After an undercover investigation showed the world horrendous conditions at the factory farm McDonald’s eggs are sourced from, McDonald’s (and Target) ended a long term contract with the egg producer. Though their hand was almost forced (due to the undercover video), McDonald’s did do the right thing and ended a contract with a company that showed no respect for animals. Would any of Big Pet Food do the same?
The undercover video shows typical factory farming; and then some. Animals live in horrible conditions and some are outright tortured.
When the undercover video was released, McDonalds ended their long standing contract with the egg producer. Target followed suit and ended their contract too. Yes, without the undercover video going public, chances are McDonald’s or Target would have never investigated the conditions at the egg factory farm and in turn would have never ended their contracts. But, the fact remains – McDonald’s and Target did the right thing. Both companies took swift action which (hopefully) will put an end to this particular factory farm.
McDonald’s released the following statement: (partial quote) “McDonald’s expects all of our suppliers to meet our stringent requirements for delivering high quality food prepared in a humane and responsible manner.”
Target’s statement: (partial quote) “Having been made aware of the unacceptable conditions in the company’s egg laying facilities, effective immediately, Target will discontinue its business relationship with Sparboe Farms. We are currently in the process of notifying our teams to remove the product from store shelves.”
The move by McDonald’s and Target made me wonder…Would anyone in Big Pet Food do the same?
Federal Food Safety laws are altered in regards to pet food (via FDA Compliance Policies). The result of these altered/adjusted federal laws is that pet food manufacturing is provided the opportunity to turn horrendous waste (such as diseased animal parts and euthanized animals) into common pet food ingredients (animal fat, by-product meal, meat and bone meal, meat meal, animal digest). We know it happens, they know it happens, so why don’t they make the bold move – like McDonald’s and Target – and declare rendered waste to be inappropriate ingredients in pet food?
So here’s my challenge to Big Pet Food…
Be the first. Show some guts. Step up just like McDonald’s and Target and declare that your pet foods will no longer contain any ingredients sourced from diseased animals, downer animals, euthanized animals and anything else less than human grade quality. Make a public statement that FDA Compliance Policies allowing pet foods to violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act are not in the best interest of pet health; tell the FDA to put an end to these Compliance Policies. Just say No to waste pet food ingredients!
Will anyone do it? Will any of Big Pet Food do the right thing like McDonald’s and Target did? Or will they just continue to look the other way and utilize rendered waste as common pet food ingredients?
Or, will it take undercover video in pet food manufacturing to force a change? That undercover pet food manufacturing video will happen, sooner or later. Why not clean up pet food before the world see’s – on film – just how dirty much of pet food really is?
We’ll wait and see.
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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