13 Warnings about potentially dangerous food, EXCEPT pet food

From January 1, 2024 to current day (June 24, 2024), the FDA has issued thirteen consumer alerts about potentially dangerous foods.

At the time each of these thirteen alerts were issued, the food product in question was not recalled. These public alerts were warnings to consumers based on adverse event reports received by the agency (reports of illness submitted to FDA by consumers).

As example: May 24, 2024 FDA Issues Warning About Toxic Amygdalin Found in Apricot Seeds – 1 consumer complaint.

April 4, 2024 FDA Issues Warning About Certain Supplements Substituted with Toxic Yellow Oleander – “The FDA has received adverse event reports, including one report of a serious adverse event…”

January 2024 FDA Advises Parents and Caregivers Not to Buy or Feed WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree Pouches – “four children with elevated blood lead levels“.

In the same time frame that FDA issued 13 human food warnings, the animal food division of the FDA – the Center for Veterinary Medicine received thousands of adverse event reports linked to pet food products.

According to Freedom of Information Act requested documents provided by FDA, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine received 971 adverse event reports from consumers (reporting a pet illness or death) in January 2024 alone.

But, unlike with human food products, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has issued zero consumer alerts.

Using the exact same criteria used for FDA human food alerts – consumer adverse event reports received by the agency – the Center for Veterinary Medicine did not follow the same protocol as used in human food alerts. The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has received thousands of consumer adverse event reports since January 2024, including many pet death reports – but this particular FDA division did nothing (and continues to do nothing).

This FDA Animal and Veterinary Outbreaks and Advisories webpage states: “The public health advisories listed below are written by the FDA to alert the public about pressing human and/or animal health concerns related to products regulated by the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM).“

What could be more “pressing animal health concerns” than in January 2024 alone, the Center for Veterinary Medicine receiving 886 consumer reports about Purina Pet Food products, reporting 1,184 sick pets and 97 pet deaths?

13 human food warnings – 0 pet food warnings.

Why does the human food division of FDA issue warnings/alerts regarding products they received only a few adverse event reports on – while the animal food division of FDA (Center for Veterinary Medicine) issues zero alerts when thousands of adverse event reports were received?

Pet owners deserve answers.

It certainly seems to indicate that FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine is not concerned with pet health. It seems to indicate this division of FDA is more concerned with protecting the reputation of pet food manufacturers, than protecting the lives of pets.

The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has – for decades – directly allowed the products they regulate to violate federal food safety laws (they term it ‘enforcement discretion’). This division of FDA has – for decades – directly allowed the labels of products they regulate to mislead consumers, refusing to require disclosure of illegal ingredients. And as they as proving to us now, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine is more concerned about protecting the reputation of chosen pet food manufacturers instead of protecting the lives of our pets.

How many pets have to be sickened or die until the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine actually enforces law as they are required to do?

Personal note: If your pet becomes sick you believe is linked to a pet food or treat, report it to FDA. Yes, I understand – you are probably thinking why bother, they won’t do anything about it anyway. Although the agency might not investigate (ok…probably won’t), your adverse event report becomes a public record that advocates can request from the agency in a Freedom of Information Act request. Your report might not be considered significant to FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, but it is significant to those who are trying to hold the agency accountable.

Don’t hesitate, report a pet food adverse event. Your pet’s illness or death might not be important to FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, but it is important to us.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

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

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