Dog and Cat Food Safety Issues

One thing is for certain, the food industry is changing — on many levels. The Monsanto Company is the leader in diversifying agriculture to the point of engineering foods that appear on your dinner plate and in your pet’s bowl. The most recent travesty involves corn. The MON863 is a genetically modified corn that contains the Bacillus thuringiensis gene. Why is Monsanto inserting the bacillus gene into a corn’s gene? Because this lovely little gene actually causes the corn to produce a pesticide!

This is nothing new. Genetically engineered grains have been distributed since 1996. We are talking about corn, soy, wheat, rice, barely, and various types oil seeds, even alfalfa. The seeds are labeled “hybrid” seeds and the rationale behind using these seeds is higher crop yield. In today’s corporate farming world, the bottom line is what counts, not your safety and certainly not the safety of your pets. The defense is that these crops are used primarily for livestock. Yet, there is no evidence that this is the case. In fact, there are no laws preventing these crops from being sold for human (or pet) consumption.

Back in 1998 corn, wheat, soy, and other grain seeds developed by Monsanto to resist the Roundup herbicide were approved by the FDA. The corn is a GA21 and contains a modified epsps gene that results in the plant’s resistance to the Roundup herbicide. However, it also results in the plant’s absorption of this herbicide. (All plants exposed to an herbicide will absorb the herbicide, resulting in death of the plant.) The argument is that most plants treated with herbicides are not slated for the dinner table, hence the reason for killing them off. In the case of the GA21 corn, it is the opposite. The plant is sprayed, it absorbs the herbicide, but it resists the herbicide and does not die. Ultimately this corn ends up in the human and animal food chain.

In the case of humans or livestock, it can be argued that there is not enough concentration of the herbicide to create problems. In fact, many studies support that these genetically modified foods are perfectly safe for consumption. This is despite many reports that reveal just the opposite. Additionally, this argument can not be made for our pets, who are much smaller than us. Furthermore, independent laboratory tests have revealed that genetically modified grains can create liver, kidney and spleen damage — at least in rats. What exactly does this mean to your pet? Damage to the kidneys can result in renal failure. Damage to the liver results in liver toxicity. And damage to the spleen is fatal. For our companion animals damage to any of these vital organs spells out a death sentence.

Despite all the modern advances in pet health care and the nutritional information available to consumers, our pets are developing some alarming diseases: Diabetes, kidney failure, and cancer. These common human ailments are on the rise in our pets. Why jeopardize your pets’ health by serving food that can place them at risk? By taking the initiative to purchase only grain-free food for your pet, you will reduce their exposure to harmful GMOs. The conclusion is that any genetically modified grain that enters your dog’s and cat’s food is counterproductive to their health.

Gyvel Young is a journalist, published author and a certified canine nutritionist.

Citations:

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B, 6:211-225, 2003

Food and Chemical Toxicology, Volume 44, Issue 7, July 2006, Pages 1092-1099

de Vendômois JS, Roullier F, Cellier D, Séralini GE. A Comparison of the Effects of Three GM Corn Varieties on Mammalian Health. Int J Biol Sci 2009; 5:706-726.

Nature’s Variety Issues Nationwide Recall

Well, another pet food recall has been issued due to Salmonella contamination. This time by Nature’s Variety, a Lincoln, Nebraska manufacturer of holistic pet foods, including the raw food diet option. One can’t help but wonder if everything these days isn’t tainted with this pesky microbe that is determined to survive in foods that both humans and animals ingest. The problem with Nature’s Variety frozen raw food diet for dogs and cats is its uncooked state - which lends itself easily to contamination. Nature’s Variety makes every effort to ensure that their products are safe but despite these efforts it is almost impossible to completely eliminate contamination risk.

Recently, during the busy holiday season, I purchased a few packages of another brand of raw frozen diet. I normally make my own dog food, but the hectic schedule didn’t allow me time to do this. All my dogs ended up with a severe case of diarrhea so I promptly stopped feeding it to them. Well, the upset tummy mystery wasn’t really a mystery to me since I figured the product was probably contaminated. I felt badly for the dogs though, they looked a bit droopy for the next few days. And I assured them that “momma” would never do this again.

But let’s face it Nature’s Variety is a good company that provides a quality product that many pet owners, with busy schedules need — including myself. I am grateful that they have taken the steps to recall any products they suspect might be contaminated. Unlike some other pet food companies out there who do not take consumer complaints seriously, this company does.

