If you live in Canada and your pet got sick or died that you believe was linked to a pet food or treat, there is no one to report the incident to. No one to investigate. No government system in place to alert other pet food consumers of a recall.
At the Urban Animal Strategies 2014 Summit (October 2014), attendees were provided opportunity to begin a discussion to a particular challenge or initiative. In a room of approximately 100 Canadians (veterinarians, rescue workers, breeders, pet owners), I posed the following question (with the goal of beginning a discussion)…
‘If your pet got sick from a pet food or treat, who would you report it to? In the US, we have the Reportable Food Registry (part of FDA). But my question is who do you report to here in Canada? If your pet is sick or died linked to a food or treat, who would you report this to in order to prevent other Canadian pet food consumers from feeding their own pet a tainted food?’
Not one person knew the answer to my question. No vet, no breeder, no rescue worker, no pet owner. The reason: there is no one to report pet food adverse events to in Canadian government. No one.Ā Canada charges a sales tax on each pet product sale (earning a significant income from pet product consumers), but not one dime of that money goes back to protect pet food consumers.
This discussion was brought into a small group – joined by pet nutrition blogger Rodney Habib, a canadian pet food manufacturer (Mountain Dog), and the President of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Dr. Jean Gauvin.
Dr. Jean agreed this is a true concern for Canadian pet food consumers. We learned that not only is there no federal program established to protect pet food consumers in Canada (adverse event reporting and notification system), but there is no pet food labeling or even manufacturing regulations established in Canada (for products manufactured and sold in Canada. Products manufactured in Canada and sold in the US or other countries would be required to abide by the respective country law).
The good news is that thanks to this discussion opportunity, Dr. Jean Gauvin is taking up the gauntlet to address this consumer concern with the head veterinarian of Canadian government next week. Will the Canadian government listen and take action? We don’t know.
Canadian Rodney Habib and CVMA’s Dr. Jean Gauvin have agreed to stay in touch on this issue just in case we need to take this serious lapse of Canadian government protection of pet food consumers to ‘the streets’ (otherwise known as social media). Any updates that are learned will be shared.
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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Ellen
October 26, 2014 at 3:16 pm
The information contained in this post does not surprise me one bit! I have been involved in animal welfare and rescue for many years, in addition to being a pet parent. I have always been concerned about the apathy of our Canadian government, and it is for this reason that I purchased your 2014 List of Recommended Pet Foods,so that I could find a safe, quality food for my beloved pets, which by the way, I did. Better still , the food in question is sold here in Ottawa, so I need not even purchase through a distributor, I can get the food locally.
You make a very valid point about the pet food taxes (we have been paying for years and years) which have never been directed back into establishing a viable program for pet owing consumers.
I remember Jean Gauvin: he was my bird’s vet many years ago when I lived in Quebec. I was impressed with his knowledge and the concern he had for my beloved bird. I hope he has the same concern for this issue and intends to follow through.
Thanks for posting this important information. Every Canadian pet parent should be aware of this issue.
Susan Thixton
October 26, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Thanks Ellen for you comment – I do believe that Dr. Gauvin was sincere and he will work on this. He shared with us the financial constraints of the CFIA. However – regardless to financial constraints the Canadian government should do something on this. It is a very dangerous situation.
Mike
October 31, 2014 at 9:11 am
Hi Ellen,
I’m also from Ottawa. What food was it that you decided on?
– MS
Ellen
October 31, 2014 at 11:09 am
Hi Mike,
Hound and Gatos. I’ve been feeding it to my five kitties for 8 months; they all like it and they’ve all been doing really well on it. So far, so good.
Janine
November 8, 2014 at 1:59 pm
Ellen,
I’m in Canada too – what stores carry that where you are? It has such a good review here but I can’t find it!:
http://www.naturalcatcareblog.com/2010/12/the-7-best-natural-commercial-cat-foods-so-far/
James Hayward
October 26, 2014 at 5:18 pm
I had this concept that Canada had a better reporting system and had regulations insuring pet food was not harmful.
Now I wonder about human food.
Does wild caught Salmon really mean “Wild Caught” in Canada. Or does it mean Wild Caught in your hatchery!!!
Terri Janson
October 27, 2014 at 1:24 pm
Geezzzz….and I was feeding Orijen (when I can aford it). š
MaryTX
October 27, 2014 at 4:30 pm
I’m confused. If Canada has no method of reporting, documenting and broadcasting tainted pet foods, how can we be assured highly rated products like Orijen are safe?
Susan Thixton
October 27, 2014 at 4:36 pm
This is a concern of foods manufactured in Canada, but the bigger issue is investigation of a possible pet food complaint (adverse event) and should the food be found to be contaminated, there is no system in place to alert other consumers. I’m not saying pet foods manufactured in Canada are not safe – I’m saying there is no regulatory system in place for label claims, investigation of adverse events, and recalls. If foods are manufactured in Canada and exported to the US – or if foods are manufactured in the US and exported to Canada – those would fall under FDA. So they are held to US labeling requirements, would be investigated if there is a health concern, and would be announced as a recall via FDA.
Leannan
November 3, 2014 at 2:08 pm
Manifest from Australia in Dec 2011 (released due to Freedom of Information Act) that shows Champion Pet Foods used chickens processed in the United States. Champion Pet Foods makes Orijen and Acana
https://app.box.com/shared/67v2sk3csr
I guess they could still be raised in Canada, but the impression they advertised on their website at the time does not include using U.S. companies for production.
https://app.box.com/shared/67v2sk3csr
Page 25 Maximize the screen to be able to read it better.
OMG! You HAVE to READ [at least] page 25. Iād forgotten the words āinedible purposesā were in this manifest.
Ann*
November 7, 2014 at 1:18 pm
I was a big fan and consumer of Orijen Regional Red dog food until I learned that Canada does not have any pet food reporting system established there. This gave me pause, but I continued to purchase Orijen products.
About a year ago, when Susan came out with her Transparency pledge for pet food and Orijen refused to sign it, I quit buying their products and switched to those on Susan’s 2014 pet food list.
Several months ago I read that Orijen was exploring the possibility of signing Susan’s pledge, but I have not seen that happen yet.
Three strikes and you are out.
Colleen yates
December 11, 2014 at 5:24 pm
Our current Federal Government does not care about human health regulations or the environment either so no surprise that pet food is not even on the radar. I research to my best ability and shop local independent companies because of this. I guess our only hope is the conservatives get booted in the next election, ..crossing fingers.
Colleen yates
December 12, 2014 at 12:57 am
In reference to my last comment, just incase it wasn’t clear, I was referring to PM Harper and his Conservative Government that is unfortunately currently in power in Canada.