A comparison of how FDA has handled pet illness and death and human illness linked to kibble pet food and raw pet food.
First and foremost…this post is NOT in defense of raw pet food or in opposition to kibble pet food. The point of this post is to point out how FDA handles pet illness and death reports linked to a pet food and human illness linked to a pet food differently – depending on the company involved and/or the type/style of pet food involved. If FDA wishes to have the respect and trust of pet food consumers, they must handle all pet illness and death reports (linked to a pet food or treat) the same.
Raw Pet Food
Issued February 13, 2018, the FDA announced: “FDA Investigates Pattern of Contamination in Certain Raw Pet Foods Made by Arrow Reliance Inc., Including Darwin’s Natural Pet Products and ZooLogics Pet Food”. This FDA press announcement is provided in a Q&A type style – FDA providing the questions and answers. Under the section “What is the Problem and What is Being Done About It?” – we find a detailed explanation to recalls Darwin’s pet food has initiated since 2016, and why (Salmonella and Listeria).
“Since October 2016, Arrow Reliance/Darwin’s Natural has initiated four recalls and had six reported complaints (some referring to more than one animal) associated with their raw pet food products, including the death of one kitten from a severe systemic Salmonella infection. The Salmonella isolated from the kitten was analyzed using whole genome sequencing and found to be indistinguishable from the Salmonella isolated from a closed package from the same lot of Darwin’s Natural cat food that the kitten ate.”
FDA provides no information to the second part of their question…“What is Being Done About It?”
The remainder of the FDA press release discusses the risk of Salmonella and Listeria.
No argument, this is concerning information that pet food consumers should be made aware of.
Kibble Pet Food
Beginning in 2012, the FDA began to receive consumer complaints of pet illness and death linked to Beneful dog food. From the FDA internal report:
“During 2012, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) received approximately three (3) consumer complaints per month associated with Nestle Purina Beneful® dry dog food for a total of 31 consumer complaints (46 dogs, 8 deaths). In January 2013 alone, CVM received a surge of 26 consumer complaints between 1/8/13 and 1/21/13 that occurred after an open source media report implicated Beneful® dry dog food as a potentially harmful dog food product.”
The complaints of sick and dying pets FDA received on Beneful continued through 2015 – which even led to a letter to FDA from Senators Richard Durbin and Diane Feinstein for investigation into the problem.
What did FDA do about the 31 consumer complaints received in 2012 – 46 dog illnesses and 8 dog deaths?
They did NOT issue a press release as they did with Darwin’s. The ONLY reason we (consumers) are aware that FDA did anything about the pet illness and deaths linked to Beneful is due to the agency receiving numerous Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for the information. It is FDA procedure to publicly post on the agency website information that is frequently requested in FOIAs. No press release, just a quiet mention found ONLY by those who are skilled at digging around the agency’s website.
With no alert to the public, FDA performed an investigation/inspection of 3 Purina Beneful manufacturing plants. Their inspection found numerous violations…
- “Six samples collected were above the allowable level for cyanuric acid and ammelide.”
- “Six samples collected contained ethoxyquin; however, the additive was not indicated on the product labeling.”
- FDA discovered “formula changes” and ingredient replacement.
- FDA determined “The firm does not have a written protocol for handling complaints.”
With Darwins – six reported consumer complaints, 1 pet death – FDA announces a full investigation to the public. With Purina – in 2012 alone: 46 dog illnesses, 8 dog deaths – FDA quietly investigates (no public notice), discovers adulteration, labeling violations, manufacturing protocol violations and simply sits down with Purina to chat (after the investigation was complete). “CVM decided to provide educational outreach to Nestle Purina Corporate Headquarters regarding the labeling violation for ethoxyquin…CVM had not yet pursued a Class 3 voluntary recall as planned.”
