Despite what you might read on numerous websites, despite what your own veterinarian might tell you – the FDA has NOT linked grain-free pet foods to heart disease (dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs or cats.
On December 23, 2022 the FDA made this statement (bold added): “FDA does not intend to release further public updates until there is meaningful new scientific information to share. A count of reports of DCM in dogs submitted to FDA as of November 1, 2022, has been added to Questions & Answers: FDA’s Work on Potential Causes of Non-Hereditary DCM in Dogs. FDA has followed up on a subset of these reports, but is unable to investigate every report to verify or confirm the reported information. While adverse event numbers can be a potential signal of an issue with an FDA regulated product, by themselves, they do not supply sufficient data to establish a causal relationship with reported product(s). FDA continues to encourage research and collaboration by academia, veterinarians, and industry.”
This confusion/misinformation could be a result of FDA’s earlier reports stating there could be a potential link between grain-free pet food and DCM. But please know, after months/years of investigation – the FDA has not confirmed that grain-free pet foods cause DCM, or are linked to DCM. Per the agency’s December 2022 statement, the FDA has no further plans to update the public on this issue unless it receives “meaningful new scientific information“.
Along with the misinformation some websites are providing about grain-free pet food, we have also seen numerous new posts stating corn ingredients are are a nutritious and safe pet food ingredient.
It is true that corn can provide nutrients to a pet’s diet – corn ingredients are a source of protein, vitamins and minerals. It is NOT necessarily true that corn is a safe pet food ingredient.
Corn is prone to mycotoxin contamination. According to DSM Animal Nutrition and Health, sample testing of corn in 2022 found “94%” of samples tested positive for some level of mycotoxin. “Based on the 83 corn samples tested to date, initial surveillance of 2022 corn crop suggests that mycotoxin occurrence is somewhat increased compared to 2021, with the greatest shifts in Fumonisins (+13% points) and Aflatoxins (+16% points).”
The “Aflatoxins in Corn” publication from Iowa State University provides concerning information about the potential risk of corn in pet food stating: “Even one highly contaminated kernel in a 5-lb sample could result in more than 20 ppb aflatoxin (the maximum level of aflatoxin allowed in pet food is 20 ppb).”
Proper testing of ingredients and finished pet food is required for pet foods with corn ingredients. Unfortunately, that is often not performed or performed properly. As example, in January 2021 Midwestern Pet Food recalled more than 58 million pounds of pet food due to aflatoxin contamination. Some samples of pet food contained aflatoxin levels as high as “558 ppb“. Through an FDA Warning Letter we learned that this pet food manufacturer “failed to follow proper sample preparation procedures, as outlined in the aflatoxin test kit manufacturer’s recommended procedure.” Per the FDA, “more than 130 pet deaths and more than 220 pet illnesses” are linked to Midwestern Pet Food’s failed testing procedures.
The truth is that corn can be a safe and nutrition providing ingredient – IF the manufacturer properly tests every incoming shipment of corn AND tests every batch of pet food for all mycotoxins.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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Kitty'sMom
March 24, 2023 at 3:09 pm
Not mentioned is the fact that much USA corn is now GMOed which I refuse to eat so clearly would not give to my precious kitty. Since many humans still reject such food, then using GMOed item(s) in pet food is how they can use up the stock they can’t sell to humans.
Goinsalvos Michele
March 25, 2023 at 1:24 pm
Right on sister!!! People can be so stubborn
Concerned
March 24, 2023 at 4:05 pm
While corn may lack the essential amino acids lysine, methionine and tryptophan, that’s no reason to reject it as a pet food ingredient, wrote Greg Aldrich, PhD, in his Ingredient Issues column.Oct 4, 2017
https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/6003-corn-digestive-curse-or-culinary-delight?v=preview
now counter with this
Objective: To compare the nutritional value of corn gluten meal (CGM) and meat meal (MM) as a dietary source of protein in dry food formulated for adult cats.
