Looking Back At Pet Food In 2021

Recalls

During 2021, sixteen different pet food recalls were issued. Per FDA Enforcement Reports, a total of 68,276,254 pounds of pet food was recalled in 2021.

All recalls in 2021 were for only three different causes:

• Aflatoxin: 60,378,524 pounds
• Pathogenic Bacteria: 7,706,865 pounds
• Excess Vitamin D: 190,865 pounds

The greatest majority of the aflatoxin recalls was due to pet owner testing of the contaminated pet food (not regulatory monitoring) – after pets died and were sickened.

Kibble was the most recalled style of pet food – 99% of all recalled pet food in 2021 was kibble, 66,571,618 pounds. The most significant cause of kibble recalls in 2021 was for aflatoxin, 59,004,119 pounds. More than 7.5 million pounds of kibble was recalled in 2021 for a pathogenic bacteria (98% of all pathogenic bacteria recalls in 2021 was for kibble pet foods).

190,865 pounds of pet foods were recalled for excess vitamin D in 2021, 59,807 pounds of canned pet food and 131,058 pounds of cooked pet food (sold frozen).

120,366 pounds of cooked pet foods were recalled in 2021 for pathogenic bacteria.

19,000 pounds of raw pet food were recalled in 2021, all for pathogenic bacteria.

Midwestern Pet Food recalled more pet food than any other pet food manufacturer in 2021: 64,811,419 pounds. The FDA issued a Warning Letter to Midwestern Pet Food, but it was a full seven months after the recall.

Smucker pet food brands recalled: 1,007,760 pounds in 2021.

Sunshine Mills pet food brands recalled: 702,519 pounds in 2021.

Actions of Regulatory

In 2021 we learned that an individual at FDA partnered with AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) and an industry trade association (AFIA – American Feed Industry Association) to lobby Congress. Their lobby efforts succeeded in deleting pet food safety laws promised to pet owners after the 2007 recall.

In March of 2021, the FDA posted a notice in the Federal Register stating color additives in pet food should be disclosed on labels in order for pet owners “to become knowledgeable about the foods they purchase for their animals“. On the surface, this action by FDA seemed to show the agency’s concern for transparency provided to pet owners. But…at the same time FDA wants disclosure of food dyes on pet food labels, the agency outright refuses to require pet food labels to disclose the use of diseased or non-slaughtered animal materials on pet food labels. Along with some pet owners, we submitted a comment to this FDA Federal Register notice however the FDA ignored our requests for full transparency to quality of ingredients.

Requests to FDA

Following the deadly aflatoxin recalls in January 2021, we sent a request to FDA in February 2021 asking for proper monitoring of pet food/pet food ingredients. The request was signed by more than 1200 pet owners, but – almost a year later – the FDA has not responded to our request.

In March 2021, we published a white paper documenting years of regulatory failures in pet food. Click Here to read.

Also in March 2021, we sent President Biden a letter asking for his help to improve the safety of pet food. We received a response, but no promises were made to improve pet food safety.

In September 2021 the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine hosted a virtual listening session. We presented to FDA the concerns of pet owners. Click Here to read, or Click Here to view the video of all presentations.

Published Papers

In February 2021, a scientific paper was published evidencing concerns with copper levels in pet food (this was the second paper on copper risks in pet food). The FDA has dismissed both papers, stating at the August 2021 AAFCO meeting the opinion of the scientific paper was “impractical” – refusing to establish a maximum level of copper in pet food (currently there is no regulation in pet food to limit the level of copper included in the food).

In May 2021 Dr. Sherry Lynn Sanderson from University of Georgia published the paper “Pros and Cons of Commercial Pet Foods (Including Grain/Grain Free) for Dogs and Cats”. Unfortunately, the paper was full of misleading and in some cases false information.

Two papers published in 2021 found heavy metal contamination in pet foods continue to be a concern.

Lawsuits

In March 2021, a lawsuit against Hill’s Pet Food (for excess vitamin D pet illnesses and deaths) was settled for a very low sum of $12.5 million. As comparison in 2015 Blue Buffalo agreed to a settlement of $32 million for a mislabeling lawsuit – with no pet deaths or illnesses.

Truths Learned

In April 2021 we were provided with graphic images of a rendering facility provided by a pet owner. The pet owner heading to an unrelated business location – following driving directions on her phone – ended up right in front of a pile of dead animal carcasses waiting to be rendered. Warning – the images are graphic. Click Here to view.

In May 2021 we reported on a serious conflict of interest concern with AAFCO. Through Freedom of Information Act acquired documents we confirmed that AAFCO – an organization of pet food regulatory officials – hired the same law firm/attorney that is used by the pet food industry. One law firm representing the regulators and the regulated. We reported the concern to FDA, but to be expected – the FDA did not respond.

Adding up the pet food sales statistics, we learned in 2021 that Mars Petcare and Nestle Purina brands make up 70% of all pet foods sold in the US.

Sadly in 2021, we learned of the death of two employees of a rendering facility. The employees died from exposure to the gas produced by decaying animal carcasses waiting to be rendered pet food ingredients.

Good News of 2021

In 2021 pet owners were provided a fantastic book – the Forever Dog – from pet food educators Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib.

And we ended the year with something VERY hopeful for a better 2022 in pet food. A zoom meeting with the tough as nails consumer advocate Erin Brockovich. We are looking so forward to 2022, working with her to improve consumer awareness of the many issues/concerns of pet food, and holding regulatory authorities accountable for allowing the issues in pet food to continue.

Wishing all a Happy New Year!

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?
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

Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here

The 2022 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here to learn more.