FDA Still Not Honest with Senator Bill Nelson

It’s starting to get a little humorous at how many lies the FDA will tell to Senator Bill Nelson in order to avoid meeting with pet food safety advocates.  Here’s the latest FDA lie…

It’s been about two months that Senator Bill Nelson and Senator Marco Rubio have been trying to help us establish ongoing dialogue with FDA.  Numerous pet food safety advocates including several veterinarians have volunteered their time, but the FDA continues to balk.

Just this week I received the following (second) update from Senator Nelson…

Dear Ms. Thixton:

In response to my additional inquiry on your behalf, I understand a representative from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been in frequent contact with you.  I encourage you to stay in touch with the FDA for any future meeting opportunities in Florida.

I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to look into this matter.

Sincerely,

Bill Nelson

And to let the Senator know what the FDA told him was incorrect, I sent the following response back to the Senator…

Senator Bill Nelson
Orlando, FL  32803

7/15/13

Senator Nelson,

I want to thank you again for your contact with FDA on my behalf, however it seems the FDA is being less than truthful with you – again.  

Your most recent response to me stated “I understand a representative from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been in frequent contact with you.”  This is not correct.  I have not had any contact with any representative of FDA since late March 2013 – almost four months ago.  

It appears the FDA is doing anything they can (including lying to you Senator) to avoid meeting with pet food consumer advocates.  

I would like to remind you of a few of the reasons why pet food consumers deserve to have a voice….

• FDA Compliance Policies, as example CPG Sec. 690.300, allow pet foods to violate the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (please note there are numerous other FDA Compliance Policies that allow pet food/animal feeds to violate federal law).  This particular policy states “Policy:  Pet food consisting of material from diseased animals or animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, which is in violation of 402(a)(5) will not ordinarily be actionable, if it is not otherwise in violation of the law. It will be considered fit for animal consumption.”  There is no warning label on the pet food alerting consumers they are purchasing a pet food that might contain diseased animals.  This is wrong.

• After the 2007 pet food recall – the largest pet food recall in history – Congress required FDA to establish an improved recall alert system, improve pet food ingredient definitions and nutrient information on pet food labels.  Congress required FDA to establish these by September 2009.  The only thing FDA has completed is PetNet – a recall alert system.  Almost four years past the required completion date, there has been no improved pet food ingredient definitions and no improved nutrient information on pet food labels.  Is it fair that the FDA has ignored Congress’s mandate to improve pet food ingredient definitions and nutrient information?

• Human consumers purchase pet food products, yet the nutritional information and the ingredient definitions are not in any way similar to human foods.  Pet food consumers are forced to learn a second language so to speak in order to understand what they are purchasing with pet food/treat products.  If a consumer wanted to read the official pet food ingredient definitions, it would cost the consumer $90.00 to do so; pet food ingredient definitions are copyright protected by Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and published once a year.  The 2013 AAFCO Official Publication costs $90.00.  Senator, is it fair that a pet food consumer must pay $90.00 to fully understand what they are purchasing in pet food products?  

Pet food consumers deserve a voice with pet food regulatory authorities.  Both FDA and AAFCO are refusing to establish regular dialogue with pet food safety advocates – including veterinarian advocates.  FDA is being less than honest with you.  I beg you to understand the serious need for a consumer voice with pet food/treat related issues and hope you continue to push FDA towards such.  

Thank you,

Susan Thixton
Association for Truth in Pet Food

We continue to wait.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible

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