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Pet Food Regulations

Ignored, but Not Silent

A lot of things go on behind the scenes of TruthaboutPetFood.com that I can’t make public as they are happening. For one reason or another. Here’s one that has been in the works for more than seven weeks, that I can no longer be silent about…

A lot of things go on behind the scenes of TruthaboutPetFood.com that I can’t make public as they are happening.  For one reason or another.  Here’s one that has been in the works for more than seven weeks, that I can no longer be silent about…

For years I and many other pet food consumer advocates have asked for regular meetings with FDA.  We have so many questions (frustrations) and wish to provide pet food consumers with a voice with authorities.  And for years these meeting requests have been ignored by FDA.

We were provided an opportunity to finally make this happen in mid February 2013.  Behind the scenes, prior to our official request to FDA, Mollie Morrissette and myself worked to gather together volunteer consumer advocates including several veterinarians that were willing to volunteer their time to meet with FDA on a regular basis.

Our letter of request was sent, listing our objectives…seven weeks later the FDA continues to ignore the pet food consumer.  So…not being the silent type, the following letter was sent to FDA Director Margaret Hamburg and CVM Director Bernadatte Dunham…

Dear Dr. Hamburg and Dr. Dunham,

At a February 2013 consumer advocacy meeting with FDA, FDA initiated a conversation with a representative of a human food advocacy group asking ‘Is the FDA doing enough for pet food consumers.’  Taking action on this opportunity, Association for Truth in Pet Food – on February 25, 2013 sent a letter to Michael Taylor Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine, copy to Sharon Natanblut, Communication and Public Engagement Staff requesting regular meetings with FDA regarding pet food safety.  This letter introduced consumer advocacy representatives including numerous veterinarians wishing to meet with FDA regarding pet food safety.

On or around March 11, 2013 (two weeks after initial letter), a phone call was placed to Mr. Taylor’s office – message was left with secretary of our follow up request.  No return call received.  Following that call, another call was made to Sharon Natanblut.  We spoke with Ms. Natanblut at length explaining our the need for a consumer voice with FDA and explaining at length our consumer stakeholder group Association for Truth in Pet Food.  Ms. Natanblut asked us to give her 10 days to “work things out” on FDA’s side.  Ms. Natanblut asked us to email her in 10 days as a reminder if we had not heard from her sooner.

On March 27, 2013 (16 days following phone conversation with Ms. Natanblut), another follow up attempt was made via email (and as directed by Ms. Natanblut in mid March 2013 phone conversation).  

To date – more than seven weeks past our original letter – the FDA has not responded to our requests for regular meetings with pet food safety advocacy representatives.  Further, similar requests have been made of FDA (from Susan Thixton) as far back as January 2011.  We remain frustrated that FDA ignores pet food consumer advocacy efforts year after year.

Association for Truth in Pet Food – its consumer members, its veterinarian advocacy directors, its international advocacy directors, and its U.S. advocacy directors – urge FDA to begin regular meetings with pet food consumer advocates.  Association for Truth in Pet Food is aware such meetings are provided to human food consumer advocates on a monthly basis, it is long past time the same is provided for pet food safety representatives/advocacy representatives.

We ask FDA/CVM to promptly begin monthly meetings with pet food consumer advocacy representatives.  The consumer voice deserves to be heard by regulatory authorities.

Sincerely,

Susan Thixton and Mollie Morrissette
Association for Truth in Pet Food

If FDA continues to ignore the pet food consumer voice, we will continue to NOT be silent about it.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
Pet Food Safety Advocate
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26 Comments

26 Comments

  1. Mary Anne Latham Kennard

    April 16, 2013 at 1:37 pm

    Thank you for your efforts to protect our beloved pets from harm from the very substance that sustains their lives. Let us know what we, the pet parents can do to help you.
    Thank you again,
    Mary Anne Kennard

    • Susan Thixton

      April 16, 2013 at 1:43 pm

      Thanks Mary Anne –

  2. Kristin Moran

    April 16, 2013 at 1:49 pm

    “Association for Truth in Pet Food – it’s consumer members, it’s veterinarian advocacy directors, it’s international advocacy directors, and it’s U.S. advocacy directors – urge FDA to begin regular meetings with pet food consumer advocates.” – Should be its (possessive) rather than it’s (contraction for it is).

    Keep after them, Susan!

    • Kelley

      April 16, 2013 at 2:10 pm

      Are we here for a grammar lesson or a lesson in how a pet food safety consumer advocacy group continues to be ignored by the FDA? And why it can’t even be sent a polite letter explaining the reason for the denial? Believe me, referencing all the pets who’ve died as a result of eating bad dog food and treats, then that’s what becomes the heart of the issue!

      • MaryAnne Kennard

        April 16, 2013 at 2:31 pm

        Amen, Kelley!

  3. Lori S.

    April 16, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    Thank you is all I can say! Truly, thank you.

  4. Dragon77

    April 16, 2013 at 3:38 pm

    Give’em H3ll Sue!

    Let’s get some interviews on CNN & FoxNews as well! (Heck, Fox and NewsMax would *love* the fact that a gov’t agency is ignoring you!) Might even try TheBlaze.com.

    The more publicity on things, the better.

    But then, this administration takes VERY little action on anything – not Benghazi, not kidnapped children in Egypt, etc, etc, etc. Ineffective would be putting it mildly, and inept would be too kind.

    IF they respond at all, they’re going to say animals are lowest on the their priorities.

    I don’t like it, I don’t agree with it, but I think that’s going to be their response. (That doesn’t mean I think we should all stop fighting for it!)

