From January 1, 2024 to current day (June 24, 2024), the FDA has issued thirteen consumer alerts about potentially dangerous foods.
At the time each of those thirteen alerts were issued, the food product in query was not recalled. These public alerts were warnings to consumers based on opposed event reports received by the agency (reports of illness submitted to FDA by consumers).
As example: May 24, 2024 FDA Issues Warning About Toxic Amygdalin Found in Apricot Seeds – 1 consumer grievance.
April 4, 2024 FDA Issues Warning About Certain Supplements Substituted with Toxic Yellow Oleander – (*13*)
January 2024 FDA Advises Parents and Caregivers Not to Buy or Feed WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree Pouches – “4 children with elevated blood lead levels“.
In the identical time-frame that FDA issued 13 human food warnings, the animal food division of the FDA – the Center for Veterinary Medicine received hundreds of opposed event reports linked to pet food products.
According to Freedom of Information Act requested documents provided by FDA, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine received 971 opposed event reports from consumers (reporting a pet illness or death) in January 2024 alone.
But, unlike with human food products, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has issued zero consumer alerts.
Using the very same criteria used for FDA human food alerts – consumer opposed event reports received by the agency – the Center for Veterinary Medicine didn’t follow the identical protocol as utilized in human food alerts. The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has received hundreds of consumer opposed event reports since January 2024, including many pet death reports – but this particular FDA division did nothing (and continues to do nothing).
This FDA Animal and Veterinary Outbreaks and Advisories webpage states: “The public health advisories listed below are written by the FDA to alert the general public about pressing human and/or animal health concerns related to products regulated by the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM).“
What could possibly be more “pressing animal health concerns” than in January 2024 alone, the Center for Veterinary Medicine receiving 886 consumer reports about Purina Pet Food products, reporting 1,184 sick pets and 97 pet deaths?
13 human food warnings – 0 pet food warnings.
Why does the human food division of FDA issue warnings/alerts regarding products they received only just a few opposed event reports on – while the animal food division of FDA (Center for Veterinary Medicine) issues zero alerts when hundreds of opposed event reports were received?
Pet owners deserve answers.
It definitely seems to point that FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine isn’t concerned with pet health. It seems to point this division of FDA is more concerned with protecting the popularity of pet food manufacturers, than protecting the lives of pets.
The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has – for many years – directly allowed the products they regulate to violate federal food safety laws (they term it ‘enforcement discretion’). This division of FDA has – for many years – directly allowed the labels of products they regulate to mislead consumers, refusing to require disclosure of illegal ingredients. And as they as proving to us now, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine is more concerned about protecting the popularity of chosen pet food manufacturers as an alternative of protecting the lives of our pets.
How many pets should be sickened or die until the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine actually enforces law as they’re required to do?
Personal note: If your pet becomes sick you suspect is linked to a pet food or treat, report it to FDA. Yes, I understand – you’re probably pondering why trouble, they won’t do anything about it anyway. Although the agency won’t investigate (okay…probably won’t), your opposed event report becomes a public record that advocates can request from the agency in a Freedom of Information Act request. Your report won’t be considered significant to FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, but it surely is important to those that try to carry the agency accountable.
Don’t hesitate, report a pet food opposed event. Your pet’s illness or death won’t be essential to FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, but it is vital to us.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the very best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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