Pet Food Safety: Page 86

Cargill recalls River Run, Marksman dog food for high aflatoxin levels

Cargill is voluntarily recalling dog food, sold under the River Run and Marksman brand names, due to high levels of aflatoxin. The affected dog food was manufactured at the company's Lecompte, Louisiana, USA, plant from December 1, 2010, through December 1, 2011.

Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dog food recalled for high aflatoxin levels

Petfood manufacturer Procter & Gamble is voluntarily recalling select bags of Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food, due to aflatoxin levels detected higher than the accepted limit. The recall is for 7-, 8-, and 17.5-pound bags of the Iams dog food, marked with expiration dates of February 5, 2013, and February 6, 2013.

Pet Food Safety

Petfood safety: update on FSMA

The US Food Safety Modernization Act has reached its first birthday, after passage in January 2011. Some provisions took effect immediately but to date have had minimal impact on most petfood manufacturers.

The US Food Safety Modernization Act has reached its first anniversary, after passage in January 2011. Is your company ready for whatâ€™s to come?

FDA secures additional funds for food safety program

After lobbying from an alliance of consumer advocates and industry groups, Congress increased the US Food and Drug Administration's funding by nearly 3% from last year’s level to US$3.8 billion, according to an article in the Washington Post. Of all the additional money FDA secured, the new food safety program received the largest amount of US$39 million.

Silliker plans 2012 food safety short courses for petfood manufacturers

Food safety and nutrition services company Silliker has planned a range of food and petfood safety short courses throughout 2012. Petfood manufacturers may register for any of the company's 20 short courses planned from January through September 2012.

Market Trends and Reports

Guide to Petfood Forum Asia 2012

Did you know petfood sales in Thailand are projected to grow at an annual compound rate of 8.3% through 2015, reaching US$456 million that year? In fact, Thailand, along with India and China, is among the 10 fastest-growing petfood markets, according to Euromonitor International.

Petfood Forum Asia will draw petfood professionals from throughout Asia and the world.

Chicken jerky treats from China may sicken dogs, FDA warns

The US Food and Drug Administration is warning pet owners to be award of chicken jerky products from China that may be associated with reports of Fanconi-like syndrome in dogs. In its alert to dog owners, FDA says chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are only intended to be fed occasionally, in small quantities.

FDA says petfood Salmonella testing is 'routine'

A spokeswoman for the US Food and Drug Administration says media coverage of a recent FDA announcement that it will sample petfood, pet treats and supplements for possible Salmonella contamination has been misleading to pet owners. Laura Alvey, a spokeswoman in FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, said the focus on Salmonella in petfood was planned as a part of FDA's fiscal 2012 assignments.

Common artificial sweetener can kill dogs, FDA warns

A common artificial sweetener found in sugar-free baked goods, candy, oral hygiene products and chewing gum can be deadly if ingested by a dog, the US Food and Drug Administration warns. The ingredient, Xylitol, can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia), seizures and liver failure in dogs, which may lead to death, according to FDA.

Pet Food Safety

Petfood petition sent to White House

In late October, a consumer advocate started a petition on the “We the People” page of the White House website (www.whitehouse.gov). The petition requests that the Obama Administration instruct the US Food and Drug Administration to enforce a strict interpretation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) as it pertains to suitability of ingredients for use in petfood or, lacking that, require a label disclaimer on all petfoods that do not meet the standards as set forth by the exact verbiage in the law.

Illinois, USA, petfood manufacturer accused of 23 violations by US safety group

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration found 23 violations at an Illinois, USA, petfood manufacturer, the Chicago Tribune reported. According to OSHA, petfood company All-Feed Processing and Packaging Inc. exposed its workers to high levels of dust and excessive noise, and used trucks powered by liquid propane in areas where combustible dust was present.

FDA now testing petfood, pet treats for Salmonella

The US Food and Drug Administration has started to test petfood for Salmonella contamination to prevent pet owners from getting sick by handling the petfood. In October 2011, FDA investigators began taking samples of dry petfood, pet treats and pet diet supplements from distributors, wholesalers and retailers such as PetSmart, Petco, WalMart, Costco, Sam's Club and Target.

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