Pets Sick and Dying for 3 Months – The Truth About Pet Food

There continues to be a dramatic increase in pet illnesses and deaths that are believed to be linked to multiple brands of pet food. The reports continued for at least three months. And for three long months, the FDA has not made any statement about what it is or isn't doing to investigate. why?

It's unclear how many reports of pet illness the FDA receives. Based on the numbers collected, it is estimated that thousands of reports have been filed with authorities and hundreds of pets have died in the past three months.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests have been filed with the FDA asking for the actual number of adverse event reports it receives, but the agency has not responded to any of those requests, including those from mainstream media. .

There is no good reason not to make the number of complaints received by the agency publicly available. Is the FDA protecting brands and intentionally trying to limit the number of complaints, or are brands controlling FDA actions through corporate lawyers?

Many times in the past, we have found that when the FDA makes an announcement about an investigation, consumer reports to the agency increase dramatically. During the FDA's investigation into the potential link between pet food and heart disease in dogs, the FDA stated:The majority of the reports were submitted to the FDA after their initial publication in July 2018.”

During the FDA's investigation of jerky treats, a similar increase in pet illness and death reports was seen after the FDA issued an official statement. In the graph below, the blue arrow indicates the date the FDA published its investigation into jerky treats, and the red line indicates the number of consumer complaints received by the FDA.

“After FDA issues CVM update Regarding the Jerky Pet Treats study (indicated by the arrow in the graph above), The agency has seen an increase in reports from the public.. The most notable increase occurred in late 2013, when the FDA issued its most comprehensive update, including a “For Veterinarians” requesting specific clinical data and providing fact sheets to pet owners. contained a letter. ”

Could it also be related to the FDA's silence to protect pet food? Or is that silence because the FDA is under pressure from related pet foods?

Based on historical evidence (obtained through FOIA requests years after each incident), we also know that pet food companies are less cooperative with FDA investigations and often involve corporate lawyers in their investigations.

For example, in 2013, when the FDA was investigating a number of complaints about Beneful pet food, the agency's investigation documents stated: “During this inspection, the company was in direct and ongoing contact with Purina's Office of Corporate Regulatory Affairs in St. Louis, Missouri.”

In a 2017 Mars Petcare investigation, the FDA inspection report stated:The company reiterated multiple times during the inspection that it needed to share information requested by the FDA during the inspection. Refusing to provide requested records or review information prevents FDA investigators from thoroughly evaluating a company's manufacturing processes to ensure the safety of a company's products. Determine compliance with applicable FDA laws, rules, and regulations”

What we do know is that we continue to receive reports from pet owners of sick and deceased pets. We have also received reports of human illnesses that appear to be related to pet food.

What we also know is that we (pet owners) have a right to receive updates from the FDA. His three months of reports from owners of sick and dead pets is long enough for the FDA to remain silent. Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter if it's challenged by corporate lawyers or not.

The following message was sent to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM).

It is unacceptable that the FDA CVM did not update pet owners on current pet food research. Although the FDA has previously made public announcements providing updates during investigations, there is no acceptable excuse for pet owners not to be kept informed in this case.

How many adverse event reports did the agency receive?

How many brands are involved in these reports?

What is the agency doing in this investigation?

If the manufacturer does not cooperate with the FDA investigation, pet owners should also be informed. After all, the agency has repeatedly issued immediate public disclosures in the past when raw pet food manufacturers did not cooperate with FDA investigations. Government agencies should not show bias in regulating pet food, and all styles of pet food should be treated equally.

By not informing the public, you are leading the public to believe that the FDA CVM is picking and choosing what it wants to share and choosing which manufacturers to “screen out” as uncooperative – Potential This shows that the authorities are protecting the manufacturers involved in this case. Withholding information from the public increases consumer distrust of government agencies, but I don't think that's your goal.

If FDA CVM wants consumer confidence in FDA, get in touch with us. Keep pet owners informed – we have a right to it.

Pet owners are encouraged to send a message to FDA CVM requesting publication of an official update (email: AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov). We also encourage pet owners to write their representatives to their state and federal governments to pressure the FDA to release updated information. We have a right to know, but unfortunately we have to put pressure on the FDA CVM to get what we deserve to know.

Don't let FDA's lack of communication with pet owners deter you from reporting your pet's illness or death. It is very important for all pet owners to document with the FDA any illnesses in their pets that may be related to pet food or medications. Your report is important if for no other reason than to document the issue for future reference by an advocate (if a FOIA request is filed). If your pet becomes sick from pet food, report it to the FDA. click here For details on where and how to do it.

We wish you and your pet all the best.

Susan Thixton
pet food safety advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-author Dinner PAWsible
The truth about pet food.com
Pet Food Truth Association

Become a member of the Pet Food Consumers Association. The Pet Food Truth Association is a stakeholder group representing the voice of pet food consumers at AAFCO and the FDA. Membership helps representatives attend meetings and voice consumer concerns to regulators. Click here for more information.

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