Pet Food: FDA Wants Your Review!

I know it’s the dead of winter, and you’re more inclined to curl up with a blanket and your dog(s) than ever, but have you heard about the new early alert warning system proposed by the FDA for pet food and veterinary drug recalls?  No?  Then you probably don’t know that you are running out of time to review and comment on what changes or additions should be considered to make this system effective. 

Officially registering adverse effects on our dogs and cats from tainted or suspect food as they occur is what we were lacking in 2007 and again in 2008. I don’t know if you’ve read about the ketamine recall* that turned into a two-week long rollout over the holidays of confusing messages to veterinarians. First the recall assured it was only TEVA products that were killing pets, then came the amendment including seven other makers of this anesthesia.  It is painfully obvious that we need to step up and change this recurring nightmare of communications problems that result in more pet deaths.

I went to the site and read the FDA proposal , which may make your eyes glaze a bit (maybe it’s the government’s excessive use of internal document reference numbers to paragraphs and subparagraphs combined with the archaic type), but you can read the .pdf commentary submitted by AVMA.  The point by point response provides AVMA’s view of pitfalls in the proposal and suggestions to strengthen it.

I was surprised at the dearth of response.  I expected to see hundreds if not thousands of comments already registered, even if only “yes we need this, do it now please.” 

If you’re interested in commenting, these links will help you ease into the fray with a couple of simple clicks, and a few minutes of consideration before commenting.  Check out the questionnaire(located at the bottom of the FDA edocket) you will need to fill out should your dog or cat get sick from tainted food.  If you see something that might be cause for confusion or serve as a giant loophole through which a food company could avoid responsibility, say so. Offer suggestions.  You have until Jan 29, but if you do it now you won’t have to kick yourself later for missing the deadline:) This is a much better idea than the current system: Call your regional FDA complaint coordinator and hope they call you back.

 Here’s the link for comments.

*Ketamine information

(Source: Truth About Pet Food)

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Tagged as: FDA Early Warning, FDA recalls