Here is the FDA report in its entirety. If you have any of these lot numbers in your freezer please return them to the retailer you purchased it from immediately.

Company Contact:
Jeff Dezen/JDPR
864-233-3376

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 11, 2010 – Nature’s Variety has initiated a voluntary recall of their Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet for dogs and cats with a “Best If Used By” date of 11/10/10 because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The only products affected are limited to chicken medallions, patties, and chubs with a “Best If Used By” date of 11/10/10. No other Nature’s Variety products are affected.

The affected products are limited to the Nature’s Variety Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet packaged in the following forms:

* 3 lb chicken medallions (UPC# 7 69949 60130 2) with a “Best If Used By” date of 11/10/10
* 6 lb chicken patties (UPC# 7 69949 60120 3) with a “Best If Used By” date of 11/10/10
* 2 lb chicken chubs (UPC# 7 69949 60121 0) with a “Best If Used By” date of 11/10/10

The “Best If Used By” date is located on the back of the package above the safe handling instructions. The affected product was distributed through retail stores and internet sales in the United States, and in limited distribution in Canada.

If you are a consumer and have purchased one of the affected products, please return the unopened product to your retailer for a full refund or replacement. If your package has been opened, please dispose of the raw food in a safe manner by securing it in a covered trash receptacle. Then, bring your receipt (or the empty package in a sealed bag) to your local retailer for a full refund or replacement.

Nature’s Variety became aware of a potential problem after receiving a consumer complaint. Subsequent testing indicated that the lot code related to the consumer complaint tested negative for Salmonella. However, additional subsequent testing found the “Best If Used By” date of 11/10/10 to be contaminated with Salmonella.

No pet or human illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this lot code.

Reed Howlett, Nature’s Variety CEO, stated, “Because pet health and safety are our top priority, Nature’s Variety takes every step necessary to ensure the quality and safety of our products. In addition to our industry best manufacturing practices, and in an abundance of caution, all Nature’s Variety raw frozen products now will undergo a ‘test and hold’ period before being released for sale.”

Salmonella can affect both humans and animals. Even though no illnesses have been reported, consumers should follow the Safe Handling Guidelines published on the Nature’s Variety package when disposing of the affected product. People handling raw frozen pet foods may become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not followed the safe handling guidelines set forth by the company.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella may experience some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, or fever. Although rare, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart), arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, or urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with the affected product should contact their health care provider.

Pets with Salmonella infections may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, or vomiting. Some pets may experience only a decreased appetite, fever, or abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed any of the affected products and is experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Consumers with additional questions can call our dedicated Customer Care line 24 hours a day,
7 days a week at 800-374-3142. Or, consumers can email Nature’s Variety directly by visiting naturesvariety.com.

FDA Launches Pet Food Recall List

It’s finally happened! The FDA has caught up with the rest of the country! The launch of the FDA Pet Food Recall database in January 2010 may not have won fanfare from the general public BUT it certainly helps out pet owners.

It appears as if there might be a new “pet-friendlier” FDA at work here. It can only be speculated that this stance is the result of the horrific outcry from angry pet parents at the melamine poisonings caused by Menu Foods in 2007. It is estimated that the death toll from this contamination exceeded 8000 pets. Unfortunately, it took the FDA two months to initiate an investigation and act on consumer complaints!

The FDA’s new pet food recall database allows a person to search by brand name, pet type, or a combination of the two. For the consumer’s convenience the right side of the site features all the name brand products and lists them by pet type. You also have the choice of downloading a PDF file that will give you a complete list of pet food recalled products. The database includes recalls as far back as 2006.

I am not holding my breath on this one, historical information is easy to compile and place into a database. What really matters to consumers is the FDA’s willingness to take their complaints seriously and to act quickly. Unfortunately, this is not something the FDA is known for. The FDA appears to rely on pet food manufacturers to “self-regulate” by initiating their own recalls. Naturally, it is a good thing for a pet food manufacturer to recall any product that might be contaminated. Yet, the FDA should be willing to initiate an investigation based on consumer complaints. Its ultimate role should be that of a consumer advocate, a protector of the innocent, and ultimately the legal arm of the government to halt the distribution of potentially dangerous products, whether they are pet food, pet toys, pet treats, or made for human use and consumption.

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