FDA Pet Food Safety Policies Comprised of Twisted Logic

[~weed~]

http://www.naturalnews.com/024161.html

FDA Pet Food Safety Policies Comprised of Twisted Logic
by Susan Thixton


(NaturalNews) The FDA is supposed to protect our pet's food. Congress took note of the deadly pet food recall last year and mandated the FDA to clean up its act. Human food and pet food regulations are supposed to be updated and in working order by September 2009 according to the Amendments Act. I have my doubts. The list below does not come directly from the FDA in exact words, yet it is a fair interpretation of how the FDA acts in caring for the safety of our pet's food and treats.

1. All U.S. pet foods are safe –- and will continue to be safe. We have everything under control.

2. The pet food recall last year was not our fault –- China did it. We do not think it's necessary to restrict Chinese imports or label pet foods with information that some ingredients might come from China. China has taken measures to prevent this from ever happening again. We trust Chinese imports. Besides, around 1% of all imported products are inspected by the FDA. We have everything under control.

3. U.S. pet owners should not be concerned that sick, diseased cattle and other animals are processed into pet food. Even though the FDA currently considers sick, diseased cattle to be Specified Risk Materials to spread mad cow disease and we are aware that cats around the world have contracted the feline version of this disease, we do not believe they are a risk for use in pet foods. The FDA has been told by pet food industry stakeholder groups that Specified Risk Materials –- animal materials at risk to spread mad cow disease –- are too costly to destroy. We trust the advice of these stakeholder groups and agree that the cost to destroy these risk materials is too high. Sorry, but pet food is the only place to discard specified risk materials. We consider Specified Risk Materials safe for your pet to consume. We have everything under control.

4. Pentobarbital –- the drug used to euthanize animals including pets –- is safe for pets to consume. Yes, we are aware that our neighbor government agency, the Fish and Wildlife Agency, reports that over 100 Bald and Golden Eagles have died recently from eating a euthanized animal. The FDA did a lengthy and complete 8 week study and we determined there is no risk to pets consuming this lethal drug over a lifetime. We have everything under control.

5. The FDA has no idea how the euthanizing drug pentobarbital gets into pet food. We are aware that there is some significant evidence that euthanized pets are rendered (cooked) and put back into pet food. We have spent a great deal of tax payer money developing testing procedures to determine the species source of the drug. Our test results found nothing... well, to be more specific, we spent a great deal of our limited budget trying to quiet the rumors that euthanized dogs and cats are processed into pet food... but, we failed. We cannot say for certain where or how pentobarbital gets into many popular brands of pet foods. However, we firmly believe the information that pet food industry stakeholder groups tell us –- pentobarbital in pet food is not from rendered euthanized dogs and cats. Pet owners should not be concerned how pentobarbital gets into pet food nor which pet foods contain euthanized animals. We have everything under control.

6. The FDA finds it completely acceptable for a pet food to make the claim 'Premium' or 'Choice' on the label even if the food contains chicken feet and cow intestines. Our pets in the U.S. are so fortunate; we understand that chicken feet and cow intestines are considered a delicacy in some countries. The FDA provides a confusing explanation on pet food labels on our website, but we feel the following sums it up: "The pet food label contains a wealth of information, if one knows how to read it. Do not be swayed by the many marketing gimmicks or eye-catching claims." We have everything under control.

7. Should any pet owner feel the FDA is not completely looking out for the best interest of U.S. pets, please note that the FDA leaves most decisions regarding the rules and regulations of pet food to AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials). Since the pet food industry stakeholder groups provide AAFCO with the same valuable advice they provide us, in fact members of these stakeholder groups sit on the Advisory Boards to AAFCO –- the FDA feels confident that AAFCO has everything under control. Should you still feel the FDA is not doing enough to protect your pet, we provide you with the same response we give whenever we are questioned about our ability to protect human and pet food: "We don't have the funding or the manpower".

If it wasn't so sad, the real life condition of pet food seems almost like it's been taken straight out of the pages of some script from a twisted humor television show. My guess would be that the FDA does consider they have 'everything under control' and that all U.S. pet foods are safe. Many doubt that.

It's not rocket science to understand that a quality piece of meat is far more nutritious for your pet than chicken feet and/or cow intestines. And even more so, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that sick, diseased animals or euthanized animals (especially the possibility of euthanized pets) should never be processed into pet food. The good news (honestly) is that there are some high quality pet foods out there that do not use these types of inferior ingredients. It takes a small amount of effort to find them, but the rewards are obvious.

Wishing you and your pet the best,

Susan Thixton

[Tapper]

So this is just a memo typed by some woman at NaturalNews to make it look like it was a memo from the FDA?

[~weed~]

So this is just a memo typed by some woman at NaturalNews to make it look like it was a memo from the FDA?

No, no where does she say that is a memo from the FDA. It is her take on how they are handling the regulations the FDA is supposed to be working on based on what they have (or haven't done) in the past and what is currently allowable in pet food.

