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Pentobarbital, Champion Pet Food, and No Uniform Enforcement of Law

Pentobarbital in an ingredient shipped to Champion Pet Food has been confirmed, yet no recall was required. No uniform enforcement of pet food regulations leaves pet owners confused at what the FDA is actually doing to protect pets from dangerous pet foods.

Confirmed by FDA through a Freedom of Information Act request (FOIA), two shipments of pentobarbital contaminated “beef fat” were delivered to Champion Pet Food in March 2018 (as was reported previously via an amended lawsuit against Champion Pet Food). Per the information provided in the FOIA, Champion Pet Food received one shipment of beef fat on 3/26/2018 that tested contaminated with 56 ppb pentobarbital, and received another shipment of beef fat on 3/28/2018 that tested contaminated with 16 ppb pentobarbital.

The FOIA also confirmed what was previously suspected, Champion Pet Food purchased the beef fat ingredient from the exact same supplier that sold pentobarbital contaminated fat to Smuckers Gravy Train Dog Food. The FOIA states (bold added) “On April 11, 2018 the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture conducted an inspection at JBS/MOPAC in Souderton, PA. The purpose of this inspection was to conduct a trace forward investigation to determine distribution of tallow that may contain pentobarbital, a drug not permitted in animal feed.” JBS/MOPAC supplied the pentobarbital contaminated fat to Gravy Train discovered through FDA investigation of Gravy Train, as follow-up PA Department of Agriculture was investigating who else might have received pentobarbital contaminated fat from the same supplier (trace forward investigation).

(Another Freedom of Information Act request has been filed with Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requesting the names of all other pet foods that purchased pentobarbital contaminated fat from JBS/MOPAC. When that information – if any – is received, it will be published.)

Concern #1.

As noted in the FOIA, pentobarbital is “a drug not permitted in animal feed“. Over the past 2 years, there have been pentobarbital contaminated pet food recalls from Evangers, Against the Grain, Party Animal, Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘N Bits, and Skippy pet foods. Why was there not a recall from Champion Pet Foods? Per a previous FOIA filed with FDA, an unknown amount of pentobarbital contaminated Champion pet food “was further distributed to the store/consumer level.” Emphasis ‘to the consumer level‘. In other words, an unknown amount of pet owners purchased and fed their dog or cat pentobarbital contaminated pet food with NO warning or recall. So again…why did FDA not demand a recall from Champion Pet Food when there was evidence pets were consuming the contaminated pet food?

Concern #2.

Champion Pet Food was notified on May 7, 2018 – per the FOIA request – they were shipped adulterated (pentobarbital contaminated) beef fat. Champion Pet Food did not notify customers, the pet food did not voluntarily recall. Why? Ignoring an adulteration problem certainly doesn’t guarantee it will go away.

Concern #3.

If pentobarbital was considered an adulterant in so many other recalls – just the Smucker’s manufactured Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘N Bits, and Skippy pet foods was over 107 million cans recalled – why wasn’t it considered an adulterant in Champion Pet Food? Did Kentucky Regulatory Services (part of University of Kentucky – same state Champion Pet Foods is located in) give an unofficial pardon to the pet food? Did FDA?

How can pet owners have faith in any pet food when we don’t know the rules of the pick and choose enforcement system currently over pet food? We can’t.

Feel free to send FDA (AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov) an email asking why Champion Pet Food was not required to recall as all the other pet foods were. And ask them when they will enforce existing pet food laws uniformly across all styles of pet food. (If they give you any response, please forward to me.)

To read the full Freedom of Information Act request provided by FDA, Click Here.


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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34 Comments

34 Comments

  1. cupcakesandkale

    January 29, 2019 at 5:26 pm

    So there was a letter on their website signed by the head of the company that stated clearly that none of that food that was made with that beef fat was ever shipped to distributors/stores, so it never was on store shelves to begin with. I’m frustrated that I can’t find it now. Still on the FAQs page is the statement that zero pentobarbital was found in lab testing of the product, but I can’t find that letter right now that said that that batch they made never was shipped out. I’m not defending them here, I’m just letting you know what I saw. I’m super bummed I can’t find a copy of that letter as I thought I kept it (I wanted to include it here in case you hadn’t seen it – it was buried in the website), so I’m on the phone with champion now trying to get a copy.

  2. P Ramsay

    January 29, 2019 at 5:39 pm

    Does this affect the Canadian operation in Alberta or is it only applicable to the new USA plants? I’m in Canada, have been feeding Acana to my dog for 9 years at least,, my cat also eats Acana.

