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Harvey, Irma and Pet Food

Any food that required refrigeration was cleaned out of every grocery in Florida and Texas that lost power during these two damaging storms. Meats, frozen foods, dairy. Guess where all that spoiled food goes?

Any food that required refrigeration was cleaned out of every grocery in Florida and Texas that lost power during these two damaging storms. Meats, frozen foods, dairy. Guess where all that spoiled food goes?

Just considering meat…

From hurricane Irma, most of the state of Florida lost electricity for at least 2 days – many areas are still without power. From hurricane Harvey, most of southern Texas lost electricity for several days. In Florida alone – just one grocery chain, Publix – has 776 stores and 7 distribution centers. If we estimate that 700 stores lost power – each having an estimated inventory of 5,000 pounds of meat…that’s a conservative 3.5 million pounds of spoiled meat from one single grocery chain in just one of the two states devastated by recent hurricanes. Not including distribution centers.

From groceries alone – we can conservatively assume 10 million pounds of meat spoiled in Florida, another 5 million pounds of meat spoiled in Texas.

Guess where all that spoiled meat goes? To a landfill? No.

The spoiled meat will be diverted to pet food; purchased from grocery chains by meat salvage companies.

And all the spoiled frozen foods and dairy products will be diverted to livestock feed. Imagine the millions of tons of spoiled frozen TV dinners, yogurt, cottage cheese. It will all be sold to animal feed. Sometimes the paper, plastic and styrofoam packaging will be removed…sometimes it won’t. No one of authority really cares one way or the other, it’s all done with FDA approval. They only care that spoiled, rotting food is not sold for human consumption.

And that’s not all regulatory allows. Flood damaged crops will be diverted to animal feed. Drowned livestock carcasses will be diverted to animal feed and pet food.

This is nothing new – it happens all the time. FDA and each State Department of Agriculture openly allow these types of ingredients (which are illegal) into pet food and animal feed on a consistent basis. What makes this of significant concern is the massive amounts of additional spoiled meats and additional dead animal carcasses being dumped into pet food right now because of these two hurricanes – it raises the risk to pets dramatically.

Meat is refrigerated to slow/prevent the growth of dangerous bacteria such as Salmonella and E.coli. Bacteria grows in dramatic levels on un-refrigerated meat and/or dead animal carcasses. When these ‘meats’ are cooked the live bacteria are killed – but the dead bacteria produce a dangerous toxin (endotoxin). The higher the level of bacteria = the higher the level of endotoxins. Pets (and humans) can safely handle low levels of endotoxins, but higher levels are deadly.

From Donald R. Strombeck, DVM, PhD, Professor Emeritus, University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine:

“Endotoxin entering the body is carried to the liver where it is inactivated. Increased endotoxin levels can damage the liver. Moreover, when the amount of endotoxin reaching the liver is normal, the presence of another potential toxin can interact with endotoxin to damage the liver. The other substances are not necessarily toxins. They include vitamin A, copper and iron, and many drugs. Thus, any level of endotoxin can damage the liver. Exposure to endotoxin should be minimized as much as possible.”

Endotoxemia: the presence of endotoxins in the blood. Endotoxins consumed through food sources are most often absorbed into the blood stream through the intestinal lining.

From Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat (3rd Edition), Chapter 38 Endotoxemia:

Dogs: “No clinical signs have been found that are pathognomonic for endotoxemia. Animals show either signs associated with infection (e.g., purulent vaginal discharge with pyometra, coughing with pneumonia, mastitis) or localizing signs such as inactivity and inappetence. Tachycardia, tachypnea, and fever are the clinical hallmarks of SIRS. If a dog is progressing towards severe sepsis or septic shock, signs associated with the GI tract (the canine Shock organ system) can develop, including vomiting or diarrhea, or both.”

Cats: “Endotoxemia is rarely reported and poorly described in cats. In a retrospective case series of cats with confirmed severe sepsis (9 of 29 cats had confirmed Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas spp. infections; endotoxin was not assayed), clinical signs included lethargy, pale mucous membranes, weak femoral pulses, tachypnea, hypothermia or fever, diffuse pain on abdominal palpation, bradycardia, and icterus.”