Raw Pet Food
Another recent FDA press release “FDA Investigates Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Raws for Paws Ground Turkey Food for Pets” that includes similar information as the Darwin’s pet food FDA press release. However this FDA information includes the concern “The Minnesota Department of Health reports that two children in a single household became sick from Salmonella Reading (S. Reading).”
No argument…this is concerning information that pet food consumers should be made aware of.
Kibble Pet Food
In 2012 Diamond Pet Food suffered a similar Salmonella recall including human illness of “49 individuals (47 individuals in 20 states and two individuals in Canada)” – the FDA remained silent. There was no public investigation, no public warning from FDA. Only a typical recall notice was provided to the public.
With Raws for Paws – two children illnesses – FDA announces a full investigation to the public. With Diamond pet food – 49 human illnesses – no public warning, no notice of investigation.
FDA…you need to understand something.
Whether a pet is sickened/killed by a raw pet food or a pet is sickened/killed by a kibble pet food – the outcome still devastates the family. A human or pet illness (and death) linked to a raw pet food is NOT more important than a human or pet illness (and death) linked to kibble pet food. They ALL are IMPORTANT. The FDA should NOT give special privileges to some, all investigations should be consistent.
In the past year – four brands of pet food were found to contain pentobarbital, four brands of pet food used euthanized animals as a pet ‘food’ ingredient. FDA has been investigating Evanger’s Pet Food for a full year, with no recent update. FDA refused to respond to questions from news station WJLA regarding the most recent Gravy Train pentobarbital findings. Yet FDA swiftly publishes press releases regarding Salmonella in raw pet food. Does the agency consider Salmonella more significant than euthanized animals in pet food?
FDA…they are both significant.
Pet food consumers don’t want their family sick. To you (FDA) – your focus/concern is the human family. But we (consumers) are concerned with the ENTIRE family – human and pet. FDA, enforce law – consistently – with ALL pet food companies. Take enforcement action – consistently – with ALL pet food companies.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
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Hope
February 14, 2018 at 4:30 pm
I’m of the opinion that Big Pet Feed, who are probably highly involved in FDA pet food/makers regulation, find that the growing raw pet food component of the pet food industry is a significant threat to their future crap food viability. Why? Because they’ve determined that premium quality raw pet foods are too high a cost to manufacture with low margins–bot to mention low quality raw pet foods aren’t viable– so it’s less costly to put the quality raw pet food manufacturers out of business via their FDA involvement. I’m an advocate of quality controls and regulation on all pet food companies BUT an advocate of making ALL pet food/feed manufacturers comply with those controls/regulations across the board.
d
February 14, 2018 at 4:40 pm
Did they ever find out why Weruva’s canned food (I think it was BFF in Australia, but still…) killed multiple pets? I keep looking but have yet to find an answer on that one, either.
Susan Thixton
February 14, 2018 at 4:41 pm
I am not aware if they did or did not. Sorry.
d
February 14, 2018 at 7:15 pm
No worries, I just find it suspicious that they never published that, either. Sure, it’s not the FDA, but it’s a US company… we should be concerned about this issue too. 🙁
cupcakesandkale
February 23, 2018 at 11:46 am
https://www.weruvaupdates.com/
Cannoliamo
February 14, 2018 at 5:09 pm
I would like to share a comparison about how the FDA and Pet Food Industry concern can sometimes outweigh the Veterinarian concern for the death of a pet. Yesterday, we heard about how there is a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Big Heart Brands dog food for having pentobarbital contamination. Fortunately (in some regards) I have 6 cats.
Last year, one of my cats (10-year old “Tammy”) was having noisy breathing and I took her to the vet. The diagnosis was “asthma” (which I questioned since I had her from the time she was 6 weeks old and never had any prior indication of asthma). The vet took a 3-view radiograph and confirmed it was asthma and prescribed prednisolone. For the next 3 days I had to watch as Tammy slowly suffocated (the vet said to maintain the treatment) and after three days I couldn’t stand watching her suffer and I took her to the emergency clinic and was told she had to be put down since there was no response in the oxygen tent. They said their was a great deal of fluid in her lungs when she died.