[Tapper]

Thats just what I was wondering. I thought she was trying to make it look like some insensitive asshole from the FDA had written it after reading #1 and #2.

I see its not from the FDA now.

[~weed~]

A bit on AAFCO, ahem, regulations:

What does it take to meet the AAFCO regulations? Pet foods can meet approval by AAFCO in one of two ways. First, the food can be put through laboratory analysis and compared to minimum values established by the AAFCO Nutrient Profiles for Dogs and Cats—guidelines based on the best available knowledge of the nutrients cats and dogs need to “stay healthy”. Because that knowledge is not firm for all nutrients, the numbers are somewhat arbitrary. There is also no guarantee that an animal will be able to absorb the nutrients in that food.According to Richard Markham, DVM, PhD, of Hill’s, “A food composed of shoe leather, motor oil, vitamins, and minerals will analyze (in a lab) to meet AAFCO nutrient recommendations for dogs or cats, but obviously would not be a good diet for dogs or cats. Thus, the claim “balanced”, “complete”, “adequate”, or “guaranteed to meet or exceed all AAFCO nutrient recommendations” has little meaning”. Second, the food can be put through a feeding trial in accordance with AAFCO protocols. The feeding trial need take place for only six months in order for a food to claim it can maintain an adult animal’s health, which may not be long enough for certain deficiencies or excesses to show their effects.


AAFCO doesn't mean squat IMO. 

[~weed~]

This was forwarded to me, I thought it was funny!   


Kibble and carrot‏ interview:

Carrot: Hello Mr. Kibble, thank you for joining me today.

Kibble: You're welcome. I must say though, I had to wait 6 weeks for
this interview.

Carrot: ? Were you refrigerated?

Kibble: No, I don't have to be. Why do you ask?

Carrot: I read in your resume that you are made from natural chicken,
animal fat, apples, cottage cheese, grains and many other perishable
ingredients. How could you not spoil?

Kibble: This is going to be a hostile interview, isn't it?

Carrot: Would you please answer my question? All my friends would
begin decay and rot in a few hours? How do you stay so...un-moldy?

Kibble: The people who make me wear white coats. I'm sure they know
what they are doing. Besides, the research department worked really
closely with marketing on this issue. Who made you?

Carrot: God

Kibble: Never heard of that company. But it's a catchy name - dog
spelled backwards.

Carrot: Really, let's figure this out. Meat and fat- yet you never
spoil. And. you look so...inert.

Kibble: Well, I am naturally preserved. The purchasing department
says I don't have to worry because the fat is loaded with preservatives from
the rendering plant.

Carrot: But I thought you were all natural!

Kibble: The legal department looked into this and as long as our
people with white coats just add a little Vitamin E and Rosemary it's OK to call
me natural and I never go bad because there's enough preservative in the
fat that comes from the rendering plant to keep me from going bad.

Carrot: So even though you're 'natural' you could be loaded with
preservatives from your suppliers?

Kibble: That's right.

Carrot: I still think there's something else - you never go bad at
room temperature.

Kibble: Well, there is more. I am so highly heated and processed that
all the 'life' goes out of me. In a sense- I die and become a new
molecular substance that is called 'inert'. I am no longer 'food' as you know
it.

Carrot: Err...sounds cool. But now that you're dead and inert, who
would want to eat you?

Kibble: You mean you've never heard of 'protein digest' spray? After
I come out of the extruder I'm sprayed with an irresistible protein digest
and vitamin mix. It's all approved by our in-house vet. We pay him
$90,000 dollars a year to make sure I'm nutritionally complete.

Carrot: But underneath that spray you're dead and inert!

Kibble: That's the coolest part! The finance department figured this
out. It's called 'fixed price'. I really wish I had thought of this.

Carrot: You're inert. You can't think. What is fixed price?

Kibble: Fixed price is a great marketing tool so I cost the exact
same amount each week in the retail store. It all ties together because I
can be kept in warehouses for months to take advantage of good pricing.

Carrot: But your ingredients can't possibly stay the same price from
week to week. The market fluctuates all the time.

Kibble: Not a problem! Let's say the price of chicken goes up. The
people in white coats just reduce the chicken and add fillers that keep the
cost the same. They have complete control over the gross profit. The share
holders LOVE this because they can always make their car payments right on
schedule. The other option is 'fixed formula' but that was voted down because
we couldn't compete if the price keeps changing. Adjusting the formula
is easy!

Carrot: But what about nutrition??

Kibble: Remember, I'm dead and inert so in a sense it doesn't matter
what goes into me. After I'm processed, heated and extruded, it's really
that magic spray that gives me all the nutrition. Besides, dog's have
livers and immune systems to remove the other stuff.

Carrot: Wow. is that 'natural'??

Kibble: Sure. soak me in a glass of water and you'll see I break down
into a pasty brown substance. It's an earth tone - very natural.

Carrot: I'm looking real closely. All I see is a brown pasty
substance. Where are the meat, fat, apples, cottage cheese and grains?

