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AAFCO Meeting January 2020

The good, the bad, and the ugly from the recent AAFCO meeting.

The good, the bad, and the ugly from the recent AAFCO meeting.

After being allowed to attend the AAFCO meeting just 4 days before it began, it was a scramble to get to Albuquerque on Monday January 20, 2020. Coming into the meeting the first day, few regulatory authorities made eye contact. The atmosphere was chilly to say the least. But on day two, several went out of their way to tell me personally they were glad I am here. It was clear to me, that not all at AAFCO believed it was the right thing to do to ban consumers and advocates. I want to thank those that at AAFCO who shared their feelings with me – it is greatly appreciated.

AAFCO Executive Director Sue Hays on the other hand, treated me like I was a thug. I approached her after a session on Wednesday – very politely asking if I could have a minute of her time. She intentionally took a full step backwards – away from me – standing facing me, stiff as a board as if she feared for her safety (or perhaps she feared she would attack me). The expression on her face was cold, her eyes glaring at me. I stated to her: “Sue, you know as well as I do that I and the consumers that AAFCO banned were not affiliated with that lawsuit. We tried to talk to you about this, and were ignored. It was insulting to us to be accused of something that we have no affiliation with, and then be ignored.” Still with that look on her face, she told me “Thank you for your statement” and walked away…very quickly. It is a concern that the executive director of AAFCO have such a poor relationship with the largest pet food stakeholder – consumers. But it is great to know that not all at AAFCO feels like this. Perhaps there is hope for the future with some at AAFCO.

A new concern was highlighted at this meeting. AAFCO – “a voluntary membership association of local, state and federal agencies” – is slowing becoming an organization of non-local, state and federal agencies. As example, the Chair of AAFCO’s Model Bills and Regulations Committee is retired from his state government job; he’s a private citizen not held to transparency or accountability of government duties. AAFCO is beginning to implement multiple private citizens into significant positions within their organization – which is a serious concern for conflict of interest issues in the future.

The opening session of AAFCO is always an introduction of all in attendance. What was most surprising was the number of FDA representatives in attendance; an estimated 30 representatives from FDA attended this AAFCO meeting (at tax payer expense).

During the morning session on Wednesday (1/22/20) – the Pet Food Committee meeting, the discussion was regarding “therapeutic diets” – better known as prescription pet foods. AAFCO has been working on what was believed to be regulations regarding these diets, however the regulations they appeared to be developing were based on an FDA Compliance Policy – not based on law. Knowing this is a trick of the regulatory trade (enforcement of a policy as law), I asked the committee to provide clarification to what AAFCO was developing. (Background: FDA policy is FDA opinion, it is not law. As example, it is FDA policy to allow diseased animals and non-slaughtered animal material in pet food with no disclosure or warning to consumers. Law states this material is illegal, FDA policy allows it.) I asked them to clarify if they were planning on introducing regulations based on an FDA policy. After what felt like an eternity of silence, with everyone on the committee looking at each other wondering who was going to answer my question – FDA finally stated that the work AAFCO is doing will “not” be a regulation, it will only be guidance. We will be closely watching this in the future to hold them to their statement law will not be based on a policy.

Also in the Pet Food Committee was another lengthy discussion on what pet food labels will look like and say in the future. This discussion has been ongoing for years – and it remains a topic at every meeting. During this segment, I stepped to the microphone again and made the following statement on behalf of consumers: “I don’t have a question, I’d like to make a statement. And this is not to place blame on AAFCO, the Pet Food Committee, or the working groups that have worked on pet food labeling updates…however…in 2007 Congress promised pet owners labeling updates after the deadliest recall in history. Pets died for those legally required label updates – but in late 2018 Senator Rand Paul submitted an addendum to an unrelated bill and completely wiped the laws off the record. Label updates are significantly important for pet owners to make informed decisions.” My goal was to remind the room – everyone at AAFCO – that consumers have waited long enough for label updates. Hopefully some heard me.

During the same discussion on labeling updates, a Mars Petcare representative told the committee that testing for total fiber in a pet food (instead of “crude fiber” as is currently listed on labels) would be a significant expense to manufacturers; he gave the comparison of $25.00 per test to an estimated $500.00 per test should AAFCO implement certain labeling updates. Interestingly, a laboratory regulatory authority went to the microphone and stated this price increase presented by Mars Petcare was not correct information. She stated the new label claims AAFCO is considering would cost VERY similar to the old style of crude fiber. Further, as a regulator representing the laboratory side of enforcement – she asked that the laboratory regulators be included on decisions like this (to prevent misinformation being given by industry).

