What happens to Recalled Pet Food by FDA agreement

You aren’t going to like this.

TruthaboutPetFood.com has received numerous questions lately regarding what happens to recalled pet food. What we have learned is MORE than concerning.

From Dictionary.com the definition of recondition is: “to restore to a good or satisfactory condition; repair; make over.”

Found in FDA’s “Regulatory Procedures Manual – Recall Procedures” – with each and every pet food (or human food) recall, a secret agreement could be made between FDA and the manufacturer – allowing that recalled pet food to be “reconditioned” and resold to unknowing pet owners. Some recalled pet foods might be destroyed, other recalled pet foods are allowed to be reconditioned.

Which recalled pet foods have been reconditioned and resold? Have excess vitamin D pet foods been reconditioned? Have Salmonella recalled pet foods been reconditioned? We don’t know. FDA doesn’t provide pet owners that information.

Is the recalled pet food re-cooked and then re-packaged? Is the recalled pet food mixed in with other batches of newly made pet food? We don’t know. FDA doesn’t provide pet owners that information.

Any pertinent question we might have about this concerning issue – is ONLY known by the FDA and the pet food manufacturer. All the details are decided by and agreed to behind closed doors and the consumer is NEVER told.

Below are excerpts about reconditioned food from the FDA Regulatory Procedures Manual (bold added for emphasis):

“Firms wanting to recondition their product should develop a written formal reconditioning proposal and submit the proposal to the division for CRU (Center Recall Unit) review.”

“If the recall has been completed before FDA’s knowledge of it, division personnel should obtain documentation of actions taken to dispose of or recondition the recalled products and document the recall per normal procedure.“

“3. Division Notification to Firm of Recall Acknowledgement
Once the Division Recall Coordinator has been made aware of a recall and the 24-hour alert has been submitted, the DRC will request that recalling firms begin sending periodic recall status reports, per 21 CFR 7.53. The DRC will send a written acknowledgement to the recalling firm including the following: request the firm to submit periodic recall status reports, notify FDA prior to voluntary product destruction or product reconditioning, and to conduct effectiveness checks.“

“4. Division Notification to the Recalling Firm for Classification
The monitoring division, upon receiving the recall number, classification, and recall strategies from the center, will then promptly prepare and send a notification letter to the firm stating the agency’s position with respect to the recall.
This letter will provide the recall number(s), the classification of the recall, product description, codes, the agency recommendation for appropriate recall depth and recall effectiveness check level. It will indicate FDA’s determination to verify returned product disposition by stating that the division office should be notified prior to the initiation of reconditioning or destruction of recalled products and that such action should be witnessed by an FDA investigator. (An alternative means, such as verification by appropriate state or local officials, may be used.)“

Is this acceptable to you? Is it acceptable for a recalled pet food to be reconditioned and sold to consumers with no disclosure?

Would you knowingly purchase a reconditioned recalled pet food?

If this is not acceptable, if you would never knowingly give your pet a reconditioned recalled pet food – PLEASE send your Representatives in Congress and the FDA an email.

To find your Representatives in Congress, Click Here.

Email address FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine: AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov

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Example email (only pertaining to pet food) (please personalize your message):

Per the FDA Regulatory Procedures Manual – Recall Procedures, I have learned that FDA makes special agreements with some pet food manufacturers allowing a recalled pet food to be “reconditioned” and sold to unknowing consumers.

Do you understand how difficult it is to purchase a safe pet food? Pet owners are NOT told if ingredients in that pet food violate federal law. FDA allows pet food manufacturers to source illegal ingredients from diseased animals or animals that have died other than by slaughter, but NEVER requires the consumer to be informed. Pet owners are denied public access to pet food ingredient definitions because of another special agreement between FDA and AAFCO. And now I read the Procedures Manual stating that the FDA makes hidden agreements with manufacturers of recalled pet foods allowing them to be reconditioned and sold to unknowing pet owners.

This is unacceptable. I am asking that a full transparency program be implemented with pet food. If the pet food contains a previously recalled product, that must be disclosed on the label. If the pet food contains any part of a diseased animal or animal that has died other than by slaughter, that must be disclosed on the label. And all regulations and legal definitions of pet food ingredients must become public information easily accessible to any pet owner.

I deserve to know what I am buying and feeding my pet.

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Thank you in advance to all that send their emails.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food

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