AAFCO's ban of consumers explained – it's worse than we thought

Why is AAFCO banning consumers and advocates? Because they spoke out against the illegal waste in pet food and lack of enforcement of law.

Click Here to sign a petition to STOP AAFCO’s consumer bias.

This madness started in early November 2019. Every pet owner and pet owner advocate that had attended an AAFCO meeting over the past 2 years received an email from AAFCO stating they were banned from attending any future meeting. Click Here to read the AAFCO email. AAFCO gave no details to why pet owners and advocates were banned, they only referenced a lawsuit (Answers Pet Food vs FDA, AAFCO and Colorado Department of Agriculture) that we have no affiliation with.

Pet owners took action, emailing AAFCO Board of Directors and their state government officials regarding the ban. And now, AAFCO has responded to consumers with the following VERY telling statement on their website (bold added for emphasis):

“We are aware there has been some misinformation circulated about attending AAFCO meetings. Non-members—including industry representatives, consumers, consumer advocates, and members of the public—are welcome to attend AAFCO meetings, including our mid-year meeting in January. The registration form is available on AAFCO’s website. AAFCO members have priority access, and the remaining slots are available to other attendees, up to the meeting rooms’ maximum seating capacities.

AAFCO has restricted meeting access only for one pet food manufacturer, which is suing AAFCO, and a select few other individuals involved in the lawsuit because we are concerned that their presence may be disruptive to meeting business. Those few individuals were notified of AAFCO’s decision by email. All others are welcome to attend.”

Who are the “select few” AAFCO banned?

AAFCO or their attorney John Dillard refuses to answer this question.

Are any of those that we know are banned (myself, BC Henschen, Kohl Harrington, Dr. Judy Morgan, and 3 pet owners) affliated in the Answers pet food lawsuit as AAFCO claims?

Absolutely not! AAFCO and their attorney refuse to provide us any evidence to back up their false claim we are affiliated with the Answers lawsuit.

But here is what we do know…

AAFCO’s states “we are concerned that their presence may be disruptive to meeting business“. Here’s the truth to what AAFCO must be considering as “disruptive”:

At a recent AAFCO meeting a consumer advocate spoke out against a feed ingredient that is sourced from expired grocery store foods in their plastic containers – the example given was expired yogurt (yogurt and plastic fed to cattle). This consumer advocate stated to AAFCO the ingredient should not be approved, no child should be drinking milk with phthalates (elements of plastic) in it.

She is one of the “select few individuals” banned from AAFCO meetings.

At another AAFCO meeting a first time attendee consumer advocate asked the committee a question (they didn’t want to answer). He was publicly chastised during the meeting by the AAFCO committee chair.

He is one of the “select few individuals” banned from AAFCO meetings.

At a recent AAFCO meeting a veterinarian spoke out about prescription pet foods being allowed to be marketed to consumers as a drug when they are not held to drug manufacturing standards.

She is one of the “select few individuals“ banned from AAFCO meetings.

At a recent AAFCO meeting a consumer advocate spoke out against the high levels of lead AAFCO allowed in a mineral supplement.

She is one of the “select few individuals“ banned from AAFCO meetings.

At a recent AAFCO meeting a consumer expressed her concern that regulatory authorities are ignoring law allowing pet foods to kill and harm pets.

She is one of the “select few individuals“ banned from AAFCO meetings.

AAFCO’s new system of ‘public’ meetings:

You are considered “disruptive” and banned if you speak up defending proper nutrition for animals. You are “disruptive” and banned if you publicly complain about lack of enforcement of law.

There is no other reason for AAFCO to ban the “select few” other than us speaking out. They used a lawsuit that none of us are affiliated with as an excuse to rid themselves of those that defend pets.

AAFCO’s actions are an initiation of war against any pet food consumer that believes their pet should consume food, not illegal ingredient feed. They must be stopped.

How do we stop AAFCO?

By demanding FDA immediately stop participating in AAFCO meetings. Without FDA participation, AAFCO’s consumer bias is history (and so is AAFCO). AAFCO’s industry serving, consumer banning organization cannot exist without FDA participation.

Click Here to sign a petition demanding FDA immediately withdraw from AAFCO. Please ask every person you know to do the same.

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

Become a member of our pet food consumer Association. Association for Truth in Pet Food is a a stakeholder organization representing the voice of pet food consumers at AAFCO and with FDA. Your membership helps representatives attend meetings and voice consumer concerns with regulatory authorities. Click Here to learn more.

What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
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The 2020 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here to learn more.