    • Susan Thixton

      January 29, 2019 at 5:50 pm

      I don’t believe this issue involves the Canadian plant – that based only on the FOIA received was addressed to the Kentucky plant. There was no mention of the Canadian plant.

      • MJ

        January 29, 2019 at 8:51 pm

        It seems like the problems in quality control started when they opened the Kentucky plant. I wish I could still order from Canada. (I live in Oregon)

        • Pet ~Owner~

          January 30, 2019 at 2:37 am

          This is why these PF companies flourish. Consumers look the other way. They isolate a “problem” then look the other way. Oh it’s not the can I bought, or the recipe my dog eats, or it’s made somewhere else. If these companies were held as accountable as a Baby Food manufacturer would be for a bad jar … . If the company isn’t responsible no matter what, why reward them with any business.

          • MJ

            January 30, 2019 at 9:25 am

            To Pet~Owner, I am not looking the other way. The problem is I cannot find another food that hasn’t been recalled in the past several years, has sustainably raised meats, all my pups & cats will eat, doesn’t have too much fruits and vegetables… Any suggestions? I only use dry food as a “side food” along with mainly “homemade” fresh for all 4. And to add…In my first comment, I stated that I will not be purchasing from Champion ever again. I have tried other brands of cat food (Open Farm, Honest Kitchen, etc) over the past year since this topic on Champion Foods began, to make a switch. They are all quite expensive for my budget and again cats wouldn’t eat them. So that was my thought when I mentioned purchasing from Canada. Also my cats are both 15 years old and have been eating Orijen since we adopted them at around 2 years of age and they are very healthy. Same with Yukon my 12 year old very active Siberian Husky.

          • Lynn

            January 30, 2019 at 10:33 am

            I’m a raw feeder but use Natures Logic kibble in my Treat n Train.

          • Pet ~Owner~

            January 30, 2019 at 2:53 pm

            Sport Dog Food. Formulated for working/sport dogs @ https://sportdogfood.com/
            Family owned, they answer the phone to answer questions.
            Can try a sample bag which they hand pack.

            I DO NOT SELL OR ENDORSE PRODUCTS, but as a regular pet owner, did order the sample bag from them. My dog is middle sized but burns a lot of energy! Walks 4 miles a day!

            (When I pick out a comment in terms of my intention to make a point, it’s just an example, and not personally directed towards “you.”). I have just as much trouble figuring out PF as the next person!

          • MJ

            January 30, 2019 at 9:34 am

            Lots of good intel here in the comments. Thank you to everyone and Susan. Especially to Tania Cummings…So sorry to hear of about your kitty. I had no idea this had happened in Australia.

  3. Dick McWay

    January 29, 2019 at 5:40 pm

    Kentucky….Rand Paul????

    • Susan Thixton

      January 29, 2019 at 5:49 pm

      I wondered the same thing.

  4. MJ

    January 29, 2019 at 6:22 pm

    I have been buying Orijen cat & dog food for many years. Reading all of the articles here from Susan and many others found online, I was holding out with hope, thinking that maybe just maybe it was a smear campaign or something similar. However after reading this today…I have to say No More Champion Foods! I will find another kibble for both my cats and dogs.

  5. Audrey

    January 29, 2019 at 6:24 pm

    Dumb question….what IF (and only IF) the adulterated beef tallow was identified prior to adding to Champion products? Meaning it never made into the finished product to even make it to consumers. Then I could see why Champion would stay quiet. But that leads me to think if that were the case, what did they do with the adulterated beef tallow…hmmm.

    • Susan Thixton

      January 29, 2019 at 6:40 pm

      Had they found out prior to manufacture of pet food, I would agree. But per the FOIA (link I provided in a comment above) – Champion told FDA the pentobarbital contaminated fat did make it into the pet food and that pet food went to pet stores.

  6. Cheri Fellinger

    January 29, 2019 at 7:02 pm

    Pardon my abbreviation but all I can say is WTF? I will never give my animals commercial feed again. I have lost all of what little faith I had in our government to protect citizens from our most basic need of clean air, water and food that is killing us and our pets. I seriously want to move to Sweden or something! I try like heck to spread the word about the garbage dump that is the pet feed industry but people are just so busy trying to survive I think the last thing they want to think about is what their pets eat, they just want to live in la la land, buy the pretty bag and feed it. I’m so sad, mad and confused. I no longer want to think about this and THAT is a bad sign because I love animals AND people….most of the time. Sorry for the rant but it felt pretty good. I will continue to support your tireless efforts. I don’t know how you do it, I really don’t. God bless you.

