Pet Food Safety: Page 89

Pet Food Safety

How do you solve a problem like glucosamine in petfood?

Glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate have been ingredients in petfoods for most of the last 20 years. However, neither ingredient ever has been formally approved or otherwise sanctioned for that purpose. This should not stop interested states from meeting and agreeing to uniform labeling requirements.

Brand Insights

Helping you navigate the evolving pet supplements industry

Petfood Industry

Stay current in this fast-growing category with insight that keeps you informed and helps you move forward with confidence.

Helping you navigate the evolving pet supplements industry

China petfood may contain dangerous preservative levels, consumer group finds

In a sampling of petfood, the Consumers' Foundation found some dog food sold in China may contain preservatives that could affect the health of dogs if too much is consumed, according to The China Post. The foundation found that eight out 20 dry dog food and canned dog food products purchased from retailers in September 2010 were found to contain sorbic acid.

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.

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