  5. SHARON KINSEY

    April 16, 2013 at 4:07 pm

    Susan,

    You are my hero – have you had any luck getting one of the news shows interested – 20/20, 60 minutes, Nightline, etc? This would be right up their alley.

    Sharon K.

    • Lisa Parker

      April 16, 2013 at 10:38 pm

      This is a nice idea, but these shows tend to slant things unfavorably and leave out important details that consumers should know. Dr. Mercola and the veterinarians associated with his website should be in on this movement.

  6. Pinky Collinsq

    April 16, 2013 at 4:08 pm

    Unfortunately I’m not surprised. The FDA is useless and dishonest. I can’t find a nice thing to say about them, they are suppose to protect us and they are actually knowingly poisoning us and our animals. They are a HUGE WASTE OF our tax dollars.

    Up to here with the FDA!

  7. Lynne Fowler

    April 16, 2013 at 5:22 pm

    Thank you for always staying on them and on top of what is going on.

  8. Bob

    April 16, 2013 at 6:53 pm

    You have probably already tried, but you need to get your Congressman and Senators involved. If you happen to have one sitting on a committee with FDA oversight, get them to write a letter or get a meeting scheduled in Washington with you, them and the FDA.

    • Jude

      April 16, 2013 at 7:27 pm

      My thoughts exactly.

    • Debra J.

      April 30, 2013 at 10:12 pm

      Bob, you took the words right outta my mouth! I worked for the Federal Government for 17 years and I can tell you that no one moved their butt until a member of Congress got involved. “Congressionals” had to be answered within a certain time period (I don’t remember if it was 24 or 48 hrs). Is the Association incorporated? If so, get the Congress person of the state/constituency in which it is incorporated to start asking questions.

  9. Kathy Thomas

    April 16, 2013 at 7:58 pm

    Ditto, what pinky said! We need to be our own advocate and make our own food and our pet’s food and know where the ingredients come from. That’s the only way we can ensure the safety of our food!

  10. joan

    April 16, 2013 at 8:56 pm

    What can I do? Who do I talk to? Who do I email? Is there a petition somewhere?

    • Susan Thixton

      April 16, 2013 at 8:58 pm

      I wish I knew for certain Joan. Let’s give this attempt a little bit of time and see if they respond. Then we’ll figure out our next step. Thanks!

  11. Marianne

    April 16, 2013 at 9:11 pm

    You are dealing with Michael Taylor, notable revolving door denison of both the FDA and Monsanto. Not to say Monsanto is in any way involved in this, but there is a track record there of ignoring pointed questions.

  12. tannersocks

    April 16, 2013 at 9:19 pm

    Thank you for allll the hard work on behalf of pets and their guardians.

    I know grammar isn’t high on the list of things to think about but good grammar may add to the credibility of Susan and the organization. So with that being said – 2nd paragraph would better if written as: For years many pet food consumer advocates and I…
    Again, thank you!

    • Kelley

      April 16, 2013 at 10:03 pm

      Surely this comment can’t be serious! If anyone or especially the FDA agency is judging the credibility of a pet food safety consumer advocacy group based on the subtle nuances of phrasing and grammar usage … then no one is focused in the right direction. It is very SAD that 2 out of 17 comments made (so far) would have the nerve to qualify their kudos for the incredibly difficult work that Susan and Mollie due with such superfuous observations. And because they are too polite and kind to call it out … may I do so for them? It’s RIDICULOUS! So let’s get back on track people.

  13. Maggie

    April 17, 2013 at 9:12 am

    Susan’s strengths include advocacy, tenacity, caring and courage. I so appreciate that she is doing what she does. And because it is important, I wish to say something about presentation. I mean well, as I’m sure the others who wrote before me meant well. I make this contribution, for which I will be criticized, because I want this organization to be seen in the best light and to succeed.

    People operating at a professional level, such as officers at the FDA, are bound to make some judgements on an organization based upon a representative’s written and oral presentations. And while this is not the main matter at hand, it is important to present one’s organization in a professional manner, avoiding grammatical errors and maintaining a formal tone as opposed to a casual one. That includes the use of full sentences, rather than fragments, the avoidance of run-on sentences and the appropriate use of the articles “the” or “a” before such words as Association, secretary, message and FDA. An informal writing style full of grammatical errors can be seen as careless and sloppy and un-businesslike and may work to undermine the credibility of the organization thus represented. If one wishes to be taken seriously, it is better to either take the time to carefully proofread documents or to have this done by a person whose strength is in grammar and business writing.

    And while I do not believe grammar is the reason that Susan is being ignored, writing style is none the less important because it is certain to make an impression which can influence the course of things.

  14. The DogMa Online

    April 17, 2013 at 9:24 am

    You and Mollie are Amazing! Thank You. Valerie/TheDogMaOnline

  15. Margaret

    April 17, 2013 at 10:45 am

    ok petitions work, publishing a book exposing D & D Rendering and all of the variables of toxic ingredients, corruption and cover ups could be powerful too…
    Jane Valdeze Mitchell would probably be happy to help if the show would allow it….
    The corruption is so rampant it is mind boggling.
    Keep up the great work, there is power in numbers!

  16. Sue Huss

    April 17, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    There has been so many recalls with pet food lately, I don’t trust any of them so I cook for them. Naturally I add digestive enzymes, vitamins and probiotics. They love their food.

  17. anne

    April 17, 2013 at 10:36 pm

    May I suggest contacting animal rights groups and senators to bring more clout to bear to the FDA? Also contacting sympathetic media can be helpful as well. The squeaky wheel…..theorem. Thanks for all you do.

  18. beth

    April 18, 2013 at 7:48 pm

    This makes them look dishonest by not responding… The FDA is supposed to be protecting us… now im really concerned

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