Kibble: You don't know anything, do you? That's where the graphics
department comes in. Didn't you see the full color photo of the
chickens, apples and other fresh ingredients nicely printed on the bag? They
show me on the cover, not as I actually am, but as people would expect me to
be...That packaging costs a small fortune. Legal says it's OK.

Carrot: That's comforting. If your lawyer says its OK then I feel
much better. What about wholesome ingredients and freshness?

Kibble:? Those are just 'concepts' that people have come up with -
I'm convinced that if your packaging and marketing materials are really
good then we can overcome anything. That's why we pay those marketing
people what we do!

Carrot: Listen, I'm beginning to feel a little funny around the edges
so I have to go back in the fridge. Thanks for stopping by!

Kibble: My pleasure.

[Geo]

This was forwarded to me, I thought it was funny!   


Kibble and carrot‏ interview:

Carrot: Hello Mr. Kibble, thank you for joining me today.

Kibble: You're welcome. I must say though, I had to wait 6 weeks for
this interview.

Carrot: ? Were you refrigerated?

Kibble: No, I don't have to be. Why do you ask?

Carrot: I read in your resume that you are made from natural chicken,
animal fat, apples, cottage cheese, grains and many other perishable
ingredients. How could you not spoil?

Kibble: This is going to be a hostile interview, isn't it?

Carrot: Would you please answer my question? All my friends would
begin decay and rot in a few hours? How do you stay so...un-moldy?

Kibble: The people who make me wear white coats. I'm sure they know
what they are doing. Besides, the research department worked really
closely with marketing on this issue. Who made you?

Carrot: God

Kibble: Never heard of that company. But it's a catchy name - dog
spelled backwards.

Carrot: Really, let's figure this out. Meat and fat- yet you never
spoil. And. you look so...inert.

Kibble: Well, I am naturally preserved. The purchasing department
says I don't have to worry because the fat is loaded with preservatives from
the rendering plant.

Carrot: But I thought you were all natural!

Kibble: The legal department looked into this and as long as our
people with white coats just add a little Vitamin E and Rosemary it's OK to call
me natural and I never go bad because there's enough preservative in the
fat that comes from the rendering plant to keep me from going bad.

Carrot: So even though you're 'natural' you could be loaded with
preservatives from your suppliers?

Kibble: That's right.

Carrot: I still think there's something else - you never go bad at
room temperature.

Kibble: Well, there is more. I am so highly heated and processed that
all the 'life' goes out of me. In a sense- I die and become a new
molecular substance that is called 'inert'. I am no longer 'food' as you know
it.

Carrot: Err...sounds cool. But now that you're dead and inert, who
would want to eat you?

Kibble: You mean you've never heard of 'protein digest' spray? After
I come out of the extruder I'm sprayed with an irresistible protein digest
and vitamin mix. It's all approved by our in-house vet. We pay him
$90,000 dollars a year to make sure I'm nutritionally complete.

Carrot: But underneath that spray you're dead and inert!

Kibble: That's the coolest part! The finance department figured this
out. It's called 'fixed price'. I really wish I had thought of this.

Carrot: You're inert. You can't think. What is fixed price?

Kibble: Fixed price is a great marketing tool so I cost the exact
same amount each week in the retail store. It all ties together because I
can be kept in warehouses for months to take advantage of good pricing.

Carrot: But your ingredients can't possibly stay the same price from
week to week. The market fluctuates all the time.

Kibble: Not a problem! Let's say the price of chicken goes up. The
people in white coats just reduce the chicken and add fillers that keep the
cost the same. They have complete control over the gross profit. The share
holders LOVE this because they can always make their car payments right on
schedule. The other option is 'fixed formula' but that was voted down because
we couldn't compete if the price keeps changing. Adjusting the formula
is easy!

Carrot: But what about nutrition??

Kibble: Remember, I'm dead and inert so in a sense it doesn't matter
what goes into me. After I'm processed, heated and extruded, it's really
that magic spray that gives me all the nutrition. Besides, dog's have
livers and immune systems to remove the other stuff.

Carrot: Wow. is that 'natural'??

Kibble: Sure. soak me in a glass of water and you'll see I break down
into a pasty brown substance. It's an earth tone - very natural.

Carrot: I'm looking real closely. All I see is a brown pasty
substance. Where are the meat, fat, apples, cottage cheese and grains?

Kibble: You don't know anything, do you? That's where the graphics
department comes in. Didn't you see the full color photo of the
chickens, apples and other fresh ingredients nicely printed on the bag? They
show me on the cover, not as I actually am, but as people would expect me to
be...That packaging costs a small fortune. Legal says it's OK.

Carrot: That's comforting. If your lawyer says its OK then I feel
much better. What about wholesome ingredients and freshness?

Kibble:? Those are just 'concepts' that people have come up with -
I'm convinced that if your packaging and marketing materials are really
good then we can overcome anything. That's why we pay those marketing
people what we do!

Carrot: Listen, I'm beginning to feel a little funny around the edges
so I have to go back in the fridge. Thanks for stopping by!

Kibble: My pleasure.

I did'nt think that was the least bit funny but then again I did'nt read it...