The Pet Food Institute (PFI) and its members, who make 98% of U.S. pet food and treats, are committed to the health of pets and take seriously the responsibility to make safe, complete and balanced food for our dogs and cats. As such, PFI and its members have convened nutritionists, veterinarians and product safety specialists for more than a year to better understand whether there is a relationship between dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and diet.
PFI agrees with statements from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) that this is a complex issue with many factors requiring scientific evaluation. The industry has come together to further study the impact of pet food ingredients, product formulation and processing, and pet physiology, on canine health and longevity. PFI members are collaborating internally and sharing relevant information for scientific analysis to expand the understanding of any potential connection between DCM and diet. PFI welcomes the continued dialogue among veterinarians, ingredient suppliers and pet food makers that advances information-sharing in this regard.
PFI looks forward to reviewing the agency’s investigational data and believe a complete data set will assist nutrition and veterinary experts in the study of this important issue. In the meantime, the Institute encourages pet owners to contact their pet food maker with questions regarding specific products or formulations. PFI has also posted a series of informational questions and answers on www.petfoodinstitute.org.
PFI is committed to convening the information and expertise of its member companies in order to work together to advance pet health and the production of safe food for dogs and cats.