The afternoon session on Wednesday also included a keynote speaker from one of the largest rendering companies in the US – Darling Ingredients. Needless to say, his perspective is rendering saves the world from dangerous material that the rendering industry repurposes into sellable products. Mr. Stuewe of Darling proudly stated during his speech “if I can find it – I grind it“. While I understand that dead animal carcasses need to be properly disposed of, my opinion remains that this material is NOT quality nutrition. And it should NOT be used in pet foods – especially with no warning or disclosure to consumers.

Also in the afternoon session on Wednesday was the Ingredient Definitions Committee session. The discussion was regarding FDA’s GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) approval of “Krill Meal” in pet foods and treats. The GRAS approval of this ingredient allows no more than 3% (of total ingredients) to be allowed in pet foods/treats – and it comes with some concerns. Krill Meal in pet food will be allowed to contain up to 800 mg/kg of fluoride and up to 67 mg/kg of copper. Science has proven that fluoride can attach to bones which has been associated with bone cancer. I cannot say with certainty this level of fluoride is a risk (would need to research it more), but it appears to be very high. And copper (unfortunately) has no maximum level established in pet food – minimum requirements for an adult dog is 1.83 mg/1,000 calories, 1.25 mg/1,000 calories for an adult cat. But if you consider this ingredient’s level of copper, added to other ingredients level of copper, and then a copper supplement added to the pet food – again this appears to be a concern.

A big thank you to all pet owners out there that pushed to demand we be let in the door! Without all of us pushing, I doubt we would have been allowed in. So thank you to all, I am honored to represent you at AAFCO.

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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21 Comments

21 Comments

  1. Anonymous

    January 24, 2020 at 1:31 pm

    Thank you Susan for coming. Seriously. There are some of us who don’t like how it was handled, we understand – and it could have been better.

    • Kohl Harrington

      January 25, 2020 at 10:05 pm

      Come out of the shadows! #anonymous 🙂

    • Harry

      January 25, 2020 at 11:33 pm

      Imagine a world where no state regulator had to be anonymous, and could actually speak their truth!

  2. ~ Pet Owner ~

    January 24, 2020 at 1:47 pm

    Thank you Susan, for your fearlessness.

  3. Scot

    January 24, 2020 at 2:07 pm

    Hopefully this was Sue Hays LAST meeting, from your experience and others i have heard it does not sound like she deserves such a Important Job.
    Thanks again for doing what you do🐾
    Scot

  4. Daniel G

    January 24, 2020 at 2:22 pm

    Thank you so much Susan for not giving up on this fight and for going to this meeting with such short notice so someone there could speak for the consumer. Thanks for this great summary!

  5. T Allen

    January 24, 2020 at 2:30 pm

    Yeah! A Mars slap down, in front of everyone! I hope you got a chance to thank her! This is what it will take to stop the lies. Thanks Susan!

  6. Harry Giarratana

    January 24, 2020 at 3:08 pm

    Thank-you, Susan, so very much for attending the meetings and making our feelings known. We look forward to the day that your efforts bear fruit. God bless.

  7. Michele Little

    January 24, 2020 at 6:26 pm

    Thank you for putting yourself out there again for all of us. Bring on the LIGHT

  8. Laura Beveridge

    January 24, 2020 at 6:34 pm

    I missed every moment of it. As a consumer, I was deprived of the chance to attend my 4th consecutive meeting because after being banned by Sue Hayes and crew (with NO tie to the Answers suit), I couldn’t grab a last minute plane ticket and take off of work. It was wrong and they know it! BUT, you can bet that I will be in Baltimore with others and we will be back in the meetings as consumers who need to be involved. I will ask for an apology from AAFCO, but it will never happen. Susan, thank you for being there and representing all of us. That was the only comfort that I felt over those few days as I worried about the dynamics of a meeting without representation. We will never stop pushing for the safety and health of our beloved pets. Andrea Phillips and Julie Elrod…..we will all be together in Baltimore and we will work to get other consumers to attend with us!! YOU ARE MY HERO, SUSAN THIXTON.

  9. Faith Jones

    January 24, 2020 at 8:05 pm

    Thank you for attending with last minute notice. Your dedication to safe pet food with consumer understanding is remarkable and extreme dedication. For dog breeds that don’t process copper well, excess could be life threatening. Dr Jean Dodd’s has much info on copper.

