What You Can Do To Improve Pet Food Safety – Truth about Pet Food

#1. Report a pet illness or death linked to a pet food.

The number one thing pet owners can do to improve the safety of pet food is to report any pet illness or death believed to be linked to a pet food to federal and state regulatory authorities. Very few pet food issues are reported to the proper authorities. Many pet owners will post about a pet illness or death in social media. While it is good to share information with other pet owners, Facebook or Twitter does not issue recalls. Reporting a problem to regulatory authorities creates an official record of the incident (known as an adverse event report). Authorities have access to a database of adverse events reported all across the US which could lead to a recall of a dangerous pet food.

Many pet owners will contact the pet food manufacturer to report an illness or concern. Pet food manufacturers do need to be alerted of a potential problem, however we are not assured manufacturers will fully investigate an issue. Pet food manufacturers are required to notify the FDA within 24 hours of their knowledge of an issue with their products that could sicken or kill pets, but…we have no guarantee they will actually do that. Report a problem to regulatory authorities first, the pet food manufacturer second.

For more information on how to report Click Here.

#2. Take another pet owner under your wing.

Most pet owners (and veterinarians) don’t know a pet food/treat related illness should be reported to regulatory authorities. The FDA and State authorities fail to educate consumers to the need of reporting a pet food related issue.

If you read a post or hear of a neighbor, friend or family member whose pet is sick believed to be linked to a pet food or treat – encourage them to report the illness/death to regulatory authorities. Try to explain that reporting a pet food/treat suspect illness or death to authorities becomes an official record and it could lead to a dangerous product being removed from store shelves.

#3. Ask your Regulatory Officials questions.

If you notice an image or claim on a pet food website or label that is misleading, ask the FDA and your State feed officials if that image or claim is allowed. If you feel the pet food label doesn’t provide you with enough information, tell FDA and your State feed official what you’d like for the label to be required to disclose. If you don’t understand a regulation or pet food requirement, ask FDA and your State feed official to fully explain. Whatever your question, ask

It’s significantly important for regulatory authorities to hear from consumers. Ask questions, report misleading information. Questions to FDA can be sent to AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov. To find your State officials Click Here, scroll down to section on States.

Unfortunately, authorities often dismiss questions from consumers. If your questions are ignored, ask your elected officials for help. Reporting to elected officials that FDA or State authorities are ignoring your pet food questions or concerns can get you the answers you want.

Wishing you and your pet the best –

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

Become a member of our pet food consumer Association. Association for Truth in Pet Food is a a stakeholder organization representing the voice of pet food consumers at AAFCO and with FDA. Your membership helps representatives attend meetings and voice consumer concerns with regulatory authorities. Click Here to learn more.

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