    • Lynn

      January 29, 2019 at 7:15 pm

      I’ve been feeding prey model ground meats and some vegetables for 8 years now, no problems, no concerns , very healthy dogs.

    • JP

      January 31, 2019 at 12:34 am

      I think most everyone does the best they can for their pets. Not everyone has the funds or time to do more. Nor do all pet owners know how to balance their foods. I am fortunate to have located a steady supply of fresh human grade meats and organs to make my cat and dog food. It’s is time and energy consuming. I believe what I do is best but refuse to judge those who can’t.

      • Lynn

        January 31, 2019 at 9:54 am

        Just a few fresh meals a week can make a difference!

  7. cupcakesandkale

    January 29, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    OK – I was wrong. I said in my last comment that the CEO of Champion had written a letter stating that no food that had been involved with the PB had reached store shelves. I finally found that letter from Frank Burdzy President, CEO (that Champion told me never existed), but it in fact did *not* state that the product never reached store shelves (though like their other documents, it said that when they tested finished product it came up with zero pentobarbital and therefore didn’t need to be recalled – I wish they’d release those test results that showed 0% lab results to the public). Anyway, I found my notes and it was actually my Champion regional manager that told me that by phone, which is too bad- I was hoping to show you in writing what they told me verbally, that “nothing made it to the shelf”, which we can all see in the FDA FOIA that it actually did. This makes me upset, as I was recently defending them on that particular point, that it never reached store shelves.

  8. Allison

    January 29, 2019 at 7:42 pm

    Sadly in Canada it is very hard to have a pet food or treat recalled. I have contacted the CFIA on numerous occasions and not only have they given me false information but they have admitted to me that they do not recall pet foods very often. There have been treats recalled in the US still available on the shelf at many stores across Canada. I believe the issue with Champion not taking proper account for it’s actions has something to do with this very poor enforcement by the CFIA. It seems to me here in Canada there is no ‘law’ when it comes to pet food.

    • Jane Democracy

      January 29, 2019 at 10:33 pm

      There is no law in Canada regarding pet food. Plain and simple. CFIA does not regulate pet food in Canada with respect to the safety of it for Canadian pets to consume. They are only concerned with imported pet food and ingredients transmitting animal diseases into Canada and acting on behalf of other countries regulatory bodies for pet foods made in Canada that are destined for export to that country. The only regulations in Canada for pet food made in Canada are with respect to labeling laws. The CFIA does not have a mandate to enforce anything else.

  9. Diane H

    January 29, 2019 at 9:19 pm

    Susan, are you able to list the name brands produced by Champion? I see Orijen and Acana mentioned, but I believe there are others (?)

    • Susan Thixton

      January 29, 2019 at 9:25 pm

      To my knowledge Champion does not manufacture for other companies, Orijen and Acana are the only brands.

    • Ashley

      January 31, 2019 at 8:53 pm

      No that is the only the brands. We have fed Acana for years!!!

  10. Tania Cummings

    January 29, 2019 at 10:46 pm

    Cheri Fellinger has the right idea. Just stop buying commercial petfood and make your own. It’s very easy. Let’s put all these ba$stards out of business.

    Champion Petfood have a history of being “economical with the truth”. I won’t say exactly what I want to say because I expect they have their feelers out reading petfood blogs, Susan Thixton I’m sure is well known to most if not all petfood producers, and I don’t want to be sued for defamation.

    In 2009 100+ cats in Australia died, were euthanised, or remained paralysed for the rest of their lives because of Orijen petfood that was gamma irradiated by Australian Quarantine and Champion pretended not to know irradiation would be applied.

    However I do hold documents obtained under the Australian Freedom of Information Act that proves Champion Petfoods DID KNOW in 2007 their petfood would be gamma-irradiated on entry to Australia to comply with the strict Australian Quarantine requirements. The import licence they issued to Champion’s Australian importer in 2007 bears the condition of import that gamma irradiation must be applied and I have a copy of this. I also have a copy of the email to Australian Quarantine from the Australian importer stating that he had liaised with Champion and they had approved the irradiation process in order to comply and get the Import Licence. Australian Quarantine deemed the long low-temperature cooking process might permit the survival of pathogens exotic to Australia. Our quarantine regulations are very,very strict .

