FDA testing found four pet food/pet treat ingredients to be associated with pentobarbital in dog food; “Meat and Bone Meal, Beef and Bone Meal, Animal Fat, and Animal Digest”. What pet foods/treats use one (or more) of the four risk ingredients? Here’s a partial (but very long) list of the pet foods that contain the FDA Four.
Background: Pentobarbital is a drug used to end the life of an animal. It is commonly used to euthanize dogs, cat, and horses. Several years ago the FDA tested dog foods (no cat foods were tested) purchased from retail store shelves for the presence of the drug pentobarbital. From the FDA website “There appear to be associations between rendered or hydrolyzed ingredients and the presence of pentobarbital in dog food. The ingredients Meat and Bone Meal (MBM), Beef and Bone Meal (BBM), Animal Fat (AF), and Animal Digest (AD) are rendered or hydrolyzed from animal sources that could include euthanized animals.”
IF federal food safety laws were actually enforced with pet food, any pet food that contained pentobarbital (thus a euthanized animal) would be considered adulterated and thus prohibited. But, sadly, the FDA does not enforce federal food safety laws with pet foods (read more about illegal pet food ingredients).
So…we do not know with certainty that every batch of pet food containing the ingredients Meat and Bone Meal, Beef and Bone Meal, Animal Fat, and Animal Digest contain the drug pentobarbital or a euthanized animal. We only know that from FDA testing, these common pet food and treat ingredients are associated with the drug pentobarbital and thus a euthanized animal and we know pentobarbital would ONLY be in a pet food ingredient if that ingredient contained a euthanized animal (this drug would never naturally be in any pet food ingredient). We also know that IF these pet food/treat ingredients did contain pentobarbital, they would be deemed adulterated according to federal food safety law (that’s if anyone of pet food regulatory authority bothered to follow federal law).
So…what pet foods contain the FDA Four?
The following is not all inclusive. And the list could change if any of these pet foods removed the FDA Four ingredient. Please feel free to add to this list in your comments AND certainly share this list with your friends and family. Big Thanks to Kelly H. for helping me compile the list of pet foods!
Remember: I am NOT saying the following list of pet foods contain pentobarbital or a euthanized animal. I am saying that the following list of pet foods do contain, according to FDA testing, an ingredient that was determined to be associated with the drug and a euthanized animal.
As of 4/21/11…
FDA Four Pet Foods
(Meat and Bone Meal, Beef and Bone Meal, Animal Fat, and Animal Digest)
Alpo
Prime Cuts Savory Beef Flavor Dry Dog Food
Beneful Pet Food
Original Dog Food Dry
Healthy Weight Dog Food Dry
Playful Life Dog Food Dry
Healthy Radiance Dog Food Dry
Healthy Harvest Dog Food Dry
IncrediBites Dog Food Dry
Healthy Growth for Puppies Dry
Snackin Slices Dog Treat
Cesar Canine Cuisine
Filet Mignon Flavor Dog Treats
Grilled Chicken Flavor Dog Treats
Prime Rib Flavor Dog Treats
Chef Michael
Rotisserie Chicken Flavor Dog Food
Filet Mignon Flavor Dry Dog Food
Eukanuba
Sensitive Skin Dog Food Dry
Kibbles & Bits Dog Food
Original Dog Food Dry
Wholesome Medley Dog Food Dry
‘n Beefy Bits Dog Food Dry
Mini Bits Dog Food Dry
Homestyle Beef Dog Food Dry
Honestyle Chicken Dog Food Dry
Brushing Bites Dog Food Dry
Balanced Bites Dog Food Dry
Tender Cuts with Real Turkey, Bacon & Vegetables in Gravy Dog Food Canned
Tender Cuts with Real Lamb, Rice & Vegetables in Gravy Dog Food Canned
Tender Cuts with Beef & Vegetables in Gravy Dog Food Canned
Tender Slices with Beef & Vegetables in Gravy Dog Food Canned
Tender Slices with Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables in Gravy Dog Food Canned
Hearty Cuts with Real Beef, Chicken & Vegetables in Gravy Dog Food Canned
Meatballs & Pasta Dinner with Real Beef in Tomato Sauce Dog Food Canned
Burger Dinner with Real Bacon & Cheese Bits in Gravy Dog Food Canned
Lassie Brand Dog Food
Training Treats Baked with Lamb
Nature’s Recipe
Healthy Skin & Coat Venison Meal & Rice Recipe Dog Food Dry
Toy Breed Chicken Barley & Rice Recipe Dog Food Dry
Large Breed Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe Dog Food Dry
Farm Stand Selects Turkey with Real Fruits and Vegetables Recipe Dog Food Dry
Farm Stand Selects with Real Fruits and Vegetables Recipe Dog Food Dry
