster Farms on Monday.

Two U.S. government agencies – each handling Salmonella contaminated food in two separate ways.  FSIS made a ‘deal’ with Foster Farms…’you clean up your plant and we won’t shut you down’.  ‘We’ll play nice and give you adequate time to get in compliance – it doesn’t matter how many people get sick.’  FDA on the other hand doesn’t make deals when it comes to Salmonella.  Plants are promptly inspected and it doesn’t matter how many foods have to be recalled – zero tolerance is the standard.  (Yes…I’m bragging on the FDA – take note of this, it doesn’t happen very often.)

It is certain that the difference between these two agencies will be explained away that the raw chicken (Foster Farms raw chicken) is not finished food, the raw chicken would be cooked and thus pose minimal risk to consumers.  But guess what…pet food isn’t finished food for humans – it is only ‘handled’ by consumers.  Yet zero tolerance is expected in pet food by FDA (and we can be certain that this zero tolerance is due to the risk Salmonella poses to humans – pets are secondary in their consideration).  The facts:  the very same risk to consumers exists with salmonella contaminated raw chicken or salmonella contaminated pet food.

Our government food safety agencies should not hold different foods to different standards.  All food should be safe to handle and to consume.  Get your act together FSIS – this is embarrassing.

 

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible

What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients?  Chinese imports?  Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 2500 cat foods, dog foods,  and pet treats.  30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. www.PetsumerReport.com

 

2013ListImageSmall

 

2013 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods.  Click Here

 

 

Have you read Buyer Beware?  Click Here

Cooking for pets made easy, Dinner PAWsible

Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Judy Miller

    October 11, 2013 at 1:58 pm

    Hi Susan,
    There are two different sets of rules, because, bottom line is that raw meat is expected to contain pathogens. USDA is not too concerned the levels in a locker plant.
    These people that are getting Salmonella are not cooking their chicken properly, or not cleaning up the raw chicken mess on the counters. What I don’t understand is all the raw meat diets for pets now under the eye of the FDA and yet not too many recalls. They must be freezing it first to get the numbers down. Maybe the FDA cuts some slack in the raw foods, because it’s expected to be there. I’ve fed my pets raw meat for over 40 years, in part. I used to buy it from the zoo to feed my Wolf and dogs and cats. I’m probably immune to a lot of these germs because I’ve been exposed to this stuff for so long. Something can be said for being “too” clean about it, even though you try to clean up as best you can. Maybe in trying to be too clean, people are making themselves more vulnerable. I know people that won’t take food home from a restaurant even in the winter, unless they have a cooler with them! Never done that. I take mine home anyway I can get it there.
    Now, the recommendation is to put turkey stuffing in a bag and then into the turkey for Thanksgiving! Double yuck on that! It doesn’t even taste right w/o the turkey juices. They have everyone paranoid about germs to the point that if they ever encounter any they get sick! Nobody has ever gotten sick from a Thanksgiving dinner at my house, and I’ve been having them for over 30 years. Ya gotta cook the meat! Bottom line.

  2. Laura

    October 11, 2013 at 4:21 pm

    Judy – im with you – my motto is a little funk never hurt anyone -im never sick have handled the worst things you can imagine i have worked with animals in all kinds of capacities for over 20 years – handled raw foods etc and never have i ever been sick – i believe in washing my hands as needed and i am one of those people who puts my hands all over my face etc – but i refuse to use these chemical cleaners in my house and around my pets and strongly discourage my clients from doing so – all this stuff is making us sicker –

  3. Brenda

    October 11, 2013 at 6:10 pm

    I wonder what we’ll be getting when the chicken nuggets start coming from China? Salmonella may be the least of our worries.

  4. Linda H

    October 11, 2013 at 7:33 pm

    I just take salmonella in chicken as a given as everyone should. As a matter of fact, I thought everyone did.

  5. cali

    October 12, 2013 at 7:21 am

    Posting so that I can receive all follow up comments on this subject. Thanks

  6. Ken Kalligher

    October 12, 2013 at 10:17 pm

    Salmonella is a given, particularly in chicken products. While many people know this and “try” to take appropriate measures to protect themselves against this pathogen, the best protection is at the source. Unfortunately, housekeeping and sanitation are not standard in all facilities. USDA and FDA along with State Health Agencies are the first line defense the consumer has in the fight for safe foods. Typically, USDA is the “on-site” inspection service that is really first-line defense in operating conditions. FDA is pretty much after-the-fact contamination discovery and for the most part State agencies also are after the fact. Of course, historical inspections will “point” investigators to trouble spots and management decisions will speak volumes about attitude and internal controls. The inspection services have troubled histories with respect to enforcement action, but the current problems with respect to the USDA may be better understood as a result of a 2001 decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. I include the link for those who are interested in the reasons for the toothless attitude of the USDA.
    thinkprogress.org/health/2013/10/11/2770331/salmonella-usda-regulation-fail/

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Learn More

Human Grade & Feed Grade
Do you know what the differences are between Feed Grade and Human Grade pet food? Click Here.

 

The Regulations
Pet Food is regulated by federal and state authorities. Unfortunately, authorities ignore many safety laws. Click Here to learn more about the failures of the U.S. pet food regulatory system.

 

The Many Styles of Pet Food
An overview of the categories, styles, legal requirements and recall data of commercial pet food in the U.S. Click Here.

 

The Ingredients
Did you know that all pet food ingredients have a separate definition than the same ingredient in human food? Click Here.

Click Here for definitions of animal protein ingredients.

Click Here to calculate carbohydrate percentage in your pet’s food.

 

Sick Pet Caused by a Pet Food?

If your pet has become sick or has died you believe is linked to a pet food, it is important to report the issue to FDA and your State Department of Agriculture.

Save all pet food – do not return it for a refund.

If your pet required veterinary care, ask your veterinarian to report to FDA.

Click Here for FDA and State contacts.

The List

The Treat List

Special Pages to Visit

Subscribe to our Newsletter
Click Here

Pet Food Recall History (2007 to present)
Click Here

Find Healthy Pet Foods Stores
Click Here

About TruthaboutPetFood.com
Click Here

Friends of TruthaboutPetFood.com
Click Here

You May Also Like

Pet Food News

Speak now, before pet food is required to be irradiated.

Pet Food News

Lack of consistency in Salmonella Recall Alerts could Put Thousands in Danger

Pet Food Regulations

And refuses to do anything about.

Pet Food Regulations

USDA human food transparency and FDA pet food secrecy.