    When MY CAT WAS PARALYSED (along with 100+ others in Australia) through eating the irradiated food and I phoned the then president Peter Muhlenfeld, HE ADAMANTLY INSISTED HE DID NOT KNOW the Orijen petfood had been irradiated until after it was on retailers shelves. It took them 3 months to withdraw the food from sale after the problem first appeared, meanwhile unsuspecting pet owners were still purchasing the product and because it took 2-3 months for the neurological damage to manifest as neurological seizures (fits), paralysis and incontinence, those owners had no idea. Had symptoms appeared next day of course they would have stopped feeding immediately, but because the food was not withdrawn and the drama was kept out of the media and even the retailers did not know at first, we all went on feeding unknowingly while our pets were being slowly damaged.

    It is nearly ten years since all this happened but I am still angry. My beautiful blue point Siamese, Colette, lived on paralysed in a wheelchair and crated overnight and toiletted by me for five years, finally passing away in August 2014.

    With persistent campaigning and the support of the veterinary neurologist who saw all the cats, we affected cat owners eventually got some compensation out of Champion for veterinary costs and we got the gamma irradition of cat food banned by the government. It took us six months of haranguing the Minister of Agriculture and senior Quarantine officials, but we did it.

    Another thing you need to know is that whereas Champion claim their food is all freshly caught and killed wild fish/farm raised fowl blah blah blah THEY USE RENDER in their food. I’ve got the documents that prove that too. Render is made from road kill, euthanised farm and companion animals, restaurant grease trap waste, bakery waste.

    Do you really want to keep feeding this to your beloved pets?

  11. Terri Christenson janson

    January 30, 2019 at 8:09 am

    Just so much BS going on anymore….so sad…

  12. Chris Sollers

    January 30, 2019 at 8:51 am

    Not that the FDA was doing much to begin with, but with the present climate in DC we shouldn’t expect any effectiveness at all.

  13. Debbie Miller

    January 30, 2019 at 8:57 am

    My one cat will not eat any food but Orijen. I know dry food is bad for her, but she will starve bf she will eat any other food. Even if I put a tiny bit of other food (canned, chx..), she will not touch it. I have to find a way to get her to eat other food.

  14. Martha Hetherington

    January 30, 2019 at 9:33 am

    I have fed Champion Pet Foods for the past three years; however, this information makes me reconsider my feeding of their products & shall look to other manufacturers.

    • Ashley

      January 31, 2019 at 8:56 pm

      Apparently there is a statement from Champion that they no longer use that particular supplier and they are working with the FDA? Who knows what the truth is!?! We have feed Acana for years!

  15. Andee

    January 30, 2019 at 9:56 am

    My cat always ate Orijen up until a year or so ago, then wouldn’t touch it anymore. Smart cat! I have lost all faith in that company and will never buy from them again. I think the best thing to do is keep rotating brands so your pet doesn’t get too much of any one food. And keep praying for their good health.

  16. Nick

    July 16, 2019 at 7:20 pm

    Phenobarbital is used in the treatment of Epilepsy in dogs. At 56 Parts Per Billion that is not enough to either treat a dog nor is it enough to kill one. If it made it to shelves and was not recalled its because it wasn’t enough to do any damage at all. It is not solely used to put creatures down. It has medical uses.

  17. Delicia Carter

    May 15, 2020 at 11:11 am

    I am a new subscriber as of yesterday. I have been through several dog foods within the last month or so and I finally found one my finicky dog can and will eat (Acana Singles Duck with whole grains). He took to it right away. He had no gastrointestinal problems transitioning to it. He was scratching, licking his paws and undrbelly, biting his back end and tail profusely. (This food did help with some of those problems, but I also believe he has seasonal allergies too). I started about a week ago putting salmon oil in his morning food.

    So I started my quest to find another food that did not have chicken and some other ingredients in it. I can tell you that I was so disgusted and heart hardened by these pet food companies after I started looking up each ingredient that was being put in our fur baby’s food…….some of it was just garbage!!!! And here I am believing I was doing and giving my baby the best food possible. Well, I just found out about the law suits yesterday and now I am going to take him off this food and try to find another food again.

    It seems like the only safe thing to do is to cook your own dog food. Buying it already prepared is so expensive. Does anyone have any suggestions on food? No matter what, I will do my homework on it before trying it. I really appreciate this website and all the information provided.

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