For at least seven years, a group of veterinarians have been trying to get the FDA’s and AAFCO’s attention regarding a serious concern of pet food. These vets have been telling (and telling, and telling) the FDA and AAFCO that copper levels in pet food are too high. They have been documenting and providing that documentation to FDA of an increase of dogs with dietary-induced copper-associated hepatopathy (CAH).
The problem: the FDA and AAFCO have not established a maximum copper level in pet food. Complete and Balanced pet foods can contain ANY level of copper above the established minimum.
From the Cornell Veterinary School: “CAH occurs when the amount of dietary copper ingested exceeds a dog’s tolerance level and accumulates in the liver. Once in the liver, it can cause acute, severe liver inflammation with immediate, disastrous consequences, or it can cause chronic, insidious damage over time, resulting in widespread scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) and liver failure.”
Back in 2015, a veterinarian in Michigan experienced the death of his own dog to CAH. He tried to convince FDA there was a problem, but no luck. The FDA ignored his documented concerns.
In the seven years since, veterinarians have published papers documenting the copper problems. One in 2019, and another in 2021. The FDA continued to keep their head in the sand…ignoring the problem.
But Dr. Sharon Center wasn’t taking no for an answer. Dr. Center participated in the FDA’s pet food listening session, providing even more evidence that copper levels in pet foods were a concern (watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY_yEAWe01I – her presentation starts at 1:10 in the video). And we learned at the January 2022 AAFCO meeting, Dr. Center continued to pressure FDA to do something about the copper problem. FDA told meeting attendees Dr. Center requested a follow up meeting with FDA where she again provided FDA with evidence of diet-induced liver disease directly linked to copper levels in pet food. FDA stated (at the AAFCO meeting) this is an issue that is not going away, FDA told AAFCO a copper maximum will need to be established.
Thank you to Dr. Sharon Center and all veterinarians that continued to pressure FDA to listen. Your persistence is appreciated.
Pet owners can read more about dietary-induced copper-associated hepatopathy Here (from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine), the same page also provides recommendations on how to report any suspect issue to FDA. Please share the Cornell Veterinary School post with your veterinarian.
Wishing you and your pet the best –
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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Bethany
February 15, 2022 at 1:09 pm
What about cats? They must be having the same issue.
Susan Thixton
February 15, 2022 at 1:12 pm
I don’t know if cats are having the same issues. However, I suspect that when a maximum level of copper is established by FDA and AAFCO for dog food, they will do the same for cat food.
Samuel Rosoff
February 16, 2022 at 12:23 pm
Is there any distinction between copper sulfate and copper proteinate?( As far as too much copper). I know that question has been lurking around for years.
Thank you!
Concerned
February 15, 2022 at 3:46 pm
Wonder if the removal of the max was due to pesticides and fertilizers having changed over to Copper Sulfate.
Copper sulfate is used as a fungicide, algaecide, root killer, and herbicide in both agriculture and non-agricultural settings. It is also used as an antimicrobial and molluscicide.
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/archive/cuso4tech.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6272033/
The published AAFCO profiles in 1997 required the use of copper sulfates or chelates in these premixes which were far more bioavailable than the previously utilized copper oxide.21, 22 This was done despite there being no evidence to suggest clinical copper deficiency was a problem at the time. The nutrient profiles published in 2015 have increased copper requirements for growing and lactating dogs, and maximum thresholds have been removed for all dogs.44 Since the original minimum requirements were established in the 1970s, it has been common practice in the commercial pet food industry to formulate mineral premixes to meet or exceed minimum requirements. These premixes are often added to the food without consideration for the copper already present in the ingredients.18 Collectively, these practices could have led to increased dietary copper exposure in dogs. It should be noted that the sharp uptick in the proportion of Labrador Retrievers with [Cu]H > 1000 μg/g was near the time of the above noted changes in AAFCO copper requirements in 1997. Given that copper deficiency is exceedingly rare and [Cu]H have increased in PB and NPB dogs, both the National Research Council and AAFCO should consider a more detailed investigation of their recommendations regarding dietary copper requirements in dogs.
Christina
February 16, 2022 at 8:47 am
Copper sulfate is also one of the few natural pesticides allowed to be used in organic produce world wide and in the US is not tested for by FDA.
(Sites are not vetted for bias, but are the best at describing what I found in sci-research papers. All links tinyurl’d for space)
https://tinyurl.com/CUsulphate
https://tinyurl.com/MonitorFDA – Link reference 86 “Copper sulfate was not included in the list of pesticide residues in food to be monitored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”
Pet Owner
February 15, 2022 at 7:51 pm
“requested a follow up meeting with FDA where she again provided FDA with evidence of diet-induced liver disease directly linked to copper levels in pet food. FDA stated (at the AAFCO meeting) this is an issue that is not going away, FDA told AAFCO a copper maximum will need to be established.”
I must admit growing a little callous about these issues. Having gone on over 20 years now. With all due appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Sharon, the above paragraph doesn’t even make any sense. Let’s read carefully: If an overage of a mineral element (copper) is already going into dog food, and dogs are suffering a liver related ailment, and the data on the phenomena has been collected and provided…. THEN WHY WOULD A HARMFUL DOG FOOD CONTINUE TO BE MADE? Are people having trouble with critical thinking skills? I see no benefit to an overage in most anything, much less it becoming a harmful result. Why would pet owners be reporting a situation that should not exist to begin with. And who is in charge of the accountability for ensuring SAFE pet food, maybe the problem should be tackled at that level? Just a thought.
Susan Thixton
February 15, 2022 at 7:57 pm
FDA is in charge of ensuring safe pet food – and the problem was tackled at that level (for seven years). But FDA ignored the problem for seven years until Dr. Center didn’t give up. BTW – we still don’t have a maximum copper level established. It will probably take years more for the changes to occur. I’d suggest you ask FDA why they have ignored the problem for so long.