Tell The View to End Sponsorship with Illegal Pet Foods

It’s time again for The View’s Annual Mutt Show where mixed breed dogs are celebrated. The shows sponsor is Pedigree Dog Food, one of the many pet foods using ingredients that violate federal law. Tell The View to end the sponsorship deal with any pet food using illegal ingredients. @TheView #ViewtheRightThing

For the past 8 years, the daytime television show The View has hosted an event highlighting wonderful mixed breed dogs.

The View’s Mutt Show is sponsored by a pet food using ingredients that violate federal law; Pedigree Dog Food. We can safely assume the executive Producers of The View and the celebrity Stars of The View have no clue that FDA does not enforce law with pet food. It’s time they learn the truth.

Tell The View to end the sponsorship deal with any pet food using illegal ingredients.
Find a sponsor whose products abide by all applicable laws.

@TheView #ViewtheRightThing

We don’t have much time; deadline June 16, 2016. Call ABC Studios – (212) 456-7777 

Recording will prompt you to ‘press 1’ to continue. A live operator will answer, ask to leave a message for the producers of The View. When prompted, (example script): My name is ________, I’m calling to ask ABC and the Executive Producers of The View to cancel the sponsorship of The Annual Mutt Show with Pedigree Dog Food. I’m asking The View to seek sponsorship from a pet food that abides by all applicable pet food laws. (I have already left a message, it is VERY easy to do.)

To the Executive Producers of The View:

We ask The View to use pet food sponsors whose products abide by all applicable laws.

The View’s 8th Annual Mutt Show will air soon. The sponsor of this show is Pedigree Dog Food; a company that utilizes ingredients federal law defines as illegal. We are asking The View to cancel the sponsorship of The Mutt Show with Pedigree and seek a sponsor whose products abide by all applicable federal law.

Explanation of pet food law:

The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (Title 21, Chapter 9, Subchapter 2, Section 321) defines food as: “(f) The term “food” means (1) articles used for food or drink for man or other animals, (2) chewing gum, and (3) articles used for components of any such article.” (Click Here for source)

The same Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (Title 21, Chapter 9, Subchapter 4, Section 342) defines an adulterated food as (in part): “(5) if it is, in whole or in part, the product of a diseased animal or of an animal which has died otherwise than by slaughter;” (Click Here for source)

Law clearly defines the ‘food’ that pets eat to be adulterated (illegal) if it contains a diseased or non-slaughtered animal.

Now, unfortunately, we must share with you the reality that pet food consumers are forced to deal with on a regular basis; FDA’s lack of enforcement of law.

On the FDA website you will find FDA Compliance Policy Guides (CPG). CPG 690.300 states: “Pet food consisting of material from diseased animals or animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter…will be considered fit for animal consumption.” (Click Here for source) FDA arrogantly quotes federal law word for word in the CPG, then destroys consumer confidence by adding ‘will be fit for animal (pet) consumption’.

To be clear, FDA Compliance Policy Guides are not law. The Federal Register explains CPGs with:
“Guidance documents do not establish legally enforceable rights or responsibilities. They do not legally bind the public or FDA.” (Click Here for source)

The FDA feels ‘pet food consisting of diseased animals or dead non-slaughtered animals’ is safe when ‘further processed’. Sister federal agency the USDA disagrees; the USDA states “The cooking step of the rendering process kills most bacteria, but does not eliminate endotoxins produced by some bacteria during the decay of carcass tissue. These toxins can cause disease, and pet food manufacturers do not test their products for endotoxins.” (Click Here for source)

Regardless to either agency’s feelings about pet food ingredients sourced from diseased or animals that have died other than by slaughter – law is law. Law does not allow this material even if it is further processed.

Now for the information specific to your sponsor for The Mutt Show – Pedigree Dog Food. Various Pedigree Dog Foods contain the following ingredients: Meat and Bone Meal, Animal Fat, Chicken by-product meal, and Meat by-products.

Each of the above common pet food ingredients lack one significant thing from their legal definition. That one significant thing is the requirement to be sourced from a slaughtered animal (as federal law requires).

The legal definitions of pet food ingredients are developed by The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) in cooperation with FDA. Consumers urge The View to verify each ingredient’s lack of requirement to be sourced from a slaughtered animal with either of these organizations.

As well…look at the label of a Pedigree Dog Food closely. In the example of Pedigree Adult Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food provided on the Walmart website, you’ll see an image of roasted chicken (specifically a roasted chicken leg). The two meat ingredients in the pet food are not ‘roasted chicken’, they are: “meat and bone meal” and “chicken by-product meal”. Both of these ingredients look like this (a powdered meat):

As you can see, the actual ingredient in the pet food is dramatically different than the image on the pet food label.

Misleading labeling is also a violation of law. The same Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act quoted above states: “A food shall be deemed to be misbranded (a) False or misleading label – If (1) its labeling is false or misleading in any particular.”

To be fair, Pedigree Dog Food is not the only pet food using ingredients defined as adulterated by federal law. And Pedigree Dog Food is not the only pet food using misleading images on their label. Unfortunately for pet food consumers, many brands of pet foods violate multiple federal and state laws and we have no authority taking action to protect our pets.

But The View can make a decision to protect our pets. The View can take an authoritative step and not allow a sponsor whose products do not abide by all applicable federal laws.

Consumers ask The View to cancel the sponsorship of The 8th Annual Mutt Show with Pedigree. Please find a pet food sponsor whose ingredients and advertising abide by all applicable laws. If not, please continue with The Mutt Show without a sponsor. We ask The View to do the right thing. #ViewtheRightThing

What consumers can do:

For those who wish to help, we must act quickly. Deadline: June 16, 2016.

Call ABC Studios – (212) 456-7777

Recording will prompt you to ‘press 1’ to continue. A live operator will answer, ask to leave a message for the producers of The View. When prompted, (example script): My name is ________, I’m calling to ask ABC and the Executive Producers of The View to cancel the sponsorship of The Annual Mutt Show with Pedigree Dog Food. I’m asking The View to seek sponsorship from a pet food that abides by all applicable pet food laws.

(I’ve already left a message – it is VERY easy to do.)

Share this graphic

Share the video above, YouTube link: https://youtu.be/bqQQsfUYyZI

Ask every concerned pet food consumer to make a phone call.

It is a long shot, but we can’t make change in pet food unless we try. Call The View, tell them the show should not be sponsored by a pet food that uses ingredients which violate federal law.

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

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 4,000 cat foods, dog foods,  and pet treats.  30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. www.PetsumerReport.com

The 2016 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods.  Click Here

Have you read Buyer Beware?  Click Here

Cooking for pets made easy, Dinner PAWsible

Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here