Healthy Skin & Coat Lamb Meal & Rice Dog Treats
Nature’s Select
NV Hip & Joint Biscuit
Ol’ Roy Dog Food
Ol Roy Dry Dog Food
Kibbles, Chunks & Chews Dry Dog Food
Krunchy Bites & Bones Dog Food Dry
Cuts in Gravy Mixed Grill Canned Dog Food
Cuts in Gravy Cheeseburger Flavor Canned Dog Food
Cuts in Gravy Country Stew Canned Dog Food
Pedigree Pet Food
Large Breed® Nutrition for Dogs Dry
Small Breed® Nutrition for Dogs Dry
Adult Complete Nutrition for Dogs Dry
Healthy Joints Food For Dogs Dry
Healthy Longevity Food For Dogs Dry
Adult Complete Nutrition for Dogs Dry
Healthy Joints Food for Dogs Dry
Healthy Longevity Food for Dogs Dry
Healthy Weight Food for Dogs Dry
Wholesome Nutrition for Dogs Dry
BreathBuster Snack Food for Dogs Med & Large
Goodbites Hip & Joint
Goodbites Oral Care
Goodbites Multi-Vitamin
Goodbites Skin & Coat
Goodbites Senior
MarroBone Snack for Dogs Sm, Med & Lg. Dog
Purina One
Cat Foods
Healthy Kitten Formula Cat Food Dry
Smartblend™ Salmon & Tuna Flavor Cat Food Dry
SmartBlend™ Chicken & Rice Formula Cat Food Dry
Vibrant Maturity® 7+ Formula Cat Food Dry
Beyond™ Chicken & Whole Oat Meal Recipe Cat Food Dry
Beyond™ Salmon & Whole Brown Rice Recipe Cat Food Dry
Urinary Tract Health Formula Cat Food Dry
Advanced Nutrition Hairball Formula Cat Food Dry
Indoor Advantage® Hairball & Healthy Weight Formula Cat Food Dry
Sensitive Systems Cat Food Dry
Dog Foods
Healthy Puppy Formula Dog Food Dry
SmartBlend™ Lamb & Rice Formula Dog Food Dry
SmartBlend™ Small Bites Beef & Rice Formula Dog Food Dry
SmartBlend™ Chicken & Rice Formula Dog Food Dry
Vibrant Maturity® 7+ Senior Formula Dog Food Dry
Beyond™ Chicken & Whole Oat Meal Recipe Dog Food Dry
Beyond™ Lamb & Whole Barley Recipe Dog Food Dry
Large Breed Puppy Formula Dog Food Dry
Large Breed Adult Formula Dog Food Dry
Sensitive Systems Dog Food Dry
Healthy Weight Formula Dog Food Dry
Biscuits Lamb & Rice Flavor
Purina ProPlan
Dog Foods
Natural Beef & Barley Formula Dog Food Dry
Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Formula Dog Food Dry
Natural Salmon & Brown Rice Formula Dog Food Dry
Natural Turkey & Barley Formula Dog Food Dry
All Life Stages Chicken & Rice Formula Dog Food Dry
Shredded Blend Beef & Rice Formula Dog Food Dry
Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula Dog Food Dry
Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula Large Breed Dog Food Dry
Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula Weight Management Dog Food Dry
Shredded Blend Lamb & Rice Formula Dog Food Dry
All Life Stages Lamb & Rice Formula Small Bites Dog Food Dry
Chicken & Rice Formula Weight Management Dog Food Dry
Giant Breed Formula Dog Food Dry
Large Breed Formula Dog Food Dry
Large Breed Formula Weight Management Dog Food Dry
Performance Formula Dog Food Dry
Sensitive Skin & Stomach Formula Dog Food Dry
Small Breed Formula Dog Food Dry
Toy Breed Adult Formula Dog Food Dry
Cat Foods
Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Formula Cat Food Dry
Natural Salmon & Brown Rice Formula Cat Food Dry
Chicken & Rice Formula Cat Food Dry
Salmon & Rice Formula Cat Food Dry
Hairball Management Formula Chicken & Rice Formula Cat Food Dry
Indoor Care – Salmon & Rice Formula Cat Food Dry
Indoor Care – Turkey & Rice Formula Cat Food Dry
Sensitive Skin & Stomach Formula Cat Food Dry
Urinary Tract Health Formula Cat Food Dry
Weight Management Formula Cat Food Dry
Purina Dog Chow
Puppy Chow Puppy Food Dry
Puppy Chow Large Breed Formula Food Dry
Healthy Morsels™ Soft & Crunchy Bites
Complete and Balanced Dog Chow Dog Food Dry
Healthy Morsels with Real Lamb & Rice, Soft & Crunchy Bites Dog Food Dry
Naturally Complete Dog Food Dry
Little Bites Dog Food Dry
Fit & Trim Adult Dog Food Dry
Active Senior 7+ Adult Dog Food Dry
Purina Cat Chow
Nurturing Formula Kitten Chow Dry
Indoor Formula Cat Food Dry
Complete Formula Cat Food Dry
Naturals Cat Food Dry
Healthful Life® Cat Food Dry
Science Diet®
Cat Foods
Adult Hairball Control Cat Food Dry
Adult Hairball Control Light Cat Food Dry
Adult Indoor Cat Food Dry
Adult Light Cat Food Dry
Adult Optimal Care™ Ocean Fish & Rice Recipe Cat Food Dry
Adult Optimal Care™ Original Cat Food Dry
Adult Oral Care Cat Food Dry
Adult Sensitive Skin Cat Food Dry
Adult Sensitive Stomach Cat Food Dry
Healthy Advantage™ Feline Adult Cat Food Dry
Kitten Healthy Development Ocean Fish & Rice Recipe Cat Food Dry
Kitten Healthy Development Original Cat Food Dry
Kitten Indoor Cat Food Dry