To shorten the story, after necropsy and expert radiology and pathology consultations at Cornell, the cause of death was ruled as pulmonary edema resulting from congestive heart failure and she should have been on Lasix (Furosemide) to relieve the congestion. The veterinary diagnosis of asthma was wrong … there was no sign of asthma.
After speaking with numerous agencies and lawyers, I found out that, because pets are “personal property” and not “companion animals,” the maximum liability of the vet and the maximum I could possibly recover from a civil lawsuit was the replacement cost of my adopted cat. I could file a Veterinary Licensing Board complaint if I chose to.
In my opinion, $50 is no where close to the pain and suffering of both Tammy and myself (including 5 months of grief and anger). I would say $50,000 is closer to the damages we both suffered. In some ways, pet food manufacturers are much more liable for the quality of their products than veterinarians are for the quality of their services. Hopefully this will change in the near future.
Cheryl Bond
February 14, 2018 at 10:48 pm
I’m so sorry for the loss of your beloved fur-baby! ?
This is MADDENING beyond belief! These classification law’s are such B.S.! & they MUST CHANGE! They NEVER should have been as they are, & they certainly are way outdated!
I hope you will persue action with your state legislator’s & help get petitions to help them take notice & get the law changed. This needs to happen in EVERY state!
I’d like to know, with all the money the Humane Society rakes in year after year, why isn’t this type of legislation hadn’t been proposed & urgently campaigned for? That’s what they “do”, legislation, so, what’s up with that?!
It’s painful enough to lose a furry family member due to complete incompetence! Let alone then treated as an “it” in the court of law! It makes the heartbreak 10,000 X’s worse!
I hope you dilegently expose this Incompetent Vet far & wide on social media! If they couldn’t diagnose this basic diaease your cat was suffering from, then they’re not worth ANYONES business!
Lastly, had your cat had any recent vaccinations? I’m not sure how much you know about that topic, but the more & more I educate myself on it, the more really bad things I uncover. Don’t rely on ANY vet to know the truth, or even tell you the truth, because it’s most of their “Cash cow”& they’ll never go against their hierchy any way!
Some, (like a couple vet’s I use) know the truth, & quiety will tell you the truth, but not most, because of liability.
Again, I’m very sorry for your sad loss.
Cannoliamo
February 15, 2018 at 8:33 am
Thank you for sharing your compassion. We’re all doing well, but I teared-up when I was recalling this experience. I doubt I will ever be fully healed from this trauma, but thank you.
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soozyb2013
February 15, 2018 at 12:47 pm
The pet feed industry is like that of big pharma, almost exactly. Pets and people are dying or getting seriously ill from bad food/feed and medications that for the most part are only a band-aid. I could go on and on but it seems that money will be the ruler here and always be money. Both FDA and the AFFCO big wigs, and big pharma can only see dollars lost if things change. It sickens me that our pets continue to get sick from “food” we as consumers are buying thinking it is a good brand and won’t hurt our pets. We are trusting these so called caring companies to be honest with us and in turn we buy their products. Our pets get sick and some die and no body from the big companies care enough to be honest. It’s all about the big dollar. Same with big pharma, there are cures for some diseases out there, but the amount of money that would be lost makes them keep these behind closed doors and not willing to keep researching. Makes me sick. We have to be the scientists and research these products or even better than that, start making your own food. Real food. Rant over, things just seem to be getting worse not better.
Eve
February 15, 2018 at 10:49 pm
CAN ANY ONE HERE advise me are the Beneful products here in Australia the exported same food from USA?? How would I find tbis out please. ☺
Amy
February 28, 2018 at 7:47 am
Why would you even risk feeding it?
Camille
May 24, 2019 at 7:23 am
Does anyone have current information of the Taste of the Wild class action lawsuit? I’m hoping to get involved in that. My baby was fed TOTW his entire life and died of bone cancer at the age of 7.