I had the tremendous honor to speak at the 2019 Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) annual Conference this past weekend in Bristol, UK (my first international speech, first trip to Europe). To be surrounded by so many forward thinking veterinarians was beyond words.
RFVS is an international organization of veterinarians that fully understand minimally processed pet food (not excessively processed feed) is of significant importance for the health of pets. Once a year they gather together, inviting like minded individuals to share their science and knowledge. It was my honor to be included this year.
I shared with attendees the condition of pet food in the U.S. – sharing in detail how our regulatory authorities allow pet food to violate laws, allowing the most hideous waste to be processed into pet food with no warning or disclosure to pet owners. I shared quotes of federal law, and then I shared quotes from FDA openly ignoring law in regulation of pet food. I shared facts about AAFCO – the private organization that writes and sells law, that now prohibits pet owners and pet owner advocates from attending law writing meetings. They were also updated on our pentobarbital recalls (more than 91 million pounds), and our Salmonella/E.coli/Listeria recalls including the blatant bias regulatory authorities have against raw pet food in the U.S.
Needless to say, they were shocked the U.S. government would so openly – so dramatically – ignore law, to the detriment of pets and pet owners. They were shocked at the dangerous waste FDA and each State Department of Agriculture allows into pet food. They were saddened recognizing the health consequences of this waste to the millions of pets consuming it.
I was an honored to be able to tell this worldwide organization the ‘truth about pet food’ in the U.S. But, at the same time it was an embarrassment; I was sad and embarrassed to admit our U.S. government employed regulatory authorities (FDA, State Department of Agriculture, AAFCO) has for decades cared more about the pet industry profits than pet health.
My sincere thank you to all at Raw Feeding Veterinary Society for having me, and for welcoming the truth. May we all work together to change a world of pet food!
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
Become a member of our pet food consumer Association. Association for Truth in Pet Food is 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.
Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here
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. www.PetsumerReport.com
The 2019 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here to learn more.
Fiona Macken
November 13, 2019 at 8:32 am
I’m beyond words to hear of a VETERINARY SOCIETY of raw proponents! Nearly to tears! AND FOOT NOTED on the Position Statement…LOADS of studies! Congratulations Susan on your speaking engagement! I’m sure you were welcomed with open arms!
Marsha
November 13, 2019 at 9:04 am
Congratulations Susan for being invited to speak to the world. What a great honor! Thank you for letting the rest of the world know how bad pet food is in this Great Country of ours. I am sure they were saddened by all of what you let them know. Maybe they could put pressure on USDA, FDA and AAFCO to help our pets out.
Nick Thompson
November 13, 2019 at 9:50 am
Susan – it was a real pleasure to have to speaking at the RFVS (rfvs.info) conference this year. You really stole the show. We would be proud to help you in any way to promote healthy species appropriate and SAFE raw/fresh food. We welcome you and your followers to our FB page – come join the discussion! https://www.facebook.com/RawFeedingVets/
Laurie Raymond
November 13, 2019 at 10:11 am
I’d very much like to learn about the state of pet food laws, manufacturing, regulatory oversight, labeling and marketing in the UK – and the EU. Don’t they import a lot of our junk brands? Does the US import any UK commercial pet foods? How does the international market deal with different standards and enforcement? Retailers like me would welcome pet foods that have meaningful quality assurances behind them, and I would love to help them compete against our corrupt FDA passed brands.
Dawn
November 13, 2019 at 11:23 am
Awesome! I also would be interested to know if the US imports any UK brand commercial foods.
Are the US’s various junk pet foods available to pet owners in the UK? There are a lot of components in the people food industry that are not allowed into food in the UK and many other foreign countries. How do they regulate these pet foods that are filled with junk?
Dianne & Pets
November 13, 2019 at 1:41 pm
The answer is free trade deals, in which the governments, for the sake of expediency and making life easier for businesses, is to reduce the standards to the lowest standards used by any party in the negotiations. Or put another way, trade deals are written by corporations, for corporations to legalize anything they do.
Reader
November 13, 2019 at 11:48 am
What a nice honor! Congratulations for the recognition and compliment to be invited. Glad you can be sharing the Truth “across the Pond.”
Did you hear anything surprising from their Association in return?
Michele Little
November 13, 2019 at 12:06 pm
YES some light has been shed on our issues freely. Perhaps our mistakes can keep the UK free from the same errors. I already purchase pet food from New Zealand and Australia. It’s expensive but my dogs got tired of my cooking. They are little so I can’t take the chance of even small amounts of contamination. Perhaps the U S dollar going to clean, actual food for pets, from a more trustworthy source will influence our laws. Integrity and love for our animals did not. Thank you again Susan.
Pamela
November 13, 2019 at 3:43 pm
I attended this conference last weekend and heard you speak, I managed a lightening quick hello to you before you were whisked off to meet some very special and far more amazing people, I did manage a chat with the party that accompanied you, it just saddens me to hear how these organisations behave, and worries me for you guys safety. As a British canine nutritionist and small raw manufacturer in Britain, I follow you and support you and what your trying to achieve in the US, keep fighting. We take more steps forward than back on this side of the pond I think (I hope) We all must keep fighting. X
Frances Harvey
November 13, 2019 at 6:09 pm
Think I might have replied in the wrong place- I was there, I was fascinated, appalled,+ intrigued by your lecture. As a veterinary surgeon, who reckons nature knows a hell of a lot about nutrition than we do, I feel a bit more inclined to swim against the tide-or a least, put more than a toe in the water,+ advocate raw more…