Animals: 8 healthy adult cats (4 males and 4 females).
Procedure: Diets containing CGM or MM as the main protein source were each fed for a 3-week period in a crossover study. Digestibility and nutritional balance experiments were conducted during the last 7 days of each period. Furthermore, freshly voided urine was obtained to measure urinary pH, struvite crystals, and sediment concentrations.
Results: Daily food intake and dry-matter digestibility were significantly higher for the MM diet. Fecal moisture content also was higher for the MM diet. Apparent nitrogen (N) absorption and N retention were higher for the MM diet, even when values were expressed as a percentage to account for differences in N intake. Urinary pH, struvite activity product, number of struvite crystals in urine, and urinary sediment concentrations were not different between diets. Retention of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium was lower for the CGM diet, and cats lost body calcium and magnesium when fed the CGM diet.
Conclusions and clinical relevance: Meat meal was superior to CGM as a protein source in dry foods formulated for cats, because dry-matter digestibility and N utilization were higher for the MM diet. In addition, net loss of body calcium and magnesium for the CGM diet suggests that mineral requirements increase when CGM is used as a protein source.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12224854/
Francine
March 24, 2023 at 4:37 pm
US “leadership” loves to lie and mislead its own people.
On just about everything but especially faux-innovation “ops” that win some idiot a bogus “sustainability!” award for, say, stuffing some of the 206 billion pounds of US food waste and surplus corn and other cheap US cereal products into “food” for pets – not to mention the xxx% markup sold with the standard array of sleazy US marketing tactics incl deceptive labeling to – again – manipulate and harm their own people who by trusting all of the sleazy tactics and greedy US “leadership” strateeeeegery described above end up harming and in some cases killing their own pets by feeding them this complete US-BS krap, day in and day out – as they are told to do – “sold” into doing – by … another group of US “leaders” – licensed health professionals that call themselves “veterinarians.” The same group that gets stipends, research grants, tuition waivers, and curriculum, not to mention tons of the Krap Food, from what are basically, especially now, w the recent sales in ownership, making what has always happened, more obvious – cereal companies, masquerading as “pet food” companies.
Apparently the $$ jackpots from the ridiculous markups and the bogus “sustainability” prizes – in a country that consumes and wastes almost 10 times more per capita than any other in the world – an array of morally bankrupt idiots get from all this – incl US “vets” – “professionals” – “leaders!” – makes it ok! (thumbs up! US style! big greedy Stepford-style grin!) to knowingly cause terrible pain and suffering from all sorts of completely preventable health problems, including organ damage, including heart damage. So that one day your pet stops running. And later they don’t want to walk, either. Finally, one day, they can’t breathe, either. And are terrified bc they don’t understand what is happening to them. And neither does their owner since, on average, they will by that time have received 15 misdiagnoses and put millions of innocent sweet pets who did not deserve this %^&* through 100 bogus treatments – for everything under the sun – and always for triple-digit fees – to help meet those hourly income quotas at those US small businesses full of arrogant and either clueless or sociopath-type “health professionals” known as US “veterinarians,” who claim to know all about “s-c-i-e-n-c-e!”. And sell this krap food, for their 15% markup, to their clients, who trust their “professional” recommendations. These so-called “science” experts, in the USA, who either don’t know, bc they are just too stupid, and have focused on / been brainwashed with bunch of sales and marketing training instead of actual learning anything about acutal health animal care, or even basic biology – or don’t care, greedy ambitious “leader” wanna-ba, and also US sociopath, style – what will happen to all these animals entrusted to their care as a result.
Titanic USA.
A bunch of “dominion over animals” – “animals are here to serve our n-e-e-d-s” – nutcases. In a country that encourages “pet ownership for everyone!” Bc the pet food and supply business is just so lucrative – trillions. While claiming to be concerned about “sustainability of resources”. I guess that means, have as many pets as possible, here, everyone, and then we’re going to starve them of nutrients so that they develop all sorts of terrible health problems, incl but not only diabetes, heart condition incl eventual heart failure, kidney disease, skin diseases, CNS disorders. That We, the US health professionals – “leaders” – licensed, incl some w board certifications – will then treat $$$$, and “research” $$$- for a price! Hehe!