Pet owners will not be provided with a warning that the pet ‘food’ could contain high amounts of spoiled, rotting grocery store meat that may or may not include paper, plastic and styrofoam packaging or drowned animal carcass meat. This type of meat and meat meal is right now readily accessible for low cost and can be included in any brand of feed grade pet food. This is not hype or being an alarmist. This is a reality that will be happening in pet food very, very soon at significantly higher levels than normal. Any feed grade pet food could utilize this type of pet grade meat/meat meal. The only pet foods that with certainty will not contain this type of meat/meat meal are human grade pet foods. Consumers cannot trust claims of human grade ingredients on pet food websites – regulatory authorities do not scrutinize pet food websites for adherence to law. Know that claims to grade or quality of ingredients are not allowed on labels or websites unless the pet food meets all requirements of the human grade claim. But again, regulatory authorities do not scrutinize pet food websites. They do however closely scrutinize pet food labels. Consumers CAN trust a claim of ‘Human Grade’ on a pet food label. ‘Human Grade’ on a pet food label would guarantee the consumer the pet food contains no spoiled, waste ingredients.

Personally, I think hurricane Harvey and Irma has caused enough destruction. Spoiled, rotting foods and dead animal carcasses caused by these storms should NOT be allowed to cause further destruction to pets and livestock animals. But FDA doesn’t agree. Sickening.

To learn more about endotoxins, Click Here.

 

Added after original posting: Very quickly I am receiving emails from consumers in disbelief this actually happens. I assure you it does. For those that have followed this website for years, you might remember reading about the August 2015 AAFCO meeting (held in Denver, CO). The topic of discussion in one session was naming the ingredient(s) for expired grocery foods. One example food given was expired yogurt in those little cups. Plastic container included. Dr. Cathy Alinovi stood up and addressed the concern of animals consuming plastic packaging – that milk as example would contain phthalates (element of plastic) from animals consuming feed containing plastic – she didn’t want her daughter or any child drinking phthalates. The entire room – 400 industry people – booed her. Their response to Dr. Cathy’s human health concern was “we are trying to feed a hungry world”.

I understand this is hard to believe – but it does actually happen – every single day in animal feed and pet food. While pet food safety advocates attend AAFCO meetings and speak out against these issues in pet food – there is no one in attendance to advocate for safer livestock feed. We’ve tried to get the large consumer advocacy groups to attend and voice concern – to no avail. It is a concerning situation.

Below are a couple of links to FDA Compliance Policies allowing the above and much more into animal food/pet food…

https://www.fda.gov/ICECI/ComplianceManuals/CompliancePolicyGuidanceManual/ucm074694.htm

https://www.fda.gov/ICECI/ComplianceManuals/CompliancePolicyGuidanceManual/ucm074717.htm

 

 

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

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

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14 Comments

14 Comments

  1. LMK

    September 14, 2017 at 1:58 pm

    Susan thank you for your proactive thoughts on what we purchase for our beloved pets!! It all seem overwhelming that no one in the federal sector is doing there job or better said doing it for their own personal agenda and to hell with everyone else that gives a damn.

  2. Trisha

    September 14, 2017 at 3:32 pm

    Excellent write-up. Thank you.

  3. Dianne & Pets

    September 14, 2017 at 3:56 pm

    I was under the impression that there is a maximum allowable amount of endotoxin, or was that aflatoxin? You wrote about it sometime ago and also said that the PFI was trying to get the allowable amount raised. Allow though, I am also under the impression that no one tests for endotoxin.

    • Susan Thixton

      September 14, 2017 at 4:06 pm

      There is no tolerance established for endotoxins – there is for mycotoxin. In a meeting with FDA in early 2016 (I think) we asked FDA to establish a tolerance level for endotoxins. They said no.

  4. soozyb2013

    September 14, 2017 at 4:04 pm

    Tis a wee bit disgusting when you think of this sort of thing going on, but less being used for “feed” for our pets. I am thoroughly disgusted as a human being that other humans are just about the big $$$$$$$ not the welfare of our pets.
    Thank you Susan for all you do and very very glad you and yours are safe and sound.