  10. Marilyn Kopp

    January 24, 2020 at 8:19 pm

    Good job. Just wanted to mention that our beloved pets may be the “canaries in the coal mine” The job the FDA is doing for humans isn’t any better. Please watch “what the health” documentary. Eye opening. Several other documentaries including “Cowspiriacy” and “Food Matters” Your blood will run cold. You’ll see how the FDA is allowing all sentient creatures to be poisoned.and the ecology to be destroyed.

  11. Tina

    January 24, 2020 at 9:13 pm

    Thank you so much for speaking on my behalf & advocating for my furbabies Susan. Thank you for your repeated bravery at these meetings.

  12. Plonac

    January 24, 2020 at 9:41 pm

    Dear Susan,

    I am so very glad that you were able to make it to this meeting on such very short notice. Mega kudos to you for saying what you did to Sue Hays! She sounds ill equipped to hold such a powerful position with the AAFCO. Hopefully, her term will end soon and she will be replaced by someone better qualified and with far higher standards for what is acceptable in our pets’ food. Reading the following quote from Stuewe of Darling, literally gave me a cold chill: “if I can find it – I grind it“.

    Oh dear God, how can a person with any pride, or any cognition of right and wrong, say such a thing??? Such an individual has absolutely no business working in the pet food industry.

    Hopefully, change is coming soon. Thanks again for your mega efforts on our behalf.

  13. chuck linker

    January 24, 2020 at 10:05 pm

    THANK YOU SUSAN FOR GOING TO ALBUQUERQUE.

    SUE HAYES REMAINS JEALOUS OF YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR CANINES & FELINES.
    SO YOU’RE A THUG, HUH? THAT WOMAN NEEDS A LOBOTOMY. DO NOT TO BE CONCERNED WITH PETTY PEOPLE & THEIR PETTY POWER.

    PERHAPS THE FDA NEEDS SOME KRILL IN THEIR EXPENSE ACCOUNT DIET !

    YOUR DESCRIPTION SOUNDS LIKE THE SIMILAR BEHAVIOR IN WASH. D.C. NOW; BETWN. SENATORS & THE HOUSE. LOTS OF LIES & CONCEIT.

    RAND PAUL MUST BE VERY ABSENT MINDED ABOUT 2007. HOPE HE DOES NOT HAVE ANY PETS AT HOME. IT IS MISFORTUNATE ABOUT IGNORANCE OF THAT LABELING ISSUE. WE CONSUMERS DEPEND ON DEFINATIVE LABELS– NOT LIES OR BRIBERY..

    CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR YOU, SUSAN. WE CONSUMERS WILL FIGHT FOR YOUR LOYALTY PROTECTING OUR PET POPULATION’S SAFE & HONESTLY LABELED NUTRITION.

    THANK YOU.

    • T

      January 25, 2020 at 9:51 pm

      read on petschooled.com through the free FOIA requests that are posted. Washington November and December are fascinating. Sue often speaks to whatever PFI wants. That in itself says it all. Plus, AAFCO is in the same building as an organization called FASS, which operates a lot of quasi governmental organizations. Basically industry regulating themselves with the illusion that states are doing it. Well, that game is up! Thank you Chuck!

  14. Janet Byrnes

    January 25, 2020 at 3:04 am

    Susan, thank you for attending the AAFCO meeting and standing up for consumers. And thank you for standing up to Sue Hayes. She knows she was wrong.

  15. Lise Petroski

    January 25, 2020 at 10:02 am

    Thank you, Susan. We all stand behind you.

  16. K

    January 25, 2020 at 9:49 pm

    Thank you Susan. Have been reading how Sue from AAFCO (in EMAILS obtained via FOIA) often referred to what PFI tells her. From FOIA emails, Sue and AAFCO operate for the corporations. What a complete joke she is and what AAFCO is becoming. Glad you made the effort to try and speak to her. God knows she wants to paint you as the bad person but it isn’t working. We all know AAFCO needs to go away and all these state agencies need to have open meetings with FDA, on public record, recorded for all to see. A new day needs to come. Keep going!

  17. Harry Duty

    January 25, 2020 at 11:34 pm

    Thank you Susan! Thank you to everyone pushing this forward. Lets keep expressing our voices on record! The more we keep speaking truth, THE BETTER!

  18. Marsha

    January 27, 2020 at 12:47 pm

    Thank you Susan for all you do for us. As well as having to put up people like with Sue Hayes. Apparently she thinks quite highly of herself, and possibly the only one that does. We are behind you all the way Susan!

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