It’s true that a country should be judged on what it does, and how it treats, the Vulnerable. The US fails on all counts.
T Allen
March 24, 2023 at 8:12 pm
Amen! Well said!
Goinsalvos Michele
March 25, 2023 at 1:34 pm
I do TOTALLY agree!! Seriously, who can HONESTLY TRUST the FDA??? People need to wake up… AND PAY ATTENTION!!! We have no right to claim that WE (US) are the best of anything anymore. We have let our government make one bad decision after another and closed our eyes while they try to sweep their mistakes under the carpet AND HAVE ACCEPTED IT!!! Gawd, how ignorant we have become, we have not only become the laughing stock of other nations but also within our own citizens who have been paying attention. It’s a really sad situation for America and will continue to be so until people wake up and strive to do something about it or we just completely fail.
J McClintick
March 24, 2023 at 8:00 pm
I’ll just stick with what my vet told me about grain-free food: “We don’t have conclusive evidence yet, but buy grain-inclusive for now just to be safe.” Regarding the aflatoxins in corn, what do you all think about adding some frozen corn from the grocery store to other mixed veggies as I try to get my arthritis dog to lose a little weight? Is it safe?
Susan Thixton
March 24, 2023 at 8:13 pm
Human grade corn (such as from the grocery) is far less likely to contain mycotoxins, however if you add too much vegetables and grains and not enough of the commercial pet food, your pet might not be getting enough nutrients to have a complete and balanced diet. I’d suggest asking your manufacturer what is the lowest amount (quantity) of food your pet can consume and it still be complete and balanced.
Harold
March 25, 2023 at 2:34 pm
All corn gluten meal in the US comes from human grade corn. There are no mills that produce only for animal food. The limit for human food is also 20 ppb aflatoxin.
Kitty'sMom
March 29, 2023 at 5:49 pm
Good info as there are “mills” for most everything else but there is still that GMO problem. Mexico is known for its ancient stock of corn and does not want GMO but our government is in favor of forcing GMOs on Mexico as well as other countries so they wouldn’t hesitate to put such crops in pet food.
Concerned
March 25, 2023 at 10:41 am
Really – CORN.
To Lose some weight – get off the high carb dog food. And exercise your 4 legged one. You want more knowledge of DCM caused by GF BIG LIE by the BIG 4, do some research. Understand the Conflicts of Interest by Dr. Stern and Dr. Freeman. and how flawed their report was – it was not even a mediocre study.
https://www.petfoodindustry.com/blogs/10-debunking-pet-food-myths-and-misconceptions/post/8369-beg-pet-food-does-not-equal-dcm
https://www.petfoodindustry.com/blogs/10-debunking-pet-food-myths-and-misconceptions/post/10554-dcm-and-grain-free-pet-foods-3-strikes-and-youre-out
and at least watch this 1hr 45 min podcast to get a better understanding of nutrition.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=656124901804150
KJ
March 25, 2023 at 1:00 pm
If you’re willing to add in a little fresh food, perhaps consider cooking for your furry friend? Balance It has a website that sells a nutrient mix and you can choose from several foods to make a complete and balanced meal for dogs and cats. Even if you just do it a few times a week or month. Similar websites that you can use are Hearthstone Homemade, Just Food for Dogs DIY and Meal Mix for Dogs. All of these websites will allow you to create complete and balanced meals using their mineral/nutrient mix. I find Balance IT provides the most options.
Samir
April 17, 2023 at 4:45 pm
After looking at the prices for all the ‘real’ type of pet foods that are not dehydrated kibble, it seems like it’s almost cheaper to just get human food and prepare it for our pets. Anyone doing this?