The consumer advocacy organization Environmental Working Group tested 11 bags of pet food for “total fluorine, which indicates the likely presence of PFAS. Four bags with the highest concentrations of fluorine were sent for additional tests, which revealed levels of specific PFAS compounds.”
Those four bags were:
“Meow Mix Tender Centers Salmon & Chicken Flavors Dry Cat Food had the highest total fluorine, with 630 ppm. More tests found two PFAS at 5.5 parts per billion, or ppb.”
“The sample of Purina Cat Chow Complete Chicken had total fluorine at 310 ppm. Additional tests revealed it was contaminated with six different PFAS at an alarming 245 ppb.”
“Kibbles n’ Bits Bacon and Steak flavor registered 590 ppm of total fluorine. Additional tests found two PFAS at 14.3 ppb.”
“Blue Buffalo’s Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe food had total fluorine of 140 ppm.”
There have been no pet food recalls – ever – for contamination with PFAS compounds. But in 2022, there were two human food recalls for PFAS compounds.
On 7/6/22 Bumble Bee Foods issued a recall “of smoked clams after FDA testing found detectable levels of PFAS chemicals in samplings of the product.”
And on 7/15/22 Crown Prince, Inc issued a similar recall of “canned Crown Prince Natural Smoked Baby Clams in Olive Oil because FDA testing found detectable levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).”
Note that both recall notices stated “FDA testing” discovered the PFAS compounds in the human foods.
To our knowledge, FDA has never tested pet food for PFAS.
Considering the results of Environmental Working Group testing, pet owners need to ask the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine to monitor PFAS compounds in pet food and as was done with human foods, issue recalls when detectable levels are found. Please email them at: AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov.
To learn more about PFAS, Environmental Working Group provides further explanation HERE in a video.
Wishing you and your pet the best –
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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Lynelle Behler
November 4, 2022 at 1:30 pm
Horrible. Thanks for sharing.
Suki
November 5, 2022 at 9:59 am
Great! So in addition to all the other environmental exposures to PFAS from treated carpets, furniture, clothing, etc., we need to worry about feeding the endocrine disrupter directly to our pets. [Please avoid non-stick cookware and utensils which can also be a source of PFAS if you are home cooking meals for your pets.] It’s not so surprising considering how pervasive PFAS are and how little profit-oriented pet feed corporations care about our pets. My formerly hyperthyroid cat was successfully treated with radioactive iodine, so she’ll continue to be fed human-grade and home-cooked meals to help ensure it doesn’t return. Please take a moment to consider (and try to reduce to the extent you can) your pets’ daily chemical exposures – fragrances you spray and/or burn while they’re around, hand lotions and other chemicals petted into their fur, bad pet feed ingredients, chewing on or sleeping in treated fabrics (pet beds), etc.
Bret Jones
November 7, 2022 at 12:50 pm
What is the FDA maximum level allowed for pet food? I think it’s confusing to reference some levels as ppb (parts per billion) and some as ppm (parts per million). Readers may not notice that difference and it is a big difference.