The intention of the following information is NOT to defend pathogenic bacteria in any pet food. The intention is to example how the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine intentionally misleads (lies to) the public into believing that one style of pet food poses a greater risk of pathogenic bacteria than others.
As the minimally processed segment of pet food grows, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) continues to do whatever they can to stop that growth. In recent days, the FDA CVM did their best (worst) to cause fear in consumers of one particular style of pet food…raw pet food.
On September 20, 2024 the FDA issued a public “advisory” titled “Do Not Feed Certain Lots of Darwin’s Natural Selections Pet Food Due to Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes”. This public advisory stated: “The FDA recommended that Arrow Reliance, Inc. recall all six lots of product. To date, the firm has not recalled the affected products.”
Significant to note: Darwin’s Pet Food received the results of FDA testing on the same day the FDA issued the public advisory.
But what the FDA CVM advisory did not tell consumers is based on FDA CVM’s own internal documents, Darwin’s Pet Food is NOT required to recall the pet foods in the same manner other pet foods are required. Darwin’s Pet Food is a direct-to-consumer brand; direct-to consumer brands are allowed by FDA CVM to directly notify customers, but are NOT required to issue a public recall notice. Quoting FDA CVM’s Guidance: “when recalled products have only been distributed to direct accounts… a prompt and effective communication to such accounts informing them of the recall may be adequate.”
Did Darwin’s notify customers as required? Yes. Per Darwin’s statement, the pet food manufacturer received FDA testing results and notified their customers on the same day (9/20/24).
FDA CVM took public action to make Darwin’s Pet Food appear as a company that did not properly respond to pathogenic bacteria contamination…when actually the pet food company did EXACTLY what was required per FDA CVM’s Guidance.
The FDA CVM lied by omission, the agency intentionally misrepresented the actions/requirements of a direct-to-consumer pet food manufacturer.
Three days later, the FDA took another shot at a raw pet food manufacturer. On September 23, 2024 the FDA issued an advisory titled “Do Not Feed Certain Answers Pet Food for Dogs Due to Salmonella and Listeria”.
This public advisory stated: “To date, the firm has not initiated an adequate recall of the affected products.”
But…FDA’s own records show this raw pet food manufacturer notified the FDA of a recall the day BEFORE the advisory was issued.
Screenshot of the recall notice evidencing FDA was notified the day before the advisory:
Recall date: 9/22/24 – FDA Advisory date claiming no recall: 9/23/24.
Again, the FDA took public action against another raw pet food manufacturer portraying the company as refusing to recall when the truth is the company recalled the pet food the day before.
FDA CVM intentionally lied to the public – twice within three days.
We sent FDA CVM questions about both of these instances (and sent a second request). As typical of FDA CVM, they have not responded (the agency typically does not respond when we catch them lying to the public).
Both of these pet food companies did what was legally required of them. FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine on the other hand did whatever they could to make raw pet food look dangerous, make these particular manufacturers look reckless.
We encourage pet owners to send FDA CVM your sentiments on their recent lies. Tell them you know they lied to the public and ask them to issue a follow up ‘Advisory’ with truthful information. Email: AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov.
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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Teresa Johnson
September 25, 2024 at 4:13 pm
Why does this remind me of that infamous quote from “Animal Farm” …you know the one about all animals are equal BUT some are MORE EQUAL. Arrrggg!
Dawn McLaughlin
September 25, 2024 at 4:46 pm
Done! I sent them a strongly worded email expressing my frustration at their harassment of raw pet foods, Darwins in particular.
I really have nothing but contempt for these slimy gov’t entities.
Thank you for keeping us up to date and giving us opportunity to speak up.
Marshs
September 25, 2024 at 4:56 pm
Thank you for all you do for our pets Susan
Kathleen
September 26, 2024 at 9:02 am
I wonder which FDA employees received the payoff this time. Thank you Susan for being on top of all the underhanded dealing the FDA has tried to pull on pet parents, and raw food manufacturers. It appears to be all out war against raw food manufacturers and the big kibble companies, with the FDA backing them. When will they learn, every time they pull this stuff the public questions, “Why the need for lies”?
Once that question is answered, it’s a straight move to alternate feeding. They keep shooting themselves in the foot, which of course raw feeder’s and manufacturers love!
kay
September 27, 2024 at 12:04 pm
The best thing for your fur baby is to have fresh meats, veggies, supplements, probiotics, do your research on supplements and all homeopathic treatments. Grind the meat and cook it at home. After all they are family. Since I have had my animal strictly off of any Commercial foods, she is healthy and doing good. I just wish I would have done this sooner, beginning as a kitten. Thank you Susan for always giving us an update.
Will Falconer, DVM
September 30, 2024 at 12:59 am
Yet another example of “regulatory capture” by the deep pockets of industry, in this case, Big Pet Food. Good catch, Susan, and I well remember other articles you’ve posted citing the enormous amount of recalls in commercial kibble.
Worse yet, the prolonged silence on the poisoning of countless pets from Purina et al, with finally a whimper of a revelation after months of sickness and deaths.