PUBLIC SUBMISSION | As of: February 14, 2009 Tracking No. 805f1879 Comments Due: June 13, 2008 |
Docket: FDA-2007-N-0442
Meeting Being Planned to Obtain Public Input for Ensuring the Safety of Pet Food
Comment On: FDA-2007-N-0442-0012
Opportunity for Public Input on Standards for Pet Food and Other Animal Feeds; Notice of Meeting
Document: FDA-2007-N-0442-0050
Millions of Pet Loving Americans - Comment
We are demanding that the following changes be made in the disgraceful Pet Food
Industry:
1. Co-Maker Labeling – The actual manufacturer of a pet food should be clearly
declared on all pet food labels along with contact information.
2. Country of Origin Labeling – Countries desiring to import pet food
ingredients into our country should have their manufacturing and quality control
procedures tested and certified by the FDA BEFORE any imports are allowed.
Whether any ingredients imported should be labeled as to country of origin, or
at the very least, labeled to expose lack of certification, some action must be
taken IMMEDIATELY!
3. Ingredient Labeling – The current “code” that makes it incredibly difficult
for a consumer to understand what is really in the pet food we buy, MUST BE
REPLACED with a clear labeling of the percentage content by dry weight of all
ingredients.
4. “Balanced and Nutritous” diet claims – Before any label can make such claims
for the pet food being sold, long-term testing must be performed. At present,
these claims are only marginally justified.
5. Marketing Claims – Words such as “Premium”, “Super-Premium”, “Organic”,
“Holistic”, mean absolutely nothing from a regulatory viewpoint. The PFI
staunchly defends the use of “marketing claims” as not falling under the
regulatory control of the FDA. HOWEVER, false and misleading advertising claims
are heavily regulated in other industries.
6. Inspections – We demand that funds be appropriated or “user fees” be levied
to fund a radical increase in the number of inspections that are conducted to
assure pet food safety. At the bare minimum, we need to have inspections of
foreign production prior to shipping, inspections of shipments prior to
transport, inspections of shipments as received in our country, manufacturers’
inspections of ingredients prior to use, and, finally, thorough inspections of
final product before it is sold to the public.
7. Recalls – The FDA must be empowered to order mandatory recalls. The system of
“voluntary recalls” is another example of the inmates running the prison.
8. “By-Products” etc. – All ingredients that are deemed “unfit for human
consumption” must be so-labeled.
Precious lives were lost due to an obvious lack of pet food safety measures, and
now, the PFI (Pet Food Industry) is OPPOSING making the necessary changes that
will save precious lives!
That is unacceptable. We will not tolerate this.
Forget the politics. Forget the profits. This is about the precious LIVES of our
four-legged family members.
Our Pets are our FAMILY.
We demand that you take the steps listed above, to ENSURE the safety of the food
that our four-legged family members eat.
Thank You.