  5. Jean Hofve DVM

    September 14, 2017 at 5:01 pm

    Absolutely correct, Susan. All the spoiled meat, fish, dairy, and produce, will go into animal feed, which includes pet food. And pet food has been specifically exempted from federal law by the FDA, as those links show.

    It’s also been recommended that food in jars, cans, and other packaging that have been submerged are also too dangerous for humans to eat because of massive bacterial and other contamination in the water… It *may* go to a landfill simply because it’s impractical to collect it with anything but a front-end loader, but if there’s a nearby renderer that can handle that amount and type of waste, well, that’s where it will go. Oreos, pasta, soup, you name it. If it was once human-edible, it is now pet-edible. Ugh.

  6. JaneeS

    September 14, 2017 at 5:22 pm

    So this disgusting crap goes to feed livestock raised for human consumption as well? Rotting and diseased products fed to animals that become human food? This is sickening. How can we get them to stop putting these hideous ingredients into pet food when they think it’s fine to feed it to animals meant for human consumption?How is that allowed? The dangerous chemicals and by-products stored in the animal meat are eaten by humans. I feel like throwing up after reading so many of Susan’s articles. I can’t believe there are real people working at FDA, AAFCO and in the PFI. Those people are complicit in sickness and death of humans and animals.

  7. Pat P.

    September 14, 2017 at 6:08 pm

    Of course, I am concerned about my cat and other pets. Yet, I am, also, very upset about our farm animals–all of which suffer immensely. What kind of sick world tolerates such cruelty?! It is not getting any better.

    Until we have an administration that is compassionate and empathetic–demanding it from others–concern for the fate of animals will mainly rest with those decent persons who love them. I care about them all.

    • rick

      September 20, 2017 at 1:46 am

      Must be referring to the FDA/AAFCO administrations. Nothing is going to remove them if the big recalls some years back didn’t do the trick. Graphic undercover footage showing “What’s REALLY In Your Pet’s Food??” has BEEN the reality for a very long time now and was posted right here on TAPF back in the day (where I first saw it). Note the DECADE it was filmed & posted, only 579,864 views since then. SAD!
      https://youtu.be/g9DTzDfYMxo

  8. Mimi

    September 14, 2017 at 8:14 pm

    Thank you Susan for your work and hope this angers enough animal lovers to do something!

  9. Chriswalker

    September 15, 2017 at 6:56 am

    Every single Publix store has power generators capable of maintaining the cold chain, powering store air conditioner units and operating critical lighting when the power goes out.
    I’m going on 6 days without power in SoFla and the Publix next door to me has been the only building, commercial or residential, within a couple square miles that has always had power. Speaking to the store manager I learned about how each Publix store is prepared for power outages.
    There may be truth to the practice in smaller grocery stores but to claim it’s applicable to Florida’s largest grocery chain is absolutely false.

    • Susan Thixton

      September 15, 2017 at 7:56 am

      My Publix on Wednesday 9/13 had very little raw meat, very little deli meat and very, very little frozen foods. It was clear to me in this store a great deal of food had been lost. Your Publix might have a generator – mine clearly didn’t.

  10. Dianne

    September 15, 2017 at 3:47 pm

    This makes me so mad – I wish I knew how to organize an effective movement against the greedy pet food industry. I will gladly join any organization that will fight this outrageous assault to our pet’s food and other animal food. If only we could have the same monetary advantage that the greedy pet food companies have.
    Thank you Susan for your continued fight against the evil pet food industry.

  11. Maria

    November 22, 2017 at 3:09 am

    Yet ANOTHER eye opener, Susan!! I never thought of this happening and SO appreciate your alerting us to this horrific concern! Year end donation coming in to you soon – you have worked tirelessly for our fur kids, and I appreciate all you do! For me, since I cannot be sure which companies are doing this evil gruel – and without any repercussions – I will try to prepare the food, human-grade, myself. Will hope to find recipes for home-made cat food that can be balanced with food/supps. Tragic…

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