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Know the Radura

When you see the unassuming flower symbol – known as the radura – on a pet treat label, do you understand what it means? The radura symbol tells the consumer the product has been treated with irradiation.

When you see the unassuming flower symbol – known as the radura – on a pet treat label, do you understand what it means? The radura symbol tells the consumer the product has been treated with irradiation. And irradiation comes with risk. From Dr. Michael Fox…

IS FOOD IRRADIATION THE CAUSE OF DOGS SICKENING FROM JERKY TREATS FROM CHINA?

The recently posted issue of dogs developing acute kidney disease ( Fanconi syndrome) from meat jerky treats imported from China may be due to such products being subjected to irradiation. According to the highly respected  Center for Food Safety “ Food irradiation uses high-energy Gamma rays, electron beams or X-rays (all of which are millions of times more powerful than standard medical X-rays) to break apart the bacteria and insects that can hide in meat, grains and other foods. Radiation can do strange things to food, by creating substances called “unique radiolytic products.” These irradiation byproducts include a variety of mutagens – substances that can cause gene mutations, polyploidy (an abnormal condition in which cells contain more than two sets of chromosomes), chromosome aberrations (often associated with cancerous cells) and dominant lethal mutations (a change in a cell that prevents it from reproducing) in human cells. Making matters worse, many mutagens are also carcinogens”.

“Research also shows that irradiation forms volatile toxic chemicals such as benzene and toluene, chemicals known, or suspected, to cause cancer and birth defects.  Irradiation also causes stunted growth in lab animals fed irradiated foods.  An important 2001 study linked colon tumor promotion in lab rats to 2-alkylcyclobutanones (2-ACB’s), a new chemical compound found only in irradiated foods.  The FDA has never tested the safety of these byproducts.  Irradiation has also been shown to cause the low-level production of furans (similar to cancer-causing dioxins) in fruit juice”

As I reported in 2009, cats in Australia developed neurological problems from being fed an irradiated brand of imported cat food. Consumers beware, and as with the GMO-free label that manufacturers and allied government agencies have sought to prohibit, all food and beverages and ingredients of same that have been subjected to irradiation should be so labeled as well as countries of origin. At this time it is best to avoid all pet foods and treats not manufactured in the U.S. and avoid products that say “Manufactured for and distributed by….”

Essentially food irradiation creates “mummified” food, killing off bacteria that cause “spoilage” (natural putrefaction) to prolong shelf-life primarily for financial rather than health reasons.  Endotoxins, which can cause illness and death, are produced by some bacteria prior to irradiation, remain in the various animal parts recycled into pet foods and are not destroyed by irradiation.

—Dr. Michael W. Fox, Animal Doctor syndicated newspaper columnist.  www.drfoxvet.net

While the FDA says irradiation is safe, SustainableTable.org states “The long-term health consequences of eating irradiated food are still unknown. Irradiation creates a complex series of reactions that alter the molecular structure of food and create known carcinogens, including benzene, and other toxic chemicals, including toluene. In addition, byproducts of irradiation, called 2-ACBs, which do not occur naturally in any food, have been linked to cancer in rats and genetic damage in human cells. Animals fed irradiated foods have died prematurely and suffered mutations, stillbirths, organ damage and nutritional deficiencies.” 

The radura symbol will be found in many colors, on the front of the package or on the back. Look for it. In full agreement with Dr. Fox…consumers beware of the radura.

 

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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What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients?  Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 5,000 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Click Here to preview Petsumer Report. www.PetsumerReport.com

 

The 2018 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here to learn more.

 

Have you read Buyer Beware?  Click Here

Cooking pet food made easy, Dinner PAWsible

Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here

 

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. Pet Health Plus Inc

    April 4, 2018 at 11:44 am

    I know I have seen that symbol before. But I think it was on food for humans. I will be aware now if I see it anywhere.

    Sue

  2. Pingback: Know the Radura - Pet News Hound

  3. Mary Sue

    April 4, 2018 at 3:14 pm

    Here is some more information about this topic related to food for humans. https://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/1039/food-irradiation/about-food-irradiation
    Thanks Susan.

  4. Sharon

    April 4, 2018 at 4:46 pm

    When I was young dogs living to 18 years old was very common, now it seems they have a 12 year expiration date on them. We fed them table scraps and canned American made dog food. We got them vaccinated, for rabies and distemper. For some reason they lived longer. Now we feed them this “Perfect Food” that seems to be giving them cancer and other diseases, spaying and neutering before the have fully developed. Giving them a multitude of vaccines that don’t seem to be making them live longer. It all comes down to greed, the greed of corporate America, the drug companies, the big name food companies. The quicker they kill off our pets the quicker they can start the cycle over again. What a shame that this is what America has become.
    Thank you for all the information you provide to us, if there was no you we would never know!

    • Ellen Robison

      April 6, 2018 at 1:16 pm

      I agree. The shame of corporate America in there so called fight to save our pets has turned into such greed….Heartworm prevention is something that really frustrates me. Going back many years, it seems to me that the presence of Mosquitoes were in more abundance, and we never gave our dogs heartworm tabs. I had a dog that lived to the ripe age of 18 in the 70’s and another that lived to 19 yrs in the 90’s. Neither ever had heartworm tabs given to them. I worry about the dogs I have now. Even though they are on a 3 year vaccine regimen, and I see very few mosquitoes, and my dogs live indoors, my vet suggests they remain on a May through November heartworn prevention. I hate it. Chemicals.

  5. Regina

    April 4, 2018 at 8:45 pm

    So, they can just stick some new symbol on a food, and not even TELL US WHAT IT MEANS????????

    I’m sorry for shouting, but this is really upsetting. They come up with a very pretty symbol, which I’m sure they paid some PR firm a hefty chunk of money for, all so they can avoid using an actual word?????
    Those evil creatures are due for a comeuppance. (which of course, with all their greedy money, they’ll just buy their way out of it as usual).

    This just makes me sick.

    I gotta turn off my computer now.

    • Teresa

      April 4, 2018 at 9:43 pm

      Regina, you can’t buy your way out of KARMA… hope it comes round to get ’em sooner rather than later!!
      Teresa

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