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2009 Stupidest Act in Pet Food

Last year, the ‘award’ was given to the FDA. Who will win the Stupidest Act in Pet Food this year?

Last year, the ‘award’ was given to the FDA.  Who will win the Stupidest Act in Pet Food this year?

Wow, looking back on it, 2009 had many stupidities happen in pet food.  The list is too long to mention them all, so below you’ll find stupidity highlights followed by the 2009 Award Winning Stupid Act in Pet Food.

Ok, this isn’t pet food related, but it’s so stupid it is worth mentioning.  A Dog Washing Machine.  Throw your pet in and watch the misery.  https://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/357/1/This-is-downright-Ridiculous/Page1.html

We had two Pet Food Companies this year try to pretend there were no problems with their foods when veterinarian verified reports stated pets were ill and dying.  Premium Edge Pet Food and Nutro Pet Food both announced recalls after word of problems were flooding blogs and forums on the Internet.  Nutro went on for many weeks denying a problem; the FDA even backed them up saying there was no investigation.  And then the recall due to vitamin/mineral error was announced.  Later in the year Nutro had another recall because an employee lost their hard hat into the batch of pet food.  Seems pretty stupid to me that an employee wouldn’t instantly realize a hard hat wasn’t on their head until weeks later when the food had already been bagged and shipped to retail outlets.
https://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/532/1/Just-a-warning-this-one-is-going-to-make-you-Mad/Page1.html
https://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/474/1/Eighteen-Days-Late/Page1.html
https://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/457/1/Very-Confusing-Statement-From-Nutro-/Page1.html

With another pet food, Walmart’s Ol Roy and Special Kitty, we learned this year that the Customer Service phone number printed on the bag is actually to Menu Foods recall line.  Now there’s some positive thinking (?).
https://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/392/1/Got-a-Question-about-Walmarts-Ol-Roy-or-Special-Kitty-Pet-Food–Good-Luck/Page1.html

And then there is the pet food that bragged it is made from dead livestock.  Happy Hounds Dog Food is made by a rendering facility that removed dead livestock from farms and feedlots (regardless of why the animal died).  Yeah, I bet those dogs that eat this food are ‘happy hounds’.
https://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/512/1/Dead-Livestock-equals-Happy-Hounds-Dog-Food/Page1.html

The 2007 pet food recall lawsuit settlement stall continues to hurt pet owners.  Now, almost three years later pet owners continue to wait to be reimbursed for vet bills.  The delay, needless to say, is stupid and careless.  https://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/235/1/Texas-Attorney-objects-to-Pet-Food-Settlement/Page1.html

One of the biggest stupidities in pet food this year comes from Consumer Reports, you know, the publication trusted for unbiased scientifically proven or tested product reviews.  Their advice on pet food, published in March of 2009, was one of the most stupid and misleading pet food related things I read this year.  To make matters worse, excerpts from the report were published in newspapers all across the U.S.; adding to the misleading information given to pet owners already.  https://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/252/1/Consumer-Reports-reports-on-Pet-Food-Its-Bunk/Page1.html

Despite all of the above stupidity and more not mentioned here, the 2009 Stupidest Act in Pet Food Award again this year goes to…the FDA.  No contest.

In 2009 the FDA…
Ignored Federal Law (the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) with pet food for another year.  It is simply mind boggling that a government agency can openly tell pet food companies to ignore Federal Laws.  I have repeatedly asked the FDA to specifically explain how the agency can advise pet food companies to ignore Federal Law and I have repeatedly receive evasive answers or no response.

Pulled the Emergency Permit from Evangers Pet Food for some reason (no one from the FDA ever told us why) and then out of the blue Evangers was back in business.  No explanation of what happened or didn’t happen, what was corrected or wasn’t corrected, nothing.  Again, I have asked the FDA numerous times for an explanation with no response.  Thanks for the confusion.

Was on top of their game when they announced the Premium Edge Pet Food Recall 18 days AFTER it was announced to TruthaboutPetFood.com from the company.  Nothing like timely recalls to save pets lives.

Was found to ‘Not Follow Procedure during the 2007 Pet Food Recall’ by the Inspector General of the United States.  This error of the FDA not following their recall protocol is not only stupid, it is frightening.  Furthermore, it undoubtedly cost the lives of many, many pets.

During 2008, not one proactive move was made by the FDA to improve the safety of pet food.  During 2009, despite having a new FDA ‘top dog’ there has not been one step made to improve the safety of pet food.  The only thing accomplished by the FDA this year in regards to pet food is the release of the FDA Pet Food widget; no reason to celebrate.

FDA, congratulations.  For two years in a row you win hands down the bragging rights to the stupidest act in Pet Food.  The thing is though; when you win this award, pet owners lose.

Here’s hoping for a better 2010.

 

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
PetsumerReport.com

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