Mature Adult Active Longevity™ Original Cat Food Dry
Mature Adult Hairball Control Cat Food Dry
Mature Adult Indoor Cat Food Dry
Nature’s Best® Chicken & Brown Rice Dinner Adult Cat Food Dry
Nature’s Best® Chicken & Brown Rice Dinner Kitten Cat Food Dry
Nature’s Best® Ocean Fish & Brown Rice Dinner Adult Cat Food Dry
Nature’s Best® Ocean Fish & Brown Rice Dinner Kitten Cat Food Dry
Dog Foods
Adult Active Dog Food Dry
Adult Advanced Fitness Original Dog Food Dry
Adult Healthy Mobility™ Large Breed Dog Food Dry
Adult Healthy Mobility™ Dog Food Dry
Adult Healthy Mobility™ Small Bites Dog Food Dry
Adult Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Dog Food Dry
Adult Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Large Breed Dog Food Dry
Adult Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Small Bites Dog Food Dry
Adult Large Breed Dog Food Dry
Adult Oral Care Dog Food Dry
Adult Sensitive Skin Dog Food Dry
Adult Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Dry
Adult Small Bites Dog Food Dry
Healthy Advantage™ Canine Adult Dog Food Dry
Healthy Advantage™ Puppy Food Dry
Healthy Advantage™ Puppy Large Breed Dry
High Energy Dog Food Dry
Mature Adult Active Longevity™ Dog Food Dry
Mature Adult Large Breed Dog Food Dry
Mature Adult Small Bites Dog Food Dry
Puppy Healthy Development Original Dog Food Dry
Puppy Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Large Breed Dog Food Dry
Puppy Large Breed Dog Food Dry
Puppy Small Bites Dog Food Dry
Simple Essentials™ Treats Small & Toy Oral Care Adult Small Nugget
Special Kitty Cat Food
Original Cat Food Dry
Gourmet Cat Food Dry
Kitten Food Dry
Whiskas Cat Food
Whiskas® Purrfectly® with Chicken Dry Cat Food
Whiskas® Purrfectly® with Chicken & Salmon Dry Cat Food
Whiskas® Meaty Selections™ Dry Cat Food
Whiskas® Indoor Dry Cat Food
Whiskas® for Kittens Dry Cat Food
Tempations® Classics Cat Treats
Blissful Catnip
Backyard Cookout
Surfers’ Delight
Hearty Beef
Tasty Chicken
Creamy Dairy
Savory Salmon
Seafood Medley
Tempting Tuna
Tantalizing Turkey
Tempations® All Naturals Cat Treats
Wild Alaskan Salmon
Beef Tenderloin
Free Range Chicken
Yellow Fin Tuna
Tempations® Essentials Cat Treats
Dentabites®
Hairball Control
Indoor Salmon
Indoor Chicken
Skin & Coat
Kitten
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
PetsumerReport.com
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Dog Food containing “Animal Digest” =
“New”Purina One Smart Blend True Instincts (Turkey/Venison
I was wondering if you know of any brands that do not contain any of the 4 risk factors the FDA tested? I knew about animal digest but not the other 3. I didn’t know about the proverbial though, I had looked up animal digest and thought it was gross so I found a new food. But, I’m not sure if it contains the other 3.
Plus, I had no idea that these food companies were taking our euthanized pets and putting them into our pet food. That’s sickening!!! Isn’t that how mad cow disease came about because cows were made to eat cows and they aren’t carnivores?
Anyway, our pets aren’t supposed to be eating their dead brothers and sisters. How do they get away with that??How long Has that been going on?
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Chris Beane-Martin
My spell check changed the spelling for the name of the drug found in dog food in my earlier comment. It changed the spelling to PERVERBIAL or something like that. But I had spelled Pentobarbital. So now maybe my comment might make some sense. Thanks again.
Chris Beane-Martin
At one time I worked at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. The anatomy course would embalm large and small animals for its courses. This included injecting colored latex into the blood vessels. When these animals were no longer needed, they would be sent down to the necropsy coolers and added to their waste to be collected by rendering plants – to ultimately be utilized in the preparation of animal food products. So Pentobarbitol was far from the worst chemical to be found in this source of animal digest.
I just read that MILK BONE brushing chews (dental treats) also has ANIMAL DIGEST, BONE PHOSPHATE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, 2 YELLOW DYES, BHA, and a slew of other crap!!!
This is totally unacceptable…..my Abbey, a black German Shepherd, is my baby…..
Thank you all for listing these horrific products. I always read the label making sure nothing is from China, now even our own government and companies right here are no better. so sad:(