Safety & Quality: Page 127

Nutro Company granted first AFIA petfood manufacturing certificates

Eurofins Scientific Inc., an independent third-party auditor, has issued the first three Pet Food Manufacturing Facility Certification Program certificates to petfood manufacturer Nutro Co. This voluntary facility certification program, created by the American Feed Industry Association and third-party food safety experts, is designed specifically for companies manufacturing petfood or petfood ingredients.

AFIA submits comments to FDA on Food Safety Modernization Act

The American Feed Industry Association submitted comments to the docket to the US Food and Drug Administration regarding the agency’s information collection activities as related to upcoming Food Safety Modernization Act implementation. The comments explained that many American Feed Industry Association members consider their quality assurance programs and food safety plans as proprietary and confidential.

PMI Nutrition recalls small animal, bird food

PMI Nutrition International has initiated a voluntary recall of select varieties of the Aquamax, LabDiet and Mazuri animal feed products, due to the potential for an elevated vitamin D level in these products. The products recalled by PMI include Aquamax, LabDiet and Mazuri foods for small birds, guinea pigs, wolves, primates, aquatic species and other exotic animals.

Premium petfood manufacturer establishes new lab in Malta

Petnutrition, a premium petfood manufacturer, is establishing a new research and development laboratory in Malta that will also upgrade the petfood company's quality control processes. The laboratory will be operated by a new company, Petnutrition R&D, and will be responsible for the analysis of the entire product range of wet and dry petfoods, supplements and oils.

Court rules against petfood packaging company in insurance case

A petfood packaging company that damaged cans of dog food leading to a recall cannot seek compensation for damages under its commercial general liability policy, a US appeals court ruled. The petfood packaging company, Express Packaging of OH Inc., cannot seek reimbursement from its CGL policy with American States Insurance Co. after damaging cans of dog food belonging to petfood producer Mars Inc. during a packaging process, according to a ruling by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Pet Food Market

Petfood experts target key opportunities and challenges

It’s probably no surprise that when Petfood Industry asked experts from throughout the world for their insights on the industry’s key opportunities and challenges, they identified many more challenges. After all, our industry is facing a number of difficult issues now, with more on the horizon. But these experts also listed plenty of opportunities to continue to grow and innovate.

Petfood experts from throughout the world targeted difficult issues our industry is facing, along with opportunities to continue to grow and innovate.

FDA inspection at Diamond Pet Foods plant helps pet owner lawsuits

A US Food and Drug Administration inspection at Diamond Pet Foods' production plant found numerous health violations after a series of earlier petfood recalls for Salmonella contamination, which one expert says will be used to help support lawsuits against the company. The inspection, conducted six days after the first of eight recalls by Diamond Pet Foods, found violations at the Gaston, South Carolina, USA, facility such as failure to clean and maintain equipment and a lack of contaminant screenings on raw ingredients.

Pedigree recalls three canned dog foods for choking risk

Mars Petcare has issued a voluntary recall for three varieties in its Pedigree brand weight management line of canned dog food due to a potential choking risk. Cans of the recalled dog food may contain small pieces of blue plastic, which broke off a conveyor belt during the production process.

MOCON establishes permeation testing laboratory network

MOCON Inc. has established a global network of MOCON-certified permeation testing laboratories to provide independent material and package performance verification, regardless of location, for petfood products. Currently, the company has certified seven laboratories in North America, Europe and Asia, at which the company aims to offer affordable permeation testing services.

Pet Food Safety

Aflatoxicosis from commercial diet in 50 dogs

Aflatoxins, produced by Aspergillus spp., are toxic contaminants of stored grain. This study describes 50 dogs presented with foodborne aflatoxicosis.

Pet Food Market

What's next for our industry after the latest petfood recalls?

The good news is that no further incidents from the Diamond Pet Foods recalls have come out since the end of May. The bad news, of course, is that the recalls happened at all and especially that people and pets were sickened by Salmonella-contaminated petfoods produced at Diamond's Gaston, South Carolina, USA, plant.

Petfood industry members discuss petfood production, safety

A recent roundtable discussion by Natural Pet Product Merchandiser brought together a petfood retailer, two petfood manufacturers and a petfood industry representative to discuss the petfood production and safety, including the impact of a petfood recall and controls to prevent one. Although the US Food and Drug Administration’s website shows more than 1,000 petfood and treat recalls since March 2007, Nancy K. Cook, vice president of Pet Food Institute, says this should not be a cause for concern to consumers.

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